Ms. Closter's First Grade News: May 2016

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Looking to help?

The end of the year is a busy time here in first grade! If you are around school and have some extra time to help out, let me know. All these art projects and published writing need to be sorted into student bags to take home. Should take just a short amount of time :)

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Last minute celebration planned for tomorrow

WoW! 500 more hoots were counted just this morning. The class decided on multiple celebrations, which will be combined into one. We will allow stuffies (some of our friends forgot last time around), and have a special recess in the afternoon with them, as we enjoy end of the day popsicles. If anybody has a problem with this, please let me know and I'll make alternate plans.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

First Grade News

We have a busy few weeks left of school! Here are the upcoming dates to note for first grade!

Friday, May 27th @8:30 - May Birthday Breakfast - looking for volunteers to contribute healthy items.

Wednesday, June 1st - Bus trip to North Branch Nature Center

We will be taking a school bus to North Branch for a special end of ECO day. We plan to leave around 11:00, bring our lunches for a picnic, and return to school in time for dismissal. Please let me know if you would like to join us! If you would like a bagged school lunch, please let me know and I will order one for your child.

Thursday, June 2nd- Community Visit to the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

We will walk to the library at 1:00 for a short tour and preview of summer offerings at the library! Parents are welcome to hear about what the library is offering for kids this summer.

Tuesday, June 7th - Field Trip to VINS

More information will be coming soon. We will need lots of chaperones for this fun trip to the nature institute to see the birds we have been learning about! All day event.

Friday, June 10th @8:30 - Birthday Breakfast

We will celebrate the kids with June and summer birthdays - looking for contributions for this last breakfast.

Monday, June 13th- Report Cards and 2nd grade placements go home.

Monday, June 13th- End of the Year Celebration @ Jones’ house (5-6:30).

More info to come.

Tuesday, June 14th - Last Day of School

The last day is a half day for the children. Students will spend about an hour with their new class and teacher for “step-up” day.

Please let me know what questions you have or can help out!

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

State House

Our second to last community outing was had today as we visited the state house to learn about how our senators, governor, and so many other people help our community by making laws for citizens of Montpelier, and our state of Vermont. I was thoroughly impressed with the knowledge and inquisitive minds of our first graders today. They showed so much interest in history and the ongoings of our state house. INQUIRE with your child what they learned today inside the state house. Thank you Alex for the wonderful tour!

ECO

What a beautiful day we had last week for a trip to Sabin's Pasture. Students met with fellow bird experts (friends from Mrs. Koch's class) to engage with each other about what they know, built nests, played games, journaled, and exploring. It was so fun to see students teaching and sharing knowledge with each other, working cooperatively together with new and old friends, and engaging with nature first hand.

Monday, May 16, 2016

We've been trying to sneak in a little extra outdoor time during morning snack to really take in the changing season. Too bad this morning brought snow, rain, and colder temps. Thanks for helping your child look at the forecast each morning to prepare for indoor and outdoor clothes!

The plan was to paint the insides, but they look so beautiful as is. Have your child find theirs in the auditorium to show you later in the week. The children took their time researching different wild flower shapes, sketching, and then finally producing their arrangement. I'm continually impressed with the improvement over two years this group of kids has shown - their world knowledge, reading, writing, fine motor, and social skills have all come so far!

Tulips

The tulips we bloomed last fall have finally bloomed. The kids were very excited to find "their" tulip outside our classroom. We were inspired to keep hunting for other flowers, and then made some beautiful artwork to decorate the auditorium for our spring show.

Yearbook - deadline Friday!

The yearbook has been put together fairly last minute so the turn around time was quick this year. Please try to get your order in by Friday (an extra few days according to this image) if you'd like to have a copy. Thanks so much and the yearbook team apologizes for the last minute details.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Friendly Neighborhood Helpers Show

Our first grade spring show will be on Thursday, May 19th at 6p.m. in the auditorium here at Union School. We are looking forward to a wonderful show. Here are a few ways you can help your child prepare.

Students will meet in their own classrooms at 5:45 before the show. Plan to walk your child to their classroom, then head to the auditorium to find the perfect seat!

Please be sure your child wears black pants and comfortable shoes. Students will be entering and exiting from the the stage floor via stairs as well as standing on risers. Each student will have a color t-shirt to wear for the show, and should should wear a simple t-shirt from home to school. Teachers will provide students with their show t-shirt that evening. Other planned props will be provided in the classroom at this time as well.

When the performance is over, the children will go back to their classroom to take off their t-shirts and then they will wait by the classroom door where you can pick them up and then look at all of the bird exhibits in the hallway before you head home.

It is helpful if your child has a light dinner before arriving. Students will be excited, and nervous tummies will feel best with this approach.

Thank you for your support!

-First Grade Team