Mrs. McGinty Current Events

Robbie McGinty:

 I started teaching at St. John Fisher School in 2001. I received my B.A. in early childhood and elementary education at the University of Portland where I later graduated with my Master’s degree in Education. I taught in a preschool and a Montessori before I found this wonderful place! I lovingly work with Delores Beckers. She is the Kindergarten Instructional Assistant and she has been with St. John Fisher for many years. We have four guidelines in Kindergarten: 1) We take care of ourselves, 2) We take care of each other, 3) We take care of our environment and 4) We love our God. We are very happy to be with this wonderful community.

Mrs. McGinty Current Events:

March 15^th-19^th

Week In Review:

          The students started to explore reasons why they care for the Earth as they decorated special cards with their photographs. We also began to build our Earth dioramas. Each group picked a different environment to create (forest, beach, jungle, etc.) This has been so much fun. These projects have helped your children to develop responsibility as they have worked together and thought about why it is important to care for our beautiful planet! Please remember to come to our Social Studies Fair on March 17^th from 6:30-7:30. Our display will be in the kindergarten classroom.

This Week:

Center Time: Mrs. B. – Leprechauns, Mrs. McGinty – Small Reading Groups, Ms. Beuving – Finishing touches on Social Studies Fair Projects, Computers and Shelf Work

Math: Calendar (Counting Days)

Religion: Palm Sunday and The Stations of the Cross

Second Step: “Dealing with having things taken away”

Science: Identifying hard and soft objects

Writing: Weekend News, The letters R and r

Reminders:

Report Cards: You will receive your child’s report card in their folders on Thursday, March 11. The school is asking parents to sign and return the report cards, we will make a copy and then you can have the original. We are keeping them on file. Please take a moment to celebrate the accomplishments of the report card with your child. The comments are important for them to hear too.

If you notice they received a “check mark” or an “I” for Needs Improvement for a skill I would like your help to reinforce the skills at home. For example, if they got a “check mark” for skip counting. You could count in the car, count in the bathtub, or count on a walk until they are comfortable with their numbers. You could also use a manipulative like beans or coins. If it is a social skill please try “role playing.” For example, if they are developing the skill to follow directions allow them to set the table. Did they remember all the items? Try adding an unexpected item to make it harder! Role-playing also means you can come up with a different scenario for your son or daughter and they will tell you what they would do in the situation. For example: “What would you do if someone bumped you as they were lining up?” “What would you say?”

You are their number one teacher! Extra encouragement at home will really pay off for first grade. Try to take a moment during the evening to tackle a skill. Please let me know what I can do to help you.

Food Drive: The Sunshine Division is collecting canned food to give families in need. They are in extra need of canned fruit but any canned food will do.  The grade that brings in the most canned foods will receive class of the month. Our goal for the Kindergarten class is for each family to bring in two canned foods. If we reach this goal then students will receive an extra recess. So, please encourage your child to look through your pantry and donate any canned food that your family is willing to give. Thank you for your wonderful support!

Social Studies Fair: Thank you very much for your donations. We have all the shoeboxes we need. Yeah! We sill need some photographs so that each student can create a card about why they care for the Earth. So, please if you have not done so, send in a photograph of your child doing something outside. Please make sure the photo is something we can cut and glue. The Social Studies Fair is this week so please bring in your photograph ASAP. Thank you very much for all of your support!

Tuesday, March 17^th: St. Patrick’s Day! We will have green stickers for your children to put on their uniforms. No pinching leprechauns in here!

Thursday, March 18^th (8:30 in the cafeteria): Our first Jogathon Assembly!

March 22-26: Spring Break! See you next week on Monday, March 29th! Have a great time with your family! Rest and enjoy!

March 8-13th

Week in Review:

            This week your children made weather wheels and studied temperature. We tested the temperature of hot and cold water and recorded the readings of the thermometers with red crayon. We also took the temperature of our hands! It was so much fun!

Birthdays:

March 8^th– Madie

March 11^th- Araina

This Week:

Math: Times of the Day (your children will interpret and create pictures of the morning, afternoon, and evening)

Writing: Weekend News, the letter “j” and “J”

Science: “What is winter?” and “What are different kinds of storms?”

Center Time: Mrs. B: Leprechaun art, Ms. Beuving: Earth dioramas, Mrs. McGinty: Earth Cards

Religion: Stations of the Cross

Reminders:

Food Drive: The Sunshine Division is collecting canned fruit to give families in need. The grade that brings in the most canned foods will receive class of the month. So, please encourage your child to look through your pantry and donate any canned fruit that your family is willing to. Thank you for your wonderful support!

Social Studies Fair: We are beginning to plan our project for the social studies fair held on Wednesday, March 17^th from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm this year. Your children will be making Earth dioramas and making cards about why they can care for our planet. For this project we will need men’s size shoeboxes (top & bottom). Students will work in groups, so every child does not need one shoe box but it is nice to have extra. If you have a good men’s shoebox you are willing to donate please send it in with your child. We also need a picture of your child doing something outside to make our cards. Please make sure the photo is something we can cut and glue. We are planning to create these projects this week if possible.  So please bring in your shoe box and photograph ASAP. Thank you very much for all of your support!

Rest Mats: Rest mats are being sent home. Please wash them over the weekend so your child can have a nice and fresh place to rest next week. Thank you!

Save the Date:

Spaghetti Dinner: Sunday, March 7^th- Please keep your eyes open for future announcements in the SAM or the SJF website. It is a great night! We will be presenting a “Theme Basket” for a raffle. The Theme Basket for Kindergarten is “Gift Cards.” (i.e. $5 cards to places like Starbucks, Jamba Juice, iTunes, Borders, Target.)  Every child that brings in a gift card will receive a coupon for an ice cream treat later in the spring to keep them cool!

Jogathon Assembly: At 8:30 in the morning. Please see the SAM for details about pledges and due dates J

Muffins with Mom: Wednesday, May 12^th @ 8:20 am-8:50 am (SJF Cafeteria)

Donuts with Dad: Wednesday, June 2^nd @ 8:20 am-8:50 am (SJF Cafeteria)

March 1-5^th

Week in Review:

            On Thursday, February 25^th we celebrated our “100^th” Day of Kindergarten!  (We did not count weekends, snow days or holidays.) We made fun rain sticks with 100 dried beans and popcorn kernels in each of them. The children really enjoyed decorating these instruments and learning about the history of rain sticks. The first people to make rain sticks were tribal members in the deserts of Chile. They used cactuses to make them.  

Birthdays:

Drew: March 2^nd

Dominic: March 5^th

Madelyn: March 8^th

Ariana: March 11^th

This Week:

Math: Choosing groups with more or fewer items; Times of the Day

Writing: Weekend News, the letter “y”

Science: “What is Summer?” and “What is Fall?”

Center Time: Mrs. B: Spring butterfly art; Ms. Beuving: Thermometer lab; Mrs. McGinty: Small reading groups

Religion: Celtic Crosses

Reminders:

Social Studies Fair: We are beginning to plan our project for the social studies fair held on Wednesday, March 17^th from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm this year. Your children will be making Earth dioramas and making cards about why they can care for our planet. For this project we will need men’s size shoeboxes (top & bottom). Students will work in groups, so every child does not need one shoe box but it is nice to have extra. If you have a good men’s shoebox you are willing to donate please send it in with your child. We also need a picture of your child doing something outside to make our cards. Please make sure the photo is something we can cut and glue. We are planning to create these projects this week if possible.  So please bring in your shoe box and photograph ASAP. Thank you very much for all of your support!

Donations for Haiti: Tomorrow (February 26^th) is the last day to bring in donations for Haiti.  Please bring in your change or anything else you are willing to sacrifice for these wonderful people in need!  Please note that the class who raises the most $will receive class of the month!

Markers: The teachers in the K class have noticed that the marker supply is running low. If you know that your child needs new markers to keep in his or her pencil box please send them in so they make art with all the colors of the rainbow! Thank you!

Save the Date:

Online Auction: The online auction launches Friday, February 26^th. You can place bids at (sjfschool.cmarket.com).  There are some great deals…think silent auction…but better!

Spaghetti Dinner: Sunday, March 7^th- Please keep your eyes open for future announcements in the SAM or the SJF website. It is a great night! We will be presenting a “Theme Basket” for a raffle. The Theme Basket for Kindergarten is “Gift Cards.” (i.e. $5 cards to places like Starbucks, Jamba Juice, iTunes, Borders, Target.)  Every child that brings in a gift card will receive a coupon for an ice cream treat later in the spring to keep them cool!

Muffins with Mom: Wednesday, May 12^th @ 8:20 am-8:50 am (SJF Cafeteria)

February 22^nd-26^th

Week In Review:

   This was a great week in Kindergarten. We welcomed a new student, Madelyn. She did a great job! Your children have been very helpful by showing her the things we do in Kindergarten. Welcome Madelyn and her family! We are so thrilled that you are now a part of the SJF community!

   The students were really able to tap into their math skills. We learned about making equal groups with unifix cubes and we practiced writing our numbers. The children were also exposed to a “Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle” song as we learned how to protect our Earth.

This Week:

Center Time: Mrs. B. – Weather wheel, Mrs. McGinty – Small Reading Groups, Ms. Beuving- Drawing and writing about land uses (i.e. We use wood to make camp fires and we harvest plants to eat.), Computers and Shelf Work

Religion: Lent. How are you preparing for Easter? We will decorate Celtic crosses to prepare for St. Patrick’s Day!

Second Step: Dealing with distractions

Science: What are different kinds of weather? & What is spring?

Writing: Weekend News, Handwriting: lower case w and capital W

Reminders:

100^th Day: This day falls on Thursday the 25^th of February. That’s this week! We are making rain sticks with 100 popcorn kernels in them. We need paper-towel rolls. Please send these in with your child in the morning. Parent volunteers are waiting to take home paper-towel rolls to prepare, so if you could send them in ASAP that would be great! If you have extra, that’s great too. We could always use some for students who did not bring one in. We could also use some volunteers to help out with the art project that will be held on Thursday the 25^th from 1:15 to 1:40. If you are interested please let us know. Thank you!

Social Studies Fair: We are beginning to plan our project for the social studies fair held on Wednesday, March 17^th from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm this year. Your children will be making Earth dioramas and making cards about why they can care for our planet. For this project we will need men’s size shoeboxes (top & bottom). Students will work in groups, so every child does not need one shoe box but it is nice to have extra. If you have a good men’s shoebox you are willing to donate please send it in with your child. We also need a picture of your child doing something outside to make our cards. Please make sure the photo is something we can cut and glue. Thank you very much for all of your support!

Hot lunch orders: Due on Saturday, February 20^th.

Teacher Swap: On Monday, February 22^nd the SJF teachers are going to swap classrooms. Lucy Meneghello is the “Principal for the Day” and this is her request! Ms. Schoenheit (4^th grade teacher) will take over Kindergarten. She will teach the class the Second Step Lesson (Dealing with distractions). She will do awesome! She is a wonderful teacher and she also taught Mrs. McGinty’s class during her “maternity leave” in 2007. Mrs. McGinty and I will be teaching 8^th grade algebra, so wish us luck!

Donations for Haiti: The last day we will be accepting donations for Haiti is Thursday, February 25^th. We were able to collect $60.56 on Friday, February 12 from 8:00-8:15. That is amazing. Thank you! Please bring in your spare change or anything you would like to give to these people in need. The class with the largest donation will receive “Class of the Month!” They will announce the class results on Friday, February 26^th at our All School Assembly at 2:00.

Lent: In your child’s folder you will find a butterfly sheet. The caterpillar and butterfly symbolize the growth that we experience during Lent. Every time your child does a good deed (helps with the cleaning/cooking, plays nicely with a sibling, etc.) ask them to color in one leaf. The goal is to have the entire sheet colored before Lent is finished. Keep this sheet on your refrigerator so the entire family can view the spiritual growth that your child is experiencing. This is also a great way to provide positive reinforcement for your child when he or she makes a good choice.

February 16-19

Week In Review:

          The children are becoming great scientists as we explore the different landforms on our Earth. Students are making mountains, valleys, and plains with molding clay and are also drawings pictures of each with great detail. Thanks to everyone for the great Valentine’s Party! We had so much fun making our art and sharing Valentines!

This Week:

Center Time: Mrs. B. – Writing numbers, Mrs. McGinty – Reading Groups, Ms. Beuving- counting w/ unifix cubes, Computers, Shelf Work

Math:  Deciding which number is bigger and which one is smaller

Religion: “What is Lent?”

Science: “How do we use water and air?” and “How can you help care for the Earth?”

Writing: Weekend News, The letters U and u

Reminders:

February 15: No School! President’s Day!

100th Day: The 100^th day of school will fall on Thursday Feb. 25^th this year. There will be a special snack during the regular snack time at 9:15 in the morning. The art project will be held the same day at 1:15-1:40 in the afternoon. We will be making rain sticks with 100 dried beans and popcorn kernels in each of them! Each child will make one rain stick. Please save your paper towel rolls for this project. It is nice to bring in extra in case another child forgot. You can start sending these in any time & we will store them in the classroom for this very special day! We are also looking for parent volunteers that need hours. We could use your help with putting 100 dried beans/popcorn kernels in zip loc baggies. Just let Mrs. McGinty, Mrs. B., or myself know if you are interested and we will provide you with the supplies to take home and have them ready by Thursday, February 25! Thank you!

Social Studies Fair: We are beginning to plan our project for the social studies fair held on Wednesday, March 17^th from 6:30pm-7:30pm this year. Your children will be making Earth dioramas and making cards about why they can care for our planet. For this project we will need men’s size shoeboxes (top & bottom). Students will work in groups, so every child does not need one shoe box but it is nice to have extra. If you have a good men’s shoebox you are willing to donate please send it in with your child. We also need a picture of your child doing something outside to make our cards with. Please make sure the photo is something we can cut and glue. Thank you very much for all of your support!

Reading Homework: Thank you for taking the time each night to read with your child! I invite you to take more time with each page to answer any questions from your child. This is your son or daughter’s way of comprehending the book. The St. John Fisher staff read a book called “Mosaic of Thought, The Power of Comprehension Strategy Instruction” by Ellin Oliver Keene and Susan Zimmermann. The book celebrates the idea of students “thinking about their thinking.” For example, if you read the word “radish” and you notice that the artist drew orange radishes you can say: “Hmm? I wonder why the radishes are orange? What color are radishes?” Of course this type of reading will take you a little longer but it is a great way for your child to understand the book and/or the vocabulary more thoroughly. Your child could also have a question that would lead them to branch off from the book to another idea or book. Thinking about our thinking could show your child that we have thoughts all the time when we read! Sometimes our thoughts are actually reading strategies. The wonderful thing about the kindergarten age group is they already ask questions all the time! You also do not always have to finish the book if it creates so many questions and it is getting too late! Put a bookmark in the page and save it for the next night! Enjoy!

February 1-4

 Week In Review:

        Last week was so much fun! We learned about the Chinese New Year and made dragon puppets! We also prepared special gifts for the Grandparents on Family Day this week. Your children are so excited to share their school and their special surroundings.

Birthdays: (We are celebrating summer birthdays this month!)

Timothy: February 8^th (July 23^rd)

Jada: February 10^th (July 25^th)

Jesse: February 17^th (July 28^th)

Ella: February 23^nd (August 8^th)

Jimmy: February 24^th (August 10th)

This Week:

Center Time: Mrs. B. – Valentine’s Art, Mrs. McGinty – Small reading groups, Ms. Beuving- Soil, Sand, and Rocks Lab (Computers and Shelf Work)

Math: Identifying Solid Shapes

Science: What makes up Earth’s Surface? & What are some of Earth’s Landforms?

Writing: Weekend News, The letters K and k (D’Nealian is tricky with this letter!)

Reminders:

No School: Friday, February 5^th (Faith based in-service for teachers)

Math: We will be sending the “Sort Solid Shapes” worksheet home. Please enjoy coloring the back of this sheet with your children as a home activity to hang on your refrigerator!

Valentine Cards! Please allow your child to make 24 Valentines for their classmates. They will only need to sign their own name on the cards. We do NOT address the cards because it is much easier for your child to just drop their cards in any Valentine bag. Your son or daughter will bring their completed cards to school on Friday morning, February 12^th. Thanks!

Valentine Party: The party will from 2:00-2:45 and all are welcome! We will have snacks and a fun craft provided!

The Afghanistan’s School supplies: Thank you for your warm contributions. We will hear our contest results at the end of the month assembly on Monday, February 1^st @ 2:30.

Monday, February 15^th: President’s Day – NO SCHOOL

Family Day: (Wednesday, February 3^rd)

10am Mass (8^th grade)

11:15-12:00 A-L in Library, M-Z at lunch

12:00-12:45 M-Z in Library, A-L at lunch

12:45-1:00 school wide recess

1:00 resume classes

If you would like to join us for Mass please allow your children to meet you in their classroom, so that you may walk to the church together and sit with their “family groups”. After Mass you are welcome to enjoy your delicious lunch or explore the school with your children. Please take the time to find your child’s artwork displayed in the hallways and in their classroom. You may also wish to visit the library and donate a book. Enjoy this wonderful day! We are all so excited! Thank you!

January 25, 2010

 Week In Review:

            It has been very fun watching your children adjust to a new teacher in here! I have noticed that the class is very flexible with new situations and with Ms. Beuving. This is a direct reflection of the maturity and balance that your child posses. You have done a wonderful job as their parent to relay trust and respect of authority. I am reminded every day of the responsibility I have to ensure a safe and happy environment for your children. They are precious to us at St. John Fisher. Sincerely, Robbie McGinty

This Week:

Center Time: Mrs. B. –Art for Family Day! Mrs. McGinty and Ms. Beuving – Small Reading Groups, Computers and Shelf Work

Math: Identifying Solid Shapes. Look around your house! What shape is your Kleenex box or a can of food? Do they roll or do they slide?

Second Step: Dealing with being hurt.

Science: We will make collages of animals that live in hot and cold places from magazine pictures!

Social Studies: Friendship

Writing: Weekend News, The letters H and h, and more Practice Pages from the book: Armadillo’s Orange. If you noticed your son or daughter brought home their first Practice Book (Pink with a Hippo on the cover) they are yours to keep! We were able to complete most of the pages in the book but if you notice a page is not completed take the chance at home! We skipped some pages in class. Have fun!

Reminders:

Catholic School’s Week: February 1-4. All Families are welcome to visit our school on Wednesday morning and stay for Mass and a superb lunch!

February 5th: Teacher’s In-Service Day. NO SCHOOL! Ms. Beuving and I will attend a Faith Formation In-Service.

School Supplies: Please remember to bring in school supplies for the students in Afghanistan. This would be a perfect time to go on a shopping spree at the Dollar Store! You can be assured that your school supplies will be safely delivered to a school in Afghanistan from a true American Soldier. He happens to be a cousin of two current students at St. John Fisher School. Please bring your supplies into the classroom. Thank you.

Progress Reports: These will be coming home to you in your child’s folder on Thursday, January 28th. This is not a chance for me to “surprise” you but a chance to communicate with you. I never want you feeling shocked when your child brings important papers home. For example if a social behavior has a check mark for “developing behavior” on the Progress Report I am voicing a concern that I see in the classroom. Yes. I am hopeful that it will be a plus sign in March after both of us practice discussing the importance of the subject with your son or daughter. I am your cheerleader too. We want the best for your child. You can always e-mail me if you would like to talk during or after school. Talking in person is better than e-mail because I can relay information with the perfect tone of voice.

January 12-16

Week In Review:

We would love to extend a warm welcome to a new student and his family to our kindergarten class! The class is doing a very good job of explaining all the new rules at St. John Fisher! You would be very proud to see how well they are all getting along.

We would also like to welcome our Student Teacher. She is learning the “ropes” this week and you will start to see her sitting in the rocking chair more and more during the day. I of course will still be in the classroom with Mrs. B. The Student Teacher will start her full time teaching on Monday, February 1. She is doing a great job of incorporating her love of sign language and teaching with all of us. She will do beautifully!

When we returned from our long break we wanted to talk about the snow and the gifts we received from Santa. It was so great to see your children’s smiling faces. It was fun to see some students had grown taller, some had lost teeth, some had a haircut but most of all they were all so happy to be here! It does feel a little like September because we are getting used to the full day of 8:00-3:00. We are very busy!

This Week:

Center Time: Mrs. B. – Writing Numbers, Mrs. McGinty – Small Reading Groups, Computers and Shelf Work

Math: Equal Parts and Dividing Shapes in Half. When you are cooking at home could you allow your child to separate food for you in equal parts? What else can you cut or divide?

Religion: Jesus is One of Us. Jesus Grew Up in Nazareth.

Second Step: Identifying Feelings. What happens to our body when it is feeling angry?

Science: Animals that live in hot and cold places

Writing: Weekend News, The letter Ll, Writing comprehension skills for the book: Dig Dig Digging!

Snack Prayer: Tune – Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Let’s be thankful for this day,

For our friends and for our play.

Let’s be thankful let’s be glad,

For this food and things we have.

Let’s give thanks for you and me,

And our home and family. Amen.

Reminders:

Change of Clothes: We are going outside again and sometimes we are getting very wet. It would be great if you could pack a gallon Ziploc baggie with a change of clothes for your son or daughter to keep in their cubby. It can get pretty miserable to sit in soggy pants! (Please pack clothes close to the uniform.)

Community Service Project: The Student Board will announce our next Service Project for the month of January on Friday, January 8 during an all school assembly. Thank you for bringing in your food and toiletry items for the St. Vincent DePaul drive. We are lucky to have such generous families. It is a great example for our children.

PTC Meeting on Wednesday, January 13th: Please join us in the cafeteria at 6:00 for the social and stay for the meeting at 6:30. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our school and learn about any new ideas or procedures for SJF.

Open House: Please inform interested families about our Open House on Thursday, January 21st at 6:30. Mrs. B and I will be ready to answer any questions about our wonderful school. We will also be opening our classrooms from 9:00-11:30 on January 22nd for New Parent Tours.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday: Monday, January 18th. No School! Thank you for spending the extra time in explaining why they do not have school on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We will read books about this famous leader and you could do the same at home. We should take the time to honor diversity.

Grandparents/Family Day: Wednesday, February 3. Come one, come all! Our school will host an Art Fair, a special lunch and a book fair to donate books to our SJF Library for you and your families!

Progress Reports are sent home: Thursday, January 28th. Please remember that we will focus on the social skills of your child and the academic skills will be posted on their next report card in March. Please remember to continue to help your child with any skills that they received a “check mark” or “developing” in December. For example, if your son did not know all the letters in the alphabet please allow him to do extra handwriting or reading skills for 5-10 minutes each night. Please let me know if you need any help.

Thank you! Mrs. B. and I were pleasantly surprised to receive such wonderful gifts from all of you for Christmas. Thank you so much for thinking of us. We feel very blessed!

December 14-18

Week In Review:

          We celebrated the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday with a special Mass. We discussed the importance of an angel who came to Mary to say: “God is going to send you a baby. He will be God’s own Son. His name will be Jesus.”

The students are learning more about the special day when Jesus was born and was laid in a manger. We explored Bethlehem and the idea of a manger. We also learned new words from the Wise men when they brought gold, frankincense and myrrh.

This Week:

Center Time: Snow People (Art Project), Computers and Shelf Work

Math: Identifying shapes. Look at your Christmas tree! Is it a sphere, cone or ellipsoid? Can you find a “cube” in your house?

Religion: Advent, Christmas, Called to Protect Lesson about enforcing rules to protect our bodies (wearing helmets, seat belts, jackets, etc).

Second Step: Strong Feelings and Ways to Calm Down

Science: Land and water animals

Writing: Weekend News, The letter Ff

Reminders:

Wednesday, December 16^th: The SJF Christmas Program starts at 7:00!

Please bring your children into the classroom to meet Mrs. McGinty and Mrs. B. at 6:45. Please let us know if your child will not be able to attend. I will also check my e-mail at 6:45 that night to make sure we don’t leave anyone behind! Your children can wear pretty and handsome Christmas clothes (“Sundays Best”). Ms. Bjore did not have any other requirements for their dress attire. Your children will wear large stars over their faces. When they come that night I will put the stars on their cute faces. Bring your camera!

After we are all assembled in the classroom and you have found your seats in the cafeteria, we will walk to the stage for our first presentation. After our presentation we will walk back to the classroom and wait (color and read) for our next song and then again for the school’s finale at the end! When the program is over we will walk back to the classroom and you can pick us up! This will work out great because your children can leave their coats in the classroom. Thank you!

Christmas Break: December 19-January 4^th (Please come to school on Monday, January 4^th!) MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! You will see Miss Sarah Beuving when your return with your child. She is very excited to start her teaching experience with the school and your children.

St. Vincent DePaul Food Drive: December 11^th will be the last day to donate food and toiletries. Please bring them into the classroom! If you forget then Monday and Tuesday will be the last day! Thank you!

Snow and Ice Days: St. John Fisher School follows the “Portland School District” school closure schedule. Please watch the local news for school closures and if you notice Portland school districts are late or closed you can assume that we are too! You can also view our SJF web site! Personally, the SJF web site is quicker and easier. Go to the direct source!

No Hot Lunch: December 17^th and 18^th

Coats: Thanks for bringing in warm coats, gloves and hats! We do take the time to put them on your children. If the recesses are really cold then we have been staying inside!

November 9-13

Week In Review:

          We are starting to focus on our next holiday! We are reading books about Pilgrims and Thanksgiving. Next week we will explore our favorite Thanksgiving foods.

          On Wednesday, the class had a beautiful discussion about Jesus and his resurrection. We first sang the song: Lord I Lift Your Name on High. Then the children started the discussion about Jesus coming down from heaven, staying on earth, dying on the cross, being buried in a tomb and then rising again to heaven. Keep in mind that I only had the intention of singing the song with the class! I was amazed at how much your children could keep this discussion alive. Some students talked about Jesus on earth, some students talked about the 2 thieves that were crucified with Jesus and others talked about the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection. One student said it best when he said: “God has many powers.” Yes!

On Thursday, the class discussed animals and their habitats. Your children are so smart! You can always help spark their interest by reading science and/or non-fiction books for homework. You will be amazed at how much they know or how much they will remember! You can take their knowledge of books further by searching the Internet together!

This Week:

Center Time: Mrs. B. – Turkeys! (Please come check them out in our classroom! The turkeys could become great centerpieces for your Thanksgiving tables!) and Shelf Work

Math: Graphs, More and Less

Religion: We are thankful!

Second Step: Accidents. Remembering to say: “I’m sorry it was an accident.” We are observing the differences of doing something “on purpose” and/or “by accident.”

Science: Animal characteristics. What makes them the same and different?

Social Studies: Treat others the way you would like to be treated!

Reminders:

Class of the Month Contest: “Pennies for Patients.” Our school is raising money for patients who cannot afford their medical bills. There is a trick to the procedure so I would like to explain it to you. The way a class can win the contest is to have the least amount of money in their class’s money basket. This means that your child will put their donation in another class’s basket. When you come in the morning you will notice the baskets outside each classroom and you can encourage your son or daughter to drop their coins in another class’s basket! Good luck!

Saturday, November 7^th: SJF Auction (5:00-10:00)! Mrs. B and I will see you there!

November 11^th: Veteran’s Day! No School!

November 16^th: Parent Help Begins! The due date for the sheets are Friday, November 6th so I can organize the helpers before Monday, November 16^th. I will let Parent Helpers know when their day is to come in by Thursday, November 12^th.

November 24th and 25^th: Parent and Teacher Conferences. Thank you for signing up for a time! You will receive your child’s report cards before the conferences and we can discuss it during the conference.

November 26-27: No School! Happy Thanksgiving J I am thankful for your partnership at SJF!

October 12-16 (FRIDAY IS NOON DISMISSAL-PICK UP AT 12:00!)

This Week:

Center Time: Leaf Rubbings and Shelf Work

Math: Sequencing and Seed Stories! We will work on putting pictures in order so we can tell a story about a pumpkin seed sprouting into a beautiful orange pumpkin.

Religion: God Made the Sun and God Made the Moon

Second Step: We Feel Feelings In Our Bodies

Science: Pumpkins and Skeletons – Oh My!

Social Studies: Workers on the farm!

Writing: Weekend News, Writing skills in our workbooks

Reminders:

Field Trip: Friday, October 23^rd! We are going to “The Pumpkin Patch” on Sauvie Island! Thank you to all of our chaperones. Mrs. B will contact you soon with more information. Please look in your child’s folder. This is also a good time for everyone to look for boots that come up to your children’s knees! We go through the muddy corn maze every year and long boots are the best! We change our shoes when we ride back in our chaperone’s car.

Life Works Candy Drive! We have our first service project for the month of October. The service project is going to be a candy drive for a men and women’s shelter called Life Works. These men and women are recovering from drug and alcohol use. The candy will be used for their sons and daughters when they go trick or treating! At the assembly on October 6^th Mrs. Holub also reminded us that when we get excited for candy on Halloween we could share our own excitement by bringing in candy for other children in need. Please bring your candy into the classroom and we will collect it in the back of the classroom. The class with the most candy by weight could win an extra recess, a free dress or a movie during class time. The class will vote for their choice when they win.