Final Blog of the Year!

Where has the time gone? I can't believe there are only 6 1/2 days left of school. The children have grown so much this year. We have worked hard but had a blast at the same time! I will so miss these precious smiling faces and loving hearts!

I will post more pictures on our class Shutterfly site over the next two weeks. Don't forget to check it out! There are SO MANY terrific pictures of your beautiful children. You can make a wonderful photo book of their year in first grade! In fact, I think they are offering 50% off right now.

Last week was another fun-filled week! Besides learning about crabs and penguins, using our research to work on our All About books, working on fractions, measurement, symmetry, and math facts, shopping for and reading more "Just Right" books, and taking some final reading assessments, we had a number of special activities as well. On Monday afternoon, three eighth grade students, Jessica, Caroline, and Scott M. (one of my former first graders) visited to share information about the sea star and sea urchin. On Tuesday afternoon, we had one final compliment party! A BIG thank you to Kimberly Burke for hosting a luau for the children, complete with leis, tattoos, and huge cookie sandwiches! On Wednesday afternoon, two more eighth grade students, Jacob N. and Santa B. (both former first graders of mine) brought a number of very cool and interesting specimens from the ocean to share with us. The coolest was definitely the baleen from a humpback whale! The children asked wonderful questions and shared their knowledge as well. Jacob shared with the children that his interest in the ocean began in first grade! On Thursday morning, we dissected blue crabs! A big thank you to Mai Nguyen, Debbie Boensch, and Julia Wenniger for helping us with this exciting hands-on learning opportunity! On Friday, the kids had so much fun at Friday Fun Day that I don't think they really missed Splash Day after all! Check out the pictures on E-bytes! We also celebrated two birthdays - Grace and Alexis! Also on Friday, after the birthday celebration for Alexis, her dad entertained us as our parent reader.

This week, we have our last dissection - the one the children have waited for all year! This morning we dissected... SHARKS! Another big thank you to Mai, Julia, Eva D'Agostino, and Natalie Ames for helping us with this fishy task! The children will also be finishing their All About books on their sea creature this week and working on the visual portion of their projects. We'll take our final math assessment and spend time reviewing many of the skills we've learned this year. On Friday, we'll also have our last visit to the computer lab this year.

We'll also be doing a lot of partying this week! We'll be celebrating the last three birthdays in our class. First, on Monday afternoon we'll celebrate Kayla's birthday. Then on Tuesday afternoon, we'll celebrate Jack's birthday. Finally, on Wednesday we'll celebrate Sam's 1/2 birthday! But the partying doesn't stop there! On Thursday afternoon, we will have our end-of-the-year party. Students should wear their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts with jean shorts, etc. We will rotate through the four first grade classrooms with different activities in each room.

The last day of school will be next Wednesday, May 30th. Dismissal will be at noon.

Please be sure that your child brings the take-home folder and green bag to school each day this week and next! We will be cleaning out cubbies, desks, and clearing walls. There will be a lot to send home so we will send a little home each day.

I want to thank each of you for sharing your precious child with me. Each and every child has brought something special to our class. I have watched them grow in every way and they have continued to amaze me. They have brought smiles, laughter, and love. They remind me all the time of why I do this! I will miss each and every one.

Finally, I want to thank each of you for all the support you have given me each and every day. You have volunteered in countless ways. We could not have done everything that we did this year without you! I hope that each of you will stop in to say hello from time to time next year and let me know how you and your child are doing!

Have a wonderful summer!
Susan

Final Volunteer Schedule:

• Tuesday - Art - 12:05 - Natalie Ames
• Wednesday - Math Game - 1:15 - Susannah or Brian Malison
• Friday - Parent Reader - 2:15 - Eva D'Agostino
• Tuesday - 5/29 - Art - 12:05 - Mai Nguyen