Mrs. Mason’s First Grade

This is the final newsletter of the school year. The days have gone by so quickly that it is hard to believe the year is near its end. I have enjoyed being your child’s first grade teacher. We have accomplished much and have had a lot of fun along the way!

In class this week we will be reading and doing activities relating to the book, KEEP THE LIGHTS BURNING ABBIE. We will continue practicing math addition and subtraction facts. Our science unit will relate to the ocean. In social studies we will compare lighthouses of long ago and those of today.

Notes of importance:

1. If you have not paid Mrs. Lee for tomorrow’s class picnic, please send or bring the money tomorrow. She will need this to pay for the pizza and other picnic supplies.

2. Remember to bring your beach towel, sunglasses, hat or visor, for our BEACH WEEK activities in class this week, Monday-Thursday.

3. The first grade class picnic is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, in the front of the school at 11:30 a.m.

4. Friday is the final day of school. Students will receive their report cards and be dismissed at 11 a.m.

Thank you for a wonderful school year. I was blessed by each child in my room and I have many treasured memories of our time together. I hope you have a safe and fun summer vacation!

This week is the final homework assignment.  Have your child complete the math worksheets and return them tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2. There will be no other reading or word study assignments for homework.

Encore classes this week:  Monday-PE   Tuesday-none   Wednesday-none    Thursday-PE   Friday-none

Language Arts: This week we will read a variety of books and complete related activities in grammar, writing, and word study.

Math:  Use addition and subtraction facts to solve story problems. Identify key words to determine the operation to solve story problems: in all (add), altogether (add), are left (subtract)

Science: Plant unit- needs (food, air, water, light, place to grow); parts (seeds, roots, stems, leaves, blossoms, fruits), and characteristics (edible/non-edible, flowering/non-flowering, evergreen/deciduous)

Notes of importance:

1.  MP4 tests will be given this week.   Monday-language arts    Tuesday-math    Wednesday-science             Thursday-social studies          Thank you for seeing to it that your child is rested, has eaten and arrives at school on time. This will help him/her to do his/her best.

2.  The Indian in the Cupboard movie will be shown Friday at 1pm.

3.  The first grade picnic will be held 11:30-12:30, Tuesday, June 9. It will take place in front of the school in the picnic table area. If you have not returned the picnic fee to Mrs. Lee, please do so as soon as possible.

4.  The final day of school for students is Friday, June 12. Students will receive their report cards and will be dismissed at 11 am. 

5.  Each child will need to bring a shoe box (any size) to class by Friday, June 5. This is needed for a special project we will be doing the final week of school.

6.  Next week, June 8-11, will be BEACH DAYS in our classroom. The children may bring a beach towel, sunglasses, hat or visor (no bathing suits) to help us celebrate our theme. As we use our imaginations to transform our classroom into a sunny beach, we will do our work on beach towels rather than the desks.  

The homework assignments are: read for at least fifteen minutes daily; complete two math pages; study for Friday’s word study test; study for addition and subtraction facts test (facts to the sum of 10 or less)

Encore classes this week:  Tuesday- none      Wednesday- none      Thursday- none     Friday-none                

Language Arts: Read stories/books; word study and word wall activities; handwriting; story writing

Math:  Addition and subtraction facts to the sum of 10 or less; identify coins and determine the value of a collection of coins whose value is 100 cents or less

Social Studies: Economics Unit: understand the difference between goods (things that people make or grow) and services (jobs that people do for others); know the terms producer (seller), consumer (buyer), wants, needs, money, savings, choice

Science: Plant unit- needs (food, air, water, light, place to grow); parts (seeds, roots, stems, leaves, blossoms, fruits), and characteristics (edible/non-edible, flowering/non-flowering, evergreen/deciduous)

Notes of importance:

1.  MP4 tests will be given next week, June 2-5. Testing will be conducted each day during the morning.

2.  The Indian in the Cupboard movie will be shown Friday, June 5 at 1pm.

3.  The first grade picnic will be held 11:30-12:30, Tuesday, June 9. It will take place in front of the school in the picnic table area.

4.  The final day of school for students is Friday, June 12. Students will receive their report cards and will be dismissed at 11 am. 

5.  Each child will need to bring a shoe box (any size) to class by Friday, June 5. This is needed for a special project we will be doing the final week of school.

The homework assignments are: read for at least fifteen minutes daily; complete two math pages; study for Friday’s word study test; study for Wednesday’s word recognition test and spelling test for words with the * (Primer and First Grade word list sent home May 4)

Encore classes this week:      Monday- Music        Tuesday- Art      

Wednesday- None      Thursday- none     Friday- none                

Language Arts: Read stories/books; word study and word wall activities; handwriting; story writing

Math: Flashcard drills for addition and subtraction facts to the sum of 10 or less; identify coins (penny, nickel, dime, quarter); determine the value of a collection of coins whose value is 100 cents or less; identify the number of pennies equivalent to a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a dollar bill 

Social Studies: Economics Unit: understand the difference between goods (things that people make or grow) and services (jobs that people do for others); know the terms producer (seller), consumer (buyer), wants, needs, money, savings, choice

Notes of importance:

1.  Thank you to all of the parents and grandparents who attended and/or assisted with the Field Day activities Friday. It was one of the best Field Day events ever! Your time was greatly appreciated.

2.  If you have not done so already, please sign and return the interim report card envelope after you review it with your child.

3.  All picture money and/or unwanted pictures are due no later than Friday morning, May 22. A representative from Lifetouch will be here to pick up the pictures and payments in the afternoon. Please make checks payable to Lifetouch School Portraits. Thank you to those parents who have already returned the payment or unwanted pictures.

4.  School will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

5.  Students may visit and shop at Ye Olde Time Store in the cafeteria during lunch Monday- Wednesday of this week. Items range in prices from $1-$9. (information sent home last week) The money earned from the store will be used to purchase new AR books for our school.

6.  A look ahead: Indian in the Cupboard movie June 5 at 1pm; first grade picnic June 9 (time to be announced later); last day for students June 12 (report cards will be given; 11 am dismissal time)

The homework assignments are: read for at least fifteen minutes daily; study for Thursday’s word study test; continue to study the word list sheet (sent home May 4) for next week’s tests for word recognition and spelling

Encore classes this week:      Monday- Music        Tuesday- Art      

Wednesday- PE      Thursday- none     Friday- none                

Language Arts: Read stories/books; word study and word wall activities; handwriting; story writing; grammar: identify and write nouns/naming words and verbs/action words

Math: Flashcard drills for addition and subtraction facts to the sum of 10 or less; compare volumes of two given containers; introduce money unit: identify coins (penny, nickel, dime, quarter) and determine the value of a collection of coins whose value is 100 cents or less

Social Studies: Economics Unit: understand the difference between goods (things that people make or grow) and services (jobs that people do for others); know the terms producer (seller) and consumer (buyer);

Notes of importance:

Thank you for the cards, flowers, candy, and other expressions of appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week last week. This year every week is special, but last week was extra special! I am grateful for all that the students, parents, PTA, and principal did for not only me, but the entire staff.

1.  Interim reports will be sent home Wednesday. After reviewing the report with your child, please sign and return the envelope.

2.  Friday is Field Day. Kindergarten and first grade events are scheduled for 8:30-11:30. Lunch will be at 11:30. Your child took home a paper last week stating his/her field day team (red or white). He/She should wear a t-shirt of the team color if possible.

3.  This week is Nurse’s Week. If you would like to send a note or other expression of appreciation to our school nurse, Mrs. Rowe, please feel free to do so.

4.  Check my blog to view the Countries A-Z presentation that the boys and girls created this semester.  This is part of a G21 project that the first grade did with the assistance of Mrs. Ray, the librarian.

The boys and girls looked forward to researching countries around the world. They found a map, the capital, the flag, and an interesting fact about one country for each letter of the alphabet. After realizing there was no country beginning with the letter X, the children used their imaginations to create a country, capital, and fact for that letter. Following the research in the classroom, the students went to the media center to work with Mrs. Ray to transfer the information to a keynote presentation.   

Now find your place on the magic carpet and join the ride around the world by clicking below on the title, Countries Around the World. Sit back and enjoy the ride with the first grade G21 project!  

Countries Around the World

The homework assignments are: read for at least fifteen minutes daily; study for Friday’s word study and word wall words test; complete worksheets for language arts and science; complete recycle/reuse project

Encore classes this week:      Monday- Music        Tuesday- Art      

Wednesday- PE      Thursday- Library      Friday-PE                

Language Arts: Read stories/books; word study and word wall activities; handwriting; story writing; sequence events in a story

Math: Flashcard drills for addition and subtraction facts to the sum of 10 or less; measuring length and width of objects using non standard units (paper clips, snap cubes, etc.); measuring the weight of objects using a balance scale 

Science: Identify natural resources: plants, animals, water, air, land, minerals, forests, soil; recognize factors that affect air and water quality; give examples of the terms recycle, reuse, and reduce

Notes of importance:

1.  The recycle/reuse project is due this Tuesday.

2.  The final book order of the year is being sent home. This is a great opportunity to puchase summer reading material for your child. Book orders and money are due no later than Monday, May 4. Please make checks payable to Scholastic Book Club.

3.  Continue reading the book, Indian in the Cupboard, for the school-wide reading program. Many of the students have been answering the daily questions relating to the assigned chapters. Keep up the good work.

4.  Thank you for the donations made to the  Stock the Pantry competition.

5.  This week is designated as Principal’s Appreciation Week at GES/Sp. Center. If you would like to let Mrs. Gordon know how much you appreciate the work that she does for our students, parents, teachers, and community, feel free to call, email, send notes, cards, etc. to express your appreciation.

6.  Next week the first grade will be conducting PALS testing. Please make sure your child comes to school on time, has eaten breakfast, and is rested.

7.  Mark your calendars for Field Day, Friday, May 15. If you would be able to volunteer some time that day to assist Mr. Jackson or the PTA, please call the school (556-5321) and let the office know.

The homework assignments are: read for at least fifteen minutes daily; study for Friday’s word study and word wall words test; complete worksheets for math; write five sentences using the assigned word wall words

Encore classes this week:      Monday- Music        Tuesday- Art      

Wednesday- PE      Thursday- Library      Friday-PE                

Language Arts: Read stories/books; word study and word wall activities; handwriting; story writing

Math: Flashcard drills for addition and subtraction facts to the sum of 10 or less; measuring length and width of objects using non standard units (paper clips, snap cubes, etc.) 

Science: Identify natural resources: plants, animals, water, air, land, minerals, forests, soil; recognize factors that affect air and water quality; give examples of the terms recycle, reuse, and reduce

Notes of importance:

1.  Continue reading the book, Indian in the Cupboard, for the school-wide reading program. Many of the students have been answering the daily questions relating to the assigned chapters. Keep up the good work.

2.  Family Math Night is this Thursday evening from 6-7:30 pm. There will be make-and-take sessions, various learning stations, and more! Bring your family and join the fun! 

3.  This week is Stock the Pantry competition. Non perishable food items will be collected to benefit the Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services Food Bank. The grade level with the most donations will be treated to a pizza party.

4.  Wednesday is Administrative Assistant’s Day, a time to recognize Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Rigsby for all they do for the GES students, staff, parents, and community. If you would like, feel free to send notes, cards, etc. to express your appreciation for these two great GES workers.

The homework assignments are: read for at least fifteen minutes daily; study for Friday’s word study and word wall words test; complete worksheets for math and language arts

Encore classes this week:      Monday- Music        Tuesday- Art      

Wednesday- PE      Thursday- Library      Friday-PE                

Language Arts: Read stories/books; word study and word wall activities; handwriting; story writing; recognize and write contraction words

Math: Solve basic addition and subtraction facts to 12 or less; solve story and picture problems involving one-step solutions using basic addition and subtraction

Science: Identify natural resources: plants, animals, water, air, land, minerals, forests, soil; recognize factors that affect air and water quality

Notes of importance:

1.  Remember to begin reading the book, Indian in the Cupboard, for the school-wide reading program. The book and recommended reading schedule was sent home with each student before spring break.

2.  Report cards will be sent home Wednesday. After reviewing it with your child, please sign and return the report card envelope.

3.  There is a 1pm early dismissal for students this Thursday.

4.  Plan to attend the PTA meeting and Talent Show this Thursday evening at 7pm in the cafeteria.

5.  Both individual and class pictures will be taken this Friday. Please send the order and money no later than 8:30 Friday morning.

6.  Students will walk to Goochland High School at 8:30 a.m. this Wednesday to attend the Theatre IV presentation of Rumplestiltskin. This special event is sponsored by our PTA. Students and staff will walk to the high school by way of the Nature Trail.

7.  Kindergarten registration will be held Thursday, April 16, from 11am-7pm.