Notes and News for week of December 17, 2018

1.  Thank you for sending empty grocery containers.  I do have enough of them!
2.  TOMORROW - Check your e-mail for building remodel updates and how it effects the first graders.
3.  BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS on Thursday.
4.  Polar Express Day on Friday.  Dismiss at 11:30
5.  Mark your calendars for Wednesday February 20, 2019.  The first graders lead chapel that day.

NEEDED FOR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

I am looking for empty 12 count gray paper egg cartons ( not the plastic ones) to be used for a Christmas project.  If you have any, please send.  I will collect them this week and next.  Thanks!

Classroom Christmas party

We will have our class party on Thursday December 20th.  Details will come at a later date.  One of our activities is a gift exchange.  If you are a girl, bring a "girl" gift with a value of between  8 and 10 dollars.  Boys bring a "boy" gift.  Put who it is from on the outside.  We play an exchange game at the party, so do not designate a person to receive it.

Oh, The weather outside is frightful...

Please be sure your child has a coat in this cold weather.  We do go outside when wind chill is 10 degrees or more.

Notes and News for the week of November 5, 2018

1.  Scholastic Book orders will come home tomorrow.  This will be the last one to come home before Christmas.  If you would like to order some books as gifts, let me know and I will hold them back.  If you order online, our code is: FMLC3. Checks are made out to Linda Schoening.

2.  FYI -  ONLY solid color leggings and tights are allowed according to the dress code.  Thanks.

3.  FICTIONAL CHARACTER DAY is Friday.  Have your student dress as a character from children's fiction and bring a copy of the book.  We will have some special activities that day as well.  

Library check out day

We check out a library book every Tuesday.  Many of the kids are forgetting to bring their previous book back.  Please double check on this on Tuesday mornings.  They can't check out a new one if the previous one is still out.  Thanks!

Fictional Character's Day - Friday November 9th

Have you decided on your costume for Fictional Character Day yet?  
Reminder:  Your child may dress as a character from children's fiction.  Bring the book that day also!  We are celebrating National Young Reader's Day.

National Reader's Day Celebration

SEE HARD COPY INFORMATION IN YOUR CHILD'S FOLDER ON DETAILS FOR FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9th.

ENJOY!

Notes and News for week of October 15, 2018

1.  Look for a note on Tuesday the 16th with final information on our Fontenelle trip. I will include the chaperone's names from "the hat".

2.  DRESS YOUR CHILD FOR THE WEATHER!  We go outside for recess if the wind chill is 10 degrees or above! Our morning recess is at 10:40 and can be chilly at that time.
Once the snow comes in full force, I will let you know if you need to send snow gear. 

3.  I am looking forward to our 2018 Nebraska District Educator's Conference this Thursday and Friday.  Our theme is "Christ Be My Leader".  This is a wonderful time for learning, fellowship and worship.  We are excited to host the event here at our Junior/Senior High campus.

Field Trip

We will be taking our first field trip this year to Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue to experience the Habitat, Habitat tour and explore God's wonderful world of nature in the fall!

The date and time is Monday October 22, 2018 from 9:15-2:30.

I can take 3 chaperones with us.  If you are able to assist, it would involve joining us on the bus ride, being "in charge" of a small group of children, and helping out in any way needed throughout the day. We do not take siblings on this trip.
**Let me know if you can help by Monday the 15th.  I will put all the names in a hat and draw 3!
Thank you for considering.

Notes and News for the week of October 8, 2018

1.  It was so good to see you all for conferences the last two weeks!  Thank you for your support of your kids and our school.

2.  BOOK-IT.  Keep reading for this month.  When your student has read for 10 days/20 minutes each day, send back the reading log sheet and he/she will receive the first personal pan pizza for this year!

3.  Looking way ahead - First grade leads Wednesday chapel on February 20, 2019 at 8:45AM.  Join us!

4.  Start brainstorming your costume for Fictional Character Day on Friday November 9th.

Notes and News for Week of October 1, 2018

1.  We are studying symbols of our country in Social Studies. We have discussed the Flag, the Bald Eagle, the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, the White House, etc.
We have also listened to some great patriotic songs such as America the Beautiful and The Star Spangled Banner.  Do you know any good oldies that have been passed down from generation to generation?
How about I've Been Working on the Railroad or Oh Suzannah!  Sing them with your kids and keep the heritage alive.🎶

2.  I will see many of you this Tuesday or Thursday for Parent/Teacher conferences.  I look forward to sharing and connecting!

Notes and News from week of September 24, 2018

1.  I will be seeing 4 of you at Parent/Teacher conferences tomorrow after school.  I do my conferences with just adults, but if your child(ren) is with you he/she can wait next door in the annex.  Thank you to the rest of you for signing up Thursday this week and Tuesday and Thursday next week!  See you then!

2.  In Social Studies, we are focusing on leaders.  Your child needs to find out who is the Mayor of Omaha, the Governor of Nebraska and the President of the United States.  You can have him/her jot it down on a small sheet of paper and bring to school by Wednesday.  Thank you.

3.  Looking ahead, first grade will be celebrating National Young Reader's Week on Friday November 9th.  You child will be able to dress up that day as a fictional character from children's literature. (This is not a movie character unless the book was used to produce a movie.)  I wanted to give you a heads up in case you want to have the costume double as a Halloween costume.  Watch for more info to come.

The Dot Quilt

Here is a photo of our Buddy Quilt as a result of sharing the story The Dot that I mentioned in an earlier post.  Thanks to Mrs. Jones for adding on the piece of quilt to enlarge the one that I already had!

Notes and News for week of September 17, 2018

1.  Be sure to sign up for Parent/Teacher Conferences.  The link to the sign up form was emailed from the office last week and is also in the Monday notes today from the office.

2a.  We celebrated Dot Day by listening to the story by Peter H. Reynolds called The Dot. This book tells the story of a caring teacher who reaches a reluctant student in a remarkably creative way.  The teacher dares a very resistant Vashti to "make her mark".  Vashti's breakthrough begins with a simple dot on a piece of paper.  Encouraged by her teacher she sets off on a journey of self-discovery, letting her creativity bloom and, ultimately, inspires others.

  Starting in 2009,  a group of educators began celebrating September 15th-ish as International Dot Day - a day for classes to explore the story's themes: bravery, creativity and self-expression.

2b.  Each student colored a "dot" from a coloring page from QuiverVision.com.  Then we downloaded the "Quiver - 3D Coloring App and made it 3D.  If your student did not bring the"dot" home yet, we have not had a chance to view it here yet.

2c.  We also enjoyed Emily Arrow singing and signing "The Dot Song" on youtube.

2d.  Our last activity was a Buddy Dot paper quilt which will be displayed in the hallway later this week.

Tree Cutting - We saw this on our way in from recess. COOL!

Notes and News for week of September 10, 2018

1.  "Bellwork" packets are coming home today.  This is work that the kids do while waiting for class to begin.  They consist of enrichment, drill, practice and sometimes just "fun" papers that may or may not be finished depending on what time your child arrives in the AM. They do not need to be returned.

2.  Mrs. Kuntz will be recuperating from a broken femur due to a fall from stepping down wrong on her leg. This was caused in part by cancer in her bone.  She was in MO visiting her family when this occurred and she will be traveling home soon.
Please pray for her recovery and to continue to keep her spirits up.
Coach Rodney Miller has been substituting last week and this week.  We are waiting to hear if he will be able to keep going due to his schedule.

3.  Parent/Teacher conferences are coming up Oct. 2 and 4.
I will be contacting a few of you for early conferences the week of Sept. 24th.  The rest of you will receive information on how to sign up online.  (This comes from our main office.)

Letter About Classroom Snacks

A copy of Mr. Domsch's letter should have gone home on Friday.  Here is another for your information.

Enjoying our new outdoor equipment!

Week of September 4, 2018

1.  Please have pencils and crayons available at home for homework.

2.  In Religion we learned that "Isaac" means laughter.  What does your child's name mean?  Investigate with him/her and send in a little note with the meaning.

3.  All grades are beginning MAP testing this week.  First graders take the math and reading tests to measure where the kids are at.  Then in the spring, we test again and measure growth in these areas.  It benefits the students to be rested and breakfasted!  (IS THAT A WORD???)

Notes and News for Week of August 27, 2018

1.  Please use a PENCIL for homework.

2.  If you would like to order from the Scholastic Book Club, flyers are coming home today.  If you write a check, make payable to Linda Schoening or order online at scholastic.com/bookclubs.  Code is FMLC3. 

3.  Remember to send a small picture of your child for our bulletin board.  See last week's post. 

Notes and News for week of August 20, 2018

1.  Please remember to check your child's Go Home folder for homework to bring back and papers to stay home.
2.  I am looking for a small picture (no larger that 3x3) of each child to be used on a bulletin board.  These may or may not be returned. Send to school by the end of the week if possible.
3.  Day 4 is going well.  We are establishing routines and getting to know one another.  The kids are tired which is understandable, but it will get better!
4.  In Religion, we are learning about the first families and how God blessed them.  I will send the first student book home in a few weeks when we have completed the stories.  Talk at home about how God has blessed YOUR family.
5.  See memory and spelling to the right on this page.

Welcome to First Grade! We are ready for a great year of learning, fun and growing in Christ!  Check here every Monday for notes and news. Other items of interest may be posted during the week also.