PreK HIS: August 2012

Thursday, August 30, 2012

First Week of School!

Friday, August 31, 2012

So one week is completed in the Pre-K class!!! We had a great week getting to know each other and the routines of the school and classroom. My first goal of any school year is for the students to get accustomed to me and the school. Once they are comfortable then we can start to learn. We did a lot of introductory games and practiced basic procedures of the classroom. Our first unit is called “All About Me” and we do a lot of things with our name and ourselves. Some students do not yet know their English name that well. Could you please practice addressing your child by their English name over the weekend. This will help with the adjustment at school.

Our library time this year will be every Tuesday and each child will be able to take out one or two books. Could you please ensure that the books are brought back by the following Tuesday each week so your son or daughter will be able to take out another book. If they do not then they won’t be able to take home a new book.

The Pre-K’s will not be using a communication book this year. The administration and I believe that since I see most parents at least once a day it would be more effective if I discuss any concerns face to face. This will stop any miscommunication that might occur. If I do not see you and you have a question or concern you can always write me an email.

Yesterday the P.E uniforms went home with every child. On Friday could you please dress your child in this uniform for P.E along with suitable outdoor running shoes. Also during any field trip or special day could you please ensure that they are dressed in the P.E uniform.

If your child is sick and will need medicine administered to them at school could you please let me know by email or in person. I sometimes do not check the student’s bag in the morning, so I might miss seeing the medicine.

Next week we will begin our literacy and math centres. Our literacy centres will involve many things involving the students’ names and in math we are starting with basic one to one correspondence and counting 1 to 5.

Cheers

Braedon

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

Benjamin Franklin

Reminders

September 13 Parent intro meeting

September 28 Monthly Assembly

September 30 Mid-Autumn Festival

October 1-5 Awareness Week

October 8 Canadian Thanksgiving

October 10 Double Ten holiday

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

First Day of School

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Welcome Letter

August, 20, 2012

A little about me

Firstly, welcome to Pre Kindergarten! This is going to be a very enjoyable and exciting year for you and your child. My name is Braedon Sharp and I am from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This is my third year teaching at HIS. I have also taught in India, Toronto and Taipei.

INFORMATION OVELOAD!

I understand that this is a busy time for you as parents. There will be a lot of information coming home from the administration as well as from classroom teachers. If you have more than one child attending school, it must be quite a task to sift through all of the information. I do need to stress, however, that there will be some important details coming home so please check your child’s backpack every day for paperwork that requires your attention. If you have any special notes for me you can put them in their backpack or even better hand them to me directly at the beginning or end of the day.

Another great way to receive information about what is occurring inside the Pre-K classroom is through my blog hisprek.blogspot.com. I will update it every Friday and post pictures and other notices throughout the week. Please try to check it regularly as I now send most information this way. Contact me if you have any questions or concerns about any of the information that is being sent home or on the blog!

CONTACTING ME

One of the great things about Kindergarten is the regular (and very necessary) contact with parents and caregivers. I will be using a communication book that will get sent home in your child’s bag daily, if you have any questions or concerns you can write it inside the book. I check my email frequently and you can email me at bsharp.his@gmail.com. Please email me with any questions or concerns you have. We can always make appointments to meet in person if necessary at a time that works for all of us. I have included information below that will give you some valuable information about our year together.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

School starts at 8:20am with play activity in the morning.  Sharing time will begin at 8:45am.  At 3:10 students will be dismissed from the classroom.  Parents/caregivers are asked to wait outside the doors for non bus-children and I will dismiss your child as I see you.  Your child’s safety is very important so they will be released only to adults/siblings that are on the dismissal list.  If someone else will pick up your child could you please let the office and me know ahead of time.   It is important to be waiting for your child at 3:10 as they often panic if you are not there waiting for them.

ABSENCE

 Please call the school and inform the office if your child is going to be absent.   If you are aware of an absence in advance (i.e. appointment, trip) please call the school or inform me.

CLOTHING AT SCHOOL

Some Kindergarten activities are messy!  Your child will be involved in sand, water, glue, paint, play dough, and outdoor play.  It is important for your child to be dressed in comfortable play clothes and running shoes.  Accidents occasionally happen, so please put a bag of extra clothes (with your child’s name on it) into their backpack.  I will take it out and keep it in their cubby and if an accident occurs and you find extra clothes in your child’s bag please remember to bring them back the following day.  Also, please remember to put your child’s name on everything that comes to school (especially shoes, outdoor clothing and food containers).

Supplies

There are some items that each child will be required to use in the class to use on a daily basis. To promote the concept of sharing all supplies will be communal. Could you please bring the following to school. Since the Pre-K numbers have grown this year could you please try to send your son or daughter to school with a smaller book bag/backpack.

Could you please bring the following to school:

1. 1 package of wax crayons (twistable kind is ideal)

2. 1 package of pencil crayons

3. 1 package of markers (a package12 is ideal)

4. a package of erasers

5. a package of thick easy grip pencils and regular pencils

6. a pair of scissors

7. 2 glue sticks (UHU stic brand is ideal)

8. a sleeping bag

9. water bottle

TREASURE BAG

I will be sending home our Treasure Bag with a student every night (beginning in late September). This is our version of show and tell. Please enjoy helping your child pick out something special to share with the class and help them prepare for the clues that they will give their classmates. This is your child’s chance to share that special toy that they really want to bring to school as we ask that they do not bring their own toys in on the other school days. Instructions will also be sent home inside the treasure bag in both English and Chinese.

COMMUNICATION FOLDER

Each student will have their own plastic folder that will go home when there are letters, books etc that need to be taken home. Please check it nightly and return it every morning. If you are sending money, please place it in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name, the amount enclosed and the reason for the payment.

LIBRARY

Soon your child will begin to bring home a library book. Our class will be going to the library a once a week. More information will follow regarding library procedures.

**Please send in 2 recent photos of your child to be used in a class activity (they will not be returned). Also if available could you send in a photo of something your family did during their summer holidays.

If you have any questions regarding any of this information, please come visit me or email me at bsharp.his@gmail.com. I am looking forward to a terrific year with you and your children.

Braedon Sharp J

“All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten!”- R.Fulgham

Pre-K Class Schedule

Originally from just outside Toronto, Canada, Mr Sharp received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the maritime province of New Brunswick at the University of New Brunswick. College was his first taste of travelling away from home, then after graduation he took off right away to Taiwan. His reason for first coming here was that his undergraduate studies included Taiwan - after a few courses he knew that he had to see this beautiful country. He taught Kindergarten and Physical Education in Taipei for two years before heading back home to Canada. In Canada he taught Grades 7 and 8 for one year. He did enjoy his time teaching the older grades but he knew that his talent and heart was teaching the youngest students. After only one year in Canada Mr. Sharp left his homeland again, travelling to Bangalore, India, to teach Pre-Kindergarten. This year, Mr. Sharp will be continuing with what he feels he does best - teaching the Pre-K class.

Mr. Sharp firmly believes in the importance of learning in all areas in the Pre-K class and is never afraid to push his students to do things that they never thought they could accomplish. Through positive interactions and goal-oriented teaching all students can learn successfully. Don’t be surprised to see Mr. Sharp engaging with his students on the ground or interacting with them as if he is 4 years old! He loves relating to his students and learning with them. He feels that he is always learning when he is in the classroom.

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Sharp is an avid runner and swimmer. When in Canada he swam nationally and internationally. He is starting a swim team at HIS and is very excited about spending time coaching students in this activity.

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