Highlights of the Week 5.15.15

Hello families!

We were so excited this week to see our typed reports! Ms. Caitlin and Ms. T bound them into hard covers and we worked on writing in the page numbers so readers can find the information in our books. We also worked on careful illustrations to add detail to our reports.

Our writers have been working on the research, writing, editing, and publishing feverishly since March. I hope you're planning to attend our Author's Tea next Thursday so we can celebrate their amazing work! Thanks for all the food offers--now we have 2 batches of cookies (thanks Jocelyn & Honi), 1 bottle of juice (thanks Honi), iced tea (thanks Ursula), cups (thanks Dina), and napkins (thanks Dody). We already have plenty of plates.We are all set. Now we just need you to come be our audience!

Second grade mathematicians continue to be story problem detectives and are working on comparison problems. They are also learning about rows and columns. First grade mathematicians are looking at place value to help them as an adding strategy.

We wrapped up our maps unit this week with a penny scavenger hunt around our classroom. Students first made maps of our classroom then hid pennies all around and used each others maps to find the hidden pennies. This was an energetic and fun activity--a fantastic culminating event. On Wednesday students brought home the Map Skills workbook we were using for some of our map work. There are some geography pages left that they can do at home if they want to. Next week we'll switch gears to look at plant parts and help out in the Rumney garden. In the coming weeks we will be spending some time getting the garden ready for planting so don't be surprised if your child comes home a little dirtier than usual!

On Thursday the final book order of the year came home. Orders are due Thursday May 28!

On Friday Ben and I sent home an end of year event calendar. Here's the info again:

As we approach the last weeks of school there are many special events and trips planned. We’d like to tell you about some of the special things happening in our ½ classrooms in these weeks.

Forms will be coming home for each field trip, but here is some of the general information in advance:

• ·         One of the 7^th grade writing projects each year is to write a children’s book and present it to an elementary student for “book buddy day.” This year the 7^th grade class is much smaller so while both first and second grade have gone to this event in the past, this year only the first graders are able to go. So, on Friday May 29^th, all first graders will go to U-32 with Ms. Theresa. We will attend the 7^th grade book buddy event as well as visit Randy Brown’s AP Physics class’ “Physics Museum.” Meanwhile, all second graders will stay back with Ben and have a special activity day all together with him.

• ·         The Primary Unit (K/1/2) will be celebrating the end of our year together on Friday June 5^th. We’ll be spending the afternoon playing, building, and swimming together at Wrightsville Beach. Plentiful parent chaperones are welcome, but all parents will have to drive separately as there will only be enough space on the bus for students and teachers.

• ·         The whole school will also take a trip to Wrightsville for our end of year celebration on Friday June 12^th—but this time there will be many more planned activities so beach time is limited. This will be a whole day event and more information will come from the office as we get closer to this date.

• ·         Ben’s class will perform their plays on Thursday June 4^th (more info coming from Ben closer to that date). Ms. Theresa’s class will perform their plays on Thursday June 11^th (more info coming from Theresa closer to that date).

• ·         The last day of school is Wednesday June 17^th. This is a half day with dismissal at 12:30.

We also sent home a field trip slip for the first grade field trip to U-32. If you have a first graders, please look for this and send it in by Thursday!


Dates to Remember:
Thursday May 21 - Author's Tea   2:30-3:15
Friday May 22 - Four Winds
Monday May 25 - Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)
Thursday May 28 - Book Orders Due
Friday May 29 - 1st graders to U-32   9:15-1:00
Friday June 5 - K-1-2 End of Year Celebration @ Wrightsville Beach  11:30-3:30
Thursday June 11 - 1/2 T Plays  1:30-2:15
Thursday June 11 - All School Meeting 2:30-3:15
Friday June 12 - K-6 Field Day @ Wrightsville   9:30-3:30
Wednesday June 17 - Last Day of School - 1/2 day dismissal at 12:30