News & Notes for the Week!

Last Week:

Last week we finished up Growth Mindset with a lesson on the book The Little Butterfly that Could. Then we talked about how important it is to believe in yourself. In social studies we have been learning about American symbols. 

This Week:

• Tomorrow is StoryBook Character Day! Please send you child to school dressed like their storybook character. They should also be practicing their oral report and be ready to share with us, 1. who they are, 2. what book they are from, 3. 2 things about your character, and 4. who would you recommend this book too. This is our last oral report grade! 

• We are beginning to practice for our Patriotic Show. Each kid has home with a line to practice at home. Please practice this at least 3 times each night. Every student will dress in their 4th of July best! The following students do not need to come in their 4th of July best, they should wear their gym uniform and bring the following with them. (with the exception of the starred presidents at the bottom who do come in rwb.)

  • Rosie the Riveter- needs a white solid shirt to wear under the overalls and their blue/black school shoes. 

  • George Washington- needs navy blue pants (School pants are fine) and brown /black school shoes

  • Thomas Jefferson- needs tall white socks and brown/black school shoes

  • Abe Lincoln- needs black pants and black/brown school shoes

  • Laura Ingalls - brown or navy school shoes  (shorts & tshirt under costume)

  • Susan B. Anthony - brown or black shoes (shorts and tshirt under costume)

  • Betsy Ross - white top, school shoes or boots

  • Harriet Tubman - school shoes (shorts & tshirt under costume) hair in bun

  • Ben Franklin - long navy blue school pants, school shoes: brown or black

  • William Penn - tall white socks/  brown or black school shoes

  • Amelia Earhart - dark shoes, or school shoes, or boots

  • *Presidents- (Reagan, Kennedy, & Roosevelt) wear red, white, blue outfit

• The only homework this week is to practice for your oral report and practice your line for our Patriotic Show. 

• Wednesday is our field trip! Please see the attached reminders on what you can and can't bring into the stadium. All students and adults will eat lunch there. You can bring your lunch or buy it, but reusable metal water bottles are not allowed in the stadium. You can only bring in unopened drinks. Students can wear any Phillies shirt, but they need their SCJN gym shorts on. Please meet here at school at 8:30. Tickets will be handed out then and we plan to leave by 8:50. We will meet inside the stadium and plan to sit together for the weather portion. 

• Thursday is a half day of school. We are dismissed at 12:00. There is no school Firday and Monday for Memorial Day. 

• Next Friday, May 29th, is our First Grade Patriotic Show, followed by our annual Candy Awards ceremony! Siblings will be called for the show, but must return to class after the Patriotic Show. We will pause for pictures in between the show and ceremony. 

• My summer tutoring is almost filled! I have 3 first grade moving to second grade groups this year. 1 morning session, 8:56-9:45 and another from 2:00-3:00 followed by 3:00-4:00. If you were debating on summer tutoring and curious about the times, that is what it looks like I will have available this summer. If you are looking for younger/older siblings just email me and I can let you know what else I have available! If you are interested in signing your child(ren) up to work with me this summer please fill this put ASAP. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepxyaEv-NqyInmfH4UrJNIXLY7Qu4gOCiN32wAbD3hxjGQ0Q/viewform?usp=header These summer tutoring sessions are open to any age SCJN students, so even siblings can sign up! Tutoring sessions can be used to complete summer work, review skills students were struggling in, used as enrichment sessions to push advanced students, & help prevent that summer slide! (Especially with the few extra weeks of summer we have this year!) I like to create small groups for summer tutoring with kids in the same grade level and academic level. It helps to make summer work more fun and engaging. There are also more opportunities for games and group work. Unfortunately, we are unable to tutor at school this year, so summer tutoring will be held at my house. I live in Havertown, right near the Haverford Middle School, and am only 8-10 minutes from SCJN. Due to construction restrictions, we believe we will not be allowed on campus at all. If this changes and we can return to school, I will let you know! If you are interested please sign up to save your child's space! (Also, please note, I know kids do camps and vacations. Please just mention when they would be unable to attend in the link so I can create groups based on dates kids are around.) Thank you! 

• Math: In math we will finish our money chapter. Then we completed the book!

• Spelling & ELA: This week we will practice the silent letters in /kn/, /wr/, & /gn/. 

• Phonics: We will review :) 

• Writing: We will be writing about our favorite baseball teams & baseball players. 

Extra Reminders: 

• Note: Our classroom is considered 1A. :) 

• PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE write your child's name on all their sweaters and sweatshirts! Etsy even makes iron on labels that are very helpful since it is sometimes hard to write on the tags. 

• Water bottles: All water bottles must have a closure on them. Water bottles with open straws are not allowed. (example: Stanley's). All water bottles get thrown in a basket after lunch and those cause spills on everyone else's lunch boxes. Thank you for understanding.

• We will have gym on Thursday's. Please make sure to wear your gym uniform on this day and sneakers. :) 

• Please return library books on Wednesday's! 

• If you would like to see what first grade is all about, join our photo album for sneak peeks of our daily adventures! Use this link to join my album in Google Photos. https://photos.app.goo.gl/nbj97BpsueNKwVE98

• First Grade is looking for some mystery readers! If you are interested in coming into our classroom to read to us, sign up here! This year, mystery readers will be on Thursday's from 2:15-2:30. If this does not work with your schedule, feel free to reach out to me and I am happy to make another day/time work. A link to sign up will be coming soon! Please note, you coming in to read is a treat in itself, please refrain from bringing any kind of snack or treat, as this takes away from the joy of reading, and causes the kids to focus more on what they are getting at the end of the story. :) 

• If your child is ever going to be late/absent please include Mrs. McCormick in the emails as well! Thank you! melissa.mccormick@scjnschool.org 

• Scholastic news comes home bi-monthly. This is a fun way to encourage reading at home. When ordering please use code PXVKP to help our classroom earn points! 

• Please make sure anytime you are sending in money it is in an envelope or baggy. Please also include your child's name and what/who it is for. 

• Students are only permitted to wear the SCJN quarter zip or navy SCJN sweater when cold during the school day, with the exception of gym days. On gym days they can wear any SCJN sweatshirt.

• Please keep in mind we are a nut free school. 

• In order to volunteer in school you must have your clearances on file at school. It is always a great idea to start the process now! 

Weeks to Come:

• • May 20th: Phillies Field Trip

  • May 21st: Early Dismissal at 12:00

  • May 22nd-May 25th: No School, Happy Memorial Day!

  • May 26th: Chick Fil A

  • May 29th: Patriotic Show & Candy Awards!