Friday, September 18, 2020

Family Newsletter

 Dear Families,


Social-Emotional Learning and Team-building Activities:

  • Second Step: We began the COVID related unit around re-building the community. The first lesson covered the definition of community, getting to know each other and being respectful. 

  • Team Building/Listening: 

                *First and second graders have been playing a game called Twizzle together. It involves following verbal directions while listening carefully to each other.

               * Group greeting:  We connected the two grades through a call and response greeting which included some student  generated knock knock jokes!

  • Buzzy Celebration: The two classrooms celebrated together with a pajama day.  The students filled the classroom buzzy jars for being safe, kind and responsible.  We are so proud of them all!  The students  voted to have a pajama party.  Pictures will be posted on your homeroom teacher’s site/blog.


In Literacy students: 

  • Continued listening to Kevin Henkes books

  • Discussed the importance of independent reading for practice

  • Discussed the importance of learning and applying writing skills


First Grade Math:

  • Are learning about the importance of having a growth mindset and a positive attitude when we do math. At home and at school.  We learned that it is important to have mathematical confidence and trust ourselves when we solve mathematical problems.

  • Are learning that mathematicians look at numbers in different ways.  Mathematicians subitize, look for groups/patterns within larger numbers and show their understanding in number writing, on their math hands and through pictures.

  • Began exploring their math tool kits and dominoes



In second-grade  math students:

  • Are learning about having a growth mindset

  • Are learning about the importance of mistakes and stuck points

  • Began thinking of themselves as mathematicians and how we use math in everyday life

  • Began learning about interpreting and collecting data


During technology students

  • Signed in, bookmarked and practiced finding their remote schedules

  • Next week, first and second grade students will learn how to access and use SeeSaw, our digital portfolio at ABS.



New Routines/Communications

  • Please make sure your child brings a filled water bottle to school every day

  • The weather is getting colder, especially in the mornings.  Please make sure your child is dressed according to the weather.  We spend a lot of time outside every day.  Layers are best (as it warms up towards the end of our day)

  • Please make sure you talk to your child every morning (on in-person days) about lunch.  Classroom teachers must notify the kitchen staff about possible lunch orders.  It is helpful if your child knows if he/she will have to order lunch at school, or if one was already packed from home.  Thank you for helping us in this new procedure while making sure all children are fed.

  • NEW REQUEST: Please send in head-phones for your child as soon as possible.  The larger ones (the ones over the ears) work best for our young learners as the ear-buds usually hurt or fall out.  Please place your child’s head-phones inside a ziplock bag with his/her name clearly marked.

  • Fundations started this week.  Fundations is the spelling program we use at ABS.  Mrs. Benoit and Ms. Carah teach first grade Fundations.  Mrs. McCormack and Ms. Casey teach second grade Fundations.  If you have specific questions regarding spelling, please contact your grade level teacher first (is first grade questions would still go to Mrs. McC and second grade inquiries would go to Mrs Benoit).  We hope to continue the streamlined email chain as much as we can.  If you have a specific question/situation, we will, of course, get you in touch with that teacher, if needed.

  • Math started this week too.  Mrs. McCormack and Ms. Carah  teach first grade math.  Mrs. Benoit and Ms. Casey teach second grade math.


Upcoming Events and Reminders:

  • Bring back to school: 

  1. Charged Chromebooks!  You do not need to send the chargers back and forth. 

  2. Home folders.  

  3. Remote work that was requested on the remote learning page.

  • Water bottles: Please be sure your child has a water bottle every day. 

  • Attire: Please send your child to school dressed for the weather and being outside

  • Towels:  Some students still need a towel of some sort to sit on in the Kiva or outdoors

  • Picture Day: Tuesday, September 29th:. Picture forms will go out on Tuesday.  We are unable to accommodate outfit changes.  Pictures are close ups including the top portion of clothing. Students could even wear a nice top with comfortable bottoms and sneakers.

  • Online ordering site for schools

  • Passwords are as follows:

  • ABS - abs20

  • https://bsnap.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/EventList



The School Bell -there are revised drop-off and dismissal procedures.

Best,

Justine, Maria and Carah


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Family Newsletter

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