Afternoon Snacks

Thanks to Rye for bringing in a few snacks on the first day of school.  We were lucky to have an afternoon snack each day at closing circle.  If other families would like to bring afternoon snacks in as well, please be sure the snacks are healthy.  We have a few minutes at the end of the day closing circle to have a quick snack. Some children ride the bus, walk home, and go to special activities and I have found that a small little snack helps them make it through this next part of their day. Thanks for helping us out!

P.E. with M.J.

This week, students enjoyed playing familiar games in P.E. with M.J.  Don't forget those sneakers on Wednesday and Friday!   INQUIRE with your child about this tag game shown in the video below.  What do the different color balls represent?

Buddies

Each week in first grade, we will join with Wendy's fifth graders to learn together. Students have remained with their buddies from last year and our new friends have met their buddy for the year as well.  During our time, we will learn together and do activities that strengthen both the first and fifth grade learning.  On Friday, students reconnected and learned more about each other through an activity that involved using magazine pictures to decorate their writing folders (first grade) or writer's notebooks (fifth grade).  Students listened to each other's interests and helped one another find pictures that represented parts of their lives.  The pictures will be used throughout the year during writing time to spark a memory of an event or an interest that child has experienced and to help them generate writing ideas.  INQUIRE with your child what their buddy's name is.

Social Curriculum

As students acclimate to their classroom, reconnect with friends, and begin to establish themselves back into a learning community, expectations and rules need to be created or reviewed and learned.  In the first six weeks, students begin to adjust to new routines and learn social expectations. Much of the time in these first few weeks are spent learning how to use materials, be a listener, move about the classroom, and meet new friends.  Our morning meeting is spent learning about each other and developing relationships with one another. Later in the morning, we have a specified time where students are engaged in discussion and activities around social learning.  On Friday, we spent some time learning how to use whole body listening.  INQUIRE with your child what it looks like and sounds like to be a whole body listener.  How have they showed whole body listening in their first week? 

Math Exploration

First grade teachers continue to use Bridges as their math program.  We are working diligently on ensuring that the program is aligned with the Common Core.  Math time in first grade is an exciting time of the day, and often a favorite! This month, our math time is integrated into our science curriculum as we learn about insects.  This week, students have been contrasting the lives of beetles and butterflies while observing, counting, and sorting 100 insects.  During number corner in the morning, students partake in calendar and practice number sense skills.  Each day will also focus on a different concept. For example, Monday's lesssons are always about money and Tuesday's lesson on time.  In the afternoon, students have additional time to explore 'math workplaces.'  This week, the children were engaged in a guided discovery of unifex cubes, polydrons, pattern blocks and insects.  During this time, students explore the materials and learn about the expectations of using the materials in appropriate ways, build community by working together, taking turns, listening to one another, and making academic and social decisions.  INQUIRE with your child which math workplace they chose this week.  What part of "number corner" do they like best?

 

First Day Photo Shoot

Another video so for all you email readers, make sure you check out the blog page! 

Check your child's folder on Friday for a special first day memory!

First Day Excitement

We had an amazing first day of first grade.  Reviewing expectations, reuniting with old friends, catching up about summer adventures, bulletin board projects, and lots of outdoor time filled our day.  If you're receiving this through email, check out the direct blog - I've put together a video of your child sharing a thought or two about their day! Enjoy!

Questions to help your child talk about their day:

What are the names of your new classmates? 

What is the bulletin board going to look like? 

Who do you sit next to (at desks)? 

What was the morning meeting activity? 

Who is your gym teacher?

Meeting Mr. Hennessey and making
connectionswith the book, First Day Jitters

Read to Self

Building Reading Stamina

Catching up with old buds!

Meeting New Friends

Remembering cafeteria rules

New tables in the cafeteria

Using new supplies

Exploration with math materials

Bus Routes

Here is the link for access to the new bus schedule for the 2013-2014 school year.
 Click Here- Bus Routes

Newsletter from P.E.

This year, we will be having P.E. with M.J.  We will miss Mr. Williams dearly.  We're so lucky that our P.E. teachers co-teach once in awhile so we'll get to catch up with him then!  Our class has P.E. on Wednesday and Friday each week.  Don't forget your sneakers! Students are more than welcome to keep sneakers at school in their cubbies if they'd like.



     Welcome to UES Physical Education!  Your children will be moving and learning in PE 
class this year.  Classes will be 45 minutes long, twice a week.  Feel free to stop in the gym or on Harrison field anytime to see your child in action.  We always have a chair ready to make you feel welcome or you may choose to participate with your child!

    Your child should come prepared and ready for movement on gym days by wearing: 
sneakers, pants or shorts with elastic band, and a short sleeve shirt.  On cool days, we will 
wear our sweaters or sweatshirts outside. It’s important for your child to come prepared 
so they will be comfortable and safe for all our activities.  It is always a great idea to have 
sunscreen on your children on the bright days, as they will be working outside.

     During class the children will enjoy moving to music with various equipment, dribbling 
balls with their head and feet, balancing, tumbling, manipulating a volleyball, dancing, 
snowshoeing, juggling and much more.  We will also start to learn and enjoy how 
important it is for our hearts to beat fast through our award-winning Jump Rope for Heart 
program.

     Union Elementary School will be having an Open House this fall, and would love for 
you to join us in the gym and learn all about our curriculum. More information about this 
night will be sent out soon. 

      If we can be of help, please feel free to call us at school 225 8264. Or e-mail us at either 
emmanuaelr@mpsvt.org or  mariej@mpsvt.org  Thank you very much for your support at home!

Sincerely,

Emmanuel Riby-Williams and Marie (MJ) Jennings 
Physical Education Teachers

4 Winds in First Grade

Past and Future 4 Winds Parents,

Please read this email from Jen regarding 4 Winds.  We are looking for parent volunteers for this year. If you'd like to volunteer to help make this program a success, please contact me ASAP.  Lessons start right in September!  Thanks for all your help!

Greetings and welcome back to UES!

 

I am currently in the process of organizing our Four Winds volunteers for this academic year.  I wanted to keep you up to date as well.  We will be studying the Earth and Sky unit with one lesson each month except December and June.  You can find out more at the Four Winds website www.fwni.org or your volunteer(s) will be updating you within the next few weeks.  

Please feel free to contact me at anytime with any questions, comments or concerns.  If for some reason your volunteer is unable to teach any of the lessons please, please, please let me know.  I may have someone willing to cover OR I will personally teach the lesson.  

 

At the beginning of each month our naturalist, Susan Sawyer, from the Four Winds Institute teaches a lesson to our volunteers who in turn will teach that lesson in your classrooms. We leave the scheduling up to the volunteer and teacher.  Traditionally the program is not taught for fifth graders, however, if any fifth grade classrooms express an interest we can make arrangements to have the lessons taught in those classes.  After our training, I will be putting two handouts in your mailboxes.  One will be a teaching outline that is intended as a "heads up" as to the lesson that will be taught for that month.  The second handout is intended to be used after the lesson to send home with the kids as a method of sharing information with parents/caregivers.  There is a spot on this form for you to write a note then it can be photocopied and sent home.  

Finally, what can you do to  help with this program?  You can direct parents who are looking for places to volunteer to contact me about the program.  My email address is union4winds@hotmail.com or they can contact me at the numbers listed below.  Again, contact me with any questions or problems.  

I am looking forward to another great year of Four Winds lessons,

Jennifer Matthews

Four Winds coordinator (with Lyn Munno)

223.1213 home

505.0009 cell

First Day

On the first day of school, please help your child bring in a water bottle to have in the classroom, a backpack, and sneakers.  We will not be needing any personal supplies from home, but I encourage all families to check the wish list on the blog for supplies needed later in the year.  I will be sending home folders on the first day. Please either email or send in a note with your child their after school plans for the week. I know the first few days can be irregular and many families are just getting back into routines.  Again, any questions, feel free to email me!

Late Summer News

Hello Again!

I can't believe the countdown is on!  Just 1 week until school starts (for the kids).  Less than that for me!    I'm still in Rhode Island but have been busy preparing myself for the start of the school year with ordering, planning, and communicating with team members about the start of the school year.  I also just had a nice visit from Mrs. Wrigley and her family on Block Island...and of course, we had our share of school conversations!  I also had a nice visit from my sister who moved to Denver last January.  I'm so happy to be spending so much time with my family out here!  I am also eagerly awaiting my return and am excited to see all your children next Wednesday morning on the lower playground.  A letter was sent the other day to both you and your child with information about the start of the year.  You'll be sure to have much more as well - and don't forgot to check the blog, especially the first few weeks of school about important information.  If you have any questions, feel free to email me - I've been checking a few times a day to stay on top of things.  I'm happy to answer any last minute questions you may have!

Cross Country Adventures

Can you guess where my adventure led me?  

Adventures from an excited first grader!

My favorite summer treat was
gelato from Chill in downtown montpelier!

This summer I went to Jay peak and had a lot of fun! We went all the way to the top!

I went to circus smirkus and
took a picture with "todo"

I also went to see Taylor Swift!!!
She is my favorite singer! 

This is a picture of me at the Mad River. I found a lot of cool rocks and river glass. 

I had a great summer, but I can't wait till 1st grade!!!

Summer Adventures

"My uncle Kris is home from Peru for two months.  He wanted to see if he could still hold all his nephews at once.  He did! That's almost 155 pounds and he only weighs 135!"

"I also went to Canada to Parc Safari.  We had to show them our birth certificates to prove we belonged to mom."

"I have a pen pal.  Sarah lives in Maine which is a place I've been 5 times."

"All three of us swim a lot."

News from Mass!

B is loving her new house in Massachusettes!

Summer Adventures

This summer is flying by!  I can't believe it's already August! I'm still on Block Island, working and spending time with friends and family.  Block Island has great beaches, beautiful sunsets, and lots of sunshine!  I hope you all are enjoying your summer and also getting to spend some time with your family and friends.  Here are a few photos from my summer so far. I'd love to share your adventures as well so feel free to send me a picture and I'll share it on the blog for all our classmates!

Block Island Beaches

Early Morning Walks

Greenway Trails with the dogs

Mrs. Koch visits! 

My niece Keira- so much fun!

My nephew Keegan- such a cuddlebug!

The view from work...not so bad!