Monday News for Oct. 19th

After the taste of cold weather this past weekend, it seems like a good time for a reminder to send your child with clothing appropriate for the weather (hats, mittens, jackets). We go outside almost every day, and it can still be pretty chilly at recess time at 11:20, even when it is warming up in the afternoon.

Today, word study homework will be coming home for the first time. Your child has a weekly word sort and list of common "trick" words to do three activities with during the week. Our first word study assessment will be on Friday. Please let us know if you have any questions about the homework or word study program.

In reading and writing, we are beginning a non-fiction unit. Your child is learning about features of a non-fiction text (headings, photos/captions, table of contents, glossary, maps, and more) and how they help us read a non-fiction text with purpose. Eventually, we will each become experts on a topic and write a research report using the non-fiction features we are learning about.

This week, we will also be planting tulips as part of the Journey North Tulip Project. We need to get the bulbs in the ground before it freezes! From the Journey North Website: "In this international science experiment, students in schoolyards across the northern hemisphere plant tulip bulbs in their Journey North Test Gardens each fall. When the plants emerge and bloom, children announce springtime in their part of the world." To learn more, you can visit:  http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tulip/index.html

Next Tuesday, we have our field trip to Shelburne Museum. If you haven't done so already, please make sure you send the permission slip back this week. We also could use some additional parent chaperons if you are able!

And congratulations to Amelia and family! They were the winners of the Open House Pumpkin.