Upcoming Events

The class will be working on their state report throughout Trimester 2. I have provided the students with several mini deadlines to help them accomplish this goal. You can find information on their state under the assignments tab on my website.

Thinkwave

I will do my best to have work entered into the grade book prior to the December break, but if I don’t, I would just like to ask everyone to be patient with me. After the December break, work will be updated in Thinkwave on a weekly basis just as it has been prior to my absence.

Substitute Teachers and My Absence

Mr. Hoversten will not be able to continue teaching in my absence after the December break. However, I have arranged to have Mrs. Fasiano step in after the December break. She is an awesome teacher and I am confident that she will do a fantastic job in my absence.

As of right now, the date for my return is up in the air. There were some health issues that I had encountered that led up to William’s early arrival. I need to make sure that baby and I are 100% before I return, which is something that you have all been telling me from the beginning of the school year. I can tell you that I will be gone no longer than Spring Break. I have a feeling it will be sooner, but I wanted to at least keep you all posted of my original plan. I want to make sure that I am back in time to prepare my students for the STAR test.

Field Trips

We have several field trips coming up in trimester 2. If you would like to chaperone any of the trips, please make sure that you write a note and attach it to the permission slip. Please remember that you will not be allowed to chaperone if you have not been fingerprinted.

4^th – Railroad Museum, Sutter’s Fort (these will take place in the middle of Jan.)

5^th – Sly Park (this is during the first week of Feb.)

Both – IMAX theater/State Capitol

Holiday Party 2009

Our class will be having a small holiday party on Friday, December 18, 2009 from 12:45 – 1:40. We will be celebrating holiday traditions that are special to your family and cultural background. Each student has offered to bring in a game, food item, or object that represents a part of their holiday tradition. We have all discussed that due to the number of food items being brought in, the students just need to make enough for at least 15 people (approximately 1/2 the class) to prevent us from having too many leftovers.

We will also be doing a holiday gift exchange this year. Each student will be picking a name out of a hat and their job will be to bring in a bookmark which represents the personality/interests of the recipient. They must bring in their bookmark by Thursday, December 17^th. I have mentioned to the students that the bookmark may be hand-crafted or purchased.

The students and I will be making Gingerbread houses between 11:00 – 12:05. I will be allowing them to bring in candy to decorate their houses. Powdered sugar will not be allowed. I will be providing the frosting and the gram crackers. We will also be watching holiday movies in the morning. A request for permission to watch the movies will be in your child’s agenda during the week of December 14^th, 2009. In the past, I have allowed the students to watch Polar Express, but I have told the students that I am open to the movie (within reason).

The students and I have agreed to make Friday, December 18^th pajama day. I welcome the younger siblings and all of you to help celebrate the upcoming holidays with us.