Dear Parents,

Today we celebrated the upcoming U of M vs. Michigan State game with our “spirit wear”.  The whole school was involved, which of course, made our whole day more fun!  BOTH fight songs were played at morning announcements so that it was FAIR. The 7&8 grades took a poll on which team had the most representation.....Guess which team won?!?! Ask your firstie!

BTW, announcements this year are different than they have been in the past.  The 7&8 grade class handles the announcements each day (the intercom system is used) and to begin with they lead the whole school in “Luther’s Morning Prayer”.  Then we all recite the pledge to the American Flag and verse of the month is repeated.  Other important announcements are shared and then we go on to start our day.  I think it is an awesome way to start our day as a school family!

We have been working hard this week reviewing subtraction concepts-especially the tricky ones!  We took the test over and both copies will be coming home next week. 

In Religion we have been talking about the last (and worst!) plague God sent because Pharaoh wouldn’t let the people of Israel go.  God sent an angel to kill the first-born sons of the families that didn’t have the blood of a spotless lamb painted above their doors.   We talked about how Jesus is also called the Lamb of God and how He died on the cross to save us from our sins. That though He was perfect, He still had to die and shed His blood for us, so that we can be free!  We “painted” our classroom door to help remind us of what Jesus did for us and that we have freedom only HE can give!  

We have been reading as a whole group, reading to me, reading to each other, and reading to ourselves…..we are just reading fools in First Grade!  Please continue to practice reading at home. Have your firstie read to you and you read to your firsite! 

Just as a reminder- Next week will be a shortened week because of the teacher’s conference in Detroit on Thursday and Friday.  We will NOT be having a memory test or spelling test next week.  

The school carnival is tonight!  It’s from 6-8:30!  Come one and come all!  There will be games and prizes and food and fun!

Blessings on your weekend!

Love,

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Today was a very productive day!  A few of the students were able to redeem their earned “prizes
from their Progress Calendars…..good stuff!  Please encourage your firstie to try their hardest to stay on green and follow our classroom rules each and every day!

In Math, we had a test on Friday, and we didn’t do as well as I had hoped.  So….we are taking a little step back and spending more time on subtraction concepts.  Especially when working on word problems, we talk A LOT about what information we have already been given to solve the problem and what question needs to be answered.  I have the firsties underline the question and highlight important words in our “word problems” (we use a yellow crayon).  You can do this at home too!  

BOOK IT information went home last week! Your child should be reading 20 minutes, 5 times a week, and then they can color in the pumpkin for that day.  If, at the end of the month, the calendar is filled up according to the guidelines, send it back in, and your child earns a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut  (YUM!). 

The firsties have been learning lots of new words in Spanish class…ask them!  See what they remember!  

 

 Don’t forget that there is a ½ day THIS Thursday, because of NWEA training for the teachers, and though Friday is a full day here, no bus service on either day. 

Study for our Memory Test and study the spelling words (short e) for our practice test on Wednesday.

Blessings on your week!

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Today we tried something new!  In Spelling class, we experime two different ways to write our words.  Ask  your firstie what goo writing is!!! We wrote our words in sparkly goo and we also used letters to form all of our spelling words. We continue to practice forming our letters correctly; from the top to the bottom, top to the bottom, from the top to the bottom.  Please continue to emphasize this practice at home.

In Math, we learned how number sentences can be related!  

For example 7-5=2 

                                                                                      7-2=5 

                   5+2=7

                                                                                                                                                                           

We have been practicing whole-part=part &  part+part=whole.  Try practicing real life examples of this at home…a whole pizza, if you take away part of it, you are left with only part. The more the firsties are able to practice and see how all of this “math stuff” relates to real life, the better!  

Moses and Pharaoh were the topics of conversation today in Religion class. Ask your firstie what God directed Moses to say Pharaoh over and over again….(Let my people go!)…and then how Pharaoh replied, every time. Also ask, if your child remembers any of the plagues…. We will be reviewing them again on Thursday. 

Homework for tonight is Math, study for our Memory test, and study for our Spelling practice test tomorrow.

See you in the morning!

Dear Parents,

What a busy week last week!  I apologize for my tardiness in posting! 

Last week we finished up our NWEA testing and the kids were really great in taking these tests…especially since this was such a new experience for them.  Results will be coming to you soon….with an explanation about how to decipher them. 

Wednesday we had another Prayer Partner activity and Mrs. Hurley explained what our mission of the month of October is; the Ronald McDonald House.  I have had a few people close to me stay there; my aunt and uncle when my cousin had to have surgery, and a close friend of mine when her daughter was very sick…so it is a personal mission for me.  Are you familiar with Ronald McDonald House and what they do there?  It is a place where families can stay when their child is hospitalized, in lieu of a hotel.  One less thing parents with a sick child have to worry about…. What an amazing gift to give to those parents and families!  Something that we can do to help is save your tabs from cans and bring them in.  Mrs. Hurley has a big bin down by her room to drop them off.  You can drop off your tabs all month!

 Also, on Wednesday, we made Christmas cards for personnel in the military.  We had do this very early in the year in order that Dow, who puts the Christmas boxes together, can get them out and overseas on time.

 Friday was our first field trip to Johnson’s Giant Pumpkin Farm.  The weather held out and I think a good time was had by all!  We learned more about how pumpkins are made, more about Indian culture, and we learned about different types of gourds. 

 

Ask your firstie, if pumpkins can float…..and then ask them why (or why not). 

  We got to pick out our own pumpkins, enjoy a very yummy doughnut and apple juice box too. 

 Today, the whole school was able to enjoy a play by the Windy City Players.  Three cast members came and performed “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.  It was pretty good!  

This week should be a little less hectic! Whew!

Blessings!

Miss Gallagher