Kindergarten & First Grade!

Kindergarten & First Grade Newsletter

Sunday, may 17, 2026

What a beautiful weekend! I hope everyone had a chance to get out and enjoy it. The next couple of weeks are packed with lots of learning and fun! Please be sure to read below. I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the kind notes, gifts and gestures that I received during Teacher Appreciation Week. It really warmed my heart. I have had many of my students and families for several years (as you know), and I care deeply for each and every one of you. I appreciate your kindness and look forward to closing out this school year strong!

Our Learning in the Classroom:

• Shared Literacy Learning: All students have completed their booklet of interview questions, and have completed their interview with a classmate. We have made covers for our books and a table of contents labeling each section. This week we will begin to write the first section using the information we have gathered through our interviews.

• Kindergarten Literacy: We are currently up to 25 sight words! Students have been reading small books that allow us to practice both our sight word knowledge, blending work, and reading strategies. Please be sure to have them read these often when they come home. In addition, we have been working on the /am/ and /an/ word chunk often found in words.

• Kindergarten Math: We completed a unit on recently revisited 2D and 3D shapes. Students worked on composing and decomposing larger shapes using basic 2D and 3D shapes. We learned about attributes and how to use various attributes to describe each shape. This week we will begin to find the missing addend in a story problem. For example: There were 2 dinner plates at the table, but we need 5. How many more dinner plates do we need? 2 + ___ = 5.

• First Grade Literacy: We worked to recognize and read words that use the vowel teams: ai/ay, ee/ea/ey,  oi/oy, oa/oe/ow, ow/ou, and ue/ew. This week we will focus on the two sounds that /oo/ can make in words like: book & soon. Next week we will tackle the last vowel teams au & aw. We have also been feverishly adding sight words to our memory bank, and using them for reading and spelling. There are 93 words for first graders to learn in total!

• First Grade Math: We completed a unit on shapes 2D & 3D, and a unit on fractions. The big take aways for first graders are that ½ and ¼ are fractions of equal parts, and that half, halves, fourth and fourths are language that can be used to describe them. This week we will begin telling time to the hour and half hour.

• Read Aloud: We are reading The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Important Reminders and Upcoming Events:

• Book Order:  I will place this order TOMORROW!  https://orders.scholastic.com/GRLQT 

• Music Concert: Tomorrow, Monday, May 18th 6:00 p.m. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early. Students have been asked to wear “spring” attire.

• Field trip 5/21: We are headed to Shelburne Museum on Thursday. Thank you to the families that signed up to come. We are hoping to leave school by 9:00. If you are able to drive or carpool this is preferred, as there will not be much room on the bus. We will return for regular dismissal at 3:30. 

• First Grade Annual Trip to U32: U-32 7th grade students are hosting their Elementary Book Buddies on May 28th. Students will leave Calais Elementary on a bus around 9:30am to read with current 7th grade students from 10:00am- 11:00am and will return around 11:30am. They will be back for their normal lunch and recess that day.

• No School/Last Day: School will be closed Monday, May 25, 2026 in observation of Memorial Day. Wednesday, June 17th is our scheduled last day of school. This is a half day for students (12:30).

Next Year’s School Calendar: Here is a link to newly approved district 26-27 school calendar.