Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday! Yesterday,  we began our day with Chapel and Pastor spoke about the church season that we are in now, Lent.  We have talked about it in class too, but it is good to hear all about Lent in different places.  Pastor spoke about how Lent is a more serious and somber season, because we are preparing ourselves for Jesus’ death and resurrection.  We DO have Lenten services here at Trinity, on Wednesday nights, with a dinner prior to the service.  Consider yourself invited!  We sang one of my favorite hymns today in Chapel….”Christ Be My Leader”.  Read these words…..    

     

Christ be my leader by night as by day; Safe through the darkness for He is the Way. 

Gladly I follow, my future His care;…Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there.

Christ be my teacher in age as in youth, Drifting or doubting, for He is the Truth.

 Grant me to trust Him, though shifting as sand, ….Doubt cannot daunt me; in Jesus I stand.

Christ be my Savior in calm as in strife; Death cannot hold me, for He is the Life. Nor darkness nor doubting, no sin and its stain, can touch my salvation; with Jesus I reign. 

Such powerful words…..He is the Way, He is the Truth, He is the Life!  And the reminder that neither darkness, nor doubting, or any of our sins can compromise our salvation….all because of Jesus and his great love.  I pray that you are reminded of all of God’s promises daily!

NWEA testing results came home yesterday.  Did you see how your firstie has progressed so far this year? Seeing how far they have come, I am looking forward to testing in the spring (ahh…..doesn’t that sound nice??? Spring and warmer temperatures……) and seeing how much further they progress.  I do have to say, also, that I am really digging the fact that we will test three times throughout the year because it really does show their progress. 

We are a just a rockin’ and a rolling in Math class!  In our new chapter we will be adding 2-digit numbers.  Thank you for continuing to check papers and reiterate at home, what is going on at school. 

Blessings!

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

I hope that you are having a wonderful Mid-Winter Break!

I wanted to share a few things with you this evening!  The first thing is that we, as a staff, are reading a dynamite and insightful book called “Generation IY”  written by Tim Elmore.  I have actually read it before, at the last school that I was at (we always had summer reading!), but now that I am reading it again, it is reminding me how completely relevant this book is. The faculty also had the privilege of hearing the author live at our conference in the fall.  If you are looking for a really good read, written from a man who has worked with students for quite some time, and if you want some questions answered about your own children, this is the book to read!  I highly, highly recommend it.  I also have an extra copy if any of you would like to borrow it! 

Secondly, I have some pictures to share of our 100^th day of school and the Valentine’s Day bowling.  Thank you to all that were able to send in supplies, drive for the bowling trip, plan the party and activities, and generally be a big help to me!  Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! 

                                     
                                           Writing 100 words using our special 100 day glasses!

Building
towers
using
100
cups! 

How many licks DOES it take to get the center of a tootsie roll pop? The firsties figured it out...though it was different for each one of them. :)

Drawing pictures using the digits of the number 100.

Wyatt dressed like a "100 year old" today!

Separating the items brought in, into tens and ones!

Bowling boys!

 

"Go ball, GO!"

 

 I hope you enjoyed the pictures and I will you see you all on Tuesday!

Blessings!

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Math for the last few days has been interesting!  The firsties are learning about comparing two digit numbers and putting two digit numbers in order from the least to greatest and vice-versa.  When we compare those 2 digit numbers, please remind them at home that we always, always, always compare the 1^st number to the 2^nd number.  I like to add teeth to my greater or less than symbol (and sometimes an eye!) to show that the little monster dude (that is what I call him) is totally selfish and totally hungry…..ALL THE TIME.  So his wide open mouth is always eating the bigger number.  Some of the firsties seemed totally on board with this little trick to help remember, others, not so much…ha.  I am not requiring them to draw in teeth and eyes on their comparing symbols, as long as they are able to remember how to use the symbols. 

 

We read the story “Tar Beach” by Faith Ringgold.  For more information about this story, check this out…

http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/artwork/3719

The firsties will be creating their own “tar beaches” next week…..stay tuned!

This is a picture of the 1st graders using the castanets that they made in Spanish class.  Did they show you how to use it?  Did they dance for you? 

Next week is going to be BUSY!!  I will write this tomorrow’s parent note as well, but our 100^th day of school is on Tuesday.  Please send your firstie with 100 items, which can be 100 pennies, 100 cotton balls, 100 buttons, 100 q-tips, etc…  We have a few fun things planned, so I am looking forward to it! Firsties may also dress like they are 100 if they would like to as well! Watch for pictures of this fun day. 

    Finally, it might be hard to see, but this is a picture of the firsties helping each other...without prompting. We were making their baptismal mobiles and when they were finished, they asked if they could help others.  It was very sweet and I just wanted to share it with you!

F

Blessings on your week!

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Today just positively flew by…..as actually most of this week has!  Perhaps that is because of the unexpected day off on Monday and our 4 day week (not that I am complaining, mind you).  But get ready, because the next two weeks will be 4 day weeks as well!  I have noticed that the firsties like routine and when it is changed, it takes them a little bit to catch up.  We continue to work on being flexible when need be! 

We had Chapel in church today, with Pastor.  He spoke about how we, as Christians, are called to be the salt of the earth.  What?!?  How can we be salt?  What does that even mean?!!  He used a few examples  of salty things and ask your firstie if they remember any of his examples.  Pastor spoke about what salt does, what is the purpose of it; to add flavor, to preserve things, to keep people safe… Think about what that really means….as Christians, how DO we “flavor” the world around us?  How are things preserved through us?  How do we keep others safe?  It was a great chapel and even though I have heard that verse a few times, the questions that Pastor raised today, gave me pause.  Ponder the above questions, discuss them with your kiddo, and pray about it. 

We are just rocking and rolling in Math class.  We are already on Chapter (topic) 9.  We have been learning about tens and ones and soon we will be comparing 2 digit numbers.  If you don’t have a hundreds chart at home, check out this website http://www.classroomjr.com/printable-number-charts/hundreds-chart/ and you should be able to print it out for one at home too! Encourage your child to use it as a tool. 

We do have a student that found out that they have a dairy intolerance.  If you are going to send in any treats for the class, please be sensitive to this so that all can partake! Thank you!

Seeds went home last week….what did you do with them?  Did you plant them?  If so, please send in pictures and/or share updates so that we can continue to track them!

Blessings on the rest of your week!

Miss Gallagher