Week of October 29, 2018

Dear Families,

Today we worked in the MakerSpace with pumpkins.  We estimated and counted seeds in a pumpkin. Each student shared what they learned on their Seesaw account.  Here is the information to login to Seesaw, if you haven’t done so already.

I know your first grader can't wait to show off their costume!  It will certainly be a day filled with excitement! On Wednesday, students should wear their costumes to school.  Please make sure your child can use the restroom on their own with their costume. The Costume Parade starts at 10:00 on the Primary Playground.  Our class party will begin about 10:50 (following the parade and recess, set up is at 10:30). Parents are welcome to stay for the party.

Please read our school newsletter for information about Halloween costumes, https://www.smore.com/8dmgp

Thank you to our parent helpers this week!

Our class would appreciate donations of baby wipes.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Important Dates:

Wednesday, Oct. 31: AV Halloween Parade, 10:00-10:30, Class Halloween Party 11:00-11:50

11/5-11/15: Conferences, 1:15 Student Dismissal (The 16th is a regular dismissal at 2:40)

Tuesday, Nov. 6: Voting Day

Monday, Nov. 12: Veterans Day Observed (No School)

Tuesday, Nov. 13: Field Trip to Union’s Cooking Club

11/19-11/23: Thanksgiving Break

12/21-1/4: Winter Break

What We’re Doing in Class this Week:

Language Arts: Sequence of a story, writing a friendly letter.  Continuing to review short vowel “e” in Phonics. We are also working with nouns (common, proper, and possessive), and verbs (present, past, and future).

Math: We are continuing with Module 1 this week in our Eureka Math curriculum. This module sets the foundation for students to master sums and differences to 10.  This module will take us through October. **We are almost finished!!

Writing: We will be focusing on personal narrative writing this trimester.

Social Studies: Respect and Community

Technology: Seesaw, Lexia, RazKids

Sharing Assignment: Something yellow

Special Person of The Week: Mason

Week of October 22, 2018

Dear Families,

It was great to see many of you at the Walk-A-Thon last Saturday!  It’s always a fun event for everyone. :)

Tuesday is Family Night, so there is no homework that night so you can omit a page from the homework packet. 

Tuesday is also Family Golf Night for AVHSC.  You can go anytime between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Golfland, 976 Blossom Hill Road in San Jose: https://www.golfland.com/sanjose/ 50% of the fees for all rounds of golf purchased by Alta Vista families and friends will be donated back to the school.  ** Must let the cashier know you are with Alta Vista for the proceeds to go back to the school.

We will have an Art Vistas lesson and project on Wednesday at 9:30.  It is always nice to have extra parent helpers for the project.  Please let me know if you can make it.

We would greatly appreciate donations of hand sanitizer gel and baby wipes.

We have been really good about returning our library books; let’s keep that up!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Important Dates:

Wednesday, Oct. 31: AV Halloween Parade, 10:00-10:30, Class Halloween Party 11:00-11:50

11/5-11/15: Conferences, 1:15 Student Dismissal (The 16th is a regular dismissal at 2:40)

Tuesday, Nov. 6: Voting Day

Monday, Nov. 12: Veterans Day Observed (No School)

Tuesday, Nov. 13: Field Trip to Union’s Cooking Club

11/19-11/23: Thanksgiving Break

12/21-1/4: Winter Break

What We’re Doing in Class this Week:

Language Arts: Sequence of a story, writing a friendly letter.  Continuing to review short vowel “e” in Phonics. We are also working with nouns (common, proper, and possessive).

Math: We are continuing with Module 1 this week in our Eureka Math curriculum. This module sets the foundation for students to master sums and differences to 10.  This module will take us through October.

Writing: We will be focusing on personal narrative writing this trimester.

Social Studies: Respect and Community

Technology: Seesaw, Lexia, RazKids

Sharing Assignment: Something orange

Special Person of The Week: Mila

Week of October 15, 2018

We had an exciting week!

Our class really enjoyed the play on Tuesday.  Thank you Mahshad, Kym, and Shalee for keeping us all together.  The Elephant and Piggie book series by Mo Willems are great for first graders.  

Thursday we had our first clay project.  Thank you to Mrs. Winn for leading and parents for helping us with our projects.  

Today, we had a great time in the MakerSpace creating with cardboard!  Thank you to all our parent helpers!

Please return your AV School Library book on Monday.  I do remind the students to check their backpack for their books, but I do not check it for them; if you pack the book for your child, let them know as well.

I hope to see you tomorrow at the Walk-a-Thon!  Make sure your child is wearing their Walk-a-Thon t-shirt if they pre-registered, so they can collect lap tallies.  Here is the website if you need more information. http://altavistawalkathon.org

I hope to see you tomorrow at the Walkathon!

Important Dates:

Saturday, Oct. 13th: Walk-a-Thon, 9:00-3:00

Oct. 11-17: Book Faire

Thursday, Oct. 18: Picture Re-takes

Friday, Oct. 19: Staff PD Day, No school

Wednesday, Oct. 31: AV Halloween Parade, 10:00-10:30, Class Halloween Party 11:00-11:50

What We’re Doing in Class this Week:

Language Arts: Sequence of a story, writing a friendly letter.  Continuing to review short vowel “e” in Phonics. We are also working with nouns (common, proper, and possessive).

Math: We are continuing with Module 1 this week in our Eureka Math curriculum. This module sets the foundation for students to master sums and differences to 10.  This module will take us through October.

Writing: We will be focusing on personal narrative writing this trimester.

Social Studies: Respect and Community

Technology: Seesaw, Lexia, RazKids

Sharing Assignment: Something that falls from trees (i.e.: seeds, flowers berries)

Special Person of The Week: Ninel

Week of October 8, 2018

This will be our first week of "Cougar Time," RtI – instructional reading groups.  Monday will be a practice and “Getting to know” the students day. Cougar Time will be Mondays-Thursdays, 8:30-9:30.  I will tell the students which teacher they will be working with on Monday morning. There is more information about RtI on our website.

In regards to Cougar Time, the teachers do not discuss with the class which reading level their group is at, we know that can cause some hurt feelings.  We do discuss that all of the teachers are so excited to be teaching reading and working with some new friends. I also let the class know that they will have a chance to work with each first-grade teacher throughout the year when we start Science Rotations.

Next week is Spirit Week:

Monday – Mustache Monday

Tuesday – Color Day (Red – 1st grade)***

Wednesday – Crazy hair

Thursday – Look-A-Like (Dress like a friend)

Friday – Alta Vista Spirit Wear

***Tuesday is also our first field trip.  I will send more information about it on a separate email.

Thank you Mrs. Joseph and Mrs. Smiley for our first Cornerstone lesson and project. Thank you to all our parent helpers this week!

Don’t forget to register for the Alta Vista Walkathon (Event is on Saturday, 10/13).  Even if you can’t make it that day, your child will receive a t-shirt with a $40.00 donation.  The t-shirts are usually passed out in class on the Friday before the event. www.altavistawalkathon.org

The committee is still in need of volunteers; here is the link to help out.  https://avhsc.ivolunteer.com/wat_2018

They still need donations from 1st grade: granola bars, protein bars, and bottled water.  Donations can be dropped off in front of the school office.

Please remember library books for Monday.

Important Dates:

Oct. 8-12: Spirit Week

Tuesday, Oct. 9th: Field Trip to Campbell Heritage Theater

Saturday, Oct. 13th: Walk-a-thon, 9:00-3:00

Oct. 11-17: Book Faire

Friday, Oct. 19: Staff PD Day, No school

Wednesday, Oct. 31: AV Halloween Parade, 10:00-10:30, Class Halloween Party 11:00-11:50

What We’re Doing in Class this Week:

Language Arts: Sequence of a story.  Continuing to review short vowel "a" in Phonics. We are also working with nouns (common, proper, and possessive).

Math: We are continuing with Module 1 this week in our Eureka Math curriculum. This module sets the foundation for students to master sums and differences to 10.  This module will take us through October.

Writing: We will be focusing on personal narrative writing this trimester.

Social Studies: Respect and Community

Technology: Seesaw, Lexia, RazKids

Sharing Assignment: Share a fire safety rule that you have at home. (picture or sentence)

Special Person of The Week: Paul