Monday, August 29, 2011

Welcome!

Dear Parents,
Welcome to Kindergarten! We are so happy to have your child in Room 7 and can’t wait to get started!
Included in this blog post is some information you need to know for the year. Our classroom is going to thrive on routine, so please make yourself comfortable with the schedule.  If at any point during the year you have questions, comments, or concerns, I can be reached every evening through our classroom’s email address and weekly here through our blog (see “Contact Information” below).

Homework Packet
Every Monday, your child will receive his/her homework for the week. A copy of it will be posted in the front office and a list of the items due will be posted on our blog. The packet is to be completed at home and turned in on Friday morning.  The packets will include alphabet work, math skills, phonics, and classroom themed projects. 

Book Worm Bag
Each Friday, your child will be taking home a Book Worm Bag for the weekend.  In this bag will be a book, a School-Home Links worksheet (as developed by the U.S. Department of Education), and a library card. Over the weekend, please put aside a little time to complete the bag. You can read the book to your child, together with your child, or hopefully (close to the end of the year) your child can read it to you! Then, compete the worksheet, fill out the library card, and return the whole bag on Monday.  The children will be sharing the books over the year, so it will be cool to see who’s “checked out” the books before them. 

Volunteering
Many of you have asked already if you can come in to help out. It completely touches my heart to see such a warm community of Kindergarten parents as eager for the year as we are. Yes! I would love your help. I have specific projects and smaller “jobs” to fill over the year, along with the help we are bound to need for our holiday parties. Please fill out the volunteer form and we’ll be in touch! Thank you, in advance, for your presence and involvement in our classroom...

Contact Information
Our classroom Blog and Email are up and running! Our weekly activities will be posted on www.room7scholars.blogspot.com.  I can be reached every evening via email at rm7scholars@gmail.com. School-wide activities are also posted on our Town & Country Farm School Facebook page, so if you haven’t already “liked” us, please do so.  
Just so you know... I have a strict OPEN DOOR policy! If you need anything, I encourage you visit our blog, email me, talk to Ms. Diane, and/or stop by the classroom for a chat.

Who are the Room 7 Scholars?
Lastly, I want you to know how much I value education and how much I respect the act of educating children. I feel very fortunate to be a teacher! Because of that, every child who enters my classroom is a scholar.  I strongly believe that every child is unique and every child should be given the opportunity to succeed. Every child deserves an education. Your child is no exception and, therefore in my mind, merits a more befitting title at school than simply “student.” 
Cheers to the beginning of something special!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Stuhr 
(pronounced “stir”)
Rebecca Stuhr, M.Ed.

































Monday, August 15, 2011

Welcome (Almost) to Kindergarten!


Dear Kindergarten Parents,
Welcome to your child’s Kindergarten year... almost! While school doesn’t officially start until Monday, August 29th, I want to take this opportunity to formally introduce myself to your family and tell you a few things about the upcoming school year.
Your Child’s New Teacher
I grew up in Northern California, close to the Santa Cruz mountains. I have been involved in education for the last twenty years. I began as an assistant to a Kindergarten teacher and during the late 90’s, I taught first grade for three years. When I graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Anthropology and a minor in Fine Arts, we moved to Southern California. I decided to step away from teaching for a few years and explore other fields, namely in construction and insurance. It wasn’t long before I went back to the field I was most comfortable. My last “office” job was with the California State University, Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach. I worked closely with the CSU Foundation Board of Governors, donors, and students to promote academic excellence. I’d still be there today if it weren’t for my overwhelming desire to be back in the classroom. 
After leaving the Chancellor’s Office, I obtained my Master’s in Education and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Pepperdine University and readied myself to go get a teaching job!  ... And, then we decided to have Navah (as you might know, we have a three-year old daughter who also attends TCFS).  I stayed at home with her, and planned to stay with her until she was ready for Kindergarten, but then an amazing opportunity became available at TCFS. Last year I taught 1st/2nd grade and this year I am honored to be teaching Kindergarten!
For August 15th - 26th
During these next two weeks, I will be busy setting up Room 7 (our classroom) for the year. I ask that your child come to school everyday with a backpack, lunch, and rest-time accouterments (blanket and pillow).   In the morning we will be doing art projects and reading. In between those, I will be conducting preliminary assessments on your child. I will be looking for the things learned last year so that I can plan our curriculum accordingly. 
Contact
Starting today, our classroom Blog and email are up and running! Our weekly activities will be posted on http://www.room7scholars.blogspot.com (beginning the week of August 29th).  I can be reached daily via email at rm7scholars@gmail.com. Weekly school updates are also posted on our TCFS Facebook page, so if you haven’t already “liked” us, please do so.  And just so you know... I have a strict OPEN DOOR policy! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns I encourage you visit our blog, email me, talk to Ms. Diane, and/or stop by the classroom for a chat.  
Room 7 Scholars
Most importantly, I want you to know how much I value education and how much I respect the act of educating children. I feel very fortunate to be a teacher! Because of that, every child who enters my classroom is a scholar.  I strongly believe that every child is unique and every child should be given the opportunity to succeed. Every child deserves an education. Your child is no exception and, therefore in my mind, merits a more befitting title than simply “student.”
I look forward to working with your family as the year progresses. I’ll be sending home a Welcome Packet the first week of school so that you have an opportunity to tell me about yourselves (it will also include more specific information about the entire school year and what to expect academically and socially). 
Cheers (almost) to the beginning of something special!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Stuhr