Sunday, February 1, 2015

First week of February 2015..........less than a week until our AUCTION!!!!!!!!

Our annual OLM School Auction is next Saturday, February 7th!!  Our first grade art piece and book will be on display for everyone to see this week in the first grade classroom......... Come see what "you'll want to bid on" !!!! 

Our annual International Night is the following week Tuesday, February 10th.  Do you need parent volunteer hours???? Well there are plenty of opportunities :). I will need:

1.  Help with setting up that day about 1:30. It won't take that long to set up our booth- hanging things,  setting things out for display, etc. 
2.  Help that night putting food out etc at the booth 
3.  Help with clean up ( about 7:50 PM - it's done at 8pm)


4.  Donations of food, bowls, spoons - all donations can be split up and shared- you don't need to bring all of what you see.
     Sweet bread- cut into small pieces - I've seen them in rolls- 50 rolls cut up
     Linguisa - cooked and cut into pieces  - several trays? 
     Small tasting size bowls ( Mrs Blackburn is making her delicious Portuguese beans!)- 200
     Spoons need -200
     Toothpicks -200
     Small napkins -200
     Small cups 100/ 150
     Grape juice -5 or 6 gallons 
     2 red and 1 green plastic table cloths 
*** it seems like a lot, but this event brings a big crowd. If we don't get everything, we will just serve or give out what we have. 

5. We need Decorative items from Portugal, or items decorated with sayings, flag, map, etc- pictures, towels, figurines would be awesome:). Maybe you don't have anything, but know someone who might ??? I would greatly appreciate it!!!!  We will handle everything with care. 
6. I would like for my students to help answering questions and talking about what they've learned, but they can not be running around or going in and out of our booth because that's how things get broken. 



ABSENCES
We have had, and will continue , to have illness run through the classroom.  It's the season. With that in mind, there's the topic of making up work.  As the teacher, I leave any hand outs that will need to be completed on their desk.  And when they return, I try to get them them caught up as best I can. Now here enters you, the parent.  As a good rule of thumb, you need to come by to get your child's work when they are absent.  That means their books they might need as well.  Most importantly, you need to come by the classroom, so I can go over with you what they will need to do. It seems that I've been sending work home that doesn't get sent back completed or I have to continue to ask the child where their work us.  It becomes a recording nightmare.  I realize this is part of the teachers job to some extent.  However, parents need to be on board with getting and making sure their work gets completed in a timely manner.  This is hard for children to do.  Also, you need to check in when your child has been absent, to make sure everything has been done, or if they have anything missing.   Yes, they are first graders, but they do much during the day.  If your child is absent one day, they have ONE day to make up the work.  Each additional day they are absent, they get an additional day and so on.  We're in this together, and must be there to support each other in the education of your child :). As always, please call, send a note when a question or concern arises so we can tackle it right away!  Thank you for all you!  

This week's vocabulary words:
air
square
storm
paint
city
remember 
donkey
before
distant
mystery
closed
caused
tasted 
taste

Spelling words this week:  I've included 5 contractions again this week as the challenge part of the test. No dictation this week. 
rain
paint
wait
sail
chain
trail
train
were 
would
out

Contractions:
it's
I'd 
wouldn't
she's
he's 


Phew!  It's a lot :) please watch for other info to follow concerning the upcoming events. Until then........ Thanks!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Tuesday, Januarey 20, to Friday, January 23rd 2015

Yea to a short WEEK!  

Due to the short week, we will not have centers this week.  Next week is Catholic Schools' week so we won't have centers next week either.  I will need helpers for the first week in February (4th). I you can help, please message me :). I'll need four parents from 8:40- 10:00. Thanks! 

Upcoming reminders/events

1.  Next week is Catholic Schools week

Tuesday, January 27th will be NAVY BLUE AND WHITE ( OLM school shirts).  Also this is Buddy day. You will need to provide a buddy gift $1-$2 MAX. We don't have our buddies yet. Info on that later. Maybe get something that can be given to a boy or girl.  Candy is always good.  

Friday, January 30this our all school Mass AT ST PATRICKS CHURCH-You will DROP YOUR CHILD OFF-WITH THEIR BOOSTER AT THE CHURCH BY 7:50. Thank you. We are STILL IN NEED of drivers who will come to the church about 10-10:15 to pick students up to drive Back to the school. If you haven't sent in the form or can now drive PLEASE let me know ASAP.  Thank you. As of right now we have room for 12 students :/. Let's go awesome parents!!! Proper mass uniform is required!

****** EXCITING NEWS :) two of our first graders are getting baptized that day !!!
      Connor Schuesler and Emma Weber!!  I'd like to have a little reception/ party that morning when we return. If you can bring in a drink or cookies , let me know. I want us to show them how much we love them , and that they are a special part of our Catholic Family!!  Let me know if you can help :)

2.  Our January birthday celebration will be this Friday, January 23rd at 1:30 ( also my half birthday yeah, me ). I will post a sign up sheet Tuesday. If your child's birthday is this month please sign up to bring something drinks, a treat , a party favor , or plan a game for them to play - they love this one :). So please sign up :)

3.  INTERNAIONAL NIGHT!  Tuesday, February 10 from 6- 8pm in the auditorium. 
Our country is :   PORTUGAL!!!! I have planned some things to teach them over the next few weeks.  Are you Portuguese ?  Do you have things you can share or would like to teach the class??? Please let me know :). Also I will need items to display that night. If you have such things, please let me know. I will NEED VOLUNTEERS!  To help at the booth that night, to bring food for the night etc. please let me know what you are willing to help with---- lots of parent hours at stake-- we love that :). Please come by and let me know what you'll be willing to do to help out!! I so love all that MY parents do to support the first grade and the teacher ( me) :). Thanks again- it's right around the corner!

4. Math masters!  Over half the class are math masters and most of the rest are on level 9 or 10-- I think we are going to make it!!!!!!!! I am so proud of them. We will test all 4 days this week and next Monday and Tuesday-  they will need your help reviewing at home!  Please provide your child with extra review at home all week!  Remember, this isn't just for a party.  What they are learning is for a lifetime. Research has proven. , that when students learn their basic facts, you see the success in overall math scores!! Keep it up students and parents!

On a more serious note, I have started seeing a slip in overall effort in class.  Students have begun to write very messy. They are rushing and making silly mistakes. Also, their coloring and cutting etc has also gotten very messy. All of these things affect their effort grades, as well as the assignment grades. Please encourage your child to do THEIR BEST work on everything they do!  Effort grades do count on honor roll. They must earn an "A" in effort to get the on the "A" honor roll and a "B" to get on the "A/B" honor roll. Just a note for those who have had questions about effort. 

 Reading Packets
I've started daily reading as part of first grade homework. I send home reading packets M-W and Thursday their reading text so they can reading story for the week. Please have them read their story to you. Also you MUST SIGN THE PACKETS. That is part of the homework. Some parents are forgetting to sign their packets or have their child write a response about the story ( a sentence about the story). This is required. Some students have had to sit out because this isn't getting done. Also planners need to be signed every day of the week, even on Friday. Thank you again for your support :) just a little reminder!

I know this is lot to remember and take inall at once. I suggest printing it out and hanging it on the refrigerator :). 

Talk to you soon. If you can help in anyway, please message me or come by the classroom.  THANKS SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL U DO! :)))



Sunday, January 11, 2015

January 12, 2015 to January 16, 2015

Hello first graders and parents, 

I am so glad I'm coming back to work :). I have missed everyone so much!! I really appreciated all the prayers, kind words, and get well notes/cards sent in. I have felt so loved!!

NEW STARTING THIS WEEK:  Reading packets will begin this week.  Every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday a reading packet will go home.  On Thursday, every week, their reading text will still go home with that week's story.  The reading packet is a folder with a reading book included in it.  On the cover of the packet, there will be a sheet with the book's title.  Each night one goes home, your child will need to fill out the info on the sheet.  Each night a different folder will go home with a new reader in it.  Each night they will read the book and fill out the info sheet on the cover.  A parent's signature is required each night a packet goes home for homework. Remember, the signature is part of the homework, and if it is not signed, your child will have to sit out, like all other homework assignments. Thank you for all your support!  




ALSO THIS WEEK: math master afternoon tutoring is this week .


Here is the updated list for each day. Days and times are : Monday- Friday from 2:45-3:30.  I will allow 15 minutes after school for my students to use the bathroom and to get a drink. If you'd like, send in an afternoon snack to eat at this time. They need to fuel up for the fun we will have :)!!!  Please pick your child up at 3:30 at the classroom, unless I am to walk him/her to extended care. Please let me know, and more importantly, let your child know:). Thanks!!! Let's go FIRST GRADERS!!!!  LETS MAKE MATH MASTERS!!! :)

Here are our new vocabulary words this week:
swim
farther
drink
expect
built
hawk
grit
vacuum
edge
enough
clutch
gizzard
afternoon
everywhere

Here are the spelling words for this week:
cloth
planted
lift
animals
bench
slept
there
were
dusted
brushing

The words are getting more challenging, longer.  However, we have learned these words, and have learned about adding endings such as "ed" and "ing".  When reviewing the words, break them up with the word  +  the ending. When they see them as pieces that are put together, they will not have a problem spelling them.  They can do it!! :) all the words are short vowel words.  We have reviewed short vowel sounds all year.  

A few parents have asked if we are in need of items for our classroom. We are in need of a few things.  Here is a list if you would like to help :)

Pink erasers
Large brown lunch bags ( for St. Vincent Lunches)

More items to be listed at another time :) I really appreciate those of you who continue to ask if we need things!! Thanks for your support! 

**** please send in your permission slips for CATHOLIC SCHOOLS' WEEK MASS for FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015. 



********* The date for our MATH MASTERS ICE CREAM SOCIAL will be planned some time soon.  I will post a date as soon as I figure that out. So many have offered to bring items in. I'll make a list and let you know what item each of you can bring in. Thanks again for your help!

*************January birthday celebration is planned for Friday, January 23rd. I will post a sign up list some time this week. 

Last but not least:  THERE WIIL BE CENTERS ON WEDNESDAY :). Please let me know if you can make it.  I'm not sure what rotation we are on, hopefully my parents do :)




Sunday, December 14, 2014

Third week of Advent 2014

This Week's events:
 ******* There will not be centers this week******* We will pick up after the Break- NEXT YEAR:)


**Join OLM for the Christmas Program This Wednesday night at St Patrick's Church.  This is always an incredible night!

***Thursday, December 18th is our December Birthday Celebration at 1:30.  If your child's birthday is this month, please sign up to bring a treat or even a party favor.  If you'd like to plan a birthday game instead, let me know!  Last month a parent had the kid's play "Limbo" , now that was a blast!!!  A sign up sheet is posted outside the classroom :)

****Friday, December 19th is a 12:30 dismissal.  It is the first grade's turn to bring a St. Vincent Lunch.  Don't forget!!

In the morning our school will have a Christmas Assembly beginning at 8:30AM - We will be watching students perform "Charlie Brown Christmas", and  " A Christmas Carol"  Join us for some great performances!! 

Our Christmas party will begin at 10:30- some of the parents have planned games and activities!!!! I Can't Wait!   

On last week's blog, I posted the vocabulary and spelling for this week.  Please refer to last week.  Thanks.  

Sunday, December 7, 2014

2nd Week of Advent!!

This is such a busy time of year, with so many distractions!! Yes, Christmas time!! A time where children are thinking of the gifts they want!  In the classroom my concentration is on the gifts WE can give to Jesus!  I'm sure you've heard of our classroom visitors?? The kindness buddies have partnered with the Christmas Angel to encourage a spirit of giving rather than receiving!  Talk to your child about some of the exciting things they have been doing as kindness gifts for Jesus :).  Each day they have been leaving them a kindness note, giving them a kind deed to do for others.  Some deeds will be things for them to do at home :) please give them the opportunity to help out :) This has had a very positive impact on their overall behavior- it is FANTASTIC!!! I'm so proud of their willingness and excitement to do for others!!!


This week I will start giving sentence dictation as part of the spelling test.  Instead of giving challenge words, I will be giving them two sentences.  The sentences will be given with words they have had or, words they should know. Also, in order to get the sentence correct, they will need to write a proper sentence with a capital letter in the beginning and the correct punctuation at the end.  We have been doing lots of writing practice, and they know how to write a sentence.  We will practice this before the test, but you will need to do this at home too :) 

Their reader will go home twice during the next two weeks for practice.  The stories are getting a little more difficult, and they need to practice!! Starting in January, they will have a reader or book go home each night, along with any other homework that is assigned. This begins the transition to 2nd grade!! 

YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE READING EACH NIGHT, AND DOING MATH FACTS PRACTICE EACH DAY ALREADY :) !!

Our December birthday party will be next Thursday, December 18th at 1:30. I will post a note for parents to sign up to bring in goodies etc for that day :). If your child's birthday is this month , please sign up!! The children feel so special when they get to provide something for their class. If you'd like to help that afternoon, it's always appreciated too :)

This Thursday December 11 at 8 am , the first graders will be doing their advent presentation for morning prayer:) come join us !


********** I'm posting the vocabulary and spelling words for the next two weeks, because I know how busy this time if year is.  Thought you could get a head start!

Vocabulary for week 12/8:
return
should
old
pair
clothes
cook
knight
small
bring

Spelling for week 12/8:
for
have
they
help
she'd
pet
sled
jet
test
net

Vocabulary for week 12/15:
try
hard
rest
play
sing
please
thank
word
first
second
third

Spelling for week 12/15
twigs
went
of
bend
fresh
still
dish
planted
going
spelling( this they should know :) )


Our Christmas party will be next Friday, December 19th. I would like to start at 11. More info to come. This party will include lunch & goodies. 




Saturday, November 29, 2014

ADVENT BEGINS!!! Are you ready for Jesus's birthday ??? December 2014

Advent is a wonderful and busy time :). We will be very busy, but we will work hard to prepare for the birth of our Savior!! 

We will work on little acts of kindness as gifts we can give Jesus for his birthday. Ask your child about the kindness buddies who have visited our classroom. We have two helpers who love to give the students wonderful ideas for small acts of kindness :) they LOVE these buddies!! They come in each day to see where they have moved to in the classroom, and what kindness note they have left for them!!! It has been such a positive tool in the encouragement of a positive kindness attitude :). 

Also Santa has sent one of his special Christmas angels to watch over us. She loves to see the kindness that my students share with others :).I wonder where she will be on Monday!  She is helping us prepare the manger for Jesus :). Each little act of kindness my students do they will add a piece of straw to his bed. The more we do, the more comfortable Jesus will sleep :). Let's go First Graders !!!!

I have many projects planned....... But I need parents to help prep for them. One project I need for the beginning of this week!! If you would like to earn your hours , please let me know!!!! Give me a call 209-658-3753. I can even get the materials to you before school begins on Monday if you you have any spare time!! :) What spare time?? I know, but projects don't stop! Ever :)

We will have centers this Wednesday :). Please let me know who will be able to make it. Thanks a bunch! 

This Friday 12/5 @ 8:15 is an all school mass, and 12:30 dismissal. Please make sure your child is in a clean uniform :) thank you. 

Saturday 12/6 is the annual Merced Christmas Parade. Please join the crowd downtown to watch our student council members on the best float in the parade!

Sunday 12/7 @ 2pm at the Merced courthouse Watch and listen to our beautiful OLM choir sing Christmas carols!! Always an awesome event to see! 

Here are the vocab and spelling for the week:

Vocabulary : 
king
queen
prince
visit
head
along
need
food
shall
sky

Spelling:

bell
fell
well
she'll
melt
end
egg
elf
then
Advent

AS always please make sure to read your child's planner EVERY NIGHT!  There is homework EVERY night. Some parents are signing but are not reading and making sure their child does the homework. We need to work together to build organization and responsibility skills!! These are skills essential in life...... Let's build the strong foundation for a lifetime :). 

Also, please practice addition facts each day!! I can tell that some are not doing this :(. When each child becomes a master at addition we can have a ice cream sundae party!!!! Let's go first graders!!!!

Sunday, November 16, 2014

The week before Thanksgiving Break 11-17 to 11-21

I am so proud of how well my first graders did at the Thanksgiving Program last Thursday!!! Thanks again to my wonderful and supportive parents who were there every step of the way, especially Michelle Rose!  I think she was at school just about everyday this week!!! Thanks again!

There will not be centers this week. We will pick up after the break :)

On Tuesday, 11-18, we are having our Annual Thanksgiving feast with kindergarten. From 10- to about 10:30. We have the plates and napkins, thanks Mrs. Fuentes! I think she is also making the fruit kabobs as well.  We are in need of the drinks for our class. Please let me know if you can bring them, thanks!  

On Wednesday, 11-19, we will have our November birthday celebration at 1:30. If you haven't already, please sign up to bring something if your child's birthday is this month. Thanks!

On Friday, 11-21, the first graders will be doing a echo pantomime with the 7th graders.  Please join us for our thanksgiving prayer service at 8:15 in the auditorium :)

Vocabulary this week

forget
show
smart
pencil
best
read
school
time
being
place
sometimes
goes

Spelling this week

bed
fed
led
red
wed 
men
hen
ten
nest
tent

DONT FORGET TO TURN IN CANNED FOOD AND SHOEBOX ITEMS!!  Most of the class not brought in their items :(. We need to provide for the less fortunate in ore community and the world !  These are the experiences and events that shape our children to do what God wants us to do :) Let's show God's love!