August 19 Newsletter

September 12 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 12, 2025

Review of our week:

Each day we interview the leader and I am really seeing some improvement in our writing.  We have also been working on sentence structure.  We are working on subtracting and adding within 10.  We have started reading stories in our readers.

Next Week’s Leaders:

Monday, September 15 – Tom 

        Tuesday, September 16 – Zora

Next week will be our last week of snacks for the class.  If your child would like a snack, will you please send a healthy snack in their backpack.  You can even just keep several in there, so they have one if they are hungry. Thank you so much for everyone providing a snack these first weeks of school.

Homework:

You and your child need to be reading for 20 minutes every night. We started the Take Home Library a while ago.  These books are on your child’s independent reading level, they should be reading them to you.  They may seem easy and that is because they are or they should be.  They are one level lower than where I have them instructionally.   I would like your child to read the book a couple of times.  After they have read the book have them tell you what happened in the book and ask them some questions about the book for comprehension.    Please, be patient with their take home book level, it takes a while for me to read with them when they are ready to move.  If your child is on a higher reading level, they won’t move through the levels as fast.

I also have extra books if you would like some.  Raz Kids is also a great resource for them to get more minutes.

Please help your child to read it and bring it back every day.

Reading Helpers:

I would like to start having parents come in and read with the class next week. They can be moms, dads or grandparents.     If you can and would like to come in and read with us, we would love to have you. The time is 8:40-9:10. Let me know if there is a day that would work for you.  You do have to have your background check with the district.

Upcoming Events:

*Tuesday, September 16 – Color Run starts at 2:30 on the upper field

*Friday, September 26 – Goodies with Grandparents 8-8:45 in the gym

*September 29-October 3 – SEP Week School will get out at 2:30 except on Friday, it will be regular 1:30.

*October 2-3 – Mrs. Bali will be gone

August 29 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

August 29, 2025

Review of our week:

I have been doing some assessing this week to see where your child is in reading. Each day, we interview our leader and each child then writes something about the leader and draws a picture.  When we finish each student will have a book they have made with a page about each person in our class.  I am very excited to see how much each child has improved in their writing abilities.  In math we have been working on ways to make 10.  

I will be gone next Thursday and Friday. I won’t be doing a newsletter next week. I have 2 really good subs, but will you please remind your child to be good for the subs? If you happen to come to the stock show, please find me and say hi.

Next Week’s Leaders:

    Monday, September 1 – No School (Labor Day)

    Tuesday, September 2 – Royal (Celebrate Royal’s Birthday)

    Wednesday, September 3 – Freya

    Thursday, September 4 – Kendyl

    Friday, September 5 – Leah

    Monday, September 8 – Milo 

    Tuesday, September 9 – Oaklee

    Wednesday, September 10– Oaks

    Thursday, September 11 – Sophia

    Friday, September 12 – Sylvia

Parent Readers:

We will be starting in a few weeks. I would love for anyone else who would like to come listen to the class.  You do need to go to the district and have your fingerprints done.  If you have already done your fingerprints, you do need to fill out a form at the beginning of each year.

Homework:

Your child should be reading every night. At this point their reading time can be a combination of them reading and you reading to them.  I know some of you are reading the full 20 to your child and that is great.    

We started our Take Home Library Books this week.  Your child will be getting 1 book they can read on their own Monday-Thursday. They should be reading this book 2-3 times each night and bringing it back each day. If you would like extra books, I have some I can send home. Raz is also a great resource to be using. I am still adjusting some of the levels.  If you have a question about your child’s level, please reach out to me.

Reading Records:

I have included the reading record for September. The reading record is due by the date at the bottom.  Please, take the time to help your child with their reading.  They need to color an apple for each day they read for 20 minutes.  I tell them to keep it in a safe place and to color an apple as soon as they are finished reading.  Thanks

Upcoming Events:

• Monday, September 1 – No School (Labor Day)

• Tuesday, September 2 – Celebrate Royal’s Birthday

• Wednesday, September 3 – School Pictures

• September 4-5 – Mrs. Bali will be gone. I will be with my boys at the Stock Show.

August 22 Newsletter

 Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

August 22, 2025

Review of our week:

We have our first full week of regular schedule behind us. We are still working on learning our procedures and getting into a routine.  We are really working on listening and following instructions.  I am so excited about our class and the upcoming year.  I have really enjoyed getting to know your child.  There are a few things I wanted to remind you about as well as some things coming up.

Raz Kids: 

If you have not checked out the website or downloaded the app, please do so.  I sent home a log in paper with the information on it at Back to School Night.

Preps:

We have P.E. on Tuesdays.  Please send your child with appropriate clothes and shoes.  

Forms Online:

If you have not done this, please do so ASAP.  If you still have questions, email or call Mrs. Savage in the office.

FYI:

* If your child has not turned in the papers, I sent home please do so ASAP.

* Thank you to those of you who donated things off of my Amazon wish list as well as the items from Back to School Night. You were very generous.

* Remember school starts at 8:55 please have your child here before that. We do Bell Work each morning until 9:00. I have several who are not getting it finished.

Upcoming Events:

• Monday, September 1 – No School (Labor Day)

• Tuesday, September 2 – Celebrate Royal’s Birthday

• Wednesday, September 3 – School Pictures

• September 4-5 – Mrs. Bali will be gone. I will be with my boys at the Stock Show.

Here is a list of snacks for the next several of weeks. Please send

24 snacks.  If you can send prepackaged snacks, that will help a lot. If you are unable to send a snack, please let me know. Thanks!!

Monday, August 25 – Austin

Tuesday, August 26 – Brian

Wednesday, August 27 – Dotty

Thursday, August 28 – Elsie

Friday, August 29 - Ember

Monday, September 1 – No School (Labor Day)

Tuesday, September 2 – Royal (Celebrate Royal’s Birthday)

Wednesday, September 3 – Freya

Thursday, September 4 – Kendyl

Friday, September 5 – Leah

Monday, September 8 – Milo 

Tuesday, September 9 – Oaklee

Wednesday, September 10– Oaks

Thursday, September 11 – Sophia

Friday, September 12 – Sylvia

Monday, September 15 – Tom 

Tuesday, September 16 – Zora

August 15 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

August 15, 2025

Review of Our Week:

We have had a great week getting to know each other and learning procedures.  We have also done some pretty fun activities this week.  Next week we will be starting into our regular schedule with I-Ready Math and our CKLA reading program.

Leader and Snacks:

Each day we will have a leader and I would like that leader to bring a healthy snack to share with the class.  They are still adjusting to being back in school and they get hungry during the day.  Please send 24 snacks.  If you can’t send a snack, just let me know.  If your child would like to bring their own snack and not eat the class snack, they are welcome to do that.

Monday, August 18 – Arzy

Tuesday, August 19 – Emmerson

Wednesday, August 20 – Benson

Thursday, August 21 – Briggs

Friday, August 22 - Bridger

Upcoming Events:

• Tuesday, August 19 – Celebrate Emmerson’s Birthday

• Monday, September 1 – No School (Labor Day)

• Tuesday, September 2 – Celebrate Royal’s Birthday

• Wednesday, September 3 – School Pictures

• September 4-5 – Mrs. Bali will be gone. I will be with my boys at the Stock Show.

May 3 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

May 3, 2025

Review of our week:

We have had a pretty good week.  We are working on comparing lengths and reviewing addition and subtraction.  We started on our unit in Listening and Learning about how America became a country.  We are doing really well in our reading unit.  Take home books were due this week, if your child has not returned their book, please send it on Monday.  They still can read on RAZ kids.  

We will be doing our first Acadiance math test on Monday.  It will be addition and subtraction, if you would like to review with your child this weekend, that would be great.  We will be doing our Acadiance Reading test on Thursday, May 8.  Please, please keep reading with your child.  The reading at home makes such a difference.  

Mountain Eye Institute’s Kite Flight:

Our class turned in the most reading records for this and we earned a pizza party next Thursday.  Thanks to everyone who went and turned theirs in.

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.  Next week will be our last week.  Thanks again for everything you have done this year.  

FYI’s:

*Information about the Color Run will be coming home soon, please watch for that.

*We will need helpers to help on field day.  I will let you know times and how many when I find out.

Upcoming Events:

        *Monday, May 5 – Acadiance Math Testing

*Thursday, May 8 – Acadiance Reading Testing (DIBELS)

*Friday, May 9 – Celebrate Ari’s Birthday

*Monday, May 12 – Acadiance Math Testing

*Monday, May 19 – Field Day

*Wednesday, May 21 – Color Run

*May 22-23 – School will get out at 1:30 each day

*Friday, May 23 – Last Day of School

April 4 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

April 4, 2025

Review of our week:

We have had a really great week.  We are working on breaking shapes into halves and fourths.  We just started on our unit in Listening and Learning about Fairy Tales.  We are doing really well in our reading unit.  We only have a couple more weeks with take home books, please take advantage of this great resource.  

Flat Stanley:

We read the story Flat Stanley.  It is about a boy who is flat and his parents mail him to visit a friend in California.  I have included a letter explaining all about our activity.  Please pick someone who will have fun with this activity for your child.  Please send me an address as soon as possible.

Mountain Eye Institute’s Kite Flight:

I am sending home another copy of the reading calendar.  Remember these are the same minutes your child has been reading for class.  If you are unable to make it, see if a neighbor or someone can drop it off.  The PTA gets money for each calendar that is turned in.  It is a great fundraiser for the school.  It is Saturday, April 26 at Cedar Middle School from 10:00-3:00.

FYIs:

*I have a few things that won’t be coming up for a while, but I won’t be doing a newsletter next week.

*Miss Raegan’s last day will be the Tuesday after Spring Break.  She has been a great addition to our class.  We will really miss her.

Upcoming Events:

*Wednesday, April 9 – Celebrate Wyatt’s Birthday

        *Thursday, April 10 – Celebrate Skylar’s Birthday

*April 14-18 – No School (Spring Break)

*Monday, April 21 – Celebrate Ronix’ Birthday

*Tuesday, April 22 – Celebrate Lilly’s Birthday

*Tuesday, April 22 – Miss Raegan’s Last Day

*Wednesday, April 23 – Celebrate Emmett’s Birthday

*Saturday, April 26 – Kite Flight 10-3 @CMS

*Thursday, May 1 – Celebrate Fynn’s Birthday

*Monday, May 5 – Acadiance Math Testing

*Wednesday, May 7 – Acadiance Reading Testing (DIBELS)

*Friday, May 9 – Celebrate Ari’s Birthday

*Monday, May 12 – Acadiance Math Testing

*Monday, May 19 – Field Day

*Wednesday, May 21 – Color Run

*Friday, May 23 – Last Day of School

***If I have missed anyone’s birthday, please let me know.  We have had several new students and a lot of summer birthdays.

March 27 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

March 27, 2025

Review of our week:

We finished our reading unit and started a new one.  We are working on a narrative writing piece. In math we are working on geometry.  In listening and learning we are still doing our unit on animals and their habitats.

Take Home Books and Reading:

Please make sure your child is doing their reading every night.  Everyone is making progress right now. I can really tell those who are doing their reading homework.  There are a lot of students who are not bringing their take home books back.  Please make sure your child is reading their books and bringing them back every day.  This is a great resource, please take advantage of it.  

I have also included the login information for Raz Kids again.  I will be sending home some fluency passages that you can have your child read at home.  

Attendance:

Our school has been trying to improve our attendance this year.  I understand that sometimes you are out of town and I appreciate you not sending your child to school sick, but I can’t teach them if they aren’t here.  Our class has had 263 absences and 276 tardies this year.  We have only had 23 days when everyone has been here. We only have 7 weeks of school left, please try to make sure your child is at school and here on time.  Also, if your child is eating school breakfast, please make sure they are here early enough to eat and get to class on time.  

Dress Code:

Mr. Oldroyd made an announcement yesterday reminding students about the dress code.  If shorts or skirts are too short, the office will call you to bring clothes for your child to change. I forwarded the dress code policy. Also, it is still cool some days, please still send your child with a jacket.

Upcoming Events:

*Thursday, April 10 – Celebrate Skylar’s Birthday

*April 14-18 – No School (Spring Break)

*Monday, April 21 – Celebrate Ronix’ Birthday

*Tuesday, April 22 – Celebrate Lilly’s Birthday

*Wednesday, April 23 – Celebrate Emmett’s Birthday

*Thursday, May 1 – Celebrate Fynn’s Birthday

*Friday, May 9 – Celebrate Ari’s Birthday

***If I have missed anyone’s birthday, please let me know.  We have had several new students and a lot of summer birthdays.

March 7 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

March 7, 2025

Review of our week:

We are almost finished our reading unit.  We have a few more stories and will be writing an opinion piece. In math we have been working on place value and adding/subtracting double digit numbers.  In listening and learning we are doing a unit on animals and their habitats.

Take Home Books and Reading:

Please make sure your child is doing their reading every night.  Everyone is making progress right now. I can really tell those who are doing their reading homework.  There are a lot of students who are not bringing their take home books back.  Please make sure your child is reading their books and bringing them back every day.  This is a great resource, please take advantage of it.  

Upcoming Events:

*Tuesday, March 11 – Celebrate Reese’s Birthday

*March 12-14 – No School (Teacher Days)

*Friday, March 21 – Celebrate Ollie’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, March 28 – Celebrate Isabelle’s ½ Birthday

*Wednesday, April 9 – Celebrate Wyatt’s Birthday

*Thursday, April 10 – Celebrate Skylar’s Birthday

*April 14-18 – No School (Spring Break)

*Monday, April 21 – Celebrate Ronix’ Birthday

*Tuesday, April 22 – Celebrate Lilly’s Birthday

*Tuesday, April 22 – Celebrate Emmett’s Birthday

*Thursday, May 1 – Celebrate Fynn’s Birthday

*Friday, May 9 – Celebrate Ari’s Birthday

February 28 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

February 28, 2025

Review of our week:

Miss Raegan is doing a great job in our class.  It is wonderful to have some extra help. In math we are working on adding double digit numbers. We are learning about the layers of the earth. 

Our behavior is getting much better, but we are still working on it and are still doing trackers.  If you could encourage your child to do their best and listen at school, we would really appreciate it.  Thanks for all of your support in this. 

Reading:

The end of the school year is right around the corner.  I know this time of year gets really busy.  Please help your child to continue reading every night.  Remember to fill your monthly reading record and the Kite Flight reading record as well.  This is a great fundraiser for our school.  The PTA gets money for every reading record that is turned in.

Upcoming Events:

    *Wednesday, March 5 – Spring Pictures (If you want them)

    *Tuesday, March 11 – End of 3rd Quarter

*Tuesday, March 11 – Celebrate Reese’s Birthday

*March 12-14 – No School (Teacher Days)

*Friday, March 21 – Celebrate Ollie’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, March 28 – Celebrate Isabelle’s ½ Birthday

*Wednesday, April 9 – Celebrate Wyatt’s Birthday

*Thursday, April 10 – Celebrate Skylar’s Birthday

*April 14-18 – No School (Spring Break)

*Monday, April 21 – Celebrate Ronix’ Birthday

February 21 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

February 21, 2025

Review of our week:

We have had a very full week with only 4 days.  Miss Raegan is doing such a great job in our class.  I have been doing some assessing this week.  I am so happy with the progress we are making in our reading.  Please make sure your child is reading every night.  

As a class we have been struggling with not talking and listening to instructions.  We are using a tracker to track our class.  Yesterday, was our first day.  They will be coming home if they have a zero or more than 2 ones, if not they will not be bringing them home.  There were several who realized they weren’t doing what they were supposed to, to be able to get a 2 and changed their behavior.  I hope you will talk to your child if they are bringing these trackers home.  

Upcoming Events:

        *Friday, February 28 – Celebrate Anastin’s ½ Birthday

*Tuesday, March 11 – End of 3rd Quarter

*Tuesday, March 11 – Celebrate Reese’s Birthday

*March 12-14 – No School (Teacher Days)

*Friday, March 21 – Celebrate Ollie’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, March 28 – Celebrate Isabelle’s ½ Birthday

February 14 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

February 14, 2025

Review of our week:

We have had a really great week.  Thank you to those of you who helped with the Valentine’s Party.  Doughnuts with Grownups was a huge success.  

In Listening and Learning we are learning about earth.  We finished out our reader, Green Fern Zoo and will be starting a new one next week. We are still working on place value in math. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make sure your child is reading every night. There are only 3 months of school left. 

Upcoming Events:

        *Monday, February 17 – No School (President’s Day)

*Thursday, February 20 – Celebrate Emi’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, February 28 – Celebrate Anastin’s ½ Birthday

*Tuesday, March 11 – End of 3rd Quarter

*Tuesday, March 11 – Celebrate Reese’s Birthday

*March 12-14 – No School (Teacher Days)

*Friday, March 21 – Celebrate Ollie’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, March 28 – Celebrate Isabelle’s ½ Birthday

January 30 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 30, 2025

Review of our week:

In our reading program we are reading an informational text about animals.  In listening and learning we are learning about astronomy. In math we working on place value and number to 120.  We have also been doing some reviewing in math.

SEP Week:

February 3-7 is SEP week.  I emailed you a link to sign-up for an SEP time. School will get out at 2:30 each day, except Friday.

Kite Flight Reading Record:

I have attached a reading record.  Every year the Lions Club along with other organizations and businesses sponsor this reading record and Health Fair.  Please keep track of your child’s reading minutes on this reading record as well as the one I send home for class.  THEY DO NO NEED TO READ MORE MINUTES FOR THIS ONE.  You can count their reading minutes for both. The school earns money for each reading record turned in.  This is a great way for our school to earn money. 

Valentine’s Day:

We will be exchanging Valentines in our class.  If your child would like to bring Valentine cards, please make sure there is enough for each child in the class.  I have attached a list of all the students in our class to the email.  You can put names on them, but you don’t have to. If you would like to send your child’s Valentines early, I will just keep them in my office.  If you have any questions, please let me know. If you put a treat with the Valentine, please make sure it is prepackaged. 

Upcoming Events:

        *February 3-7 – SEP Week School gets out at 2:30 except Friday

*Monday, February 3 – Celebrate Mason’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, February  7 – Celebrate Rylan’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, February 7 – Mrs. Bali will be gone

*Monday, February 10 – Celebrate Jesse & Mrs. Bali’s Birthdays

*Friday, February 14 – Donuts with Grownups in the gym @8:15

*Friday, February 14 – Valentine’s Party

*Monday, February 17 – No School (President’s Day)

*Thursday, February 20 – Celebrate Emi’s ½ Birthday

*Monday, March 3 – Celebrate Anastin’s ½ Birthday

*Tuesday, March 11 – End of 3rd Quarter

*Tuesday, March 11 – Celebrate Reese’s Birthday

*March 12-14 – No School (Teacher Days)

*Friday, March 21 – Celebrate Ollie’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, March 28 – Celebrate Isabelle’s ½ Birthday

January 17 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 17, 2025

Review of our week:

In math we working on equal and nonequal.  We have also been doing some reviewing in math. In CKLA Skills we are reading informational text about animals that live in a zoo.  In Listening and Learning we are learning about our outer space.  This weekend would you please let your child go out after dark and see what they can see in the night sky?

Homework:

After your child has finished reading their book, I would like you to have them tell you what happened in the book and also ask them some questions to clarify.  Most of them are getting to the point where they can decode very well, now we need to start working on comprehension and fluency.  

I have packets of books on each reading level.  If you would be interested in some extra books for your child to read on their reading level, please let me know. 

FYI’s:

* Remember take home books are switched every day, but Fridays.  I have a lot of kids who are not reading their take home books.  This is such a great resource, please take advantage of it.  This is also a crucial time of year with our reading.  I really need them reading for 20 minutes every night.

* Thanks for everything you have done to help our class this year. I really want to thank all of you who come in and read in the mornings. 

* Please watch for SEP sign-up link next week.

Upcoming Events:

        *Monday, January 20 – No School (MLK)

*Friday, January 24 – Celebrate Maya’s Birthday

*Friday, January 24 – Mrs. Bali will be gone

*Monday, January 27 – Celebrate Dash’s Birthday

*Tuesday, January 28 – Celebrate Eleanor’s Birthday

*February 3-7 – SEP Week School gets out at 2:30 except Friday

*Monday, February 3 – Celebrate Mason’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, February  7 – Celebrate Rylan’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, February 7 – Mrs. Bali will be gone

*Monday, February 10 – Celebrate Jesse & Mrs. Bali’s Birthdays

*Friday, February 14 – Donuts with Grownups in the gym @8:15

*Friday, February 14 – Valentine’s Party

*Monday, February 17 – No School (President’s Day)

*Thursday, February 20 – Celebrate Emi’s ½ Birthday

*Tuesday, March 11 – End of 3rd Quarter

*Tuesday, March 11 – Celebrate Reese’s Birthday

*March 12-14 – No School (Teacher Days)

*Friday, March 21 – Celebrate Ollie’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, March 28 – Celebrate Isabelle’s ½ Birthday

January 10 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 10, 2025

Review of our week:

We wrote some New Year Promises.  I have been really happy with the progress we are making in reading.  Almost everyone has moved up a level. If your child is reading on a J or higher, they won’t move levels in their take home book as often.  We have also been learning about constellations. We are learning about our Solar System.

 

Student Teacher:

We will have a student teacher in our class.  Her name is Miss Raegan and she will be with us until the end of March.  She was actually in our class at the beginning of the year doing some block hours.  It will be great having some extra help.  

F.Y.I’s

*I wanted to thank you all for the wonderful gifts, cards and notes I received at Christmas.  I really do appreciate it.  I meant to send thank you cards, but I ended up sick, so it didn’t happen, sorry. 

*For this time of year your child needs to be on a F-G instructional reading level to be on track for being on grade level for the end of the year.  That means their take home books would be E-F.  Reading for the 20 minutes every night will make the biggest difference.

*Remember that when it snows, your child needs with a coat and snow boots if they want to be out in the snow.

Upcoming Events:

*Monday, January 20 – No School (MLK)

*Friday, January 24 – Celebrate Maya’s Birthday

*Friday, January 24 – Mrs. Bali will be gone

*Monday, January 27 – Celebrate Dash’s Birthday

*Tuesday, January 28 – Celebrate Eleanor’s Birthday

*February 3-7 – SEP Week School gets out at 2:30 except Friday

*Monday, February 3 – Celebrate Mason’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, February  7 – Celebrate Rylan’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, February 7 – Mrs. Bali will be gone

*Monday, February 10 – Celebrate Jesse & Mrs. Bali’s Birthdays

*Friday, February 14 – Donuts with Grownups in the gym @8:15

*Friday, February 14 – Valentine’s Party

*Monday, February 17 – No School (President’s Day)

*Thursday, February 20 – Celebrate Emi’s ½ Birthday

*Tuesday, March 11 – End of 3rd Quarter

*Tuesday, March 11 – Celebrate Reese’s Birthday

*March 12-14 – No School (Teacher Days)

*Friday, March 21 – Celebrate Ollie’s ½ Birthday

*Friday, March 28 – Celebrate Isabelle’s ½ Birthday