Queen of All Saints First Grade Weekly News
December 14, 2009 teacherweb.com/CA/QueenofAllSaintsSchool/MrsLuciaPrince
lprince@csdo.org
As we have been preparing our hearts for Jesus during this Advent
season, we have “visited” many different countries on our “Christmas Around
the World” unit. We learned how many of our Christmas traditions came to be.
We visited Germany to learn about Christmas trees, and England to learn about
Christmas cards and Christmas cornucopias. Our visit to France taught us
about Noel and Christmas banners, and we learned about Saint Lucia and Saint
Nicholas in Sweden. On our visit to Mexico, our Fourth Grade buddies shared
the story of The Legend of the Poinsettia and we learned about the beautiful
poinsettia flower. Projects from each of these visits will be coming home
this week. The children are excited to share their many projects with you.
This last week before Christmas vacation is filled with many preparations for
the Christmas holiday. We are attending 8:30 Mass twice this week, once for
Reconciliation and the second in preparation for Christmas. The QAS Christmas
Program is Thursday night at 7:00 in the Church. The little First Grade
Angels need to be in the Church by 6:45, dressed in their angel outfits.
Please bring them to the front of the church where they will sit with me in
the front pews. They will rejoin you after the show. Please let me know if
you have any questions.
Work Packets are being sent home for the children to complete over Christmas
break. The packet will help reinforce math and language arts skills, and will
ensure that the children will be ready for the new skills they will be
learning when they return from vacation. The children should complete a few
pages a day. The packets are due on Monday, January 4.
Friday Fun Day
I would like to thank the Moyer family for the gingerbread house activity they
shared with the first grade class last Friday. Mrs. Moyer delivered all of
the houses in the morning, and Mr. Moyer came prepared to assemble the houses
in the afternoon. The students had a great time putting the houses together,
carefully gluing each piece together with royal icing and decorating with
candy. I was impressed that very little candy was eaten!
Pictures of the activity are posted on our classroom website.
Have you planned your Friday Fun Day activity?
Important Dates and Reminders
December:
12/14 – 8:30 Mass
12/17 – Polar Express Christmas Party and 7:00 p.m. Christmas Program – Please
be in the church by 6:45
12/18 – 8:30 Mass
Red, Green, or White free dress.
12:00 dismissal – No QAC
January:
1/4 - School resumes
1/6 – 12:00 dismissal
1/18 – No School in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Queen of All Saints First Grade Weekly News
November 30, 2009 teacherweb.com/CA/QueenofAllSaintsSchool/MrsLuciaPrince
lprince@csdo.org
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with your family and
friends! It’s hard to believe yesterday was the first day of Advent, and we
are preparing for Christmas. As part of this preparation, the children will
be working with Mrs. Davis and practicing Christmas songs to sing for the
residents of Bayberry Convalescent Home, as well as learning our song for the
QAS Christmas Program. We will be visiting Bayberry on Monday, December 7.
Please see the Permission Slip for field trip information. Our Christmas
Program takes place on December 17. The children will be dressing as angels
for the Nativity scene. Mrs. Davis will be sending home detailed information
regarding the program, but here’s some basic information to get you started.
The angel costumes should be very simple. The halos are just gold or silver
tinsel placed in a circle on your child’s head, and the children should dress
in white clothes, a white sheet, or a white robe. Our white QAS shirts may
also be used. The children will not need angel wings.
First Grade Blog-
There are two new posts on the First Grade Blog page. One post asks the
children how they celebrated Thanksgiving, and the second post asks how they
are preparing their hearts for Jesus during this Advent season. Please take
some time to visit the class website with your child and post comments to both
questions. Feel free to visit several times during Advent to talk about how
your family is preparing for Christmas!
Poinsettias
Can you donate a poinsettia plant for our cross-curricular unit on
poinsettias? We are reading Tomie de Paola’s Legend of the Poinsettia, and
will use the story to learn about plants, Christmas traditions around the
world, and symbols of Christmas. I would like to have several plants in the
classroom for the children to use for this unit. The more the merrier!
Important Dates and Reminders
11/30 – Monday: Beginning of Advent
12/2 – 12:00 Dismissal
12/4 – Report Cards go home – please sign and return
12/7 – Walking field trip to Bayberry
12/8 – 8:30 Mass (Immaculate Conception)
12/17 – Polar Express Christmas Party and 7:00 p.m. Christmas Program
12/18 – Red, Green, or White free dress. 12:00 dismissal – No QAC
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Queen of All Saints First Grade Weekly News
November 16, 2009
teacherweb.com/CA/QueenofAllSaintsSchool/MrsLuciaPrince
lprince@csdo.org
Thanksgiving Celebration:
We are planning a Thanksgiving celebration with our fifth grade buddies on
Thursday, November 19. The fifth grade students are preparing a skit for us,
and we will share a mini-feast with them. As part of the feast, we will
prepare a Friendship Salad. In addition to the fruit salad, we will also share
some cornbread, and make fresh sweet-cream butter.
The students will make Native American pattern rugs to use as placemats, and
we will play some games that Pilgrim children and Native American children
would have played many years ago.
I would like each student to contribute a piece of fruit to the salad. The
fruit should be sent to school on Wednesday, or early Thursday morning. If at
all possible, please purchase fruit other than oranges, apples, and bananas.
In the past, students have brought in pineapple, persimmons, pomegranates,
melon, and berries.
Classroom News:
In order to meet the academic needs of all of the students, I have placed the
students into differentiated math groups. The groupings will allow me to
focus on the varied developmental skills of the students. Differentiated
instruction will allow the students to work on skills appropriate for their
readiness level. Each group will focus on first grade mathematical standards,
skills, and concepts by meeting with me in small groups, completing small
group activities with their peers, and practicing their skills by playing math
games.
Poetry Program
Our new poem is Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore. The
students have been practicing the poem at school and they must learn the first
three stanzas by the time they return from Thanksgiving vacation. A copy of
the poem was sent home for them to practice. Extra copies may be printed from
my website.
Important Dates and Reminders
11/19 – Thanksgiving Celebration with Fifth Grade
11/21 – 11/29: Thanksgiving Break
11/30 – Monday: Beginning of Advent
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Queen of All Saints First Grade Weekly News
November 2 – November 6, 2009
teacherweb.com/CA/QueenofAllSaintsSchool/MrsLuciaPrince
lprince@csdo.org
A Note From the Teacher:
I would like to welcome Nadia Guzman and her family to our class. Nadia’s
sister Tanya has been attending our Sixth Grade since August, and Nadia joined
us this past week. We are very happy to have a new addition to our class!
I want to thank our room parents and first grade families for putting together
our Halloween party. The children had fun bobbing for apples, eating their
lunch and dessert, and finding the wonderful treats in their goody bags. When
we left on Friday, some of the sticky-feet mice were still stuck to the
ceiling! I am glad so many of you were able to come to the afternoon rally
and parade. Photos of the door decorating contest and bobbing for apples
activity are posted in the Gallery.
The children also had some Halloween fun by working with their Fifth Grade
buddies and posting a comment on our First Grade Blog. Please log on to the
blog to read all of their comments. Check back frequently to read new
postings.
Poetry Program
Our new poem is A Thanksgiving Dinner by Maude Grant. We recite the poem
several times a day in class, and the children are expected to also practice
at home with you. The students should be ready to recite this poem
independently by next Monday, November 9.
Important Dates andReminders
11/2- Wednesday: 12:00 dismissal, Jeans and QAS shirt
11/6 – Friday: Diocesan in-service, No School
11/9 – Monday: Veteran’s Day, No School
11/21 – 11/29: Thanksgiving Break
11/30 – Monday: Beginning of Advent
Classroom Directory
The Directory was sent electronically to the families who requested to be
included. Please let me know if any of the information needs to be changed.
If you did not receive the Directory and would like to be included, I need
signed permission to release your information to the other families. Please
forward your name, phone number (home and cell), address, and email address.
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Queen of All Saints First Grade Weekly News
October 19 – October 23, 2009
teacherweb.com/CA/QueenofAllSaintsSchool/MrsLuciaPrince
lprince@csdo.org
Guided Reading “Zippies” and Activities
I have noticed that some families are unclear about the directions regarding
Guided Reading “Zippies”. The directions and schedule are written at the top
of the Reading Logs for your reference.
• In the typical school week, the zippies are sent home on Monday for
the students to read to an adult and need to be returned on Tuesday. (The
book and signed Reading Log must be inside the plastic Ziploc bag.)
• The Reading Log needs to be signed by an adult.
• The zippies are then sent home again on Wednesday with a Responding
Activity Sheet. You can find the activity for each book inside the front
cover of the book. The children and I discuss the activity before the book is
sent home.
• Students have two days to complete the activity. The activity is due
back at school on Friday – labeled with Name, Date, and Title, and with the
colored illustration and student-written sentence on the responding activity
topic.
• This schedule is modified when we have a 4-day school week.
Guided Reading is a vital part of the First Grade Reading Program. It is the
time when the students are given individualized reading and phonics
instruction. When students don’t return their zippies on time, it takes away
valuable reading time. To help ensure that your child is prepared for Guided
Reading, please make sure that your child reads to you at home, and that their
zippy makes it back in their backpack.
Phonics Packets
Phonics packets are being sent home beginning this week. These packets are
intended to give extra short-vowel practice and reinforcement of basic phonics
skills. Students have a week to complete each of the packets. They can be
returned in their Friday folders on the following Monday. This week’s packet
focuses on short vowel “i”. The students know that the finger motion for
short “i” is Inny Inchworm. Please encourage them to use Inny Inchworm when
they read the short “i” words.
Poetry Program
The students have been learning the poem Pumpkin Time. They love this poem
because it is about Halloween and they get to shout BOO! at the end of the
poem. This poem must be memorized by Monday, October 26 so make sure your
child is reading the poem at home for extra practice.
Classroom Directory
The Directory was sent electronically to the families who requested to be
included. Please let me know if any of the information needs to be changed.
If you did not receive the Directory and would like to be included, I need
signed permission to release your information to the other families. Please
forward your name, phone number (home and cell), address, and email address.
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Queen of All Saints First Grade Weekly News
October 5 – October 9, 2009
teacherweb.com/CA/QueenofAllSaintsSchool/MrsLuciaPrince
lprince@csdo.org
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Conferences begin on Tuesday, October 12.
Conferences that are scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday morning will take
place in Mr. Cook’s office, as the First Grade classroom is used for early
morning day care. Afternoon conferences will be held in the First Grade
classroom.
Conferences are 15 minutes. Please be prompt. If more time is needed, we
will schedule a second conference.
Here is the schedule for easy reference:
Tuesday Morning (Mr. Cook’s Office):
7:30- Cancio Family
7:45 – Gonzalez Family
Tuesday Afternoon (1st Grade Room):
1:00 – Mungia Family
1:15 – Gungon Family
1:30 – Moyer Family
1:45 – Ceja Family
Wednesday Morning (Mr. Cook’s Office):
7:30 – Hernandez Family
Wednesday Afternoon (1st Grade Room):
1:00 – Antonick Family
1:15 – Lopez Family
Farmer’s Market Field Trip
I am still waiting for a few more permission slips for the field trip to the
Farmer’s Market. Students may only leave campus if a permission slip is on
file. Students also need $2.00 to purchase a mini pumpkin and a fall fruit or
vegetable.
We will be walking and shopping with the Fifth Grade students and several
parents. After shopping, we will spend our recess time at the park. Please
make sure your child comes to school with their regular snack and lunch.
Students should wear their QAS uniform. If you are accompanying us on this
field trip, please sign up ahead of time.
Poetry Program
The students have been learning the poem Keep a Poem in Your Pocket and some
have already memorized most of the poem. Please read the poem with your child
for extra practice. The poem must be memorized by Tuesday, October 13.
Classroom Directory and Friday Fun Day Calendar
At the Parent Teacher Conferences, I will be handing out the Classroom
Directory to parents who submitted their information and requested to be part
of the directory. I will also hand out calendars so you can sign up for your
Friday Fun Day activity. I hope that all families will sign up for at least
one Friday Fun Day
Spelling Words and Weekly Sight Words (Dolsch Words)
The students took their second spelling test this past week. The test also
included two short dictated sentences using words from Unit 4 and Unit 5. The
dictation helps reinforce listening skills as the students listen as I read
the sentences and then put the words on paper. It also requires the students
to recall words from previous units, use correct punctuation and
capitalization, and practice spacing their words. Dictation is part of their
overall spelling grade.
Weekly Sight Words - The weekly sight word tests are cumulative, so students
are required to know all of the words on the sight word list. Sight words are
meant to be memorized and committed to memory, as most of the words cannot be
sounded out using phonics skills.
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Queen of All Saints First Grade Weekly News
September 21- September 25
teacherweb.com/CA/QueenofAllSaintsSchool/MrsLuciaPrince
lprince@csdo.org
School Supplies and Information Forms
Some students are still missing school supplies from the beginning of the
year supply list. It makes it very difficult for them to keep their baskets
organized and to participate in some projects and activities if they are
missing their supplies. Please purchase the missing supplies this week and
send them to school with your child. The complete list of supplies is on my
website.
The $20.00 supply fee is also due. I would like to place an order for
individual student math manipulatives (your child will keep these
manipulatives at the end of the year) but I am still waiting for some
families to submit their supply fee. If you have not done so, please do so
this week so the order can be placed. If this fee is a hardship on your
family, please speak to me or Mrs. Roberts.
Student information sheets that were given to you at Back-to-School Night are
also due. I would like to make the classroom address, phone number, and
email roster to send home to each family, but I only received five
information sheets. Please let me know if you need new forms.
Farmer’s Market Field Trip
We will be taking a walking field trip to the Farmer’s Market on Tuesday,
October 6 from 9:30-10:30. We will be walking with our 5th grade buddies as
well as parent chaperones.
We will be learning about the changing of the seasons from summer to Fall.
The purpose of this field trip is to observe and identify these changes by
looking at the fall produce and flowers and talking to the vendors about
their produce. Each child should bring $2.00 to purchase a mini pumpkin and
an apple or other fall fruit or vegetable to bring back to the classroom for
a class activity. These purchases will be theirs to bring home at the end of
the day.
Permission Slips and Chaperone sign-ups will go home in your child’s Friday
Folder.
NewsFlash
If you submitted your email address on the Student Information sheet from
Back-to-School Night, your email address has been added to the NewsFlash. I
have already sent out a couple of reminders on NewsFlash. If you did not
receive the NewsFlashes, please visit my website (the address is at the top
of this page), click on the NewsFlash icon of falling leaves, and click on
the Subscribe to the NewsFlash button.
Poetry Program
I delayed the start of the Poetry Program by a few weeks as the students were
still trying to become familiar with the first grade program. We are
starting the program in class this week. We will learn our first poem
together as a class. Future poems will be sent home for the students to
practice and memorize for homework.
Spelling Words and Weekly Sight Words (Dolsch Words)
We are starting our Spelling and Sight Word programs this week. The students
will be receiving a list of weekly spelling words and sight words. Students
will be responsible for memorizing the words on both lists. Written spelling
tests will be given every Friday, with a practice test on Thursdays. Oral
Sight Word tests will be given every Monday. Students will be expected to
recognize and read their sight words. The sight word and spelling tests are
cumulative, so students will be expected to remember all of their words from
week to week.
Some suggestions for practicing at home: lost word lists may be replaced by
printing a new copy from my website; practice using the student-made
flashcards; play word games – “I’m thinking of a word that rhymes with sad
but begins like horse. Spell the word – had.”
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QAS First Grade News
September 7 - September 11, 2009
teacherweb.com/CA/QueenofAllSaintsSchool/MrsLuciaPrince
lprince@csdo.org
Message from the Teacher
Welcome back after the long Labor Day holiday weekend. I hope you had a
wonderful weekend.
Last week in First Grade, we learned how to read and spell our number words
from zero to nine. This week we will learn how to read and spell our number
words through twelve. The children have made flash cards for each number and
number word. These flashcards are stored in their personal supply boxes so
they can practice their words. In addition, these words have been added to
our word wall for the students to read and practice. We will continue doing
classroom activities to reinforce the spelling and word-recognition of the
number words. The students are expected to use the word wall to spell these
words correctly on all of their work.
In Language Arts, we are practicing identifying initial consonant sounds (the
first sound we hear in a word), and rhyming words. We are also learning
about
the short vowel “a”. We have worked with “ad” family words and have made
several games to practice reading the words. This week we will continue
working with short vowel “a” and will focus on reading “at” family words.
The children made their first book last week. After reading Moonbear’s
Books,
they made their own books titled Things I Like. Each child then sat in the
Author’s chair and read their book to the class. This was a fun sharing
activity and it helps prepare the children for public speaking and oral
presentations.
We have used our Scholastic News to help review our school and classroom
rules. Our Big Issue poster has helped the children remember to be Chair
Champs (push in their chair for safety) and Hallway Champs (walk in the
hallway). They are also learning the attributes of a good listener by using
the Give Me Five poster: 1. Pencils down and hands quiet, 2. Lips closed, 3.
Ears listening, 4. Eyes on the teacher, 5. Sit up straight.
The children have been enjoying eating their lunch on the cafeteria tables on
the red porch. They have a nice shady area to sit and eat, and are able to
place their lunches on the table instead of balancing them on their lap. We
are working on disposing our trash properly and cleaning up after ourselves.
Have a great week!
Number Words
One – 1
Two – 2
Three – 3
Four – 4
Five – 5
Six – 6
Seven – 7
Eight – 8
Nine – 9
Ten – 10
Eleven – 11
Twelve - 12
“ad” Family Words
bad
dad
fad
glad
had
lad
mad
pad
sad
tad
brad
“at” Family Words
bat
cat
fat
hat
mat
pat
rat
sat
chat
that
September Birthdays
Oscar – 9/12
Tanya – 9/13
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QAS First Grade News
August 31-September 4, 2009
teacherweb.com/CA/QueenofAllSaintsSchool/MrsLuciaPrince
Message from the Teacher
Welcome to the first full week of school! I would like to introduce the QAS
First Grade Newsletter. I will be sending home newsletters that will keep
you updated on all of the wonderful things that are happening in First Grade,
and also to remind you of important dates and upcoming events. The
newsletters will also be posted online on the First Grade website (see the
web address above.)
This week will be a regular school week with 12:00 dismissal on Wednesday,
the first Wednesday of the month. Wednesday is also Back-to-School Night.
We will meet as a school in the Church at 7:00 and will then proceed to the
classrooms. Please plan on attending this special event, as you will be
introduced to the First Grade curriculum, and you will receive important
classroom information and forms. The children have also completed a special
project that will be waiting for you on their tables.
I am happy to be your partner in your child’s education and am looking
forward to a wonderful school year!
Important Dates and Reminders
Emergency forms should be completed and returned to the office ASAP (all 3
copies).
Please fill the emergency pouch with supplies and return it to school. These
emergency pouches will be kept in the classroom.
Picture Day
Today was school picture day. All of the students had their picture taken.
Students who sent in a completed order form will receive their packet in a
few short weeks. If your child did not have a completed order form, they
will have another opportunity to purchase a picture package on picture make-
up day. Check the WAAG for details.
August and September Birthdays
August:
Kate – 8/11
September:
Oscar – 9/12
Tanya – 9/13
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