December 21 - 23

Well, here we are! The kids are excited, but controlling it so far. Our concert is tonight at 7:00. We'll be performing on the left side of the beachers, so you may want to sit on the left side of the auditorium. The classroom door will open at 6:45. The kids will wait with me until it's their turn to perform. We will return to the classroom after the finale. Please make sure I know when you've picked your child up from the classroom.

Tuesday is a big day. Santa (there, I said his name) will visit at 12:00. I have gifts for the kids to open after that. We'll start cooking and putting together the food for our Fiesta and will eat at 1:00. We'll play some games, take a few pictures and get ready to go home.

Wednesday we'll take down and put away decorations. We'll give the classroom a thorough cleaning, rearrange desks, and get ready for a new start in the new year. Sometime during the afternoon we'll have a visit from Mrs. Long and her puppy guide dog - this is a schedule change.

We've had fun studying Mexico and will refer to it all year long. During these last three days we'll also talk a lot about the Arctic Tundra. Please help us connect our learning at home by asking us questions, telling us what you know, or help us find more information on our topics. It makes what we learn so much more meaningful when our families get involved. Thank you for all that you do!

Regular schedules including nightly homework will resume on January 4. Thank you for your flexibility during these last two weeks.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

December 14-18

Thank you for your support of our decision to buy Angels through Make-a-Wish this year instead of holding the more traditional grab bag present exchange. We received our Angels yesterday and Mrs. Ellsworth quickly hung them for all to see. You'll be able to read the stories of the four children helped by Make-a-Wish on the angels when we send them home. Again, thank you. This kind of giving has really made an impression on the kids. You've helped them see beyond themselves this season in order to help someone else. That's not an easy concept for 7 & 8 year olds! We'd like to thank Mrs. Cucinella for suggesting this idea and carrying it through!

Homework for this Week:

We'll only have math homework Monday through Wednesday and nothing from the packets all week. There's a math test on Thursday, so there won't be homework Thursday night. Friday night's homework will be one simple review sheet.

There won't be any homework of any kind next week.

Notes:

The Elementary Christmas Concert is Monday evening, Dec. 21, at 7:00. Our class will enter down the left hand aisle and will stand on the left side of the bleachers. You may want to arrive early to get the best seats. I will arrive and open the classroom door at 6:45. We'll be singing a beautiful song called "There will be Peace" and a jazzy little number called "Pinata!" (My apologies if the former has been driving you crazy at home!)

Our Mexican Fiesta on Tuesday, Dec. 22, will be scheduled around a visit from a fellow up north (I hesitate to say his name out loud!) and Mrs. Long with her 4 month old guide dog in training. We've enjoyed Mrs. Long's visits for several years now, but never with such a young puppy. We can't wait to meet the new trainee!

We'll spend much of Wednesday, Dec. 23 cleaning up the Christmas joy and preparing for the new year. The kids are welcome to bring something from home to play with during free play time that afternoon.

Finally, Mrs. Fordyce has been instrumental in forming a collection of winter boots, coats, mittens, etc. If your child needs winter clothing items, please just let me know and we'll "shop" in the nurse's office. If you need a place to send winter items your child has out grown, please consider donating them to our school collection. This is such a great way to reuse items and help kids in the process.

I hope you're enjoying this holiday season. It truly is a wonderful time of the year!

Merry Christmas!

Lanie Groff

Nov. 30 - Dec. 4

Our manuscript, "Adirondack Mountain and Sacandaga River History" was mailed yesterday! It will be printed and shipped to us before Christmas. This has been quite a project; one that has required us to demonstrate everything we know about working together as a team. Now we're ready to jump into our next theme - Mexico!

Homework for this week:

Monday - Write your vocabulary in descriptive sentences. Many of you are getting VERY good at this. You're connecting new vocabulary to your lives and showing me you really know what these words mean.

Tuesday - Write your goal for December. Remember, your goal should be something that is going to help you become a better person. Also, explain why this is a good goal for you to achieve.

Wednesday - We'll discuss Mexican art during our new unit. Please complete the Mosiac.

Thursday - Write your spelling words three times each.

Friday - Please complete the North American Neighbors map page.

NOTES:

Our PTO Santa Land shopping time is scheduled for 12:30 on Friday. The cost is $2.00 an item.

Please come and see the Senior Play this Friday and Saturday night!

Our Christmas Concert is scheduled for Dec. 21.