Give your little person a pat on the back or big hug and tell them they are awesome!! They worked very hard this week and were great listeners. The first days at school can be hugely overwhelming for new Kindergarten students and Team Awesome handled it extremely well, especially for having such a rushed start. I am very proud of them!
Oh! And I realized on Tuesday morning as I was introducing myself at my first interview, that I was so discombobulated on Monday that I neglected to introduce myself to ANY of those of you I met with.
I apologize- I am Amber, or Mrs. Bowden, sometimes called mom or gramma or auntie by the children. I will eventually get all your names down pat but thankfully there is no quiz any time soon!

• Just a reminder, again, not to send nut products in your child's lunch.
• If your child would like to leave a water bottle on the back counter they are welcome to do so. Please make sure their name is on it.
• We will participate in the Terry Fox run on Monday afternoon. If you would like to send a $1 donation, there is a jar in the office.
• Please do not send toys from home to school. They often get lost or broken and then copious amounts of crying ensues. And more crying, followed by yet more crying.
• I will have the VIP & Sharing schedule up soon. If your child is the VIP, there is nothing you need to do. If it is your child's turn for sharing please send them with something interesting to show the class.
• We will be having a fire drill next Friday and we will be practicing in class next week so the children are not frightened.
• School supplies fees go to the office. It is $40 for Kindergarten.
• Information verification forms went home today. Please check that all info is correct and return it to the office.
• Please return the High Five and Chirp subscription forms on Monday, whether you want to subscribe or not- just check the appropriate response.
• October family projects will go home next week and are due back on or before Tuesday Oct.14.
• As the weather gets more unpredictable, please make sure your child has some inside shoes on their shelf to change into.

Go forth and Be Awesome!

I hope all the Team Awesome members went home today with lots of stories to tell of the things we did and the new friends they made. We learned TONS of classroom and school routines today like how and when to tidy up, what whole body listening looks like, how to line up quietly at the door and fountain as well as proper bathroom etiquette. We will continue to practice our new skills and learn more school expectations for at least the next few weeks. But it wasn't all drudgery! We had some quiet time in the morning, participated in some movement songs on the smart board, played outside with Mrs. Farber's class, read Robert Munsch's funny book 'We Share Eveything!' and chose some toys to play with at the end of our class time. Who knew we could do so much in 2.5 hours?

A reminder that BEST is a nut aware school as we  not only have students with severe allergic reactions to peanuts and tree nuts in the school, but we also have nut allergies in our classroom this year. In order to minimize the chances of those students coming into contact with nuts I respectfully ask that you refrain from sending products with nuts in your child's lunch to school. If your child has eaten peanut butter or other nut products before leaving for school please have them wash their hands thoroughly with soap. Although we encourage young children to share, the students in our class will be discouraged from sharing their food, drinks and eating utensils with others in order to provide all children with safe conditions. I realize that helping us to maintain a nut-free classroom takes a certain amount of effort and diligence on your part, and I thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe, healthy environment for all of our students. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or the office at the school.
There are a number of spreads that are similar to peanut butter that are acceptable substitutions. SunButter (made of sunflower seeds), NoNuts Golden Peabutter (made of peas) or WOWBUTTER (made of soy) are all safe alternatives although they do not taste exactly like peanut butter.

Your child will come to school for their first time Wednesday, either from 8:30-11:00 or 12:00 to 2:30. Whether they attend in the morning or afternoon, a snack is needed. Balanced, nutritious snacks can help children maintain energy and lengthen their attention span throughout the day as well as provide fuel for growth and development. There are many options for healthy snacks that are low in sugar to provide your child with the zip they need until the next meal. Some suggestions are baby carrots or sliced apples, boiled eggs, whole grain crackers w/ cheese, pretzels, mini meatballs, applesauce, popcorn and drinkable yogurts. These options are all easily eaten by hand, come ready-to-eat and will fill a tummy until lunch time. Having your child choose their own snack makes them more likely to eat it. Happy snacking!

Yay!! It's finally here! I know you (and the new Ks) have been waiting for what seems like forever to come to school. I hope you and your child enjoyed the summer and that you are ready to embark on an important milestone in your child's life.  Kindergarten is a year of growing socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. Your involvement, interest, and enthusiasm will help make this a wonderful year of growth for you and your child.
Entering kindergarten is an exciting time but moving from the home or from a childcare center to the school environment can be an uncomfortable and overwhelming experience. I would like this transition to be as smooth and pleasant as possible for the children and though our graduated entry has been considerably shortened this year, I will do everything possible to ensure your child feels welcome. I look forward to meeting you all in the next few days and then jumping right into things before the end of the week.
See you soon!