Kindergarten Events
Gingerbread Hunt
The students begin their year listening to multiple versions of the Gingerbread Man and then comparing and contrasting the elements of each story. The theme also includes a "Getting to Know You" activity as each child answers questions about himself/herself through a Gingerbread glyph. A glyph is a mathematical way to answer any questions, in this case the student creates a gingerbread person with decorations to convey information about themselves. For example, the hair color on the glyph tells the birthday month and the number of buttons tells the age of the child.
The children go on a hunt throughout the school to search for the Gingerbread Man. This allows the kindergarten students to become familiar with the school and reinforces the location of "specials" such as the music room, library, computer room and gym.
Our Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch
In October, we study pumpkins throughout our different curriculum subjects. We learn about the life cycle of pumpkins, we estimate how many seeds are inside a pumpkin, how much the pumpkin weighs, how big the circumference of the pumpkin is and if it would sink or float in a bucket of water.
Then, we go to the Pumpkin Farm to see pumpkins, animals and the workings of a farm. The students see, touch, and are free to ask questions about what happens on the farm and the conditions necessary to grow pumpkins and raise animals. As part of this experience, the students tour the farm, dig for worms, go through a hay maze and pick out a pumpkin to take home.
El Dia de los Muertos and Halloween
We begin our study of Mexico with a Day of the Dead celebration. Children are encouraged to bring in pictures of family members who have passed away. These pictures are placed on an altar in the Kindergarten hallway as we celebrate and remember the lives of these loved ones.
On Halloween students participate in a Halloween party in the auditorium. The three kindergarten classes are combined for this party so that the students have an opportunity to get to know the students in other classes. Dressed in costume, students go through multiple stations such as a Halloween stories, decorating a Halloween treat, getting a picture taken in costume, pinning the nose on a jack-o-lantern and a bean bag toss.
Thanksgiving Feast
After studying the First Thanksgiving, the kindergarten students prepare a Thanksgiving feast for their family and friends.
Each kindergarten class brings in vegetables, broth and corn muffin ingredients to put together a meal for their families. They also create the place mats, invitations, and art work to decorate the Social Hall. All three classes celebrate by singing a Thanksgiving song and sharing the meal together.
Baby Jesus Birthday Party and Christmas Program
Throughout the month of December, we talk about the Christmas story. Each morning the entire school listens to Ms. Sperry teach about the different ornaments of the Jesse Tree. We also learn about the season of Advent through weekly assemblies and daily prayer with the Advent wreath.
The Christmas story is told one final time before break at our Baby Jesus party. Students go through five stations listening to a parent volunteer retell a part of the story and collecting an ornament as symbols of each part. This simple party ends with a prayer and the class singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.
Students participate in a Christmas program. Each grade sings a carol, in between student readings, and the program ends with a school wide finale.
Catholic Schools Week and Open House
Catholic Schools Week falls at the end of January and is celebrated by Catholic schools nationwide. Our week begins with school mass and open house. Students have an opportunity to show off their work and check out other classrooms. Throughout the week we celebrate students, staff, parents and collect items for service projects. The kindergartners look up to the older students, the 7th and 8th graders, who deliver these collections out into the community.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day gives us a chance to work on self esteem. We have a tradition of friends and family sending the kindergartners letters of affirmation and appreciation. These letters are sent to school and read to the children during our Valentine celebration. Another self esteem project is for the children to write about their classmates on a name tag that is then given to each child to wear. It is a special day for the children to hear from their friends, family and peers!
Salmon Release with 3rd Graders
As part of our science curriculum, we observe the salmon life cycle from eggs until we release them in the spring. The Third graders also study salmon and are partnered with the kindergartners as buddies to teach them more about the salmon as well as help with the release. Each buddy pair receive a few salmon to name, say a prayer for and release into the stream. The study of salmon offers a chance to look at natural resources and the conservation of those resources.
Easter/Resurrection Eggs
The Easter season begins with Ash Wednesday and continues through Good Friday when we break for Easter vacation. The resurrection eggs are a symbolic way to tell the Easter story. Each plastic egg is filled with a symbol to go with one part of the story along with the corresponding Bible verse. After rehearsing each egg or part of the Easter story in class, the eggs are then taken home for the students to share with their families.
Grandparent's Tea/ Singing for Seniors
Each grade level does a service. The kindergarten classes sing at the parish senior luncheon once a month and at the annual Grandparent's Tea. Grandparents are invited for a sit down lunch and lovely program, ending with a tour of their grandchild's classroom. The children love adding joy and smiles to the seniors' faces!
Spring Portfolio Celebration
There are two scheduled conferences each school year. The first one is in the fall with parents and the teacher. In the spring time the whole family is invited for a portfolio celebration. The children reflect on their best work and prepare to show their families around the classroom. The school community works hard to prepare students to reflect on their work and be part of their conferences each year. Of course, you are welcome to schedule a conference with your teacher at any time!