Stories, News & Updates...

Week of August 30, 2010

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:39:42 -0700

Dear Parents,
A homework sheet like this one will be sent home the first day of every week. Please check your child’s backpack and purple Homework Folder every day. Also, please supervise your child’s homework and make sure it is complete and neat!
Please have your child return only the homework that is due each day. There are usually one or two activities due each day. We have homework Monday through Thursday. Homework is collected every morning. Sometimes we have to change our schedule and homework will change accordingly. That is why I would appreciate it if you send only the pages that are due each day. If we have to modify our schedule, I will notify you (and your student will know, too!).
It is very important to start off the year with good study habits and a consistent procedure for doing homework and returning it to school appropriately. Please be your child’s mentor at home and help him/her to have a successful year!

Monday: Parents only have homework tonight! Please complete “Tell Me about Your Child”; read and sign class rules page and School Handbook compliance page (if your child is the oldest in your family); please send in your tissues and disinfectant wipes and these pages.

Tuesday: Math—read chapter 1 story with your parents;
Math—“Crows Counting”

Wednesday: Phonics—“Frogs on Logs”
Read a book at home with your parents
Continued…

Thursday: Phonics—“On the Go!”
Read a book at home with your parents

FRIDAY IS MASS DAY!!!! FULL UNIFORM FOR ALL STUDENTS; DRESSES FOR GIRLS AND LONG PANTS FOR BOYS; NO SHORTS!!!

NOON DISMISSAL!!!

Homework

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 08:07:29 -0700

I can’t believe this is the last homework sheet of this school year. The time has gone by so fast and our first graders have grown and excelled beyond my expectations! I love this class!!! The students are amazing and you parents have been incredible this year. Everyone has supported, helped, volunteered, and donated for every occasion and need. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!
Please keep these wonderful students busy reading this summer. If you go on a trip or have a special day, have them write a journal about it. Keep practicing their math fact families and let them tell the time and count the money. Please, please, please take them outside to play instead of in front of a computer!
Every year I tell my “new second graders” that I would love to get letters or postcards from them. I promise them I will write them back if they write to me—I’m not talking email!!!
My mailing address is as follows:
Mrs. Terry Kondrack
P.O. Box 2386
Running Springs, CA 92382

I hope to hear from many of you!

This Tuesday, June 8 is our First Grade Awards Ceremony at 8:30 in our classroom. I hope to see you all there to celebrate these wonderful children! Thank you again for everything!!!

Mrs. Kondrack

Week of May 31, 2010

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 08:56:18 -0700

We had a wonderful Stone Soup Party last Friday! We had enough soup to feed our class, second grade, sixth grade, and several upper grade students. Of course, Ms. Rina and Mrs. Long each had a bowl too. It was nutritious, delicious, incredible, and edible—ask your First Grader to explain those describing words and also ask him/her to tell you our Stone Soup recipe!
This will be the last week of homework for the year! We will have no new spelling lists either; we are doing review work for the last two weeks of school.
Thursday will be Free Dress for 50 cents. Friday will be a Mass day so full uniform for all students. That means long pants for boys and dresses for girls. It is also half day. Please continue to check the calendar and Helpful Reminders for important events. The First Grade Awards Presentation will take place on Tuesday, June 8 at 8:30 in our classroom. I will be gone Monday (when the other class awards are presented) due to a full day of additional medical evaluations. We can enjoy our awards presentation and not hurry to get it done in half an hour!

Tuesday: Read with your parents for at least 15 minutes;
Math—“Drink Up!” missing addends
Writing—“Shark Sighting” antonyms/synonyms

Wednesday: Read with your parents for at least 15 minutes;
Math—“Subtraction Facts”
Writing—“Fin-tastic Friends” synonyms

Thursday: Read with your parents for at least 15 minutes;
Math—“A Bowl Full of Lemons” 2-digit subtraction
Writing—“Waves of Fun” antonyms

Week of May 24, 2010

Mon, 24 May 2010 08:23:28 -0700

This week will conclude with our annual “Stone Soup Party.” If you are not sure what this is all about, ask your First Grader. During our healthy eating unit in science, I always introduce the classic children’s story, “Stone Soup.” It is a story about caring and sharing, as well as, preparing a delicious vegetable soup. By the way, it does have stones in it! Don’t worry; your First Grader will explain everything Friday!
Your child has volunteered to bring a specific ingredient for our soup Friday which is listed on the following letter. Please do not cut, slice, peel, or prepare your item in any way. The children prepare everything, with supervision of course. The other important aspect of this activity is that it is prepared first thing in the morning—please don’t forget to send in the item with your child’s homework. We CAN NOT use it if it comes in at lunchtime. I don’t want anyone to be excluded so please remember to send it in the morning! Thank you.
This will be the last week of Learning Centers for the year. We will have Centers on Monday and Wednesday only. Also, the last hot lunch order form for the year is due on May 26.
Mrs. Long announced at the assembly last Friday that students may still wear their FunFair T-shirts this week.

Monday: Write Spelling Words List #33 five times each;
Math—“Terrific Toppings” coin combinations
Phonics—“Line Up” digraphs sh, wh

Tuesday: Write Spelling Words List #33 three times each;
Math—“Flipping Flapjacks” fractions
Writing/Grammar—“Bedding Down” nouns continued…
Wednesday: Write Spelling Words List #33 two times each;
Math—“A Balanced Breakfast” fractions
Writing/Grammar—“Lasso Champ” nouns

Thursday: Take a Practice Spelling Test List #33 and write any
word you miss five times each;
Math—“Crunchy Carrots” place value
Writing/Grammar—“Chow Time!” nouns
BRING STONE SOUP INGREDIENT!!!!!

Week of May 17, 2010

Tue, 18 May 2010 09:55:50 -0700

Thank you to all who helped at the FunFair! Special thanks go to Edna Aguirre for organizing our class booth and auction basket. I think it was the best basket of all the classes! First grade came in 1st place for our booth decorations at FunFair.
The Student Council Final Elections will be this Friday so there will be no Learning Centers that day. This Friday all of the candidates for all of the offices will deliver speeches and then we will go back to class to fill out our ballots. Please keep checking your school calendar and Helpful Reminders for all of the end-of-the-year events!
Please try to send in flowers for the Mary statue once a week during the month of May if you can. We honor our Blessed Mother all this month. Thank you!

Tuesday: Write Spelling Words List #32 five times each;
Reading Comprehension—“Time for Recess” context clues
Math—“On the Griddle” fractions

Wednesday: Write Spelling Words List #32 three times each;
Reading Comprehension—“A Fun Field Trip” context clues
Math—“Tasty Toppings” fractions

Thursday: Write Spelling Words List #32 two times each;
Reading Comprehension—“Buddy Readers” context clues
Math—“Sticky Sweet” fractions

Week of May 10, 2010

Mon, 10 May 2010 14:00:55 -0700

I was so pleased with our P.T.G. Program last week. The students worked very hard, and they all seemed to have fun performing. We hope you all enjoyed it!
Today, May 10 will be the last tutoring day for First Grade. The other grades are also winding down their schedules this week and next week. Of course, FunFair is this coming Sunday, May 16 and the next day is the cleanup day so there is no school. Edna Aguirre has been working very hard organizing our class booth and all the workers, as well as, the basket for the auction. Please contact her if you haven’t done so yet regarding your participation.
There will be no Learning Centers for the next two Fridays because of Primary and Final Elections for our Student Council. First Graders do get to vote on the leaders for next year! Progress Reports go home this Thursday, and this Wednesday is the Panorama Photo taken of the entire student body and faculty. Please have your child here in full uniform and on time that day as the picture will be taken first thing that morning. This Friday is a half day for FunFair set up and will also be Free Dress for 50cents.

Monday: Write Spelling Words List #31 five times each;
Math—“Almost Time to Go” telling time
Phonics—“Fill It Up!” word families

Tuesday: Write Spelling Words List #31 three times each;
Math—“Silent Reading Time” telling time
Phonics—“Snack Break” diphthongs oi, oy

Wednesday: Write Spelling Words List #31 two times each;
Math—“Is It Time?” telling time
Phonics—“Full Pails”

Thursday: Take a practice Spelling Test List #31 and write
any word you miss five times each;
Math—“Dreaming of Game Day” telling time
Phonics—“Day at the Beach” word families

FREE DRESS FOR 50 CENTS FRIDAY!!!!

NO LEARNING CENTERS FRIDAY!!!!

Week of April 26, 2010

Mon, 3 May 2010 07:41:12 -0700

This will be an exciting week for our class! Our P.T.G. Program is this Thursday, May 6. We have been practicing very hard so we hope you all enjoy the show. There will be the Dress Rehearsal at 12:45 Thursday. As I stated before, I would like the first graders to wear brightly colored spring/summer clothes. They can wear pants and shirts or shorts and shirts or dresses or skirts! Whatever they will be comfortable wearing to sing and dance. I would like them to bring their outfits in a bag with their name on it to school on Thursday. I do need a couple of moms to help everyone change at lunch about 12:15.
The evening performance starts at 6:00p.m. The students need to be in our classroom at 5:45p.m. There will be a short business meeting and then Kindergarten will perform first, we are second, and Fourth Grade is last. It will be a wonderful show. I have seen the rehearsals, and they are all very entertaining! Of course I am partial to First Grade! Please remember all parents need to stay and watch the performances, students are not allowed to be merely dropped off. I would appreciate it if you could all pick up your student directly after our performance either outside the Hall or immediately after in our classroom. They can accompany you back into the Hall to watch the 4th grade, but I would like to get started home after we are finished as I have a very long drive. Thank you very much. Due to the P.T.G. Program, there will be no homework on Thursday evening.
Friday will be our annual May Crowning of Mary. I hope many of you can attend Mass with us at 8:15 and participate in the Rosary Procession and Crowning Ceremony directly after Mass. Children are encouraged to bring flowers the whole month of May to place around our Mary statue and especially on this Friday. We will leave the flowers in our classroom and we go out by grade level to place the flowers after the ceremony. Please do not bring any flowers to Mass. Thank you. Of course due to Mass on Friday, there will be no Centers that day.

Monday: Write Spelling Words List #30 five times each;
Math—“Garden Goodies” place value
Phonics—“What a Sight!” long vowel oa, o-e

Tuesday: Write Spelling Words List #30 three times each;
Math—“Dinner is Served!” addition/subtraction to 18
Phonics—“Duck Crossing” long vowel i-e, igh

Wednesday: Write Spelling Words List #30 two times each;
Math—“Cool Coins” coin combinations
Phonics—“Wet Feet” long vowel ea, ee

BRING YOUR PTG OUTFIT THURSDAY MORNING IN A BAG WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!!!

FULL UNIFORM FRIDAY (NO SHORTS!) FOR MASS; PLEASE BRING FLOWERS FOR MARY!!!

Week of April 26, 2010

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:00:40 -0700

If your child chooses to create a “Recyclobot” please follow the directions on the flyer sent last week. All projects are due this Friday, April 30. There is also a snow cone sale by the 8th grade that day.
Our PTG program is fast approaching! It will be May 6. There will be a Dress Rehearsal for the school at 12:45 and the program for parents will be at 6:00p.m. This year we are doing a medley of songs so no costumes are required. I would like the students to wear colorful spring/summer casual clothes. Shorts or skirts or pants would be fine. I want them to be comfortable and look cute!

Monday: Write Spelling Words list #29 five times each;
Math—“Baby Chicks” add/sub. to 16
Writing—“Take Cover” contractions

Tuesday: Write Spelling Words list #29 three times each;
Math—“Hill-Climbing Cars” add to 18
Phonics—“Let’s “Eat” ai, ay digraphs

Wednesday: Write Spelling Words list #29 two times each;
Math—“Revving Up and Ready!” add/sub.
Phonics—“Fit for a Feast” oi, oy diphthongs

Thursday: Take a Practice Spelling Test list #29 and write any
Word you miss five times each;
Math—“It’s Spring!” problem-solving
Phonics—“Food to Go” au, aw diphthongs

RECYCLOBOTS DUE FRIDAY!!!

Week of April 19, 2010

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:36:47 -0700

I would like to thank Edna Aguirre for all of her help planning and implementing our First Grade activities this year. She has sent home a couple of sign-up sheets and reminders for the FunFair booth and auction basket. Many of you have returned the sign-up sheets and have sent in your $$ donation for the basket. Thank you to those of you who have done so. However, there are several families who have not returned either the sign-up sheet or basket donation. PLEASE send in these items this week!!! Thank you!
We need one (or two) empty toilet paper rolls per child for an art project this week. Please send these in as soon as possible.
Thursday is the last school Skating Party for the year so there is no homework that day. I hope many of you can have a fun evening of fellowship and skating with friends. Remember, all children need to be accompanied by an adult for the evening!
This Friday is a half day!!!
Monday: Write Spelling Words List #28 five times each;
Math—“Egg Search” graphing
Writing—“Puddle Jumpers” contractions

Tuesday: Write Spelling Words List #28 three times each;
Math—“Counting Chicks” addition/subtraction to 18
Writing—“Rain Dance” contractions

Wednesday: Write Spelling Words List #28 two times each;
Math—“Row After Row” linear measurement
Writing—“Pet Pileup” contractions
NO HOMEWORK THURSDAY FOR SKATING PARTY!!!
FRIDAY IS HALF DAY!!!!

Week of April 12, 2010

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 07:50:55 -0700

I hope you all had a very blessed and happy Easter! It is hard to believe that we are in the last trimester of this school year. Our first graders have grown physically, academically, and spiritually. They have enriched my life, and each one has a special place in my heart forever!
I would like to thank the volunteers for our On-Campus Bake Sale March 30. Thanks also to everyone who donated baked goods. The funds for this type of bake sale go to support our graduating 8th graders’ activities.
Now is the time to collect your Spell-A-Thon pledges and turn them in as soon as possible. Several of you turned in your money before vacation so, hopefully, your child remembered to wear free dress today! Of course you can add to your child’s total and please turn all money in this week.
The first annual Fiesta is this coming Saturday, April 17th at 5:30p.m. Students who have bought a ticket for the Fiesta or those bringing in donations of soda or water will have free dress on Thursday, April 15th. It sounds like a fun event for the whole family and a great fundraiser for our school. Thanks to Rosemary Zometa for organizing this dinner.
Just a reminder….many students need new SHARPENED PENCILS, GLUE STICKS, LIQUID GLUE, CRAYONS, ETC.!!! Please check your child’s supplies. Thank you!

Monday: Write Spelling Words List #27 five times each;
Math—“Perfect Peppers” place value; greater than/less than
Phonics—“Buggy Buddies” r-controlled vowels

Tuesday: Write Spelling Words List #27 three times each;
Math—“Pad Hoppin’” addition/subtraction mixed review
Phonics—“On the Road” r-controlled vowels continued….
Wednesday: Write Spelling Words List #27 two times each;
Math—“Froggy Tic-Tac-Toe” addition/subtraction to 18
Phonics—“Love Bugs” r-controlled vowels
FREE DRESS FOR FIESTA TICKETS OR DONATIONS THURS.!!!

Thursday: Take a Practice Spelling Test List #27 and write any
Word you miss five times each;
Math—“Fetching Flies” addition/subtraction to 16
Phonics—“Scrubbing Up” r-controlled vowels and sentences

FRIDAY FREE DRESS FOR 50 CENTS!!!!