December 2021

 Dear 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 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. Be sure to have your child fill in his/her reading calendar accurately each day. After the month has ended, you should sign the calendar and return it to school with your child.

Please remember to send a water bottle to school with your child each day. We have had many students forgetting water bottles and the office has none to offer. 

Please join us for a night of fellowship on Thursday, December 9, at 6:45 PM. We will have a Winter Fellowship Fundraiser. There will be light refreshments and a time of worship together. 

Our 4th and 5th grade students will present a Christmas program on Thursday, December 16. The middle school choir will also be singing. Please join us for an entertaining evening!

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 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 in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

This memory work will be due on Friday, December 17.

We are celebrating one birthday and one half-birthday in our class this month:

Colee will have a birthday on December 15.

Thomas will celebrate his half-birthday on December 11.

Happy birthday, Friends!

We will have our Christmas party on Thursday, December 23.  We will be having a book exchange in the morning.  Each child is asked to bring one book, costing no more than $5.  Girls can bring a book that would be enjoyed by girls; boys can bring a book that would be enjoyed by boys.  Each book should be wrapped and labeled as follows: 

                                                            To:  A Boy (or A Girl)

                                                            From: Your Child’s Name

Please send the book to school by December 21; we will have our book exchange early in the day on December 23.  The party will be after recess, beginning around 10:30. This is a half day of school. We will dismiss at 12:30. Please be looking for communication from me if you signed up to be a homeroom parent this year. 

                                               

There will be no school from December 24-January 2.  Classes will resume on Monday, January 3, 2022.

Extra clothes:

Please have your child keep a complete extra change of clothes in his/her backpack. We are going outside for recess on cold days, and sometimes the playground and field are muddy. If we fall in the mud, it is nice to have a change of clothes available. The office is not keeping extra clothing available this year. 

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 2021

 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.   

Bethany Christian School will be participating in a canned food drive to help our local Neighborhood Services. Collections will take place from 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 2, due to our school being used as a polling location for the election.

Monday, November 8 is Teddy Bear Day! Children are invited to bring a favorite Teddy Bear (or other stuffed animal) to school for the day. 

Scholastic orders are due by Tuesday, November 9.  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. You can also order on the website using this link: https://clubs.scholastic.com/grade1

Friday, November 12 will be Pajama Day for first grade. We filled our first class sticker chart a few weeks ago and the children recently voted to have a Pajama Day to celebrate. All first grade students are invited to wear pajamas to school on Friday, November 12. Students may also bring slippers to wear if they would like, but please also send sneakers to wear for recess. We will still go outside for recess and run club on PJ Day. :)

Our first Bible memory work for November will be to begin learning The Ten Commandments. We will start with the first four:

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.

This will be due on Friday, November 19.

Report cards will be sent home via RenWeb on Friday, November 12.  Conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 23 and Wednesday, November 24, which will be a half-days of school. Dismissal for the students on half 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 November 23 or 24. Please look for a Sign-Up Genius link in your email very soon. 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 the afternoon of Monday, November 22.  We will watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. I will send a Sign-Up Genius link for snacks/drinks. There will be no school from Thursday, November 25, to Monday, November 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Classes will resume on Tuesday, November 30. 

We have one students celebrating birthdays this month.

Liam - November 12

Happy birthday, Liam!

Important Dates to Remember:

November 1-15 ~Can Drive (First Grade is bringing 1lb cans of green beans)

November 2      ~No School - Election Day

November 8      ~Teddy Bear Day!

November 9      ~Scholastic Orders Due

November 12    ~Pajama Day for First Grade

November 12    ~Report Cards issued

November 19    ~Commandments 1-4 Due

November 22     ~Thanksgiving Celebration              

November 23     ~1/2 Day of School

                          ~Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 24    ~1/2 Day of School

                          ~Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 25-29~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 2021

 Dear First Grade Families,

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.  

Grandparents Day is Friday, October 8. This is a very special day at Bethany!. There will be a program in the gym. This is a half-day of school for all students, with 12:30 dismissal. Please look for more information about the program time and dismissal for the day. The office will be communicating these things within the next couple of days.

There will be no school on Monday, October 11, due to a teacher in-service day.

Our first spelling list was sent home on Thursday, September 30. You will see a new spelling list every Thursday. The lists do not have to be returned to school. Please keep them at home to help your child practice spelling the words on the list. Spelling tests will be on Wednesdays.

Bible memory books will be due on Friday, October 15. The verse is Genesis 28:15 - "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land.”

Please be sure to send your child's Bible memory book to school on Friday, October 15. I will send a new verse on Tuesday, October 19.

Picture Day will be on Wednesday, October 20. Please look for picture forms to come home in the white envelopes sometime soon!

We are celebrating two birthdays in our classroom this month!

Levi - October 20

Gracie - October 30

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 reading tracking calendar in his/her homework folder on October 1. 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 flashcards for addition and subtraction.  These can be bought (they are available at Wal-Mart, 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 will begin using our Kickin' It math minutes program soon and the students are very excited to begin earning belts for knowing math facts!

A Look Ahead:

~There is no school on Tuesday, November 2. This is Election Day and our school is a polling location for East Nottingham Township.                  

          ~The First Quarter will end on Thursday, November 4.  Report Cards will be sent home via RenWeb on Friday, November 12.

          ~Conferences will be held on the afternoons of Tuesday, November 23, and Wednesday, November 24. Please look for a Sign-Up Genius email to sign up for a conference time. These are also half-days of school, with a 12:30 dismissal. Please be sure to send a hearty snack for your child on all half-days of school. We will not have lunch on half days.

~School will be closed Thursday, November 25-Monday, November 29 for Thanksgiving Break. We resume school on Tuesday, November 30.

Thanks!

            Again, thank you for your help and support 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 2021

 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 eighth grade at BCS this year.

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

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 – Music

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

Wednesday – Technology

Thursday – Gym

Friday - Art

 

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..  It is our goal to teach your child more about God and His love and plan for them. Each year, there is a theme verse for all of the students at Bethany.  This year, our theme verse is Romans 15:13 - “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”   All Bethany students will be expected to commit this verse to memory.  I will test the students on the theme verse on Friday, September 17. 

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 31, and will be due to return back to school for recitation on Friday, September 17.  Please be sure to send Bible memory books back to school on the due date throughout the year. 

 

         We will celebrate one birthday in our class in September:
Charlie - September 21

Happy birthday, Charlie!

                    

Save the Date!

 

Grandparents Day is scheduled for Friday, October 8.  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 about Grandparents Day to be sent home this month.

If you would like for your child to wear a mask during school, please be sure to let me know so that I can help to make this happen while your child is with me. Please also send an extra mask (or two) in your child’s backpack, just in case.

I ask that each first-grade student keep a seasonal-appropriate full change of clothes in his/her backpack. Accidents happen, not only bathroom accidents, but also sitting-in-a-puddle at recess accidents or spilling-my-water-bottle-all-over-my lap accidents.  Thank you for your help with this. 

 

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 ASAP so that you are able to keep up with what we are doing throughout the day. 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 we need to switch to remote learning at any time this year, having all families already connected to Class Dojo will help with a smooth transition. If you need your code again, send me an email and I will get that to you.

You received a Scholastic Book Club letter with your Open House information. Orders will be due by September 14. You may order online at scholastic.com. Our class code for online ordering is GYCG9. Scholastic is a great way to get books for your budding reader while supporting our classroom. 

 

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.

You can also send a private message through Class Dojo, which is a great way to contact me during the day. I get notifications on both my phone and my computer, and I’ll be able to respond at my next break. 

 

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

June 2021

Dear First Grade Families,

We are in the final two weeks of school and what an interesting year it has been for our first graders! They have faced many challenges and I am so proud of them for adapting to the new routines of the year. 

We have several important events coming up as we bring our school year to a close. Please read this newsletter carefully so that you don’t miss any of our exciting year-end celebrations!

Monday, June 7 - Movie Reward

Since our school reached (surpassed!) our fundraising goal for the Bulldog Run, each class will have a special movie time set aside during the last week of school. The students in first grade will be voting on a movie that they will view on the afternoon of June 7.

Tuesday, June 8 - Field Day events and Run Club Awards

Students should come to our classroom as usual in the morning. At 8:40 AM, the festivities will begin in the gym with the Pie the Principal Assembly! At around 9:20 AM, we will meet on the soccer field for our Field Day games. First Grade is on the Red Team; please have your child wear a red t-shirt for Field Day. We will take a short snack and restroom break about half-way through our Field Day activities. We will have our normal lunch at 12:00 and recess at 12:30. At 1:15, grades K-5 will meet in the gym for Run Club awards. Students who participated in Run Club will receive their t-shirts. Mrs. Graul will also be recognizing the top runners in each class.

Parents, you are welcome to join us for both our Field Day events and Run Club awards in the afternoon.

Wednesday, June 9 - Galatians 6:2, 9-10 due
This is our final memory verse of the year, and yes, it is a review of our theme verse for the year. As I told the students, I feel that this year’s theme verse, while lengthy, is full of wonderful truths that I want them to take with them into the summer and beyond! 

“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. So then as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Galatians 6:2, 9-10

Thursday, June 10 - First Grade Pet Day! 

Please remember that you must sign up for a 10-minute time slot if you plan to bring a dog/cat/larger animal to school for pet day. All students are welcome to bring a picture of a pet if there is not a parent available to bring a pet from home. Please visit this link to sign-up for a time if you plan to bring a pet: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e49a8ab28a20-petday6

We do have only 1 time slot remaining for the day.

Friday, June 11 - Last Day of School/First Grade Picnic at Nottingham Park

Our First Grade End-of-Year Picnic is on Friday, June 11! We are meeting at Nottingham Park around 9:00 AM. Parents, you are requested to bring your child to/from the park, rather than bringing them to school on Friday, June 11. Parents and families are invited to stay and celebrate with us at the park. Please give me a total count (including your first grader) as soon as possible so that I can adjust the items we need on our sign-up if necessary. If you are unable to stay, you may drop your child off at the picnic (Pavilion 6) at 9:00 AM and pick him/her up at noon. This is a half-day of school, so when you leave the picnic with your child, summer vacation has begun! Enjoy! :)

Please visit this link if you would like to provide some of the food items for our picnic:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e49a8ab28a20-endofyear

Herr’s has donated some individual chip bags for our picnic, so that is taken care of. We will also have a sweet surprise treat at the picnic.

Friday, June 18 - Report Cards Issued

Our final report card of the year will be issued on Friday, June 18. Please watch for an email from Daisey Ingiosi containing the link to your child’s report card.

I have enjoyed getting to know your children this year and I’m so excited for them as they venture into second grade next year! Thank you for partnering with me this year to help ensure your child’s success in first grade. You and your children have all been a blessing to me this year in so many ways! I’m going to miss this class and their enthusiasm. Enjoy summer break and God bless you all!

Love in Christ,
Jackie McClure

May 2021

 Dear First Grade Families,                                                                             

It is hard to believe that we are now in 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 7 is our Fine Arts Gala. The event will begin at 6:00 pm. Our music lesson students will be providing entertainment and there will be art pieces for showcase on this exciting evening. 

Thursday, May 13 is a Pajama Day for first grade. We have filled another class sticker chart and earned a treat. The students voted for Pajama Day. Students may wear pajamas and bring slippers to wear in the classroom. Please do send sneakers as we will still be going outside for recess.

The Bulldog Run will be held on Friday, May 14.  All students will be participating and families are invited to come and cheer for the children as they run (or even run with them!).  Children are to report to the classroom by 8:20 am and we will be heading to the soccer field for announcements at 8:30. First grade will be running from 8:40-9:40 am. You are encouraged to sign your child out after the first graders run (on the soccer field) and spend the day with them. 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 day with your child.

There will be no school on Tuesday, May 18, due to the election on that day.

Just a reminder that there will be  no school on Monday, May 31,  Memorial Day.

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

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 Friday, May 21.

On Thursday, June 10, 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 you show any signs of being ill, please do not come for Pet Day. Also, you will need to sign in at the office when you arrive and you will need to sanitize your hands when you enter the classroom. 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.

On Friday, June 11, we will have our end of the year picnic at Nottingham Park. Mr. Fry has requested that parents bring their students to the park in the morning. We will meet at Nottingham Park, Pavilion 6, at 9:00 AM. The address is:
150 Park Road

Nottingham, PA

Students (and family members joining them) should bring a packed lunch with a drink. We will have a playground near our pavilion. You will be able to sign your child out from the park and go home from there. 

We are celebrating two birthdays this month:

Landon has a birthday on May 13.
Frankie has a birthday on May 30.

Happy birthday, friends!

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

~Friday, May 7 - Fine Arts Gala and Open House, 6:00 PM

~Thursday, May 13 - Pajama Day

~Friday, May 14 - Bulldog Run

~Tuesday, May 18 - No School

~Friday, May 21 - Ruth 1:16 due

~Monday, May 31- No School, Memorial Day

Looking Ahead

~Tuesday, June 8- Field Day and Run Club Awards

~Thursday, June 10 - Pet Day

~Friday, June 11 - Last Day of School; 1/2 Day of School

                                    Picnic at Nottingham Park (150 Park Road, Nottingham, PA; Pavilion 6)

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

In Him,

Jackie McClure