12/7
We had our 2nd all school Advent candle lighting prayer service this morning. Each class was invited to have one student bring up the class collection of "straw" and place it in the manger. Our good deeds, prayers and Advent activities are creating a soft bed for the baby Jesus. Thank you to all of the parents who are helping us by handing out "straw" at home. If you need more, just let me know!
The Home and School Association treated everyone to a red or green doughnut for snack time in honor of St. Nicholas day. Thank you!
"Svaty Mikulas" (Czech for St. Nicholas-I don't know how to type the accent marks) visited our classroom today and talked to the children about being good. Apparently, he felt that I was keeping the children in class 1 minutes too long each day and sent the devil to get me. I had to sing a line from "Jingle Bells" as my "penance". I guess every teacher in the school got the same treatment! When I had the children write in their journals about the visit, that was pretty much their focus! Each child received a small treat as well.
I have been asked to remind all parents that drop their children off in the morning to remember to pull ahead and have your child get out by him/herself. If you need to get out and open the door for your child and help him/her get out, please park in the lot and then walk your child across. Thank you for helping to make morning drop off as smooth as possible.
If your child does not know her lines well for the Christmas program, please continue to practice at home. Also, all of the children need to practice saying their lines in a very loud, "number 3" (outside) voice. We won't be using microphones (other than for the narrators). Thanks for your help!
Every child MUST have boots, hats, mittens/gloves and jackets tomorrow for recess. If there is any new snow or if it's colder than today, snowpants are also a MUST. Many children have simply not been dressed for the weather. I talked to them about this and it was also part of the end of the day announcements. Thank you for helping your child to be warm, dry and safe during recess.
12/3
We celebrated Laci's half birthday-thank you for the cupcakes! I made a mistake in assigning Laci a half birthday day-I'm not used to being in school in June! So, we will celebrate again in June. It was my fault, so it wasn't fair to take this day away from her. The kicker-the school did the same thing!! She was on the office birthday calendar for a half birthday and the kitchen's birthday cupcake calendar. So, at least I was in good company!!
Mrs. Bachman did a lesson with the children today on having disagreements and resolving them with eye-to-eyes. She did a packet with them on peace making skills and I-care rules. She really worked with the kids on understanding that they are responsible for their actions and words!
We began learning about St. Nicholas today and will continue on Monday. His feast day is on Sunday. There is a page from your child's religion book in his/her folder.
12/2
Last reminder that book orders are due tomorrow. This is our last order before Christmas. Here is the ordering information:
www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
User Name: mrswetschka1st
Password: StWenc
We have started making Native American dream catchers with parent volunteers. Thank you Mrs. Reiland and Mrs. Pexa for getting us started. We had read the book
Dreamcatcher (about an Ojibwe baby) awhile ago.
We are making a book that will help us review the seasons and months of the year. It's taking a little longer than I anticipated, but I hope to send it home soon!
We had our first practice for our Nativity play. It went very well for our first time! There are some children that have not practiced their lines at all-please help her child practice until they know them quite well. Then just a practice from time to time will do! Mrs. Pavek helped children practice their lines this afternoon-thank you!
We started learning about magnets. If you have any magnets at home that your child can experiment with, I know they will enjoy it! Talk to him or her about what he/she notices!
12/1
Wow-December! I keep reminding myself to take deep breaths and that there are still almost 4 weeks until Christmas. I am teaching the children what Advent is really about-I think I need to listen to my lessons!
In your child's folder there is a red certificate for a free movie rental from Coborns. This is the final prize from Marathon. I was supposed to send it home on Wednesday after the wrap-up assembly and I totally spaced it off as my focus was on the Thanksgiving celebration. Sorry about that!
We are reading 2 books during our morning meeting time during these weeks of Advent. The first is called
My Very Own Christmas Prayer Book-An Alphabet of Prayers for All the Days of Advent. Today's prayer was on birthdays and got us thinking about the focus of Christmas being on Jesus' birthday. The second book is
Advent Story Book-24 Stories to Share Before Christmas. This book follows Benjamin Bear through Advent as each night he opens a window on his Advent calendar. Mother bear always has a story to share about the picture in the window that leads us on a journey to Bethlehem with another little bear. Today we learned about a special star that little bear feels compelled to follow.