Welcome to Mrs. Cody's Class of Learners

Monday, September 7, 2026

Kinder News 1 September 7, 2026

Welcome to Kindergarten! 🍎

We're busy building our classroom family! The first two weeks of school are a special time to build friendships, learn our way around, and feel at home in our new space. The children are all amazing, and I really enjoy working with each of them. I am so impressed with how well they help each other and how kind they are!

I look forward to a year filled with wonder, growth, and joy.

A Note for Families

It is normal for children (and parents!) to feel a little nervous during the first few days. A quick, confident goodbye at the door helps your child settle into their routine and start the day successfully!

Our Daily Routines
Arrival			Students enter the room, hang up their backpacks in their cubbies, put their red folders in their mailboxes, and place water bottles in the water bottle station. Then we have morning meeting.
Snack Time			We gather for a healthy snack. This is a great time for us to practice our manners and have quiet conversations. We also read a book together at snack time. Our snack is in the afternoon.
Packing Up			At the end of the day, we check our folders, pack our bags, and sit at our table spots. We share about our favorite parts of the day at the microphone before heading home.

Family Connection (some ideas for talking with your kindergartener about school): What letters did you do last week? What is Heggerty? What number are we learning to count to? How can you earn gems?

Our First Two Weeks of Learning

The first two weeks of Kindergarten focus on building our community and learning how to be students. Here's what we have been exploring together and how you can keep the learning going at home.

Subject	What We Did	How to Support at Home
Math	We practiced counting our friends and crayons during circle time and explored math manipulatives (like geo blocks, counting chips, and pattern blocks). We also practiced counting to 100 and beyond.	Count everyday objects together, like the number of steps to the front door or the number of pieces of fruit in a bowl.
Literacy	We focused on the letters in our own names, practiced listening to stories, and started identifying the first sounds in simple words.	Read together for 10 minutes every night. Point out the first letter of your child's name when you see it on signs or in books.
Science	We became 'Scientists' by observing the life cycles of our painted lady butterflies. We released 5 butterflies.	Discuss metamorphosis and the life stages of the butterfly!

💡 A Note for Families

Transitioning to Kindergarten is a big step! If your child seems extra tired or emotional after school, that is very normal. A consistent bedtime and a few minutes of quiet 'debrief' time can help them process their exciting new days.

We are having so much fun exploring our new classroom!

Books We Shared

During our first two weeks, we read several special stories to help us feel at home in our new classroom. These books help us talk about our feelings, learn each other's names, and understand what it means to be a kind friend. 📚

💡 Quick Tip

Reading together for just 10 minutes a day helps your child build a love for stories and improves their listening skills for the classroom!

Important Dates & Reminders 🗓️

Upcoming Event

Date & Time

🏫 Open House

September 24, 5:30-6:30

📚 Picture Day

September 24 or 25

Bus Evacuation Practice

September 9, 8:45

📝 Family Checklist

Help your child have a successful start by checking off these items:

Check folders daily for important notes and student work.
Label all belongings, including backpacks, lunchboxes, and jackets.
Pack a healthy snack and a labeled water bottle each day.

A Note on Labeling:

In Kindergarten, many students have backpacks or jackets in the same color. Using a permanent marker to write your child's first and last name on the inside tag helps us return lost items quickly! 🧥

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Kinder News #11 Art Show/Field Trip/Updates

Hi Kindergarten Families,

I will be out this Thursday and Friday for family reasons. During that time, Mrs. Whalen and/or Mrs. Beupre will be helping our class with the Art Show—many thanks to both of them for their support!

Please enjoy the news and updates below

Important Dates:

Thursday, May 7 – Kindergarten Art Show (6:00–7:00 PM)
Tuesday, May 12 – ECO at Harrison Field
May 18 – Early Release Day (12:45 dismissal)
May 21 – Family Fitness Night (6:00–7:15 PM)
Tuesday, May 26 – ECO at Harrison Field
Thursday, June 2 – Field Trip (9:30–1:00)
Friday, June 12 – Last Day of Kindergarten
Friday, June 12 – Field Day

Art Show Reminder:
Kindergarten Music Sing-Along and Art Show
Thursday, May 7, 2026
6:00 PM
Union Elementary School (Big Gym & Playground)

Field Trip Information:
We will visit the North Branch Nature Center on Thursday, June 2, from 9:30–1:00. Chaperones are welcome! If you are interested, please contact the school (annahipko@mpsvt.org) to complete the Chaperone and Level II Volunteer forms (completing this process takes time).

Permission slips are attached and will also be sent home in red folders on Monday.

Please make sure your child:

Bring a snack and lunch (I will order school lunches if needed)
Bring a water bottle (no glass)
Wears comfortable clothing and footwear
Comes with sunscreen already applied (you may also pack extra)
Optional: bug spray

Science / SEL / Theme:
We are on Day 5 of egg incubation and eagerly waiting for Day 21! Students are writing in their chick journals and learning about what is happening inside the eggs each day.

Other learning highlights:

Life cycles
Time with our 4th-grade buddies (they made us mini stuffed animals!)
Ocean Day
Signs of spring
Learning about the 50 states and the U.S. flag (Let’s Find Out Magazine)
The importance of bees

Literacy:

Silent “e” rule (hive, robe, cake, etc.)
R-controlled vowels
Open syllables
Reviewing sounds (d and t)
Writing sentences using prepositions (to, from)
Kindergarten/1st grade heart words
Decoding K/1 readers
Journal writing

Math:

Finished Unit 6: Teen Numbers (10 + some ones)
New Unit 7: Building Shapes (counting shapes & equations)
Addition review (to 10)
Math story problems (addition/subtraction)
Number formation (0–20)
Counting backward from 29

Last Day of School:
The last day of kindergarten is Friday, June 12, 2026. As in previous years, the days leading up to it may be used to screen incoming kindergarten students. Please contact the main office with any questions.

Thank you for your continued support!