The first days of kindergarten are filled with a special kind of magic. Fresh crayons wait to be used, tiny backpacks hang in a row, and classroom doors open to a year full of learning, playing, and growing.

We are two weeks into kindergarten now, and what a wonderful beginning it is! Routines are becoming familiar as your child finds their cubby, hangs up a backpack, joins morning circle, listens to stories, takes turns, uses kind words, opens a lunch container, and asks for help. Friendships are blooming at centers, on the playground, and during shared games, while learning is underway through letters, sounds, numbers, and practicing writing their name. Your kindergartner is singing songs, building with blocks, creating paintings, enjoying books, and making daily discoveries that turn learning into an adventure. Some moments still feel tricky, but each brave try helps confidence and independence grow. Celebrate the small victories, listen to the big stories, and remind your child that they belong. With your love and encouragement beside them, these first two weeks are already filled with wonder, growth, laughter, and exciting discoveries and there is so much more adventure ahead!

Exploring ways to sort items

Exploring ways to sort items

Exploring ways to sort items

Showing our thinking-how did you sort your items?

Showing our thinking-how did you sort your items?

We have been exploring rhyming words through nursery rhymes. After reading, students used play-dough, popsicle sticks and a pom-pom to see if they could build a sturdy wall for Humpty Dumpty!

We love the playground!!

We love the playground!

We have been exploring rhyming words through nursery rhymes. After reading, students used play-dough, popsicle sticks and a pom-pom to see if they could build a sturdy wall for Humpty Dumpty!

We pampered our moms last week! They were treated to massages, hair styling, nail painting, and served some yummy snacks. We hope you all felt loved on your special day!

One of my favorite things about St. James is how every class shows up to support each other. Each grade is known for special projects and presentations they do throughout the year and they are all valued. The older kids love remembering what they did for their PreK Talent Show or their Kindergarten 100 Day and the younger students get excited to plan what they will do when they are bigger. We were able to visit the second graders Community Helpers Project and the Middle School Shark Tank presentations this week. Students with older siblings were proud to show off their brothers and sisters and all of the kindergarteners were excited to see “big kid” work.

My husband joined the class to help us build a planter box for the St. James Gala and Auction. This is always a fun day for everyone. My husband likes meeting all the kids that he’s heard funny stories about, the class loves getting to do something new and different, and I get a chance to see everyone work on new skills. Sometimes that is something as simple as communicating with a new adult. Each student had a chance to work with a power drill or a manual screwdriver and put together a few pieces of the planter. Everyone was proud of their work. We can’t wait for our planter to go home with someone!

We recently celebrated 100 days of school! 100 days of learning, growing, and encouraging each other. After a week of no school due to icy weather we were ready to have some fun. What better way to celebrate than by dressing up like we were 100 years old! Many giggles ensued after seeing everyone’s canes, walkers, and granny and gramps wigs! The students were excited to finally be able to wear (and eat) their Froot Loop necklaces that they had worked so hard on. I was excited that there was almost no complaining while making the necklaces. Counting and threading 100 small pieces of cereal is no easy task for little fingers! In the afternoon we started our 100 Day centers. Students stacked 100 cups, built 100 Legos, put numbers in order from 1 to 100, made trail mix with 100 pieces, and our personal favorite, tried to finish a sucker in 100 licks. It was such a fun day filled with even more learning and growing!