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