Dear Families,
The children have been enjoying our Christmas devotions and studying the reason for the season…..JESUS!!! It has been a whirlwind since we came back from Thanksgiving vacation with benchmarks and all. We will NOT be using parent helpers this week during our Reading or Math times. We are busily working on our parent gifts.
TOGETHER WE CAN – Thank you for all who have given to our food drive for the Pinedale community. It has been wonderful to see the buckets fill up, knowing we are helping those in need, all in the name of JESUS!
We will be learning about Christmas Traditions in other countries of the world. In conjunction with this the children will make a poster of their family’s Christmas Traditions. We will share them on Dec. 10-11.Your child can bring them either of those days. Check the handout that comes home Monday
SECRET ANGEL – On Friday, we read the story “The Last Straw.” It is about doing acts of kindness and sharing special secret surprises with those we love. We then drew names (boys drew boys and girls drew girls) and from Dec.8th until Dec. 11th, your child will be a secret angel to a special friend. He/she can draw a picture, write an encouraging note, bring a small sweet treat, pencil, sticker, eraser or any small token that says “I am thinking about you and praying for you.” The children should try to bring something every day. Then, on Dec.11th, when we have our Birthday Party for Jesus, they will bring a final gift (no more than $7.00) Above all, keep it a secret. They are very excited about this activity.
CARRINGTON POINTE– We will be going to sing Christmas carols for the residents on Thurs, Dec. 11th at 10:00 AM. We will need several parent helpers to safely walk to their facility. This will bring great joy to these precious, often forgotten seniors. It will also be a wonderful lesson for our children that we are to serve and minister to others. It should be a special blessing for all.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS – Our class will have a special gift exchange and celebration honoring Jesus’ birthday on Thursday, Dec.11th . That is the day the children will reveal who they have been blessing as a secret angel.They will bring a gift ( no more than $7.00) Please do not put on the tag who the gift is for, just who it is from, which will be your child’s name. The festivities will begin at 11:30 PM. All are welcome to attend.
LANGUAGE ARTS –We will be doing buddy reading and whole group reading this week with some of our holiday books. We also will not be doing a Spelling Contract this week, thus, no test. We will resume after vacation.
MATH – We will continue to work on our time and calendar contract, however, we will not be having a test on this chapter. now.
SOCIAL SCIENCE – We will be discussing Christmas Traditions in other countries of the world.
BIBLE – We will conclude our study of Christ’s birth. The children have so enjoyed this. We certainly have emphasized that the true meaning of Christmas is God’s gift in sending his Son, and not about all the gifts.We have discussed how truly blessed we are, not only at Christmas, but each and every day. We will say our Bible Verse together and it will not be entered on Power School, as Quarter 2 Report Cards are completed before this.
PEACH BLOSSOM – Please check the handout that came home on Dec. 1st which includes the requirements and the dates for this assignment.
REPORT CARDS – The 2nd quarter report cards will come home on Thursday, Dec. 11th.
SHOW AND TELL – This week will be both Team A and B. Your child may bring something to share ONE time during the week.
WORK ENVELOPE – Our work envelope WILL NOT come home on Monday as usual, rather I will send it on Thursday with all of our regular work as well as our Christmas theme projects. Also, all of our Christmas art projects will come home that day as well. Please send a large paper bag to take home all our “stuff”. We will also be cleaning out our buckets, so we will have neatly organized buckets when we return from Christmas vacation. Imagine that, neat and organized!!!!
BOOK BAGS – Books will not be going home today or next Friday. The books I send home are very expensive to replace and in the past some got put away with all the Christmas stuff or thrown out. They are good enough readers now that they can just choose books from home or the public library. We also will not be going to the library and picking a book today for the same reason. I will give them 3 books to read on the Monday we return, Jan. 5th which will be due on Jan. 9th. I would like you to send back the book bag if you have not already done so, and I will lock them up during vacation.
ELEMENTARY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM – The Elementary Christmas Program is on Tuesday, December 9th in the Peoples Church Auditorium, starting at 7:00 PM. This will be a dress-up evening for the children in their Christmas Holiday Best! We look forward to a beautiful evening for all of your family and friends!!
SKATING PARTY – Our skating is on Dec. 12th and we will be leaving at 9:10AM. on a bus. Some parents will drive their own chid. All skating fees for first grade students are pre-paid through our class account. Parents and siblings that skate will need to pay the $6.50 for each skating session at the door. Non-skating parents who would just like to come and watch kids skate will need to pay an entrance fee of $3.00 at the door. Parents that wish to be a spectator at one session and skate at the other session need to pay $9.50. Roller blades may been worn but they must have flush bolts, (no sharp exposed bolts/screws). If your skates have a heel brake it must be in good condition, no screw showing. Roller blades will be inspected by Cal Skate employees and if they do not meet the standards, you will need to use roller skates.Children are free to leave directly from Cal-Skate for Christmas vacation if that works best for you. School is dismissed at 12:00 PM.
LOST AND FOUND – Please have your student check the Lost and Found rack. There are quite a few unclaimed items. Anything left after Dec. 12th will be donated to charity.
CALENDAR
12-9- K-6 Christmas Program – 7 PM – Peoples Auditorium
12-11 – Singing at Carrington Pointe – 10:00 AM
12-11 – Happy Birthday Jesus– Secret Angel Party – 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
12-12 – 1st Semester ends
12-12 – Skating Party at Cal-Skate – 9:30 AM-11:30 AM
12-15-1-2 – Christmas Vacation – Happy Birthday Jesus!
12-15 – Happy 7th Birthday TJ Weis
12-24 – Happy 7th Birthday Ashley Skricka
1-5 – School Resumes – Happy New Year!!!
I pray you and your family have a JOYOUS Christmas making memories with those you love and celebrating the birth of our Savior, God’s greatest gift –JESUS!!!