Weekly Newsletter: May 13, 2019

Wow...what a week! It's hard to believe that this year is quickly coming to a close!   On Tuesday morning, the First Grade Showcase was such a success!  I appreciate you taking the time to come and let your child show off some of their best work and most recent projects.  The contents of their suitcase were also a reflection of things that are considered strengths as well as areas to work on over the summer.  I am so proud of each one of them and know they are looking forward to next year!  We only have 9 more days in first grade! This has been such a fun year with your child and I have felt blessed to not only teach them, but to watch them grow both academically and socially!

“Three of a Kind” was an adorable production!  Thank you for all the support you provided at home helping your child learn their lines and the songs.  Tuesday night’s performance was truly memorable!

On Friday, we had the most wonderful Ocean Day thanks to our room mom, Erin! We created a tranquil, shimmery ocean in a bottle and mingled with octopus, shrimp and crab friends. We sampled delicious seafood, learned a lot about whales, and dove into a sweet blue ocean of jello.  It was an amazing journey - free of itchy sand and sunburns!  

Thank you to all of the volunteers who donated food items, supplies, and/or your time.  It was perfect!

Thank you for making last week a special Teacher Appreciation Week with all the handmade cards, sweet treats, lovely gifts and gift cards!  Your group of children have stolen my heart! I feel so blessed to have had this time with each of them.  I appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity!

LIBRARY BOOKS:

All books are due back to the library!  If you still have a few around your house, please send those in with your child on Monday.  Lost books need to be paid for so your child can receive his/her report card on the last day of school.

END OF YEAR EMOTIONS:

This time of year brings out many different kinds of emotions in children. On the one hand, the students are very excited and are anticipating the upcoming break.  They look forward to having more free time, play dates, sleeping later, and vacations.  However, on the other hand, they are sad to leave first grade and the comforts of our classroom.  Second grade brings about nerves and the knowledge of “starting over.”  These emotions come to the surface in different ways: bugging friends, grumpy behavior, hands on others, overly silly, lots of talking, crying, etc.

To help your child with this upcoming transition, please try to get him/her to bed at a reasonable time at night.  This will help him/her when working through emotions during the school day.  A clear head is helpful when relational issues arise because your child will feel more equipped and able to utilize classroom strategies.  I continue to discuss these things in the classroom and am handling any misunderstandings and/or tears.  Thanks for your continued efforts at home, as well!   They are a precious bunch!

KINDERGARTEN VISIT:

On Wednesday, our incoming kindergarten students had the opportunity to see the campus.  During this visit, we had the opportunity to host the current kinder students in our classrooms.  Your kiddos were the perfect hosts!  They seemed so big mentoring one of the younger kids!

RECYCLE BAGS NEEDED:

Parents, we need your help! By Friday, May 17, we need each student to bring a cloth grocery store bag to school that we can use to store some of the many things that will be going home on the last day of school. The reusable HEB bags would be perfect for our needs, but if you have a large department store bag with handles (such as Macy’s), that would also work. Please make sure that your child’s name is on the bag.  Thank you!!

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS IN FIRST GRADE:

“IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIP”: Soon we will have a special presenter provide an “in-school field trip” experience to help support our wonderful Science learning this year.  Thank you in advance to PTA for providing the funds necessary to make this possible!

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE:

READING and WRITING:
-Read and respond to text

-Memory book

MATH:
-Understand how to represent and compare whole numbers and the relationship between the numbers

SCIENCE:
-Learn about the desert

-Understand the difference between nocturnal and diurnal animals

-Locate various deserts on a map

-Identify desert landforms

-Learn about desert animal adaptations (tortoise, vulture, roadrunner, prairie dog)

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

May 20: Reptile Guy (in school field trip)

May 21: Field Day (1st grade: 9:40-10:40 am)

              CCE Cookout at our regular lunch time (11:12-11:42)

May 23: Last Day of School & End of Year Brunch Party

Finally, if you know that your child will be leaving school before our last day, Thursday, May 23, please let me know.

Thank you!

Happy Mother’s Day!