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Newsletter for Week of Dec. 9th, 2013

**Week in Review** We have been practicing our play for a little bit each day and we have made amazing progress. we have our parts memorized and this week we will begin incorporating our music and some props. Each time gets better and better. We are asking that all the children have their costumes in school by this Friday. If it is in a bag or on a hanger we ask that the child's name can identify it. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S COSTUME **PLEASE contact me immediately.** We are also trying diligently to maintain all of our curriculum expectations. The excitement of Christmas and all the distractions are having an impact upon the children. Please encourage them to try to stay focused through these exciting days:). In Social Studies we are learning about economics in December. We have been learning about needs and wants, goods and services, wages, opportunity cost, and volunteers. We are hoping our Junior Achievement Program will begin this week to correspond to our Social Studies unit.

**Reading** = =

This week we will be reading Masks! Masks! Masks! which is a non-fiction selection. If youhave any masks that you would like to share with our class throughout the week, we would love to see them. We will work on consonant digraphs once again such as tch, ch, ph, and wh. We enjoyed our Read and Treat with a different twist. We enjoyed making a Christmas ornament craft, enjoyed a perfect story about Christmas and ended with a treat and some special music.

people...soon...your...when......stitch...whip...whale...chin...catch...match...chop
 * Vocabulary for "Masks! Masks! Masks" **
 * astonishing...continue...talented...complicated...original ** ...every...from...into...

=Religion = Each morning as we gather by our Advent wreath, we are reminded of the many stories of Jesus in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We have had very mysterious clues such as grape gum, gold fish crackers, a jingle bell, and even gummy fish to direct us to different stories. Each day we are challenged to learn or recall the adventures of Jesus. Within our book we have been working on saying "yes to God" like Mary and Noah. We can say yes ion many ways such as being king, being respectful, saying our prayers, being good listeners to our parents and teachers, playing nicely with others, including everyone in our games, going to Mass, and the list is endless. Later this week we will begin learning about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Could you name all 6 gifts? **Wisdom, Understanding, Courage, Knowledge, Reverence,** and **Wonder and Awe.** During

ALL COSTUMES for the "**Savior That God Sent**" should be brought to school no later than FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13TH. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me immediately.

Please don't forget our the Advent service project. WE HAVE ONLY 1 MORE WEEK! We are collecting warm mittens, gloves and hats for the children of St. Hyacinth parish. Thank you so much for your generosity during this season of Advent.

=Math = The children continue to improve on their math facts daily as we return to our routine of Mad Minutes, even after our vacation. The children are so excited to reach yet another goal.. Outside of the Mad Minutes I can see a huge improvement in the children just knowing their math facts rather than even relying on strategies for everything. Our new Math unit will consist of learning about greater than (>) less than (<) and equals as we compare numbers, place value and the use of tens sticks and ones units, 10 more, 10 less, expanded form, as well as the constant use of story problems and review of past skills. ** Math Vocabulary ** place value...expanded form...tens place...ones place...is greater than...is less than...is equal to...compare...tens stick...ones unit...strategies...10 more...10 less **Riddles of the Week**  What do you get if Santa goes down the chimney when it is lit? Crisp Kringle. What does a cat on the beach have in common with Christmas? He would have Sandy Claws.


 * Important Dates **

Dec. 11th..................[|Papa Murphy's Give-Back] Dec. 11th..................Candy house supplies to come in Dec. 13th...................Construction of our candy houses for Language Arts Dec. 13th...................Feast of St. Lucy, patron saint of our parish school Dec. 13th...................Costumes for play should come in a name-labeled bag Dec. 17th...................The Savior That God Sent (First Grade play) 9:30 a.m. Dec. 19th...................Gather at LCM for Mass at 8:00 a.m. and rehearsal for program Dec. 19th....................[|LC Christmas Program] - Mequon church 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 20th....................Cousin's Sub Day, Christmas Party, Pajama day Dec. 21st-Jan. 5th......Christmas Vacation Jan. 6th.......................Classes resume Jan. 8th.......................Winter session of [|Young Rembrandts] begins Jan. 20th.....................End of 2nd quarter Jan. 20th.....................Map Testing Jan. 26th-31st.............Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27th.....................[|Chess club] begins Feb. 5th.......................Next Class Mass

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