November proved to be an exciting time for reading & writing in Kindergarten. #WHe focused on writing “real” stories. Students continue to learn how to write from their own experiences. They write about their "weekend news" and "favorite foods". You might be thinking, “how are they writing when they are still learning letters?” Students are learning to sound out words, label drawings or just write the beginning sounds for items in their drawings. In December, we will continue this process and also work on building our stamina to draw and write with details.

In math, students are learning to count by 10’s when we count the number of days we have been in school. If WHe are right, we believe it to be 57 days as of December 1st. Try counting the days with your child(ren) at home. WHe continue to compare numbers i.e.: bigger/smaller, more/less etc. Students are comparing lengths of objects and deciding which is longer/shorter by lining up items side by side. In addition, students are learning about 2D shapes, in particular, looking at the width and height of objects. Invite your child(ren) to find some objects around the house and have a shape hunt together!

Throughout all of the Chestnut learning progressions, students have been "persisting". Habits of Mind lessons are always woven into the monthly lesson planning cycle. Be sure to ask your child what he or she may have "mastered" or "persisted" with in the last week. Our students are becoming adept with language and you may hear them use this phrase, "I can't do that...yet." The power of yet teaches students that they can learn and that learning takes time & effort. Helping children adopt this mindset, that includes the concept of “yet," allows them to shift to a more positive perspective and outlook on life, empowering them to reach their fullest potential. Kindergarteners are growing at such a quick pace. It's important to focus on building healthy habits and embracing mistakes and making them a normal part of the learning process. I've added an article below outlining the power of "yet" with additional resources specific to early learning - take a look.

Thank you to all the parents - #WHe appreciate your partnership. Please enjoy time together with family & friends during the holiday season. #WHe wish you all peace and love.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out and call the main office - #WHe are always here to help!

Dr. Lisa Minicozzi

• Play board games with your child(ren) to practice taking turns.
• When reading you can ask your student to guess the word by looking at the first sound and using the picture to help.
• Ask your child to identify sight words in the texts they see.
• When listening to music with your child, ask them to listen for rhyming words.
• Use a family calendar and show your child the date. Practice counting down to winter break or the new year.

• If your child will be absent, please call Nurse Angela before 8:30 AM at 516-390-3155
• Kindly ensure your child has a full change of clothes in the classroom.
• If there will be a change in your child's afternoon transportation, please write a note or email to the teacher. For last-minute changes, please call Mrs. Ventura or Mrs. White before 2:00 PM. 516-390-3150
• Please select your child's daily lunch order on the printed menu by circling or highlighting the choices and return it to school ASAP. The link for the menus is below. Please note, at times the item listed on the menu may not be available and your child will be offered an alternative option.
• Please do not block the driveways of the homes around our school. Our neighbors have reached out to express concern about their driveways being blocked during drop-off and dismissal. Thank you for your cooperation.

If you or someone you know has a child who is eligible for PreK or Kindergarten for 2025, please call Mrs. Ventura today at 516-390-3150 to find out about our upcoming registration. We still have some remaining spots for this year open. Eligibility requirements: resident of the WHUFSD and born between 12/2/2019 and 12/1/2020.

12/10: BOE Mtg. @ 7:30 SS VCR Room

12/23-1/1: Schools Closed

1/2: Schools Re-Open (Day 5)

The Habits of Mind are an identified set of 16 problem solving, life related skills, which contribute to creating a healthier learning environment. The habits are cross-curricular and applied throughout the West Hempstead UFSD, in all grades and levels. Currently in kindergarten, we are focusing on Persisting.

Persisting is the first among habits of mind that teach students to "stick to it". It encourages and emphasizes that students should remain focused during the entire process of learning or completing a task. Click on the graphic to watch a video to learn more.