November 2018

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 9.
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 20.

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 will be sent in your child’s white envelope next week.  Please place all orders by Monday, November 12.  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.
There is no school on Tuesday, November 6, due to our school being used as a polling location for the election.
Report cards will be sent home via RenWeb on Friday, November 9.  Conferences will be held on Monday, November 19 and Tuesday, November 20.  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 16.  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 30 cornbread muffins. If you are willing to make some or all of the muffins for our celebration, please let me know. Thanks!
The Usborne 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 21, to Monday, November 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Classes will resume on Tuesday, November 27.  
Important Dates to Remember:        
          November 6     ~No School - Election Day

November 9      ~Report Cards issued

                                       ~Commandments 1-4 Due
November 14     ~Psalm 9:1-2 due
November 16     ~Thanksgiving Celebration           November 19     ~1/2 Day of School
~Parent-Teacher Conferences and Book Fair
November 20    ~1/2 Day of School

                                       ~Commandments 5-10 Due

~Parent-Teacher Conferences and Book Fair
November 21-26~No School.  Thanksgiving Holiday
November 27     ~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 2018

Dear Parents,                                                                                                              

            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 Friday, October 12. The verse for October 12 is Proverbs 19:21 - "Many are the plans in the mind of a man but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

Please be sure to send your child's Bible memory book to school on Friday, October 12. I will send a new verse on Monday, October 15.

            Grandparents’ Day is on Friday, October 5.  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 17.  You will receive more information in the white envelopes closer to that day.  

            The Annual Banquet is on Friday, October 19 here at the school. It is going to be a wonderful evening celebrating God's provision for our school. Fourth and fifth grades are performing and childcare will be provided. Please be sure to send your RSVP; I hope to see you there! This is also a half day of school. Please be sure to send a healthy snack.

Our Field Trip to Ashland Nature Center is scheduled for Friday, October 26. 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.

            We are celebrating two birthdays this month:

                       

                        Chase has a birthday on October 3.

                        Colby has a birthday on October 12.

                        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 on Monday, 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 2.  Report Cards will be sent home via RenWeb on Friday, November 9.

            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