Dear Parents,                                                       September 6, 2011

I hope that you enjoyed the wonderful Labor Day weekend!  It was wonderful seeing so many of you at Back-to-School Night and at our first Primary Centers.  Thank you to all who were able to help – we could not do it without you!

In language arts this week, we will work on the consonants m, s, c, t, and the short sound of /a/.  We will also begin reading in our reading series and start our sight words.  In your child’s red folder you should find a tan envelope with this week’s sight words.  This week there are only three.  Practice the words with your child each night.  The words need to be read correctly within three seconds (without sounding out).  Please sign the paper indicating that you practiced with your child and return the envelope to school in the red folder.  Your child will be tested once a week.  If they know all the words, they will receive a new packet of words, if they don’t recognize the words, then they will keep the packet and continue practicing. Our reading strategy this week is “predict and infer”.  Our comprehension skill that will help with “predict and infer” is sequencing.  Paying attention to the beginning, middle, and end of the story will help us determine the next logical step.  Our phonics focus this week is blending letter sounds together and our grammar focus is on upper and lowercase letters. We will start our weekly spelling words (short sound of /a/) this week as well.  Please check the daily planner for homework.  Homework in the spelling journal is to be completed using the “touch-bump-touch” method the children have been practicing in school. (It was also in your Back-to-School Packet!)  We will have our spelling test Thursday morning. In math, we will continue working with addition to sums of 7 & 8. Social studies finds us reviewing unit 1 for our test later this week and science finds us learning about plants.  In religion, we continue to revel in the beauty of God’s creation.

We will visit the school library today and check out a book.  The children can bring their books home but they MUST be returned to school the following Tuesday in order for them to check out a new book.

Our first trimester mission project is under way and the eighth graders are selling water bottles at first recess on P.E. days (Tuesday and Thursday).  They cost $1.00 and the proceeds will go to the Adopt-a-Family Program.  We also have a free-dress day on Wednesday!  Please refer to the handbook for non-uniform dress guidelines.  The cost is $1.00 and will also benefit the Adopt-a-Family Program.

We started our reading log this past week.  The log should remain in your child’s red folder.  This is a homework assignment and the log will be checked every day.  At this point in the school year, it is quite acceptable for you to be the one reading – enjoy the time spent together!

Friday is Grandparent’s Day and a noon-dismissal day as the teachers have a staff meeting.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.  Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Manning