Weekly Notable News Update
Dear Parents,
We will be celebrating National Catholic Schools Week. Please read the Home and School Connection for more important information. First Grade students are asked to donate a new brush, comb, or a package of hair ties for our Veterans. Thank you for your generosity donations.
Please purchase the book The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers - due February 20, 2026.
For STREAM Science Lab each student is asked to bring in an apple on Monday, January 26th. (Red stars bring a red apple, Yellow stars bring a yellow apple, and Blue stars bring a green apple.)
In Math we are working in Chapter 8 Addition Facts within 20. Please practice time to the half hour and hour on a dial face clock, and counting coins and trading equivalent coin values to $ 2.00. Please continue to practice addition and subtraction fact families 0-12. Weekly timed drills and one on one assessments will continue. Students need to have quick recall of the sums and differences. One on one assessments 0-10 will take place January 14-16. The 2nd semester Math books will be sent home to be covered in clear Contact paper. Please cover and return them by Friday, January 30th.
In Reading we will begin Unit 9 January 26th. Please practice Unit 9 vocabulary words on Seesaw to help your child read them fluently. Students will not record a video this week. We are also taking a Phonics test on beginning and ending blends.
The annual PBS "Go Writers" contest has begun. This is a mandatory assignment. Please start brainstorming ideas, characters, plots, and settings or actual events with your child. In two weeks a progress form will be sent home for you to indicate your child's progress (title, how much has been accomplished etc.). Please start now. Follow the instruction page carefully and return it with the completed project in March. Students may write about fiction or non-fiction family events. The story must be in your child's voice and vocabulary. Parental assistance is encouraged, however this is your child's assignment and should reflect their grade level work. First Grade has done incredibly well over the last decade. We have been awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places almost every year. A few years we received all 3 awards with a clean sweep of the state entries!!!! I was awarded a trophy for having the most winners in the start since the beginning of the contest. This year will be another great display of our class's talent.
Accelerated Reading (AR) quizzes are part of weekly homework. Please remember to include a completed AR form and the quiz number for each quiz. (See link). Regardless of the number of AR points earned, ALL students are required to take 2 AR quizzes each week. All progress needs to be tracked by parents on the AR website. Thank you for making sure your child is on track and prepared to pass weekly quizzes.
CONGRATULATIONS for AR progress to the following students:
All students should be passed 8.5 AR points.
7 points or more: Leomar, Anahlyn Keep reading!
8 points or more: Cairo
9 points or more: Julie, Jordan, Anya
AWARD!!!! 10 points or more:
11 points or more: Amara, Olivia
12 points or more: Francesco, Madeline
13 points or more: David, Antonio, Zoey
14 points or more:
AWARD!!!! 15 points or more: Kate, Aspen, Layla
16 points or more: Rylee, Kate
17 points or more: Gia, Max
18 points or more:
19 points or more: Ashley
AWARD!!!! 20 points or more: Brennen, Princeton, Belen, Nora, Anahi
Great work!!!! I am very proud! WOW !
This amazing progress is a direct reflection on your support and dedication to your child's progress in reading development. Pleasure reading provides golden opportunities to instill a love for reading and increase a variety of skills (comprehension, vocabulary, phonics, fluency, spelling, and writing). The more students read, the better they read, spell, and write.
As primary educators, parents are asked to insist on neat work. Your child's finest effort is expected on all work including homework (coloring, printing, cutting etc.). PLEASE REVIEW YOUR CHILD'S HOMEWORK. Sign or initial the Homework planner upon completion and review of your child's homework.
Please review all graded papers in the Weekly Folder. This work indicates progress, growth, and areas needing improvement. Sign and return any papers requiring a signature. Thank you.
REMINDERS and UPDATES:
- Progress Reports, AR, and SLE reports will be sent home Thursday, January 29th. Please sign and return all 3 reports by Monday, February 2. Students need to sign the AR report also.
- Please note: The classroom is opened by 8:00 a.m. Students are tardy after 8:15. Tardiness disrupts the class and adds frustration to students. Please be punctual. Good habits are being formed at this early age. Your cooperation signifies your dedication to quality education and builds life long lessons in responsibility.
- School dismisses at 2:45. Please refrain from early dismissal. Thank you.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns. Your support is appreciated. Have a wonderful week. Be sure to check the Home and School Connection for news and activities this week.
God bless you. Have a splendid week!
T.E.A.M. Together Everyone Achieves More!
Blessings,
Mrs. Thomas
