December 2019

             I trust everyone had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving holiday.  It is nice to be back in school again, and hear the different activities that your children enjoyed during the school break.  Thank you for taking the time to come out for conferences.  I very much enjoyed having the opportunity to speak with each of you.

            Please continue to listen to your child read aloud at home each week.  We are making great progress in our readers, and the at-home practice makes such a difference.  It is very important that the children are reading aloud to an adult; this helps catch inaccuracy in the reading.

            Our class will visit the Christmas Shop on Tuesday, December 3. If you plan to send money for your student to shop, please send it on or before December 3. I am happy to store your child's money in a safe place in the classroom until our shopping day. Information and money envelopes were sent home in the white envelope on Tuesday, November 26.

             During the month of December, we will be discussing the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Our memory verse for this month will be John 3:16-17.

            “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

This memory work will be sent home on Tuesday, December 3 and tested on Thursday, December 19.

            This year, all of our classes are participating in the Christmas production. Please join us on Tuesday, December 17, for a wonderful evening of celebrating our Savior's birth. Students are asked to arrive in the music and art rooms at 6:30 and the program will begin at 7:00 PM in the Kitty June Shepherd Gymnasium. Mrs. Patrick sent information about the program in white envelopes on Tuesday, November 26.

            Our class will be presenting a special chapel service on Wednesday, December 18 at 8:45 in the church. We will be giving a readers' theater about the Christmas story. We will be using many of our reading group times to practice this together so I will not be asking for reading parents during the month of December.

            We will have our Christmas party on Friday, December 20.  We will be having a book exchange in the morning.  Each child is asked to bring one book, costing no more than $5.  All students should bring a book that could be enjoyed by both boys and girls, if possible.  Each book should be wrapped and labeled as follows: 

                                                            To:  A Friend

                                                            From:  Your Child’s Name

Please send the book to school by December 18; we will have our book exchange early in the day.  The party will be after recess, beginning around 10:30.  Parents are welcome to attend our Christmas Party.  Please let me know if you are willing and able to help with planning a craft, games, or food for our Christmas celebration. Thanks!

            We have two birthday celebrations this month.

                        Emily has a birthday on December 4.

                        Travis has a birthday on December 28.

                                                Happy Birthday, Friends!

                                               

            There will be no school from December 23-January 1.  Classes will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2020.

            If you have any questions regarding any of our classroom information, please contact me at your convenience.  I pray that you have a beautiful Christmas season!

In Him,

Jackie McClure

November 2019

Dear Parents,                                                                                                                                  
As the days begin to get cooler, I’m realizing that the year is progressing very quickly.  We have been very busy in first grade, and time seems to be flying!   

With the weather growing colder, please keep in mind that the children should be dressed appropriately.  We do go outside on cold days; children should be wearing coats that can button or zip, and a hood or a hat.   

Our Bible memory work for November:

The Ten Commandments 1-4, due Friday, November 15.
1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make for yourself an idol.

3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.
The Ten Commandments 5-10, due Tuesday, November 26.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not give false testimony.

10. You shall not covet.

Scholastic orders for November were sent in your child’s white envelope this week.  Please place all orders by Monday, November 11.  If you are sending an order to school for me to place, please make checks payable to Jackie McClure.  Please do not send cash. If any items are gifts, please let me know, and we will arrange for you to pick up the order in the office or in the classroom.

Bethany Christian School will be participating in a canned food drive to help our local Neighborhood Services. Collections will take place November 1-November 15. First grade is asked to bring in 1 lb. cans of green beans. Please make sure to mark your items with a ‘B’ for boys or a ‘G’ for girls - we have a school-wide competition! :)
There is no school on Tuesday, November 5, due to our school being used as a polling location for the election.
Report cards will be sent home via RenWeb on Friday, November 8.  Conferences will be held on Monday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 26.  Dismissal for the students on these days will be at 12:30.  We do not eat lunch at school on half-days, but children will need to bring a morning snack.  Please consider sending a larger than usual snack, as our tummies will be hungry before 12:30. There will be no aftercare on these days.  I am very much looking forward to this opportunity to meet with you to discuss your child’s progress, and to get to know you as well.
We will be having a small Thanksgiving celebration on Friday, November 22.  We will watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and enjoy a special snack together.  We will also be making butter! If you are able to send in any empty and clean plastic peanut butter jars (or other plastic jars with lids that fit tightly, please let me know how many you can provide. We also need about 3 dozen cornbread muffins. If you are willing to make some or all of the muffins for our celebration, please let me know. Thanks!

There will be no school from Wednesday, November 27, to Friday, November 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Classes will resume on Monday, December 2.  This is a change from the calendar.

Important Dates to Remember:
November 5      ~No School - Election Day
November 8      ~Report Cards issued

November 11     ~Scholastic Orders Due

November 15     ~Commandments 1-4 Due
November 22     ~Thanksgiving Celebration                      
November 25     ~1/2 Day of School

~Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 26    ~1/2 Day of School

                              ~Commandments 5-10 Due
~Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 27-29~No School.  Thanksgiving Holiday
December 2     ~School resumes

As always, feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns as we partner together in your child's educational experience at Bethany!

In Him,
Jackie McClure

October 2019

Thank you for helping to get our school year off to such a wonderful start!  I have been enjoying my time with your children thus far, and am so very glad that we have the rest of the year to spend together.  

Bible memory books are due on Thursday, October 3. The verse for Thursday is Genesis 8:22 - "As long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease

Please be sure to send your child's Bible memory book to school on Thursday, October 3. I will send a new verse on Tuesday, October 8.

Grandparents’ Day is on Friday, October 4.  Please keep in mind that this is a half-day of school.  Our day will end at 12:30.  We will not be having lunch at school on half-days. 

Picture Day will be Wednesday, October 9.  You should have received information in the white envelope on October 1.

Our Field Trip to Ashland Nature Center is scheduled for Friday, October 11. Ashland holds programs rain or shine, so please be sure to dress your child appropriately for the weather. Remember to pack a fully disposable brown bag lunch for your student.     

The Annual Banquet is on Friday, October 18 here at the school. It is going to be a wonderful evening celebrating God's provision for our school. Childcare will be provided. Please be sure to send your RSVP; I hope to see you there!

          We are celebrating two birthdays this month:

                  

                   Autumn has a birthday on October 26.

                    Gracelyn has a birthday on October 31.
                             Happy birthday, Friends!!

Our classroom is full of excited learners this year!   We have been reading Colors Glowing, our first story reader of the year.  The students are having a good time reading about the Miller and Lopez families, and we have had a few good laughs together at some of the silly situations that the characters find themselves in!  Reading homework begins this month. You should have received your child's Book-It tracking calendar in the white envelope on October 1. This will also serve as our homework tracking calendar for the month of October. Your child's goal is to read (aloud to a grown-up) for 150 minutes this month.

We are working on many interesting things in math class this year,  and I would like to ask for your help.  I would like each child to spend some time at home practicing math flash cards for addition and subtraction.  These can be bought (they are available at Wal-Mart, as well as well as many other stores) or made with index cards or poster board.  Children should practice addition and subtraction facts up to 20.  This will help your child as concepts become more difficult in math class, as well as when we begin administering timed tests. We've started using our Kickin' It math minutes program this week and the students are very excited to begin earning belts for knowing math facts!

          A Look Ahead:

                  

          ~The First Quarter will end on Friday, November 1.  Report Cards will be sent home via RenWeb on Friday, November 8.

          ~Conferences will be held on Monday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 26. Please watch for information to be sent home in the white envelopes.

Please be sure that your child is returning homework in a timely manner.  Math homework is sent almost daily, and should be returned on the very next school day.

Thanks!

            Again, thank you for your help thus far, and I look forward to continuing to work with each of you as our school year progresses!  

 In Him,

                                              Jackie McClure

August/September 2019

Dear Parents,

            Welcome to First Grade at Bethany Christian School!  I am so glad that God has placed your child in my class for the upcoming school year!  

            My name is Jackie McClure, and I am a 2001 graduate of Pensacola Christian College, in Florida.  I have a daughter, Cadence,  who is in sixth grade at BCS this year.

This will be my fifteenth year teaching first grade at BCS, and I am very thankful for the opportunity to teach your child.

            There will be no school on Friday, August 30, and Monday, September 2. There is also no school on Friday, September 20. This is a change from the calendar.

            Our initial time together in first grade will be spent getting to know each other, and helping your child become familiar with the new environment, as well as the routines and rules that he/she will be expected to follow throughout the year.  I will also be completing some informal evaluations in order to determine reading levels for each child. 

I will be sending information to those who volunteered as homeroom parents/party helpers, as soon as I can get all of the necessary contact information together. If you did not get to sign up at Open House, but are interested in serving as a Homeroom Parent or Helper, please let me know so that I can include your contact information on the list.  Thanks!

I would like each child to keep one silent reading book in his/her desk at all times. Please send a silent reading book to school for your child as soon as possible.  Thank you.

           

Each day, your child will be participating in a special class.  Our schedule for the year is as follows:

Monday – Art

Tuesday – Gym (Please dress your child appropriately, in comfortable clothing and sneakers.  No jeans, please.)

Wednesday – Spanish

Thursday – PC Lab

Friday - Music

I will let you know if the schedule changes at all during the course of the year.

            Every Wednesday, your child will be attending a Chapel service in the church sanctuary.  It is our goal to not only teach your child more about God and His love and plan for them, but also to train him/her to behave in a reverent and respectful manner while in a church building.  Children are expected to bring their Bibles to Chapel, and to be attentive throughout the service.  Each year, there is a theme verse for all of the students at Bethany.  This year, our theme verse is Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  All Bethany students will be expected to commit this verse to memory.  I will test the students on the theme verse on Friday, September 7.

            In addition to weekly Chapel services, our class will have a daily Bible lesson in the classroom.  As a part of Bible class, children will be given Bible memory work throughout the year.  Our first Bible verse for the year is our theme verse, as mentioned above. This will be sent home in Bible memory books on Tuesday, August 28, and will be due to return back to school for recitation on Friday, September 7.  Please be sure to send Bible memory books back to school on the due date throughout the year. 

            We are celebrating two birthdays in our class in August:
                        Cody turned 7 on August 20.  

                        Dakota will turn 6 on August 28.

                                    Happy birthday, Friends!

                    

Save the Date!

  

Grandparents Day will be held on Friday, October 4.  This is also a half-day of school.  Children will need to bring a snack to school, but no lunch.  Please watch for more information to be sent home this month.

Our annual banquet will be held on Friday, October 18 at 6:30 pm at Bethany Christian School.  This is also a half-day of school. Children will need to bring a snack to school, but no lunch. Please be sure to send in your RSVP for the Banquet as soon as possible.  hope to see you there as we celebrate how God is using Bethany in our community. 

            If you do not have access to the internet, please let me know before the second week of school, if you have not already done so.  In the future, parent letters will be posted on our class blog.  Please check our blog often for more class information. You can find the blog here: https://jmcclurebcs.blogspot.com/

When you visit the blog for the first time, you can choose to follow by email by entering your email address in the space on the right side of the blog. This will notify you when the blog is updated with new information. Those families without internet access will receive a hard copy of each month’s parent letter in their child’s white folder on the first Tuesday of the month.

            Also, please be sure to join our Class Dojo. Class Dojo is also a great way for us to communicate via their messaging option. I can get messages very quickly and easily throughout the day.  If you need your code again, send me an email and I will get that to you.

            Scholastic book order forms will be sent home Thursday, August 22, in the white envelope. Orders will be due by Septembet 5. Our class code for online ordering is GYCG9. Scholastic is a great way to get books your budding reader while supporting our classroom. I was thrilled to be able to order some flexible seating options for this year using my accumulated bonus points through Scholastic.

            Once again, welcome to our first grade class!  If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, you may contact me by calling the school office, at (610) 998-0877, and I will return your call at my earliest possible convenience.  You may also send a note with your child, and I will contact you in the way that best suits your schedule.

If you prefer to email, my email address is jmcclure@bethanychristian.org.

            I am very much looking forward to getting to know your child this year, as they grow and learn in a Christ-centered environment.

In Christ,

Jackie McClure

May 2019

Dear First Grade Families,                                                                             

            It is hard to believe that we are now entering our last full month of school!  It doesn’t seem like very long ago when my classroom was full of brand-new first grade students, ready for an exciting new year.  I have enjoyed watching those eager students grow and learn over the past months. 

            Friday, May 3 is our Fine Arts Gala and Open House. The event will begin at 6:00 pm. Our music and art lesson students will be providing entertainment and art pieces for showcase on this exciting evening. The third graders will be playing their recorders (so you can see what fun and excitement you can look forward to in a couple of years!). There will also be performances from our band students. Refreshments will be provided. Please plan to join us for this special evening to support our very talented students at Bethany and invite your friends and neighbors to come and check out our amazing school!

            Thursday, May 9 is our Field Trip to the Chester County Historical Society. Please be sure that your child wears a Bethany Blue T-shirt and brings a fully disposable lunch. If you are joining us for our trip, you may also wish to bring a lunch for yourself. There is no snack bar available.

            The Bulldog Run will be held on Friday, May 17.  All students will be participating and families are invited to come and cheer for the children as they run (or even run with them!).  You are encouraged to sign your child out after devotions (in the church) and spend the day with them. We only ask that you be sure your student is at the starting line when it is our race time. I am trying to get an accurate picture of how the day will work, so I am asking each of you to please let me know if you do or do not plan to attend the race.

            There will be no school on Tuesday, May 21, due to the election on that day.

Just a reminder that there will be  no school on Monday, May 27,  Memorial Day.

            Thursday, May 30 is a Spirit Day for Preschool-8th grade. This month our spirit day will be Decade Day.

            Our final Bible memory work for the year is as follows:

Proverbs 3:3-6

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

                        This will be due on Friday, May 31.

            On Thursday, June 6, we will have Pet Day in our classroom. I will be sending a Sign-Up Genius link for 10-minute time slots to bring pets for a visit. Small, non-furry pets who live in cages or bowls (hermit crabs, lizards, fish...snakes!) may be brought for the day, but furry pets may only come for 10 minute visits. If your child has a rabbit for a pet, please send a picture only. I am very allergic to rabbits and even 10 minutes in the classroom would cause a reaction for me. If you have any questions or concerns regarding Pet Day, please don't hesitate to contact me.

                        Here is a list of important dates to remember in May:

~Friday, May 3 - Fine Arts Gala and Open House, 6:00 PM

~Thursday, May 9 - Chester County Historical Society Field Trip

~Friday, May 17 - Bulldog Run

~Tuesday, May 21 - No School

~Tuesday, May 15 - No School

~Monday, May 27- No School, Memorial Day

~Thursday, May 30 - Decade Day

~Thursday, May 31 - Proverbs 3:3-6 due  

~Tuesday, June 4- Field Day and Run Club Awards

~Thursday, June 6 - Pet Day

~Friday, June 7 - Last Day of School; 1/2 Day of School

                                    Picnic at Nottingham Park

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day, and a beautiful month of May.

In Him,

Jackie McClure        

April 2019

Dear First Grade Families,        

I cannot believe that we are already into the fourth quarter!  Report cards will be sent on Friday, April 6. This year has gone so quickly. We've had a great time in first grade, but there is still much to learn and much to do!

In Bible, we will begin talking about the story of Easter. Our next Bible memory verse will be sent home on Tuesday, April 2. We will be learning Revelation 5:12.

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

This will be due on Tuesday, April 16.

April begins a busy time here at Bethany Christian School.  Here is a list of dates to remember:

               

                April 5 - Report Cards

                April 8-12 - Terra Nova Testing
                April 18-22 - No School - Easter Break

                April 16 - Revelation 5:12 due

                April 25 - Cape Day (School-wide Spirit Day)

                April 25 - No Hot Lunch

                May 3 - Fine Arts Gala & Open House

                ***May 9 - Field Trip to the Chester County Historical Society - Permission                                        slips will be sent home soon.

               

Easter Break will be April 18-22. We will resume school on Tuesday, April 23. The last day before Easter Break, Wednesday, April 17, we will have a small Easter celebration. If you are interested in sending a treat, please let me know. We will need one salty snack, one sweet snack, juice boxes, plates, and napkins. Thanks! :)

We have one April birthday in our class:

Clayre will celebrate her birthday on April 22.

Happy birthday, Clayre!

A Look Ahead:

Friday, May 3 is our Fine Arts Gala and Open House. Our music and art lesson students will be providing entertainment and art pieces for showcase on this exciting evening. The third graders will be playing their recorders (so you can see what fun and excitement you can look forward to in a couple of years!). There will also be performances from our band students.

               

Friday, May 17 – We will be having the Bulldog Run (formerly Race for Education).  All students will be participating and families are invited to come and cheer for the children as they run.    There will also be a silent auction.  Please remember to send in your items for our Staycation  basket.

If you are attending the race, please plan to sign out your child early in the day and keep him/her with you at all times prior to our race in order to allow him/her to experience all of the fun and exciting activities of the day.

Our Sharing Chair will also be in the auction this year.  It has gone from being a plain white plastic chair to being covered with the signatures of your budding writers!  We will continue adding signatures through the end of the school year; the chair will be on display for the auction, but will not be sent home with the highest bidder until the end of the year. 

On Friday, June 7, which is now our last day of school, I would like to have a picnic to celebrate our year together. In the past, we have gone to Nottingham Park for our picnic and have had a great time. I need 2-3 parents who are willing to take charge of planning the picnic for us. If you are interested, please let me know. Thanks!

As the weather begins to warm up, it is important that your child brings a water bottle to school each day.   First graders are able to keep water bottles on desks throughout the day so that we may keep our bodies hydrated.  Please be sure that your child has a water bottle every day.  Thanks!

Please continue to work with your children at home on flashcards, spelling words, and reading.  It really does help them to have that extra few minutes of practice.  The Book-it program ended in March, but students should still be reading at home for 20 minutes at least  3-4 days each week. It is okay if the reading is somewhat challenging; allow your child to work on sounding out the words that may be difficult.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that may arise.  Thank you for your active participation in our classroom.

In Him,

Jackie McClure

March 2019

Dear Parents,                                                                                                 

 In just a few short weeks spring will officially arrive, and with it, the glory of God’s creation

as it begins to blossom.  If you’ve never taken the time to fully appreciate the signs of spring, I hope you do this year.  Each new leaf, robin, and bud is a gift that God has sent for us to enjoy, and to remind us that He makes all things new.

I received so many lovely Valentines, and would like to thank each and every child for being an important part of our class.  You are loved and appreciated so much more than you know!

Thursday, March 7, and Friday, March 8, are snow make up days. We will now have school on March 7 and March 8. There will be no hot lunch on Thursday, March 7. Please be sure to send a lunch with your child.

Our Bible memory verse is Psalm 24:1-2.

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers."

This is due on Friday, March 8.

Please remember to send in your child's Bible memory verse on the due dates so that we can place the new verse into the book.

Thursday, March 28 is Crazy Hair or Favorite Hat Day. This is an all-school Spirit Day.

The third quarter will end on Friday, March 29.  Report cards will be available Friday, April 5.

As our year continues to progress, I must emphasize the importance of working with your child at home to reinforce what he or she is learning.  Good study habits begin at an early age. Take some time each evening to practice spelling words, math flashcards, and the Bible memory verse.  Even just a few minutes for each area can make a huge difference.  Thank you for your continued faithfulness in supporting your child’s education.

           

Important Dates to Remember:

            ~Thursday, March 7 - Snow Make Up Day - NO HOT LUNCH

            ~Friday, March 8 – Snow Make Up Day

            ~Friday, March 8 - Psalm 24:1-2 Due

            ~Thursday, March 28 - Crazy Hair/Favorite Hat Day

            ~Friday, March 29 – Third Quarter Ends

            ~Friday, April 5– Report Cards available

           

Feel free to contact me at any time with any questions or concerns regarding your child.

            Email: jmcclure@bethanychristian.org

            You may also send a note to school with your child.

In Him,

Jackie McClure

February 2019

February is one of my favorite months of the year!  It is a good time to reflect on God’s amazing love.  I pray that you all have experienced His great love in your own lives.

We are participating in the Spread the Love Campaign once again this year. We are collecting jars of peanut butter and jelly (no glass jars, please!) from February 1-15. The class that brings in the most jars will win an ice cream treat!

Our Valentine card exchange will be held on Thursday, February 14, in the afternoon.  Valentines for the class may be sent on or before February 14^th.  I am sending a copy of our class list in White Envelopes on Tuesday, February 5.  If your child would like to hand out Valentines to his/her classmates, please be sure to include everyone listed, so that no one gets hurt feelings!  If you are interested in providing a snack for our class, please contact me. Thanks!

There will be no school on Monday, February 18, in honor of Presidents' Day.

This month’s Spirit Day will be Sports Jersey or College Shirt Day on Thursday, February 28.  Children are invited to participate. 

On Thursday, February 28 we will have a visit from an employee of McCormick Orthodontics to discuss the importance of dental hygiene. 

February Dates to Remember:

***Thursday, February 14 - Valentine Card Exchange

***Monday, February 18 - No School (President’s Day)

***Thursday, February 28 - Sports Jersey or College Shirt Day

***Thursday, February 28 - Dental Health Visitor

Birthdays this Month:

            ***February 3- Ava's Birthday

           

Blessings!

Jackie McClure