May 2015

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. 

           

            In Bible class, we will be studying the Kings of Israel, including David and Solomon.   Our new Bible memory work 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 Friday, May 15.

Proverbs 3:3
"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart."

This will be due on Friday, May 29.

            Just a reminder that there will be  no school on Tuesday, May 19, Election Day and Monday, May 25, Memorial Day.

            The students are continuing to work through our reading program, and I am pleased to see that many of them are beginning to show a love for reading independently.  Basic reading skills are being built through our phonics classes, and as the students are expanding their reading vocabulary, they are searching for materials that they can take pride in reading.  Thank you for your dedication to your child’s reading education, which you show by listening to his or her reading homework each evening.  This extra practice and reinforcement helps your child’s education in so many ways.

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

~Thursday, May 14 - Crazy Hair Day!

~Friday, May 15 – Psalm 24:1-2 due
~Tuesday,  May 19 - No School; Election Day

~Monday, May 25 – No School, Memorial Day      

~Friday, May 29 – Proverbs 3:3 due

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

In Him,

Jackie McClure         

April 2015

Dear First Grade Families,                                                                                                              

I always enjoy watching the early signs of spring popping up throughout the world around me.  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 20 - Ruth 1:16 due

                April 23 – Career Day Spirit Day

                April 23 – No Hot Lunch

                April 30 – Isaiah 55:6 due

We have three April birthdays in our class:

Siri will celebrate her birthday on April 14.

Lydia will celebrate her birthday on April 18.

Julianna will celebrate her birthday on April 24.

Happy Birthday, friends!

A Look Ahead:

Friday, May 1 – 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.  The art show will also be set up in the hallways at this time, and you will have an opportunity to see what the students at Bethany have been doing with their creativity this year.  There will also be a silent auction.  Please remember to send in your items for our Bundle of Joy basket.  Thank you to those who have already contributed.

               

This year, Race Day will also include a Fun Fair following the awards ceremony.  This will take place on the soccer field.  This event will be ticket-based; tickets will be sold for all games and food items.  Please plan on attending Race Day so that you and your child/children can have a special time together at the Fun Fair.

In Bible, we will be studying the story of Ruth, and then the lives of Samuel and Saul.  The memory work will be  Ruth 1:16 and Isaiah 55:6.

"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."  Ruth 1:16

This verse will be due Monday, April 20.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found.  Call upon Him while He is near;"  Isaiah 55:6

This will be due on Thursday, April 30.

We have used up our class supply of paper towels.   If you are able to send in a roll or two of paper towels, we would greatly appreciate it!  Thanks!

If your child's lunch requires a spoon/fork, please be sure to include that in the lunchbox.  Thank you.

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.  If you find that your child wants to continue past his or her assigned pages of reading homework, perhaps finding a book at the library, which interests him or her, would be a good idea.

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 2015

Dear Parents,                                                                      

With all the cold weather lately, it is hard to believe that spring is not far away.  In just a few short weeks, however, 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 received so many lovely Valentines, and I would like to thank each and every child for being an important part of my life.  You are loved and appreciated! 

Some of our memory work for March will coordinate with our March bulletin board.  If you have a chance to come in to see our Woolly Lambs and Mrs. Ingiosi’s Ferocious Lions, please do so!  Our first verse for March will be Proverbs 28:1:  “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”  This will be tested on Tuesday, March 10.  The second verse for March will be 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 tested on Wednesday, March 18 .  Please take time at home to help your child learn these verses.  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 31.

Thursday, March 26 will be  Book Character Day.  Children are invited to dress as a favorite book character. 

The third quarter will end on Tuesday, March 24.  Report cards will be available Tuesday, March 31.

On Friday, March 27, the first grade classes will be going on a field trip to the Chester County Historical Society for a look at Victorian Childhood.  This is a fabulous trip, one the children are sure to remember.  Parents are welcome to attend.  The cost for parents is $7.00.  Please keep in mind that we cannot allow siblings to attend our field trips.  Permission slips for this trip will be sent home as the date approaches.

There will be no school from Thursday, April 2-Monday, April 6, in observance of the Easter holiday. 

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 Bundle of Joy, items for mom and baby.  Thanks!

          Classroom Birthdays:
                   March 4 - Elijah

                   March 10 - Anthony
                   March 19 - Emma

Important Dates to Remember:

          ~Tuesday, March 10 – Proverbs 28:1 due

          ~Wednesday, March 18 – Revelation 5:13b due
          ~Thursday, March 19 - Snow Make-up Day - - There WILL be school.

          ~Friday, March 20 – Teacher Inservice; no school.

          ~Tuesday, March 24 – Third Quarter Ends

          ~Thursday, March 26 – Book Character Day

          ~Friday, March 27 – Chester County Historical Society field trip

          ~Tuesday, March 31 – Matthew 28:6 due

          ~Tuesday, March 31 – Report Cards available

          ~Thursday, April 2-Monday, April 6 – No school.  Easter break.

          ~Tuesday, April 7 – School Resumes

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

          Email:  jmcclurebcs@gmail.com

          Phone:  610-998-0877 (8am-3:30pm)

                     610-467-0622 (6:00pm-8pm)

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

In Him,

Jackie McClure

February 2015

 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.

On Wednesday, February 11, we will have a visit from an employee of McCormick Orthodontics to discuss the importance dental hygiene.  This will kick off our Health unit regarding health, wellness and nutrition.

We are beginning our social studies unit on Our Changing World, including a study of schools long ago.  The students will enjoy seeing pictures of one-room schoolhouses and the different school tools that children used many years ago. 

In Bible, we will continue discussing the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, under the leadership of Moses and later, Joshua.  Our first Bible memory work for February will be John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”  This will be due Friday, February 13.   Please be sure to send Bible Memory Books to school on the due date so that a new verse may be sent home.

February is a busy month in first grade.  We will be celebrating our 100^th day of school on Thursday, February 5.  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!

Our Valentine card exchange will be held on Friday, February 13, in the afternoon.  Valentines for the class may be sent on or before February 13^th.  I am sending a copy of our class list in White Envelopes on Tuesday, February 3.  If your child would like to hand out Valentines to his/her classmates, please be sure to include everyone listed, so that no one’s feelings are hurt!  If you are interested in providing a snack for our class, please contact me. Thanks.

There will be no school on Monday, February 16, in honor of Presidents' Day.

On Wednesday, February 19, we will have a special nature presentation from the grandmother of one of Mrs. Ingiosi's first graders.  She works as a nature teacher for Fair Hill Nature Center at Fair Hill State Park., and has offered to present a program called "Animals in Winter".  We are very excited for this special visit!

This month’s Spirit Day will be Pajama Day on Thursday, February 19.  Children are invited by the Student Council to participate.  Wear your comfy jammies and slippers.! Please do send sneakers for outdoor play on that day.

February Dates to Remember:

***Thursday, February 5, 2015 – 100^th day of school  

***February 9-13 – Spread the Love Campaign Peanut Butter & Jelly collection

***Friday, February 13 – John 3:34 quiz

***Friday, February 13 - Valentine Card Exchange

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

***Thursday, February 19- Pajama Day

Birthdays this Month:

            ***February 11 – Lia's Birthday

            ***February 16 – Wyatt's Birthday

God Bless You!

Jackie McClure

January 2015

Welcome back and Happy New Year!  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!  We are especially enjoying the time that we spend with the reading moms and dads in the mornings.  The children enjoy being able to spend some time out in the hallway, practicing their reading skills.  Thank you to those who have been able to assist thus far!  If you would like to receive information about being a reading helper, please send a note to school.

In Bible, we will be talking about the life of Moses. 

We will be learning the Ten Commandments, beginning with Commandments 1-3.

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.

These Commandments will be due on Tuesday, January 13.

On Monday, January 19, 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.

           

On January 22, we will have a school-wide Spirit Day.  This month’s Spirit Day is Clash Day.  Wear the most UN-matching clothes possible!  Have fun!

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

Important Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, January 13 – Commandments 1-3 due

Wednesday, January 14 – Second Quarter Ends

Monday, January 19 – No School

Wednesday, January 21 – Report Cards Sent via Ren Web

Thursday, January 22 – Clash Day

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me by note, email (jmcclurebcs@gmail.com), or telephone (610-467-0622).  Enjoy the winter weather, and stay warm!

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish a very Merry Christmas to every one of you and your families!  I pray that you all enjoy the wonder of the season and remember that Jesus is the reason that we celebrate each year.  
I look forward to seeing my first graders refreshed and ready to continue a wonderful year on January 5, 2015.
With much love and appreciation for each of you,
Jackie McClure

December 2014

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.

Please continue to listen to your child read his/her reading homework 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 these assignments aloud to an adult; this helps catch inaccuracy in the reading.

Thursday, December 11 will be Medieval Day.  Have fun dressing up for school!

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 tested on Friday, December 19.

We will be having a book exchange on December 18.  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 December 18; we will have our book exchange early in the day.  

We will have our Christmas party on Friday, December 19, from 1:45-2:45.  Thank you to Lisa Patrick for planning a special time for us.  Please let us know if you can provide any of the items on the emailed list.

There will be no school from December 22-January 4.  Classes will resume on Monday, January 5, 2015.

 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