Monday, February 14th

Happy Valentine's Day! What a fun day :). The kids had a great time making valentines, sharing valentines, and learning. We did a special activity today that the kids will bring home tomorrow. I am having them laminated so that they will last longer. The kids and I took the time to write on each others hearts. You will see what I mean when you see the project. Each child took the time to write why they "loved" about each of their classmates. The kids had so much fun doing this and LOVED being able to read what makes them special to their classmates.

This week is a busy week! Please remember there is no school on Friday (Professional Development Day for teachers). The kids spelling review test will be on Thursday. There will be no vocabulary words this week. We are continuing our study of nonfiction with an emphasis on biographies this week. Your child will bring home their book tonight as well as a graphic organizer. They are to work on and complete the graphic organizer and return to school on Thursday. The book(s), however, need to return to school with them every day as we will be doing activities in class. I have spoken with the kids on how to take care of the books, especially since they are from our classroom library.

We will be done with publishing our stories this week! Our goal is to showcase them in some sort of a "museum". I will let you know what we decide!

Tomorrow is the special Relay for Life fundraiser lunch. Information came home a week or so ago on a purple sheet. Here is a brief recap: Tomorrow during lunch there will be a fundraiser for Relay for Life. Parents you can come and have lunch with your kiddo and enjoy a picnic of hot dogs (all-beef or tofu), drinks and dessert! The suggested donation is $5 per person. Please note: SAGE lunches WILL NOT be available tomorrow. Students may bring a lunch from home if they do not want the hot dog lunch. If you have not sent in the form, that is okay, please join us tomorrow. If you write a check, please make it out to the American Cancer Society. The students are also allowed to wear purple tops tomorrow in support of Relay For Life.


Oldie Goldie Book Fair: Oldie Goldie will be held on March 4 and will be the culminating event for Reading Week. Boxes will be in place for the collection beginning on February 21. Please have your kids go through their bookshelves and donate what they no longer read. Everyone loves to buy, but the more books that are brought in, the more books there are to purchase.

Spirit Day: Spirit Day is on Friday, February 25. Students may wear green and gold colored clothing.
Reading Week:
Reading Week will take place February 28 – March 4.

Monday – Dress as your favorite book character/share books in class.
Tuesday – Visiting Illustrator– Frank Remkiewicz for EC – 2grades
Wednesday – Outside – “Drop Everything and Read” (8:15 –8:50) – please send a towel with your child to sit on. St. Petersburg Times Journalist, Letitia Stein, and magazine writer, Catherine Cobb will present to 3rd and 4th grades.
Thursday – Community Authors – Liesel Sole, Gina Longino, and Danielle Cameron.
Buddy Reading
Friday – Oldie Goldie Book Sale

Field Day: Field Day will take place on Friday, March 11.


**Thank you for coming to meet with me last week for Conferences. It is always a pleasure to chat with you guys and talk about all the great things your kids are doing. Thank you for your partnership!

Last Friday, our Alpha buddies came to visit us for buddy reading. What an amazingly priceless experience. We will buddy up again with them next month!