Fall 2020 Important Information
MSS Family Handbook

Need to Know
If your child will be absent, email [email protected].
Please copy the teachers: [email protected],
[email protected].
Or call the school number: 201.653.5548
For COVID-related concerns, email [email protected].

Parent-Student Evening

February 16, 2022 | Bridget O'Dowd

The children are busy preparing to share a piece of kindergarten with you!

Your child will be your host for the evening. They are the expert in their field- kindergarten!

We will begin with a tour of the classroom and Studio. The children will explain to you what happens in each of these areas and their favorite things to do!

We will share some of our literacy work with you- the children are choosing work that they are excited to show you or teach you about. They have chosen a story from their Writer’s Workshop folders to read to you.

They will teach you one of our favorite math games! They will be sure to show you how it’s done in kindergarten, including how to win and lose!

They will share some information about light and share with you how they have been showing their learning!

They will show patience and perseverance as you attempt Jacob’s Ladder, following your child’s directions each step of the way!

We can’t wait to share kindergarten with you! Your child will bring home any materials needed on the day.

Be eager to learn something – and acknowledge your child as the teacher for the evening. Be positive and appreciative; this is not the right time for correcting and pointing out mistakes.

A little note about writing in kindergarten:

At the end of this first month of Writer’s Workshop, writing takes many forms. The most important element of writing is drawing a detailed picture. A detailed picture serves as a foundation for building a story. Writing can be an illustration.

Writing can also be a few letters. The students are first challenged to label their pictures. In writing the word “me,” the students are asked only to write the sounds that they hear. Some students may only hear the /m/ sound, while others may hear both the /m/ and /e/ sound. Both are developmentally appropriate forms of writing in kindergarten.Writing may look like a string or a line of letters. As their writing develops in organization, students begin to write sentences at the bottom of the page, just like books do. Many students include initial and ending sounds.

Eventually, writing may look like a sentence, with spaces between groups of letters. As students begin to notice spaces authors use in books, they will begin to incorporate spacing of words into their own work. The most important takeaway from writers’ workshop is for children to see themselves as authors and begin to use written language to express themselves.

If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so here. This helps us have an idea of who is attending which session and what pieces to have ready.

Bridget O'Dowd

Ms. O’Dowd came to Mustard Seed in 2017, after moving to Hoboken in 2016. She found a school and a community all in one package at Mustard Seed! Having taught kindergarten in Illinois before moving to New Jersey, Ms. O’Dowd has a passion for five-year-olds. She’s delighted to be a part of the kindergarten team and loves to read and share in story with students. Her favorite moment of the day is during a good read aloud, when she looks out and sees the faces of children showing empathy and emotion in response to the story. Ms. O’Dowd’s hobbies include exploring new neighborhoods, watching BBC documentaries, traveling to visit family, and eating her way through New York City.

Parent-Student Evening

Bridget O'Dowd

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