First Grade News

Dear Parents, 

We hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed the extra day off!

In Literature this week, we will finish our fairy tales unit, by retelling Jack and the Beanstalk and reading Princess and the Pea.  Scholars will continue writing their own personal narrative story; working on the rough draft, making edits and revisions to improve the story.  

We will begin reading A Bargain For Frances soon.  Please send this Classic to Keep with your scholar by Monday, January 27th.  

In Math, we will end Chapter 7, comparing lengths of objects and using non-standard methods to measure objects. We will take a chapter assessment this week. Look for a study guide to come home for your review of these concepts.   

In Science, we will continue to observe plants.  Scholars will come home with a homework slip on Tuesday.  They will collect leaves and draw a picture of where they found the leaves. Please return to school on Wednesday as we will use these samples in class to compare the differences in leaves from plant to plant.  

In History, we will continue our unit on the earliest civilizations of the Americas; The Aztecs and Incas.  

Thank you so much for your continued support and partnership.  Have a wonderful week.

Go Griffins! 

A Peek at the Week

Language Arts

Spalding phonograms

Spelling words (13) 

Personal Narrative

Fairy Tales

Math

Chapter 7 Length and Measurement

Chapter 7 Length and Measurement Test

History/Science

Early Civilizations of the Americas

Plants

Conservation

Upcoming Events

Jan. 22 Picture Retakes

Jan. 23 Fairy Tale Celebration & School Spelling Bee

Jan. 24 Full Day Friday

Q3W1 Jan 13-17

   First Grade News

Dear Parents, 

First, we want to welcome you back after a lengthy break!  Monday was a wonderful day as we became the student and the scholars became the teacher, presenting their assigned habitat to our class.  All that hard work has paid off....your scholars did an amazing job with their habitat projects.  Thank you for investing the time to help them research, write reports and craft like rock stars!  

In Literature this week, we will continue our fairy tales unit, reading Hansel and Gretel and Jack and the Beanstalk.  We are very much looking forward to our celebration next week!  Thank you to all who have volunteered with supplies, door decorations and helping on the day of. In Writing/Grammar we will begin writing our very own personal narrative story.  In the coming weeks, scholars will draft, edit and write a final version of their own personal narrative story.  

We will begin reading A Bargain For Frances soon.  Please send this Classic to Keep with your scholar by Monday, January 27th.  

In Math, we will start Chapter 7, comparing lengths of objects and use non-standard methods to measure objects.

In History, we will begin our unit on the earliest civilizations of the Americas; covering nomadic cultures and the Mayas.     

Thank you so much for your continued support and partnership.  Have a wonderful week.

 

Go Griffins! 

A Peek at the Week

Language Arts

Spalding phonograms

Spelling words (15)

Personal Narrative

Fairy Tales

Math

Chapter 7 Length and Measurement

History/Science

Early Civilizations of the Americas

Upcoming Events

• Jan. 21st Picture Retakes.

• Jan. 22nd - 1st Grade Coffee with Headmaster Mitchell Rescheduled to March 4th

• Jan. 23rd - Lower School Spelling Bee (MPR @ 6-8 p.m.)

• Jan. 23rd- First Grade Fairy Tale Celebration

• Jan. 24th- FULL DAY FRIDAY

• Jan. 31st- Early Release Friday; Spirit Shirt Day

• Feb. 7th Family Game Night

• Feb. 7th Early Release Friday

Q2W9 Dec. 16-20

 First Grade News

Dear Parents, 

First, we want to congratulate the spelling bee champion and runners-up from each of our classrooms.  It was such a joyful experience to see the scholars persevere when words were tough and to silently encourage each other during the struggle.  We are so proud of our scholars!

 And just like that.....the first half of the school year is coming to a close.  We have greatly enjoyed getting to know our scholars and all of our First Grade families so far this year.  It is with hearts full of gratitude that we wish you a joy-filled holiday season! 

Please remember to look for books to research for the Independent Study Project EARLY.  Choices at the public library dwindle quickly at the start of break.  If you have questions or need a replacement packet, please see the separate blog post for a link to print.  

Happy 5 Days of Giving! Below are the guidelines for this weeks dress up days:

Monday- Dapper- wear a tie or bow with your regular uniform.

Tuesday-Tropical Tuesday-Tropical shirt with your uniform bottoms.

Wednesday- Western Wednesday- Hats & Boots with your regular uniform.

Thursday- College Shirt Day- Represent your favorite university with uniform bottoms.

 

            Friday-GHNO Spirit Shirt Day-Dress in your Griffin spirit wear! You may wear a spirit shirt with your uniform bottoms or Griffin spirited pants with a spirit shirt! GHNO spirit jeans and overalls are allowed.

Lastly, as your students select fun ways to participate in our Spirit Days, please remember that these items must be free from references to pop culture, politics, or current events in our society.

In Literature this week, we will continue our fairy tales unit, reading The Frog Prince. In Writing/Grammar we are introducing idioms and writing initials.

In Math, we will be wrapping up Chapter 6, using the strategies we have learned for addition and subtraction to solve word problems.  Scholars will review part/whole relationships and comparison strategies and take a test on Friday.  

In Science, we will continue our unit on animals, depicting the life cycle of a frogs and birds and finish the week introducing plants. 

A Peek at the Week

Language Arts

Spalding phonograms review

Frog Prince

idioms and initials

Math

Review Chapter 6: Addition and Subtraction word problems

Test Chapter 6

History/Science

Life cycle

Parts of a plant

Q2W8 Dec. 9-13

   First Grade News

Dear Parents, 

 And just like that.....the first half of the school year is coming to a close.  We have greatly enjoyed getting to know our scholars and all of our First Grade families so far this year.  It is with hearts full of gratitude that we wish you a joy-filled holiday season! 

Please remember to look for books to research for the Independent Study Project EARLY.  Choices at the public library dwindle quickly at the start of break.  If you have questions or need a replacement packet, please see the separate blog post for a link to print.  

In Literature this week, we will continue our fairy tales unit, reading Rapunzel and Rumpelstiltskin.  We will review the elements typical to all fairy tales and practice retelling each story.  We will continue working on a new part of speech from last week: verbs. 

In Math, we will begin Chapter 6, using the strategies we have learned for addition and subtraction to solve word problems.  Scholars will review part/whole relationships and comparison strategies.

In History, we will continue the Three World Religions unit.  Scholars will review details about Judaism and Christianity.  We will compare all we have learned as we move through time to the birth of  Islam, highlighting the symbols, celebrations and important people in each of these religions.  Look for a study guide to come home in preparation for our test next Tuesday (12/17).  

  

The next book we will be reading is A Bargain for Frances. Please send the book with your scholar at your earliest convenience. 

Thank you for your partnership and have a blessed week and happy holidays!  

 

Go Griffins! 

A Peek at the Week

Language Arts

Spalding phonograms

Fairy Tales

Verbs

Math

Chapter 6 Addition and Subtraction Word Problems

History/Science

Three World Religions

Upcoming Events

• Dec. 16th - 20th - Five Days of Giving + Dress Up Days

• Dec. 15th - Early Release Friday

• Dec 21st - Jan 12th - Winter Break

• Jan 13th- Return to school, Independent Study Project Presentations

Q2 W7 Dec. 2-6

    First Grade News

Dear Parents, 

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your family.  We have three more busy weeks in this semester and Christmas break will be upon us.  

 

In Literature this week, we will wrap up Frog and Toad All Year and begin our fairy tales unit, reading Sleeping Beauty.  We will learn about the elements typical to all fairy tales.  Scholars will recite their poem The Little Turtle and review the virtue of gratitude as we enjoy the Jewish folktale It Could Always Be Worse.  Scholars will practice completing sentences with correct pronouns. 

In Math, we will review all that we have learned in Chapter 5 focusing on the strategies for addition and subtraction within 20.  Scholars will test on Chapter 5 on Wednesday and review for a cumulative test over chapters 1-5 on Thursday. 

In History, we will begin the Three World Religions unit.  Scholars will discover details about Judaism, Christianity and Islam, highlighting the symbols, celebrations and important people in each of these religions.  

Below is the link to the sign-up genius for our Fairytale Celebration Thursday, January 23rd. We still have lots of donation slots available to sign up.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D44AAAD23AAFACF8-53076066-2425  

Thank you for your partnership and have a blessed week.   

 

Go Griffins! 

Upcoming Events

• • Dec. 4th- Independent Study Projects sent home

  • Dec. 12th - Classroom Spelling Bee

  • Dec. 4th - K - 1 Grandparents Day

  • Dec. 16-20th - 5 Days of Giving

  • Dec. 20th - GHNO Spirit Shirt Day

Q2W6 Nov. 18 -22

 Dear Parents, 

We hope you had a wonderful weekend with your family. This Friday is our Winter concert at Trinity Baptist Church at 5:30 p.m.  First grade students are asked to be at Trinity by 5:10 p.m. to prepare for the performance. Doors will open by 5:20 p.m. for parents to find their seats. 

 

In Literature this week, we will wrap up Frog and Toad All Year.   Scholars will recite their poem The Little Turtle next week.  In Grammar/ Writing our students will practice completing sentences with correct pronouns. 

In Math, we will continue going over Chapter 5 by focusing on the strategies for subtraction within 20.  

In Science, we will review what makes something living or non-living as we discover how to classify animals based on their traits and features.  We will learn how parents care for their offspring. 

The "Upcoming Events" section below has been updated through the end of December, so please be sure to take a look at this useful information.

We remain ever grateful for the gift of our students and families!   

  

 

Go Griffins! 

Upcoming Events

• • Nov. 22nd - Winter Concert at Trinity Baptist Church

  • Nov 25th-29th- Thanksgiving Holiday Break

  • Dec. 4th- Independent Study Projects sent home

  • Dec. 12th - Classroom Spelling Bee

  • Dec. 4th - K - 1 Grandparents Day

  • Dec. 16-20th - 5 Days of Giving

  • Dec. 20th - GHNO Spirit Shirt Day

Field Trip Details - Nov.13th

 Greetings First Grade Families,

 

We are looking forward to our field trip this week and have a few details to share.

 

• Dress Code:  Students should wear the regular school uniform (not spirit wear), including socks and footwear.  

 

• Snacks:  A morning and afternoon snack will be provided.  Please send snacks for Athenaeum or after-school clubs only.  These will be left at school in backpacks.

 

• Lunch:  Please note the following important requirements:
• ALL sack lunch items should be fully DISPOSABLE.
• Lunch bags should be labeled clearly with your student’s name AND section (i.e.  Sally Jones, 1D).
• If utensils are needed, please include those in your student’s sack lunch.  Teachers will not be able to provide utensils to students.
• Please be sure to include 1-2 napkins.

 

• Water Bottles:  Students will be carrying their water bottles with them to the zoo.  Please:
• Label water bottles clearly.
• Send a bottle of reasonable size that your student can easily carry and refill it independently.  Oversized water bottles will be difficult to manage.
• You may send a disposable bottle if you like.  If you do, please remind your student not to throw it away.  They will likely need to refill it as the day goes on.

 

A great big thank you to our chaperones and to all who are providing items we need for the field trip – we appreciate you!

First Grade Team