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.  

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. 

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!!!!

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!

Short week!! 11-12 to 11-14

Hope everyone has enjoyed the long weekend- THANK YOU , VETERANS!!

Reminder: canned food is due THIS WEEK, Also, the shoebox items are due by the 17th of this month. These are just of the little ways we can "do for others"!!!!!!

We have a short but busy week.  We will not have a new vocabulary list, but we will still have spelling.  Here is the list:

saw

moth

wasn't 

block

didn't 

chop

spot

with

cloth

frogs

The vowel sounds, blends, digraphs, and contractions have beened covered over the last few weeks. Please start studying today :)

I am in need of help putting thanksgiving table decorations together. First grade is responsible for OLMs annual dinner decorations.  If you can show up about 9, that would be great. It shouldn't take longer than 1 hour. Thank you so much in advance!

We will have a whole school dress rehearsal on Thursday, November 13th at 8:30 in the auditorium. I could use help that morning as well, to get the students into their costumes :). If you can , just stay when you drop off your child that morning, and we can get them into their Indian shirts ( those are at school ).  I'd appreciate any help :) thanks again for the support :)

The Thanksgiving program is that night.  The program begins at 6:30, but please drop your child off at 6:15 in our classroom rm 3. Have them dressed in jeans, leggings , or a skirt. Have them in a plain shirt; they will put their Indian shirt over their other shirt. They may wear any shoes. The program will be 45 min to an hour. The students will not be allowed to leave UNTIL the program is over. We hate to have people getting up and leaving when their child's class is done. Please stay and enjoy the entire program :) then pick up your child after it's over, we thank you for your support in this matter!

I'd like to congratulate our first ADDITION MATH MASTERS!!! Go: Connor Schuesler and Mikayla Santiago!!! They have mastered all the levels in addition!! Many other students are catching up!!! Please continue to practice each day, the kids are so modivated and all want to get the title of ADDITION MATH MASTER :) 

First week of November 2014

So sorry this is late, there is so much to go over :)

Urgent!!!!!!

This week we are making our Indian shirts for the Thanksgiving Program next week!

I know this is last minute, but I need for each child to bring in 1 large, plain , white t-shirt by Wednesday. We will be making our costumes on Wednesday morning.  If you would like to come in to help, please be there about 8:30 AM. Please let me know if you can't send in a shirt, I will make sure your child has one.  Maybe daddy has a clean undershirt....??? You can send that in if you'd like!  We are also making the Thanksgiving Dinner table decorations that morning too. We could use parent help with that as well.  Please let me know if you'd be able to help- email as soon as you can , so I know how many helpers I'll have that day, thanks!  lynnee@sbcglobal.net 

If you are able to help, bring in good scissors for cutting fringe on the shirts. If you have more than one pair, that would be VERY HELPFUL!! AGAIN I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HELP :) 

Important events/ dates coming up:

THIS WEEK-------_

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 @ 8:30

1. Send in white shirt with your child for their costume

2. Helpers needed that morning - please email at let me know if you'll be there.

3. Bring good cutting scissors( more than one pair if you can)

**** we have AN OLM SPIRIT FREE DRESS DAY on this day too.  Only an OLM t-shirt is allowed.  You may purchase one from the office. 

THIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

This is our annual Veteran's Day Assembly @ 8:30- if you're a veteran or know someone who is, please make sure to attend our Veteran's assembly- it's a fantastic & heartwarming event!!  This assembly is just a small way we can honor the brave men and women who have helped to protect this wonderful country !!! 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

All School Mass

Students are to be dressed in full OLM uniform. No shorts are allowed until next May!

After mass the 8th graders are doing the annual Saint Wax Museum. The 8th graders are dressed as saints with various props and backdrop to give students a little background of that saint. The students provide a "frozen in time" effect so students get an idea of that saint's life, and what the saint is known for. It is a magnificent performance!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 @ 6:30 PM

This is our Thanksgiving program performance.

1. Please have your child dressed in their Indian shirts and jeans, or legging type pants or skirts for girls.  

2. Please have your child be at the classroom by 6:15 PM. 

3. Remember everyone is expected to stay for the whole performance , so do not pick up your child until the entire program is over. They will not be dismissed before then. Thank you!

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18th @ 10:00 AM 

1. We are having our annual kindergarten / first grade Thanksgiving Feast.

2. The first grade is responsible for providing fruit kabobs for both classes.  

3. The first grade is also responsible for providing our own juice and napkins.  

If you can come in to help or help with any if the items, please let me know. I'll post a list, so that we don't have more than we need. Thanks!  This is a fun tradition. 

NEXT TWO SCHOOL/PARISH MASSES:

Saturday, November 22@ 5:00

Sunday, December 14 @ 7:00 AM- we realize this is early, but it's great for these parishioners to see us there :). 

***** Remember students should be dressed in their full OLM school uniform- no shorts are allowed for mass. 

*********I'd love to see more of my first graders at these masses :). 

IS YOUR CHILD A MATH MASTER???????? Please continue to practice addition math facts!!!!!!!!

Vocabulary for the week:

pond

count

called

silly

morning

beautiful

put

tomorrow 

today

book

belongs

Spelling for the week:

was

you

soft

clock

pops

crop

and

drop

socks

shop

Last week in October 2014

********THERE WILL NOT BE CENTERS THIS WEEK******** we have many activities this week.  Next week we will have centers. We will be making thanksgiving dinner table decorations and I'll need parent help on that day :)

This week is RED RIBBON WEEK!!  

Things to know for the week:

Tuesday - Red and White Free dress

Friday - Halloween!! Students can wear their costumes- there will be a costume parade in the morning.

We will have our Halloween party at 1:15. Please contact room parents if you want to bring in something, come to help with the party etc. please contact them to sign up so you can help!

Other important info:

Wednesday is our September/October birthday party- I have posted a sign up for parents of birthday students. We will start at 12:45. We have an all- school dance party at 1:45 - Red Ribbon Week -activity. 

Vocab this week: words are getting more difficult. Please practice each day!

any

animals

trouble

kind

gave

there

thing

nice

thought

answered

belongs

asked

Spelling this week: long o sound-

not

pot

hot

cot

dot

on

box

pop

top

stop

I enjoyed meeting with each of you last week at our conference!  Please remember that we are a team, and I that I am here to help you in the education of your child :) !!!