The Polar Express

We hear the silver bell at Christmas time because we believe in Santa, the elves, and the North Pole?  Do you hear it too?


The Polar Express - slideshow

Holiday Greetings,

Children love Christmas, that's for sure! There are so many fun holiday activities to do with the students in class. So far, everyone enjoyed listening or watching videos of Christmas stories, made a gingerbread glyph,painted a Polar Express scene, and tore paper to create Santa.  Math games included skip counting with snowmen or reindeer and practiced even/odd numbers with mittens.
Since keiki and Christmas go together like bread and butter, they can be sure there are many more fun things to do at this time of the year!

Skip counting is an important skill the keiki need to learn.  This will help them to count a large number of items quickly and to count money. Please encourage them to practice skip counting on a regular basis. Most of them are comfortable skip counting by 5s and 10s, but need to work on the 2s. 

Please have your child bring in a 7"x10" piece of Christmas gift wrap (foil or paper) by Thursday, December 12th for an activity. Mahalo.

Please remember:

• Wednesday, December 11 - Library books due
• Thursday, December 12 - Piece of Christmas wrap due
• Friday, December 13th - Ornament for 3rd Grade Buddy due
• Friday, December 13th - December myON Reading assignment and Book Share due
• Wednesday, December 18th - If you wish to share Holiday Goodie Bags, please bring them in by this date. Distribution will be on Thursday, December 19th.
• Friday, December 20th - Winter Program, 9:00 in the Social Hall.  Please advise if you plan to sign your child out before the 11:30 dismissal.  There will be no Afterschool Care.

Have a nice weekend,
Mrs. Lee

I am Thankful for....

What are you thankful for at this time of year?  Listen as we share our thoughts.

This free digital slideshow customized with Smilebox Aloha Parents, The students have begun practicing Holiday songs for the Winter Program. Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten students will perform in the Social Hall beginning at 9:00am. Grades 1-8 will begin their Winter Program at 10:00. All Kindergarten classes will return to their classrooms for photos.  Early dismissal is scheduled for 11:30am. Please notify me if there is a need to take your child home earlier. The keiki will be wearing special Kindergarten screen printed t-shirts (with dark pants, shorts, skirts, etc.) made for this occasion and future school events. Please note the following dates as we approach the busy holiday season: Wednesday, December 4th - Library Books due. Friday, December 6th - Bodhi Day Service. Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of Enlightenment on this day while he was under the Bodhi tree in North India. Please dress your child appropriately for this Temple Service. Friday, December 13th - myON Reading assignment and December Book Share due. Friday, December 13th - Holiday Ornament for your child's buddy due. Please wrap and label it. Wednesday, December 18th - If you wish to share Holiday Goodie Bags, please bring them in by this date. Distribution will be on Thursday, December 19th. Friday, December 20th - Winter Program in the Social Hall at 9:00am. As a teacher, I am grateful for the Kindergarten students I have in my class and the parents who support their education.  I wish that all teachers would enjoy the same level of support  that I have at Hongwanji Mission School. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Mrs. Lee  

Kuakini Hale Pulama Mau

Singing and sharing happiness brought smiles from the residents at Kuakini Hale Pulama Mau. We really enjoyed performing so many songs for them.

Create a picture slideshow   Aloha Parents,   Please remember the following dates: Monday, November 25th - Book Orders due Wednesday, November 27th - Library books due Thursday, November 27th - K-1 and 3rd Grade Buddy Lunch. Your child's lunch contribution can be brought in either Wednesday or Thursday. Thursday, November 27th - Thanksgiving Service in the Temple. Please dress your child appropriately. One canned good donation requested from each Kindergarten student. Thursday and Friday, November 28th-29th - Thanksgiving break Friday, December 13th - December myON reading assignment  Friday, December 13th - December Book Shares due Malama pono, Mrs. Lee 

K-1 Weather Report

Weather is the changes in the air around us. We want to learn more about it so we can plan our clothes and our outdoor activities.

Picture slideshow made with Smilebox         Aloha kakou,   Thanksgiving will be here soon!  To prepare the keiki for this annual holiday, they have been busy creating pictures with  descriptive sentences about the first Thanksgiving. All the directional art pictures will be similar to a flow map to show what happened centuries ago.  They will share their 'First Thanksgiving' booklet and learning with the first grade class in a few weeks.   Dates to remember: Wednesday, November 20th - Library Books due Friday, November 22nd - November myON Reader assignment due Friday, November 22nd -  November Book Shares due.  Please advise when your child is ready for his/her Book Share. Friday, November 22nd - Kuakini Hale Pulama Mau visit.  Attire - HMS t-shirt and shorts/pants/skirt. Malama pono, Mrs. Lee 

Everything Math

Yippee for Math Games! That is the best way to learn about numbers, shapes, and  everything Math!


Everything Math on PhotoPeach



Aloha kakou,

Just a reminder regarding the Snack Card policy for Kindergarten students effective Tuesday, November 12th.  Items selected (one drink and/or one food item per child) from the Cafe will be charged on the $20 Snack Card. You may purchase the Snack Card at the Office and the cards will be kept at the Cafe.

Please remember:

• Monday, November 11th - Veterans Day, No school
• Wednesday, November 13th -  Library books due
• Friday, November 15th - Parent Teacher Conferences in K-1.  Your child is invited to attend.
• Friday, November 22nd - November myON Reader and Book Share assignments due

Have  a nice Veterans Day weekend,
Mrs. Lee

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Halloween Fun 2013

What do you like about Halloween?  Most of us admitted we like the candy the best, but dressing up and seeing people get scared are other reasons why we like Halloween!

This picture slideshow created with Smilebox

Aloha Parents,

Everyone was in the Halloween spirit on Thursday and had loads of fun!  The parade was the best ever and the Pizza Hut lunch was a hit too.  Mahalo for those who shared goodie bags with their peers! There was enough goodies/treats for them to last a long, long time.

The Kindergarten classes will celebrate the 100th day of school (January 17th) which is literally the 100th day of the school year. From the very first day of school, they began keeping track of the number of days they've been in school in anticipation of the 100th day. More importantly, it is a wonderful way for the keiki to celebrate the various mathematical concepts that they have learned using the number 100.

It has been a tradition for the students, with their parents, to work together and create something that will be shared on our 100th day of school! So........the 100th Day project is...... a 100th Day T-Shirt to be worn on our 100th day of school! Brainstorm with your child so s/he can pick 100 objects to decorate a t-shirt with. Objects that could be used include ribbons, sequins, buttons, etc.  They can be glued, drawn, tied, painted, or sewn on. For added educational value, encourage your keiki to practice counting by 5's and 10's while laying out 100 objects; this will help boost their counting skills.

Please note the following dates:

• Wednesday, November 6th - Library books due
• Wednesday, November 6th - Recycle bags due
• Thursday, November 7th - School Preview Performance of Little Mermaid Jr.,1:00pm
• Friday, November 8th - Kuakini Pulama Mau consent form due
• Friday, November 22nd - myON Reading assignments (minimum of 5 books) and Book Share due

A hui hou,
Mrs. Lee

Big Monsters!

Halloween is on the way so we listened to many different and funny monster stories.   We collected data such as the monster story we liked the best, our age, favorite color, and created not quite so scary monsters!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Aloha Parents,

Book Sharing was a wonderful experience this month.  Your child's point of view was offered with a visual aid.  This was an opportunity for everyone to practice their speaking in front of the class, as well as developing other skills. Their presentation involved making eye contact with  the audience and preparing how to show something in a way that was understandable and enjoyable to their peers. It was exciting for everyone.

This Book Share activity will continue through most of the school year. Incentive Pizza Hut coupons will also be distributed as a 'carrot'. I'm sure you are having as much fun coaching your child at home as s/he is presenting it to the class! You are all fabulous speech coaches!

Dates to Remember:

• Friday, October 25th - Fire Safety Guides, Recycle Bags, Book Shares for October due
• Monday, October 28th - Return of the Menehune consent forms and payment due
• Tuesday, October 29th - Return of the Menehune performance, Social Hall beginning at 1:00pm
• Wednesday, October 30th - Library books due
• Wednesday, October 30th - If you plan to share Halloween Goodie bags, please bring them in by this date
• Thursday, October 31st - Halloween Parade (Social Hall) and Luncheon
• Kindergarten start time is 8:40
• Come to school dressed in costumes
• Change of clothes needed.  You are welcome to assist them in changing and taking the costumes home.
• Kindergarten Grade Level Pizza Lunch
•  Friday, November 1st - Flu shots

Have a fun and safe weekend,
Mrs. Lee