Below are five more facts about groundhogs and their special day!

1. A groundhog’s life span is usually six to eight years. Litters are normally born mid-April or May, and by July the young animals are able to go out in the wilderness by themselves. However, while in captivity, groundhogs have been known to live for up to 22 years. They can grow up to 3 feet in length and can weigh as much as 30 pounds.
2. Groundhogs are vegetarians. While they do sometimes eat insects, they mostly consume greens, fruits and vegetables. They also drink surprisingly little water. They get most of their liquid from the dewy leaves they eat.
3. Groundhogs are also known as “whistle pigs” because of their ability to sit up on their hind legs and make a loud, high-pitched whistle sound. They use this noise an alert about oncoming dangers, like coyotes or eagles. They also use this sound during the spring when they begin mating.
4. The tradition of Groundhog Day was brought over by German immigrants in the late 1800s. The town of Punxsutawney,Pennsylvania eventually became the center of the tradition. At the time, the “unburrowing” ceremony was planned by members of Groundhog Lodges, meant for socializing with others and enjoying meals.
5. The original custom never involved groundhogs. The Europeans originally used badgers or sometimes bears as their weather forecasters, as both animals hibernate and wake up when the days become longer and the sun’s angle becomes higher.

For even more facts about Groundhog Day…

Read: Groundhog Day by Gail Gibbons

Every February 2, people all across the country wonder about the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. Will he see his shadow on that day or won’t he? Will spring come early or late? Here is information about Groundhog Day, its origins, and the animal at the center of this delightful annual event.

You can find more books about groundhogs @ 394.26

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Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families! We hope you have a restful long weekend!

Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin butter, pumpkin soup and even pumpkin lattes- pumpkins are everywhere! Did you ever wonder how a pumpkins begins?

Watch these videos to find out.

Pumpkin Fun Facts:

• Pumpkins are usually orange but can sometimes be yellow, white, green or red.

• The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’, meaning ‘large melon’.

• Pumpkins have thick shells which contain pulp and seeds.

• Scientifically speaking, pumpkins are a fruit (they contain seeds) but when it comes to cooking, they are often referred to as vegetables.

• Pumpkins are usually shaped like a sphere (ball).

• They vary in weight but an average sized pumpkin might weigh around 13 pounds (6 kilograms).

• Giant pumpkins can be grown for competitions, with some weighing over 1000 pounds! (450 kilograms). In 2010, the world record was 1810 pounds! That’s huge!!

• Pumpkin plants feature both male and female flowers, with bees typically being involved in pollination (the transfer of pollen).

• Over 1 billion pounds (450 million kgs) of pumpkin are produced in the US every year.

• As a food, pumpkin can be baked, roasted, steamed or boiled.

• Pumpkin soup is popular, as are roasted pumpkin seeds.

• Pumpkin pie is a sweet dessert that originates in North America and is traditionally eaten during harvest time and holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• Pumpkins are popular decorations during Halloween. A carved pumpkin illuminated by candles is known as a ‘jack-o-lantern’. The tradition is believed to have come from Ireland, where they used to carve faces into turnips, beet and other root vegetables as part of the Gaelic festival of Samhain.

• 100 grams of pumpkin produces around 26 calories of energy.

October’s book of the month, All Are Welcome, by Alexandra Penfold, let’s children know that no matter what, they have a place, they have a space, they are welcome in their school.

Thank you for viewing my Meet the teacher presentation. I hope you found it informative. Here is the link to the Kindergarten Curriculum overview.

I wish you all a wonderful year!

Click here

The most important part of observing this day is a moment of silence that occurs at 8:46am Eastern time. This is when the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. This is a time of prayer and remembrance of the victims who lost their lives in the terrible attack. It is also a time to reflect on freedom as well as the heroes who gave their lives saving others. Each year on Patriot Day, American flags are flown at half-staff to honor and commemorate those lives lost.

In the book titled, 14 Cows for America, written by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez, we learn about the touching story of a native of Kenya, Kimeli Naiyomah who was in New York City on September 11, 2001. Kimeli returns to his homeland and tells the members of his Maasai tribe a story that “burned a hole in his heart.” As a child in the small Kenyan village of the Maasai, Naiyomah’s biggest dream was to one day own a cow, a symbol of life to his people. He decided to offer his beloved cow to the grieving Americans as an expression of his sympathy. In similar gestures, his tribe offered more cows, fourteen in all…a moving gesture of compassion and generosity.

Before you read the book below learn how to pronounce words that appear in the book.

Facts

• The 14 Cows The cows live in their home village of Enoosaen in Kenya. The original fourteen cows have multiplied, and there are now thirty-five “American cows,” as the village children call them. They are tended by Mzee Olé Yiampoi, a revered elder who is the custodian of tribal sacred knowledge about ritual and traditions. Olé Yiampoi was chosen by the elders to tend the cows because of his long-standing reputation as a trustworthy and deeply faithful man. The American cows are not isolated by themselves, but rather they live mixed with Olé Yiampoi’s cattle.
• The Maasai brand their cattle by making small slices in their ears. Each clan has their own special earmark for identifying their cattle, and every cow bears an earmark on both ears. The American cows needed an earmark of their own, so the Maasai charged American ambassador Ranneberger with designing the earmark. When Ranneberger visted Emanyatta, the sacred warrior camp of Enoosaen, for a ceremony honoring the graduation of the Ilmeseyieki/Iltalala warriors and the presentation of the fourteen cows, the elders approached him. They brought out a cowhide and drew shapes of ears on the cowhide with charcoal. Kimeli remembers presenting it to the ambassador, saying, “Now you represent your people. You are the elder of the Americans, you decide what earmark the American cows will have from now [until] forever.” After careful consideration, the ambassador hit upon the simple image of the twin towers. Now each new American cow is branded with two small upright bars on each ear representing the twin towers.
• “The gift of cows was a gift of life…people lost their lives in New York, but we have animals that are living that represent the … remembrance of those people, and because the cows will keep multiplying, life continues, doesn’t stop, … We decided that when you educate a child, it gives the child knowledge and a better life… and that life is passed on and on and on through many generations.” —Kimeli Naiyomah on the American Maasai high school
• The American embassy was so touched by the Maasai’s selfless gift of compassion that they decided to find a way to give back. After consulting with Kimeli and the tribal elders, the American embassy agreed to sponsor fourteen revolving scholarships to be given to Maasai teens (selected by village elders) to attend a Maasai high school for four years. A high school education is a tremendous gift for these students, many of whom would be unable to continue their education without scholarships. Even Kimeli’s high school education was sponsored by a kind headmaster at a local school who found a scholarship for the promising young student. Kimeli will be taking over the scholarship himself as part of the American African Nuru Foundation1 when the four years of funding promised by the American embassy runs up this fall.

To learn more go to 14 Cows For America​

This month’s theme at William O. Schaefer is Communities Show Hope. When we show hope, we desire for things to change for the better. With this in mind, as a community, we will encourage and inspire each other to help make the change.  Acknowledging and respecting the differences in people, places or things are ways we can make the change a reality.

Respect-  treating people the way you want to be treated is key. Watch this video to hear what other people think about respect!

Here are some other resources to help show the importance of RESPECT.

Respect: Dare to Care, Share, and Be Fair by Ted and Jenny O’Neal

Please Say Please by Margery Cuyler	Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller	Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
Clifford’s Book of Manners by Norman Bridwell	The Legend of Papa Balloon by C. R. McClure	How To Be a Friend by Laurie Kransy Brown & Marc Brown

Read Aloud YouTube Videos:
Me First by Helen Lester

Pinkerton Pig always has to be first — first to eat, first off the bus — until, running to be first for a sandwich, he finds himself in trouble with the Sand Witch.

The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill

Mean Jean is the reigning Recess Queen, pushing and smooshing, hammering and slammering the other kids whenever they cross her. And then one day a puny new girl shows up on the playground and catches Mean Jean completely off-guard. Not only is little Katie Sue not the least bit intimidated by the bully, she actually asks her to jump rope with her. In no time flat, Jean and Katie Sue are best buddies, and the playground is safe for all again.

Same Same But Different by Jenny Kostecki-Shaw

Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same. But different!

Are You Respectful Today? by Kris Yankee and Marian Nelson

Why do you need to be respectful? Patience, tolerance, consideration, and trustworthiness are qualities of respectful people. Life is happier with a respectful heart.

Respect Song:

Bruno Mars You Can Count On Me video

Below is a short film created to help teach students “What is a Friend?”

Welcome Boys and Girls to Kindergarten.! I am so excited to see you on September 9th. We have so many wonderful things   to learn and explore this year. I can’t wait for you to meet your new friends and my good friend, Mrs. McCue, who will help us in our classroom. Don’t forget to bring your supplies on the first day of school. 

Keep enjoying your summer!

  Miss Savarese