K-1 Site
Kindergarten and First Grade Site at Memorial School
160 North Street
Annette Gallagher - Program Director
annette.map@comcast.net
(508) 359-2165
(508) 359-5098 (fax)
Kindergarten and First Grade Newsletter
Tooth Brushing at K-1 MAP
Click on the link below to learn more about the different MAP options:
AM MAP & PM K
PM MAP & AM K
Full Day K
First Grade
AM & PM MAP for Kindergarteners
Free play is followed by snack. We serve a variety of snacks, fruit, and 100% juice daily.
After snack the children come together for Group Time. This is a theme based time together for fun and learning. Teachers plan themes that are interesting, and that appeal to the children. After group there is a project, activity, game, or song that goes along with the theme and that day’s learning. It could be cooking, arts & crafts, a game, science experiments, drama, sports, magic, creative movement, etc...
After project there is time for free play outside where they can choose from an organized game or make up their own. After outside free play the children come inside for lunch.
All children bring their lunch to MAP. MAP provides milk and water, and has a microwave oven for heat-ups. After lunch, the children listen to a story while they await the start of school. Children are then walked by their MAP teachers to their classrooms.
Next, the children come together for Group Time. This is a theme based time together for fun and learning. Teachers plan themes that are interesting and that appeal to the children. After group there is a project, activity, game, or song that goes along with the theme and that day’s learning. It could be cooking, arts & crafts, a game, science experiment, drama, sports, magic, creative movement, etc...
After project there is time for free play in the room. The children can choose from the computers, dramatic play, blocks, games, recycle art and the book area.
Following free play, the children have snack. We serve a variety of snacks, fruit, and 100% juice daily.
After snack there is a short quiet time. We read stories, listen to story books on tape, and sometimes watch videos related to the theme or season. After quiet time we go outside to the playground.
Families of kindergarteners have the choice of picking up their child from the program at 2:45, 4:15 or before 6:00 p.m.
First Graders and Kindergartners coming to MAP at dismissal are greeted in the hall by a MAP teacher and attendance is taken. The children are walked over to MAP, they put their things away in a cubby, and wash their hands before sitting down together for snack. MAP serves a variety of snacks, fruit, and 100% juice or water daily. After snack we read a story and then head out to the play ground for free play.
At 3:30 the children are gathered together to hear their choices for the afternoon. Children may choose teacher-directed projects or clubs, to play outside, to go to the gym for organized games, or to come to the MAP room for free play. Children then have the choice to move between the MAP room and the gym in the afternoons until we clean up and come back together for quiet time at 5:30. At quiet time we play group games or read stories until the children are picked up at 6:00 p.m.
Kindergarten & First Grade Newsletter
February 2012
AM MAP/PM K
We would like to take the time to say Happy New Year to all of our MAP families – may it be full of smiles, adventure, and good health. We started our MAP new year with a Fresh Start. We made New Year’s hats for our movie and popcorn festival. Captain Cubby paid a visit and drilled the children on proper cubby packing and Kim helped the kids learn how to get their snow gear on quickly, efficiently, and with ease.
The following week was spent in the Arctic. Teri taught about polar bears and the differences between the Arctic and Antarctic. Kurt taught about the origin of the Iditarod sled dog race. Kim explained how penguins survive in such a harsh environment. Teri shared the story of Kumak’s Fish Tale, which the kids acted out.
Transportation was our next theme. Kurt attempted a project that totally flopped. They tried to make self-propelled vehicles using CDs and other recycled materials, but had to settle on cool CD spinning tops. Kim taught about the Wright brothers defying the odds and successfully taking flight. Teri read Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel.
Our last full week of January was spent adding, subtracting, measuring, and playing fun math games. We learned the importance of math and how it is used every day.
We have also been spending Fridays working together in Music Video Club. The kids have enjoyed wearing pajamas, makeup, and other crazy costumes while dancing and performing to music. We will be rotating days for this club so that all of AM MAP kids will have an opportunity to be part of a music video. We’ll pick a day in the spring to invite families to the premiere!
PM MAP/AM K
We began 2012 with Fresh Start Week. The children made resolutions with Trish, came up with some future group themes with Meghan, helped organize the MAP room with Greta, and learned how to tie shoes with Mike.
We then visited the Arctic. The children learned about Balto and the sled dogs of the original Iditarod. Meghan taught about the difference between the Arctic and Antarctic. Trish taught about polar bears and penguins, and Greta led some ice experiments with the children. It was a very fun week, although the weather was not very Arctic-like!
Next, we moved on to Transportation Week. Mike taught about the evolution of cars and shared some facts and pictures of some automotive milestones. Meghan read The Little Engine That Could, and followed up with a train-related math lesson. Greta discussed how kids get to school in various parts of the world. The children were surprised to learn how many forms of transportation are utilized to get to schools around the world! Trish had the children sort our toy cars into different categories – fast, slow, for work, for fun, etc.
We finished off the month with Math Mania Week. The kids played a Math Superbowl (spoiler alert: the Giants won on a last-minute TD), estimated and counted mancala beads, learned how to measure, and learned how to play some math dice games.
AFTERNOONS @ MAP
The kids have been keeping busy with clubs and projects, and have had a great time playing and building. Afternoon activities have included building a giant house of cards, making paratroopers, and a math Superbowl.
The weather has been quite unpredictable, and the kids have wavered from full snow gear to asking if they could take their jackets off (don’t worry, we said no)! On cold days, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately, as we do go outside every day weather permitting! Pictured below… Some MAP friends hard at work on a GIANT house of cards!
SESSION THREE CLUBS
Tumble Club – The kids have learned the proper way to stretch their muscles, as well as how to do log rolls, stag leaps, and tripods. Please remember to wear comfortable clothing and sneakers for club!
Brain Games Club – We have made decoders, participated in team challenges, tested our memories and learned some dice games that really strained our brains. More challenges and games to come!
Valentine’s Day Club – We started with a Beadie heart project, candy cane heart hangers, and we created our very own books. The books came out great! Fantastic job, Valentine’s Day Club!
Pen Pal Club – We’re off to a great start! The kids narrowed down four people with amazing jobs for us to correspond with. Next week, we will be taking a tour of the Medfield Post Office.
Minute to Win It – We have been busy with several relay challenges and a few projects with partners. One week, we built card houses in club and the kids then taught their friends how to build one in the MAP room – in case you missed it, it covered the whole blue book rug!
Reading Is Fun Club – We have been having fun playing with letters and words. We have been sounding out and writing words. The best part is when the children read along to the story at the end of each week.
Sculpey Club – The kids are doing an amazing job, and it shows in their final products! Our penguin families were adorable, and the rocket ships and aliens were so creative. I can’t wait to see what else they come up with!
Sign Language Club – This club has been very educational! The kids have already learned their ABCs, how to spell their names, and how to say please and thank you.
SESSION FOUR CLUBS
(Sign up the week of 2/27)
Monday
Callie – Cooking Show
Tuesday
Meghan – Architecture
Chris – Fit Club
Wednesday
Mike – History
Teri – Alaska
Thursday
Vicki – Weights & Measurements
Kim – Photography
Friday
Erica – TBA
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
Wednesday 2/8 – Teacher Professional Day- Children who attend MAP on Wednesdays:
- 1st grade & Full day K have a half day and will be released at 11:40.
- Children in AM K & PM MAP have NO SCHOOL and can be dropped off to MAP at 8:00 am (there is no bus transportation) and may stay until their usual pick up time.
- Children in PM K & AM MAP will be attending the morning session of Kindergarten and will be released to MAP at 11:40. Children will need to be picked up at MAP by 2:45, or their usual pick up time
- No special sign up or charges if it is their normal MAP day. All children need to bring a lunch and a toothbrush(with your permission).
- Please make sure to let us know if your child will not be attending. (508) 359-2165 our voicemail is always on.
Monday 2/20 – No School – MAP Closed
February Vacation 2/21-2/23 – MAP is open from 8-6, for children who previously signed up.
Friday 2/24 – MAP is closed for a program wide Teacher Professional Day.
LOOKING AHEAD TO MARCH:
Tuesday 3/6 – Conference Day—Grade 1 & Full Day K have a half-day, and will come to MAP at 11:40. There is NO AM or PM KINDERGARTEN. All AM & PM Ks enrolled in MAP on Tuesdays may be dropped off at 8:00 a.m. (there is no bus transportation) and may stay until 2:45 p.m. or their usual pick up time. All children will need to come with a lunch (and a toothbrush). If your child will not be attending, it is very important to let us know!
Saturday 3/10 – Winter Carnival – MAP will be participating in the Winter Carnival Fun! We hope you’ll stop in to say hello and for a cool tattoo!
Thursday 3/15—Confrence Day—Grade 1 & Full Day K have a half-day, and will come to MAP at 11:40. There is NO AM or PM KINDERGARTEN. All AM & PM Ks enrolled in MAP on Thursdays may be dropped off at 8:00 a.m. (there is no bus transportation) and may stay until 2:45 p.m. or their usual pick up time. All children will need to come with a lunch. If your child will not be attending, it is very important to let us know! Please call (508) 359-2165.
Tuesday 3/27 – Teacher Professional Day – Children who attend MAP on Tuesdays:
- 1st grade & Full day K have a half day and will be released at 11:40.
- Children in AM K & PM MAP will be released at 11:40.
- Children in AM MAP & PM MAP have NO SCHOOL and can be dropped off to MAP at 8:00 am (there is no bus transportation) and may stay until 2:45 or their usual pick up time.
- No special sign up or charges if it is their normal MAP day. All children need to bring a lunch and a toothbrush(with your permission).
A BIG THANK YOU to all of the Children &
Families who participated in the PJ Party!
It was a GREAT night!
MAP E-MAIL?
Do you get MAP e-mails? If not please send an e-mail to: gayeshannon@verizon.net.
Next month we’ll be sending our newsletter via e-mail. Please make sure we have your e-mail so you don’t miss out!
Still want a hard copy? Please e–mail annette.map@comcast.net
MAP provides high quality afterschool enrichment programs and is supported by tuition & tax-deductible contributions from families, their employers, other organizations.
