Weekly newsletters will be posted here every Friday!

Friday, May  31st

Upcoming Dates: 

• June 4th: Field Day - First Grade wears orange

• June 6th: Last day of school - 12pm Dismissal

Classroom Content: 

• Engineering Unit: We will soon begin our last science unit of the year, Engineering. The first-grade team is collecting blue painter's tape, empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls, empty yogurt containers, and items made of chipboard (ie: cereal boxes, tissue boxes, cracker boxes, etc.). We will be collecting these on an ongoing basis until the last week of school.

• Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Review

Phonics: Review

Comprehension: Review

Grammar: Review

Writing: How to Writing

Thematic Study: Engineering

Assessment Information:

• We are done with assessments for the year!

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: This week in math we reviewed math concepts taught up to this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home.

• Writing: This trimester we are focused on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we reviewed phonics concepts taught up to this week.  Use this resource to review phonics skills. 

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on poetry this week.  Poetry teaches language in an engaging manner. Poetry allows the reader to develop images of people, places and things through “word pictures.” Poetry entertains, instructs, challenges and inspires. Use this resource to help your reader at home.

• Grammar: This week we reviewed grammar concepts taught up to this week.  Use this video to review some grammar skills.

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we learned about reflecting and connecting. We discussed how it feels to come to the end of an important time in our lives, why it is important to remember time spent together, and think about how we have changed and grown. 

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

Infinite Campus Parent Portal: In August, we will be sharing middle school and high school schedules via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. They will not be individually emailed, they will only be released in the portal. To make sure you will have access to this information, please take the following actions:

1. CLICK HERE to log into the parent portal

2. If you have lost your password, CLICK HERE to request a reset 

The parent portal is a great way to see your student’s schedule, attendance, and more!

K-8 Field Day: Mark your calendars for our K-8 Field Day on Tuesday, June 4th. Help us end an amazing year by signing up to volunteer or make a donation for Field Day. CLICK HERE to volunteer or make donations to Field Day.

Families, we need your help! This year, June 4th will be a free dress day and each grade level will represent their grade level by wearing a different colored t-shirt. Please see below for what color shirt to have your child wear that day!

• Kinder - Red

• 1st - Orange

• 2nd - Yellow

• 3rd - Green

• 4th - Blue

• 5th - Purple

• 6th - Black

• 7th - Blue

• 8th - Tie-Dye

Middle School Families: Your student was given a permission slip to participate in Field Day at Valley Oak Park. Monday, June 3rd all permission slips are due to their Advisory teachers in order to leave campus. 

Friday, May  24th

Upcoming Dates: 

• May 27th: Memorial Day - No School

• May 30th: 5pm - Rumpus in the Rainforest

• June 4th: Field Day - First Grade wears orange

• June 6th: Last day of school - 12pm Dismissal

Classroom Content: 

• Engineering Unit: We will soon begin our last science unit of the year, Engineering. The first-grade team is collecting blue painter's tape, empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls, empty yogurt containers, and items made of chipboard (ie: cereal boxes, tissue boxes, cracker boxes, etc.). We will be collecting these on an ongoing basis until the last week of school.

• Rumpus In The Rainforest: Save the date! Our first-grade performance, Rumpus in the Rainforest, will take place on May 30th. 

• Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 7- Geometry and Time

Phonics: Unit 14- Review

Comprehension: Review and assessments

Grammar: Review and assessments

Writing: How to Writing

Thematic Study: Engineering

Assessment Information:

• We are currently working on trimester 3 Report Card assessments.

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on solving number riddles in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 8 of math.

• Writing: This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize the writing section of this resource for ideas for activities you can continuously do to support your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on review of syllable division, adding suffixes to multisyllabic words, Word of the Day ( submit, disputes)  and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (day, may, way), writing sentences and scooping them (Who invented that game?, The fishing trip in May was fantastic., Is this the way to the cabin?), and dictating words (indexes, athletes, invented, cabin, mistake, suntans, muffin). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 14 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on poetry this week.  Poetry teaches language in an engaging manner. Poetry allows the reader to develop images of people, places and things through “word pictures.” Poetry entertains, instructs, challenges and inspires. Use this resource to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on compound words. Compound words are formed when two or more words are joined together to create a new word that has an entirely new meaning. Please utilize this game1 , game2, or song to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we learned about making amends and forgiving. We listened to a story and discussed the importance of taking responsibility for causing hurt or harm to others, learning ways to repair a situation, and the reasons why it is helpful to be forgiving. 

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

Infinite Campus Parent Portal: In August, we will be sharing middle school and high school schedules via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. They will not be individually emailed, they will only be released in the portal. To make sure you will have access to this information, please take the following actions:

1. CLICK HERE to log into the parent portal

2. If you have lost your password, CLICK HERE to request a reset 

The parent portal is a great way to see your student’s schedule, attendance, and more!

Front Street Animal Shelter Donation Drive: Our Middle School Elective, Community Giving, is supporting Front Street Animal Shelter by hosting a donation drive. Would you like to help animals in need? If so, please consider joining our Middle School Explorers by donating new and gently used items, such as cat and dog food, blankets, towels, and pet toys. This donation drive runs through Friday, May 31st. Donated items may be dropped off in your grade level flex space. For more information, please contact Mrs. Hubbard at shubbard@westlakecharter.com.

Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL: On Monday, May 27th, in honor of Memorial Day, Westlake Charter School and BASE will be closed.

K-8 Field Day: Mark your calendars for our K-8 Field Day on Tuesday, June 4th. Help us end an amazing year by signing up to volunteer or make a donation for Field Day. CLICK HERE to volunteer or make donations to Field Day.

Families, we need your help! This year, June 4th will be a free dress day and each grade level will represent their grade level by wearing a different colored t-shirt. Please see below for what color shirt to have your child wear that day!

• Kinder - Red

• 1st - Orange

• 2nd - Yellow

• 3rd - Green

• 4th - Blue

• 5th - Purple

• 6th - Black

• 7th - Blue

• 8th - Tie-Dye

Friday, May  17th

Upcoming Dates: 

• May 24th: Spirit Day - Book Character Day

• May 27th: Memorial Day - No School

• May 30th: 5pm - Rumpus in the Rainforest

• June 4th: Field Day - First Grade wears orange

• June 6th: Last day of school - 12pm Dismissal

Classroom Content: 

• Engineering Unit: We will soon begin our last science unit of the year, Engineering. The first-grade team is collecting blue painter's tape, empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls, empty yogurt containers, and items made of chipboard (ie: cereal boxes, tissue boxes, cracker boxes, etc.). We will be collecting these on an ongoing basis until the last week of school.

• Rumpus In The Rainforest: Our first-grade performance, Rumpus in the Rainforest, will take place on May 30th. While we are hard at work preparing in class, we could use some help from you at home! We are looking for volunteers to help with character headpieces, setup, and cleanup. If you are able to volunteer, please sign up using the following link. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher. 

  • https://signup.com/go/NkJtLxY

  • Here are some headpiece ideas for those who are interested. You may mirror these ideas, or come up with your own creation!

• Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 7- Geometry and Time

Phonics: Unit 14- Review

Comprehension: Review and assessments

Grammar: Review and assessments

Writing: How to Writing

Thematic Study: Rumpus in the Rainforest

Assessment Information:

• Trimester 3 Report Card assessments will begin the week of May 13th.

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on comparing story problems in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 8 of math.

• Writing: This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize the writing section of this resource for ideas for activities you can continuously do to support your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on reviewing two syllable words, digraphs, blends, bonus letters, welded sounds, vowel_e words, adding suffixes and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (water, called), writing sentences and scooping them (Mom is still thinking of her job., Jeff rushes home from work., Dad called us back home., There is water in the glasses.), and dictating words (smiles, squishes, thrilling, quake, stumps, planes, cones, ended). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 14 of phonics.

• Comprehension: This week we reviewed previously caught comprehension strategies and skills.

• Grammar: This week we reviewed grammar concepts taught up to this week.  Use this game to review some grammar skills.

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we learned about being inclusive. We listened to a story and discussed what it is like to be included and excluded and the importance of figuring out how to make sure everyone feels welcome.

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL: On Monday, May 27th, in honor of Memorial Day, Westlake Charter School and BASE will be closed.

Spirit Shirt Contest - Submissions Due Friday, May 24th: It’s time for Westlake to pick the student drawing for next year’s Friday spirit shirt! This contest is open to all Westlake Charter School students. On an 8.5x11 sheet of paper, students should draw a black and white picture of what Westlake means to them. Students should make sure their drawing includes the school name. Email submissions to admin@westlakecharter.com or turn it into the front office. All entries must be received by Friday, May 24th. Winners will be announced in the Family Weekly on June 2nd. 

K-8 Spirit Day - Book Character Day: Friday, May 24th is Book Character Day! What better way to show our love for literature than to dress up like our favorite book character?! Don’t forget to show your WCS spirit by posting pictures on all social media platforms and using the hashtags #WestlakeCharter and #WCSSpiritFriday 

Please remember to follow the dress code guidelines below for spirit day:

• Clothes must be free of inappropriate wording and images

• All shirts must have sleeves, no sleeveless shirts

• All clothing must be free of rips and tears

• All clothing must fit properly, pants around the natural waist, tops completely covering the torso area

• No dangerous accessories (i.e., wands, swords, masks)

Social Media and Mental Health Workshop Resources: CLICK HERE for the slides from the Social Media & Mental Health Workshop that was led by our school counselors and psychologist.  CLICK HERE to view the one pager with additional information that was shared.

K-8 Field Day: Mark your calendars for our K-8 Field Day on Tuesday, June 4th. Help us end an amazing year by signing up to volunteer or make a donation for Field Day. CLICK HERE to volunteer or make donations to Field Day.

Families, we need your help! This year, June 4th will be a free dress day and each grade level will represent their grade level by wearing a different colored t-shirt. Please see below for what color shirt to have your child wear that day!

• Kinder - Red

• 1st - Orange

• 2nd - Yellow

• 3rd - Green

• 4th - Blue

• 5th - Purple

• 6th - Black

• 7th - Blue

• 8th - Tie-Dye

Friday, May  10th

Upcoming Dates: 

• May 15th: K-8 Open House

• May 27th: Memorial Day - No School

• May 30th: 5pm - Rumpus in the Rainforest

• June 4th: Field Day - First Grade wears orange

• June 6th: Last day of school - 12pm Dismissal

Classroom Content: 

• Rumpus In The Rainforest: Our first-grade performance, Rumpus in the Rainforest, will take place on May 30th. While we are hard at work preparing in class, we could use some help from you at home! We are looking for volunteers to help with character headpieces, setup, and cleanup. If you are able to volunteer, please sign up using the following link. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher. 

  • https://signup.com/go/NkJtLxY

  • Here are some headpiece ideas for those who are interested. You may mirror these ideas, or come up with your own creation!

• Bike Month: Westlake is participating in Bike Month from April 29th to May 10th.  Students can participate by riding their bikes, scooters, roller skates, or anything with wheels. I hope your student will join the challenge! All participating students will earn a Bike Month keychain. The grade level with the highest participation will win Kona Ice.

• Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 8- Putting it all together - Review

Phonics: Unit 14- Review

Comprehension: Review and assessments

Grammar: Review and assessments

Writing: How to Writing

Thematic Study: Rumpus in the Rainforest

Assessment Information:

• Trimester 3 Report Card assessments will begin the week of May 13th.

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on relating addition to subtraction in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 8 of math.

• Writing: This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize the writing section of this resource for ideas for activities you can continuously do to support your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on the suffix -es, base words vs words with a suffix, Word of the Day (finishes, inches) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (their, being, first), writing sentences and scooping them (Look at these branches., It is good to finish your taxes., Who are the people on the benches?, Get well wishes were sent to Ted.), and dictating words (taxes, tosses, foxes, quizzes). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 13 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on drawing conclusions to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this video to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on contractions which are informal “shortcuts” that we often use in our everyday speech. A contraction consists of two words that are combined to form one word. Please utilize this resource ,  or game to help your child at home.

Social-Emotional:

This week, we learned about our Core Value of the month- Perseverance. We discussed what perseverance looks and sounds like and how we can demonstrate it. 

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

Spirit Shirt Contest - Submissions Due Friday, May 24th: It’s time for Westlake to pick the student drawing for next year’s Friday spirit shirt! This contest is open to all Westlake Charter School students. On an 8.5x11 sheet of paper, students should draw a black and white picture of what Westlake means to them. Students should make sure their drawing includes the school name. Email submissions to admin@westlakecharter.com or turn it into the front office. All entries must be received by Friday, May 24th. Winners will be announced in the Family Weekly on June 2nd. 

K-8 Field Day: Mark your calendars for our K-8 Field Day on Tuesday, June 4th. Help us end an amazing year by signing up to volunteer or make a donation for Field Day. CLICK HERE to volunteer or make donations to Field Day.

Families, we need your help! This year, June 4th will be a free dress day and each grade level will represent their grade level by wearing a different colored t-shirt. Please see below for what color shirt to have your child wear that day!

• Kinder - Red

• 1st - Orange

• 2nd - Yellow

• 3rd - Green

• 4th - Blue

• 5th - Purple

• 6th - Black

• 7th - Blue

• 8th - Tie-Dye

Friday, May  3rd

Upcoming Dates: 

• May 15th: K-8 Open House

• May 27th: Memorial Day - No School

• May 30th: 5pm - Rumpus in the Rainforest

Classroom Content: 

• Rumpus In The Rainforest: Our first-grade performance, Rumpus in the Rainforest, will take place on May 30th. While we are hard at work preparing in class, we could use some help from you at home! We are looking for volunteers to help with character headpieces, setup, and cleanup. If you are able to volunteer, please sign up using the following link. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher. 

  • https://signup.com/go/NkJtLxY

  • Here are some headpiece ideas for those who are interested. You may mirror these ideas, or come up with your own creation!

• Bike Month: Westlake is participating in Bike Month from April 29th to May 10th.  Students can participate by riding their bikes, scooters, roller skates, or anything with wheels. I hope your student will join the challenge! All participating students will earn a Bike Month keychain. The grade level with the highest participation will win Kona Ice.

• Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

  • Scholastic Book Orders: If you are interested in purchasing books from this book order, our class code is: YZ74C. Order online at: scholastic.com/bookclubs.

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 8- Putting it all together - Review

Phonics: Unit 13- Multisyllabic words with suffixes

Comprehension: Drawing Conclusions

Grammar: Contractions

Writing: Expository Writing

Thematic Study: Maps

Assessment Information:

• Our Maps assessment will be given the week of May 6th.

• Trimester 3 Report Card assessments will begin the week of May 13th.

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on analyzing story problems with unknowns in each position in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin) and the Measurement and Data domain (click on the frog). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 6 of math. 

• Writing: This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to encourage your writer to write a book about a topic they love. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on the suffix -es, base words vs words with a suffix, Word of the Day (waxes, crosses) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (their, being, first), writing sentences and scooping them (First, fill the glasses with milk., Jack tosses the ball to Fran., Their dresses are being mended., Fill the boxes with your work.), and dictating words (taxes, tosses, foxes, quizzes). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 13 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on drawing conclusions and answering questions to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this game to help your reader at home.  

• Grammar: We have been focusing on contractions which are informal “shortcuts” that we often use in our everyday speech. A contraction consists of two words that are combined to form one word. Please utilize this resource ,  or game to help your child at home.

Social-Emotional:

This week started Mental Health Awareness Month! Our wonderful counselors came in to teach us a lesson on taking care of ourselves, and how to change our worried thoughts into good “what ifs!”

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

K-8 Field Day: Mark your calendars for our K-8 Field Day on Tuesday, June 4th. Help us end an amazing year by signing up to volunteer or make a donation for Field Day. CLICK HERE to volunteer or make donations to Field Day.

Families, we need your help! This year, June 4th will be a free dress day and each grade level will represent their grade level by wearing a different colored t-shirt. Please see below for what color shirt to have your child wear that day!

• Kinder - Red

• 1st - Orange

• 2nd - Yellow

• 3rd - Green

• 4th - Blue

• 5th - Purple

• 6th - Black

• 7th - Blue

• 8th - Tie-Dye

Friday, April 26th

Upcoming Dates: 

• April 27th: International Festival

• May 15th: K-8 Open House

• May 27th: Memorial Day - No School

• May 30th: 5pm - Rumpus in the Rainforest

Classroom Content: 

• Rumpus In The Rainforest: Our first-grade performance, Rumpus in the Rainforest, will take place on May 30th. While we are hard at work preparing in class, we could use some help from you at home! We are looking for volunteers to help with character headpieces, setup, and cleanup. If you are able to volunteer, please sign up using the following link. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher. 

  • https://signup.com/go/NkJtLxY

  • Here are some headpiece ideas for those who are interested. You may mirror these ideas, or come up with your own creation!

• Bike Month: Westlake is participating in Bike Month from April 29th to May 10th.  Students can participate by riding their bikes, scooters, roller skates, or anything with wheels. I hope your student will join the challenge! All participating students will earn a Bike Month keychain. The grade level with the highest participation will win Kona Ice.

• Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

  • Scholastic Book Orders: If you are interested in purchasing books from this book order, our class code is: YZ74C. Order online at: scholastic.com/bookclubs.

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 6- Measurements within 120

Phonics: Unit 13- Multisyllabic words with suffixes

Comprehension: Drawing Conclusions

Grammar: Contractions

Writing: Expository Writing

Thematic Study: Maps

Assessment Information:

• Our unit 6 math assessment will be given the week of April 29th.  Click here for the study guide.

• Our Maps assessment will be given the week of May 6th.

• Trimester 3 Report Card assessments will begin the week of May 13th.

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on writing equations for story problems in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin) and the Measurement and Data domain (click on the frog). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 6 of math.

• Writing: This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home.  Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on adding suffixes to multisyllabic words (-ed, -s, -ing), Word of the Day (includes) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (work, word, write), writing sentences and scooping them (You can write on the napkins., Stop disrupting our class!, I insulted my friend by mistake., Ben dislikes my cat.), and dictating words (bedbugs, exhales, flagpoles, publishing, indented, unzips, athletes). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 13 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on author’s reasoning to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this video to help your reader at home.  

• Grammar: We have been focusing on have and had to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource, video and game to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week was College Week on our K-8 campus! We spent time discussing college and careers, including what they are and what might interest us. We also discussed our individual strengths and the importance of keeping doors open to opportunities. Students are welcome to wear college shirts or their spirit shirt every Friday!

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

Friday, April 12th

Upcoming Dates: 

• April 15th-19th: Spring Break - No School

• April 26th: Spirit Day - Cultural Day

• April 27th: International Festival

• May 15th: K-8 Open House

Classroom Content: 

• Spring Break - No School: Westlake Charter School will be closed Monday, April 15th through Monday, April 22nd for Spring Break.  BASE will be open on Monday, April 22nd.

• Rumpus In The Rainforest: Our first-grade performance, Rumpus in the Rainforest, will take place on May 30th. While we are hard at work preparing in class, we could use some help from you at home! We are looking for volunteers to help with character headpieces, setup, and cleanup. If you are able to volunteer, please sign up using the following link. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher. 

  • https://signup.com/go/NkJtLxY

  • Here are some headpiece ideas for those who are interested. You may mirror these ideas, or come up with your own creation!

• Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

  • Scholastic Book Orders: Scholastic Book Orders were sent home in your child’s blue folder last week. If you are interested in purchasing books from this book order, our class code is: YZ74C. Order online at: scholastic.com/bookclubs.

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 6- Measurements within 120

Phonics: Unit 13- Multisyllabic words with suffixes

Comprehension: Author’s reasoning

Grammar: Verbs: Have & Had

Writing: Expository Writing

Thematic Study: Plant Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• Our unit 6 math assessment will be given the week of April 29th.  Click here for the study guide.

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on writing numbers to 120 in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin) and the Measurement and Data domain (click on the frog). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 6 of math.

• Writing: This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home.  Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on the spelling of /ic/, 2 syllable words, Word of the Day (frantic, plastic) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (Mr., Mrs.), writing sentences and scooping them (Mr. and Mrs. Grant had a picnic., The dog in the bathtub is frantic!, Did Mrs. Smith panic?, I expect to see Mr. White.), and dictating words (plastic, topic, expect, contact). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 12 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on author’s reasoning to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this video to help your reader at home.  

• Grammar: We have been focusing on go and went to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource and worksheet to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, we learned about our Core Value of the month- Stewardship. We discussed what Stewardship looks and sounds like and how we can demonstrate it.

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• 19th International Festival: Our 19th Annual International Festival is just around the corner on Saturday, April 27th!  This community event is a family favorite that helps celebrate Westlake’s diversity.  In order to continue to host this spectacular event, we need your support.  It’s not too late to sign up to plan,  volunteer at the event, donate equipment, bake or purchase desserts for the Dessert Walk, or host a cultural booth.

  • Cultural Booths: We currently have 10 booths signed up, but our goal is to see as many countries and cultures represented as possible. Cultural Booth hosts may provide a small sampling of native cuisine, cultural artifacts, and/or a children’s activity/game - the booth can be as simple or complex as you would like. Hosts are reimbursed up to $150 for booth expenses. CLICK HERE to sign up to host a Cultural Booth.

  • Dessert Walk: Want to show off your baking skills? CLICK HERE to donate desserts for the Dessert Walk. 

  • Equipment & Supplies: Equipment and supply donations are also needed (pop-up tents, ice chests, tables, drinks, ice). CLICK HERE  to sign up to donate or lend us your equipment.

  • Volunteers: The success of this event greatly depends on the support of our volunteers. There are still many opportunities available and it is a chance to get those volunteer hours in during the last trimester! CLICK HERE to sign up for a shift.

CLICK HERE to visit the website for all of the details about this year’s International Festival.

Friday, April 5th

Upcoming Dates: 

• April 12th: Sacramento Zoo Field Lesson

• April 15th-19th: Spring Break - No School

• April 26th: Spirit Day - Cultural Day

• April 27th: International Festival

Classroom Content: 

• Library: Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

  • Scholastic Book Orders: Scholastic Book Orders were sent home in your child’s blue folder. If you are interested in purchasing books from this book order, our class code is: YZ74C. Order online at: scholastic.com/bookclubs.

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 6- Measurements within 120

Phonics: Unit 12- Multisyllabic words

Comprehension: Author’s reasoning

Grammar: Verbs: Go & went

Writing: Expository Writing

Thematic Study: Plant Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• Our unit 6 math assessment will be given the week of April 29th. 

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on measuring length with different length units in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin) and the Measurement and Data domain (click on the frog). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 6 of math.

• Writing: This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home.  Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on two syllable words with vowel consonant-e, Word of the Day (excuse, dislike) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (little, been, own, want), writing sentences and scooping them (A little reptile is in the bathtub., I have been at the dentist., The fireman is blinking from too much smoke., Do you own a backpack?), and dictating words (cupcake, springtime, athlete, fireman). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 12 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on text features in a non fiction text to help us understand the information that is presented in the text. Use this video to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on was and were to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource and worksheet to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, we continued learning about recognizing how our behaviors affect others. We continued discussing that it is okay to do things differently, but that it is important to respect the others around us and be willing to compromise.

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• 19th International Festival: Our 19th Annual International Festival is just around the corner on Saturday, April 27th!  This community event is a family favorite that helps celebrate Westlake’s diversity.  In order to continue to host this spectacular event, we need your support.  It’s not too late to sign up to plan,  volunteer at the event, donate equipment, bake or purchase desserts for the Dessert Walk, or host a cultural booth.

  • Cultural Booths: We currently have 10 booths signed up, but our goal is to see as many countries and cultures represented as possible. Cultural Booth hosts may provide a small sampling of native cuisine, cultural artifacts, and/or a children’s activity/game - the booth can be as simple or complex as you would like. Hosts are reimbursed up to $150 for booth expenses. CLICK HERE to sign up to host a Cultural Booth.

  • Dessert Walk: Want to show off your baking skills? CLICK HERE to donate desserts for the Dessert Walk. 

  • Equipment & Supplies: Equipment and supply donations are also needed (pop-up tents, ice chests, tables, drinks, ice). CLICK HERE  to sign up to donate or lend us your equipment.

  • Volunteers: The success of this event greatly depends on the support of our volunteers. There are still many opportunities available and it is a chance to get those volunteer hours in during the last trimester! CLICK HERE to sign up for a shift.

  • CLICK HERE to visit the website for all of the details about this year’s International Festival.

Upcoming Field Lesson: On Friday, April 12th our 1st Grade classes will be going to the Sacramento Zoo. As of March 20th, we have only received 50% of our grade level goal. Help us to continue to host these engaging field lessons to extend our Explorers’ learning! Please access the QR code on the field lesson permission slip coming home soon or CLICK HERE to donate for grade level field lessons.

Friday, March 29th

Upcoming Dates: 

• April 5th: Spring Picture Day - sign up here

• April 12th: Sacramento Zoo Field Lesson

• April 15th-19th: Spring Break - No School

Classroom Content: 

• Library: Our class checked out new books at the library on Monday! Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

    • If these times do not work for you, feel free to reach out and we can work together to find another time that will fit into our classroom schedule!

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 6- Measurements within 120

Phonics: Unit 12- Multisyllabic words

Comprehension: Text Features

Grammar: Verbs: Was & were

Writing: Expository Writing

Thematic Study: Animal Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• Our Animal Adaptations assessment will be given the week of April 1st.

• Our unit 6 math assessment will be given the week of April 29th. 

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on comparing lengths of objects in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin) and the Measurement and Data domain (click on the frog). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 6 of math.

• Writing: This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on compound words (catnip, Batman, sunset), syllable division ( lim-it, mas-cot), Word of the Day (upset, limit) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (people, month), writing sentences and scooping them (I squinted into the sunset., The dog in the bathtub is a mess., Jim got catnip for his tomcat., Did you get a suntan on your trip?), and dictating words (invent, tenpin, cobweb, disrupt, lapdog, nutmeg). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 12 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on comparing and contrasting to help us understand what we read and what is read to us by finding similarities and differences. Use this game to help your reader at home.

• Grammar: We have been focusing on am, is, are to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource , video or worksheet to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we learned about recognizing how our behaviors affect others. We listened to a story and discussed that it is okay to do things differently, but that it is important to respect the others around us and be willing to compromise. 

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• K-8 Spring Picture Day: Spring picture day is Friday, April 5th.  All students will have free dress. Only students who have prepaid AND filled out the form will be sent to the photographer to have their picture taken. Forms were sent home on Friday. CLICK HERE if you would like to have your student’s spring picture taken, please fill out the form above AND prepay online or send payment in the packet. All 8th grade students should dress to impress - pictures for promotion certificates will be taken that day.

• Community giving - Used Book Drive: The Community Giving Middle School elective students are partnering with the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library.  From March 25th - April 5th, they will be accepting donations of undamaged, gently used books to be distributed to kids and organizations in need. Students may place books in the book bin in their grade level flex space, the front office, or Mrs. Hubbard’s classroom (G106).  If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Hubbard at shubbard@westlakecharter.com.

Upcoming Field Lesson: On Friday, April 12th our 1st Grade classes will be going to the Sacramento Zoo. As of March 20th, we have only received 50% of our grade level goal. Help us to continue to host these engaging field lessons to extend our Explorers’ learning! Please access the QR code on the field lesson permission slip coming home soon or CLICK HERE to donate for grade level field lessons.

Friday, March 22nd

Upcoming Dates: 

• April 5th: Spring Picture Day - sign up here

• April 12th: Sacramento Zoo Field Lesson

• April 15th-19th: Spring Break - No School

Classroom Content: 

• Upcoming Field Lesson: Please check your student’s folder today for an orange paper with information regarding our upcoming field lesson to the Sacramento Zoo! Please sign and return their permission slip by Friday, March 29th. We will need four fingerprinted chaperones  to ride the bus with students. Additional fingerprinted chaperones can drive separate and help supervise students at the zoo. As a reminder, siblings are unable to join us for this trip.

• Library: Our class checked out new books at the library on Monday! Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

    • If these times do not work for you, feel free to reach out and we can work together to find another time that will fit into our classroom schedule!

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 6- Measurements within 120

Phonics: Unit 12- Multisyllabic words

Comprehension: Compare and Contrast

Grammar: Verbs: Am, Is, Are

Writing: Expository Writing

Thematic Study: Animal Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• Our unit 5 math assessment will be given next week. (Click Here for the Chapter 5 Study Guide.)

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on adding two digit numbers within 100 in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 5 of math.

• Writing: This trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on words v-e words with suffixes, Word of the Day (rules, tribes) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words, writing sentences and scooping them (The ride ended on the other hill., She rented her home., Stop pumping wind into the fire!, Mom shakes the rug out., The other grapes are bad.), and dictating words (scrape, white, prune, poke, snake, tune). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 11 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on comparing and contrasting to help us understand what we read and what is read to us by finding similarities and differences between texts or within one text. Use this link  and video to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on past tense verbs to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource, video or worksheet to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we learned about cooperating. We read a story and discussed why it is helpful to work together rather than alone and how to do so fairly and cooperatively. 

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• K-8 Spring Picture Day: Spring picture day is Friday, April 5th.  All students will have free dress. Only students who have prepaid AND filled out the form will be sent to the photographer to have their picture taken. Forms were sent home on Friday. CLICK HERE if you would like to have your student’s spring picture taken, please fill out the form above AND prepay online or send payment in the packet. All 8th grade students should dress to impress - pictures for promotion certificates will be taken that day.

• Community giving - Used Book Drive: The Community Giving Middle School elective students are partnering with the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library.  From March 25th - April 5th, they will be accepting donations of undamaged, gently used books to be distributed to kids and organizations in need. Students may place books in the book bin in their grade level flex space, the front office, or Mrs. Hubbard’s classroom (G106).  If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Hubbard at shubbard@westlakecharter.com.

Upcoming Field Lesson: On Friday, April 12th our 1st Grade classes will be going to the Sacramento Zoo. As of March 20th, we have only received 50% of our grade level goal. Help us to continue to host these engaging field lessons to extend our Explorers’ learning! Please access the QR code on the field lesson permission slip coming home soon or CLICK HERE to donate for grade level field lessons.

Friday, March 15th

Upcoming Dates: 

• March 21st: Camp Pollock Field Lesson

• March 22nd: First Grade free dress day *this is ONLY for first grade students*

Classroom Content: 

• Upcoming Field Lesson: On Thursday, March 21st we will have our second field lesson of the year! We will be traveling to Camp Pollock to learn about Nature’s Transformers! This field lesson will be outdoors the entire time, rain or shine, from 9:00am-1:00pm. Upon returning to school, our day will resume as normal with dismissal at 3:15pm.

Please have your student come to school with:

-Comfortable clothing (Westlake Spirit Shirt and Jeans)

-Closed toe shoes

–Empty backpack with their lunchbox and water bottle

• First Grade Free Dress Day: First Grade earned free dress from the Pedestrian Safety Campaign! This will be Friday, March 22nd, and is for first grade students only. 

• Library: Our class checked out new books at the library on Monday! Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

    • If these times do not work for you, feel free to reach out and we can work together to find another time that will fit into our classroom schedule!

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 5- Adding within 100

Phonics: Unit 11- Long Vowels

Comprehension: Compare and Contrast

Grammar: Past Tense Verbs

Writing: Expository Writing

Thematic Study: Animal Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• Our unit 5 math assessment will be given the week of March 18th. (Click Here for the Chapter 5 Study Guide.)

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on adding two digit numbers in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 5 of math.

• Writing: ​In Trimester 3, we will focus on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home.  Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing next trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on words with long vowel versus short vowel sounds, Word of the Day (swipe, tape) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (none, nothing), writing sentences and scooping them (Dad had a joke that made us all smile., I had none of the cake., Hank has a limp and a cane., We like nothing here!), and dictating words (scrape, white, prune, poke, snake, tune). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 11 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on the main idea to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this resource to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on past tense verbs to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource, video or worksheet to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we learned about problem solving. We read a story and discussed the importance of solving a problem by listening to everyone’s ideas and working together to find a compromise that makes everyone feel okay.

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• K-8 Spring Picture Day: Spring picture day is Friday, April 5th.  All students will have free dress. Only students who have prepaid AND filled out the form will be sent to the photographer to have their picture taken. Forms were sent home on Friday. CLICK HERE if you would like to have your student’s spring picture taken, please fill out the form above AND prepay online or send payment in the packet. All 8th grade students should dress to impress - pictures for promotion certificates will be taken that day.

Upcoming Field Lesson: On Thursday, March 21st and March 28th our 1st Grade classes will be going to Camp Pollock. As of March 6th, we have only received 49% of our grade level goal. Help us to continue to host these engaging field lessons to extend our Explorers’ learning! Please access the QR code on the field lesson permission slip coming home soon or CLICK HERE to donate for grade level field lessons.

Friday, March 8th

Upcoming Dates: 

• March 15th: School Spirit Day (Super Bright Day- Neon Colors)

• March 21st: Camp Pollock Field Lesson

Classroom Content: 

• Upcoming Field Lesson: On Thursday, March 21st and March 28th our 1st Grade classes will be going to Camp Pollock. As of March 6th, we have only received 49% of our grade level goal. Help us to continue to host these engaging field lessons to extend our Explorers’ learning! Please access the QR code on the field lesson permission slip coming home soon or CLICK HERE to donate for grade level field lessons.

• Friday Folders: In your child’s blue folder this week, you will find a blue Unit 5 study guide for our upcoming math assessment. This assessment will be given the week of March 18th. The study guide is intended for extra practice but is not required.

• Library: Our class checked out new books at the library on Monday! Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

    • If these times do not work for you, feel free to reach out and we can work together to find another time that will fit into our classroom schedule!

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 5- Adding within 100

Phonics: Unit 11- Long Vowels

Comprehension: Main Idea and Details

Grammar: Past Tense Verbs

Writing: Expository Writing

Thematic Study: Animal Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• Our unit 5 math assessment will be given the week of March 18th. 

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on making tens to make new tens in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 5 of math.

• Writing: ​In Trimester 3, we will focus on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home.  Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing next trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on words with long vowel sounds (a_e, o_e, i_e, u_e), Word of the Day (globe, brave) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (friend, other, another), writing sentences and scooping them (I left another bone on my plate., Is it safe to ride my bike here?, My friend Mike got the prize., My dad shaves in here.), and dictating words (mule, flame, dare, whine, cube). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 11 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on cause and effect to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this resource and video  to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on verbs to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource , game or worksheet to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we learned about problem solving and identifying problems. We discussed the importance of speaking up about our feelings, even when we disagree with others, so that everyone can understand the problem and work together to find a solution.

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• Pedestrian Safety Campaign: Thank you for supporting our pedestrian safety campaign and returning the pledge! Our Westlake community did a great job staying safe by using the crosswalk, using Walking School Bus, and getting in and out of vehicles that were parked safely! Class and grade level winners will be announced Monday, March 11th! Continue to talk to your child about continuing safe behaviors during arrival and dismissal!

K-8 Yearbook Orders: CLICK HERE to order your K-8 yearbook directly through TreeRing and get two pages to personalize with your own pictures! Use code 101667583471473 or see the email with the link to purchase. Order by May 1st for guaranteed delivery the last week of school. Need help? Contact: Mrs. Liechti at  kliechti@westlakecharter.com.

Friday, March 1st

Upcoming Dates: 

• March 4-8th: K-8 Parent Teacher Conferences (Early Dismissal all week at 1:30 PM)

• March 6th: WAVE Meeting (6:00 PM)

• March 15th: School Spirit Day (Super Bright Day- Neon Colors)

• March 21st: Camp Pollock Field Lesson

Classroom Content: 

• Upcoming Field Lesson:  Great News, our second off campus Field Lesson is quickly approaching! In your child’s Blue Folder today, you will find a packet with 3 important forms that need to be completed for our upcoming Field Lesson. Please be sure to complete ALL of the highlighted areas on the forms. All three forms and permission slips need to be returned by March 8th. Each class will take four fingerprinted chaperones on this Field Lesson.

• Walking School Bus: On Friday, March 8th, the First Grade Teachers will be walking to school with the rest of the walking school bus students! Come join us! We will be meeting at Burberry Park at 7:50am.

• Library: Our class checked out new books at the library on Monday! Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

    • If these times do not work for you, feel free to reach out and we can work together to find another time that will fit into our classroom schedule!

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 5- Adding within 100

Phonics: Unit 11- Long Vowels

Comprehension: Cause and Effect

Grammar: Homonyms

Writing: Expository Writing

Thematic Study: Animal Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• Our unit 5 math assessment will be given the week of March 18th. 

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on explaining how to add tens and ones in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 5 of math.

• Writing: ​In Trimester 3, we will focus on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home.  Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing next trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on words with the suffixes -ed, -ing, trick words, spelling trick words, vowel teams au and aw, Word of the Day (blending, planted ) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (out, about, our), writing sentences and scooping them (I am thinking about my class., Frank is swinging on our swing., He is spending our cash.), and dictating words (squinted, stumping, drifted, crusted, spending). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 10 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on cause and effect to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this resource and video  to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on multiple meaning words (homonyms) to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource or game to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

February was Healthy Relationships Month! Our amazing counseling team came to our class this week and gave a lesson on friendships and sharing friends. They discussed how it feels to share friends, how we can share friends, and reminded us that it is okay when our friends want to play with someone else. We learned what we can do if our friend is playing with someone else- take turns sharing friends, play with someone else, or all play together!

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• K-12 Conference Week: Conference week is next week, March 4th - 8th.  CLICK HERE to schedule your conference.  We strive to have  100% of our families meet with their teacher! The online scheduler is available to families through March 3rd so reserve your conference time now. CLICK HERE for instructions on how to use the online scheduler.  Remember, during conference week we will dismiss early to allow time for teachers to meet with each of our families – Kindergarten will dismiss at 1:00 PM and 1st–8th grade will dismiss at 1:30 PM, and High School will dismiss at 1:30 PM. Our K-8 BASE program will be open after school until 6:00 PM each day.

• Pedestrian Safety Campaign Launch: From March 4th-8th, we're launching a Pedestrian Safety Campaign! Look for safety pledge forms in your child's backpack for both you and your students to sign and return. Students will receive an “I pledged” sticker to add to our pledge wall in the cafeteria (and a sweet treat)! 

  • We will also have class and grade level competitions where students will receive tickets as rewards when observed using crosswalks, participating in the Walking School Bus, or safely entering and exiting parked cars. These tickets contribute to exciting competitions for classroom and grade level prizes. Let's prioritize safety and make pedestrian awareness a fun and rewarding experience for all! We need your help to make this a success.  CLICK HERE to sign up to help.  CLICK HERE for a video.

• Missoula Children’s Theater Company: On Monday, March  4th at 1:45 PM, all K-8 students are welcome to audition for Missoula Theater Company's production of Peter & Wendy. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be in a professional show. CLICK HERE for details.  CLICK HERE to RSVP to audition.

K-8 Yearbook Orders: CLICK HERE to order your 2023-24 K-8 yearbook directly through TreeRing and get two pages to personalize with your own pictures! Use code 101667583471473 or see the email with the link to purchase. Order by May 1st for guaranteed delivery the last week of school. Need help? Contact: Mrs. Liechti at kliechti@westlakecharter.com.

Friday, February 16th

Upcoming Dates: 

• February 19th-23rd: Presidents Week- No School

• March 4-8th: K-8 Parent Teacher Conferences (Early Dismissal all week at 1:30 PM)

• March 6th: WAVE Meeting (6:00 PM)

• March 15th: School Spirit Day (Super Bright Day- Neon Colors)

Classroom Content: 

• Library: We will keep our library books through the break and visit the library when we come back! Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

    • If these times do not work for you, feel free to reach out and we can work together to find another time that will fit into our classroom schedule!

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 5- Adding within 100

Phonics: Unit 10- Blending/Segmenting up to 5 sounds, suffixes

Comprehension: Cause and Effect

Grammar: Homonyms

Writing: Opinion Writing

Thematic Study: Animal Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• Our unit 5 math assessment will be given the week of March 18th. 

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on making two digit numbers in multiple ways in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 4 of math.

• Writing: ​Next trimester we are focusing on Expository Writing. Expository writing includes a Topic Sentence, First, Next, Last, and a Closing Sentence. Expository writing explains, describes, gives information or informs the reader.  Please utilize this resource to help your writer determine if they are using facts or opinions in their writing.  Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing next trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on R- controlled vowel sounds (ar, or, er, ir, ur), Vowel Teams (oa, oe, ow, ou, oo), trick words, spelling trick words, blending words with 5 sounds, Word of the Day (slept, trust) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (any, many), writing sentences and scooping them (I got a chill from that bad draft., Jack felt his leg twist., We must stand to sing many songs.), and dictating words (grunt, blimp, skunk, squint, crunch, slant). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 10 of phonics.

• Comprehension: This week we reviewed comprehension strategies taught up to week 24 of school.

• Grammar: This week we reviewed grammar concepts taught up to week 24 of school. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, we focused on our new Core Value of the month- Joyful Learning! We discussed what Joyful Learning looks like and sounds like in the classroom and around campus. Joyful Learning means motivating ourselves to explore new things, showing pride for our school, and evaluating the importance of our growth mindset!

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• K-12 Conference Week: Conference week is March 4th-8th.  CLICK HERE to schedule your conference. The online scheduler is available February 12th - March 3rd so reserve your conference time now. CLICK HERE for instructions on how to use the online scheduler.

• Pedestrian Safety Campaign Launch: Mark your calendars! From February 26th-March 8th, From March 4th-8th, we're launching a Pedestrian Safety Campaign! Look for safety pledge forms in your child's backpack for both you and your students to sign and return. We will also have class and grade level competitions where students will receive tickets as rewards when observed using crosswalks, participating in the walking school bus, or safely entering and exiting cars. These tickets contribute to exciting competitions for classroom and grade level prizes. Let's prioritize safety and make pedestrian awareness a fun and rewarding experience for all! We need your help to make this a success. CLICK HERE to sign up to help.

Missoula Children’s Theater Company: On Monday, March  4th at 1:45 PM, all K-8 students are welcome to audition for Missoula Theater Company's production of Peter & Wendy. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be in a professional show. CLICK HERE for details.  CLICK HERE to RSVP to audition.

Friday, February 9th

Upcoming Dates: 

• February 14th: Valentine’s day celebration

• February 16th: Spirit Day- Decades Day

• February 16th: Talent Show (6:00pm)

• February 19th-23rd: Presidents Week- No School

Classroom Content: 

• Library: Our class checked out new books at the library on Monday! Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

• Valentine's Day: On Wednesday, February 14th, we will be participating in some fun Valentine's Day activities throughout the day! Students may bring in valentines or friendship notes to share with the class if they wish. This is optional and not required. When writing valentines or friendship notes, please do not address the valentines to any specific student. Instead, your child can write "From, ____" on the valentine or note. We have 22 students in our class. Valentines without candy are preferred (due to food allergies), but not required. Click here for a digital copy of the note sent home in blue folders previously. Please let me know if you have any questions! 

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

    • If these times do not work for you, feel free to reach out and we can work together to find another time that will fit into our classroom schedule!

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 4- Numbers to 99

Phonics: Unit 10- Blending/Segmenting up to 5 sounds, suffixes

Comprehension: Review

Grammar: Review

Writing: Opinion Writing

Thematic Study: Animal Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• The NWEA Map Reading and Math computer-based assessment make-ups were given this week. We all finished!

• Report card assessments will be ongoing through February 12th.

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on making two digit numbers in multiple ways in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 4 of math.

• Writing: ​This trimester we are focusing on Opinion Writing. Opinion pieces  include stating their opinion, writing 3 details to support their opinion, and ending with a concluding sentence. Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on R- controlled vowel sounds (ar, or, er, ir, ur), Vowel Teams (oa, oe, ow, ou, oo), trick words, spelling trick words, blending words with 5 sounds, Word of the Day (slept, trust) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (any, many), writing sentences and scooping them (I got a chill from that bad draft., Jack felt his leg twist., We must stand to sing many songs.), and dictating words (grunt, blimp, skunk, squint, crunch, slant). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 10 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on the main idea and detail to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this resource  to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on describing words (er/est) to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource, game or worksheet to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, we focused on our new Core Value of the month- Joyful Learning! We discussed what Joyful Learning looks like and sounds like in the classroom and around campus. Joyful Learning means motivating ourselves to explore new things, showing pride for our school, and evaluating the importance of our growth mindset!

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• K-12 Talent Show: You are invited!  Join us in the K-8 gymnasium on Friday, February 16th @ 6:00 PM for our K-12 Talent Show! Come show your WCS spirit by supporting our performers! Don’t miss this year’s staff dance!  The event is free.

• Pedestrian Safety Campaign Launch: Mark your calendars! From February 26th-March 8th, WCS will be launching a Pedestrian Safety Campaign based on data collected in the neighborhood  that was analyzed by our amazing parent and community partnerships. We need adult volunteers to help at arrival and dismissal during the week of March 4th-March 8th. Thank you for your participation and partnership in keeping our students safe!  CLICK HERE to sign up.

Missoula Children’s Theater Company: On Monday, March  4th at 1:45 PM, all K-8 students are welcome to audition for Missoula Theater Company's production of Peter & Wendy. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be in a professional show. CLICK HERE for details.  CLICK HERE to RSVP to audition.

Friday, February 2nd

Upcoming Dates: 

• February 3rd: K-8 Family Dance (5:30pm)

• February 7th: WAVE Meeting (6:00pm)

• February 16th: Spirit Day- Decades Day

• February 16th: Talent Show (6:00pm)

• February 19th-23rd: Presidents Week- No School

Classroom Content: 

• Library: Our class checked out new books at the library on Monday! Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

• Valentine's Day: On Wednesday, February 14th, we will be participating in some fun Valentine's Day activities throughout the day! Students may bring in valentines or friendship notes to share with the class if they wish. This is optional and not required. When writing valentines or friendship notes, please do not address the valentines to any specific student. Instead, your child can write "From, ____" on the valentine or note. We have 22 students in our class. Valentines without candy are preferred (due to food allergies), but not required. Click here for a digital copy of the note sent home in blue folders previously. Please let me know if you have any questions! 

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

    • If these times do not work for you, feel free to reach out and we can work together to find another time that will fit into our classroom schedule!

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 4- Numbers to 99

Phonics: Unit 10- Blending/Segmenting up to 5 sounds, suffixes

Comprehension: Main Idea and Details

Grammar: Adjectives to compare (-er, -est)

Writing: Opinion Writing

Thematic Study: Animal Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• The NWEA Map Reading and Math computer-based assessments were given this week. We will do any necessary make-ups next week..

• Report card assessments will be starting next week.

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on comparing numbers using greater than and less than symbols in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 4 of math.

• Writing: ​This trimester we are focusing on Opinion Writing. Opinion pieces  include stating their opinion, writing 3 details to support their opinion, and ending with a concluding sentence. Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on syllables (open- if there is no consonant around the vowel, closed- a consent is around the vowel and closes the word),  trick words, spelling trick words, mark words to show syllables, Word of the Day (drills, spells) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (see between, each), writing sentences and scooping them (Ted will jump between the rocks., I held Pup as he got each shot, This pink shell was between the rocks, That is very wet slush!), and dictating words (drips, champs, drags, Fran, shrub, wilt, snug). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 9 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on text features in a nonfiction text to help us understand the information that is presented in the text. Use this video  to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on describing words to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource and game to help your child at home.  

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we learned about being assertive. We read a story and discussed why it is important to speak up, when speaking up is appropriate, and how to speak up kindly. 

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• K-12 Talent Show: The K-12 Talent Show Performance will be on Friday, February 16th @ 6:00 PM.

NASA Hunch Judging: We are excited that WCHS will be hosting a preliminary round of the NASA Hunch Culinary Challenge.  The competition will take place in WCHS’s Commons on Wednesday, February 28th from 4:30 - 5:30 PM.  Do you or someone you know have a culinary background?  Would you be interested in being a judge for this event?  Please reach out to Lila McIver at lmciver@westlakecharter.com to express your interest in being a NASA Hunch Judge.

Friday, January 26th

Upcoming Dates: 

• January 30th: Talent Show Auditions (3:30pm)

• January 31st: Lottery Application Window Closes

• February 3rd: K-8 Family Dance (5:30pm)

• February 7th: WAVE Meeting (6:00pm)

• February 16th: Spirit Day- Decades Day

• February 16th: Talent Show (6:00pm)

• February 19th-23rd: Presidents Week- No School

Classroom Content: 

• Library: Our class checked out new books at the library on Monday! Please remind your child to bring their library book back to school by Monday so they can return it and check out a new book. If students do not return their library book, they are unable to check out a new book for the week.

• Valentine's Day: On Wednesday, February 14th, we will be participating in some fun Valentine's Day activities throughout the day! Students may bring in valentines or friendship notes to share with the class if they wish. This is optional and not required. When writing valentines or friendship notes, please do not address the valentines to any specific student. Instead, your child can write "From, ____" on the valentine or note. We have 22 students in our class. Valentines without candy are preferred (due to food allergies), but not required. Click here for a digital copy of the note sent home in blue folders previously. Please let me know if you have any questions! 

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

  • Nightly Reading: To support reading development in first grade, I encourage students to read for 15-20 minutes every night. This can be your child reading independently, reading to someone, someone reading to your child, reading on Raz Kids, or combination of these!

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 4- Numbers to 99

Phonics: Unit 9- Syllables, Vowel Teams, R-Controlled Vowels

Comprehension: Text Features

Grammar: Adjectives

Writing: Opinion Writing

Thematic Study: Animal Adaptations

Assessment Information:

• Earth Science Assessment (Patterns in the Sky) will be given next week

• The NWEA Map Reading and Math computer-based assessments will be given over the next two weeks.

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on addings tens to two digit numbers in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 4 of math.

• Writing: ​This trimester we are focusing on Opinion Writing. Opinion pieces  include stating their opinion, writing 3 details to support their opinion, and ending with a concluding sentence. Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on syllables, trick words, spelling trick words, mark words to show syllables, Word of the Day (block, act) and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (say, says), writing sentences and scooping them (Jill will get the doll in her crib., Tom sets up drums for the band., Do not dump that stuff on my bed!, Gram did say, “I will get lunch. ”), and dictating words (munch, rust, pinch, kept, tilt, shrug, trim). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 9 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on text features in a nonfiction text to help us understand the information that is presented in the text. Use this video  to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on describing words to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource and game to help your child at home.  

Social-Emotional:

This week, we celebrated The Great Kindness Challenge as a school! We learned about kindness and how we can show kindness to ourselves, our friends and family, our environment, and our community. We also discussed the importance of the words we choose to use with others. We even got to participate in a Kindness Carnival! 

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• K-12 Talent Show: The K-12 Talent Show Performance will be on Friday, February 16th @ 6:00 PM.

• K-5 Family Dance: Join us for WAVE’s Inaugural K-5 Family Dance entitled “Enchanted Evening”  held on Saturday, February 3rd at 5:30 PM. Tickets are $15 each and may be purchased as follows until the event is sold out:

• Purchase in person at the Maybrook Gate each morning. Payments can be made with cash or card. 

• Purchase via Venmo (Username: @wave-foundation). Please include your family name and the number of tickets in the description.

• CLICK HERE for the invitation

• CLICK HERE to volunteer and to donate food and drinks

CLICK HERE to be directed to WAVE’s Amazon wishlist

Friday, January 19th

Upcoming Dates: 

• January 23rd: Spelling Bee (5:30pm)

• January 24th: Sacramento State Planetarium Field Lesson

• January 26th: Spirit Day- Rainbow Day

• February 3rd: K-5 Family Dance (6:00pm)

Classroom Content: 

• Upcoming Field Lesson: Our class is very excited for our upcoming field lesson to the Sacramento State Planetarium on January 24th! Thank you for returning your child's permission slips so they are able to join in on the fun! I will send reminders and updates next Tuesday! Click here to make a donation towards our first grade field lessons!

  • Chaperones: If you are interested in chaperoning a field lesson for your child later this year, please be sure to have completed this Volunteer Fingerprinting Packet. You only need to do this once for all of your child's years at Westlake!

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 4- Numbers to 99

Phonics: Unit 9- Closed Syllables

Comprehension: Nonfiction Text Features

Grammar: Adjectives

Writing: Opinion Writing

Thematic Study: Sun, Moon, and Stars

Assessment Information:

• Earth Science Assessment (Patterns in the Sky) will be given next week

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been focusing on numbers with tens and ones in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 4 of math.

• Writing: ​This trimester we are focusing on Opinion Writing. Opinion pieces  include stating their opinion, writing 3 details to support their opinion, and ending with a concluding sentence. Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on digraph blends (words that have a digraph but have 4 sounds- lunch, shrub , R- Controlled vowels (ar, or, er, ir, ur), trick words, spelling trick words, Word of the Day (shred, bluffs), and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (her, over, number), writing sentences and scooping them (She fell over the wet bench., Beth has her pink silk dress., Should Stan lift that big pump?, Did he get the frogs?), and dictating words (ranch, drums, sniff, press, flash, gulf, silk). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 8 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on descriptive language  to help us visualize what we read and what is read to us. Use this video to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on  describing words  to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this game and video to help your child at home.  

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we focused on and practiced engaging in conversations. We listened to a story and discussed effective and ineffective ways of maintaining a conversation with someone. We also practiced this skill in conversations with a partner by asking follow-up questions about a topic.

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• K-12 Talent Show Sign-Up Deadline: NEXT Tuesday, January 23rd:

CLICK HERE to sign up to audition to be a host, perform a talent, or be part of the stage crew team! Audition sign ups are due Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

• Auditions: Tuesday, January 30, 2024

• Talent Show Performance: Friday, February 16th @ 6:00 PM

• K-5 Family Dance: 

Join us for WAVE’s Inaugural K-5 Family Dance entitled “Enchanted Evening”  held on Saturday, February 3rd at 5:30 PM. Tickets are $15 each and may be purchased as follows until the event is sold out:

• Purchase in person at the Maybrook Gate each morning. Payments can be made with cash or card. 

• Purchase via Venmo (Username: @wave-foundation). Please include your family name and the number of tickets in the description.

• CLICK HERE for the invitation

• CLICK HERE to volunteer and to donate food and drinks

CLICK HERE to be directed to WAVE’s Amazon wishlist

Friday, January 12th

Upcoming Dates: 

• January 15th: No School- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

• January 17th: WAVE Meeting (6:00pm)

• January 19th: Coffee Talk (8:30am)

• January 23rd: Spelling Bee (5:30pm)

• January 24th: Sacramento State Planetarium Field Lesson

• January 26th: Spirit Day- Rainbow Day

Classroom Content: 

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day- No School: There will be no school on Monday, January 15th for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I look forward to seeing your child back at school on Tuesday, January 16th!

• Upcoming Field Lesson: Our class is very excited for our upcoming field lesson to the Sacramento State Planetarium on January 24th! Thank you for returning your child's permission slips so they are able to join in on the fun! I will send reminders and updates as we get closer to the date. Click here to make a donation towards our first grade field lessons!

  • Chaperones: Thank you to all of the families who expressed interest in chaperoning our field lesson! Although we would love to have everyone join us, we are only allowed to take four chaperones on this field lesson. Because of this, a lottery was held to determine which four chaperones we will be taking with us on this field lesson. I will be contacting all interested chaperones with the results. If you are interested in chaperoning a field lesson for your child later this year, please be sure to have completed this Volunteer Fingerprinting Packet. You only need to do this once for all of your child's years at Westlake!

• Classroom Volunteers: I am excited to welcome volunteering in our classroom! Please see below if you are interested in signing up.

  • In-Class Volunteering: We're using SignUp.com to organize our classroom volunteers. The link to access our volunteer calendar is https://signup.com/go/chpANwr. In-class volunteers could complete a variety of tasks that may include working with small groups, one-on-one with students, or classroom prep work.

Coming Up Next Week- What are we learning?

Math: Unit 4- Numbers to 99

Phonics: Unit 8- Blends and Digraph Blends

Comprehension: Point of View

Grammar: Pronouns/Possessives

Writing: Opinion Writing

Thematic Study: Sun, Moon, and Stars

Assessment Information:

• Earth Science Assessment (Patterns in the Sky) will be given the week of January 22nd

Schoolwork/Homework Resources: 

• Math: We have been solving addition and subtraction problems with tens in math this week. Use this link to log in to Freckle to help your mathematician practice at home. We are currently focused on the Operations and Algebraic Thinking domain in math (click on the turtle). We are also focusing on the Base Ten domain in math (click on the penguin). Click here for additional information to support your child throughout Unit 4 of math.

• Writing: ​This trimester we are focusing on Opinion Writing. Opinion pieces  include stating their opinion, writing 3 details to support their opinion, and ending with a concluding sentence. Please utilize this resource to help your writer at home. Click here to access the documents we will use to organize our writing this trimester.

• Phonics: This week in phonics we focused on using digraphs (sh, wh, th, ch, ck) to help blend letters (sl, br, -nt, fl, sk, -nk, st) , r-controlled vowels (ar, or, er, ir, ur), trick words, spelling trick words, and sentence dictation. Please practice tapping out each sound in a word, saying and spelling trick words (would, could, should), writing sentences and scooping them (Could mom mend the rip in this dress?, The class should get a flag., Did Beth step on that frog?), and dictating words (limp, stick, plug, mask, pest, vent, thump, cloth, band). Click here for additional information and activities to support your child throughout Unit 8 of phonics.

• Comprehension: We have been focusing on point of view in a text we read to help us understand what we read and what is read to us. Use this resource  to help your reader at home. 

• Grammar: We have been focusing on possessive nouns to help us make sentences interesting and precise. Please utilize this resource or this resource to help your child at home. 

Social-Emotional:

This week, in our Sanford Harmony social-emotional learning lesson, we focused on listening and responding to others. We listened to a story and discussed the importance of listening carefully and responding to others. We also identified and explained examples of effective and ineffective communication.

Specialty Class Information:

• See weekly email for information on what your children are learning in Specialty Classes, upcoming assessments, and resources to practice at home. 

• Click here for Specialty teachers' websites and contact information.

Westlake News:

• Learning Lab: We want to invite 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to the Learning Lab after school.  The Learning Lab is staffed by an instructional aide to assist Middle School students with their classwork and homework.  Families can sign up their Middle School student(s) by using School Dismissal Manager.  The Learning Lab is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3:15 - 3:45 PM.

• K-12 Talent Show Sign-Ups – Due Tuesday, January 23rd: CLICK HERE to sign up to audition to be a host, perform a talent, or be part of the stage crew team! Audition sign ups are due Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

• Auditions: Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Talent Show Performance: Friday, February 16th @ 6:00 PM