10/23-10/27 First Grade Newsletter

Dear First Grade Families,

I hope everyone is well. Here is all the information that you and your child will need for this week, 10/23-10/27. I want to keep you informed about the exciting things happening in our first-grade class. Please take a moment to read through this week’s updates to avoid questions that are clearly stated on all emails/ reminders. I would greatly appreciate it!

Morning routine

As you are aware, we only have one teacher on duty every morning, overseeing the arrival of our students. However, the number of students arriving during this period can make it challenging to maintain a safe and orderly environment. I believe that with your support, we can enhance the safety of our morning drop-off routine.

For the safety and well-being of our students, I kindly request your assistance and cooperation with the following guidelines:

1. Sit Quietly on the Blue Bench: When your child is dropped off, please encourage them to sit quietly on the blue bench. Running, playing, yelling, screaming, or any disruptive actions are not allowed during this time. This will help us maintain a calm and safe environment and ensure they are a safe distance from moving vehicles.
2. Walk to Their Designated Spots: When the bell rings, your child should walk to their designated spots calmly and in an organized manner.

I have already discussed these guidelines with our first-grade students this week, and your continued reinforcement of these instructions is greatly appreciated.

Homework
If you missed my email last week, you can check out my school blog and click on the links related to the homework. http://www.stanthonygardena.org/first-grade/

Please make sure to follow the daily assignment on our weekly homework list that will be sent on Monday. Kindly sign the homework list and your child’s behavior chart daily

• Math- Please see weekly homework list (Please don’t do advanced pages)
• Word Study- 3 Word Study decodable on Seesaw (listen, read, record & highlight words with l-blends (bl, cl, fl, gl, pl)
• 4 Sight words notebook activities- Week 8 (Students must use their September menu, and choose DIFFERENT activities every day)

Week 8

1. which
2. she
3. do
4. how
5. their
6. if

 TESTS
Students will be tested weekly on Word Study/Phonics & Fluency/Sight Words every Friday. Parents can help their child by reviewing the topics we learned for that week.

• Word Study- Words with l-blends (bl, cl, fl, gl, pl)
• Sight Words- Week 8
• Vocabulary- Lesson 8 (words and definition will be sent home)
• Comprehension- A Musical Day (copy of story will be sent home)

K-5 Sound of Music field trip- Wed, October 25^th

I recommend students to eat breakfast before coming to school. We will have an early snack before leaving school around 8am. There will be a schedule we will follow, and we won’t be able to eat again until12:15 pm.  

What to wear: CORRECT AND COMPLETE regular school uniform

Sweater/sweatshirt/jacket/cardigans must have our logo on it. 

Students will not be allowed to remove their jackets throughout the day, this will avoid losing or misplacing their jackets.

What to bring: Gallon size Ziploc bag with name (water bottle, snack & lunch MUST all fit in the Ziploc, any item that’s not in the Ziploc bag will be left in school)

NO NEED TO BRING: Homework folder.

*Chaperones/Parent Volunteers will use the 1st grade parents’ Band App to provide updates, share pictures and respond to any questions. Please reach out to them through the band app if you have any questions. Unfortunately, I will not be able to check emails during that time. *

Chaperones: Ms. Joy Cruz (Aden’s mom) , Ms. Veronica Ramos (Noah’s mom), Ms. Cassandra Lucero (Ava’s mom) and Ms. Gabby

Friday- 10/27 – Picture makeup day- Formal Mass uniform

If your child did not have their “formal” school picture taken last September 21st, they can get their pictures taken on Friday, October 27th. These pictures are used for their class yearbook picture.

 You can purchase a photo package. Please refer to the flier that the office sent on Oct 17^th.

Saint Plate Project & Report DUE on Oct 30th
Instructions, template and report sheet was sent home Friday, Sept. 29th (1 month of prep for project.
Each student received the following materials:

1. Ziploc
2. Report instructions & rubric
3. Report sheet
4. Saint stencil
5. Paper plate

Please read the instructions below.

1. With the help of a parent, student will research about their assigned Saint (catholic.org, usccb.org)
2. Complete the attached report sheet. (Paper plate & Ziploc will also be provided)
3. Include a photo or drawing on report sheet.
4. Cut out the report and glue them onto one side of the plate provided.
5. Using the stencil, create your Saint and glue it on the other side of the plate.
6. Students will bring their project to school and submit on Oct. 30^th  

* Please involve your child in making their own projects. *

Attached below are some example projects from the previous class.
Please use these as a reference, the reporting will be done in the classroom not on Seesaw.

Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3
Sample 4
Sample 5
Sample 6

Dress-Up
On November 1st, Students may come to school dressed up as ANY Saint.
Saint costumes do not need to be elaborate! Students will process in Mass with the school in their costumes. Costumes should go over your child’s school uniform, as we will be changing after Mass. This will be part of their Religion participation grade. 

Halloween costumes
To ensure that all costumes follow our School’s Halloween costume guidelines, I would like to ask everyone what costume their child is planning to wear on October 31. Please be sure costumes meet all these guidelines. They must be appropriate and pre-approved, or a student may be sent home to change. Please let me know what your child is wearing by clicking this link: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M3VW8FcFhJgLGnXCwFAaZsPXOgvg4cg23ODmT40fWSw/edit?usp=sharing

• Costumes should be child-friendly. No inflatables, no gory or scary clowns, no devils, or scary costumes
• No Harry Potter or Pokémon costumes (please see Mrs. Grey’s email)
• Costumes Should Not:
  • Be obstructive, offensive, inappropriate for a Catholic school (skimpy or revealing), gory, evil, or violent
  • Drag on the ground
  • Contain sharp objects, pointed objects, or materials that may accidentally strike another person.
  • Contain any weapons that resemble or could be mistaken for an actual weapon.
  • Encourage cross-dressing. Boys dress up like boys, and girls dress up like girls

UPCOMING EVENTS
School calendar can be found (clicking here)

• October 25- K-5 Sound of Music Field Trip 8:30 am-1:30 pm
• October 27 – All monies due for Fall Candy Sale
• October 31 – Halloween Trunk or Treat (NOON DISMISSAL), Daycare till 3pm ONLY, 8th grade fundraiser at 11am (pizza sale), Daycare only from 12-3pm today (follow all Halloween dress up guidelines. Jr high to wear Formal Mass uniforms to daily Mass, then change into costumes)
• November 1 – All Saints’ Day: 8am All School Mass and Dress up, K-8  procession before 8am Mass (in saints’ costumes)
• November 2 – All Souls’ Day: 8am All School Mass
• November 9 – Fall Chocolate Sale: Magic Show for qualifying families, lunch and show provided in Hall
• November 10 – All School Ice Skating Annual Event (Sports PLC fundraiser) Toyota Center

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. I will try my best to respond as soon as possible.

Thank you & God Bless!

Warmly, 
Ms. Martinez