Week of 3/27

As we head into our final week before Spring Break, I hate to say it, but the weeks after the break are going to just fly by! We have a lot to pack in and a lot of upcoming events, so keep updating your calendars with the information at the bottom of this post. You will notice there are a lot of upcoming events!

We have an author visit this week, sponsored by the Alta Vista Home & School Club. Kevin Henkes, author of many favorite children's books such as: Owen, Chrysanthemum, Kitten's First Full Moon, and Lily's Purple Plastic Purse, will be coming to the school at 1:00 on Thursday the 30th. Because this is after our class hours, the AVHSC wants to make sure you know that you are welcome to bring your children back to see him. I believe Champions will be taking their students over. It should be a great presentation, so I encourage you to come if you can.

Spring Fling is on Friday and we are looking to some good weather and a fun send-off to our Spring Break. Thank you to Alison, Susan, Claire K., Asma, Marylu, Eden, and Belinda for helping. We will see you all at 9:00.

Language Arts
This week, we will be looking at silent e. We will be studying how it changes the sound of the vowel in the middle of the word from short to long. We have many fun and engaging videos to show the children about this "magic" letter. We also have a new sight word, do. Children should now know 27 of our 40 sight words. See the list of words on our webpage for more reinforcement, or go to http://spellingcity.com/k2grist/  As I mentioned to many of you during conferences, after your child has mastered these words, start working on the 1st grade 100 word list, that can be found here.

The sharing this week is homemade item. Children can bring any craft, picture, project, etc. that they've made at home or elsewhere. They should be prepared to talk about how they made the item.

Math
We continue working on both subtraction and addition. This week, we will begin working on fluency. Since we have done so much work with manipulatives, the math facts should be quite innate at this point-- children should be able to visualize the "parts" that make the "whole."

Science
We will continue with the science unit on Wood & Paper this week. This week, we will be sanding wood and making some particleboard and plywood.

*Please remember to send in your child's Blue Bag on Monday. We will not be sending blue bags home this Wednesday due to the upcoming vacation week.

This Week's Helpers & Activities:
Monday: Blue Bags Returned (Asma), Centers (Annie & Anna R.),  Sharing
Tuesday: Centers (Claire K. & Minna), Sharing
Wednesday:Wacky Wednesday, Recess 101, Sharing, No Blue Bags

Thursday: Centers (Chris & Susan),  Sharing, Author Visit @ 1:00
Friday: Spring Fling, Story Time with Grandma Gail, Sharing

Upcoming Events:
Thursday 3/30: Author Visit: Kevin Henkes @ 1:00

Friday 3/31: Spring Fling
4/3-4/7: Spring Break
Weds.  4/19: Field Trip to Emma Prusch Farm
Friday, 4/21: AV Multicultural Family Night
Weds. 4/26: Parent Volunteer Tea
Friday 4/28: Kindergarten Movie Night for Auction Winners
Friday 5/5: Cinco de Mayo Dance
Friday 5/12: Mother's Day Celebration
Friday 5/12: Alta Vista Fantasy Faire 5:00-8:30
Weds. 5/24: Open House
Mon. 5/29: Memorial Day Holiday
Tues. 6/6: End of Year Party: "Splash Bash"
Weds. 6/7: School-wide Olympic Day
Thurs. 6/8: Promotion Ceremony-- please attend!
Fri. 6/9: Last Day of School