Newsletter
January 24,2003
619 State Highway 150 31 High Street
Parkman, ME 04443 Guilford, ME 04443
876-2656 876-4590
Parents: Kindergartners need your help... It is the time in their lives that they begin tying their own shoes, zipping their own coats, etc. Please help your child learn how to do these things for themselves. It will help them build self esteem and an appropriate level of independence.
Students at Guilford Primary School are looking forward to a Valentine's Breakfast on Friday, February 14th. Valentines will be exchanged sometime during the day. Teachers will send home class lists so that your child can give a valentine to each student in his/her class. Please contact Jimmy Bell (876-4025) or Stephen Northup (876-9739) if you would like to volunteer to help with the breakfast. Following are the times we need help:
Set-up: Thurs, Feb. 13 6:30 pm
Cooks: Fri., Feb. 14 6:00 am
Servers: Fri., Feb. 14 7:30 am
Playground: After Breakfast
The Guilford Primary School will be selling red carnations on Friday, Feb. 14, for Valentine's Day. Each carnation costs $1. The proceeds will be used for school activities.
Please send your carnation money to school in an envelope marked with your child's name and the number of carnations you would like to buy.
Friday, Jan. 31 is School Spirit Day at GPS and McKusick! Remember to wear your GPS or McKusick t-shirt or sweatshirt!
The Parkman Preschool is accepting registration for the 2003-04 year. Space in the program is limited to 20 children. Applications can be obtained from Louise Ringle, Center Coordinator by visiting the preschool or calling 876-4450.
"Raising a Reader"
Tips from the National
Association for the Education of Young Children:
1. Talk, sing and play with your child -- Kids rapidly pick up concepts and words they hear used. They become familiar with the sounds and rhythms of language. Talk with your child as they play describing their actions. For example, "I see you're brushing your doll's hair" or "I notice that you can make that big, red truck move fast."
2. Make time to read together each day. Reading to children broadens their world, introduces them to the joys of reading, and expands their knowledge and vocabulary. Children learn what readers do, starting from left to right and top to bottom. They become accustomed to print.
3. Choose books with care. Look for books that relate to what's happening in your child's life at the time, whether it's a family trip or new experience such as starting school.
4. Surround your child with reading material. Besides library books that come and go, children like having some books of their own that they can return to again and again. Also, consider subscribing to a good children's magazine. Kids love having something come in the mail for them.
5. Slow down and have fun. It's not just what you read but how you read that matters. When you rush through or drone along, children quickly lose interest. Read with expression, putting yourself in the story. Try doing different voices for the characters. Let your child help tell a story they know well.
6. Read it again and again. There's a lot in a story for children to take in, and children need and want to go through a book more than once. Children also delight in knowing what will come next. They also learn their favorite book so well that they can "read it" on their own, feeling very much like readers.
Assessment Reports - Assessment reports were sent home with your child today. Please note that all you need to return to school is the envelope with your signature. The report is yours too keep. Kindergarten reports also include the new pilot Mathematics Report Cards. Kindergarten parents are welcome to provide feed back about the pilot report's format. Please be specific about what may be missing, confusing or unclear.
The Starlab is coming next week. McKusick will enjoy it on Monday and Guilford Primary on Tuesday. Thank you to HUGS for bringing this program to our students.
Specials Schedule
Monday, Jan.27 Day 2
Tuesday, Jan. 28 Day 3
Wednesday, Jan. 29 Day 4
Thursday, Jan.30 Day 5
Friday, Jan. 31 Day 6
Monday, Feb. 3 Day 1
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Day 2
Wednesday, Feb. 5 Day 3
Thursday, Feb. 6 Day 4
Friday, Feb. 7 Day 5