Hello, First Grade Families,

Last week, we experienced the full scope of January weather. From sliding on ice in the forest on Monday, jumping in the mud on Tuesday and Wednesday, running through the rain on Thursday, and finally, a full day of fun spent outdoors on Friday. It feels like the only weather we missed was a day of sunshine!

On top of all the outdoor fun, we enjoyed a special treat on Tuesday as our indoor space was filled with model trains. The children watched as the trains switched tracks and picked up cars. Many children enjoyed sharing stories of times they had traveled by train. Thank you to The Southern Museum for visiting our school!

Last week, we began our study of the vowels. The class learned some of the sounds that the letters A and E make, wrote words together as a class, and even began reading and writing sentences! The children are so excited to jump into the world of reading, and many have begun to enjoy our new class library that is open for them to explore during their free time.

This week, we will continue our vowel study with the letters I, O, and U. As this will wrap up the entirety of our alphabet, we will have a special day on Friday, where we celebrate our achievements. We will also share a special snack of alphabet soup on Friday, bringing a fun and memorable close to our alphabet block.

Announcements and Reminders:

The first Community Work Day of the Spring Semester is on Saturday, February 3rd, from 10:00 - 12:00. Please come if you are able, and add to your volunteer hours! Children are welcome, and there are typically both indoor and outdoor tasks available.
Please also plan to join us for the All School Meeting following the work day at 12:30. A soup lunch will be served at noon, and the meeting should be around an hour to an hour and a half long. The meeting is a grownups-only event.
Teacher Conferences are just around the corner! This Spring semester, they will be held on Thursday, February 8th (half day) and Friday, February 9th (no school). Please sign up for your child’s conference here.

Upcoming Events:

2/3 First Grade Risers Informational Meeting - 11:15 a.m.
2/3 Community Work Day 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
2/3 All School Meeting 12:30 p.m.
2/8 Half Day - Parent Conferences
2/9 No School - Parent Conferences
2/19-2/23- Mid-Winter Break (No School)
2/26- Teacher Inservice (No School)

Warm regards,

Meredith