DECEMBER 7, 2018

Tis the season of giving, driving, spending, shopping, giving, and driving! Thank you for your extra support this Christmas season. Whether your family provided items for the gingerbread houses or gifts for our girl Elaine we are supporting, both Jodi and I appreciate all your extra help. Please let me know if you have any questions or need clarification on dates and details:).

"Mom... Dad, I need to build a lighthouse...."Some of you may have heard this in the past couple days. Let me explain! As a final project for our Social Studies Unit on Geography of Michigan, the students were able to pick a certain project to do. ONE option was "Pick a famous Michigan Lighthouse and create a model of that specific lighthouse." Then in class, the student will do some research about that specific lighthouse. They will write up a little paragraph and display those details next to their model.
If your child chose to do this project, they are encouraged to build a model either with my recycled materials at school OR with materials at home.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS....this model needs to end up on school by Tuesday, Dec. 11. Then your child can do their research and finish their project.
If this is too confusing, PLEASE let me know. Not every child chose this, so it is alright if you have no idea what I am talking about ;) 

CHRISTMAS PARTY:
We will have our Christmas Party on Thursday, Dec. 20th from 12:45-2:15. We will NOT be trading presents, but instead playing games and doing some activities. I am looking for 2 more parent/grandparent helpers to lead a station for 5 students. I have the games and activities prepared, and just need a helper to lead the station. If you are available to help, please email me and let me know.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES:

I had many parents email me about participating and helping with the construction of the gingerbread houses. If you have not communicated with me about helping, please text, email, or send a note this week. I would love to know if every child will have someone to work with.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Mon. Dec. 10: Safe Touch/Bodies Talk (*Parents are welcome to come and listen. It starts at 12:45 in our classroom – Sorry about the time change again!)

Tues. Dec. 11: Social Studies Projects NEED to be at school

Wed. Dec. 12: Making Gingerbread Houses (1:00-3:00 *Time changed!)

Thursday Dec. 13: Library Books Due

                                      Kindergarten Cookie Sale (50 cents per cookie)

Monday Dec. 17: Reading Minute Slip Due

Thurs. Dec. 20: Classroom Christmas Celebration (12:45-2:15)

Friday, Dec. 21: All-school Christmas Chapel (2:30-3:00)

Dec. 24 – Jan. 4: No School – Christmas Break

NOVEMBER 30, 2018

Prepare the way of the Lord!

I pray that this advent season, your family can ask and discuss how they can use their head, heart, hands, and feet to be a disciple of Christ and prepare the way of the Lord. We are a part of God's story, His children, and He equips those He calls! 

WHAT’S IN THE FISH FOLDER:

Students will be coming home with a folder

-       Snoeyink’s Snippets (Pink paper)

-       Christmas Giving & Gingerbread House INFO (Green paper)

-       December Bible Memory (Blue paper)

-       Misc. work from the week

WHAT’S IN THE HOMEWORK FOLDER:

-       New spelling words (Test Friday, Dec. 7)

-       Math homework (Due Friday Dec. 7)

-       New Reading Minutes slip – Make sure to send in those old ones on Monday.

CHRISTMAS PARTY:
We will have our Christmas Party on Thursday, Dec. 20th from 12:45-2:15. We will NOT be trading presents, but instead playing games and doing some activities. I am looking for 3 parent/grandparent helpers to lead a station for 5 students. I have the games and activities prepared, and just need a helper to lead the station. If you are available to help, please email me and let me know.

Gingerbread Houses

On Wednesday afternoon, December 12, from 1:00 to 3:00, the third graders will be putting together gingerbread houses. We are excited about this annual Christmas project.  Children will be taking home a gingerbread house of their very own.  In order for this day to be successful, we are asking for a couple of things. In order to carry out this event, we are always looking for a couple items to help decorate the houses. If there is some room on your grocery bill for some of these items, we would much appreciate it! I sent a signup link on Monday with the extra supplies we would like to use. Please bring in these items by Friday, December 7th. (We will have a special (non-edible) decorating icing ready to go at school.)

Some years, parents bring along cake decorating equipment to help with the decorating portion of our project.  If you are so inclined, please consider sending that along.

Most importantly, we are looking for as many volunteers as we can get to help with the construction. Because volunteers will be assisting small groups of students, we are asking that NO younger siblings be taken along. Thank you for understanding.

As the day approaches, please let me know if you are willing and able to help with construction. Please let me know via email, note, or text so that I can plan on your help.

Check out the supplies link below and sign up if it works!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a49aaa828a6fa7-supplies

Christmas Giving

Every year, we find ways to practice giving inside of receiving. This year, our class is partnering with a child who is the same age as these 3rd graders, yet has a very different life experience. Elaine is 9 years old and currently being fostered and loved by another family. We were given her "Christmas List" and it is our job as a class to bless her with some Christmas presents and some words of hope and love. Each student (family) has two options:

1. I have created a sign up with some specific items Elaine has requested. Sign up for an item, purchase the item, and bring it to school by December 7.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a49aaa828a6fa7-share

OR

2. Your child may earn/donate their own money and may just deliver their money in an envelope to school. I will use the money to purchase the remaining gifts.

Thank you again for your support, purchasing, remembering, and doing! This time is always so busy, with many tasks to accomplish. Thank you for making time for these opportunities!

IMPORTANT DATES:

Thursday Dec. 6: Library Books Due

Friday, Dec. 7: Last Day to bring in Gingerbread Supplies

      Last Day to bring in our Christmas Giving Gifts and Money

                       Spelling Test

                             Math Homework Due

*Just a note: I will be taking a personal day to stand up in a friend’s wedding. The students will have a sub all day on Friday.

Monday Dec. 10: Reading Minute Slip Due

Wed. Dec. 12: Making Gingerbread Houses (1:00-3:00 *Time changed!)

Thurs. Dec. 20: Classroom Christmas Celebration (12:45-2:15)

Dec. 24 – Jan. 4: No School – Christmas Break