Family Newsletter

Dear Families,

The students are settling in nicely to their new routines.  I am so proud of them.  We continued discussing what it means to be a kind and compassionate member of our learning community and the students are applying these skills every day together.  We created our classroom contract.  We framed it around our school motto: Be Safe, Be Kind and Be Responsible.  The students came up with our specific rules and then we created bees with our names to go around it.  Here is a picture of the contract:

Reading:
We had our first reading buddies meeting.  Every Wednesday afternoon, we meet with our new friends in Ms. Davison's Kindergarten classroom.  We enjoy books together and learn to read out loud with proper fluency and phrasing.  Sometimes, we even do science together!  We take turns visiting each others' classrooms.  They came to us this time and we were so happy to show them our new reading nooks and books.

Writing:
All students on Harmony participated in beginning-of-the-year spelling assessments last week.  The results will inform our spelling groups in Fundations.  The students are automatically divided by grade level.  In other words, all first grade students will participate in level 1 Fundations and all second grade students will participate in level 2 Fundations classes.  However, within each grade level, we create fluid groups to better differentiate instruction so all students receive appropriate and responsive instruction.  We will start Fundations classes tomorrow, on Monday 9/6.
The students in my class received their Writing Folders and had the opportunity to personalize them by adding designs and drawings.  Lastly, they started their first writing piece.  We wrote about our summer adventures.  We look forward to sharing these in October during our parent-teacher conferences.

Math:We started math on Harmony!  All first grade students in my home-room will receive math instruction from me, and we are joined by some first grade friends from Mrs. Benoit and Ms. Crowley's classes,  Second grade students will either receive math instruction from Mrs. Benoit or Ms. Crowley, as they teach second grade math.  Ms. Fisher teaches first grade math as well, and just like last year, she and I will create many collaborative math tasks for our two math classes to do together.
Last week, we focused on getting to know each other and creating a safe and kind learning community of mathematicians.  We also learned where our math materials are stored and how we rotate between math stations and small groups.

Upcoming Events and Reminders:

• The FAP Ice Cream Social is scheduled for 9/18 between 5-6pm.  Please join us for an early evening of fun and ice cream!
• The ABS Curriculum Night is on 9/12 between 6-7pm.  Please join us on Harmony to learn more about our curricular objectives and classes.
• Our field-trip to Shelburne Farms is on 9/18.  Please consider joining us for a full day of outdoor learning and fun.  Please let me know asap if you can chaperone.  Thank you.  Also, please do not forget to let me know if your child needs a bagged lunch from school that day.  I forwarded an email from Ally Roberts last week for you to sign up.  Thank you.
• ABS Picture Day is coming up!  It is scheduled for 9/17.  Your child brought home ordering packet information in his/her Friday folders last week.  Please fill out and return as soon as possible if you wish for your child to have additional pictures.  Thank you!

Best,

Maria