The main business of this week is all things Nutcracker! We will be
practicing daily this week, so there will be no centers. There will also
be no blue bags OR white envelopes this Wednesday.
For the Nutcracker
performance, we have Hiromi, Mary, Karla, and Brandie helping with make-up and costuming. If costume parents could
please come at around 12:30 or so and begin calling kids back
individually and get them ready for the stage, that would be great.
Thank you!
On Monday this week, you will have an
opportunity to bid in an online auction for a block of four front-row seats for the
Nutcracker. Look for an email and start the bidding! All money
will go toward supporting the enrichment programs funded by the Alta
Vista Home & School Club. The auction will close on Tuesday. Good
luck!
Language Arts:
We will continue to focus on Gingerbread Man stories. We will also read some holiday books. Our sight word is come. Our word family will be am.
Math:
We are continuing with Module 3 in Eureka Math: Comparison of Weight, Length, Capacity, and Numbers to 10. Parent tips for this unit can
be found here.
Center Help
Thank you for such wonderful parent support in centers for all of 2018. There are just 8 spots left for those who are interested in joining us for centers in early 2019. Please see the Sign-Up Genius to sign up.
This Week's Special Events
A reminder
about clothing for the Nutcracker: please remember to dress your
children in the clothes suggested in the letter sent home in the
Wednesday envelope two weeks ago. Children should come to school dressed in
these items on Thursday. Girls who are wearing leotards can wear something over the top of their
leotards when they arrive and change into their ballet shoes for the
performance. As a reminder, here is the list:
FRITZ: Bathrobe/pajamas & slippers
NUTCRACKER/SOLDIERS/RUSSIAN DANCERS: White Shirt & Dark Pants w/ dark shoes
MICE/MOUSE KING: Dark Shirt & Dark Pants & dark shoes
SUGAR
PLUM, RIBBON CANDY, FLOWERS: Light colored leotard/light colored
tights/ballet slippers or light colored shoes-- leotards with tutus
attached are fine & encouraged for Sugar Plum Fairies & Flowers,
especially. Ribbon tutu provided for Ribbon Candies.
ARABIAN: Light colored fitted shirt w/ leggings OR leotard (we provide the Harem pants)
CHINESE DANCERS: Shirt doesn't matter so much (will be wearing jacket we provide) dark pants.
Please
borrow whatever you need to borrow-- we don't intend for anyone to have
to buy anything. I have several leotards and a few pairs of ballet
slippers in the classroom that used to belong to my daughter that are
also available-- let me know if you need to borrow. I will send them home with children who want to borrow one on Monday. Please send me a reminder to let me know you'd like to borrow one-- I've had several people ask and I'm afraid I've lost track.
Please
arrive promptly in the cafeteria for the Nutcracker, as we intend to
start the show right at 1:45. Also, please do not try to come early and
save seats. We will be keeping the doors locked until about 15 minutes
before the performance. There are plenty of seats for everyone, so no
need to stress. We want everyone to enjoy the performance, so please
refrain from standing and blocking the aisles. It is no fun to watch a performance with a raised camera in front of you blocking your view-- I've had this happen to me at several performances, and I ask that you refrain from this behavior. If you want to take pictures, please go to the back row. Also
remember that school-aged siblings are not to be pulled out of class to watch the performance. Thank you!
On another photography note, I will have my son (17) at the performance recording a video of it on an iPad. He & I will also be taking photographs of the children in their costumes both before & after the performance. You will have access to these photos & the video, so that you can spend your time on Thursday enjoying the performance.
Remember to bring your blue bags tomorrow.
Starting in January, a journal page will be added to the folder inside so
that your children can write a response to the book in the bag each
week. No blue bags this Wednesday due to the upcoming holiday.
Upcoming
When
we return from Winter Break on January 7th, we are having a special
district-wide day called "Smart Start." Basically, it's a fun day of
activities to get children excited about returning to school. We will be doing some hands-on projects and having time to play to ease our way back into school.
Happy Holidays and enjoy your break!
This Week's Helpers & Activities:
Monday: Blue Bags returned (Hiromi), Nutcracker practice on stage, no centers
Tuesday: Nutcracker practice on stage, no centers
Wednesday: Recess 101, Nutcracker practice, no Blue Bags/White envelopes
Thursday: Nutcracker performance at 1:45, come to school in clothes for your part (above), cast party after performance.
Friday: No School
Upcoming Events
Thursday 12/20: Nutcracker Performance @ 1:45
12/21-01/04: Winter Break
Monday 01/07: School Resumes: Smart Start Day
Friday 01/18: Professional Development Day: No School
Monday 01/21: Martin Luther King Day, No School
Thursday 01/31: 100 Day
02/18-02/22: President's Week Vacation
