Weeks of Feb. 15-Mar. 7

• Thank you to Wendy Rice, Brett Hegna, Andrea Burrell, and all of the parents who contributed items to our Valentine's Day party.  The children had a delightful time passing out their Valentines and decorating  their cookies.
• Thank you to Amy Danish for coordinating the class auction donation.  Amy approached local artist, Kimberly Hardin, and asked for help.  Kimberly spent 2 hours with our children designing and painting a beautiful canvas.  We were so lucky to have Kimberly and the masterpiece is stunning! Thank you for donating to the project.  Rio del Mar School will benefit greatly from our class creation!
• We still have outstanding permission slips and $1.00 donations for the field trip to the play at AJHS on Wednesday, March 14th.  We also have spaces filled for only 15 students.  We are looking for parent drivers.  
• We have duck eggs incubating as we speak!!!  If all goes well, we should have 6 baby ducklings in Room 1 in about 27 days!
• Please continue to practice the math facts nightly.  The second graders will greatly benefit by getting all of the addition and subtraction facts memorized as the third grade math moves quickly, and the third graders MUST have the multiplication math facts through X9 memorized by the end of the year.
• We can always use more prizes from the Dollar Store.  We have such a nice group of respectful and academic students.  We seem to go through the prizes quickly...which is a good thing!:)
• That is all for now!  Have a fabulous four day weekend!

Family Reading Night

• The Family Reading Night has been changed to Feb. 15th.

Hello Again

• The children filled in their reward chart and have voted on hot cocoa and a movie.  The event is scheduled for Friday, 2/3.  A note will be coming home asking students to bring a mug to school that day.  I will also be asking if anyone has a large coffee container for the hot water for the cocoa.
• The math concepts are moving quickly.  Please do not hesitate to drop me a note if your child is feeling frustrated or overwhelmed.  
• Literature Circles have started up again.  Feedback is helpful.  If your child is finding the book to be too challenging and/or too easy, please let me know.  In order to have a discussion GROUP, there is often a wider range of reading abilities.
• We will be having a very small Valentine's Day celebration.  I encourage the children to bring a Valentine for every student.  The children always love receiving and reading their Valentines.  A list of names will be coming home.  Please have your child put names on the Valentines.
• Family Book Night is scheduled for 2/22 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.  The K-3 classes are to read Stuart Little.
• The second grade play is scheduled for Mar. 2.  The second graders are busy learning the songs as we speak.
• The Red Ticket prizes are dwindling.  Prize box donations are always welcome.
• That's it for now! 

Change of Plans Due to MLK Holiday!!!

• Spelling will resume the week of January 23-27th.
• Literature Circle Discussion Groups will resume on Wednesday, January 25th.

Welcome Back!

• I hope that you all had a lovely vacation.   I spent every moment playing with my children.  We spent time in the snow and at the beach.  We are so lucky to live in such an amazing place! It is always fun to play in the summer sun...in January!:)
• I am looking forward to seeing all of my wonderful students.  I missed their smiling faces.
• This Wednesday (the first day of school) is a full day.  
• This Friday, January 13th, is our field trip to the Santa Cruz Museum.  We still need drivers and many students have not turned in their field trip forms and/or $2.00 entrance fee.  A reminder note will be coming home Wednesday to those students missing forms and/or money. If you are able to drive, please let me know a.s.a.p.  Thank you.
• Our holiday party was magical!  Thank you to all of the parents who helped make the day so special for the children.
• We have another school holiday next Monday, January 16th (Martin Luther King Jr.).
• We will resume Literature Circle discussion groups next Wednesday, January 18th.  
• A spelling list will come home on Wednesday but the test will not be until Friday, January 20th.
• Continue with the nightly reading and the nightly math facts practice. 
• That is all for now! 

Winter Concert!

• The children have been singing, singing, singing, and now it is time to shine!  The "Youth Chorus Winter Concert" is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 7th at the Aptos High School Performing Arts Center.  The Kinder and 1st graders perform at 5:00 followed by the 2nd and 3rd graders at 6:00, 4th grade at 7:00, and finally the 5th and 6th graders at 7:45.  It should be a lovely concert.  Due to the limited seating, unless there are siblings in other grades, families are encouraged to only attend the scheduled time for their child's grade level.  The children need to wear white tops and dark bottoms.  Please have your child arrive 15 minutes before his/her scheduled time. 
• Second Grade:  There are several Flat Stanleys still living in Room 1.  Please provide your child with an address and A STAMPED envelope a.s.a.p.
• Our next field trip is to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.  Field trip forms will be coming home next Monday, 12/5.  Our date is Friday, January 13, 2012 from 9:15- 11:45.
• The holiday break is from December 19- January 10th.  Classes resume on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.
• Thank you to Kelly Foos and Michelle Hilger for volunteering to organize our holiday celebration.  Please be on the lookout for notices asking for help with food and/or other necessities.
• That is all for now.  I look forward to seeing all of you at the concert next Wednesday.

Second Grade Flat Stanley

• We have many, many Stanleys sitting in Room 1 waiting to travel the world.  Please send in a stamped envelope and an address so that we can send Stanley off on his/her adventure.