September 19th News and Notes

New This School Year
Kindergarten, First, and Second grades are now reporting student progress by using an ungraded report card system.  In the past, first and second graders were utilizing letter grades to show progress, but now it will be more of a checklist of skills needed.  Therefore, we will NOT be using the Thinkwave online grading program for displaying grades this year.  Grades 3-8 will continue to use Thinkwave.  Please let me know if you have any questions.


Spelling City!
A fantastic way to study spelling words is by using the link above for a website called Spelling City.  NEW THIS SCHOOL YEAR:  St. John's has purchased the premium edition of Spelling City, which will add more games and activities than were available last year!  The catch:  you will need to have your student login each time when starting up the website with their own username and password in order to access the premium activities.  Usernames and passwords can be found on a notecard coming home in the Friday Communication Folder.  Please look for this notecard, and login Spelling City to play!  Look for the lists under the group name "First and Second Grade 2014".


School Pictures!
School pictures will be taken on Wednesday, September 24th.  The fall picture is the one from the waist up.  Please send your child to school prepared for pictures on Wednesday!


Our Helper On Tuesdays
We welcome Megan Moreland to our classroom as an extra pair of hands on Tuesday mornings!  Miss Megan is a freshman at HLG, majoring in Elementary Education.  We are glad to have her join us!


Saxon Math Homework
As we continue to work to solidify our classroom schedule, it is looking like you can expect to see Saxon Math homework to be coming home in the Communication Folder on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings.  This was different this week, as we were testing (Lesson 10), but please look for it on those evenings as we continue on with Lesson 11 on Friday...


Religion
Memory Work for the Week of September 22nd:


Tuesday (First and Second)
We know that for those who love God all things work together for good.  Romans 8:28


Thursday (First and Second)
You did not choose Me, but I chose you.  John 15:16


Friday (Second)
The Fourth Commandment:  Honor your father and your mother.


Reading
First Grade Reading Story for the Week of September 9th:  I Can Too!
Vocabulary:  too   it   over

Second Grade Reading Story for the Week of September 9th:  Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea
Vocabulary:  enjoyed   company   delighted   wonderful   share   thinning


Spelling
Be sure to login and try Spelling City this week!  See the link above, look for the group "First and Second Grade 2014" and the list called "September 19"!  Remember, this will be the same list for both grades!


a     an     at     tap     lot     nap      tan     zip     lap     pit


Next Week's Book Nook Author:
Cynthia Rylant


This Week's McDonald's Superstars
First Grade: Mercedes Miller
Second Grade: Remi Wallis


Thanks for all that you do!  Have a nice weekend and week ahead!


Love and Blessings,
Mrs. Bradshaw
kbradshaw@stjohnshannibal.org