Math in Focus: Chapter 7 Numbers to 20 (Begins Monday 1/3/17)

Winter is Here!

We will continue to play outside every day during winter unless the temperature is frigid. Please prepare your children with the appropriate attire.

Fun with Shapes and Patterns

Hour of Code

Dear Families,

We live in a world surrounded by technology. And we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly hinge on understanding how technology works. But only a tiny fraction of us are learning computer science, and fewer students are studying it than a decade ago.

That’s why our entire school joined in on the largest education event in history: The Hour of Code. During Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 8-14), every one of our students will be amongst over 2 million worldwide spending one hour learning the basics. Today, The Fantastic First Graders spent an hour in the computer lab learning the basics of "block coding." The level of excitement was infectious! 

What is the Hour of Code? A self-guided activity for students of all ages, kindergarten and up. We watched tutorials that featured lectures from Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, and artwork from popular games Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies. This effort is being completed to demystify code, and change the conversation around computer science. Today students had their first taste of coding by participating in a national hour of computer science instruction called the Hour of Code. The hour is part of Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 8-14), and our goal is to get kids to think, create, and have a blast -- all while learning some computer programming.

We used the following websites to practice block coding. Please give your children an opportunity to show you what they learned in a short amount of time. I promise you will be amazed!

http://hourofcode.org

http://thefoos.com  (click in play on your web browser from main menu screen)

http://playcodemonkey.com

http://code.org/minecraft

Winter Weather has Arrived!!!

 The Winter Weather has arrived therefore mandatory recess attire going forward will be...

In order to play in the snow, students need to have the following items:

-warm winter jacket

-hat

-gloves or mittens (thick, not cotton because the cotton ones get wet and                                         students get upset)

-snow pants

-boots

Please pack a change of clothes and extra socks in your child's backpack. Often socks get really wet. Also clothes can get wet. The nurse doesn't have a large stock of extra clothing. 

Label everything!

Students NEED to have a change of sneakers or shoes for the classroom. Wet boots track in water, ice and mud and it gets the rugs and floors wet. All boots are left in the hallway. 

Please continue to practice shoe lace tying with your child. With many shoe changes each day, tying needs to be efficient. 

Also, students need to be independent with getting on snow gear. If your child has difficulty, please practice with them at home. 

If a child does not have the proper winter attire, they will be restricted to play only on the blacktop, instead of the fields and climbing equipment. 

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

If you are in need of these items, please contact our school nurse, Cindy Libby.

Thank you!

Mrs. Salcito