April 2016

Dear First Grade Families,                                                                                                            

I always enjoy watching the early signs of spring popping up everywhere!  They serve as yet another reminder of God’s awesome creation.  As you observe the flowers blooming and other new life beginning, take a moment to thank God for giving us such beautiful things to enjoy.    

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

                April 1 - Backwards Day!

                April 14 - Proverbs 3:3-4 due

                April 21 - Crazy Hair Day (School-wide Spirit Day)

                April 28 - No Hot Lunch

                April 28 - Field Trip to the Chester County Historical Society

                April 29 - Proverbs 3:5-6 due

We have two April birthdays in our class:

Bella will celebrate her birthday on April 6.

Katelyn will celebrate her birthday on April 23.

Happy Birthday, friends!

In our Bible class, we are talking about King Solomon and his time as a peaceful ruler of Israel.  Our April memory work will be taken from Proverbs 3:3-6.

We will first learn Proverbs 3:3-4:  "Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man."

Proverbs 3:3-4 is due on Thursday, April 14.

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6 is due on Friday, April 29.

A Look Ahead:

               

Friday, May 13 – We will be having the 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 Disney Extravaganza  basket.  There will be a cake and ice cream party for the class with the basket that receives the highest bid!  Thank you to those who have already contributed.

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. 

               

This year, Race Day will also include a Fun Fair following the awards ceremony.  This year's Fun Fair is sponsored by McCormick Orthodontics.  This will take place on the soccer field.  This event will be ticket-based; tickets will be sold for all games and food items.  There will be a dunk tank again, so have your throwing arm ready! :)  Please plan on attending Race Day so that you and your child/children can have a special time together at the Fun Fair.

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 ends in March, but students should still be reading at home for 20 minutes at least 3-4 days each week.  I am sending an April calendar which should be marked with the days that your child reads each evening.  This is a homework calendar; please mark each day that your child reads for at least 20 minutes on his/her individual reading level.  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 2016

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, do so 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 love spring, in case that wasn't clear!    :-)

Mrs. Brown and I received so many lovely Valentines, and we 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!

There will be no school on Friday, March 4.  This is a teacher in-service day. 

Our first memory verse for March will be 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 will be due on Thursday, March 10.

The final memory work for March will be Matthew 28:6: “He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where He lay.” 

This will be due on Tuesday, March 22.

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. 

There will be no school from Thursday, March 24-Monday, March 28 to celebrate the Easter holiday.  Praise God, He is risen!

          On Wednesday, March 23, I will have a small Easter celebration with the children in the afternoon.  If you are willing to send a salty snack, sweet snack, drinks, or plates and napkins, please let me know.  Thanks!

          Thursday, March 17 will be  Sports Day.  Children are invited to dress as a player of a favorite sport, or simply dress to support a favorite sports team.

          The third quarter will end on Thursday, March 31.  Report cards will be available Thursday, April 1.

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.

         

          Please remember to send items in for our class basket for the Silent Auction.  Our theme is Disney Extravaganza!  Thanks!

          Classroom Birthdays:
                   March 12 - Andrew

                   March 15 - Chloe
                   March 30 - Caden

                   March 31 - Caleb

Important Dates to Remember:

          ~Friday, March 4 - No school; teacher in-service.

          ~Thursday, March 10 – Psalm 24:1-2 due

          ~Thursday, March 17 – Sports Day

          ~Tuesday, March 22 – Matthew 28:6 due

          ~Thursday, March 24 - Monday, March 28, No School; Easter Break

          ~Tuesday, March 29 – School Resumes

          ~Thursday, March 31 – Third Quarter Ends

          ~Thursday, April 7– Report Cards available

         

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

          Email:  jmcclurebcs@gmail.com

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

In Him,

Jackie McClure

February 2016

Dear First Grade Families,

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.

February is a busy month in first grade.  We will be celebrating our 100^th day of school on Tuesday, February 9.  The children have been anticipating this all year!  We will have a normal class schedule on this day, with 100^th Day activities included in many lessons.  Your child will be thrilled to tell you that he or she is 100 days smarter!  Please visit our Sign-Up Genius if you would like to contribute any items for our celebration.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e49a8ab28a20-100th

Our Valentine card exchange will be held on Friday, February 12, in the afternoon.  Valentines for the class may be sent on or before February 12^th.  I am sending a copy of our class list in White Envelopes on Tuesday, February 2.  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 school on Friday, February 12. This was originally an in-service day, but it is now a snow make-up day.

There will be no school on Monday, February 15, in honor of Presidents' Day.

On Wednesday, February 24, we will have a visit from an employee of McCormick Orthodontics to discuss the importance dental hygiene.  This is part of our Science unit on health and nutrition.

This month’s Spirit Day will be Book Character Day on Thursday, February 25.  Children are invited by the Student Council to participate.  Students may dress up as a favorite character from a book on that day.

Our first Bible memory this month will be Ruth 1:16

"But Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you.  For where you go I will go and where you lodge I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people and your God my God."

This will be due on Thursday, February 11.

February Dates to Remember:

***Tuesday, February 9, 2015 – 100^th day of school    

***Thursday, February 11 – Ruth 1:16 quiz

***Friday, February 12 - Snow Make-up Day

***Friday, February 12 - Valentine Card Exchange

***Monday, February 16 - No School (President’s Day)

***Wednesday, February 24 - Dental Health Visitor

***Thursday, February 25 - Book Character Day

            ***Thursday, February 28 – Commandments 7-10 quiz

Birthdays this Month:

            ***February 16 – Timmy's Birthday

            ***February 25 – Gabby's Birthday

            ***February 2 - Addie's 1/2 Birthday
            ***February 15 - Aidan's 1/2 Birthday

God bless you! 

January 2016

Welcome back!  I pray that everyone had an enjoyable and restful Christmas.  Thank you to all who helped with our classroom Christmas celebration.  The children had a wonderful time, and I appreciate the effort that went into making it such an exciting day!

 Our classroom is full of excited learners this year!  I will be starting our Reading Parent program within the next month.  If you are interested in becoming a reading parent, we must have all of your clearances on file in the office.  I will send information home to those parents who were interested in being a reading parent only if we have your clearances on file.  Thanks.

Boxtop collection for this month will be on Tuesday, January 12.  Please keep clipping and sending those boxtops! 

In Bible, we will finish our lessons on the life of Moses and the Ten Commandments.

Commandments 7-10 are due Thursday, January 14. 

            7. You shall not commit adultery.

            8. You shall not steal.

            9. You shall not give false testimony.

            10. You shall not covet.

We will also be learning about how Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land.  We will memorize Joshua 24:15.

            "Choose this day whom ye will serve....But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

            This will be due on Thursday, January 28.

On Monday, January 18, there will be no school, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  During the previous week, we will have discussed the reason for remembering Martin Luther King, Jr., and all that he did for our nation.

           

We will be celebrating two birthdays in our class this month, as well as two half-birthdays.

Our birthdays (and half-birthdays) this month are as follows:

                        Bridget will have a birthday on January 15.

                        Thaddeus will have a birthday on January 15.

                        Drew will have a hallf-birthday on January 6.

                        Henry will have a half-birthday on January 9.

I neglected to add a half-birthday to the December newsletter last month.  

                         Nevaeh had a half-birthday on December 29. 

On January 21, we will have a school-wide Spirit Day.  This month’s Spirit Day is Crazy Hat Day.  Have fun!

Please send your child to school dressed appropriately for the winter weather.  This includes a coat that can zipper/button up the front, a hat or hood, and gloves or mittens.  We do go outside when it is cold.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me by note or email (jmcclurebcs@gmail.com).  Enjoy the winter weather, and stay warm!

In Him,

Jackie McClure

December 2015

Dear First Grade Families,                                                                               

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 all for taking the time to come out for conferences.  I very much enjoyed having the opportunity to speak with each of you.

In Bible, we will be studying the life of Moses, and we will continue to learn the Ten Commandments.  Commandments 4-6 will be due on Thursday, December 10.

            4. Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.

            5. Honor your father and your mother.

            6. You shall not murder. 

We will continue and review the Ten Commandments after the Christmas break. 

During the second half of the month, we will be discussing the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Our memory verses 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 tested on Monday, December 21. 

Your child is invited to visit the Penguin Patch Christmas Shop this month, during the week of December 7.  More information will be sent home from the office, giving an exact day for our classroom visit, as well as details about an appropriate amount of money to be sent for your child to shop for Christmas gifts for his/her loved ones this year.

We will have our Christmas party on Tuesday, December 22.  We will be having a book exchange in the morning.  Each child is asked to bring one book, costing no more than $5.  Girls should bring a book for another girl; boys should bring a book for another boy.  Each book should be wrapped and labeled as follows: 

                                                            To:  A Girl/Boy

                                                            From:  Your Child’s Name

Please send the book to school by Friday, December 18; we will have our book exchange early in the day on December 22.  The party will be in the afternoon.  Thanks!

There will be no school from December 23-January 3.  Classes will resume on Monday, January 4, 2016.

 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 2015

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.   

Each year, our students participate in a can drive to help provide Thanksgiving dinner to those who cannot afford it.  This year, we are donating our cans to Oxford’s Neighborhood Services.  Each class has been assigned a specific food item.  We are collecting 1 lb. cans of green beans in first grade.  More information, including collection dates, was sent in white envelopes on November 4.  Please mark your cans with a ‘B’ from a boy and a ‘G’ from a girl.  We will be lining the halls with the cans, and will see if the boys or the girls bring in more cans. 

Our Bible memory work for November:

Genesis 28:15 – Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land.  Due Tuesday, November 10.

After this verse, we will begin learning the Ten Commandments, starting with commandments 1-3, which will be due on Tuesday, November 24.

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.

Report cards were sent home on Tuesday, November 3.  Conferences will be held on Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24.  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.  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.

Scholastic orders for November will be sent in your child’s white envelope on Tuesday, November 10.  Please return these by Friday, November 13.  Please make checks payable to Jackie McClure.  If any items are gifts, please let me know, and we will arrange for you to pick up the order in the office. 

Our November Birthdays:

Mikayla turned 7 on November 2.

Ivy turns 7 On November 23.

Happy birthday, friends!

We will be having a small Thanksgiving celebration on Friday, November 20.  We will watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  If you would like to provide a snack or drink for this small celebration, please contact me by email.  I would like one salty snack and one sweet snack, as well as drinks, if possible.  Please keep our nut allergies in mind.

The annual Book Fair will be set up during conferences.  Your child will have an opportunity to preview the book fair and make a list of books that interest him/her.  Students will not be given an opportunity to buy books.  You will be able to browse the shelves at the Book Fair during conferences, and make any purchases then.  

             

There will be no school from Wednesday, November 25, to Friday, November 27, for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Classes will resume on Monday, November 30. 

Important Dates to Remember:

            November 7       ~Picture Retake Day

            November 10     ~Genesis 28:15 due

November 13     ~Scholastic orders due
            November 19     ~Twin Day (school-wide Spirit Day)

            November 20     ~Thanksgiving Celebration

            November 23     ~1/2 Day of School

                                    ~Parent-Teacher Conferences and Book Fair

            November 24     ~1/2 Day of School

                                    ~Parent-Teacher Conferences and Book Fair

            November 24     ~Commandments 1-3 due

November 25-27~No School.  Thanksgiving Holiday

November 30     ~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 2015

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.  

            Friday, October 2, is our annual fundraising banquet at Hartefeld Country Club, beginning at 6:30 pm.  We have a wonderful evening planned, and I hope to see you there!  Please remember that Friday, October 2, is also a half-day of school.  Please do send a snack with your child, as we will have snack. 

            Grandparents’ Day is on Friday, October 9.  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.  We will have a snack time in the classroom.  Please be sure to send a healthy snack to school with your child.

Picture Day will be Wednesday, October 14.  You will receive more information in the

white envelopes closer to that day. 

The first quarter ends on Tuesday, October 27.  Report cards will be sent out via Renweb on Tuesday, November 3.  There will also be no school on Tuesday, November 3, due to a Teacher In-Service Day.  Conferences will be held on Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, November 24.  More information will be sent home regarding this. 

        Our Bible memory work for October will begin with Colossians 3:12-14, our theme verse, in its entirety:

"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion kindness, gentleness, humility and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

This will be due on Thursday, October 15.

Our second verse for October will be Genesis 8:22

            "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

            This will be due on Tuesday, October 27.

Please be sure to return the Bible memory books on the days that verses are due.

            We are celebrating two birthdays this month:

                        Scotty D. has a birthday on October 1.

                        Cage has a birthday on October 15.

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 will begin sometime this month.  Please be on the lookout for books to be sent home, along with instructions and assignments.

            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.

            Please be sure that your child is returning all homework in a timely manner.  Math homework is sent periodically, and should be returned on the date indicated on the paper.

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