AUTHOR OF THE MONTH

Eric Carle is our May Author!  We will spend the month reading his stories and learning about the unique way he writes and illustrates his stories.  We will vote on our favorite Eric Carle book and graph our results.  We will also use Eric Carle's book The Very Hungry Caterpillar to help us as we invesitgate caterpillars and butterfly's this month!

Click on the link below to view Eric Carle's website: 

http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html

We are very busy in room 113 this May!  Please click the calendar link below to view our May Calendar!

MAY/JUNE CALENDAR

Dear Families,

            I cannot believe it is May already!  This year certainly flew by!  The students have grown so much over the course of the school year.  We have so much going on in our last month of school.  We will be learning through a variety of different themes like plants, butterflies, zoo, art and Summer!  We are also lucky enough to be sharing some caterpillars with Mrs. Meyer’s class in kindergarten.  We will observe them as they take steps toward their transformation into butterflies!           

            Please join us for PORTFOLIO NIGHT on Thursday May 10th.  You are invited to come join your child in reviewing and showcasing all their hard work from the entire year.  Siblings are welcome.  Your child will go through all their folders in their portfolio and tell you all about everything they have worked on this year.  This is a very special night for them to show you all their progress! 

             Remember, the weather is changing, please make sure that your child has an entire extra set of clothing that is appropriate for all weather. Also, we enjoy taking the children outside, so please dress them accordingly and apply sunscreen when necessary.   

            This is the last month to be a mystery reader.  Thank you to everyone who has participated so far!  Please look for the MAY mystery reader sign up this week.  The last day of school is Tuesday, June 5^th.  This is 12:30 dismissal for all students with no aftercare offered.  We invite you to join us in saying our good-bye with a class pizza party at lunch. 

Important Dates to Remember:

May 10^th:  Portfolio Night (look for time confirmations going home soon!)

May 11^th:  No School

May 16^th:  Field Trip: Brookfield Zoo (bag lunch / field trip shirt)

May 17^th:  Last day of Spanish

May 24^th:  Last day of Music

May 25^th: tentative date for all school paw reward

May 28^th:  No School

June 5^th:  12:30 dismissal for ALL STUDENTS/NO AFTERCARE  parents are invited to share a pizza as we gather to say good-bye!

(As always, 2:00pm Dismissal every Tuesday)

Sincerely,

Ms. Thomas & Ms. Funkhouser

100 DAYS OF JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN!

On Valentine's Day we celebrated the 100th day of Junior Kindergarten!  We did 100 exercises, made a collage of 100 shapes, walked up 100 stairs, clapped 100 times and more!  Zero the Hero brought his sister Zerona to visit our class!  It was a very exciting day!  

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR

LETTER TRACKING PROJECT!

We sent letters to ourselves and they took 1-2 days to arrive!

We also sent letters all over the world!

Iowa, Florida, Texas, Kansas, Maryland, Tennessee, New York, California, Orgeon, Alaska, Amsterdam, England, Japan, Korea and Australia!

We have been getting so many thoughtful replies from friends and family all over the world!

Here are some pictures that our friends in Alaska sent us!

FEBRUARY

 Dear Families,

            It was a great January in room 113.  We are really enjoying 2012 so far.  It has been a pleasure watching everyone get back into routine here in our classroom.   Thank you to everyone who donated snacks.  We really appreciate it!  Also, thank you to everyone who donated coins for our coin drive.  The last day to bring in coins is Feb. 3^rd! 

Over the next few weeks the children will be learning through a variety of themes.  Looking at my calendar you will get an idea of some of the activities your children will be involved in while at school. We will be covering Catholic School’s Week, friendship, Valentine’s Day, 100 days of school and dental week.  We will also be spending some time learning about the post office and mail!  Please send your child to school with an unsealed blank stamped envelope by Feb. 3^rd.

Our Valentine’s Day Card Exchange will be on Tuesday, February 14^th.  Please send your child to school with 19 Valentine’s.  If you need a class list feel free to take a sign in sheet in the morning.  Tuesday, February 14^th is also our 100^th day of school.  We will be spending the day participating in various 100 day activities.  We will make a 100 things collage, take a 100 steps, do 100 jumping jacks etc.  The students are very excited about this day!

Join us on February 15^th from 8:15-9:00 for muffins with mom.  We invite all mothers to come share a breakfast treat and spend some time in our classroom.  If you cannot attend please feel free to send a dad, nanny, or other special friend in your place. 

            February mystery reader sign up will be up this week.  Please remember that older siblings are welcome to be our mystery readers.  The kids love it!

It is cold outside so please make sure your child has an entire extra set of clothing (EXTRA SOCKS!) that is appropriate for all weather.  Also, we enjoy taking the children outside, so please dress them accordingly. Don’t forget gloves, mittens, hats, and scarves.  Be sure to label everything (especially mittens, gloves and boots). 

If you have any questions or concerns please let me know.  Feel free to email me at mthomas@stbenedict.com. 

Be sure to check out our class website:  http://sbps.stbenedict.com/megan-thomas/

Important dates to remember:

Tuesday, February 7^th- Adler Planetarium in school field trip

Wednesday, February 8^th – preschool prayer service

Tuesday, February 14^th- 100^th day of school!!

Tuesday, February 14^th- Valentine’s Card exchange

Wednesday, February 15^th- Muffins with Mom 8:15-9:00

Friday, February 17^th- No school- Professional Development Day

Monday, February 20^th- No school President’s Day

Best Regards,

 Ms. Thomas & Ms. Funkhouser

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW OUR FEBRUARY CALENDAR!

FEBRUARY CALENDAR