Sunday, November 10, 2024

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

Q2W Nov. 11 - 15

 Dear Parents, 


We hope you had a wonderful weekend. This is another busy week for First Grade as we enjoy our field trip to the San Antonio Zoo on Wednesday, Nov. 13th. 

 

In Literature, we will learn a new poem, The Little Turtle, for recitation.  We will practice making predictions with our stories from Frog and Toad All Year

In Math, we will continue in Chapter 5 focusing on strategies for subtraction within 20, including subtracting ones from a 2-digit number, subtracting from a ten and counting back to subtract.   


In Science, we continue learning about the different habitats, focusing on ocean, arctic and wetland habitats. 


This week also begins our season of 1000 gifts, and our students will attend an assembly during which Headmaster Mitchel will explain to our students how to be mindful of all we have to be thankful for.  We look forward to watching our students actively pursue the virtue of gratefulness as we enter the busy holiday season. 

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

 

Go Griffins! 


A Peek at the Week


Language Arts

Spalding phonograms

Spelling Words (20 words)

Frog and Toad All Year

Pronouns


Math

Chapter 5: Subtraction within 20


History/Science

Habitats

Ocean

Arctic

Wetlands


Upcoming Events


    • Nov. 13th- Field Trip SA Zoo

    • Nov. 15th- Early Release Friday

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

    • Nov 25th-29th- Thanksgiving Holiday Break

    • Nov. 30th- Independent Study Projects sent home

  •  

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Field Day Information

 Hello parents,

First Grade will participate in Athletic Field Day tomorrow!  Please see below for information on what your scholar needs to bring for field day and what they should wear.  Please reach out to your scholar's teacher with any questions. 


Students need to bring a refillable water bottle on Field Day!

 

Dress Code for Students for Athletic Field Day:

·    City-State or House shirt

·    Athletic shorts or pants (modest, loose-fitting, in good repair)

·    Athletic shoes

·    Logo-free jackets, sweatshirts, and/or hats (if needed)

·    Sunscreen if needed (parents apply at home)

Students should not wear:

·    Tank tops, midriff shirts, camisoles, sports bras as outer garments

·    Short-shorts or long, baggy shorts

·    Volleyball spandex shorts unless covered by loose-fitting athletic shorts

·    Sandals, open-toed, or platform shoes

 

Friday, November 1, 2024

Q2 W3 Nov. 4-8

 Dear Parents, 


Welcome to November! We hope you had a wonderful weekend. This is another busy week on campus with Athletic Field Day activities on Wednesday.  Please see the separate blog post with information about this day. 

In Literature/Grammar, we will begin reading Frog and Toad All Year. Please send in this classics to keep with your scholar by Monday ASAP.  We will introduce "idea" nouns and continue to write complete sentences. Scholars will also focus on the pronoun "I" this week. 

 

In Math, we will continue working on Chapter 5 focusing on the strategies for addition and subtraction within 20.

  
        This week in History we will finish the unit on the Early Settlers/ First Four Colonies of America.   We have learned so much about the hardships faced by the colonists and their bravery in setting out to find a new land and way of life.  We discuss the gratitude shown by the Pilgrims for the friendship and kindness shared with them by the Native Americans and the example of the First Thanksgiving.  The scholars show such depth in sharing all the things they are grateful for!  We also looked into the lives of the Puritan colonists as they set out to find a place for religious freedom.  Look for a study guide to come home in your scholars' red folder on Thursday to get ready for a test on Friday.


Thank you for your partnership and have a blessed week.   

 

Go Griffins! 


A Peek at the Week


Language Arts

Spalding phonograms

Spelling Words (20 words)

Riddle and Tongue Twisters

Frog and Toad All Year

Key Word Outline


Math

Chapter 5: Addition/Subtraction within 20

Making 10 strategy


History/Science

Squanto

Plymouth Colony, Pilgrims

Massachusetts Bay Colony, Puritans

Review and Assessment


Upcoming Events


  • Nov 6th- Athletic Field Day 1st-2nd grade in the morning

  • Nov. 13th- Field Trip SA Zoo

  • Nov 8th- Early Release Friday

  • Nov. 15th- Early Release Friday

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

  • Nov 25th-29th- Thanksgiving Holiday Break

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Q2 W2 Oct. 28 - Nov. 1

         First Grade News


Dear Parents, 


We hope you had a wonderful weekend and were able to enjoy some of the activities at the Fall Festival.  

 

In Literature, we will compare Cinderella stories from different lands and choose our favorite version.  We will introduce the Key Word Outline in Writing; a tool we will use to prepare for independent study project presentations.


In Math, we will continue working on numbers within 20; practicing making a ten and counting on and comparing numbers using greater than, less than and equal to.  Scholars will test on Chapter 4 on Wednesday and begin Chapter 5 on Thursday. in Chapter 5 we will be focusing on addition and subtraction within 20.


Please send the classic Frog and Toad All Year with your scholar by this Monday, Nov. 4th.  


In History, we will begin our unit on the first four colonies of Roanoke, Jamestown and Plymouth as well as the importance of John Smith and Pocahontas. 



Thank you for your partnership and have a blessed week.   

 

Go Griffins! 


A Peek at the Week


Language Arts

Spalding phonograms

Spelling Words (30 words)

Similar Stories, Different Lands: Cinderella

Key Word Outline


Math

Chapter 4

Chapter 5: Addition/Subtraction within 20


History/Science

First Four Colonies

John Smith

Pocahontas


Upcoming Events


  • Nov 6th- Athletic Field Day 1st-2nd grade in the morning

  • Nov. 13th- Field Trip SA Zoo

  • Nov. 1st- Early Release Friday

  • Nov 8th- Early Release Friday

  • Nov. 15th- Early Release Friday

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

  • Nov 25th-29th- Thanksgiving Holiday Break

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Q2W1 Oct. 21-25

   First Grade News

Dear Parents, 


It was wonderful to meet during Parent Teacher Conferences and share all your scholar's progress so far this year.  We hope you had a great time over fall break making memories and resting.  It is feeling like Fall this week, so your scholar may need a sweater in the mornings.    

 

In Literature, we will wrap up Trickster Tales with The Raven.  Scholars will enjoy another round of Similar Stories from different lands in reading Cinderella stories.  In writing/grammar, we will continue our study of nouns with the days of the week and writing about the virtue of courage. 


In Math, we will begin our chapter on numbers within 20; practicing making a ten and counting on and comparing groups of objects.   


In History, we will review all we have discovered about Ancient Egypt this week. Scholars will test over this unit on Tuesday. On Thursday we will celebrate all that we have learned about Ancient Egypt.  The scholars will move through different stations focusing on an activity surrounding Ancient Egypt and even taste some authentic Egyptian foods.   


In Science, we will dive into our unit on habitats.  Scholars will compare objects to determine if they are living or non-living and compare the habitats of the rainforest, desert and grasslands this week.   


Friday will be a day of celebrating our favorite characters from the beautiful classics we hold so dear to our hearts.  Students will dress up as their favorite character and enjoy read-a-louds throughout the day.  We will have some surprise visitors stop by to share their favorite stories with our class.  It is always a joyous time for the scholars and really demonstrates how exciting and wonderous reading can be.     



Thank you for your partnership and have a blessed week.   

 

Go Griffins! 


A Peek at the Week


Language Arts

Spalding phonograms

Spelling Words (20 words)

Trickster Tales: The Raven

Similar Stories, Different Lands: Cinderella



Math


Chapter 4: Numbers within 20



History/Science

Living & Non-Living

Habitats: Rainforest, Desert, Grasslands


Upcoming Events


  • Oct. 24th- Egyptian Celebration

  • Oct. 25th- Literary Character Dress up day; Early Release Friday

  • Oct. 26tg - Fall Festival 4-6:30p.m.

  • Nov 6th- Athletic Field Day in the morning

  • Nov. 1st- Early Release Friday

  • Nov. 8th- Early Release Friday

  • Nov. 13th- Field Trip SA Zoo

  • Nov 22- Early Release Friday; R&R Weekend, Winter Concert at 5:30 p.m.

  • Nov 25th-29th- Thanksgiving Holiday Break


Saturday, October 5, 2024

Q1 W9 Oct. 7-11

 Dear Parents, 


We hope you had a great weekend.  Can you feel it? The first hints of Fall are in the air.  

 

Please send all non-perishable items for the Egyptian celebration by Friday, Oct. 11th.  Please reach out to your scholar's teacher with any questions.  Thank you so much for all your help! 

 

In Literature, we will begin our Trickster Tales with Brer Rabbit Gets Brer Fox's Dinner.  In writing/grammar, we will continue our study of nouns with the days of the week. 


In Math, we will review all we have learned in Chapter 3; covering subtraction strategies within 10 in preparation for a chapter 3 test on Wednesday.  Scholars will also review strategies for addition and number within 10 as we prepare for a cumulative test over Chapter 1-3 on Thursday.    


In History, we will cover the practice of mummification and the importance of the pharaohs, Tutankhamen and Hatshepsut.  Scholars always enjoy this week of our unit on Ancient Egypt as they make their own mummies and sarcophagus in class. 


  

Thank you for your partnership and have a blessed week.   

 

Go Griffins! 


A Peek at the Week


Language Arts

Spalding phonograms

Spelling Words (20 words)

Trickster Tales

Days of the week


Math

Chapter 3: Review, test Wednesday

Cumulative review Ch. 1-3: Test Thursday


History/Science

Egyptian mummies

King Tut

Sarcophagus

Hatshepsut


Upcoming Events


  • Oct 11th - Teacher PD day; no school, R&R Weekend

  • Oct. 14-18 - Fall Break, No school, parent/teacher conferences

  • Oct. 24th- Egyptian Celebration

  • Oct. 25th- Literary Character Dress up day; Early Release Friday

  • Oct. 26tg - Fall Festival 4-6:30p.m.

  • Nov 6th- Athletic Field Day in the morning

  • Nov. 1st- Early Release Friday

  • Nov. 8th- Early Release Friday

  • Nov. 13th- Field Trip SA Zoo

  • Nov 22- Early Release Friday; R&R Weekend, Winter Concert at 5:30 p.m.

  • Nov 25th-29th- Thanksgiving Holiday Break