Sweet Pumpkin Season

As the crisp autumn air begins to settle in, we are excited to kick off another month of learning, exploration, and growth. October brings vibrant changes in nature, and we’ll be reflecting that energy in our classrooms with new projects, outdoor activities, and special events. One of the highlights this month will be our Fall Book Parade, where students can dress up as their favorite storybook characters and celebrate their love of reading.

We’re also preparing for some exciting upcoming seasonal celebrations, so stay tuned for more details! Thank you for being an essential part of our community, and we can’t wait to make more wonderful memories with your children this month!

October 8th & 9th - Student Pictures

Our individual student pictures this month will be taken by Laurie Bateman Photography. Pictures will be during school on Tuesday, October 8th and Wednesday, October 9th. Fall pictures will be held inside. Please refer to your child’s Class Dojo for your child’s assigned day. We will be sending package information and prices for purchase via email after your child’s pictures have been taken.

October 23rd - Cullipher Farms Pumpkin Patch

The Little Bluestem 3’s, Southern Sundrops and Honeysuckle classes will be going on a field trip to Cullipher Farms on October 23rd. ALL students are welcome to attend the field trip regardless if your child is enrolled on this day. Students will depart on the bus from school promptly at 9:30am, therefore please plan to arrive to school no later than 9:00am. The students will be eating their packed disposable lunch from home at the farm. Please send your child to school on this day dressed appropriately, with a brown bag disposable lunch, snack and disposable water bottle. Please make sure both lunch and water bottle are labeled! Students will return to school around 1:00pm.

*** A field trip permission slip has been sent home in your child’s folder. If you would like to be entered into the chaperone lottery, please do so on the form. You will be notified by your child’s teacher if you have been selected as a chaperone.

*** All parents and siblings are invited to attend the field trip. However, you will be required to pay for your admission at the farm. Parents may follow behind the bus or meet the buses at Cullipher Farms.

*** If a child rides on the bus to the farm, they must ride on the bus back to the school.


October 27th Fall Character Parade & Party

Please join us for our Fall Character Parade on Friday, October 27th at 11:30am. We would like to invite ALL students to come to school dressed as their favorite book character on Friday, October 25th! If your child does not come to school on Friday’s they are welcome to be dropped off at their classroom at 11:15am, dressed in their costume. (Please let your child’s teacher know in advance if your child will be coming.)

***This will be an all outside event.**** We welcome families to come watch the parade and line up along the front lawn and along the street of Whitton Way. The students will parade out from the main entrance door, along the stepping stones on the lawn, down the sidewalk on Whitton Way and then turn around at the col-de-sac to return back to families on the front lawn for pictures.

Following the parade, we welcome families to join us for pizza party on the back lawn!

Book Character Costume Ideas:

  • We encourage you to use items that are in your house. Be creative! Some examples are:

    • Pete the Cat-Blue jeans, yellow shirt, buttons made out of felt or construction paper, cat ears

    • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff- White long sleeve, jean overalls, cookie made out of cardboard box and black marker.

    • Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans- Blue dress, red scarf, white knee-high socks, black shoes, sun hat.

    • Remember to send the book in with your child as well! We ask that you please write your name in the book as items get set down and misplaced.

October 25th Pumpkin Decorating Contest

  • It’s time for our annual classroom pumpkin decorating contest! All classes will participate in decorating a pumpkin as a book character. We need you to help us choose our winner! Make sure to check out their creations on party day and vote for your favorite pumpkin!

11.01.24 Conferences

            Now that our students have learned the routine of the school day, our classrooms are busy with starting student assessments. Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Friday, November 1st. The school will be closed for students on this day. Teachers will post a sign-up sheet on Class Dojo for parents to reserve a conference time. Conferences will be scheduled in 15/20-minute increments. If the day/time does not work for you, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange for another day.

Reminders:

Gate Duty Car Pool (8:45-9:00 drop off & afternoon pickups)

***As a reminder, if you plan to walk your child into their classroom, up to the door, or talk with your child’s teacher/another parent, we ask that you PLEASE park your car on the side of the street and walk up with your child. We have noticed many parents leave their cars unattended, causing our gate duty line to become backed up.

Cold & Flu Season

We are entering into the cold and flu season.  We will be calling parents to pick up any child who comes to school ill, in order to keep our teachers and the other students healthy. Common flu symptoms include:

  • Fever or feeling feverish/chills

  • Cough

  • Fatigue

  • Runny or congested nose (outside of the normal)

  • Muscle pain or body aches

  • Headache

*** Children may return to school after 24 hours fever free ***

We encourage teachers to keep their windows cracked, frequent hand washing, and air purifiers to best keep our staff and children healthy!

As always, thank you for sharing your children with us and for your continued support.

Fondly,

Rollingwood Academy Administration

Evelyn Paddack