March 2019

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, I hope you do 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 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!

Thursday, March 7, and Friday, March 8, are snow make up days. We will now have school on March 7 and March 8. There will be no hot lunch on Thursday, March 7. Please be sure to send a lunch with your child.

Our Bible memory verse is 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 is due on Friday, March 8.

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.

Thursday, March 28 is Crazy Hair or Favorite Hat Day. This is an all-school Spirit Day.

The third quarter will end on Friday, March 29.  Report cards will be available Friday, April 5.

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.

           

Important Dates to Remember:

            ~Thursday, March 7 - Snow Make Up Day - NO HOT LUNCH

            ~Friday, March 8 – Snow Make Up Day

            ~Friday, March 8 - Psalm 24:1-2 Due

            ~Thursday, March 28 - Crazy Hair/Favorite Hat Day

            ~Friday, March 29 – Third Quarter Ends

            ~Friday, April 5– Report Cards available

           

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

            Email: jmcclure@bethanychristian.org

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

In Him,

Jackie McClure

February 2019

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.

We are participating in the Spread the Love Campaign once again this year. We are collecting jars of peanut butter and jelly (no glass jars, please!) from February 1-15. The class that brings in the most jars will win an ice cream treat!

Our Valentine card exchange will be held on Thursday, February 14, in the afternoon.  Valentines for the class may be sent on or before February 14^th.  I am sending a copy of our class list in White Envelopes on Tuesday, February 5.  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 no school on Monday, February 18, in honor of Presidents' Day.

This month’s Spirit Day will be Sports Jersey or College Shirt Day on Thursday, February 28.  Children are invited to participate. 

On Thursday, February 28 we will have a visit from an employee of McCormick Orthodontics to discuss the importance of dental hygiene. 

February Dates to Remember:

***Thursday, February 14 - Valentine Card Exchange

***Monday, February 18 - No School (President’s Day)

***Thursday, February 28 - Sports Jersey or College Shirt Day

***Thursday, February 28 - Dental Health Visitor

Birthdays this Month:

            ***February 3- Ava's Birthday

           

Blessings!

Jackie McClure

January 2019

Dear First Grade Families,                                              

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!

Please remember to fill out and return the Book-It calendars for each month. I will be accepting December calendars for the rest of this week. January calendars were sent home on Friday, December 21.

In Bible, we will continue our lessons on the life of Moses, starting with a review of the Ten Commandments.

Our next Bible memory work will be Joshua 24:15. This will be sent home on Tuesday, January 8, and will be due on Friday, January 18.

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

On Monday, January 21, there will be no school, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 

         

On January 24, we will have a school-wide Spirit Day.  This month’s Spirit Day is Clash Day or Hawaiian Shirt Day.  Have fun!

We are celebrating two birthdays in our class this month!

                   Nate has a birthday on January 12.

                   Canaan has a birthday on January 20.

                             Happy birthday, Friends!

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 sometimes go outside when it is cold.

Important Dates to Remember:

Friday, January 18 – Joshua 24:15 due

Friday, January 18 - Second Quarter Ends
Monday, January 21 - No School

Thursday, January 24 - Clash Day or Hawaiian Shirt Day

 Friday, January 25 - Report Cards issued

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

In Him,

Jackie McClure

December 2018

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 about 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.

            Our class will visit the Christmas Shop on Monday, December 3. If you plan to send money for your student to shop, please send it on or before December 3. I am happy to store your child's money in a safe place in the classroom until our shopping day.

            Wednesday, December 5 will be our first school-wide Spirit Day. We will have a Crazy Sock Day. Students are invited to wear their favorite socks to school. They can be a favorite pair of crazy socks, fun socks, Christmas socks...anything goes! Students will be permitted to leave their shoes in the coat hook area of the classroom for the day (except when outside or visiting the bathroom, of course!). Have fun!

            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 sent home on Tuesday, December 4 and tested on Tuesday, December 18.

            We will have our Christmas party on Friday, December 21.  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 December 20; we will have our book exchange early in the day.  The party will be after recess and Spanish, beginning around 11:20.  Parents are welcome to attend our Christmas Party.  Thanks!

           

            Friday, December 21 is also a school-wide Spirit Day. This Spirit Day is Pajama Day! We will have a great time celebrating our Christmas party in our jammies! First graders are also welcome to bring slippers for the classroom. Please send sneakers for the bathroom.

            There will be no school from December 22-January 1.  Classes will resume on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

            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 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

August/September 2018

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 fifth grade at BCS this year.

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

There will be no school on Friday, August 31, and Monday, September 3.

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 – Computer

Tuesday – Music

Wednesday – Art

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

Friday - Spanish

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 in the church sanctuary.  It is our goal to not only teach your child more about God and His love and plan for them, but also to train him/her to behave in a reverent and respectful manner while in a church building.  Children are expected to bring their Bibles to Chapel, and to be attentive throughout the service.  Each year, there is a theme verse for all of the students at Bethany.  This year, our theme verse is Romans 12:10 - “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.’  All Bethany students will be expected to commit this verse to memory.  I will test the students on the theme verse on Friday, September 7.

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 28, and will be due to return back to school for recitation on Friday, September 7.  Please be sure to send Bible memory books back to school on the due date throughout the year. 

We are celebrating one birthday in our class in September:

Liam will turn 7 on September 7.  Happy birthday, Liam!

                    

Save the Date!

Grandparents Day will be held on Friday, October 5.  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 to be sent home this month.

Our annual banquet will be held on Friday, October 19 at 6:30 pm at Bethany Christian School.  This is also a half-day of school. Children will need to bring a snack to school, but no lunch. Please be sure to send in your RSVP for the Banquet as soon as possible.  I hope to see you there as we celebrate how God is using Bethany in our community. 

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 (http://jmcclurebcs.blogspot.com/).  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 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 you need your code again, send me an email and I will get that to you.

Scholastic book order forms will be sent home Tuesday, August 28, in the white envelope. Orders will be due by Friday, September 14. Our class code for online ordering is GYCG9. Scholastic is a great way to get books your budding reader while supporting our classroom. I was thrilled to be able to order some flexible seating options for this year using my accumulated bonus points through Scholastic.

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.

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