April 26 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

April 25, 2013

Review of our week:

         This week we finished up with fractions and started on story problems.  We also are doing some fun writings and are working on compound words.

Kite Festival:

         The Kite Festival is on Saturday.  We sent home a paper for you to keep track of your child’s minutes on.  The PTA also asked us to keep track of them at school.  I have gone through and written down the reading records your child has turned in.  The days your child read might be off a little, but the amount of days is what they had on their reading record.  I also didn’t put the extra minutes your child read.  You are more than welcome to fix them if you would like to.  I have a lot of students who are not turning their reading records in every week.  I would really like you to look at how much reading your child has done the last couple of months.  If your child turns this in, they will receive a kite and the school earns money.

        

Volunteers Needed:

         I know there is a lot going on in the next month or so, but we have some fun things going and we really need some parents to come and help.   

I need 1 parent to come and go on the field trip with us.  It will be on Friday, May 10. We are going to the library, Ladybug Nursery and Discovery Park. I also need either 1 parent all day for field day or 1 parent in the morning and 1 in the afternoon to take our class around.  Field Day is on Tuesday, May 21.

On the field trip your child will need to each school lunch.  If your child usually eats home lunch, you need to pay the office for their lunch for this day. I have included the permission slip.

****** On both of these days, please make sure your child has sunscreen on.  Thanks

Animal Reports:

         I will be assigning each student an animal to do an oral report on.  All of the information will be coming home next week.  Please check the paper in your child’s backpack, so you will know when your child is scheduled to do their report and what animal.  If you have any questions please let me know.  You are welcome to come and watch.

Family Fun Days:

         If you would still like to do a Family Fun Day and have not signed up please let me know.  We only have 4 weeks of school left.  If there are several people who would like to do one, we will have to do some on a different day of the week.

Thanks:

         I just wanted to tell all of you thanks for everything you have done this year.  I appreciate all of your help and support.  It makes my job so much easier with your help.  I also appreciate you making sure your child is doing their reading and their homework.  It is wonderful to see how much progress we have made this year.   

Take Home Books:

         I have at about 7-10 students everyday not bring their take home books back or not read them.  I know some are reading other books, but I would really like them to read their take home book as well.  I give the students money everyday they have read their take home book and brought it back.  They also get money for bringing their homework back.  We only have 2 more weeks of the Take Home Books, please help your child to read their take home book.  The last day for the books will be on 10, so they will all be due on Monday, May 13.  If your child has lost their book, you will need to send $5 to pay for it.

First Grade Music Program:

         Mrs. Leavitt the music teacher has helped the first graders learn a lot of new songs this year.  They are going to perform them in the gym on Thursday, May 2 at 2:00.  You are all welcome to come and watch them.  Please have your child wear their nice school clothes.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, April 22 – Celebrate Jonas’ Birthday

·      Friday, April 26 – Family Fun Day (Bryan Family)

·      Tuesday, April 30 – Library books are due

·      Wednesday, May 1 – Celebrate Brooklyn’s Birthday

·      Friday, May 3 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, May 4 – First Grade Program in the gym @ 2:00

·      Friday, May 10 – Field Trip

·      Monday, May 13 – Take Home books are due

·      Friday, May 17 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, May 20 – Reading Celebration (If we earn it.)

·      Tuesday, May 21 – Field Day

·      Thursday, May 23 – Celebrate Aidan’s Birthday

·      Friday, May 24 – Last Day of School (School gets out at 2:30)

April 16 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

April 16, 2013

Review of our week:

         In math we have been working on shapes and fractions.  In guided reading we have really been working on comprehension.  We have done some really fun writings.  We have also been working on adding ing to the end of words.  Next week we will start on story problems. 

Please send a jacket with your child.  We still go out, even when it is colder.  I have some who don’t want to go out because they are cold and they don’t have a jacket.  They won’t need it everyday, but please send one everyday. Thanks

Volunteers Needed:

I need 1 parent to come and go on the field trip with us.  It will be on Friday, May 10. We are going to the library, Ladybug Nursery and Discovery Park. I also need either 1 parent all day for field day or 1 parent in the morning and 1 in the afternoon to take our class around.  Field Day is on Tuesday, May 21.

On the field trip your child will need to each school lunch.  If your child usually eats home lunch, you need to pay the office for their lunch for this day.

****** On both of these days, please make sure your child has sunscreen on.  Thanks

Family Fun Days:

         If you would still like to do a Family Fun Day and have not signed up please let me know.  

Reading Helpers:

         I really wanted to thank all of you who have taken the time to come in and read this year.  I know it takes a lot of time, but it really has made a big difference with helping our class learn how to read this year.  The week of May 6-9 will be the last week to come in and read.  Thanks again for everything you have done this year. 

         I also wanted to thank those you who have been doing stuff at home for me.  We have been able to do a lot of really fun things because of you.  It has helped me out a lot.  Thanks

Library Books:

          Tuesday will be the last time we check out books from the Library.  When we go to Library the next week (April 30), we need to have all of our books back on that day.  Please make sure your child returns their Library books by the 30th.

Take Home Library Books:

         We will only have these for the next couple of weeks, please take advantage of it.  We are still trying to earn our Reading Celebration.  The last day for the books will be on 10, so they will all be due on Monday, May 13.  If your child has lost their book, you will need to send $5 to pay for it.

First Grade Music Program:

         Mrs. Leavitt the music teacher has helped the first graders learn a lot of new songs this year.  They are going to perform them in the gym on Thursday, May 2 at 2:00.  You are all welcome to come and watch them.  Please have your child wear their nice school clothes.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, April 22 – Celebrate Jonas’ Birthday

·      Friday, April 26 – Family Fun Day (Bryan Family)

·      Tuesday, April 30 – Library books are due

·      Wednesday, May 1 – Celebrate Brooklyn’s Birthday

·      Friday, May 3 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, May 4 – First Grade Program in the gym @ 2:00

·      Friday, May 10 – Field Trip

·      Monday, May 13 – Take Home books are due

·      Friday, May 17 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, May 20 – Reading Celebration (If we earn it.)

·      Tuesday, May 21 – Field Day

·      Thursday, May 23 – Celebrate Aidan’s Birthday

·      Friday, May 24 – Last Day of School (School gets out at 2:30)

April 12 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

April 11, 2013

Review of our week:

         In math we have been reviewing a little bit and working on shapes.  We wrote a paper about Spring and a Spring Poem.   We are going to start working on fractions and story problems. Thanks for sending some stuffed animals.  They class has loved reading to them. 

  

Homework:

         I have several students who have not turned in any reading records since we started counting minutes for the reading celebration.  I really need them to do their reading and turn in their reading records, so we can earn the reading celebration. 

FYI’s:

* Keep saving those Box Tops.

* If you are planning on moving and will not be in our school next year, will you please let me know?  They would like to know, before making class lists for next year.

Upcoming Events:

·      Friday, April 19 – Celebrate Alex’s Birthday

·      Friday, April 19 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, April 22 – Celebrate Jonas’ Birthday

·      Friday, April 26 – Family Fun Day (Bryan Family)

·      Wednesday, May 1 – Celebrate Brooklyn’s Birthday

·      Friday, May 3 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, May 4 – First Grade Program in the gym @ 2:00

·      Friday, May 10 – Field Trip

·      Friday, May 17 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, May 20 – Reading Celebration (If we earn it.)

·      Tuesday, May 21 – Field Day

·      Thursday, May 23 – Celebrate Aidan’s Birthday

·      Friday, May 24 – Last Day of School

April 5 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

April 4, 2013

Review of our week:

         Congratulations to those who participated in the Science Fair.  Lily from our class took 3^rd place. There were some really neat experiments. In math we have been working on place value and shapes. We also had our store for the quarter last week.

Homework:

         I had several students who did not have very much money to spend at our store, because they have not been doing their homework or reading their take home book.  I really need you to keep working with your child.

On the math homework for this week, your child needs to find 3 things around your house in the shape of a circle, square, triangle and a rectangle.  They will also need to label them.  So, they will find 3 things in each of those shapes.  

        

Book Order:

I will be sending home 2 more book orders.  This would be a great way to get your child some books to read over the summer.  I will be sending one home today.  If you would like to order books they are due back on Thursday.  You can also order online.

Flat Stanley:

         I have attached a letter explaining what we are doing with Flat Stanley, please make sure you read it and get me your address as soon as possible. Please pick somebody who will take him and do some fun things with him.  This is one of the most fun activities we do. I would really like to get them in the mail on Monday.  You can even email the address.

Reading Celebration:

      To earn the reading celebration this year they decided as a school we should be able to read 1 Million minutes.  As a school for the month of March we only read 173,500 minutes.  We are not even close to our goal.  I have SO many in our class who are not even turning their reading records in.  I really need you to make sure they are reading and get them turned in.  I have stressed to them the importance of being honest. 

Portfolios:

         I would like to start getting the portfolios put together.  If you have not already sent your child’s binder and sheet protectors, please do so as soon as possible.  I have taken pictures throughout the year.  If you would like me to print them and put them in their portfolio, please send a $5 Walmart gift card.  If you would just like a CD with the pictures on it you can send $2.

Stuffed Animals:

         I am trying to come up with some new things we can do in our Daily 5.  I would like to get some stuffed animals that they could read during one of our reading times.  If any of you have a stuffed animal that you would be willing to donate to our class, I would really appreciate.  Please, don’t send anything that is important to your child.  I hope this will keep then interested until the end of the year. 

Thanks:

         I just wanted to tell all of you thanks for everything you have done this year.  I appreciate all of your help and support.  It makes my job so much easier with your help.

     

FYI’s:

* If you are planning on moving and will not be in our school next year, will you please let me know?  They would like to know, before making class lists for next year.

* I have put most everything on the upcoming events, until the end of the year.  I will explain later what some of them are.  I just want you to be aware of some of the things we will be doing.  The last couple of months, things get pretty crazy. The parents are invited to come to the First Grade Program.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, April 8 – Arts Night 6:30

·      Friday, April 12 – Family Fun Day

·      Friday, April 12 – Teacher Requests due

·      Friday, April 19 – Celebrate Alex’s Birthday

·      Friday, April 19 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, April 22 – Celebrate Jonas’ Birthday

·      Friday, April 26 – Family Fun Day (Bryan Family)

·      Wednesday, May 1 – Celebrate Brooklyn’s Birthday

·      Friday, May 3 – Family Fun Day

·      Thursday, May 4 – First Grade Program in the gym @ 2:00

·      Friday, May 10 – Field Trip

·      Friday, May 17 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, May 20 – Reading Celebration (If we earn it.)

·      Tuesday, May 21 – Field Day

·      Thursday, May 23 – Celebrate Aidan’s Birthday