April 28- May 2

Welcome back to a full week :). Hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing time with their families. It was well deserved. My students have really been working hard.  We have several weeks of school and there is still so much to learn. So here we go!!!

We will be practicing for the May Crowning Prayer Service.  It will be on Friday, May 2 which is also Grandparent's Day. Some of the students have taken readings to practice. Please make sure they practice all week at home, and we will practice at school.  Thank you. Each child will be participating in the crowning event . They will each present a rose to the Blessed Mother during the service.  They also will be singing and doing sign language to a beautiful song for the service.  You will definitely want to attend this service because it is truly moving and special.  Please be sure that your child is in their best uniform that is clean.  

A note will be going home about the first grade responsibilities for providing the reception for the second graders after their First Communion Mass.  We will provide the cookies, drinks, and the help for this event .  It's a really special event for our second graders, their families, and our school.  Be sure to check your child's planner on Monday. It will be stapled in their planner!  I appreciate any help you can provide before, during, and after the reception. Thank you !

Vocabulary and spelling will be going home on Monday. The practice spelling test will be on Wednesday and the final spelling test will be on Thursday due to Grandparents' day on Friday .  

Vocabulary this week:

became

minutes

decided

behind

brought

understand

explain

cannot

include

believe

simple

difference

probably

written

reason

Spelling words this week:

of

from

after

again

could 

is

if

to

how

know

had

were

has

had

I know it's a long list, but some are review and many are those they already use in their writing.  

These are common words used in daily writing and need to be learned.  

We have a new sock monkey named Mercy!!! Can your child find her???? 

She can't wait to meet my students!!!! :)

Holy Week April 14 - April 17

What a busy but special week !!! I am so very proud of my first graders :). They worked so hard, without complaining too! I am truly blessed to have such wonderful and supportive parents.  You worked so hard driving my students from place to place. I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks so much :). No we will be working on the next special events- May crowning!! We will be working on a very special prayer service for the Blessed Mother on May 2nd.  This is also Grandparents day. Some students will be reading, singing, and all will be processing up with roses for Mary.  This is one of most beautiful services!! 

Before this we have another event that the first graders are in charge of- the First Communion reception after their First Communion Mass. Each student will be bringing either a 2 liter bottle of sprite or 7up or 1 dozen cookies.  I will need volunteers to come and collect the items from school on Friday, May 2nd and go to St. Patrick's church and set up the cookies and drinks table in the foyer of the church.  If you will be able to help out, let me know.  We will also need helpers for the morning of the First Communion to serve the children and their families.  A note will be going home this week about this event.  Thank you in advance for your help.  

This is a short week, I will be sending home vocabulary and spelling on Monday.  Please begin review/ studying them right away.  I have noticed that some of the students aren't studying their vocabulary and spelling.  Many actually have told me that they didn't study.  This is evident also in their assessments.  Please help your child with this. It really helps them in their daily spelling and reading success!! 

Vocabulary this week:

almost

question

problem

complete

however

several

himself

notice

certain

finally

quickly

carefully

Spelling this week- because of the short week- the practice test will be Wednesday, and the final test will be on Thursday. 

raincoat

beehive

bathtub

outside

sailboat

into

fireman

pancakes

flagpole

bedtime

As a side note: your child/ children should really be practicing their basic math facts - addition and subtraction.  I've noticed many errors in this area.  Flash cards are very helpful!!  Please practice at home :). Thank you!!

April 7 to April 11

Reminders for this week:  

Wednesday and Friday- send in your child's booster seat!  

Wednesday we will be going to Park Merced leaving school at 10:45.  We will be performing the Stations of the Cross with the 8th grade.  We will return around noon.  

Friday we will perform the Stations of the Cross for the school beginning at 8:15.  Please plan on joining us for this special prayer!  We will then be going to both Hampshire and Emeritus to perform Stations of th Cross leaving at 9:40 and returning sometime before lunch. 

It's a busy week, one that should have a meaningful effect on each of the students. 

Vocabulary-  I will be sending home a master list of this year's vocabulary. I will begin final assessments some time after Easter. Please practice with your child. 

There will not be any vocabulary this week.

Spelling this week:

music

cute

tube

tune

use

mule

June

cube

cut

cub

us

tub

As you know I've been doing several incentive strategies to encourage positive behavior inside and outside of the classroom.  What a difference it has made!!!  We have been doing FUN Fridays for the last two weeks.  They love this.  In order for your child to be able to participate in this event, your child cannot sit out more than two times in a week.  This allows them room for mistakes. It's a form of a 3 strikes your out strategy.  So far it has really been a positive!!! Go first graders!!!!!

The other strategy is the sticker chart. When they fill up the entire sticker chart(25 stickers) they get to pick a prize from the prize box!! What child doesn't want a prize, right?? They may earn a sticker for a variety of reasons:  following rules, being kind, completing work on time etc.  My students are really working hard to earn those stickers!! GO 1ST GRADERS !!!!!!

Donations needed:

Paper towels 

Clorox wipes

For Fun Fridays:

Play-dough, and play dough cutters, molds etc.

100 piece puzzles

Craft supplies

Other fun ideas or games are always welcome:)

&

Prizes for the prize box are always welcome :)

I appreciate all your support !!!!!!!