Hi, families!

We had an awesome first week of first grade! Thank you for all of your support as we help your kiddos get adjusted to first grade routines and expectations. I wanted to give you some updates and reminders as we look ahead to next week!  

Announcements: 

⭐ Please remember to pack your child a snack everyday!

⭐ Please make sure your child has a set of wired headphones to use with their computers!

⭐ Homework will be sent home next week, and it is OPTIONAL.

Important Dates:

⭐ September 1st: NO SCHOOL! Labor Day!

⭐ September 2nd: Mclass testing window begins

• These combined tests help teachers determine how students are performing on the important reading skills that children must develop in order to become proficient readers. 

⭐ September 2nd: The deadline to turn in all Summer Reading Challenge Sheets to participate in the Ice Cream Social is on Friday, September 5th at 1:00pm. 

⭐ September 26th: Quarter 1 Progress Reports go home! 

➡️ Please take a look at what we will be learning next week in class:

We are starting our first IB Transdisciplinary Theme, Who We Are. Our Central Idea is “We share ideas to make connections and build our communities.” 

Letterland - I can read, write, and spell words with the ad, ap, & at word families.

Reading - I can identify story elements in a fiction text.

Writing - I can write all upper and lowercase letters in the alphabet and use finger spacing when I write.

Math - I can represent, organize and interpret data.

Social Studies - I can understand how people shape communities.

Weekly Newsletter #2 (sent 9/5)

Hi, families!

We had an amazing short week here in first grade! Please read this email in its entirety as I have a few important dates and reminders for you!

Your child had their first spelling test today!  This was on Unit 1 of Letterland - the -ad, -ap, & -at word families. We have been working with and studying these words all week! As we move on to Unit 2, please have your child work on their words in the homework packet that will be sent home on Monday to reinforce their learning. 

⭐ Reminders

• Your child may eat a snack during recess - please send a snack if your child needs it! 

• Please send your child to school with a pair of over the ear headphones if you have not done so already.

• Please try to take a look at your child’s Take Home Binder every Friday! Take any papers from the week out and return anything that needs to be signed by putting it back in the binder. 

⭐ Items to return to school if you have not already done so:

• Pink school release locator form 

• Pink colored Spanish contact form (sent home today in Take Home Binders!)

⭐Important Dates:

• September 23rd: Mclass testing ends

• September 26th: Quarter 1 Progress Reports and Mclass Home Connect letters go home! 

➡️ Please take a look at what we will be learning next week in class:

IB Transdisciplinary Theme: Who We Are 

Central Idea: “We share ideas to make connections and build our communities.” Ask your child to show you the movements we made to go along with our Central Idea!

Letterland - I can read, write, and spell words with the an, am, & ack word families.

Reading - I can identify story elements in a fiction text.

Writing - I can write all upper and lowercase letters in the alphabet and use finger spacing when I write.

Math - I can organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories.

Social Studies - I know how people and groups contribute to the making of rules and laws in a community. 

Weekly Newsletter #3 (sent 9/12)

Hi, families!

We had another awesome week here in first grade! We have been loving making connections with our IB Central Idea, “We share ideas and make connections to build our communities.” Ask your child to share the central idea and the moves that go along with it with you!

⭐ Reminders & Announcements

• Your child may eat a snack during recess - please send a snack if your child needs it! 

• Homework is sent home on Mondays. Remember, homework is OPTIONAL! 

• First grade will have their Spanish Dance Performance 💃 on Wednesday, October 29th! They will practice for this performance during Spanish in the upcoming weeks. Participation is optional, but encouraged! The Spanish team will provide most costumes and accessories. Please sign and return the permission slip that was sent home today in your child’s take home binder as soon as possible!

• Support our school with the GoPlaySave fundraiser! Money raised helps the Joyner Foundation to support teachers, staff, students, and families during the school year. The GoPlaySave booklet was sent home with your child today! The sheet in the envelope will include detailed instructions, but please pay extra close attention to the following:

  • The LAST day to send in cash or check orders is September 29th! 

  • Go to www.goplaysavetriangle.com/jes2026 and click the green button to set up a storefront link with friends, family, neighbors, and purchase paper or mobile/app books. You can also place orders by returning the paper order envelope with your payment. Checks should be made out to the JY Joyner Foundation.

  • If you do not wish to participate in the fundraiser, please make sure that you send back the envelope as well as the book ASAP! 

• The PTA Summer Reading Celebration will be held on Friday, September 19th at 12:45 for 1st grade students who completed the required minutes on the summer reading log! 

⭐ Items to return to school if you have not already done so:

• Pink school release locator form 

• PTA membership form (If you wish to join) 

• Pink colored Spanish contact form

• Spanish Dancing permission slip (need to be returned by Sept 26. They will not accept late forms).

• GoPlaySave envelope (need to be returned by Sept 29th)

⭐Important Dates:

• Friday, September 19th: Summer Reading Celebration at 12:45pm

• Tuesday, September 23rd: NO SCHOOL! Teacher Workday

• Friday, September 26th: Quarter 1 Progress Reports go home! 

• Monday, October 13th: NO SCHOOL! Teacher Workday

• Monday, October 20th: NO SCHOOL! Teacher Workday

• Wednesday, October 29th: Spanish dancing performance @ 10 am 💃

➡️ Please take a look at what we will be learning next week in class:

IB Transdisciplinary Theme - Who We Are

Central Idea - “We share ideas and make connections to build our communities.”

Letterland - I can read, write, and spell words with the -ix, -ick, and -in word families. (Unit 3) 

Reading - 

Writing - I can write narratives that include two or more sequenced events, includes temporal words, and provides closure. 

Math - Read and write numerals, and represent a number of objects with a written numeral. 

Social Studies - I can identify a right and a responsibility. I can explain how individuals and groups use strategies to solve community problems.

10/17/25

Hi, families!

🥳Spirit Week starts this Monday! Please see the schedule below for our themed days! 

MONDAY

Teacher Workday-No School 

TUESDAY

Pajama Day 

No need to set the alarm early! Roll out of bed and head to school in your coziest pajamas or comfy clothes today!

WEDNESDAY

Unity Day

Let’s wear orange to show unity!! Showing kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying. 

THURSDAY

Dress to Impress

Dress to impress!! Wear your favorite outfit and show off your smile for school pictures! 

FRIDAY

Fan Favorite Day

Represent your favorite band, sports team, or hobby today - from Swifties to soccer stars, share what you love!

⭐ Announcements

• Field trip permission forms are due! If you have not completed it, please send it in by Tuesday (filled out on the front and back).  If you have not yet paid for the upcoming field trip, please see the bulleted item below for directions on how to pay online.  

• First Grade has 2 field trips this year.  On October 30th, we will head to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham and on March 2nd, our field trip will be on campus using Science for Fun for Everyone. To pay for both field trips, you will need to click on the following link:   School Cash Online  You will be instructed to first create an account and then you will have access to the payment portal for our First Grade Trips.  

• If you would like to chaperone for the museum, please let me know as soon as possible. We will be sending detailed instructions for chaperones soon! Remember you must be an approved volunteer. If you have not filled out the application to volunteer, here is the link (you must complete each year): Volunteer WCPSS 

• If you need help covering the cost of these field trips, please let me know!

• 💗DONATION OPTION💗:  If your family would like to donate money towards assisting a student with field trip costs. Please send cash or a check made to JY Joyner Elementary and label Field Trip Scholarship or contact me with any questions. 

⭐Important Dates:

• Monday, October 20th: NO SCHOOL! Teacher Workday

• Thursday, October 23rd: Fall picture day!

  • To pay online, go to www.strawbridge.net. Click order pictures and type in the following code:

    • FM481226

• October 20th - October 24th: JYJ Spirit Week -

• Friday, October 24th: Joyner Jamboree! Tickets are on sale for $5 and are only needed for kids! These are available on MemberHub NOW by clicking HERE.

• Wednesday, October 29th: Spanish Dancing Performance 💃 @ 10am

• Thursday, October 30th: Field Trip to Life & Science museum! 

• Friday, October 31st: Future Goals Friday

• Tuesday, November 4th: Teacher Workday/Election Day (no school)

• Wednesday, November 5th: Science Go-Round

• Friday, November 7th: Quarter 1 Report Cards go home 

➡️ Please take a look at what we will be learning next week:

IB Transdisciplinary Theme - How the World Works

Central Idea - Movement creates observable change. 

Letterland -  I can read, write, and spell words with all of the long vowel sounds (e, i, o, y). 

Reading - I can identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.

Writing - I can revise, edit, and publish my informative writing on bats.

Math - I can represent and solve addition and subtraction word problems within 20.

Science -  I can investigate and determine objects that are magnetic and non-magnetic. I can explain how magnetic poles can attract and repel.

As always if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!

10/10/25

Hi, families! 

🍂Fall is in the air!!🍁 We are enjoying the beautiful weather, but it is chilly in the morning, which is our recess time. We recommend labeling your child’s coats or sweaters, just in case they get left behind. We are also entering a brand-new science unit where we will be exploring all things motion and stability, as it aligns with our new central idea: "Movement creates observable change"! We will be exploring motion with the creation of our own racetracks, investigating magnetism, and exploring balanced and unbalanced forces! To help us with our investigation on Wednesday, October 15th, students may bring the following items to school if they have them at home:

A toy car (matchbox size)

Paper towel tubes

Toilet paper tubes

Painter’s tape or Washi Tape

1 Large sheet of poster board

If you do not have the items, I will be glad to group students together to share any supplies we collect. You do not need to purchase the items. Students may bring in items beginning the week of October 14th. Thank you SO much for your help and generosity! Our field trip to the Durham Life and Science Museum is fast approaching!  It is Thursday, October 30th. If you are interested in being a chaperone, we would love for you to participate!  You must be a registered volunteer and on the school’s approved WCPSS volunteer list.  Please sign up with your child’s teacher.  Chaperones will be responsible for driving themselves to and from the museum;  the admission cost is $15. You will receive more specific information if you wish to volunteer. Please return all permission slips by Tuesday. 💗DONATION OPTION💗:  If your family would like to donate money towards assisting a student with field trip costs. Please send cash or a check made to JY Joyner Elementary and label Field Trip Scholarship or contact me with any questions. The cost of the museum is $20.50 and the cost of Science for Fun (in school field trip) is $12.50. 

⭐Important Dates:

• Monday, October 13th: NO SCHOOL! Teacher Workday

• Monday, October 20th: NO SCHOOL! Teacher Workday

• Thursday, October 23rd: Fall picture day!

  • To pay online, go to www.strawbridge.net. Click order pictures and type in the following code:

    • FM481226

• October 20th - October 24th: JYJ Spirit Week -

• Friday, October 24th: Joyner Jamboree! Tickets are on sale for $5 and are only needed for kids! These are available on MemberHub NOW by clicking HERE.

• Wednesday, October 29th: Spanish Dancing Performance 💃 @ 10am

• Thursday, October 30th: Field Trip to Life & Science museum!

• Friday, October 31st: Future Goals Friday

➡️ Please take a look at what we will be learning next week:

IB Transdisciplinary Theme - How the World Works

Central Idea - Movement creates observable change. 

Letterland -  I can read, write, and spell words with short vowels. Tri-Weekly Week this week - Units 4-6 are on the First Grade Website!

Reading - I can describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

Writing - I can revise, edit, and publish my informational writing story.

Math - Represent and solve addition word problems within 20 with a missing addend.

Science - I can understand how things move.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!

10/3

Hi, families!

Happy October! 👻 We have had another great week in First Grade. We have a lot of fun things coming up for the month of October!

⭐ Announcements

• Please do not forget to turn in your field trip forms ASAP! We have a very quick turnaround to get everything turned in. As a reminder, you need to be an approved WCPSS volunteer if you would like to chaperone. Here is the link to get approved: WCPSS Volunteer Link 

⭐Important Dates:

• Monday, October 13th: NO SCHOOL! Teacher Workday

• Monday, October 20th: NO SCHOOL! Teacher Workday

• Thursday, October 23rd: Fall picture day!

  • To pay online, go to www.strawbridge.net. Click order pictures and type in the following code:

    • FM481226

• October 20th - October 24th: JYJ Spirit Week - more details to come!

• Friday, October 24th: Joyner Jamboree!

• Wednesday, October 29th: Spanish Dancing Performance 💃 @ 10am

• Thursday, October 30th: Field Trip to Life & Science museum!

➡️ Please take a look at what we will be learning next week:

IB Transdisciplinary Theme - How the World Works

Central Idea - Movement creates observable change. 

Letterland -  I can read, write, and spell words with short u sounds, and plural endings (s, or -es).

Reading - I can describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

Writing - I can revise, edit, and publish my informational writing story.

Math - Represent and solve addition and subtraction word problems within 20 with a missing total.

Science - I can understand how things move.

As always if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!