Weeks of August 28-29 & Sept. 4 & 5

Welcome to School!

Dear Families,

            Welcome to preschool! This year will be an exciting one for you and your child. By staying involved in what your child is doing at school and by working on activities together, you can ensure that this year will be a successful one.

            During the next two weeks, children will be introduced to the school, their classroom, and to the daily routines that will shape their days over the course of the school year. Understanding their environment and how the school day is structured will help to calm any fears the children may have and begin to develop their self-confidence. Additionally, children will be introduced to some fundamental skills and strategies that will lay the foundation for their continuing growth in the following areas of curriculum:

• listening, speaking, and vocabulary
• sounds and letters
• listening comprehension
• language arts, reading and writing
• social and emotional development
• mathematics
• science and social studies
• health and safety
• physical development
• art, music and drama
• technology

Learning Together

• Share special memories you have of school including special teachers, friends and activities.
• After each school day, talk with your child about what he or she did during the day. Begin by sharing what you did during the day and then pose questions designed to elicit more than "yes or no" answers. For example, ask: What songs did you sing today? What new things did you learn? Which activity was the most fun for you today? Why? What stories did your teacher read aloud? What new friends did you make? What have you brought home from school to share?

Some stories that we will be reading include: Spot Goes to School, A Teacher for Bear, Pete the Cat Rocking in my School Shoes, Henry T. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen. The focus over the next several weeks will be learning the classroom rules and routine and the school rules. Being at preschool is an important time for children to learn social skills with their peers as well as learning in the curricular areas.

The preschool parent handbook is on line and you can view it at http://www.bbhcsd.org/hilton/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/PS-Family-Handbook-13-14.pdf.

We had a great first day of school and I have to say 100% no tears from the children today, I know that probably can't be said for the parents but all of them did fantastic.