Week Four: I can;t believe it!

I can't believe it is already the fourth week of school! We have learned and done so many things. I am excited about what great leadership we have in the classroom! Students volunteer to help without being asked, are respectful of each other, and of school property, They hardly seem like first graders at all.

As a grade level, we are practicing treating each other kindly with words and actions. We have sent home a bully free contract for each child, and will sign our resolution of respect, pledging to be a No Place for Hate campus. Please feel free to report any instances in which your child feels uncomfortable or when unkind words or actions are used. We want to make sure that everyone feels safe at school.

Reminders:

• Don't forget to buy your Fall Fair tickets! The wristbands are a really good deal :) If you need an order form, please let me know.
• Our basket is Hot Wheels and Once Upon a Time. Please send items for our class basket to school this week. We are hoping that this will be a big money maker for our PTA!
• We are still in need of a room parent. This parent is a communicator between PTA and classroom parents for the purposes of teacher appreciation and other PTA sponsored events.
• Don't forget to sign up for a time to help at our Fall Fair booth. We are doing the "Bean Bag Toss" booth - always a fun time for all kiddoes - everyone's a winner!
• Book orders are due on the 25th. I have sent order forms with the kids. I am opting not to do online orders this year, so any orders need to be sent to school and I will submit by mail.

This week:

• Wednesday is an Early Release day. Students will leave at 12:45. Please let us know any changes in departure for this day in advance.
• Curriculum:
• Writing: Writing Process; Quality Writing; How Writers get Ideas
• Reading: Reader Response: Describing Characters and Beginning, Middle, and End. Guided Groups start this week if they haven't already - look for reading folders and books :)
• Math: Place Value using the concept of tens and ones. 
• Science: Matter - How can we describe matter? What are properties of matter?
• Our regular library check out schedule begins this week: Ms. Heine's class goes on Tuesday from 8:30-9:00.
• This week is a counselor week for us on Wednesday at 9:00.
• On early release day, Wednesday, we will have our first Leadership Block (the whole school will be working on leadership on Wednesday Morning). We will be focusing on Service Learning and Student Leadership Council. Remember that students interested in running will need to turn in an application and understand the after school commitment. Our voting will be in the near future and will be democratic in nature. Students who turn in application for the Leadership Council need to understand that there is a possibility that they may not be selected by our class and that will be okay, as there are so many campus wide opportunities of which this is only one :)

Safety: Please continue to talk to students about being aware of their surroundings when outside. With the weather changes, there can be unexpected wildlife in areas where the children play. Please know that our first grade teachers and all Teravista staff have been alerted to this and are checking the playground daily as well.

Thanks again for entrusting me with your child and their education and leadership development, I feel incredibly lucky!