WOH For Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021
The Kindergarten Classroom by Elonna Visser, Kindergarten Teacher
We are several weeks into the new school year, and the kindergarten class is definitely starting to settle into a routine! Kindergarten is a year of transition as students move from preschool or home to a more structured learning environment where they will continue to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally. There are various ways we help students feel engaged in this process and feel a sense of belonging in the classroom community so they can thrive in their new environment.
One way is by setting routines and expectations. Much of our time the first few weeks is spent on modeling, rehearsing, and reinforcing procedures that help us learn how to do school. We also discuss expectations that are designed to foster relationships and a sense of safety and belonging. These young learners thrive on consistency. Having predictable routines and expectations not only allows them to feel confident in their surroundings, but also helps us maximize our time spent learning as the year progresses.
Another way is by providing opportunities for students to feel valued and known. This happens in many impromptu ways throughout the day, but one of my favorite structured ways is during our morning meeting. Each day, one student shares a “wow,” something good that has happened in their lives, or a “pow,” something not so good, and then takes a few questions from the class. We’ve heard about camping trips, art projects, and family get-togethers. And we’ve heard about bicycle accidents, sick pets, and broken bones. These moments not only give me a peek into what’s important in their lives but also create meaningful interactions between the students that build connections.
And finally, we participate in hands-on activities across the curriculum. From integrating manipulatives into math lessons, to incorporating movement into literacy lessons, to conducting hands-on investigations in our science curriculum, students increase their engagement and become active participants in their own learning.
We hope students leave Kindergarten with experiences that foster a lifelong love of learning, develop a sense of responsibility, and affirm their worth in God’s eyes. I’m excited to see this goal come to fruition as the year progresses! To learn more about the Kindergarten program, join us for our Kindergarten Information Night tonight at 6 pm.
Kindergarten Information Night Tonight – 10/19 @ 6:00 PM
Kindergarten is a big milestone for your child, and there are many educational options to choose from. We want to help you with that decision by giving you information regarding kindergarten readiness and what to expect that first year. Join us tonight at 6 PM to learn more about how ready your child is for kindergarten and what kindergarten looks like at Hope School. Anyone is welcome to attend so invite your friends and family!
To attend this event, please register using this link: https://forms.gle/mmRdnsvH3rhjt5A86
Calendar of Events – Click Here
Tues. 10/19: 6:00 PM Kindergarten Information Night for Prospective Families
Wed. – Fri. Oct. 20-22: No School, Teachers Professional Development / ESC Open / ESC “XTRA” Open with Pre-registration here
Tues. 10/26: 7:00 PM PTH General Meeting
Wed. 10/27: 8:40 AM Chapel for K-4 & 9:05 AM Chapel for 5-8 Led by Pastor Peter
Tues. 11/2: School Picture Retake Day
Thurs. – Fri. Nov. 4-5: No School, Parent/Teacher Conferences / ESC “XTRA” Open with pre-registration here
Athletic Events – Click Here
Please note: Soccer practice for tomorrow, Oct. 20, has been cancelled.
Extended School Care Reminders
ESC “XTRA’ will be open during our Teacher Development no school days. You must pre-register to attend to ensure we have adequate staffing and we will not be able to accommodate last minute drop ins. No paid lunches will be provided during these days so please provide lunch for your student.
PTH General Meeting Scheduled for Tuesday, October 26 @ 7:00 PM
We will gather social distance style in the church commons for our 1st PTH general meeting. Our normal protocols will be followed so we will ask parents to mask up and use our hand sanitized as you enter the building.
You will meet our new PTH members, discuss what our year ahead will look like and talk about our biggest fundraiser this year, THE AUCTION! We look forward to seeing you! Questions can be emailed to pth@hopeseattle.org.
Sign up for Parent/Teacher Conferences!
When Hope parents are asked what they most appreciate about Hope Lutheran School, the relationships between families and teachers are what consistently rise to the top of the list. An important piece of this relationship is parent/teacher conferences, which will occur during the first week of November. Parent/teacher conferences for preschool will be in January.
K-8 student fall conferences are strongly encouraged. Conferences provide an opportunity to discuss how each child is performing, primarily cognitively but also socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
This year, most conferences will be held with the homeroom teacher only, including middle school. Please click on the link below to sign up for a conference time on November 4 and 5, 2021, with your student’s teacher. All conferences will be held via the homeroom teacher’s Zoom and will be 20 minutes in length.
https://sites.google.com/hopeseattle.org/hls-ptc-booking/home
Please let us know in the office if you have any questions about parent/teacher conferences; we look forward to meeting with all of you!
Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament (LEST) February 17-19, 2022
Registration forms are going home today for students in grades 5-8 for the annual Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament! LEST was hosted at Concordia University’s Portland campus for the first 58 years, and last year shifted to a virtual format due to Concordia’s closure and the pandemic. We are thrilled to share that LEST 2022 will be in person in Tacoma at various locations including mainly Concordia Christian Academy and Pacific Lutheran University. More information is in the Tuesday communication envelope and feel free to send questions to Tim Allen at tallen@hopeseattle.org, Kristen Okabayashi at kokabayashi@hopeseattle.org, or call the school office at (206) 935-8500. Go Eagles!
Recess Help Needed
Volunteers are needed to help supervise K-5 recess from 1:30-2:15 on Mondays. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jennifer Neafcy at jneafcy@hopeseattle.org. PIP hours apply.
Log Your PIP Hours
We are using our new SIS Gradelink to track volunteer hours. To log your hours, please log into your Gradelink account with your credentials and click on the Service Hours tab. Enter the activity and the time spent volunteering. Hours will be submitted to and approved by the front office. PIP or Parent Involvement Program hours are for families with students in grades K-8 and information on this program can be found in our handbook here.
Seattle Lutheran Open House – October 28, 2021 @ 7 pm
Interested in robotics and love to play soccer? Do you love the stage, and enjoy giving back to the community? At Seattle Lutheran you can do all those things! We invite you to join us as we talk about these programs and many others that students can participate and excel in while at SLHS. We have a unique and successful approach to education. Join us for our open house to discover if SLHS is the right fit for you. To register or for more information contact Sally Heit @ sheit@seattlelutheran.org. Personal tours available by appointment.