Kindergarten Newsletter- Week 1
August 28, 2026
Wow, two and a half weeks have already come and gone! Your children are settling in and loving Kindergarten. We love to see their smiling faces each morning when they walk through our hall! In addition to practicing those self-help skills we mentioned last week (zipping zippers and buttoning buttons, tying shoes, peeling bananas and oranges, putting toys away after playing, taking plates to the sink after meals), please encourage your children to set out uniforms and backpacks before going to bed. Be sure they have their empty work folders (WITHOUT any papers from us, or the work we send home on Fridays) packed in the backpack and ready to return on Monday mornings. Please remember to resist the urge to do for them those things they can do for themselves! Check SeeSaw every day, and talk about what you see with them. Ask questions about what they are learning, and favorite activities they have at school. Showing interest in your child's education sends the message that you value their learning! When school and home work together, we will make great strides in your child’s learning journey here at SLES!
Finally, a great benefit of attending St. Luke's Episcopal School is knowing that EVERYONE here is invested in your child's growth and success. Every child truly matters to us! In addition to supporting your children academically, our school Student Achievement Coordinator, Ms. Donna Finch, and our Social-Emotional Learning Coordinator, Ms. Rachel Sanborn, are tremendous resources whenever you have questions or concerns about your child's social or emotional growth. Please think of them-and us-as your "Partners in Parenting". We all want to help your children develop executive functioning skills such as time management, problem-solving, adaptability, resiliency, decision-making, flexibility, working memory, and so much more...
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with
my loving eye on you." Psalm 32:8
Blessings,
Mrs. McIntire and Mrs. Pruitt
Next week our lessons will continue to focus on comparing and sorting objects by similarities and differences in color, shape, number and purpose. Language of the Discipline includes the terms "set" (objects that are group together because they are similar in some way), and "rule" (how those objects are alike).
Our scholars will also continue to practice counting orally, identify where numbers can be found in the world around them, and practice writing numerals 0 through 9. Our goal is for them to be able to name and describe characteristics of objects, use counting to quantify items in a set, and form numbers correctly. "Count on Kindergarten" to make math FUN!
Sight Words: the, of, and, a, to
Our Language Arts lessons continue to focus on letter recognition and formation, exploring the sounds that vowels and consonants make, identifying sounds heard at the beginning, middle and end of words, and recognizing the above sight words. (Our goal this year is for scholars to recognize, name and write correctly all the letters of the alphabet, to associate all letters with their various sounds, and to develop a mastery of sight words in order to become confident readers and writers.
We will begin to introduce leveled readers in class. (We will begin sending reading folders home for your child to practice with you mid-September.)
The most important thing you can do at home to support the development of early literacy skills is to read to your child, every day. Select books with engaging pictures that will connect with your child's special interests/personality. Parents can also support children in their oral language developments/descriptive skills by playing simple games such as "I'm thinking of something that is"...or "I spy something that starts with the letter..." These games help our scholars practice using adjectives and identify beginning sounds in a fun and interactive way. Help your child practice writing letters using sidewalk chalk, water and paintbrushes, drawing letters in a platter of sand, or using a favorite color of marker. on pretty paper. Be sure to encourage the "alligator" (three finger) pencil grip, and ask questions such as "Can you think of three words that start with the sound of (select a letter sound)?" "What do you notice about the upper case and lower case letter forms?" "What is your favorite letter to write? Why?"
Literacy Stations
Our current focus in social studies is "Me and My Community." This week we talked about our classes as a community of friends and scholars at St. Luke's Episcopal School, as members of the many communities where we all belong-our city, state, and nation-and how each of those communities are similar, yet different. Knowing where they live-their street, city, state and country-reinforces the concept of place.We asked you to help your child memorize their home address and (your) phone number. If your child has not yet done so, please help them learn this essential information. Thank you for helping your child feel confident in this important safety knowledge!
Next week we will focus on community helpers, and the different kinds of jobs that help the communities of St. Luke's and San Antonio function. To extend this learning, be sure to talk with your child about what you and other adults in their lives do, and help them make the connection between work and serving the greater good/needs of their community!
Mrs. McIntire's Marvelous Mighty Scholars!
Mrs. Pruitt's Perfectly Precious Scholars!
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