Week of March 4th

Dear Parents,                                                                                     March 3, 2013

Thank you for your AWESOME support at our school’s Gala!  It was a FABULOUS Gala and BRAVO to our very own Melanie Dellas for chairing the event!  We were greeted with the LOVELY smiles of Tracy Duhs as we handed over our credit card in anticipation of the bids ahead.  Our spectacular auction item, thanks to the talent of your children AND with the CREATIVE DRIVE of Mrs. McGonigle went to a very happy home!  CONGRATS to Lilyn FitzMaurice!  THANKS to Meredith Stowell for stirring up the donation drive with her M.C. talents!  The night would not have been complete without Ann Wieczoerk and Chris DuCharme performing their hula for us all- MAHALO!  Thanks to ALL FIRST GRADE PARENTS who attended, bid, called in a bid, if not able to attend, set up tables, cleaned up and prayed for a successful and fun evening FOR our school! Now, to the week ahead…

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: * Faithfulness

Saxon Math: Lessons 81 – 84: Writing 73, 74, 75 and 76, Adding Doubles and 1, Adding Dimes and Pennies on a “receipt,” Line Segments and rulers, Tallying days of the week, Tallying information, Number words, Graphing, Congruent shapes and congruent angles of a triangle, Fact Assessment 11, Math centers in the classroom (Pennies, Dimes, School “store,” Measurement with pennies and rulers; Telling time to the hour; Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes and angles)

History/Geography: * Jesus’ Journey- On the Way to the Cross

Religion: Unit 5- Morality, Our Lived Faith; Saint Ignatius of Loyola;

Session 21- Making Good Decisions: Socratic discussion on “What are rules and why do they exist?”

Decisions: How can we make a good decision?   Questions and answers on “What should I do if, when…?”

God’s Commandments and “Treating others as you would like to be treated.”

Science: * The Characteristics of Saturn, Uranus and Neptune- read aloud planet facts and color each planet according to their unique characteristic;

The Moon’s phases- graphing the March moon

Literature: *Teacher “March-themed” selections;  *March Writing Journals

Sayings: * Sour grapes

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet #24 –A Day at the Fair; Open Court Reading Anthologies- Book 1; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 88- Dropping rule- silent e rule and vowel suffixes; Worksheet 89- Diphthongs “oi”- oil and “oy”- toy- Two vowel sounds equals one sound, Worksheet 90-Assessment 17 and Worksheet 91- Spelling with “oi” and “oy”

Spelling:  Spelling List #15- ABC word order, Rainbow words, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-15 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Journal writing, Sentence punctuation-capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks.  Handwriting Lesson 9

Art: * March Art projects- Leprechauns, Mosaic Shamrocks and “Stained Glass” Crosses

News to Know:

General PA Meeting this Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Parish Hall

Class Mass: Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.  Please have your child at church by 7:55 or dropped off at school by 7:45 to walk up to church with me.

Open House #2: Sunday, March 10^th- 10:30 – 1:00.

Weekly Reading logs and Book Reports are due Friday. –Theme(s)- Bible stories about Lent and Easter, Saint Patrick, the moon’s phases, planets and Leprechauns

Calling all egg cartons!  Please have your child save/bring in your next empty egg carton (Only dozen-size are needed for this project!)  “Eggstra” dozen sized cartons are most appreciated.  We will be working on a special Journey with Jesus Easter project beginning next Friday.

Week of February 11th

Dear Parents,                                                                               February 10, 2013

I pray that you and your family members are happy and healthy,

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Perseverance (Enduring Adversity) – including dealing with the flu!

Saxon Math: Lessons 70 - 73: Problem solving Worksheet, Written Assessment 13, Write the numbers 64- 66; Odd/Even Numbers; Addition, Subtraction; Number sentences; Place values- tens and ones; How many dimes and pennies?; Counting by fives and tens; Time to the hour; Even and Odd numbers- writing and counting up/aloud from random numbers, Math centers in the classroom (Pennies, Dimes, Working with Zero, Measurement with linking cubes and pennies, Telling time to the hour; Scales/Weight, Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * Egypt – Queen Hatshepsut- The Woman Who Was King. continued

Religion: Session 17– Joining God’s Family; Whole School Ash Wednesday Mass is Wednesday at 10:00

Science: * The planet song (learning the planets order and planet facts); The Characteristics of the Earth and the other planets

Literature: *Teacher “February-themed” selections;  *February Writing Journal

Sayings: * “ Love is ...” - First graders will make up their own February sayings.

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet #23 –Something Grand; Open Court Reading Anthologies- Book 1; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 67- Complete suffixes: - ly. –less, -ness; Worksheet 68: - ai- rain, Sight word- “were”; Worksheet 69: ay- hay, Sight words- “early,” “ earth,” “heard,” and “learn”; Assessment 13; Worksheet 71; Worksheet 71: ar- star

Spelling:  Spelling List #14- ABC word order, Rainbow words, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-14 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Journal writing, Sentence punctuation-capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks.  Handwriting Lesson 6 – finish Psalm; Handwriting Lesson 7

Art: * February Art projects

News to Know:

100^th day of school is Monday!

Mardi Gras Celebration – Tuesday @ 2:00 p.m.

All School Ash Wednesday All School Mass @ 10:00 a.m

Families- Friday @ 11:00- Lent

Valentines Day Party – February 14^th- Children may bring in class Valentines/treats to pass out to all of their classmates.

Movie- A Charlie Brown Valentine @ 12:50.

Weekly Reading logs and Book Reports are due Friday. –Theme(s)- Space, Egypt, Valentines, Sacrifice

Extended: Please have your child bring in one empty water bottle, with cap, and one shoebox, with lid, by this Friday.  The water bottles must be able to fit into the shoebox, if even at an angle. Extras are appreciated J 

Week of February 4th

Dear Parents,                                                                                February 3, 2013

What a wonderful, FUN-filled Catholic Schools Week!  I applaud you all for the commitment to your children to a faith-filled education!  I am most appreciative for all of the love showered upon me last week!  You and your children are my daily gifts!  Thank you!

OB Hardware LOVED our combined K/1 visit and their cookies!  We were treated like dignitaries!  Ask your child about their visit and do a drive by to see their cute cards in the front window! 

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Perseverance (Enduring Adversity)

Saxon Math: Lessons 66-69: Write the numbers 60-63; Addition, Subtraction; Number sentences; Written Assessment #12; Place values- tens and ones; How many dimes and pennies?; Counting by tens; Time to the hour; Even and Odd numbers- writing and counting up/aloud from random numbers, Math centers in the classroom (Pennies, Dimes, Working with Zero, Measurement with linking cubes and pennies, Telling time to the hour; Scales/Weight, Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * Egypt – Queen Hatshepsut- The Woman Who Was King; The Gifts of the Pharoahs

Religion: Session 16 – Jesus in Our Lives; Wednesday - Class Mass @ 8:00

(Saving Session 14 – God Chooses Mary for the month of May)

Science: * The planet song (learning the planets order and planet facts); The Sun- finish booklet and The Phases of the Moon, including student observation of the night time and daytime sky; Characteristics of the Earth

Literature: *Teacher “February-themed” selections;  *February Writing Journal

Sayings: * “ Love is ...” - First graders will make up their own February sayings.

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet #22 – It Helps to Have a Big Brother; Open Court Reading Anthologies- Book 1; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 63: er- butter, two letter combinations, sight words- “another,” “brother,” “mother,” “other” and Worksheet 64: igh- light, trigraphs make one sound, sight word “only;” Worksheet 65- Assessment 12; Worksheet 66: Compound words- two words make one word, sight word “something.”

Spelling:  Spelling List #13, ABC word order, Rainbow words, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-13 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Journal writing, Sentence punctuation-capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks.  Handwriting Lesson 6

Socratic: What makes a “heart print?” and “How does one leave them?”

Art: * February Art projects- Valentine hearts- symmetry

News to Know:

Weekly Reading logs and Book Reports are due Friday.  Free choice this week!  (We are covering Space, Egypt, Valentine’s themed books in class.

Please have your child bring in one empty water bottle, with cap, and one shoebox, with lid, by Friday.  The water bottles must be able to fit into the shoebox, if even at an angle. Extras are appreciated J 

This Friday, First grade will be walking to Clay Time to add their personalized touch to their own tile for our Gala auction project!  We will leave SHA at approximately 9:00 a.m. and return by 11:30.  Thank you, walking chaperones! 

Friday is also a Free Dress Day.  Please remember that your child will be doing a painting craft at Clay Time!

Classroom Wish List:  (Thank you for your consideration)

Non-fading red, pink, purple and white construction paper packs

Foam puffy self-stick Valentine decorations

Assorted Valentine stickers

Week of January 28th

Dear Parents,                                                                                January 27, 2013

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Courage

Saxon Math: Lessons 64-66: Write the numbers 58-60; Addition, Subtraction; Number sentence; Addition and subtraction; Counting by tens; Time to the hour; Even and Odd numbers- writing and counting up/aloud from random numbers, Math centers in the classroom (Pennies, Dimes, Working with Zero, Measurement with linking cubes and pennies, Telling time to the hour; Scales/Weight, Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * Egypt- Importance of The Nile River; King Tut

                                   

Religion: Explore Art Print 4- Bring Peace, Art Print 7- Serving the Kingdom and Art Print 13- Our Neighbors; Wednesday - Class Mass @ 8:00

Science: * Introduction to Space, The planet song; The Sun: source of energy, light and heat and the moon: phases of the moon (full, half, crescent, new)

Literature: *Teacher “January-themed” selections;  *January Writing Journal

Sayings: * “The man in the moon.”

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklets (1-21); Open Court Reading Anthologies- Book 1; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 61- vowel y- cry, sight words love and move; Worksheet 62- vowel y- candy, sight words any and many.

Spelling:  No Spelling List/Test this week.  Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-12 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Journal writing, capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks

Art: * January Art projects – Pyramids, King Tut line drawings

News to Know:

Weekly Reading logs and Book Reports are due Friday.

Catholic School’s Week Monday kick off- Student Appreciation Day!

Dress Up Day: twin, triplet, etc. day - Coordinate with a friend or friend(s) dress up day!  Please refer to your weekly flyer for the rest of the fun activities planned for the week!

Special “No Homework Week” this week for First grade!!! Yay!!!  (We will complete both sides of Saxon Phonics and Math IN class!)  This is in honor of how hard both you and your child have been working!  Plus, you will need a week off before our next BIG project J Hint:  First grade Solar Systems will be due February 22^nd.  These may be home made or a “personalized” store bought model.  Each child’s model will be suspended in the classroom, so a maximum height/length of 18 inches is necessary in order to make our way throughout the classroom “galaxy” each day!  Styrofoam, lightweight clay, construction paper, etc. have been materials that have been easy for the kids (and parent helpers) to use.  One or two metal dry cleaning hangars prove to be great mobiles for these systems.  Please see me if you have any questions regarding this fun project! 

Week of January 21st

Dear Parents,                                                                                         January 21, 2013

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Courage

Saxon Math: Lessons 61-63: Write the numbers 55-57; Addition, Subtraction; Number sentences; Written Assessment #11; Addition and subtraction; Counting by tens; Time to the hour; Even and Odd numbers- writing and counting up/aloud from random numbers, Math centers in the classroom (Pennies, Dimes, Working with Zero, Measurement with linking cubes and pennies, Telling time to the hour; Scales/Weight, Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * Egypt on the map- locate Egypt and The Nile; Importance of The Nile River, floods and farming

                                   

Religion: Session 13-Jesus Teaches Us to Share; Wednesday - Class Mass @ 8:00; Thursday- All School Mass in school uniforms (despite P.E.) @ 8:00

Science: * Introduction to Space, The planet song

Literature: *Teacher “January-themed” selections;  *January Writing Journal

Sayings: * “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet #20 – Review final, stable syllables in Fun with Uncle Steve; Open Court Reading Anthologies- Book 1; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 58- final syllables ‘{tle – bottle and ‘{gle – bugle; sight word eye; Worksheet 59- final, stable syllables –cle, kle, sle and zle

Spelling:  Spelling List #12, ABC word order, Rainbow words, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-12 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Journal writing, capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks

Art: * January Art projects – Egyptian crocs, Pyramids, King Tut line drawings

News to Know:

Weekly Reading logs (and Book Reports) are due Friday.  For this week, we will be doing our book reports at school.  The topic is Egypt and all children will have access to a book of their choice, either from the school or class library.  These will be displayed in class, given our current theme of Egypt for this week.

Please feel free to visit this Sunday at our school’s Open House!  This is a great way to visit other classes, as well as your child’s! 

This week’s Mass opportunities are abundant!

Wednesday class Mass @ 8:00

Thursday ALL SCHOOL MASS @ 8:00 (School uniforms – No P.E. clothing)

Sunday Mass @ 9:00 to kick off our SHA Open House!

Week of January 7th

Dear Parents,                                                                                      January 6, 2013

Happy New Year!  I hope that you and your family had a great Christmas vacation! 

Thank you so much for your generosity in adding me to your Christmas list.  You are most kind and it is truly appreciated!  As I tell the kids, they ARE the present, as are you all!  I am so looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Please make sure that your fabulous first grader goes over these areas of study with you this week.

Virtue of the Month: *Courage

Saxon Math: Review Addition and Subtraction with Zero, Lessons 53-55: Write the numbers 48-50; Addition, Subtraction; Number sentences; Written Assessment #9; Addition and subtraction; Counting by tens; Time to the hour; Math centers in the classroom (Pennies, Dimes, Working with Zero, Telling time to the hour; Scales/Weight, Geo-boards, Pattern block diagrams, Shapes)

History/Geography: * History of World Religions- Review of Judaism and Christianity; Introduce Islam and How Muslims Worship

                                   

Religion: Unit 3 - Session 11- Following +Jesus’ The Church, My Guardian Angel, +Jesus Asks Friends to Follow and People in Your Church; Wednesday - Class Mass @ 8:00

Science: * Introduction to Space

Social Studies: * Introduction to Egypt

Literature: *Teacher “January-themed” selections;  *January Writing Journal

Sayings: * “Wolf in sheep’s clothing”

Reading: Reading Centers: Individual and Group Reading with the teacher, Saxon booklet Review 17-21; SSR – Student Silent Reading, Buddy Reading (with other 1^st graders and with our 4^th grade Reading Buddies) and Listening Center as a class

Saxon Phonics: Worksheet 50- Assessment 9 (Tuesday); Worksheet 51-

Jj- jar and sight word- says; Worksheet 52- Floss Rule; Worksheet 53- Vv- vest, sight words give, have, live and final v- spelled “ve”; Worksheet 54- Spelling with final e.

Spelling:  Spelling List #10, ABC word order, Rainbow words, Around the World (sight word and spelling words) in class and/or Sight word /Spelling word Bingo for Spelling List(s) #1-10 and Kindergarten/First grade sight words from Saxon booklets

Language Arts: Handwriting Lesson 5, New Year’s Resolutions, Journal writing, capitals, periods, question marks and exclamation marks

Art: * January Art projects – Snowflakes and snow people

News to Know:

Weekly Reading logs and Book Reports are due Friday.  Book report forms will now be coming home every Monday.  For this week, please have your child read any winter or snow-related themed book.

January Field Trip- U.S.D School of Nursing- Tuesday, January 15^th (with 3^rd grade) – 8:30 to 11:45 (we will be back for school/hot lunch.  Please look for permission slips in school white envelopes.  This is a great hands-on field trip with many opportunities for the students to test their knowledge on the Human Body- Skeletal, Muscular and Circulatory Systems in an educational test lab setting.

Christmas ornaments- if your child has their special ornament still in class, please feel free to either collect it in the morning or I will send them home with them.