This week seems to have flown by.  We have been very busy with Halloween centers, learning about pumpkins, and continuing to add details to our writing.  I want to applaud the students on their behavior and work in centers this week.  We started free rotation centers, which works on the students being more independent and getting to do more creative thinking.  They ROCKED!  I am so proud of them.  We also worked a lot on sounding out through letters combinations ( I will discuss this with you at the report card conference) and short u words.  We will continue next week working on short vowels, writing good stories with complete sentences and details, and pumpkin/Halloween ideas.  I would like to take the time to discuss sickness with you.  As the flu is really getting going, please make sure your child is washing his/her hands, coughing in their elbow, and if your child has a fever, please keep them at home.  The Rowan Salisbury School System policy is that a child must be fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT any medication before returning to school.  This will help a great deal with preventing others from getting sick.  Also, on Thursday, I sent home number word card.  These are for you all to practice at home reading the number words and writing the numbers.  Your child does not have to know how to spell the number words.  You should also use these cards for the homework assignment given.  Homework this week does not include any vocabulary or reading out of the reading book. We will resume those assignments after the students return on November 2nd.  I have taken your child’s current reading book up and will give him/her a new reading book on Monday, November 2nd.  Lastly, I just want to remind you of a few things.  If you have not already done so, please send back the green conference form that was sent home in your child’s planner on Thursday.  I will try to suit you to the best of my ability.  I will send home a final follow up letter letting you know of the time and date of your conference.  Also, I would like to thank those parents that have already sent in Halloween items for the treat bags.  However, we are still in need of more items.  If you are able, we will be accepting items until Thursday.  Please do not forget that Thursday, October 29th, is an early release day.  The students will be let out of school at 12:00.  Friday (10/30) is also a teacher workday, so there will be no school for the students.  Starting now, it seems that time flies and is very busy until after the holidays.  Please remind your child to continue to do his/her best!  I am very proud of the students and their progress!  If you have any questions, let me know!