Month: November 2016

Saints-in-training! This week students trained to be like saints through their actions. We played “Virtues of the Saints” to remind us how to be saint-like in our everyday lives.

Pray for the living and the dead like St. Cyprian– Each student wrote names of family and friends and prayed for them.

 Clothe the naked like St. Martin de Porres– Each student made paper clothes for his/her person.

 Feed the Hungry like St. Elizabeth of Hungary– Each student decorated two paper muffins.

 Build the church like St. Francis-Each student used blocks to build a church.

 Teach the faith like St. Patrick- Each student made shamrocks and wrote the persons of the Trinity.

 Give to the poor like St. Nicholas – Each student made money and their own chimneys.

I am thankful for each of you and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Special Advent Note

Beginning Monday, November 28^th the entire school will gather for Advent morning prayer every Monday in the church at 8:20. First graders will head straight to the church at 8:15. Please do your best to be on time. If you are late, please come directly to the church. We will be sitting in the front on the right hand side facing the altar if you need to meet us there.

 

Also, please take note of the volunteer times during December. Sight words will begin at 8:30 to allow for primary advent prayer Tuesday – Friday in the kindergarten classroom. If you are here volunteering, you are welcome to join us.

 

Christmas Around the World

On Thursday, December 15^th, first graders will celebrate learning about Christmas around the world with an international luncheon. Each family is asked to participate either by making a dish from a special country or donating supplies and/or your time. Planning/sign up forms will come home after Thanksgiving. Please click here http://grade1b.st-johnschool.org/first-grade-volunteers/ for volunteer opportunities on December 15^th to help with the luncheon. Please do not order hot lunch on Thursday, December 15^th.

 

Special Notes

-Homework and new spelling words will come Monday, November 28th.

-Report cards will be sent home on Thursday, December 1st. Please sign and return one copy and the envelope.

-Star Dolphin for the week of November 28 is Parker.

 

 

 

Field trip success! First graders had an amazing time at the Seattle Art Museum learning about different cultures around the world. They made their own “fine porcelain” dishes to bring home (Monday) and share for a special occasion. The students were well behaved and represented St. John School incredibly well. Thank you to Mrs. Masters, Mrs. Semick, Mrs. McCants, Ms. McVay, Ms. Erbe, and Mrs. Bergman for helping today!

 

Special Advent Note

Beginning Monday, November 28^th the entire school will gather for Advent morning prayer every Monday in the church at 8:20. First graders will head straight to the church at 8:15. Please do your best to be on time. If you are late, please come directly to the church. We will be sitting in the front on the right hand side facing the altar if you need to meet us there.

 

Also, please take note of the volunteer times during December. Sight words will begin at 8:30 to allow for primary advent prayer Tuesday – Friday in the kindergarten classroom. If you are here volunteering, you are welcome to join us.

 

Christmas Around the World

On Thursday, December 15^th, first graders will celebrate learning about Christmas around the world with an international luncheon. Each family is asked to participate either by making a dish from a special country or donating supplies and/or your time. Planning/sign up forms will come home after Thanksgiving. Please do not order hot lunch on Thursday, December 15^th.

 

St. John Talent Show

The St. John Youth Group is hosting the first ever talent show on Friday, December 9^th from 7:00 – 9:00pm in Egan Hall. Sign up in the office or email YG leader Myke Folger at mykeblaise@gmail.com.

 

Questions to Ask

– What is does plural mean? Singular?

– What was your favorite part of the museum?

 

Special Notes

– Clare will have a make up day for Star Dolphin on Monday.

– Dress uniform Monday, November 21^st for Thanksgiving Mass.

– Food drive donations are welcome through November 22^nd.

– Tuesday, November 22^nd First Trimester ends.

– Thanksgiving Break November 23^rd – 27^th.

– Heredity project due Monday, November 28^th.

 

I Can…

– use singular and plural nouns. L.1.1

– punctuate sentences. L.1.2

– spell first grade words. L.1.2

– sort words into categories and tell why they belong there. L.1.5

– follow rules for discussions and talk with others. SL.1.1

– speak and write in complete sentences. SL.1.6

– help my class write. W.1.7

– revise and edit my writing. W.1.5

– publish my writing. W.1.6

– tell who, what, when, where, why and how after reading. RL.1.1

– tell the characters, setting, and what happens in a story. RL.1.3

– understand how words in a story can tell about feelings and the senses. RL.1.4

– use words and pictures to help me tell about the characters, setting, and plot. RL.1.7

– read and understand first grade fiction. RL.1.10

– tell the number of syllables in words. RF.1.2

– use digraphs and vowel pairs to help me read. RF.1.3

– count to help me add and subtract. 1.OA.5

– subtract facts within 20. 1.OA.6

– tell how many tens and how many ones are in a number. 1.NBT.2

– use manipulatives and pictures to help me solve problems within 100. 1.NBT.4

– find 10 more or 10 less in my head. 1.NBT.5

– create a family timeline to show events in a sequential manner. 4.1.1

– tell that young animals are like, but not exactly like their parents. 1.LS3.1

 

S.L.E.s

– We are Christ-centered people.

– We are active learners.

– We are empowered disciples.

 

 

A fun week on the books in first grade! Students learned how to set the table and wrote about things they are thankful for. First graders also listened to Duck For President and participated in a class election. This week students continued learning subtraction strategies and practiced skip counting. It would be a great idea to practice with your child at home. First graders should be able to count to 120 by 1, 2, 5, and 10. Give it a try! As report cards approach, it is also a good idea to work on memorizing prayers and practicing the sign of the cross. Lots of students are not quite there yet.

Heredity Project

This week students learned about heredity and how offspring (plants, animals, and humans) are like, but not exactly like their parents. We also talked about different kinds of families – families where dads carry babies by reading Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle and learned about offspring names in Does Kangaroo Have a Mother? By Eric Carle. Each student is asked to create a family timeline including pictures of their grandparents, parents, and themselves. On the back of their photo timeline, they will write about two traits they inherited from their family. Please be sure to check your child’s folder for project details.

 

Field Trip Note

Next Friday, November 18^th is our field trip to the Seattle Art Museum. Please keep in mind the following to help things run smoothly:

• Send your child to school in his/her DRESS UNIFORM (especially St. John sweatshirts)
• Bring a booster seat (if your child requires one) to the hallway outside of XDC. Clearly label each booster with your child’s name.
• We will provide graham crackers as a snack to all the children while we are at the museum. If your child cannot eat this for dietary reasons, please send in a small, comparable and disposable snack Thursday, 11/17. Please do not send in anything that requires a spoon.
• Students will eat lunch in the classroom when they return around 12:30. Students will miss hot lunch in Egan Hall. Since this is later than our normal lunch, please be sure your child eats a big breakfast Friday morning.

 

Christmas Around the World

In December, the children will celebrate Christmas around the world! They will learn different names for Santa, see countries on a map, color each country’s flag, and discuss how families live and celebrate Christmas around the world. They will end the unit with the annual 1st grade Christmas International Luncheon! If you would like us to celebrate your country of origin, please email me by Monday, November 14^th.

 

Questions to Ask

– How can you earn your saint badge?

– How can you show courtesy?

– Can you set the table?

 

Special Notes

– The Star Dolphin for the week of November 14 is Rachel.

– Food drive donations are welcome through November 22^nd.

-Please turn in $9 fee and permission slip as soon as possible!

-Saint Holy Card is due November 18

 

I Can…

– use common nouns, verbs, and adjectives. L.1.1

– punctuate sentences. L.1.2

– spell first grade words. L.1.2

– use context clues to help me understand a new word or words. L.1.4

– sort words into categories and tell why they belong there. L.1.5

– follow rules for discussions and talk with others. SL.1.1

– speak and write in complete sentences. SL.1.6

– write to tell a story. W.1.3

– help my class write. W.1.7

– tell who, what, when, where, why and how after reading. RL.1.1

– tell the characters, setting, and what happens in a story. RL.1.3

– use words and pictures to help me tell about the characters, setting, and plot. RL.1.7

– read and understand first grade fiction. RL.1.10

– tell the number of syllables in words. RF.1.2

– use digraphs and vowel pairs to help me read. RF.1.3

– use strategies to solve addition word problems. 1.OA.1

– use the commutative property of addition. 1.OA.3

– count to help me add and subtract. 1.OA.5

– add facts within 20. 1.OA.5

– know what an equal sign means. 1.OA.7

– tell how many tens and how many ones are in a number. 1.NBT.2

– use manipulatives and pictures to help me solve problems within 100. 1.NBT.4

– find 10 more or 10 less in my head. 1.NBT.5

– create a family timeline to show events in a sequential manner. 4.1.1

 

S.L.E.s

– We are Christ-centered people.

– We are active learners.

– We are empowered disciples.

 

 

 

November is here! First graders welcomed November with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. They sang beautifully at Mass! On November 2 the first graders had a prayer service in the classroom where they prayed for family members who have died. In math, first graders began learning subtraction strategies. They will practice subtraction facts to 10 and then continue on with facts to 20. The first graders finished their unit on the moon. They made Oreo Moon Phases with their buddies today. We focused on the four main phases. Check out the sky to see what phase the moon is in the next few weeks. I hear there will be a supermoon coming soon! Students also learned about timelines and made their own for America. They included the Native Americans, Columbus, and the Pilgrims.

 

Field Trip

Permission slips are due November 10^th for the Seattle Art Museum field trip. Please be sure to fill out both sides and return before next Thursday. Thank you again to all of our volunteers making this possible!

 

Saint Report

First graders will complete their first mini research project this month. Students are asked to research and create a prayer card for a saint of their choice. Projects are due November 18^th. Please see the “To Do” list in the homework packet for more information. If you need additional resources, please let me know. Mrs. Todd and I are happy to share!

 

Christmas Around the World

In December, the children will celebrate Christmas around the world! They will learn different names for Santa, see countries on a map, color each country’s flag, and discuss how families live and celebrate Christmas around the world. They will end the unit with the annual 1st grade Christmas International Luncheon! If you would like us to celebrate your country of origin, please email me by Monday, November 14^th.

 

Book Bags

Please return book bags Monday with the books enclosed. I use these books for reading groups each week. Remember don’t have your child read ahead. When I teach reading strategies, it is better if they haven’t read the story yet. Thank you!

 

Volunteer Opportunity

Mrs. Dahlgren is in need of parent volunteers during lunch recess from 11:00 – 12:15, particularly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Your help is needed especially on rainy day recess days to supervise individual classrooms. If you are interested, please click here to sign up.

 

Questions to Ask

– What is a saint?

– How can you be a saint?

– Name a fact about the moon. What phases can you name?

 

Special Notes

– Star Dolphin for the week of November 7 is Clare. You will get an extra day in a few weeks!

– State of the School: Please attend either mass Saturday 5:00pm, Sunday 8:30am or 10:30am.

– November 10^th noon dismissal. Please send a large snack.

– Seattle Art Museum (11/18) field trip permission slips due November 10^th.

– Food drive donations are welcome through November 22^nd.

 

I Can…

– use common nouns, verbs, and adjectives. L.1.1

– punctuate sentences. L.1.2

– spell first grade words. L.1.2

– use context clues to help me understand a new word or words. L.1.4

– sort words into categories and tell why they belong there. L.1.5

– follow rules for discussions and talk with others. SL.1.1

– speak and write in complete sentences. SL.1.6

– write to tell a story. W.1.3

– help my class write. W.1.7

– tell who, what, when, where, why and how after reading. RL.1.1

– tell the characters, setting, and what happens in a story. RL.1.3

– use words and pictures to help me tell about the characters, setting, and plot. RL.1.7

– read and understand first grade fiction. RL.1.10

– tell the number of syllables in words. RF.1.2

– use digraphs and vowel pairs to help me read. RF.1.3

– use strategies to solve addition word problems. 1.OA.1

– use the commutative property of addition. 1.OA.3

– count to help me add and subtract. 1.OA.5

– add facts within 20. 1.OA.5

– know what an equal sign means. 1.OA.7

– tell how many tens and how many ones are in a number. 1.NBT.2

– use manipulatives and pictures to help me solve problems within 100. 1.NBT.4

– find 10 more or 10 less in my head. 1.NBT.5

– create a family timeline to show events in a sequential manner. 4.1.1

 

S.L.E.s

– We are Christ-centered people.

– We are active learners.

– We are empowered disciples.