Our class donations to (ASPCA) American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals raised $88.00 to help animals in need.  We rounded it up to $100.00 by adding an other $12.00.  What a great way to start the New Year! 

Please vote yes on February 14th.  Click on the image for more information.  Thank you!

This year we are going to adopt a real manatee for Valentine's Day!  For our second consecutive year we have democratically voted to change our Valentine’s Day activities. 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 adopt a manatee through Save the Manatee.org.  Our donations will help protect the future of endangered manatees. 

Manatees Have Courage!

We have been focused on the character trait of courage during the month of January.  It is our school-wide theme and our classroom goal.  Our students have demonstrated courage by sticking up for friends on the playground, having the courage to tell the truth, and trying a new game or activity.  When we read My Brother Martin, by Christine King-Farris, we learned that young Martin said, "I'm going to turn the world upside-down."  We have been using that phrase in our  classroom.  Our basic rule "The Golden Rule" helps to ensure we treat others equally, fairly, and kindly, the way we want to be treated.

Science Kit

We will begin our Foss Science Kit Air and Weather soon.  Students will learn about air and weather through inquiry, observation and hands on activities.  Visit the website for more information.

Happy Holidays!

Thank you for the generous gift cards, all the delicious treats, and homemade treasures!  We appreciate your thoughtfulness. 
We also want to send a thank you to all who helped out with our Class Holiday party. We appreciate all of you who contributed snacks and helped with the crafts and clean-up.  A great time was had by all!

We also want to send out a huge thank you for your generous donations to our 5th Annual Adopt a Family from the Forgotten Children Program.
Because of your kind generosity the children received all the gifts on their wish lists!

Here is the slide show we presented during the Christmas party.

This picture slideshow generated with Smilebox And some festive photos from the Christmas party . . . Create your own digital scrapbooking design

December Greetings!

Just a friendly reminder that our
Books & Bites evening event is coming up on Wednesday, December 7th at 6:30.  We will all gather in the classroom for light appetizers, desserts and beverages from 6:30 - 7:00.  At 7:00 Mrs. Perine's class will move to the library for their presentation and Mrs. Angus' class will begin presentations in the classroom. 
The students have been working hard and are very excited to share their published books with friends and family.  Hope to see you there!

5th Annual Adopt a Family!

Recently we have been reading books and learning about people who are less fortunate all around the world, and in our own country. Again this year, in the spirit of giving, our class will be adopting two families in need from
The Forgotten Children's Organization.
Our class Giving Tree is now in the classroom decorated with gift tags listing personal information about each child. If you would like to donate to the families, we invite you to come in and choose a tag from the tree. You can also send a note in with your child, telling whether you would like to donate to a boy or girl. Please wrap your gifts with the gift tag attached, and send them back to school by Friday, December 16th. Thank you for your kind generosity.

Our Christmas Celebration will be Thursday, December 15th, from 1:30 - 3:20.  We will be creating crafts, singing songs, and munching on marvelous holiday treats.  Please join us for this special
holiday celebration!

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!

November News

Soup Fest

Wednesday, November 23 from 10:30 - 11:20

This month we are learning about the homeless, less fortunate, and the function of soup kitchens. We will read several books on this topic in order to gain a greater awareness of the needs of other cultures. Check out our Shelfari to see the books we are reading daily in the classroom.  We are having a Soup Fest to further our understanding of the concepts.  Please join us on the 23rd for soup and crackers!

Books & Bites

Mark your calendar!  Please plan on attending our authors' reading of student-created books.  Students have been working very hard to complete these personal masterpieces.  They are excited to be reading their books on Wednesday, December 7th at 6:30.  The Red Group will be meeting in the classroom, and the Blue Group will be meeting in the library.  Please come and be entertained by these great stories written from the hearts of your children.
Light appetizers, desserts and coffee will be available.


Parent-Teacher Conferences
Conferences begin this Thursday, November 17th.  This year we are limited to 20 minute intervals for each conference.  Please be prompt as many conferences are scheduled back to back.  Thank  you for your cooperation and understanding. 

Whole-Body Listening Larry at School

We have been reading a book about how to be a good listener at school.  Listening Larry has taught us how to listen with watching eyes, quiet mouths, still feet, listening ears, still hands, bodies facing the speaker, thinking brains, and caring hearts (empathy). 
Students helped create a chart that helps remind them to be good listeners with their whole body.  You can learn more about the program and the book, here at Social Thinking.com.
 

Manatee Halloween Party Slideshow

Make a free slideshow design

Lice Alert!

Helpful Information to Prevent Lice
Unfortunately, a 3rd case of lice has been reported in our classroom. 
We have taken action by removing all pillows, cushions, stuffies, as well as closing the reading loft until further notice.  As a preventative measure, our classroom carpets have been treated with industrial strength lice spray furnished by the district. 

Please, please check your child's hair every day.  Eggs and lice are hard to detect, but easier to see next to a window with natural light. 

Our preventative tips are:
a) spray hair daily with Lice Shield
b) keep hair tied back or braided
c) put coats and backpacks in the dryer after school every day -
    on high for 30 minutes to kill lice
d) have students put coats inside backpacks when they're at school

If you find eggs or live lice:
a) use mayonnaise to coat hair, leaving in for an hour
b) rinse with olive oil or vinegar
c) use Rid, found at most drug stores - follow directions carefully, repeating for several days, until no sign of eggs or lice are found

We apologize for the situation and inconvenience.  In order to control this outbreak, we need to all work together to end this problem.
 
If you have any questions, please call or email us at:
Amy Perine 530-4642 or perinea@psd401.net
Wanda Angus 530-4643  or angusw@psd401.net

FYI

The Pierce County Library System is hosting a free interactive event with Soundbridge Seattle Symphony Music Discovery Center.  The Gig Harbor Point Fosdick Library will offer an Instrument Making Workshop on Saturday, November 12th at 10:30. 

No registration required.  Grades K - 8  

Happy Fall!

Pet Rocks

This year our students are absolutely fascinated with rocks and minerals.  They have been collecting, sharing, and writing about their love of rocks.  So, as a class, we are going to revel in the world of Pet Rocks! 

This week each student will receive a river rock to design and create their very own pet rock.  They will name their rocks, write about their rocks,  and take digital pictures to create a Rock Hall of Fame.  We will also estimate, weigh, compare and then chart each rock's size and weight.  And of course we'll read lots of books and sing lots of songs about rocks. 

If you, or anyone you know, has a rock/mineral collection, we invite you to the classroom to share your knowledge. 

Box Tops!

Please send your box tops in.

They can be found on these products.

The Deadline is Friday, October 14th.

Money Savvy Kids

Our class will be starting the Money Savvy Kids Program soon.  The Department of Finance created this program to help "kids get smart about money."   

"Designed for children ages six to eleven, Money Savvy Kids @Home is the perfect starting point to teach a child how to get smart about money. Leading the way is the award-winning, interactive Money Savvy Pig piggy bank which helps children explore such topics as the history of money, where does money come from, the importance of earning money and, of course, the four basic money management choices: Save, Spend, Donate and Invest."   For more information, go to Money Savvy Kids.

Family Photos

Please send a family photo in with your child before Friday, October 14th.  They will  keep it at school and use it to create a collage of their favorite things.  Thanks!

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, October 18th - Picture Day!

Friday, October 28th - Fall Festival, 6:00 - 8:30

Monday, October 31st - Manatee Craft Event 1:30 - 2:15

                                         Halloween Parade 2:40 - 3:10

Please do not send your child to school with costumes containing weapons, masks or inappropriate slogans.  Thank you.