Important Message about Valentine's Day

The Manatees have democratically voted to change our Valentine’s Day activities this year. We will have a party with treats and a craft, but will not exchange cards and candy. Instead, students have chosen to donate any money they would have spent on Valentine’s cards or candy to purchase a goat through Heifer International, a  nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to relieving global hunger and poverty. 

We are trying to raise $120 to buy a goat to help families in need. Students are learning about goats and the ways a gift of livestock benefits families and communities by alleviating hunger and poverty. Thank you for your support in helping our students understand the meaning of philanthropy, a word we have introduced in class.

We have read the book Beatrice's Goat, by Page McBrier, the fictional account of how a goat impacts an impoverished girl's life in Uganda.  We will also read Give a Goat, by by Jan West Schrock, the true story of how a 5th Grade class worked together to make a difference by raising money to send a goat to a needy family through Heifer International. 

Readers Theater!

Our second annual Readers Theater presentation will be on Thursday, February 17th at 10:00.  This year our presentation includes an Author Study of Helen Lester and her collection of character development books.  Titles include Tacky the Penguin, Hooway for Wodney Wat, Me First, A Porcupine Named Fluffy, and It Wasn't My Fault. 
Readers Theater helps students improve reading fluency, speaking, projection and expression.   Please join us to celebrate our readers' presentations.

Snacks, Please!
Our snack cupboard is getting bare.  Please help us feed the Manatees by sending in any type of crackers, cookies, or other healthy snacks.  Thank you!

Snow Day! Snow Day!

Hope you had the opportunity to enjoy this Wednesday with your children home from school amid the snow-covered wonderland. 

 Pennies for Peace 

We collected $72.00 (7,200 pennies) for our Pennies for Peace drive in 2010.  The students have voted to continue collecting until we have $100.00 to send to Pakistan to build more schools for Balti children in the village of Korphe.  Please continue sending in pennies to help us reach our new goal.  Thanks!


 Science Unit

We will begin our Foss Science Kit, Balance and Motion unit next week.  Students will be learning from inquiry how things balance and move with hands-on activities over the next 8 weeks.  

Help!  We Need Cans!
Please send in clean tin cans . . . 6 oz. (tiny), 28 oz. (large), and 32 oz (larger).
We will be recycling these at the end of the year for our Manatee Tin Canatees - personal trophies designed especially for each student.  Thank you!

Ice Cream Party!
Tomorrow (Thursday) we will be having an Ice Cream Party to celebrate our chain link touching the floor.  The chain link is our party chain which receives new links when our class receives compliments from other adults.  This is our second party this year, so our kids have been very successful in achieving compliments based on good behavior!  Yay, Manatees!

COURAGE
Our school-wide character development theme for January is courage.  Students are learning how important it is to have the courage to stand up for themselves and others.  We have been reading books, singing songs, and sharing experiences of our new-found courage. 

Seeking Math Volunteers
The Blue Group (2nd Grade) will be starting to use a new computerized math program called Accelerated Math.  We will be working with this program every Thursday.  This program creates math assignments tailored to each student's current level.  By differentiating, each student's individual needs are addressed. 

Additional adult help is needed on Thursday afternoons from 2:30 - 3:10 to help students with Accelerated Math packets, scanning, and scan card bubbling.  Please contact Mrs. Angus if you are available on Thursday aftnernoons and are willing to commit your time.  We appreciate your help. :)