Going Buggy in PreK!

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

Happy April friends! We have about 31-ish school days left in PreK. I cannot believe it. Didn’t we just get to PreK? You will soon be getting all of the invitations to Kindergarten breakfast, the kindergarten kickoff party in the park, and all kinds of other exciting things! The time is going to fly by!

This week in Heggerty phonics we will learn Star Light Star Bright. We are sending a copy home for you to enjoy. We will review the letters E and U (short and long) letter sounds this week.  In math we will continue with reviewing shapes. This week we will learn all about Insects! We have ordered our caterpillars and they should arrive any day! So exciting! Our beanstalks are really growing! We will send them home this week. Make sure to replant them in a pot or in your garden to grow some yummy lima beans! Don’t mind the glitter in the soil. That is all part of the magic!

Class Needs:

  • Clorox/Lysol Wipes
  • Sidewalk chalk 
  • Small water bottles

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • Send nap mats please
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 5 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH! 
  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item for early morning PE. Please label with your child’s name.

NEW Dates to Remember:

April:

11: NEW DATE! Put a Cap on Diabetes Day (students may wear silly or fun or regular hats and bring a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Fund.)

10: Send 12 sticker or toy filled eggs for our Egg Hunt!

16: Egg Hunt! Send your child’s basket or bucket today! We will return it at the end of the day! (Make sure your child’s name is located somewhere on the basket)

17: Spring PD day for teachers. No School for Students

18: Planning day for teachers. No School for Students

26: Mayor’s Cup 5K for PreK

30: Tumblebus/Bounce Houses for PreK only

May:

2: PreK Derby Day (more information coming soon!)

5-9: Book Fair (the make-up Literacy Night will be after school one day this week!)

15: Kindergarten Breakfast 9 am in the Cafeteria (all PreKPals and teachers will attend. Parents will meet us in the front foyer of the school)

15: PreK Celebration 10 am in the Multipurpose room (We do not graduate. We celebrate!) All parents need to plan to attend!

15: Kindergarten Breakfast for all students who will attend RQES PreK. ALL PreKPals will attend the breakfast, but parents will only need to attend the breakfast if the student will come to RQ Kindergarten.

16: Field Day/Spring Fling

20: Field Day/Spring Fling Make up day if needed for weather

21: ½ Day Early dismissal

22: ½ Day Early dismissal

23: Teacher Workday (no students!)

NEW fun Links for Home:

  • NEW!! Learn to tie your shoes in one minute!!

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=how+to+teach+tie+shoes+putting+laces+in+the+holes+of+shoes&&mid=35F16B249023C67E1D9935F16B249023C67E1D99&&FORM=VRDGAR

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’

 

Hello April!

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

We will be under a two hour delay tomorrow. Please stay weather aware!! You may drop your PreKPal off at the PreK doors at 9:30. If anything changes in the plans for tomorrow, I will let you know via Dojo.

This week in Heggerty phonics we will review the past nursery rhymes we have learned. We will review the letters K and D and their letter sounds this week.  In math we will learn about turning, flipping and sliding shapes. This week we will learn about Zoo Animals! We have some great small group animal activities planned for this week and the dramatic play area has been turned into a zoo! For Science this week, we will go on a safari with our own binoculars and safari hats! So much fun in PreK!

The new calendar for April will come home tomorrow as well as our Egg Hunt flier! Can you believe that it is already April (on Tuesday!)?

Class Needs:

  • Clorox/Lysol Wipes
  • Sidewalk chalk 
  • Small water bottles

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • Send nap mats please
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 5 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH! 
  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item for early morning PE. Please label with your child’s name.

NEW Dates to Remember:

April:

4: Put a Cap on Diabetes Day (students may wear silly or fun or regular hats and bring a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Fund.

10: Send 12 sticker or toy filled eggs for our Egg Hunt!

16: Egg Hunt! Send your child’s basket or bucket today! We will return it at the end of the day! (Make sure your child’s name is located somewhere on the basket)

17: Spring PD day for teachers. No School for Students

18: Planning day for teachers. No School for Students

26: Mayor’s Cup 5K for PreK

30: Tumblebus/Bounce Houses for PreK only

May:

2: PreK Derby Day (more information coming soon!)

5-9: Book Fair (the make-up Literacy Night will be after school one day this week!)

15: Kindergarten Breakfast 9 am in the Cafeteria (all PreKPals and teachers will attend. Parents will meet us in the front foyer of the school)

15: PreK Celebration 10 am in the Multipurpose room (We do not graduate. We celebrate!) All parents need to plan to attend!

15: Kindergarten Breakfast for all students who will attend RQES PreK. ALL PreKPals will attend the breakfast, but parents will only need to attend the breakfast if the student will come to RQ Kindergarten.

16: Field Day/Spring Fling

20: Field Day/Spring Fling Make up day if needed for weather

21: ½ Day Early dismissal

22: ½ Day Early dismissal

23: Teacher Workday (no students!)

NEW fun Links for Home:

  • NEW!! Learn to tie your shoes in one minute!!

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=how+to+teach+tie+shoes+putting+laces+in+the+holes+of+shoes&&mid=35F16B249023C67E1D9935F16B249023C67E1D99&&FORM=VRDGAR

 

 

  • A great resource for letters and sounds is the Letter Factory by Leap Frog. You can find them all on YouTube or in DVD’s. All of the Leap Frog videos are great and the songs stick in your head!

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’

 

Marching on……..

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

I don’t want to alarm anyone but there are only 9 Monday’s left in PreK! Somehow this year has disappeared! It’s going to go fast so we are going to try to soak in every minute with this little group!

This week in Heggerty phonics we will learn Jack Be Nimblle. We are sending a copy home for you to enjoy with your child. We will review the letters O and I with the long and short vowel sounds this week.  In math we will continue to review plane shapes. This will be our last week to learn about Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales! We have some great small group activities planned for this week. It is also library week! So send your child’s library book back so they can check out a new one on Wednesday. On Monday, everyone is bringing home a new book to keep courtesy of Tuscaloosa Reads!

I hope you all enjoyed our first ever Fairy Tale Ball! It was so much fun and I think the teachers had as much fun as the PreKPals! Thanks to all of you for taking time out of your week to bring some magic into the lives of our little learners! They truly felt that they were at a castle! We already have  it on the books for next year, so those of you with littles coming to PreK next year can put March 10th on your calendars!

LAST WEEK TO REGISTER FOR SUMMER LEARNING!

📢TCS Imagine Summer Learning Registration is Open!

We are thrilled to offer TCS Imagine Summer Learning for students in PreK–7th grade this summer! This program will provide hands-on learning, enrichment activities, and academic support to keep students engaged and learning all summer long.

📅 Program Dates and TIme: June 2 – June 27, 8:00 am – 2:45 pm (Closed June 19th)
📍 Location: Tuscaloosa Magnet School
💰 Cost: $850 for the full program or $250 per week
📝 Application Deadline: March 28

⚠️ Important: We must have at least 150 students enrolled by March 28 for the program to operate.

🔗 Register Now: TCS Imagine Summer Learning Registration

For more details, check out our Fee-Based Program FAQ or contact:

Summer Learning District Contact, Andrew Maxey 📧Amaxey@tusc.k12.al.us  📞205-759-3722

Program Coordinator, Patricia Ford 📧 pford@tusc.k12.al.us | 📞 205-759-8347
Program Co-Coordinator, Tiffany Bishop 📧 tbishop@tusc.k12.al.us | 📞 205-759-3538

Class Needs:

  • Clorox/Lysol Wipes
  • Sidewalk chalk 

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item for early morning PE. Please label with your child’s name.
  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • Send nap mats please
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 5 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH! 

NEW Dates to Remember:

April:

4: Put a Cap on Diabetes Day (students may wear silly or fun or regular hats and bring a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Fund.

17: Spring PD day for teachers. No School for Students

18: Planning day for teachers. No School for Students

30: Tumblebus/Bounce Houses for PreK only

May:

2: PreK Derby Day (more information coming soon!)

5-9: Book Fair

15: PreK Celebration (We do not graduate. We celebrate!) All parents need to plan to attend!

15: Kindergarten Breakfast for all students who will attend RQES PreK. ALL PreKPals will attend the breakfast, but parents will only need to attend the breakfast if the student will come to RQ Kindergarten.

16: Field Day/Spring Fling

20: Field Day/Spring Fling Make up day if needed for weather

21: ½ Day Early dismissal

22: ½ Day Early dismissal

23: Teacher Workday (no students!)

 

NEW fun Links for Home:

  • NEW!! Learn to tie your shoes in one minute!!

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=how+to+teach+tie+shoes+putting+laces+in+the+holes+of+shoes&&mid=35F16B249023C67E1D9935F16B249023C67E1D99&&FORM=VRDGAR

 

 

  • A great resource for letters and sounds is the Letter Factory by Leap Frog. You can find them all on YouTube or in DVD’s. All of the Leap Frog videos are great and the songs stick in your head!

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’

 

Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

Did you have an amazing spring break? All of the teachers in #226 did and we cannot wait to see everyone tomorrow! Wear GREEN! We are going to do a STEM activity tomorrow and Dr.  Dennis is coming to help! It is going to be so much fun and there may be some shenanigans going on!!

We had an amazing time at International Day the last Friday before Spring Break. I hope you got to see the pictures on Dojo! We have such an amazing school and we have so many languages and cultures. It’s great to be at Rock Quarry!

The new PreK letters have been sent out! Some of your friends will be asking your advice about PreK in the TCS. I hope you will give them a good review! We are a bit biased but we love what we do for PreKPals and we think they love it too! Soon, this little class will be getting ready to be KinderFriends!! I cannot believe it!

This week in Heggerty phonics we will learn Hickory Dickory Dock. We are sending a copy home for you to enjoy with your child. We will review the letter A with the long and short vowel sounds this week.  In math we will focus on plane shapes and we will use those shapes to build a name castle. This week we will be learning about Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales! The dramatic play area has been turned into a castle! We have lots of amazing things in every center and on every shelf related to Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales. At the painting easel this week we will be painting frogs with crowns and we have a new Tonie for our Tonie Box. It’s Princess Tiana!

Our Fairy Tale Ball is TUESDAY night. PreKPals may wear their favorite princess dress, prince or knight costume, or they may wear their nice “church clothes”. The teachers will also be dressed up and we will have a magical time making memories together. We hope everyone can join us! It’s going to be so much fun! (Parents are welcome to dress in royal attire – but it is not required!) The festivities will begin promptly at 5:30 so allow travel time to get to North River to park and come in.

📢TCS Imagine Summer Learning Registration is Open!

We are thrilled to offer TCS Imagine Summer Learning for students in PreK–7th grade this summer! This program will provide hands-on learning, enrichment activities, and academic support to keep students engaged and learning all summer long.

📅 Program Dates and TIme: June 2 – June 27, 8:00 am – 2:45 pm (Closed June 19th)
📍 Location: Tuscaloosa Magnet School
💰 Cost: $850 for the full program or $250 per week
📝 Application Deadline: March 28

⚠️ Important: We must have at least 150 students enrolled by March 28 for the program to operate.

🔗 Register Now: TCS Imagine Summer Learning Registration 

For more details, check out our Fee-Based Program FAQ or contact:

Summer Learning District Contact, Andrew Maxey 📧Amaxey@tusc.k12.al.us  📞205-759-3722

Program Coordinator, Patricia Ford 📧 pford@tusc.k12.al.us | 📞 205-759-8347
Program Co-Coordinator, Tiffany Bishop 📧 tbishop@tusc.k12.al.us | 📞 205-759-3538

Class Needs:

  • Large bottled water
  • Sidewalk chalk 

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item for early morning PE. Please label with your child’s name.
  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • Send nap mats please
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 5 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH! 

NEW Dates to Remember:

March:

17: Wear green for St. Patrick’s Day

18: Fairy Tale Ball after school

21: Silly Sock Day for Down Syndrome Awareness. We are more alike than different!

April:

4: Put a Cap on Diabetes Day (students may wear silly or fun or regular hats and bring a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Fund.

17: Spring PD day for teachers. No School for Students

18: Planning day for teachers. No School for Students

30: Tumblebus/Bounce Houses for PreK only

May:

2: PreK Derby Day (more information coming soon!)

5-9: Book Fair

15: PreK Celebration (We do not graduate. We celebrate!) All parents need to plan to attend!

15: Kindergarten Breakfast for all students who will attend RQES PreK. ALL PreKPals will attend the breakfast, but parents will only need to attend the breakfast if the student will come to RQ Kindergarten.

16: Field Day/Spring Fling

20: Field Day/Spring Fling Make up day if needed for weather

21: ½ Day Early dismissal

22: ½ Day Early dismissal

23: Teacher Workday (no students!)

 

NEW fun Links for Home:

  • NEW!! Learn to tie your shoes in one minute!!

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=how+to+teach+tie+shoes+putting+laces+in+the+holes+of+shoes&&mid=35F16B249023C67E1D9935F16B249023C67E1D99&&FORM=VRDGAR

 

 

  • A great resource for letters and sounds is the Letter Factory by Leap Frog. You can find them all on YouTube or in DVD’s. All of the Leap Frog videos are great and the songs stick in your head!

 

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’

 

Construction Week

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

This week in Heggerty phonics we will learn Rain Rain Go Away. We are sending a copy home for you to enjoy with your child. We will still be trying to identify words that have the same ENDING sound. We will review the letters P and L this week.  In math we will focus sharing items equally, making equal sets and dividing things in half. This week we will be learning about building and construction! For science this week, we will have a visit from the Big Bad Wolf and he’s going to try to huff and puff and blow our houses down!! We will work with partners to build houses that will try to keep our piggies safe!!

This week is the PreK drawing for the 2025-26 PreKPals! Can you believe it?! The drawing is on March 5 at 9 am in the Regions Room at the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education and it is open to the public. Families whose children are selected will get a letter during Sprin Break and there will be a period of time to accept the placement. This year has flown by so quickly and we cannot believe it’s winding down for this sweet class!

Our Fairy Tale Ball is quickly approaching! Please RSVP by March 5. PreKPals may wear their favorite princess dress, prince or knight costume, or they may wear their nice “church clothes”. The teachers will also be dressed up and we will have a magical time making memories together. We hope everyone can join us! It’s going to be so much fun!

📢TCS Imagine Summer Learning Registration is Open!

We are thrilled to offer TCS Imagine Summer Learning for students in PreK–7th grade this summer! This program will provide hands-on learning, enrichment activities, and academic support to keep students engaged and learning all summer long.

📅 Program Dates and TIme: June 2 – June 27, 8:00 am – 2:45 pm (Closed June 19th)
📍 Location: Tuscaloosa Magnet School
💰 Cost: $850 for the full program or $250 per week
📝 Application Deadline: March 28

⚠️ Important: We must have at least 150 students enrolled by March 28 for the program to operate.

🔗 Register Now: TCS Imagine Summer Learning Registration

For more details, check out our Fee-Based Program FAQ or contact:

Summer Learning District Contact, Andrew Maxey 📧Amaxey@tusc.k12.al.us  📞205-759-3722

Program Coordinator, Patricia Ford 📧 pford@tusc.k12.al.us | 📞 205-759-8347
Program Co-Coordinator, Tiffany Bishop 📧 tbishop@tusc.k12.al.us | 📞 205-759-3538

Class Needs:

  • Large bottled water
  • Sidewalk chalk 

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item for early morning PE. Please label with your child’s name.
  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • Send nap mats please
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 5 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH! 

NEW Dates to Remember:

March:

3-7: Read Across America Week

3: Wear something with buttons

4: Wear your favorite shoes

4: LITERACY NIGHT 4:30-6:30 Food trucks, free books, Local Authors, Literacy Fair Expo

5: Wear blue

5: Return RSVP to Fairy Tale Ball and TUMBLEBUS/Bounce House Permission slip

6: Wear your coolest outfit

7: Wear sunglasses

7: International Day

10-14 SPRING BREAK – No School

17: Wear green for St. Patrick’s Day

18: Fairy Tale Ball after school

21: Silly Sock Day for Down Syndrome Awareness. We are more alike than different!

April:

4: Put a Cap on Diabetes Day (students may wear silly or fun or regular hats and bring a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Fund.

17: Spring PD day for teachers. No School for Students

18: Planning day for teachers. No School for Students

30: Tumblebus/Bounce Houses for PreK only

May:

2: PreK Derby Day (more information coming soon!)

5-9: Book Fair

15: PreK Celebration (We do not graduate. We celebrate!) All parents need to plan to attend!

15: Kindergarten Breakfast for all students who will attend RQES PreK. ALL PreKPals will attend the breakfast, but parents will only need to attend the breakfast if the student will come to RQ Kindergarten.

16: Field Day/Spring Fling

20: Field Day/Spring Fling Make up day if needed for weather

21: ½ Day Early dismissal

22: ½ Day Early dismissal

23: Teacher Workday (no students!)

NEW fun Links for Home:

  • NEW!! Learn to tie your shoes in one minute!!

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=how+to+teach+tie+shoes+putting+laces+in+the+holes+of+shoes&&mid=35F16B249023C67E1D9935F16B249023C67E1D99&&FORM=VRDGAR

 

 

  • A great resource for letters and sounds is the Letter Factory by Leap Frog. You can find them all on YouTube or in DVD’s. All of the Leap Frog videos are great and the songs stick in your head!

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’

 

Transportation Week!

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

Leaving this back at the top for this week of extra winter. I guess the groundhog was right!!

  • EVERY CHILD will need a jacket EVERYDAY! We have PE for 30 minutes at 8:15 and they spend at least part of the time outdoors daily unless it is pouring rain or sleeting. If it is not actively raining they will go out. We then go out again for our required second recess at 12:00. Our school is on top of Lake Tuscaloosa, and it is windy and cold.
  • YOUR CHILD MUST HAVE A COAT. If you don’t want to be bothered daily with this you can send a jacket that they can have in their cubby for those “just in case days”.
  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item. Please label with your child’s name.

This week in Heggerty phonics we will learn Jack and Jill. We are sending a copy home for you to enjoy with your child. We will be changing it up a little in phonics and trying to identify words that have the same ENDING sound. We will review the letters T and J this week.  In math we will focus on making sets of 10 and learning the parts that make up 10. This week we will be learning about all kinds of transportation along with reviewing community helpers!

Soon you will get a permission slip for the end of April (Wednesday April 30) For our end of the year “fieldtrip” we will have Tumblebus come to RQES and they will also bring 2 bounce houses. We have a LOT of hoops we must jump through to get everything ready and it all starts with a permission slip. If you don’t mind- please sign it allowing your child to participate. It is MUCH easier for me to get the process started if everyone is a yes, than it is to add a student later in the process. Signing yes does not oblige you to allow your child to participate as you can decide the day before or the day of to not let them. But it is nearly impossible for me to add them later. Red tape!! Ugh.

📢TCS Imagine Summer Learning Registration is Open!

We are thrilled to offer TCS Imagine Summer Learning for students in PreK–7th grade this summer! This program will provide hands-on learning, enrichment activities, and academic support to keep students engaged and learning all summer long.

📅 Program Dates and TIme: June 2 – June 27, 8:00 am – 2:45 pm (Closed June 19th)
📍 Location: Tuscaloosa Magnet School
💰 Cost: $850 for the full program or $250 per week
📝 Application Deadline: March 28

⚠️ Important: We must have at least 150 students enrolled by March 28 for the program to operate.

🔗 Register Now: TCS Imagine Summer Learning Registration

For more details, check out our Fee-Based Program FAQ or contact:

Summer Learning District Contact, Andrew Maxey 📧Amaxey@tusc.k12.al.us  📞205-759-3722

Program Coordinator, Patricia Ford 📧 pford@tusc.k12.al.us | 📞 205-759-8347
Program Co-Coordinator, Tiffany Bishop 📧 tbishop@tusc.k12.al.us | 📞 205-759-3538

 

Class Needs:

  • Large bottled water
  • Sidewalk chalk 

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • We kept nap mats on Friday!
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 5 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH! 

Dates to Remember:

February:

27: Sign and return permission slip.

28: Spring Picture Day

March:

4: LITERACY NIGHT 4:30-6:30 Food trucks, free books, Local Authors, Literacy Fair Expo

3-7: Read Across America Week

3: Wear something with buttons

4: Wear your favorite shoes

5: Wear blue

6: Wear your coolest outfit

7: Wear sunglasses

7: International Day

10-14 SPRING BREAK – No School

17: Wear green for St. Patrick’s Day

18: Fairy Tale Ball after school (more information coming later!)

April:

4: Put a Cap on Diabetes Day (students may wear silly or fun or regular hats and bring a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Fund.

17: Spring PD day for teachers. No School for Students

18: Planning day for teachers. No School for Students

30: Tumblebus/Bounce Houses for PreK only

May:

2: PreK Derby Day (more information coming soon!)

5-9: Book Fair

15: PreK Celebration (We do not graduate. We celebrate!)

15: Kindergarten Breakfast for all students who will attend RQES PreK

16: Field Day/Spring Fling

20: Field Day/Spring Fling Make up day if needed for weather

21: ½ Day Early dismissal

22: ½ Day Early dismissal

23: Teacher Workday (no students!)

 

NEW fun Links for Home:

  • NEW!! Learn to tie your shoes in one minute!!

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=how+to+teach+tie+shoes+putting+laces+in+the+holes+of+shoes&&mid=35F16B249023C67E1D9935F16B249023C67E1D99&&FORM=VRDGAR

 

 

  • A great resource for letters and sounds is the Letter Factory by Leap Frog. You can find them all on YouTube or in DVD’s. All of the Leap Frog videos are great and the songs stick in your head!

 

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’

 

Community Helpers Week

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

Sorry to be late with the blog. This weekend has been full of ACE cheerleading for my daughter and I feel like I need another weekend to catch up!

Moving this back to the top for this week of extra winter.

  • EVERY CHILD will need a jacket EVERYDAY! We have PE for 30 minutes at 8:15 and they spend at least part of the time outdoors daily unless it is pouring rain or sleeting. If it is not actively raining they will go out. We then go out again for our required second recess at 12:00. Our school is on top of Lake Tuscaloosa, and it is windy and cold.
  • YOUR CHILD MUST HAVE A COAT. If you don’t want to be bothered daily with this you can send a jacket that they can have in their cubby for those “just in case days”.
  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item. Please label with your child’s name.

I have heard from the PreKPals that Friday (Valentine’s Day) was “the.best.day.ever!” We did have a lot of fun! Glow party dance, ice cream, special Valentine snack, Valentine goody bags, playground with all 5 PreK classes (we didn’t have time for Trike Day) and a video about community helpers (which is our theme for this week!). I think it’s going to be hard for us to top all of that!

Mrs. Alker, Ms. Price, Ms. Shepherd and I loved all of our goodies! Thank you so much for spoiling us! We have plenty to snack on for quite a while! Special thanks to all of the room parents who sent goodies, made snack boxes and waters, sent donuts and all the things. You all help us to make PreK magical and we couldn’t do it with out you!

This week in Heggerty phonics we will review the past 4 weeks. We will review the letters C and B this week.  In math we will focus on making sets of 8 and 9 and learning the parts that make up 8 and 9. This week we will be learning about all kinds of community helpers!

Class Needs:

  • Large bottled water
  • Sidewalk chalk 

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 4 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes. Friday is Valentine Snack so no snack needed that day.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH! 

Dates to Remember:

February:

18: Make up weather day. School is in session.

March:

7: International Day

10-14 SPRING BREAK – No School

18: Fairy Tale Ball after school (more information coming later!)

NEW fun Links for Home:

  • A great resource for letters and sounds is the Letter Factory by Leap Frog. You can find them all on YouTube or in DVD’s. All of the Leap Frog videos are great and the songs stick in your head!

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’

 

Valentine Week!

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

So many GREAT things happening at Rock Quarry in the past week or so! Did you know that-

  • Rock Quarry was named one of the Top 25 school in the State of Alabama and was the only Tuscaloosa City or Tuscaloosa County School to earn that distinction?
  • Rock Quarry scored a 99 on our school Report Card….up from a 97 from last year!
  • Our chapter of the Best Buddies Club (a club where neurotypical and neurodivergent students play and learn together) is the LARGEST in the whole state with 87 members on our campus?

WOW! We are doing some great things at The Rock! So proud of us. We will have ice cream and a dance party to celebrate on Friday, February 14th during PE. Please sign the yellow permission slip to allow your child to have ice cream. Return those by 2/12/25. Thanks!

This week in Heggerty phonics we will learn This Little Piggy. We are sending a copy home for you to enjoy with your child. We will review the letter C this week.  N. In math we will focus on making sets of 6 and 7 and learning the parts that make up 6 and 7. This week we will be learning about Valentine’s and Friendship!

 

Cupid for a Day continues tomorrow! Here’s the schedule, in case you missed it.

Cupid for a Day is a great, fun-filled way for your children to share with each other to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This is how it works:

  • Valentines bags are provided by the teachers!
  • Each child is assigned a day to be “Cupid” (see schedule below).
  • On the assigned day, each “Cupid” will bring 13 small items and valentines cards, one item for each classroom friend, and make loving deliveries to each Valentines box while wearing Cupid’s necklaces!  (Examples:  pencils, matchbox cars, erasers, etc.). You can purchase several items at the Dollar Tree that have several small items in one package such as play dough, pencils, crayons, bubbles, Valentines candy, etc. Please make sensible purchases and do not over spend on this project. It will be best if Cupid delivers the toys from a bag that hides them. By the end of the schedule, the Valentines bags will be filled with goodies, and the children are so excited they cannot stand it.
  • The children will open the Valentines bags during our holiday snack on February 14th.

 

Please follow a few guidelines:  1) Choose small  toys. We want everything to fit inside of the bags.   2) Choose something that all children will enjoy OR an item for boys and another for girls (7 girls & 6 boys).  3) DO NOT write student names on gifts.  This will cause Cupid much trouble with finding/matching names with Valentines boxes. J   However, please write FROM whom the gifts come.

           

Date Cupid for the Day
Monday, February 3rd   Milly & Mattie
Tuesday, February 4th   Hanson & JoJo
Wednesday, February 5th  Eleana & Sloane
Thursday, February 6th  Edie Grace & Anna
Friday, February 7th Logan & Robert
Monday, February 10th Anna & Ivan & Luke
Tuesday, February 11th  Logan & Sislee & Mrs. Jenne’
Wednesday, February 12th  Mrs. Alker, Mrs. Shepherd & Mrs. Price

 

Class Needs:

  • Large bottled water
  • Sidewalk chalk 

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 4 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes. Friday is Valentine Snack so no snack needed that day.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH!
  • EVERY CHILD will need a jacket EVERYDAY! We have PE for 30 minutes at 8:15 and they spend at least part of the time outdoors daily unless it is pouring rain or sleeting. If it is not actively raining they will go out. We then go out again for our required second recess at 12:00. Our school is on top of Lake Tuscaloosa, and it is windy and cold.
  • YOUR CHILD MUST HAVE A COAT. If you don’t want to be bothered daily with this you can send a jacket that they can have in their cubby for those “just in case days”.
  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item. Please label with your child’s name.

 

 

Dates to Remember:

February:

14: Valentine Snack (no parent assistance needed during snack time)

17: President’s Day – No School!

18: Make up weather day. School is in session.

March:

7: International Day

10-14 SPRING BREAK – No School

18: Fairy Tale Ball after school (more information coming later!)

NEW fun Links for Home:

 

 

 

  • A great resource for letters and sounds is the Letter Factory by Leap Frog. You can find them all on YouTube or in DVD’s. All of the Leap Frog videos are great and the songs stick in your head!

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’

 

Happy February!

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

Happy February! The groundhog saw his shadow and that supposedly means 6 more weeks of winter…..but the afternoon temps this week are telling me that the ol’ groundhog may be wrong! Please remember that we have PE at 8:15 daily and the PreKPals will still need a jacket for the morning!

This week in Heggerty phonics we will learn Polly Put the Kettle On. We are sending a copy home for you to enjoy with your child. We will review the letters and sounds for F and N. In math we will focus on recognizing single digit numbers automatically. We will also begin working on subitizing numbers. When you can subitize, it means you can recognize a number of items and know the quantity without counting. Just like when you hold up one hand, you know that it is 5, and you know that two hands is 10. You are subitizing. You did not need to count the number of fingers to know the quantity. Big kid stuff!  This week we will continue learning about Space! They have loved this unit so much and are learning a lot! Have they been singing the planet song for you? Mrs. Suttles, our 5th grade Science teacher, always says she knows who has been in my class because they can sing the planet song and get the planets in order correctly everytime!

This week is library week so get your books back in the black library basket so you can check out another one on Wednesday!

Your February calendar is coming home tomorrow! On FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, Please wear RED to support our friend Luke and all children with CHD!

Cupid for a Day begins tomorrow! Here’s the schedule, in case you missed it.

Cupid for a Day is a great, fun-filled way for your children to share with each other to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This is how it works:

  • Valentines bags are provided by the teachers!
  • Each child is assigned a day to be “Cupid” (see schedule below).
  • On the assigned day, each “Cupid” will bring 13 small items and valentines cards, one item for each classroom friend, and make loving deliveries to each Valentines box while wearing Cupid’s necklaces!  (Examples:  pencils, matchbox cars, erasers, etc.). You can purchase several items at the Dollar Tree that have several small items in one package such as play dough, pencils, crayons, bubbles, Valentines candy, etc. Please make sensible purchases and do not over spend on this project. It will be best if Cupid delivers the toys from a bag that hides them. By the end of the schedule, the Valentines bags will be filled with goodies, and the children are so excited they cannot stand it.
  • The children will open the Valentines bags during our holiday snack on February 14th.

 

Please follow a few guidelines:  1) Choose small  toys. We want everything to fit inside of the bags.   2) Choose something that all children will enjoy OR an item for boys and another for girls (7 girls & 6 boys).  3) DO NOT write student names on gifts.  This will cause Cupid much trouble with finding/matching names with Valentines boxes. J   However, please write FROM whom the gifts come.

           

Date Cupid for the Day
Monday, February 3rd   Milly & Mattie
Tuesday, February 4th   Hanson & JoJo
Wednesday, February 5th  Eleana & Sloane
Thursday, February 6th  Edie Grace & Anna
Friday, February 7th Logan & Robert
Monday, February 10th Ivan & Luke
Tuesday, February 11th  Sislee & Mrs. Jenne’
Wednesday, February 12th  Mrs. Alker, Mrs. Shepherd & Mrs. Price

 

Class Needs:

  • Black Cardstock
  • Sidewalk chalk 

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 5 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name, if you did not send them last week. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH!
  • EVERY CHILD will need a jacket EVERYDAY! We have PE for 30 minutes at 8:15 and they spend at least part of the time outdoors daily unless it is pouring rain or sleeting. If it is not actively raining they will go out. We then go out again for our required second recess at 12:00. Our school is on top of Lake Tuscaloosa, and it is windy and cold.
  • YOUR CHILD MUST HAVE A COAT. If you don’t want to be bothered daily with this you can send a jacket that they can have in their cubby for those “just in case days”.
  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item. Please label with your child’s name.

 

 

Dates to Remember:

February:

3: Cupid for a Day Begins (Just like Santa for a Day but with Valentines. Candy will be allowed for this event!) Please see the schedule in the PreK Binder.

14: Valentine Snack (no parent assistance needed during snack time)

17: President’s Day – No School!

18: Make up weather day.

March:

7: International Day

10-14 SPRING BREAK – No School

18: Fairy Tale Ball after school (more information coming later!)

NEW fun Links for Home:

 

 

 

  • A great resource for letters and sounds is the Letter Factory by Leap Frog. You can find them all on YouTube or in DVD’s. All of the Leap Frog videos are great and the songs stick in your head!

 

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’

 

SPACE!!

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Hello PreKPals and Families-

Sorry the blog is late. I did not have internet at home yesterday and the blog is not on a format that I can utilize with my phone. But here we are on a drippy, rainy Monday….ready to tackle another week.

This week in Heggerty phonics we will learn Little Jack Horner. We are sending a copy home for you to enjoy with your child. We will review the letter and sound for S. In math we will continue repeating patterns. This week we will begin learning about Space! I hope you took a look at our sneak peek of pictures. There was LOTS of excitement today when the PreKPals came in! They cannot wait to get started!

We kept nap mats on Friday since they were only here 3 days last week. So sorry that I forgot to tell you last Friday.

This week is Guidance Class on Wednesday with Mrs. Chandler!

Class Needs:

  • Black Cardstock
  • Sidewalk chalk

Reminders from Mrs. Jockisch- You only have until the end of this week to order a yearbook!! Please do not forget!

Yearbooks

Yearbook Shop is Open!

Direct link to the store: https://www.balfour.com/student-info?smi=106279

Deadlines:

– Final deadline to order 1/31/25

– Ad deadline 1/31/25 (BEST to order with your yearbook)

Contact: rqeyearbook@gmail.com with questions!

 

Weekly PreK Reminders:

  • Daily: Make sure your child’s little reader is INSIDE their binder! Make sure to record the title of the book so we can try to assure they get a new book each M-Th.
  • A water cup with a valve, already filled with water (flavored water must be clear!), labeled with your child’s name. Make sure your child can drink from it at home before coming to school. NO OPEN POUR CUPS. NO JUICE!!!
  • Your child’s backpack and lunch box (if they will not eat from the cafeteria). We are not allowed to heat lunches for children so send their things ready to eat, please!
  • PreK Binder (please clean out daily)
  • Wear tennis shoes and socks!
  • Please send a bag with 5 snacks (that do not need to be refrigerated!) labeled with your child’s name, if you did not send them last week. Please do not pack snacks in the lunchboxes.
  • We kept your child’s nap mat on Thursday since they only used it 2 days last week.
  • Do Reading Log M-TH!
  • EVERY CHILD will need a jacket EVERYDAY! We have PE for 30 minutes at 8:15 and they spend at least part of the time outdoors daily unless it is pouring rain or sleeting. If it is not actively raining they will go out. We then go out again for our required second recess at 12:00. Our school is on top of Lake Tuscaloosa, and it is windy and cold.
  • YOUR CHILD MUST HAVE A COAT. If you don’t want to be bothered daily with this you can send a jacket that they can have in their cubby for those “just in case days”.
  • Coats, jackets, sweaters are a MUST HAVE item. Please label with your child’s name.

 

 

Dates to Remember:

January

31: LAST day to order a yearbook!

February:

3: Cupid for a Day Begins (Just like Santa for a Day but with Valentines. Candy will be allowed for this event!) Please see the schedule in the PreK Binder.

14: Valentine Snack (no parent assistance needed during snack time)

17: President’s Day – No School!

18: No School for students- Professional day for teachers

March:

7: International Day

10-14 SPRING BREAK – No School

18: Fairy Tale Ball after school (more information coming later!)

NEW fun Links for Home:

 

 

 

  • A great resource for letters and sounds is the Letter Factory by Leap Frog. You can find them all on YouTube or in DVD’s. All of the Leap Frog videos are great and the songs stick in your head!

 

Please email or message on ClassDojo if you have any questions! Thank you for sharing your children with us! They are precious!!

Alicia Jenne: ajenne@tusc.k12.al.us

Brianna Alker: balker@tusc.k12.al.us

Thank you so much for the donations we have received from our wish list! We appreciate every bit!

Here is the link for our class wishlist if you would like to contribute. Participation is optional!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NIMKDO4OUN7A?ref_=wl_share

We are so happy you are here!

Alicia Jenne’