March 24 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

March 24, 2023

Review of our week:

Yesterday was Miss Hodson’s last day.  We are all sad to see her leave.  She was a great asset to our class.  In reading we started a new unit. I will be sending home a copy of the stories in our reader next week.  We also started a unit about the earth. In math we are working on measurement and time. 

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 on Tuesdays.  This is a great resource, please take advantage of it.  We will only have them for a couple of more weeks.

Upcoming Events:

• March 29 – Spring Pictures

• April 10-14 – No School (Spring Break)

• Saturday, April 22rd – Kite Flight 10:00am-3:00pm 

• @ Cedar Middle School

• Thursday, April 27 – Celebrate Layla’s Birthday

• Friday, May 5 – Celebrate Cru’s Birthday

• Monday, May 8 – Celebrate Sham’s Birthday

• Friday, May 26 – Last Day of School

March 10 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

March 10, 2023

Review of our week:

We had a fun day celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday last week.    I am so excited about the progress our class is making.  I have seen a lot of students move up in their reading levels and math is going very well. In math we are working on double digit addition.  We will be taking a test next week. We are almost finished with our unit about animals and their habitats. I love that this class is loving reading.  Most of the class wants to get their library books out and read them any chance they get.

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:

• March 15-17 – No School (Teacher Days)

• March 29 – Spring Pictures

• April 10-14 – No School (Spring Break)

• Saturday, April 22rd – Kite Flight 10:00am-3:00pm 

• @ Cedar Middle School

• Friday, May 5 – Celebrate Cru’s Birthday

• Monday, May 8 – Celebrate Sham’s Birthday

• Friday, May 26 – Last Day of School

February 17 Newsletter

 

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

February 17, 2023

Review of our week:

We are still reading about animals at the Green Fern Zoo.  I am really starting to see progress.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make sure your child is reading every night. There are only 3 months of school left. In Listening and Learning we are also learning about animals and their habitats.  We started  our chapter on Greater Than and Less Than.  

Behavior in Class:

I know there have been a lot of things going on this week with Valentine’s Day, snow and several birthdays, but we are really struggling with listening and following directions again.  The PE teacher actually had to bring the whole class back to the classroom, because they were not listening.  We will be using trackers, starting next week.  I would really appreciate it if you would talk to your child about their behavior in class.

Upcoming Events:

• Monday, February 20 – No School (President’s Day)

• Wednesday, March 8 – Celebrate Bentley’s Birthday

• Friday, March 10 – End of 3rd Quarter

• March 15-17 – No School (Teacher Days)

January 20 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 20, 2023

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. 

SEP Week:

January 33 - February 3 is SEP week.  I have sent home a paper with your scheduled time, please try and make your appointment.  If you can’t please give me some other options.  School will get out at 2:30 each day, even Friday.

Kite Flight Reading Record:

I have attached a pink 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:

• Monday, January 23 – Celebrate the 100th Day of School

• Friday, January 27.- Celebrate Mack’s Birthday

• January 30-February 3 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30 each day)

• Friday, February 3 – Celebrate Anthony’s Birthday

• Monday, February 6 – Celebrate Josie’s ½ Birthday

• Friday, February 10 – Celebrate Mrs. Bali’s Birthday

• Monday, February 13 – Celebrate Thomas’ Birthday

• Tuesday, February 14 – Valentine’s Party

• Thursday, February 16 – Celebrate Lettie’s Birthday 

• Monday, February 20 – No School (President’s Day)

• Wednesday, March 8 – Celebrate Bentley’s Birthday

• Friday, March 10 – End of 3rd Quarter

• March 15-17 – No School (Teacher Days)

January 12 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

January 12, 2023

Review of our week:

We wrote some New Year Resolutions.  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 will be finishing up with related facts and will take a test next week.

Student Teacher:

We have a student teacher in our class now.  Her name is Miss Hodson and she will be with us until the end of March.  She has done a great job so far.  It has been great having some extra help.  She will start doing some of the teaching next week.  The college does require her to videotape herself teaching.  I have included a permission slip for you to sign, allowing your child to taped.  It will only be seen by the team grading her assignment.

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 on Christmas day, 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.

*It supposed to snow this weekend and next weekend.  Please make sure your child is coming the coats.

Upcoming Events:

• Monday, January 16 – No School (MLK)

• Thursday, January 19 – Celebrate Skylar’s Birthday

• Friday, January 27.- Celebrate Mack’s Birthday

• January 30-February 3 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30 each day)

• Friday, February 3 – Celebrate Anthony’s Birthday

• Monday, February 6 – Celebrate Josie’s ½ Birthday

• Friday, February 10 – Celebrate Mrs. Bali’s Birthday

• Monday, February 13 – Celebrate Thomas’ Birthday

• Tuesday, February 14 – Valentine’s Party

• Thursday, February 16 – Celebrate Lettie’s Birthday 

• Monday, February 20 – No School (President’s Day)

• Wednesday, March 8 – Celebrate Bentley’s Birthday

• Friday, March 10 – End of 3rd Quarter

• March 15-17 – No School (Teacher Days)

December 9 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

December 9, 2022

Review of our week:

We have been doing some more fun Christmas things.  We wrote letters to Santa’s Elves. Next week we are going to fill out an application to be one of Santa’s Elves, and make gingerbread men.  In math we are working on related facts. We will finish the chapter before Christmas break. We made chains for the 70th day of school to decorate our classroom.

Gingerbread Houses:

I emailed out a sign-up for the things we need to make gingerbread houses.  If you can provide anything on that list, that would be great. If you could donate candy to decorate, will you please send it by Tuesday?  I will divide all of the candy to decorate the gingerbread houses. We will be making them on Thursday, December 15 at 2:00 in the lunchroom.  You are all more than welcome to come and help. It is really nice to have some extra hands.

F.Y.I’s

I won’t be sending home a newsletter next week, so I hope you all have a Merry Christmas. 

Upcoming Events:

• Thursday, December 15 – Make Gingerbread Houses

• Wednesday, December 21 – End of 2nd Quarter

• Wednesday, December 21 – Christmas Party

• December 22-January 3 – No School (Christmas Break)

December 2 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

December 2, 2022

Review of our week:

In math we started Chapter 5.  We are working on related facts. We have been doing some fun Christmas things.  We started a new unit in reading.  We will be reading different fables.  I am seeing a lot of progress in our reading.  Please make sure your child reads their take home books and returns the on Tuesday.

Homework:

I know this time of year is very busy.  Remember to have your child keep reading.  Please encourage your child to fill out a tree right after they are finished reading, so you don’t have to try and remember at the end of the month how many days they read.

Cold Weather:

Please make sure your child is coming with a coat.  We go out to recess unless it is raining, snowing or below freezing.  Also, when there is snow they need to have snow boots on to go out in the snow.  If they don’t, they will have to stay on the blacktop.

Gingerbread Houses:

We will be making our gingerbread houses on Thursday, December 15 at 2:00 in the lunchroom.  You are all welcome to come.  It is nice to have some helpers.  We usually need some help with the frosting.  If you would like to send a a bag of candy to decorate with, that would be great.  The candy can be M&M’s, small candy canes, peppermints, skittles, smarties, gingerbread cookies, or anything else you think would look nice on a gingerbread house.  If you can send it by Monday, December 12, that will be great.  That way I will know what I will need to buy.

Upcoming Events:

• Thursday, December 8 – Celebrate Averie’s Birthday 

• Thursday, December 15 – Make Gingerbread Houses

• Wednesday, December 21 – End of 2nd Quarter

• Wednesday, December 21 – Christmas Party

• December 22-January 3 – No School (Christmas Break)