Oh my goodness!  I can hardly believe that we have arrived at this festive time of year so soon!

First of all, the children performed beautifully on Friday.  They were justifiably proud of themselves - and I could not believe how much they have grown in just 3 1/2 months of school.

Thank you for sending them so well prepared with their smiling faces and outfits. 

The main task this week will be to maintain a calm atmosphere in the classroom.  The children are already super excited about the upcoming holiday.  I want to send them home happy at the end of the week. Having the performance last week was part of the strategy.

We will have pretty much the same routines as usual with only a few minor additions for the season.  

Here is the week at a glance:

Monday: We are finishing another special Christmas project with our buddy class.

Tuesday:  Please send along your child's library books.

Wednesday:  We will be having a very regular day.

Thursday:  Cookie day!  I have had parents volunteer to send cookie dough and some to come and bake with us.  Please send me an email confirmation.  I would like to make enough cookies to share with our buddies and to nibble on ourselves.

Friday:  We will be gathering our art work, doing some regular work, and sharing a movie with our other kindergarten friends.  We're watching the Polar Express.  I don't know how many times I have seen that movie but it is still one of my all time favourites!
  
As my parent group, I want you all to feel that we have the opportunity for open communication.  Please send me an email or call me at lunch or after school if you have any questions or concerns.  sstokes@sd73.bc.ca is where you can reach me.  I am always available after school for a chat with a couple days notice.

Have a great holiday season and I look forward to seeing all the children in 2012!









 

Then past two weeks have been busy as we prepare for our Christmas program.

Location:  Gym
Date:  Friday, Dec. 9
Time:  8:45
Theme:  Christmas songs and hockey
Costumes:  

• black or orange T-shirts turned inside out to hide logos
• hockey jersey only if you have one
• combed hair, clean faces and big smiles

In the next two weeks we will be having a lot of fun creating Christmas crafts.

On Thursday, Dec. 15, I would love for the children to bake ginger crinkles.  I have booked the kindergarten kitchen for the morning.  Please let me know if you can bring a batch of cookie dough and come and help us bake.  You may wish to just send along a batch of dough.  All help is appreciated.

Here's the recipe:
2/3 c vegetable oil
1 c white sugar
1 egg
1/4 c fancy molasses
1 3/4 c all purpose flour
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp each baking powder and soda
1/2 tsp salt
Whisk oil with sugar.  Whisk in egg until smooth.  Whisk in molasses.  In a separate bowl, mix all dry ingredients.  Pour in wet ingredients and stir until moist dough forms.  
Using a tablespoon, form dough into individual balls.  Roll each in sugar.  Bake on lightly greased cookie sheet.  375 degrees 12 minutes or until flattened, cracked and browned all over. Let cool completely.