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Commotion in the Ocean and Splash Day on Friday!

Our first grade program, Commotion in the Ocean, is this Friday, May 14, at 8:30 in the Janet Root Theater. The reception will follow in the courtyard. You don't want to miss this! The t-shirts that the children made will come home on Thursday. They are to wear them to school on Friday with jean shorts/skirts/skorts. They also need to bring a swimsuit, watershoes, and a towel. Immediately following the reception, the children will change into their swimsuits and watershoes for "Splash Day" with the PE coaches. Afterward, they will change back into their Commotion in the Ocean t-shirts and jeans for the remainder of the day.

Please keep track of the t-shirts as they will wear them on May 25th to the Aquarium, and then again on may 27th for our End-of-the-Year party! They may wear the jean shorts/skirts/skorts those days as well.

Many thanks to Perry Ross for making it possible to post the many pictures that you will see on this blog entry. My camera has been on the blink and I have been unable to download any pictures. I was very frustrated. Perry took my camera and was able to pull the pictures and get them on a memory stick for me. Therefore, I am finally able to update you with some of the many exciting things we have been doing in first grade! Please excuse that not everything is in date order!

Earth Day was an exciting day for us! Mrs. Baralt came to our class and taught us about using digital cameras. Then Mr. and Mrs. Ross took the children around campus to take pictures of our beautiful and amazing earth. The children had already written about the earth and Mr. Ross downloaded the pictures and the writing to the ribbon on the website: www.planetfesto.com - check it out! Type in the name of our school to see the entries for Shorecrest students. Ours are among them.

Fresh calamari anyone?

The children were so excited to be able to dissect their own squid on Friday! On Thursday, Mrs. Lisa Peck, our favorite science teacher, came to teach the children all about this fascinating sea creature and dissected one to show them all the parts. Then she left a number of squid for us to be able to dissect and explore! Many thanks to Jodie Gayoso and Dr. Jay Epstein for coming in on Friday morning to help the children with this exciting scientific exploration.

We recently celebrated another compliment party by making our own
ice cream sundaes! Many thanks to our moms for such a great party!

On Thursday, April 29, Mrs. Peck brought sea urchins and starfish for us to explore.
Wow! The sea is full of amazing creatures!

Our 3rd grade reading buddies are impressed with the
fantastic readers we have become this year!

We celebrated two important birthdays recently. Happy 6 3/4 birthday, Shannon!

Happy Birthday Molly! Her big sister came to help celebrate!

Volunteers for the week of May 10 - 14, 2010:

• Tuesday - Art - Natalie Ames (12:05)
• Friday - Parent Reader - Michael White (2:20)

All library books should be returned this week. Our last check-out day at the library was last week.

Whew! I told you lots has been happening! Have a great week! See you Friday!

Volunteers for the week of May 3 - 7, 2010

• Tuesday - Art - Jill Emerson (12:05)
• Thursday - Library Check-out - Kerry Kriseman (2:05)
• Friday - Math Game - CANCELLED - as we are attending the Kindergarten dress rehearsal
• Friday - Parent Reader - Erin Ross - (2:20)

Field Day 2010 - A little late with the pictures! Enjoy the slideshow!

Celebrate the Arts!

What a wonderful week of celebrating the arts we had! It was so nice to see you all on Friday for the children's performance and our picnic lunch. Other highlights of the week included our visiting artists. Each class had two different artists visit and share their talents and knowledge. Chef Jason Lucas has quite a resume which includes being in the Guinness Book of World Records! The children really enjoyed cooking and eating Chef Jason's Special White Chocolate and Almond Roca. M-m-m-m-m-m! It was delicious! I will include the recipe so that you may also enjoy it!

Channing enjoys the wonderful aroma!

Chef Jason's Special White Chocolate and Almond Roca

4 ounces melted butter
1 pound almonds, sliced
1 pinch cinnamon
2 pounds white chocolate

Saute nuts in butter until brown. Add cinnamon, remove from heat and add chocolate. Stir mixture until melted and scoop spoonfuls onto parchment paper in 1 ounce pieces. Let harden and enjoy!

Each child put their initials in chocolate on their own pieces.

Chef Jason is the owner and instructor of Let Them Eat Cake, a cooking camp for kids.

Chef Jason also displayed his artistic talents by creating the cat-in-the-hat and a "standing" replica of the United States of America!

Rose Marie Prins, a multi-media artist, also visited our classroom and taught the children how to make multi-page accordion-fold books from one sheet of paper. They were very excited to work in their books!

On Thursday, we took a walk throughout the campus to see the artwork of students and faculty from all divisions.The children are very proud of their own creations displayed in the first grade breezeway!

Lauren E, Oliver, Jonathan, and Hailey were excited to find the artwork of their siblings!

On Wednesday, we enjoyed chamber music by string musicians from USF.

Volunteers week of April 26 - 30, 2010:

• Tuesday - Art - Radha Moorthy-Clink (12:05)
• Thursday - Library Check-out - Fai MacDougald (2:05)
• Friday - Math Game - Anne Dowling (9:00)
• Friday - Parent Reader - Jill Emerson (2:20)

Important News! Our upcoming field trip to the Florida Aquarium will be Tuesday, May 25th. All parents are welcome to join us. Information will be coming home this week.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you so very much for making me feel so appreciated! I love my door! It was such fun for the children and I to see each baby picture and try to figure out who they were! Some were obvious... some not so much! The advice each child gave me on being a grandparent is priceless! I will take it to heart since it comes from grandchildren! Who would know better? Thank you to Kerry and Sandy for volunteering to monitor the children at lunch so that the other teachers and I could enjoy a delicious lunch together. It is always nice to be able to visit with other teachers from other divisions at this luncheon. Last but not least, thank you for the beautiful flowers and sweet cards. I love you all!

Hopefully, I will be able to post pictures soon. I continue to have camera and computer woes! We are trying to get the problem figured out!

Parent Volunteers for Week of 4/12 - 16/10:

• Tuesday - Art - Sharon Cannella (12:05)
• Thursday - Library Check-out - Jodie Gayoso (2:05)
• Friday - Math Game - Sheila Currie (9:00)
• Friday - Parent Reader - Twila Davis (2:20)
  

Hello, Dali!

First grade visited the Salvador Dali Museum on Thursday. We learned about the artist and about Surrealism, Dali's main artistic style. It was fascinating to learn how his life and imagination sparked him to put many unique and interesting symbols within his paintings. Each child also got to make his/her own Dali mustache to wear!

A highlight was being able to see the paintings by some of our own Shorecrest students that are displayed at the museum! Sarah (with her Dali mustache) is standing by a painting created by her brother, Bak, a Shorecrest freshman.
Field Day on Friday was a huge success - a great time was had by all! Mr. Thompson from Kindergarten took pictures. I hope to have a few to post soon!

Volunteers for 4/5 - 9/10:

• Tuesday - Art - Natalie Ames (12:05)
• Thursday - Library Check-out - Kerry Kriseman (2:05)
• Friday - Math game - Gina White (9:00)
• Friday - Parent Reader - Frank Currie (2:20)

Rays Day!

Let's show our support for the Home Team! Opening Day for the Tampa Bay Rays is Tuesday, April 6. Students and teachers are encouraged to wear their Rays shirt on that day. Students may wear their shirts with their uniform pants. Go Rays!