First grade is nuts about November!  We are busy reading non-fiction books to gather facts about the first Thanksgiving.  We are also reading and writing fiction stories that allow our imagination to run wild.  In class, we are discussing the many things we have to be thankful about in our lives. 
Good reader and writer strategies continue to be a focus in the classrooms.  Making personal connections to stories can help your child strengthen their comprehension skills.  When reading, stop and talk to them about an experience related to the story or character.  Students can also visualize a story in their minds to help with comprehension.
In math we will introduce the dime.  Over the last month we have worked with the pennies and nickels.  The students are learning to count different coin combinations.  We’ve also been telling time to the nearest hour.  This month we will incorporate the dime into our coin counting.  We will explore number patterns, shapes and patterns.  Using our number line we will continue to explore addition and subtraction number models.
We will be finishing up our unit on living things.  We have learned so much about living things.  Our plants have grown thanks to what we have learned!
We look forward to seeing everyone at conferences to discuss your child’s progress.  We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family.

Congratulations to our WOW award winners...

Ava Cannizarro, Nicholas Thompson, Lindsey Frenia and Kevin Zeber

Congratulations to our Bucket Fillers...

Evan Rosoff, Lindsey Frenia and Juliet Yost

If you ever have any questions or concerns please email me or send me a note in your child's Take Home Folder.

                                 Special Schedule for 1M

Day 1 – Art                                        Day 7 -  Music
Day 2 – Library                                  Day 8 –  Health/PE
Day 3 – Health/PE                              Day 9 -  Art
Day 4 – Music                                    Day 10 - Music
Day 5 – Art                                       Day 11 – Library/Guidance
Day 6 – Health/PE                              Day 12 – Health/PE


                                             Snack

Please send in a nutritious snack with your child each day. We will have a snack each morning to keep us happy, alert, and ready to learn. 


                                              Lunch

Students may either bring a lunch from home or purchase lunch in the cafeteria. Students may bring money in the day they purchase or may pay at the beginning of the week. If a student forgets money, they may charge their lunch. A notice will be sent home that day and the charge must be paid the following day. The cost for a lunch is approximately $2.35. 


                                     Take Home Folders

Students will have a folder, which they will bring back and forth from home to school everyday. I will collect the folder each morning and return it to your child every afternoon. It is important that your child does not forget their folder. Please place important notes in the folder, so I will be sure to receive them.


                                     Wednesday Folders

Every Wednesday a yellow envelope will go home with your child. It will contain important notices or papers that need to be addressed by a parent or guardian. You will need to review the contents, sign the envelope and return it to school the following day, along with the notices or papers that must be sent back to Blue Bell Elementary. It is very important that your child returns the envelope the next day. 

                                  Arrival and Dismissal

Students are not to enter the building before 8:20AM.

Dismissal begins at 3:10. Please send in a note if your child will be parent pick-up. Children who are parent pick-up will be dismissed at 3:10.

If your child is going home a different way than usual, please send in a note with your child that day. No student will be dismissed differently without a note.

                                         Safety Call

Please remember to call the school when your child will be absent and to send in a note when he or she returns to school.

                                     Dates to Remember

11-3 No School

11-6 Pretzel Day and Picture Retake Day

11-16 American Education Week - 11-17 visit Blue Bell from 9-11 and 1-3

11-20 Blue Bell Holiday Shoppe 3:30

11-23, 11-24 and 11-25 Early Dismissal Parent Teacher Conferences

11-26 and 11-27 No School