Newsletter 2

 

Newsletter 2                                                                    9/6/2011

 

Dear Families,

 

We had a great first day! I hope you hear good things. Thank you for trusting me with your children. I’m looking forward to the next 179 days our class has together. Here is some news and some information:

Snack

Since we don’t eat lunch in the upper grades until 1:00, snack can be pretty important for some of them. I know it is for me. There are two ways we can do snack: Students bring their own snack each day and eat that, or students bring in snack to share. I’m happy either way. Talk to your child about which one you want to do. We’ll make a list and try to keep track. Those who are sending in snack will want to know how many are eating and how often to send. The best things to send are healthy, and easy to distribute evenly.

Specials

We have Physical Education on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Musical Education on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I’m not sure yet when we will have library.

Jackdaw

What is a jackdaw? A jackdaw is a collection of things about a topic. Part of the fun is finding and building the collection to share with others. In this case, the topic will be each student. I have given each student a gallon size Ziploc bag and I’m asking them to make a jackdaw about themselves. It must all fit inside the bag. Here are the guidelines:

Bring in items that represent:

·        some of your "gifts"-- things you are good at (maybe a book or a paint brush or a game piece)

·        some of your interests - things you are fascinated with and like to spend your time reading about or doing (maybe a catcher's mitt or word puzzle)

·        relationships you have with other people (maybe a photo of friends or a souvenir from a family trip)

·        ways you already help others (maybe a leash if you walk the dog or spoon if you set the table)

·        other things you can think of that will tell us about you

The jackdaws should be brought to school and each child gets to share their collection with the rest of the class. We’ll do other activities with them too, and display them. I’d like the bags done and back by Monday, September 12, but they can come back sooner and we’ll start sharing when they do. This will be a fun way to get to know each other. I can’t wait.

Email

My goal is to be paperless as much as possible this year. Sending newsletters and things like this is so much easier, effective, and timely with email. If you have not sent me your email, please do so when you read this. If it’s easier to write it, just put it in the margin of this newsletter and send it back. Just so I get it. Even if you are just reading newsletters on the blog (room302.blogspot.com) I’d like to have your email.

Calendar

September 6—First Day

Thursday, September 8—PTA Meeting, 3:45

Thursday, September 15—Curriculum Night, 6:30

Thursday, September 29—Pictures

Chapter Book

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park

 

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m happy to help, and if one person is wondering, others probably are, too.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Jeff