News From Our Classroom

      Hello, Families!  It's snowing outside right now, and there's a thousand and one things to accomplish before the Holidays begin.  I bet that you can relate to that feeling, and so I am going to take one task off your plate.  From now until after the Holiday Break, there will not be any homework for your child UNLESS he or she does not finish class work during the day.  Although we will continue to read the "little readers" for the upcoming week, they will not go home.  We will read them during reading groups, and then again to a classmate or two each day.  There will also not be sight words or fluency strips.  Something's gotta give, right?  We will resume our typical routine after vacation, but in the interum.  . . Happy Holidays!
        Next week is "Spirit Week" at CPS.  Although a paper went home presenting the "agenda" for Spirit Week, I thought I would repeat it in a place you can quickly lay your hands on:
        Monday--"A Long Winter's Nap"--Pajama day at Crescent Park!
        Tuesday--"Santa's Workshop"--Come dressed as Santa, his elves, reindeer or toys
        Wednesday--"Christmas Sock Day"--Wear your favorite holiday socks
        Thursday--"Deck the Door"--We will design a decoration for our door.
        Friday--"Ugly Sweater Day"--Wear your ugly holiday sweater to school, if you have one.  If not, decorate a sweater you already own with Christmas "bling".  Please do not feel compelled to purchase sweaters for this event.

Mrs. Charette has asked that the following be included in this newsletter:
  I would like to invite all teachers and parents to search for and "like" my new Facebook page called "Making Mathematics Meaningful for Students, Parents, and Teachers." It will be a way for us to share and discuss information on various math topics, including tips and resources for parents and teachers to use with students of all ages. Please share with anyone else who you think might find the page helpful. Feedback is always welcomed!

Thank you!
Renee Charette, MSAD#44 K-3 Math Coach
 

      Mrs. Charette also came by today collecting for Bethel Rotary Club's Christmas for Kids.  The children at Crescent Park are being asked to donate money to help out the Christmas for Kids program this year. . . no donation is too small.  Seriously, pennies will add up, so we're asking the children to see if they can bring in monetary donations of any amount.  I told the children in my classroom that I would MATCH whatever they donated.  For example, if the kids collectively scrape together $10.00, I will match the amount,  so our donation will be $20.00.  Give what you can afford to give, and don't worry if you can't.
 
       There are a few dates which I would like to remind you about:
12/15 Kids can bring in their "secret pal"'s  present
12/15 Holiday concert Gr. 3-5  6pm
12/19 Holiday concert Gr. K-2 6 pm
12/20 Afternoon- Christmas "party" and gift opening --12:15pm to 1:30 pm
12/21 Last school day before the holidays--half day (dismissal at 11:30; presentation by the 5th grade followed by the Coyote Coupon celebration beginning at 9:00 am)

     As it says above, our Christmas party will be on December 20 from 12:15pm to 1:30 pm.  I am looking for families willing to contribute "eats" for the party.  Right now, I have a parent who has offered to make send in cupcakes.  I will do cheese slices or sticks, crackers, and clementines.  Do I have any other offers?  Please let me know if you will be sending something in. . . more food arrived for Halloween than I was expecting.   Don't get me wrong--I was delighted by the contributions, but I had purchased items because I didn't think we were going to have enough, and we ended up with a lot!   If the party doesn't run too late, the kids will be headed off for Music, and then headed home.  Please remember that the day after our party is a half-day of school--dismissal will happen at 11:30, after lunch has been served.
     That's all for today--don't forget that there is a full week of school next week, and we will try to keep a "lid on the excitement" by keeping disruptions down to one or two activities per day (at  least on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday).  Have a good weekend!