Thanks to Taunya for the great pictures!!!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Here's the Link!!!
Santa Tracker
December 11, 2008
Ray’s Ramblings
December 11, 2008
Dear Parents,
I cannot believe we have only 6 days left until Christmas Break!!! I have a lot of fun things planned in this time. We also have our end of second nine weeks assessment to complete!!! Report cards will go home on Thursday after we start back in January!
HOLIDAY CENTRAL – I have to say a tremendous “Thank You!!!” to everyone who was able to give to the Holiday Central fund! Our class collected PLENTY of money to make a very special Christmas for two families in our school!!! I knew you guys would come through. This is my very favorite part of Christmas! You guys are the BEST!!!
Here are the highlights for the next six days:
Monday – Polar Express kick-off. We will go to the computer lab, board the train and watch “the Polar Express” (reading of the book, not the feature movie, sorry – no time!)
Deadlines: I need each child to send in their gifts for the class AND a large shopping bag (to collect their presents) by Wednesday. (This will give me time to see who needs assistance with gifts or bags!) Many children have used the bag to send in their presents. If you happen to have extra shopping bags (Macy’s; Dillard’s, etc.) please send them in. I have some children who are unable to locate a bag. These DO need to be big enough to hold 24 gifts. Some children’s may send a party bag for each child. Some may send party rings. We never can tell. Just be prepared
Please send me a note tomorrow If you are planning on sending a treat for the party – by note tomorrow or via e-mail – cjlray@gmail.com We will need juice boxes, cookies OR cupcakes, plates, napkins.
Thursday - Our Christmas Parties will be at 9:45 and 1:45. The students will go to Music at 10:30 and at 2:30.
Friday – All children will wear pajamas to school. Just like our last PJ day, children must wear regular shoes for outside but may bring slippers to wear at school. They may bring a stuffed ‘buddy’ to share the day. If anyone wants to donate a large canister of cocoa mix, I need enough for both classes. Marshmallows, cookies. (I have a cookie volunteer for the AM!) Also cups for cocoa – Styrofoam. We will have a ‘somewhat’ regular day on Friday. We will have ELF groups but lots of storytime! Parents are welcome to come but should wear their PJ’bbs!!!
I will be sending home my second FAMILY HOMEWORK activity next week. This will be due on the Friday after we come back to school. More about this next week!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
December 4, 2008 Newsletter
Ray’s Ramblings
December 4, 2008
Dear Parents,
It is so hard to believe that we only have 11 days of school left before our Christmas Break!!! Where is this year going?
Our Christmas Party will be on Thursday, December 18 at 9:30 and 1:30. At 10:30 and 2:30, the children will go to music. Remember, all children need to send in a SHOPPING SIZED Christmas bag to collect all their presents. Make sure your child’s name is on the bag! Many children have already sent in their presents. Each child will pass out their gifts that day. The big entertainment will be looking in our goody bags. However, if someone wants to send in juice boxes and/or a treat, let me know. We won’t need much! If you have not sent in presents, remember, each child is to send in 24 like things to give 1 to each child.
Friday, December 19 – we will end our Polar Express Week with a pajama/hot chocolate party. We will re-read the story and take it easy!!! If you want to help with the hot cocoa and maybe cookies, let me know.
Holiday Central – We have received $50 so far to shop for 4 children. We need more money! If you are able to send in a dollar or two, please do so.
Next week: Gingerbread Week (stories and activities related to the Gingerbread Man/ Gingerbread Baby/ Gingerbread Girl)
Week of 12-15: Polar Express Week (stories and activities related to the Polar Express!) Remember, party on Thursday – Pajamas on Friday!
HOMEWORK: Since we were not in school the last Friday of November, all children turning in their November homework packet will receive double treasure box tomorrow. I had a number of children who did not complete or turn in this packet. If you have it at home, please do so tomorrow. I would like to have the December homework packets turned in on our last day – 19th if possible. New January packets will go home after Christmas.
December 19 is the end of our second 9 weeks. Report cards will be going home the first week after Christmas. Remember, this 9 weeks, we will be assessing more things. Those items that were grayed out last time but are white boxes this time will be the new assessments: skip counting by 2, 5, 10, one to one correspondence, more/less, This marks our half-way point in the year. This means your child should know ½ of the vocabulary!!!! Don’t wait until the last nine weeks to start work on this! Letters and sounds should be pretty much under their belt. We will test writing numbers to 20 as well as recognizing the numerals 0-20. These are all things that you should be working on nightly!!!!
We wrote letters to Santa this week (using kidwriting). These letters will go in our portfolio and on to first grade AND, they will be published in the Jessamine Journal!!! Look for the special Santa Letter edition of the paper!!!
BOOK ORDERS: I sent the orders home on Monday (AM) and Wednesday (PM). Please send orders to me by tomorrow or you may order online through Sunday in order to receive the orders by the 19th. Let me know if the orders are for Christmas and I will ‘conceal’ them before sending home!!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
November 20, 2008
Ray’s Ramblings
November 20, 2008
Dear Parents,
We are still learning a lot about Native Americans and are looking forward to our FEAST on Tuesday! I am sending out a very special THANK-YOU to Taunya Turner tatdynamite@aol.com 885-7905(AM) and Mary U’Wren 858-3474(PM) for organizing the feasts! If you have questions, please contact them or send a note to me at school. I have the greatest volunteer moms in the world!! All of them!!!
Picture Retakes are tomorrow (Friday 11-21). In last week’s letter, I instructed that if you want the free retakes, to send in the old pictures and I would send you another envelope.
Christmas Gifts are already coming in! That’s great. Jamie Tippey’s mom, Amanda, has offered to get together a group order for oriental trading company. This is a great idea for those of you who haven’t already come up with an idea. There are many items you can purchase for the entire class for as little as $3 – 10. Go to www.orientaltrading.com to see what they have. If you are interested, you can e-mail Amanda at amanda.tippey@gmail.com or call her at 421-3503 to give her your order.
In lieu of teacher gifts for Christmas, I would appreciate more treasure box stuff!!!
Don’t forget Holiday Central. I have ‘adopted’ two families for our two classes to sponsor. This includes four children: two boys and two girls. We need enough money to provide a gift for each child and an outfit for each. Any money over and above that will be put on a Kroger gift certificate for food. I know it is early but I have only had 2 donations so far. I have 46 children. If each child could bring $1, that would go a long way!
In the next few weeks, I am planning a number of craft projects and activities for Christmas. Check e-mail and my blog as I will be posting things I need. Right now, I would like you to be saving toy ads and inserts. We will be cutting pictures and making ‘Christmas lists’. Send me your Sunday inserts from Toys R Us, Wal Mart, Target, etc.
Conferences: I have set a personal goal to conference or home visit with every child before our Christmas break. I am trying to schedule 4 visits each week. When I send you a request, please reply quickly so I can schedule with you as soon as possible.
Next Week:
Monday – we will be creating our costumes to wear to our feast. Children will choose between Native American dress and Pilgrim. We will be viewing videos of Native Americans in the Computer lab.
Tuesday – We will have a special story, a writing activity and our feast. The Feast will be at 9:45 and 1:45. Parents are welcome! We will have Motor Mouth at 10:30 and 2:30, then dismissal at 11:10 and 3:10, as usual.
No School on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday next week!!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Charles Schultz Philosophy
Here's a quiz I received in e-mail. This one really hit me and I decided to pass it on to you! See how you do:
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions.? Just ponder on them.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.?
How did you do?
The point is , none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies..
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners?
Now try answering these questions:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!!
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.?
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials..
the most money...or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most.?
''Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!'??
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions.? Just ponder on them.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.?
How did you do?
The point is , none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies..
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners?
Now try answering these questions:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!!
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.?
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials..
the most money...or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most.?
''Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!'??
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