Weekly News

December 1st - 5th

• Reading:

Skills Unit 4: This week students will begin Skills Unit 4.  We will learn the r-controlled vowel sounds /er/ and /ar/.  We will also introduce contractions and the new reader, “The Green Fern Zoo.”  Students will have a

  Reading Comprehension Passage Assessment on December 8th.

• Letterland:

Unit 16: Students will learn that the silent magic e makes the vowel say its name.  The spelling test will be on Friday, December 5th.

• Writing:

This week we will begin writing unit 2: Personal Narratives.  In this unit students will learn to write true stories about themselves. 

• Listening and Learning:

Students will complete Domain 4 with an assessment on Monday, December 1st.  Then we will begin our science unit on “Exploring Light and sound.”  This week students will learn about sound, vibration, and light. 

• Math:

This week students are learning to name and describe two-dimensional shapes as well as how to put shapes together to make other shapes.  The test will be on Friday, December 5th. 

 ·   Sight Words: 

Please practice sight words each night.  The assessment will be on Monday, January 5th.

Upcoming Dates and Events: 

·   Dec. 1st - Last Day for the Talent Show Auditions

·   Dec. 5th - Early Release 11:30 am

·   Dec. 5th - Homecoming Parade 2pm

·   Dec. 8th - 12th - Spirit Week 

·   Dec. 12th - College T-Shirt Day

·   Dec. 12th - Christmas Around the World

·   Dec. 19th - Polar Express Day!

·   Dec. 22nd - Jan. 5th - Christmas Break/No School

Spirit Week: December 8th – 12th

Monday -  Marvel Monday

Tuesday – Surfers vs. bikers

Wednesday – Celebrity day

Thursday – Rhyme without reason

Friday – Pinnacle Pride

A few uniform reminders as our weather shifts into the winter months...

Outerwear Permitted Inside the Building

Coats, jackets, ¼-zip pullovers and sweaters that are red, solid black, solid white OR a combination of these colors are permitted. 

·  These items must be embroidered with PCA's logo / Spirit Wear logo. 

·  Any items (solid colored or in a combination of school colors) that are not embroidered are not approved as daily school wear and must be removed. (ie: Buffalo Plaid, large non PCA logos, etc.).

Hooded Clothing (Outside Only)

Hooded clothing cannot be worn inside the building at any time. 

Accessories Reminders

·  Socks must be worn daily. They should be solid white, solid red, solid black or white with school plaid trim. A small logo is permitted, not to exceed 1". 

·  Tights - Solid red, solid white or solid black tights. 

·  Leggings - Solid black leggings can be worn under skorts or dresses.

For complete information on our school dress code, please see the Parent/Student Handbook.

Teamwork!

We have had a great 1st quarter of 1st grade.  The first quarter was mostly a review of skills taught in kindergarten.  As we begin Quarter 2, learning will begin to get rigorous as we introduce new skills.  Please make sure that your child completes all their homework. If they are struggling with concepts, you may need to provide them with extra reading or math practice at home.  A dry erase marker and a white board are great tools to use for extra practice at home.  It will take us working together to ensure that your child is ready for 2nd grade.  I can’t wait to see all their growth this year!

• Interdisciplinary Schedule

·       Monday - Library

·       Tuesday - Art

·       Wednesday - STEM

·       Thursday - PE

·   Friday - Music

• Morning Drop Off

Drop off will begin at 7:30am.  School starts at 8:00am.  Please have students ready with backpacks on and lunchboxes in hand ready to exit the vehicle on the driver’s side.  We ask that parents stay in the car.  This keeps the morning drop-off line moving smoothly.  Thank you for your cooperation!

• Afternoon Dismissal 

Car riders will be dismissed from the classroom starting at 2:45pm. Please be patient with us and your child as we teach then this new routine. We promise to do our best to minimize any inconvenience! Please make sure that your child’s car tag is visible.

**If you need to buckle your child or strap them into a car seat, please pull to the grass to complete. Thank you! 

It is important that students are picked up by 3:30 each day.  Please make arrangements to have your child picked up by 3:30 in the afternoon.  Staff hours are 7:30-3:30.

It is important to send a written not and/or call the school office before 11:45am if there is a change in the way that your child will be going home. We want to be sure that we send them safely to the correct place.

• Snack

Please send a snack with your child each day. In order to help your child avoid confusing lunch and snack items, please place snack in the small front zipper pocket of your child's backpack (instead of in his/her lunchbox with lunch items).

Please NO liquid in water bottles other than water! Water bottles should be spill proof, meaning if they get knocked over, water will not poor out.

• Uniforms 

Students must wear school approved uniform items each day.  We will send sticky note reminders if your child is not following the uniform policy up until September 3rd.  After this date we will send Uniform Violation forms.  Please remember to label all outerwear with your child’s name. Hoodies and hooded jackets are not allowed to be worn in the building.

• Lunch

Your child will need a healthy lunch and drink every day (no soda) or you may order catered lunch if you choose from TGMH or Jammin J’s (see school website).  If your child forgets his/her lunch, we will provide them with a lunch but parents must reimburse the school.  Please do not come eat with your child until September 23rd.  

• Homework

Students will have graded reading, math and spelling homework each week. Reading homework will consist of your child reading a leveled book each night to a parent.  Once your child has mastered the book (can read fluently without help) please sign the reading log.  We will then send home a new book.  Students must read a minimum of 2 books each week to receive full homework credit.  Your child will have one activity each night for Math and Spelling homework.  Classwork and homework grades make up 40% of your child’s grade.

• Peak

The day your child became a student at PCA you became a member of PEAK which is our school’s parent group.  Please step up and support your child’s school by volunteering your time and help.