Hello Again

• April and May are busy months.  This Thursday, we have our field trip to the Museum of Art History.  We still have many outstanding permission slips and entrance fees.  Please return those ASAP.
• The ducks!!  The ducks are HUGE, HUGE, HUGE!  It is time for them to go to the farm.  Thank you to all of the patient parents who have rescheduled the duck visits or cancelled due to safety.  I know that it is very hard to say no to a duck visit but the children have had a lot of quality time with the ducks and they need to be free.  If all goes as planned, I will be taking Sparky and Gismo to the farm on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.  We will be scheduling a field trip to the farm to visit our darlings in May so we only have to say, "See you later."
• California State Testing starts next Tuesday, 4/24 and runs through 5/8.  Please make sure that your child is well rested and ready to roll on Tuesday.  We will start testing right away so please have your child to school on time.  We have been practice testing a bit and I think that it has settled some of the nerves.  The children are happy to see that they know the material.  (That was the goal.)
• Minus the end-of-the-year party, our final field trip is scheduled for Thursday, May 24th.  We will be going to the Agricultural Museum at the County Fairgrounds.
• Second Graders should be busy working on their Science Fair Projects that are due Monday, May 7th.  They will be on display at Open House on Thursday, May 10th.
• Third Graders should be practicing their famous person oral reports.  The written speech is due Friday, May 4th and the speeches will be on Tuesday, May 8th.  I am looking for a volunteer to video the speeches.  I do not have a video camera and I prefer to watch the speeches without a camera.  Let me know if you can help with videotaping.  If all goes well, the video will be running during Open House.
• Due to State Testing, Literature Circles will be cancelled until further notice. 

Spring Break!

• It looks like we may have good weather for the vacation.  I hope that the week allows you to spend some quality time with your angels.  Spring Break ends on Monday, April 9th.  Class resumes on Tuesday.
• We have a field trip to the Museum of Art History scheduled for Thursday, April 19th.  At this point, I only have one driver.  Please let me know if you can drive asap.
• As you probably know, we have 2 new ducks in Room 1.  Sparky and Gismo are adorable and the children are thoroughly enjoying observing and holding them.  Thank you for allowing your child to bring them home for the night or weekend.  It is a bit of a hassle but it is something that the children never forget.  I hear H.S. students still talking about their second grade ducks! 
• I am still loving your children.  We have such a nice class.  It is going to be very hard to give them up in June.
• Feel free to jot Mrs. Welty a thank you note.  She is a joy to have in class.  Her positive attitude makes every day a sunny day.  The children love her!
• Please make a Spring Break resolution to get your child to school on time every day.  We walk the track which is part of the PE program.  It is a great way to start the day and studies have shown that a brisk walk will get the brain stimulated for learning.  There are just a few children who seem to be tardy frequently.
• Mondays are a critical day of learning as the curriculum on Monday sets up the entire week.  Students who miss Monday often miss the week's story, grammar, and phonics introduction.  

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!