Today your child should have brought home a plastic folder.  These are their take home folders which are sent to and from school every Monday.  Inside you will find any paper announcements sent out by the school in addition to their reading homework log.  Your child will not have formal written homework each night, but will be required to be reading for 20 minutes each day, outside of the classroom.  Please help your child meet this requirement, additional information is on the paper found inside their folder.  Inside this weeks folder is a form to register for the school 5K coming up soon.  (Reminder that students can wear the 5k t-shirts as part of dress code on regular school days).  In our classroom this year we have a leopard Gecko, if you do not want you child helping feed or touching the pet, please send back the pink paper, otherwise do nothing.  Also, if you are interested in pizza Friday, please see the form included. Generally, you will send back the folders Monday morning and include their completed reading log inside.  I know we will not be in school this Monday, so please sent them back on Tuesday morning.

I also forgot to remind students that we have P.E. on Monday mornings again this year.  Please help your child remember to wear or bring shoes that are suitable for P.E. on this day.  Ideally, your child is wearing shoes each day that will allow for them to be active.  We will be taking a short time in the mornings for some outside movement.  This allows for the students to get some physical activity before they begin their morning work cycle.  I find this improves their focus and productivity during their math and language work.  Also, please help your children to dress appropriate for the changing weather.  I like how Ms. Joy says, “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing”.  Your child will usually be outside in some shape or form most days and I want for them to be prepared.

This week students are continuing their placement assessments and working toward their full regular morning work cycle.  It is so much fun getting to know our new students.  If you have questions, comments or celebrations, please remember to use my school email and not respond to blog posts by email, it goes into an unused google address and I don’t see them in a timely manner.

This week we are excited to have Ms. Susan join our class.  She has been so excited and anxious to meet everyone.  We are glad she is feeling better.

We have been busy team building and getting to know our new community.  During the first six weeks of school, normalization period, we are working on learning classroom routines, building community and focusing on our grace and courtesy in the classroom.

I am looking for a parent volunteer who would be willing to come into the classroom once a week and give students their spelling tests.  I have some flexibility on the day, but usually prefer this to be done on a Thursday.  We are able to do it either morning or afternoon for about 90 minutes.  These hours go towards your 40 hours of volunteering at the school.  If you would be interested in helping with spelling, please email me.  I would like to start the first week of October.  I am also looking for additional help with reading in the classroom and cutting materials.  I appreciate your willingness to help our classroom community.  Your time is valuable in helping these students grow and flourish.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us.  If you ever have questions, concerns, or celebrations, please feel free to email me.  Please use my school email: bherrera@mariamontessoriacademy.org  this is the best way to insure I receive your emails in a timely manner.