Kreft Family Newsletter - February 12, 2010
February 13, 2010
Principal's News - Barbara Grell
Kreft Traffic
Parent help is needed to keep our young students safe. From 8:00-9:00 each morning and from 3:15-4:00 in the afternoon, parents should refrain from parking in the bus lanes on the south side of the school. We have had unsafe situations recently due to parents parking in the bus lanes. Cars that park in the bus lanes are blocked in and cannot leave until the buses are loaded. This causes frustration for those waiting in cars and the bus drivers who cannot park by the sidewalk where students are to load the bus. Please use the east parking lot to drop off kindergarten and first grade students.
Parents of preschoolers can drop off students from 9:00-9:15 and can park on the south side of the school by the preschool entry. Preschoolers can be picked up starting at 3:00 pm each day and parents can park by the preschool door.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Kindergarten Parent Breakfast
Our kindergarten parent breakfast will be held on February 19th from 8:45-10:00 am. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the kindergarten curriculum and gain ideas to support learning at home with your child. If you plan to attend please RSVP to the Kreft office at 366-8367 by February 17th.
Enjoy your weekend.
Mrs. Grell
Upcoming Events
Feb 15 Snow Make up Day from 12/15/09
Feb 17 Early Dismissal - Professional Development
Feb 18 No Preschool
Feb 19 Kindergarten Parent Breakfast
Feb 25 K-1 Music Program at Middle School Auditorium, 7:00 pm for Nano, Moe, White, Benson, Brougham, Dwyer & Schaeffer
Feb 26 NO SCHOOL - District Work Day
Lifeskill of the Week
Common Sense - To make good choices
Enrichment News - Kristi McMullen
Kindergarten students have continued to learn about Detective Thinking (analytical thinking). Detective thinking focuses on the following concepts:
- There is only one right answer
- Students may need to put together many pieces of information in order to find the right answer
- Students may feel like saying "I have it!" when they find the answer
- Students may not see the answer right away but keep looking at the clues
- Patience is important so they don't jump to wrong conclusions
Students are practicing their detective thinking by playing a "Mystery Animal/Person" card game. Students have a set of 8 different animal cards and as clues are read, students put down the cards that don't fit the clue. By the end of the clues, only 1 card is left-the mystery animal. The same thing was done using 8 different people cards.
There are many, many mystery books in the youth section at the Council Bluffs Public Library. As you are reading the mystery to your child, have them find clues to solve the mystery.
First Grade students are continuing to learn about Inventor Thinking (Divergent Thinking). They are learning about the following concepts:
- In divergent thinking, there are many correct responses
- It is important to be able to see ordinary things in new and unusual ways
- Unusual and wacky ideas are to be encouraged
- It is OK (and should be encouraged) to piggyback ideas
Students are putting their inventor thinking to use by inventing a new way to get across a pond. Students were given drawings of "spare parts" to use to make/draw their invention. Another inventive thinking practice teachers may give their students is to invent a way to get acorns off the ground and up to Isabel's (a squirrel) hole in the top of the tree. At home draw part of an object/picture, and have your child use their imagination to finish the picture. Challenge them to brainstorm what else it could be.
Nurse News - Deb Blodgett, District RN
February 2010 has been declared National Children's Dental Health Month. This is a great time to get your child in for a dental health check up! Kreft Primary School advocates for dental health awareness by conducting dental screenings annually. Screenings are done by our trained health staff and a parental dental referral is made based on those findings. This month the Lewis Central School District participated in the community "Give a Kid a Smile" program where 9 qualified children were transported to various dental clinics and received dental education and FREE dental care with parental consent. This is one more example of how the Lewis Central School District promotes good health practices. Dental Awareness Month is a great time for parents to talk about good dental health practices with their children. The American Dental Association recommends that children have their first dental visit when their first tooth comes in. In addition, they recommend that parents help their children with their dental care routine until the child is able to tie their own shoes. REgular brushing, healthy food choices and regular dental exams will keep teeth healthy!
Preschool Child Fair
The preschool Child Fair will be held on March 25 & 26 from 8:30-3:00 for children three and four years of age. This developmental screening is at no cost and will give information on how your child is playing, moving, thinking and talking at his/her age level. Screenings include vision, hearing, dental, speech-language, overall development and growth assessments. Parents will need to accompany their child through the various stations and complete the preschool application forms. Those interested in the preschool program should call the Kreft office at 366-8292 or 366-8367 between the hours of 9:30 am and 2:00 pm to schedule an appointment.
Kindergarten Registration
April 22 & 23, 2010
If your child will be five on or before September 15, he/she will be eligible for kindergarten in the fall of 2010. We are asking that you call and pre-register your child at 366-8292 or 366-8367, or stop by the school at 3206 Renner Drive, between the hours of 9:30 am and 2:00 pm to register. If you know of neighbors, family or friends in the Lewis Central District with children kindergarten age this fall, please have them call the Kreft office. Thank you for your help.
