Hoot 11

Happy new year to everyone! I hope you all have had an enjoyable time with family and friends. School starts tomorrow, on Monday (Jan. 8). I am excited to see first graders grow their skills in 2018! We will be honing our reading skills working with long vowel sounds and "r" controlled syllables. In math we will be working with addition, subtraction, place value and money. And it will be fun to make snow slime (though it's not quite like the real thing), gingerbread dough, and ice art!

Upcoming Events:

• Friday January 12th and Friday January 26: TISA is in session from 8am to 4pm. Please make sure your child is in school on these Fridays.
• I am looking for volunteers to run a small group reading center. Fridays would be ideal. 30 minutes to an hour sessions would work sometime between 8:30-11:30 or 12:30-3:30.
• New year's wish list: 2018 calendars, old calendars (for collaging), water, tennis balls (for chair legs), help hang a few pieces of hardware (screw in 4 curtain rods)

• Feb 8  (Thursday): parent-teacher conferences and report cards

• Feb 14: Valentine's Ice Cream Sundae Party!
• Prepare for Snowy Days: Just in case we get some snow…Our school follows the Taos Municipal Schools decisions regarding school closures and delays.  Please listen to KTAO radio at 101.9 on the FM dial for school closure and delay announcements.
• Dress your Child for Winter Weather: Please send an extra hat, gloves/mittens and a pair of slippers to stash in your child's cubby for winter weather (all the way through April)!  If it is snowy or wet, please send your child in a winter jacket, snow pants and boots. Outdoor recesses are a lot more fun when the children are dressed appropriately for the weather! 
• Student of the month and pizza days to be announced soon. 
• Scholastic book order flyers will be coming home this week.

Reading is more fun with Buddies!

Harwood Museum Landscape Session in December

Hoot 10

Yay!  First grade's commitment and enthusiasm to support Taos Feeds Taos has paid off! We have collected the most food and won an ice cream party! Something to already look forward to in the new year! Thank you all for your contribution!


Food drive boxes packed up ready for pick-up


Christmas Elves at work

Our performance, Penelope's Dancing Dragon was so sweet to watch! Thank you to Mr. John, Miss Amber and Miss Julia for being amazing drama, music and dance teachers! Thank you, first grade families, for packing the "theater" for this fun show!










THIS WEEK'S EVENTS:

December 18 (MONDAY): pizza money due

December 20: Christmas book exchange -- please send a wrapped book for your Secret Santa friend by this date with a gift tag to avoid confusion. Thank you all who placed a Scholastic order. It will be delivered this week.

Here is the list for a reminder. (Hint: the arrow is pointing to the person the book is for. E.g. Annabella is bringing a book for Clover. Clover is bringing a book for Gracen, and so on.) The children are very excited to be gifting each other!

















December 21: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FESTIVITIES

TISA Christmas Extravaganza! In the morning each teacher will host a different crafting activity. The children will be in mixed groups rotating through the lower grades. What fun to usher in the Holidays!

December 21, noon: Holiday Pizza AND Tea Party AND book exchange in class. Please let me know if you could send an electric tea kettle, cookies, and a holiday movie.

December 21, 1pm: Santa's visit

December 21, 2:30: Student of the Month celebration. Congratulations to Clover Barady for being an outstanding friend and a super hard-working student in first grade!

WINTER BREAK: from December 22 to January 7.

School will be back in session starting Monday, January 8! Enjoy your break! 


Christmas countdown on our door


Sneakers, snails, snakes and such -- "sn" words inspired by snowflakes

How does Taos Pueblo celebrate Christmas?
Rabbit dance with Richard Archuleta


Decorating our class tree


The Spirit of the Season

Hoot 9

Congratulations to Clover, our December student of the month! This girl really shines bright!


Growing tall on stilts!


Our Thanksgiving "gratitude turkey"





And now for the December dates!

This TUESDAY, December 12, 4:30-5:00: first grade winter performance directed by John Biscello and Amber Vasquez (in community room): Penelope's Dancing Dragon! My suggestion is that you pick up early that day and return with your child in costume by 4:20.

Regardless of your child's role, please consider sending a baseball cap that you don't need to be transformed into a dragon head, if you can. We still need 6 baseball caps!
Costuming tips:
dragons: black -- each dragon needs to bring a baseball hat that will be transformed into a dragon head
princesses: fancy dress, tiara, etc.
moon: white
sun: gold/yellow
king: cape and crown
witch doctors: cape and glasses

THIS THURSDAY, December 14: Taos Feeds Taos Food Drive deadline -- We hope to be the winning class and have a yummy ice cream party! Could use some more bulk (any large non-perishable items are appreciated)! Thank you for all your contributions. Let's make a Holiday Feast happen for every child!



December 18 (MONDAY): pizza money due

December 20: Christmas book exchange -- please send a wrapped book for your Secret Santa friend by this date with a gift tag to avoid confusion. Thank you all who placed a Scholastic order. It's on its way to TISA!

December 21: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FESTIVITIES
TISA Christmas Extravaganza! In the morning each teacher will host a different crafting activity. The children will be in mixed groups rotating through the lower grades. What fun to usher in the Holidays!

December 21, noon: Holiday Pizza AND Tea Party AND book exchange in class. Please let me know if you could send an electric tea kettle, cookies, and a holiday movie.

December 21, 2:30: Student of the Month celebration. Congratulations to Clover Barady for being an outstanding friend and a hard-working student in first grade!

WINTER BREAK: from December 22 to January 7.

School will be back in session starting Monday, January 8!

And a bit of housekeeping:
I am looking to have a pair of extra mittens/gloves and a hat in each child's cubby. Our meteorologist reported that it was 19F on several mornings last week! Brrr!
Our earbuds have a glamorous home, thanks to Scott! Please ask your child if they have yet to bring in their earbuds. Our headphones have almost all gone kaput...

 

Let it snow!