WEEK OF NOVEMBER 30

We had a nice time on our field trip to BCC Performing Arts Theater.  We enjoyed the performance and as usual "our" children were very well behaved.  When we returned we had lunch together in the classroom while we listened to Christmas music on the computer.  After lunch we decorated our Christmas tree and got the classroom ready for Christmas.  This week we had a special treat as we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis Xavier our patron saint.  We attended Mass in the cafeteria with Father Jay Mello and Monsignor O'Connor celebrating the Mass.  In the afternoon, the entire school was treated to popcorn and the movie ELF  as part of the Feast Day.  A good time was had by everyone.  In reading we took the test on the second reading book in our series and began work on the new book LET'S LEARN TOGETHER.  We are still working on nouns - common and proper in language arts.  In math we continue to work on addition.  Please remember to work with your child on addition facts 1-10. We talked about Advent and made Advent wheels to count down the days until Christmas.  We will continue to talk about The Holy Family and Jesus' birth.  During the week of December 14 we will be making gingerbread houses.  I will be sending home a note asking for help with this project and also for some items we will need to make the houses. I am hoping you will be able to help with this project.  Please remember that retakes for Lifetouch pictures will be on December 11. The weeks have passed quickly and soon we will be on Christmas vacation.  I cannot believe that we have almost completed four months of school. Our class continues to do well and we have much to be grateful for during this Christmas season. 

WEEK OF DECEMBER 7

We had a very busy week getting into the Christmas spirit.  We made and finished our Advent wreaths and put them around our beautiful manger scene  which was a gift to the first grade from Sister Louise.  We put up our Christmas tree and decorated our classroom.  We read the story The Legend of the Poinsettia and make some beautiful poinsettias for outside the classroom. The children practiced for the Christmas concert and I am sure they did well on Friday night.  In Social Studies we completed our weekly timelines which will be counted as a grade.  We continue to talk about the past, present and future.  In Language Arts we continued practicing common and proper nouns and learned about compound words.  Math continues on with addition and addition facts 1-12.  We also explored ways to make math patterns on an addition chart.  Next week will be a Christmas celebration week -- there will be no spelling test due to the activities which we have planned for our final week (can you believe it) before Christmas vacation.  We will be having a Polar Express/Pajama Day on Tuesday - please do not forget to send in the dollar donation on Monday so I can purchase the cookies and hot chocolate.  On Wednesday we will be decorating our gingerbread houses ( I could you a few more hands with this project) and I thank you for your donations for this project - wait till you see them they always come out beautiful and I have to confess this is my favorite project we do in first grade.  We will have our Christmas pary on Friday, December 18.  Thank you for all you donations for this party.  The children may bring in cards and if you like you may send in goody bags (I do allow them at Christmas and Valentines Day just for your information).  If any other things come up during the week I will update you via the update page. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope all my "kids" and their families had a wonderful and blessed Christmas Day.  Our last week of school was a very busy week for all of us.  We worked on our gingerbread houses which I am sure you agree came out beautifully.  A special thank you to all the parents who came in to help with this big project.  I think the children really enjoyed it.  We had our Polar Express Pajama Day complete with cookies, hot chocolate and BELIEVE BELLS (thank you to Mrs. Newcomb for making these for us).  Our Christmas party was a huge success and we thank everyone who sent in goodies.  I would like to personally thank everyone for your thoughtful gifts and cards.  I am much appreciative for you generosity, support and encouragement.  The best gift I received was the very special cookbook made for me by the class.  It brought tears to my eyes and I will cherish it always.  It truly was a gift from the heart and will always be very special to me.  There were three children who did not bring in a recipe for the book.  If you would like to send them in after vacation I would appreciate it.  I would like to have a remembrance from all the children in the class.  I hope, like me, you are enjoying your Christmas vacation by playing and resting. See you all on January 4 when we return to school.  I wish you all peace, health and happiness in the year 2010.