May 4, 2007

Upcoming Dates

* Thursday, May 10th: Cupertino Library Field Trip
We will be walking to the Cupertino Library. Please remember to send your child’s blue library card to school and practice the 4-digit PIN number. Remember to return the books on your own.

* Friday, May 11th: No Eaton Library
We have an all day music practice on this day, so we cannot go to our regular library time. Bring library books on Thursday, May 10th if you would like to check out a book for the week.

* Monday, May 14th: NO SCHOOL – Staff Learning Day
Teachers will be working on writing assessments, Peacebuilders, and evaluating changes for next year.

* Tuesday, May 15th: Insect Fair Field Trip
We will be going to Sanborn Park to attend the Insect Fair. We will be leaving after recess and returning before 2:30pm. Please remember to pack a bag lunch that can be thrown away at the park. THERE IS A PERMISSION SLIP IN TODAY’S FRIDAY FOLDER! PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN ASAP! We can have any number of chaperones, but you will have to drive to Sanborn Park. Unfortunately, there is no room on the bus!

* Thursday, May 24th: Open House 6:30-7:30
Please plan on attending this night to see all the work your child has done this year!

* Friday, May 25th: Last Day at Eaton Library
Please be sure to return Eaton library books no later than this date or you will be fined!

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Dear Families,

We got our insects this week!!! We have 4 caterpillars and we are watching them eat and grow. We also have about 100 mealworms and they don’t smell very good =( But the students are definitely excited!!!

Here are some highlights from the week:
Star of the Week: Jonathan
Poem of the Week: May Song
Song of the Week: Presidents
Kindness is … doing exercise everyday
Story of the Week: Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore
Vocabulary of the Week: Transportation 2
Word Wall: around, dance, else, ever, open, ocean, talk, though
Next Week’s Sharing: Riddle – something from another country
(Memorize at least 4 lines and bring picture/object to show)
• Language Arts: Theme 9 Special Friends: Week 1
• Stories: When I Am Old With You
• Word Families: words that rhyme with my (try, fly)
• Sounds: sounds for y (cry vs. baby)
• Grammar: is/are

• Writing: We started working on an expository piece about the mealworm life cycle. We did the prewriting together, and students are in the drafting through publishing stages. We will continue next week.

• Math: This week we continued reviewing time but also started working with calendars. Many of the problems require following directions and answering questions about calendars, days of the week, months, etc.

• Social Studies: This week we completed our last circuit for community. We went to Mrs. Khan’s class and talked about all types of transportation. We made our own transportation vehicles to add to our community wall. You will see our community wall during Open House.

• Science: We spent time this week observing the mealworms and caterpillars. We have a class culture of mealworms and we fed them potatoes and apples. Also, each student received a vial with bran, potato, and two mealworms of their own. We used magnifying glasses to draw and write what we saw.

• Computer Lab: We are continuing our The Very Hungry Caterpillar books in Powerpoint. Students who finished began working on their prewriting mindmaps for Writer’s Workshop. These mindmaps are made using Kidspiration and are on any topic the student chooses.

• Art: This week we had a make-up art class with Mrs. Blakeslee. She had us paint our clay pots that we made last time.

• Music: We started our first grade music practice and circuits this week. We spent all day today rotating through every classroom to sing songs and learn dances.

Please remember to turn in the Insect Fair permission slip next week. It is in the Friday Folder. There is a map on the back of the permission slip if you would like to come. Unfortunately, we cannot bring parents on the bus because it is full. We will be seeing interesting (and creepy) insects!