Happy New Year!

Dear Families,

Welcome back and Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed a happy, restful break full of all the things you love most. Thank you for the extremely thoughtful and generous gift card To Caress Day Spa. It is my favorite place to get a massage and I'm looking forward to it very much. Thank you also for all the other lovely gifts that came my way. I appreciate each and every kindness.

We've had a great week and a half back in the classroom and have a lot of fun things happening.

Mind-Up! We are delving deeper into our school-wide Mind-Up! curriculum and learning all about being mindful of our actions and learning how to calm our bodies, prepare for learning and focus, and make smart choices through a deep breathing practice. We are also learning about the parts of our brains and what each part helps us do, and how mindful breathing affects our neurological response.  Ask your children how their new breathing practice helps them in their lives in and out of school. I have heard several  stories about how they've used the practice at home already. Fun stuff!

Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Presentation: We had our second of four presentations Friday. Our topic was safety in public and at home against strangers and/or bullies. Please create a safety plan with your child in the event they get lost or are left home alone. Continue to review personal addresses and phone numbers with your children as well. We look forward to two more safety presentations from the Sheriff's Department this year. 

Writing: We have started our unit on Informational Writing. Students have begun by gathering topic ideas they believe they are experts on, rehearsing their topics orally with their new writing partners, and will complete a few drafts before choosing their best idea to take through publication.

Social Studies Writing: In isolation of our Writing Workshop sessions, we will be learning how to structure a proper paragraph using a topic sentence, details, and concluding sentence as we integrate writing and social studies while  learning about Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, and Harriet Tubman as we celebrate Black History Month.

Math: First Grade-Place Value and Money, Second Grade-Measurement and Money. All students- Fact Fluency.

Science: Our new unit is Plant Adventures: Structure, Function, and Adaptations. We will be working to get our garden bed going and growing with the help of Lauren Wall, Vivi's mom. If anyone else would like to help by volunteering here at school or donating supplies, please let Lauren or myself know. We would like to paint the borders of the bed, get soil, netting, etc. to keep the deer out, and then plant a vegetable garden so we can enjoy a salad party after we harvest. I am not a green thumb by any means, so your support is very appreciated. : )

Homework: For the next half of the year, we will continue to have a reading log and word wall words for reading and spelling. In addition, there will be an added element of addition and and subtraction fluency for both first and second graders. First graders should be adding fluently within 10 for by the end of the year and second graders adding within 20. All students will begin at the same level and advance through our fluency program as they successfully complete levels at their own individual pace. Your support at home is encouraged. Fluency can be attained a number of ways: repeated practice on worksheets sent home, flashcards, or apps. Please do what you find works best for your child. Information about the program will be coming home in homework packets next week.

Word Wall Words:      been     only     called     into     also

Field Trips: Our first grade field trip to Jacob's Heart was wonderful. Thank you to all our awesome drivers and chaperons.

Second Grade will be going to Elkhorn Slough on Friday, November 9th. I am happy to report that all field trip forms have been returned and I have a surplus of drivers. You are all welcome to attend, however, if anyone would like to opt out of this one, please let me know as soon as possible. I have enough seats for 23 students and we only have 10 second graders attending. I will have parents ride together if you all still want to attend. I will also give priority to drivers who have all their insurance information up to date in the office by Wednesday, January 31st.

Important Dates: Wednesday, January 31st is Hawaiian Day! Please show your school spirit by dressing in Hawaiian attire!

Again, welcome back to school! Wishing you all exactly the 2018 you're hoping for!

Best,

Caryn Allen