May 29 & 31

Hello Parents,

End of the Year Picnic
Just a reminder that our picnic is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 29 right after school at Shamrock Park.  Please bring your own lunches, drinks, sunscreen and chairs/blankets. This will be a nice opportunity for all of us to meet and greet some of the new students who will be in our 4K class next year as well as next year's 3K students.  Again, we hope you will help us welcome any new faces to our St. Clare School!

Thank You!
It's hard to believe we have reached the end of the year already!  I want you to know how much I have thoroughly enjoyed having your children on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Mary and I have the best job!  We truly enjoy it.  Children are such a gift and the time that teachers get to spend with them is a reminder of how wonderful our Creator is.  Thank you for entrusting your children in our care.

Next Year
As posted in the school newsletter, I will be with your children again next year as I will be teaching both 3K and 4K.  I am already looking forward to being with your children in 4K!  The 4K teacher's aid is Mrs. Stephanie Bartosh and she is planning to join us for our picnic.

Bay Beach
On June 5, St. Clare families will meet up at Bay Beach for the day.  You are more than welcome to join us if you'd like.  Simply purchase your own tickets and bring your own lunch. 
  

UPCOMING DATES

May 29 - 3K End of the year picnic at Shamrock Park after school (11:15)

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K / Rain date for end of the year picnic

June 5 - Bay Beach

May 22 & 24

Hello Parents,

Shoes
Please be sure your child has appropriate shoes for running on the playground.  As per the dress code, they need to have a back on them.  Tennis shoes are best.  Keep in mind that we have wood chips on the playground which repeatedly get stuck in many of the summer shoes.  Sometimes this can cause injury as well.

Registration
The office is busy finalizing plans for next year.  We understand that when you register in January sometimes you many not be certain of your plans for next year.  With summer quickly approaching, if you anticipate any changes in your registration (perhaps you did not yet register or you may wish to adjust the number of days your child will coming next year, etc.) please let the office know as soon as possible.  

Welcoming New Families
Please note that next year's 3K and additional 4K students have been invited to join us for our end of the year picnic.  This will be a nice opportunity for all of us to meet and greet some of the new students who will be in our 4K class next year.  With a year of experience at St. Clare School under your belt, please join Miss Mary and I in welcoming any new faces and answer questions they might have.  

RSVPs
Please return the spring concert sign up to school.  Also, please let me know if you will be at the end of the year picnic on May 29.

Bay Beach
On June 5, St. Clare families will meet up at Bay Beach for the day.  You are more than welcome to join us if you'd like.  Simply purchase your own tickets and bring your own lunch.   

UPCOMING DATES

May 24 - Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show (1:00 & 6:00)

May 29 - 3K End of the year picnic at Shamrock Park after school (11:15)

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K / Rain date for end of the year picnic

June 5 - Bay Beach

May 15 & 17

Hello Parents,

Sign Up Form
There is a sign up form coming home on Tuesday regarding Spring Concert dates/times.  Please fill out and return to school.

Please RSVP
Just a reminder to email me and let me know if you will be coming to the 3K class picnic on Tuesday, May 29 after school.  (Rain date is Thursday, May 31.)  Also, let me know if you are planning to go to the zoo this Friday so that I can let Mrs. Linwood know who to expect.  See last week's note regarding details about each of these.

Feasting for Funds
Tonight and tomorrow is Feasting for Funds at Fox's Pizza from 4-8pm.  

Bay Beach
On June 5, St. Clare families will meet up at Bay Beach for the day.  You are more than welcome to join us if you'd like.  Simply purchase your own tickets and bring your own lunch.   

UPCOMING DATES

May 24 - Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show 

May 29 - 3K End of the year picnic at Shamrock Park after school

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K / Rain date for end of the year picnic

June 5 - Bay Beach

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

May 8 & 10 & End of Year Celebration

Hello Parents,

This Week
Tomorrow's weather looks to be quite nice in the morning so we'll head outside near the end of the day.  You can pick your child up from the playground area.  We are introducing the letter Y this week.  

Parent Teacher Conferences
There will not be any end of the year parent teacher conferences.  However, if you would like to do so, I am more than happy to sit down with you between now and the end of the year.  Just let me know if you would like to do this.

End of the Year Celebration
We will have a 3K picnic in the park on Tuesday, May 29 with a rain date of Thursday, May 31.  Here are the details...

• 3K Class Picnic
• Tuesday, May 29 with a rain date of Thursday, May 31.
• Picnic immediately following class. (Approximately 11:15)
• Pick your child up from school as usual and we will all meet at Shamrock Park (Royal St. Pat's Drive, Wrightstown).
• Anyone is welcome...simply pack lunches and drinks for your group.
• Know someone who might be interested in attending St. Clare? Please invite them to join us.

Also, in the past, 3K has been invited to join the 4K at the NEW Zoo.  This year the trip lands on a Friday when 3K is not in school.  If this interests you, please feel free to attend!  Here are the details about the zoo trip...

• Details about the NEW Zoo
• This year's date is FRIDAY, May 18.  If you would like to do this:  
• Pack lunches and drinks for your group. 
• Drive your own vehicle.
• Meet the 4K bus at approximately 11:00 for lunch.
• Lunch will be at picnic tables (near parking lot across from zoo).  
• You may want to pack a folding chair or two for lunch. 
• After eating, the children usually play on the playground behind the parking lot before entering the zoo.
• Pay admission as you normally would.  

Feel free to go to one, both or pass on both...we all understand how busy our calendars can get this time of year!  

Please reply to this email by May 11 about what you are planning to attend:

• Picnic
• Zoo
• Both
• None 

UPCOMING DATES

May 10-Final book order due

May 24 - Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show  
Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances. 

May 29 - 3K End of the year picnic

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K / Rain date for end of the year picnic

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

May 1 & 3

Hello Parents,

This Week
We will continue to talk about spring as well as work on learning the letters in our names.  If you're following along as we introduce alphabet letters, we are on the letter X this week.  Going forward, whenever it is nice outside and time allows, we plan to take the children outside to play at the end of each class.

Spring Concert Sign Up
Please watch your child's folder for a sign up regarding the spring concert and return it to school so that we will know if your child will be attending the 1:00 and/or the 6:00 performances.  Our 3K will be singing 2 songs with the 4K and is welcome to go up to sing the all school song at the end.  

End of the Year Celebration
Please reply to an email (coming soon) regarding an end of the year celebration for our 3K group.  We have a couple of options so I will send an email and I'll let you tell me which one works best for your schedules.  

Final Book Order
Please be sure to have any book orders in by May 10 so that we can get all books delivered before the end of the school year.

The $10,000 Raffle
I look forward to seeing those of you who are able to make it to the raffle this Friday!

UPCOMING DATES

May 4 - $10,000 Raffle
St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle at the Swan Club in De Pere

May 10-Final book order due

May 24 - Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show  
Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances. 

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

April 24 & 26

Sunshine at last!

Hello Parents,

Going Outside
What nice weather!  Tuesday and Thursday look to be especially nice so we will plan on taking the kids outside at the end of each class. Don't worry about what to send in terms of outdoor clothing.  To make it easier for parents during this transitional season we will play on the blacktop.  Perhaps we'll practice our kickball skills. :)  Once everything dries up we'll be back to playing on the playground equipment.

This Week
We are on the letter W this week.  We are also talking about spring and we continue to work on learning the letters in our names.  

Letter Recognition & Writing in Names
I work with each child individually to help them recognize and write the letters in their names.  I individualize the instruction meaning that some children are learning to recognize the first letter of their name, others may know all of their letters, some may be working on writing the first letter of their name and others may be working on more or all of the letters in their names.  At the end of the year conferences I'll recap what your child has learned with each of you individually. 

Final Book Order
A book order was sent home last week.  Please be sure to have any book orders in by May 10 so that we can get all books delivered before the end of the school year.

The $10,000 Raffle
Please consider attending the $10,000 raffle.  Mrs. Diny, our art teacher has worked with each class to create art pieces for the event.  She graciously worked with our 3K students last week.  

UPCOMING DATES

May 4 - $10,000 Raffle
St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle at the Swan Club in De Pere

May 10-Final book order due

May 24 - Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show  
Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances. 

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

April 17 & 19

What a weekend!  Well, while we have it, let's enjoy it.  Ms. Mary & I will take the children outside to play on Tuesday this week.  Please be sure to send everything your child needs for outdoor play in the snow. 

I apologize that I forgot to send home the most recent snack reminder note so I'll send that home on Tuesday.  

We are on the letter V this week.  We won't be meeting with our buddy class on Thursday, but we will be joining the 4K for a little while to begin learning our Spring Concert songs.

 UPCOMING DATES

May 4 - $10,000 Raffle

St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle at the Swan Club in De Pere

May 24 - Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show  
Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances. 

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

April 10 & 12

Hello Parents~
Here is what we are up to in 3K...

Letter U
We are on the letter U in our introduction of the alphabet.  We'll be painting umbrellas this week.  

Spatial Concepts
We are also working on understanding vocabulary associated with spatial concepts such as:  in between, under, next to, beside, above, below, etc. 

Upper Case Letters
Most of our 3K children are at an age where recognizing the upper case letters is enjoyable when done in a fun way.  We will be working on this and you may wish to do so at home as well.  I believe there are some great apps for ipads, etc. that make tracing letters fun too in case that interests you. 

Writing Names
We will especially emphasize the letters in our names on an individual basis.  During center times, I will be working with your children to identify the letters in their names as well as writing them (first letter in upper case and the remaining letters in lower case).  We will work on writing the letters in fun, motivating ways...writing in rice, sand, on the whiteboard, on our new magna doodle boards, on our backs, tracing letters, etc.  

UPCOMING DATES
May 4 - $10,000 Raffle
St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle at the Swan Club in De Pere

May 24 - Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show  
Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In April or May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances.   

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

Special Thank You from Ms Mary

Thank you so much for your wonderful gift. It is so kind of you to do this.  I enjoy my day with your children,  They are enthusiastic  and  love learning.   Thank You, Ms Mary

April 5

Hello Parents, 

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter break with your loved ones.  The Easter season lasts 50 days so the joy of this season has just begun!  (Though we could do without the snow!)  

Since we DO have snow, we are going to let the children go outside around 10:40 tomorrow to enjoy a little time playing together.  Please pick up the children from the playground at 11:00.  Please send snow pants, boots, hats & mittens.

Your children have new 4th quarter buddies from the 6th grade class.  They met them last week and will see them again tomorrow.  

One final note, THANK YOU so much for the basket of goodies!  What a special treat!  We will be using the drawing boards in the classroom in the coming weeks.  

Looking Ahead

April 9 - VIRTUS
You have an opportunity to take the Green Bay Diocese VIRTUS training course in Greenleaf.  If you plan on continuing your child's education at St. Clare, this class is required for those who wish to volunteer in school or chaperone field trips in the future.  You only need to take the class once.  Contact the parish office for details (863-2550).

May 4 - $10,000 Raffle
St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle at the Swan Club in De Pere

May 24 - Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show  
Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In April or May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances.   

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

March 27 & 29

Hello,

This week is Holy Week.  We will reiterate the three Lenten concepts that I mentioned in my last message.  

Just a few reminders before our Easter break:

• If you return your 4K registration this week, you will secure the lowest tuition rate.  (March 29 is the last school day for this.  The actual date is Sat., March 31.)

• No School on Tuesday, April 3.  I hope you all have a wonderful Easter with your families!

Looking Ahead

April 9 - Opportunity to take the Green Bay Diocese VIRTUS training course in Greenleaf.  If you plan on continuing your child's education at St. Clare, this class is required for those who wish to volunteer in school or chaperone field trips in the future.  You only need to take the class once.  Contact the parish office for details (863-2550).

May 4 - SAVE THE DATE!  St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle at the Swan Club in De Pere

May 24 - SAVE THE DATE!  Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show  
Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In April or May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances.   

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

March 20 & 22

Hello Parents,

The students certainly enjoyed the "gifts" left behind by leprechaun visitors last week.  Thank you for the green jello treat to our parent snack volunteer!

This week we move on to letter T.  Please remember to send gym shoes on Tuesday. 

With two weeks of Lent remaining, I wanted to let you know that as part of our religion class in 3K we learn three main things about this time of the year:

• Jesus died on a cross which is why we see so many crosses in our lives.
• Jesus rose and lived again on Earth! (And then went to Heaven.)
• Easter is the day that we celebrate the biggest miracle of all...Jesus lived again!

For your planning, please note that our last day of 3K will be on Thursday, May 31.  The next day of school for 3K would have been Tuesday, June 5.  However, as it turns out this year, June 5 will be the day that St. Clare School will be going to Bay Beach.  You are certainly welcome to bring your children and meet up with the St. Clare group if you'd like!

Looking Ahead

March 23 - Book orders due (please order online)

March 31 - Registration deadline for securing lowest tuition rate

May 4 - SAVE THE DATE!  St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle at the Swan Club in De Pere

May 24 - SAVE THE DATE!  Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show  
Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In April or May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances.   

May 31 - Last day of school for 3K

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

March 13 & 15

 

Hello Parents, 

Just a couple of notes for this week-

With last week being a short week for us, we will continue with the letter S this week.  

On Thursday we will learn about and celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  Dress in green!  :)

Looking Ahead

March 23 - Book orders due (please order online)

March 31 - Registration deadline for securing lowest tuition rate

May 4 - SAVE THE DATE!  St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle

May 24 - SAVE THE DATE!  Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show  
Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In April or May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances.   

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

March 6 & 8

  

Hello Parents,

Each school day we gather for a morning meeting.  In the past (this year and other years) students have walked in and begun play time immediately, followed by a morning meeting.  This was simply the most convenient since students were entering our classroom over staggered period of time...sometimes stretching out to as much as a half hour.  Going forward, we are changing our routine to meet and talk about character education, making good choices, etc. before play time.  We started this last week and already see many good things! 

Just to be clear, I am not initiating this because of anything your children are or are not doing.  I simply feel it is best practice for any group of children coming together in a social setting.  

In order for this to take place in the most effective manner, we are requesting your help...please try your best to drop off your children between 7:45 and 8:00.   You may see older students coming in earlier because they often have appointments with their teachers.  Thank you for your understanding. At 8:00, we'll start our morning meeting.

As stated, we started our new morning routine last week and our letter for the week was R.  Before play time, we talked about what the word "respect" means.  We read a book about respect written for young children and I emphasized three "special words."

1. please
2. thank you
3. excuse me

The children are already using these words more in the classroom, especially "excuse me."  We look forward to many more morning meetings BEFORE play time so that we can continue to build on these.

Another activity we did last week (during center time) was play a giant faith-based version of the game, "Memory."  They had to walk around the cards to turn them over.  They certainly enjoyed this!   I played with each group and we added two more cards each round.  You might want to play other versions of memory at home.  I updated our 3K photos where you'll see some of the kids playing this.  See the link to the left. 

We also played a ring toss game in the gym.  I rarely get photos of our gym games...I'm usually running around with them.  (I'm always way more winded than them!)  

We also learned a song in which the first line is, "Oh, it's raining cats and dogs, pitter patter, pitter patter."  They really enjoyed doing actions to this song. 

I can't believe we're on the letter S already!  Spring is right around the corner...or so we hope!!!

Just a heads up...On May 24, St. Clare will have its Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show.  Similar to the Christmas concert, there will be performances at 1:00 and 6:00.  Again, 3K is invited to sing songs with 4K.  In April or May I will send home a sign up sheet and you can let me know if your child will be participating either of these performances.     

Looking Ahead

March 23 - Book orders due (please order online)

March 31 - Registration deadline for securing lowest tuition rate

May 4 - SAVE THE DATE!  St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle

May 24 - SAVE THE DATE!  Spring Concert & Fine Arts Show

*St. Clare School is always collecting Box Tops.  Send them to school anytime!

Feb. 27 & Mar. 1

Hello Parents,

Just a few notes for the week ahead...

You should have received a pink note entitled "The Cookbook Project" in last week's blue family folder.  Please note the following instructions for this school-wide activity:

1. Please send in one recipe per child (or email it to myself or the email address indicated on the pink note).
2. I understand that each student will be asked to write about why this is their favorite recipe.  Since our 3K students cannot write this, the teachers in charge of this asked if I would tell you to please write a sentence or two for your child and include it with the recipe.  
3. The pink note says to return these by Feb. 28 (Wed.).

Please return the brown paper bag (or feel free to just send a new one).  :)

Looking Ahead

March 31 - Registration deadline for securing lowest tuition rate

May 4 - SAVE THE DATE!  St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle

February 20 & 22 and Parent Teacher Conference Recap

Hello Parents, 

This week we will introduce the children to Lent and read some stories about Jesus.  In 3K we focus on his love for everyone especially children, his presence in our lives even though we cannot see him as a person and stories about miracles. 

While the weather has been too cold or messy to be outside we have been playing indoor gym games in the cafeteria on Tuesdays.  Going forward, please send gym shoes in your child's backpack on Tuesdays.  Sometimes they run right out of their shoes or have a hard time running in stylish boots.  

Thank you for meeting with me during parent teacher conference time.  I thought I'd recap a few topics that were brought up in some of the conferences...

Tuesdays vs. Thursdays
The main difference between Tuesdays and Thursdays is gym games on Tuesdays and our 6th grade buddies come on Thursdays.  

Center Time in 3K
Almost every day we "do centers" which means the children are in four small groups and they rotate between stations (usually 4 stations):
1. Blue Station-sand table
2. Green Station-painting easel
3. Yellow Station-an activity at a table usually targeting fine motor skills (cutting, gluing, stringing small beads, etc.)
4. Red Station-an activity on the carpet such as playing and learning through manipulatives (assembling/building/ordering objects).

Stages of Reading Development
In the alphabet we are on the letter Q.  In 3K we are introducing the letters and sounds.  Pre-K literacy instruction targets an awareness and exploration of reading in which teachers read aloud to children and children learn to page through books to gain an understanding of print materials and make connections from print to story.  Introducing children to letters and sounds advances children into the early emergent phase of reading.  In our classroom we explore both of these stages of reading development. 

Prayers in 3K
Your children are learning to say the Guardian Angel prayer and the Prayer Before Meals.  They also hear the St. Clare Prayer as part of the morning announcements.  This prayer is a little harder for our younger ones, but they do hear it each day (along with the Pledge of Allegiance).  I am sending home a copy of the Guardian Angel prayer as well as the Prayer Before Meals.  You received a copy of the St. Clare Prayer during Catholic Schools Week in your blue folders.

3K Band
Finally, has your child told you about our newly formed 3K band?  We've been having a blast!  They even learned to watch a conductor's baton to know when to play.  The song we've been playing to is "This Old Man."  Check out the photo below...



Looking Ahead

February 21 - Feasting for Funds @ Van Abel's in Hollandtown from 4-8pm

March 31 - Registration deadline for securing lowest tuition rate

May 4 - SAVE THE DATE!  St. Clare's $10,000 Raffle