We have quite a busy week ahead as we head into the final week before our holiday break. We have an Alta Vista Spirit Week all week, our Nutcracker performance on Tuesday, a Cornerstone lesson on Wednesday, our first clay project on Thursday, and the holiday pj & hot cocoa party on Friday! Phew! Please read all the details and reminders about these events below.
Language Arts
We will be introducing one final set of word families in 2021: ug and ut. Children will be reading and spelling words such as mug, bug, but, and cut. We will also have a new sight word: not. Our stories this week will be different holiday stories, as well as continuing to compare and contrast different versions of The Gingerbread Man.
Math
We will continue with Module 4, Number Pairs, Addition & Subtraction to 10. Parent tips for this module can be found here.
We will be introducing one final set of word families in 2021: ug and ut. Children will be reading and spelling words such as mug, bug, but, and cut. We will also have a new sight word: not. Our stories this week will be different holiday stories, as well as continuing to compare and contrast different versions of The Gingerbread Man.
Math
We will continue with Module 4, Number Pairs, Addition & Subtraction to 10. Parent tips for this module can be found here.
Cornerstone
We have a Cornerstone lesson this Wednesday afternoon. Cornerstone is an initiative that supports creating an environment where all children feel respected, valued, and known. Thank you to Carlene, Agnieszka, and Kassie for leading Cornerstone this year.
We have a Cornerstone lesson this Wednesday afternoon. Cornerstone is an initiative that supports creating an environment where all children feel respected, valued, and known. Thank you to Carlene, Agnieszka, and Kassie for leading Cornerstone this year.
Clay
We are so excited that Alta Vista's clay program is back up and running this year! Children get an opportunity to work with clay in one session, followed by a glazing session at a later date. We are looking forward to this on Thursday the 16th. Thank you to Sarah, Emily, and Agnieszka for helping with clay!
This Week's Special Events
This Week's Special Events
Nutcracker
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 arrive at school dressed in these items on Tuesday. 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/MARIE: Bathrobe/pajamas & slippers
NUTCRACKER/SOLDIERS/RUSSIAN DANCERS: White Shirt & Dark Pants w/ dark shoes
MICE/MOUSE QUEEN: 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 is provided for Ribbon Candies.
ARABIAN DANCERS: Light colored fitted shirt w/ leggings OR leotard w/ no tutu (we provide the Harem pants)
CHINESE DANCERS: Shirt doesn't matter so much (will be wearing jacket we provide) dark pants, dark shoes.
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 arrive at school dressed in these items on Tuesday. 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/MARIE: Bathrobe/pajamas & slippers
NUTCRACKER/SOLDIERS/RUSSIAN DANCERS: White Shirt & Dark Pants w/ dark shoes
MICE/MOUSE QUEEN: 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 is provided for Ribbon Candies.
ARABIAN DANCERS: Light colored fitted shirt w/ leggings OR leotard w/ no tutu (we provide the Harem pants)
CHINESE DANCERS: Shirt doesn't matter so much (will be wearing jacket we provide) dark pants, dark shoes.
**THERE IS NO NEED TO BUY ANY PROPS-- we provide all props, hats, etc.
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 email me to let me know you'd like to borrow one.
Please arrive promptly in the cafeteria for the Nutcracker, as we intend to start the show right at 9:30. As a reminder, there is a limit to two guests per child (with the sole exception of younger siblings), and all audience members must sign in, so please allow time to do this. 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. Thank you!
On another photography note, we will have Mrs. Barbara's son, Nathan, at the performance recording a video of it on an iPad. I will also be taking photographs of the children in their costumes before the performance. You will have access to these photos & the video, so that you can spend your time on Thursday enjoying the performance.
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 email me to let me know you'd like to borrow one.
Please arrive promptly in the cafeteria for the Nutcracker, as we intend to start the show right at 9:30. As a reminder, there is a limit to two guests per child (with the sole exception of younger siblings), and all audience members must sign in, so please allow time to do this. 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. Thank you!
On another photography note, we will have Mrs. Barbara's son, Nathan, at the performance recording a video of it on an iPad. I will also be taking photographs of the children in their costumes before the performance. You will have access to these photos & the video, so that you can spend your time on Thursday enjoying the performance.
Spirit Week
This week is another Alta Vista spirit week, similar to the one during the week of Halloween. Here are the themes:
Monday: Wear purple
Tuesday: We're not participating because we need to wear our Nutcracker clothes
Wednesday: Alta Vista Spiritwear (school t-shirts/sweatshirts, or wear blue & gold)
Thursday: Holiday Dress-Up (festive socks, hats, headbands, t-shirts, etc.)
Friday: PJ Day (also what we're wearing for our hot cocoa party!)
Holiday Party
We will have our holiday party and gift exchange on Friday the 17th. A Sign-Up Genius has gone out to sign up for sending in any special hot cocoa toppings, if necessary, due to food restrictions. Otherwise, the hot cocoa and toppings are provided. Thank you to Deanna, Emily, and Van for coordinating some of the party centers, as well as all the cocoa supplies & toppings! This is a pajama party. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring a stuffed animal with them as we enjoy some holiday centers, followed by the hot cocoa at snack time. Please DO send water bottles so your child has something to drink at lunch. Please also remember to send in your gift for the gift exchange. No need to mark "boy" or "girl" if it is a gender-neutral item, but please write From: Your Child's Name so that your child doesn't end up with his/her own gift. Please send all gifts by Wednesday at the latest so that I can be sure we have 24 items and everyone will receive a gift at the exchange.
Upcoming
When we return from Winter Break on January 3rd, 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!
Holiday Party
We will have our holiday party and gift exchange on Friday the 17th. A Sign-Up Genius has gone out to sign up for sending in any special hot cocoa toppings, if necessary, due to food restrictions. Otherwise, the hot cocoa and toppings are provided. Thank you to Deanna, Emily, and Van for coordinating some of the party centers, as well as all the cocoa supplies & toppings! This is a pajama party. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring a stuffed animal with them as we enjoy some holiday centers, followed by the hot cocoa at snack time. Please DO send water bottles so your child has something to drink at lunch. Please also remember to send in your gift for the gift exchange. No need to mark "boy" or "girl" if it is a gender-neutral item, but please write From: Your Child's Name so that your child doesn't end up with his/her own gift. Please send all gifts by Wednesday at the latest so that I can be sure we have 24 items and everyone will receive a gift at the exchange.
Upcoming
When we return from Winter Break on January 3rd, 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!
