October 20 - 24

I am pleased to welcome Samantha (Sam) to our classroom this week!  She has been handling the transition to a new school very well and everyone has been a good friend to her and helping show her around - especially Narea!  I will send home updated family contact information sheets for our class as soon as I have all of the information to share.  Also please note that "Zoe O" would now like to be called "Zoe Liz" (her middle name is Elizabeth).  "Zoe G" decided that she would like to be called either "Zoe G" or "Zoe Belinda." 

It was great seeing so many families at our pizza & play night on Tuesday!  Despite being restricted to the gym due to the slushy weather, it was a fun evening for all who could make it.  Thanks again to our room parents for organizing that social event.  

This week we read two books about ladybugs and then wrote and drew our own books about ladybugs to keep in our classroom library for a few weeks.  Be on the lookout for the books we made earlier this year about butterflies and about ourselves coming home this weekend!

On Friday we had a guest speaker from Cornell's Department of Entomology who talked with us about Insect Superpowers.  We also had a bug-themed snack that day!  On October 31 we will have another guest speaker who will talk about ants, and on November 21 we will have a third speaker talk about aquatic insects.

This weekend is INSECTAPALOOZA at Cornell!  This exciting annual event is open to the public and is a great way for children to get hands on experience with all kinds of insects and to learn from the experts.  I highly encourage you to attend.

The temperature outside is dropping but we are still taking the children outside for recess as long as it's not raining, so please dress your child appropriately.  Gloves are a good idea!  We are sending home the set of extra warm weather clothes this week.    Please send in a set of EXTRA COLD WEATHER CLOTHES labeled with your child's NAME for muddy/wet/messy accidents!  Any extra winter boots/snowpants/accessories we could share in our class would be appreciated, too.  Thank you.

I will be attending a Literacy Workshop on the morning of Tuesday, October 28 and Richie will be in the class for a half day.  I will also have brief meetings to attend on the morning of Thursday, October 30 and the afternoon of Friday, October 31.  NOTE: I will have some fall-themed craft activities and games on October 31, but we do not celebrate Halloween at this school so no costumes are allowed on that day.    

A quick note about homework and reading folders: the children are doing a great job remembering to turn in their work.  Please feel free to give me any feedback about the work either on the sheets themselves or in a separate note/email.  Also remember that the math sheets and books are intended to supplement our curriculum and give both you and me more information, but you make the final decision as to what your child/family has time for and when it is completed!

This past week’s sight words were: but, they, over, run, of.    Next week’s sight words will be: back, don’t, my, see, was.

Please use the online form below or the print-out of it sent home this Friday to indicate your preferred conference time and I will confirm with you ASAP. 

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