PC Pierce

Dear Families,

The children have been enjoying our Christmas devotions and studying the reason for the season…..JESUS!!! It has been a whirlwind since we came back from Thanksgiving vacation with benchmarks and all. We will NOT be using parent helpers this week during our Reading or Math times. We are busily working on our parent gifts.

TOGETHER WE CAN – Thank you for all who have given to our food drive for the Pinedale community. It has been wonderful to see the buckets fill up, knowing we are helping those in need, all in the name of JESUS!

We will be learning about Christmas Traditions in other countries of the world. In conjunction with this the children will make a poster of their family’s Christmas Traditions. We will share them on Dec. 10-11.Your child can bring them either of those days. Check the handout that comes home Monday

SECRET ANGEL – On Friday, we read the story “The Last Straw.” It is about doing acts of kindness and sharing special secret surprises with those we love. We then drew names (boys drew boys and girls drew girls) and from Dec.8th until Dec. 11th, your child will be a secret angel to a special friend. He/she can draw a picture, write an encouraging note, bring a small sweet treat, pencil, sticker, eraser or any small token that says “I am thinking about you and praying for you.” The children should try to bring something every day. Then, on Dec.11th, when we have our Birthday Party for Jesus, they will bring a final gift (no more than $7.00) Above all, keep it a secret. They are very excited about this activity.

CARRINGTON POINTE– We will be going to sing Christmas carols for the residents on Thurs, Dec. 11th at 10:00 AM. We will need several parent helpers to safely walk to their facility. This will bring great joy to these precious, often forgotten seniors. It will also be a wonderful lesson for our children that we are to serve and minister to others. It should be a special blessing for all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS – Our class will have a special gift exchange and celebration honoring Jesus’ birthday on Thursday, Dec.11th . That is the day the children will reveal who they have been blessing as a secret angel.They will bring a gift ( no more than $7.00) Please do not put on the tag who the gift is for, just who it is from, which will be your child’s name. The festivities will begin at 11:30 PM. All are welcome to attend.

LANGUAGE ARTS –We will be doing buddy reading and whole group reading this week with some of our holiday books.  We also will not be doing a Spelling Contract this week, thus, no test.  We will resume after vacation.

MATH – We will continue to work on our time and calendar contract,  however, we will not be having a test on this chapter. now. 

SOCIAL SCIENCE – We will be discussing Christmas Traditions in other countries of the world.

BIBLE – We will conclude our study of Christ’s birth. The children have so enjoyed this. We certainly have emphasized that the true meaning of Christmas is God’s gift in sending his Son, and not about all the gifts.We have discussed how truly blessed we are, not only at Christmas, but each and every day. We will say our Bible Verse together and it will not be entered on Power School, as Quarter 2 Report Cards are completed before this.

PEACH BLOSSOM – Please check the handout that came home on Dec. 1st which includes the requirements and the dates for this assignment.

REPORT CARDS – The 2nd quarter report cards will come home on Thursday, Dec. 11th.

SHOW AND TELL – This week will be both Team A and B. Your child may bring something to share ONE time during the week.

WORK ENVELOPE – Our work envelope WILL NOT come home on Monday as usual, rather I will send it on Thursday with all of our regular work as well as our Christmas theme projects. Also, all of our Christmas art projects will come home that day as well. Please send a large paper bag to take home all our “stuff”. We will also be cleaning out our buckets, so we will have neatly organized buckets when we return from Christmas vacation. Imagine that, neat and organized!!!!

BOOK BAGS – Books will not be going home today or next Friday. The books I send home are very expensive to replace and in the past some got put away with all the Christmas stuff or thrown out. They are good enough readers now that they can just choose books from home or the public library. We also will not be going to the library and picking a book today for the same reason. I will give them 3 books to read on the Monday we return, Jan. 5^th which will be due on Jan. 9^th. I would like you to send back the book bag if you have not already done so, and I will lock them up during vacation.

ELEMENTARY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM – The Elementary Christmas Program is  on Tuesday, December 9th in the Peoples Church Auditorium, starting at 7:00 PM. This will be a dress-up evening for the children in their Christmas Holiday Best! We look forward to a beautiful evening for all of your family and friends!! 

SKATING PARTY – Our skating is on Dec. 12th and we will be leaving at 9:10AM. on a bus. Some parents will drive their own chid.  All skating fees for first grade students are pre-paid through our class account. Parents and siblings that skate will need to pay the $6.50 for each skating session at the door. Non-skating parents who would just like to come and watch kids skate will need to pay an entrance fee of $3.00 at the door. Parents that wish to be a spectator at one session and skate at the other session need to pay $9.50. Roller blades may been worn but they must have flush bolts, (no sharp exposed bolts/screws). If your skates have a heel brake it must be in good condition, no screw showing. Roller blades will be inspected by Cal Skate employees and if they do not meet the standards, you will need to use roller skates.Children are free to leave directly from Cal-Skate for Christmas vacation if that works best for you. School is dismissed at 12:00 PM.

LOST AND FOUND – Please have your student check the Lost and Found rack. There are quite a few unclaimed items. Anything left after Dec. 12th will be donated to charity.

              CALENDAR

12-9- K-6 Christmas Program  – 7 PM – Peoples Auditorium

12-11 – Singing at Carrington Pointe – 10:00 AM

12-11 – Happy Birthday Jesus–  Secret Angel Party – 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM

12-12 – 1st Semester ends

12-12 – Skating Party at Cal-Skate – 9:30 AM-11:30 AM

12-15-1-2 – Christmas Vacation – Happy Birthday Jesus!

12-15 – Happy 7th Birthday TJ Weis

12-24 – Happy 7th Birthday Ashley Skricka

1-5 – School Resumes – Happy New Year!!!       

I pray you and your family have a JOYOUS Christmas making memories with those you love and celebrating the birth of our Savior, God’s greatest gift –JESUS!!!

Dear Families,

Greetings to you! I trust you had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebrating with friends and family God’s abundant blessings!! Thanks for all your help in making our blessing afternoon very special. We couldn’t have done it without you, and the children loved it!!! The program was so fun also!!!

We are entering a wonderful season of the year, JESUS’ BIRTHDAY!!! We have many activities planned in honor of God’s greatest gift.

TOGETHER WE CAN – This our last week to bring in our contributions for the food drive. It will be benefiting the Pinedale community. Please bring your items to our classroom and we will have a big red bucket to put them in. It is a great opportunity for our children to share with those in need!! The final day to bring items is Friday, Dec. 9th.

LANGUAGE ARTS – We will be working on Leveled Readers during these next two weeks and some will be reading a short chapter book. We continue to stress the who, what, why, when and where of our stories as well as using phonetic skills to blend unfamiliar words.

MATH – We continue to work on Time and Calendar.  It would be beneficial to practice telling time to the hour and half hour at home.The Math Chapter Review will come home on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd.We will have our test on Tues. Dec. 9th. The chapter review is due that day as well.

SOCIAL SCIENCE – We will be learning about Christmas Traditions in other countries of the world. In conjunction with this the children will make a poster of their family’s Christmas Traditions.  We will share them on Dec. 10-11.Your child can bring them either of those days.  Check the handout that comes home Monday.

BIBLE – Our study this week will be the angel appearing to Mary and how afraid she was because she was so young and not married, learning that God picked her from all the other women to be Jesus’ mother. She was favored in God’s eyes. We will also start our writing and illustrating “The Story of Christmas.”

SHOW AND TELL – This week will be Team A. Your child may bring something to share two times during the week.

CARRINGTON POINTE– We will be going to sing Christmas carols for the residents on Thurs, Dec. 11th at 10:00 AM. We will need several parent helpers to safely walk to their facility. This will bring great joy to these precious, often forgotten seniors. It will also be a wonderful lesson for our children that we are to serve and minister to others. It should be a special blessing for all.

 SECRET ANGEL – On Friday, we will read the story “The Last Straw.” It is about doing acts of kindness and sharing special secret surprises with those we love.We will then draw names and from Dec.8th until Dec. 11th, they will be a secret angel to a special friend. Your child can draw a picture, write an encouraging note, bring a small sweet treat, pencil, sticker, eraser or any small token that says “I am thinking about you and praying for you.” The children should try to bring something every day. Then, on Dec.11th, when we have our Birthday Party for Jesus, they will bring a gift (no more than $7.00), for their secret friend and reveal the person they have been blessing. Above all, keep it a secret. They are very excited about this activity.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS – Our class will have a special gift exchange and celebration honoring Jesus’ birthday on Thursday, Dec.11th . That is the day the children will reveal who they have been blessing. Please do not put on the tag who the gift is for, just who it is from, which will be your child’s name. There will be a sign-up outside our door for the items needed for our celebration. All are welcome to attend.

ELEMENTARY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM -Be sure to mark your calendars for the Elementary Christmas Program on Tuesday, December 9th in the Peoples Church Sanctuary starting at 7:00 PM. This will be a dress-up evening for the children in their Christmas Holiday Best! We look forward to a beautiful evening for all of your family and friends!! Watch for a flyer coming soon!!!

TOWN HALL MEETING  – You are invited to our 2014 Fresno Christian Schools Town Hall meeting. Come and hear about FCS Finances, Enrollment, Future FCS Programs and about some exciting opportunities for our parents, sponsoring churches, and alumni to participate in the life of our school community.

When: December 2, 2014
Time: 6:30PM-8:00PM
Where: Peoples Church
Student Ministries Main Room

There will be coffee and water available.

CHRISTMAS SKATING PARTY -Please return your transportation request for our elementary Christmas skating party from 9:30-11:30 AM at Cal Skate on Friday, December 12th. We are taking carpools. I will have a sign-up outside my classroom door if you can help us with this. If you are going directly to Cal-Skate,  please let me know ahead of time as it will affect how I set up carpools. All first graders must bring booster seats. All skating fees for the students are pre-paid through our class account. Parents and siblings that skate will need to pay the $6.00 for each skating session at the door. Non-skating parents who would just like to come and watch kids skate will need to pay an entrance fee of $3.00 at the door. Parents that wish to be a spectator at one session and skate at the other session need to pay $9.50. Roller blades may been worn but they must have flush bolts, (no sharp exposed bolts/screws). If your skates have a heel brake it must be in good condition, no screw showing. Roller blades will be inspected by Cal Skate employees and if they do not meet the standards, you will need to use roller skates.Children are free to leave directly from Cal-Skate for Christmas vacation if that works best for you. School is dismissed at 12:00 PM.

PEACH BLOSSOM -Please check the handout that comes home on Dec 1st, which includes the requirements for participating in Fresno State’s Peach Blossom Festival. This is a FCS requirement for all 1st-6th classes. Although this is not due until we come back from Christmas vacation, I strongly suggest you try and choose your poem before January. Your child should begin learning it with parental guidance. We will practice at school as well, after Christmas vacation. This is always a great experience for the children. You need to pick your poem and bring me a copy by Wed. Jan. 14th. Thanks for your help!

Spirit Day is every Friday. Please wear your favorite FCS shirt.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!!!

12-2 – Town Hall Meeting 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM – SMC Main

12-3 – Happy 7th Birthday Katherine Castiglione

12-5 – Elementary Drama “A Bag Full of Fables” 7:00 PM

12-9– K-6 Christmas Program 7 PM

12-11 – Singing at Carrington Pointe – 10:00 AM

12-11 – Secret Angel Party – 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM

12-12 – 1st Semester ends

12-12 – Skating Party at Cal-Skate – 9:30 AM-11:30 AM

12-15-1-2 – Christmas Vacation – Happy Birthday Jesus!

12-24 – Happy 7th Birthday Ashley Skricka

1-5 – School Resumes – Happy New Year!!!

Bible Verse – Dec. 1-5

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given…..and He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6  27 pts.

Spelling – Lesson 20 – Dec. 1-5

 go

no

so

boat

coat

rode

home

hope

old

told

give

said

angel