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!

STEPHEN CARE HOMES – Our class will be going to the Stephen Care Homes to sing for the residents there. We went last year in the Spring and it was a special blessing to them. The date is Wed. Dec. 11th.  Before we leave at 8:30 AM we will be having a Belgium Waffle Breakfast. Your child will not need to eat breakfast that morning at home. Everything will be provided.  We should be back to our campus by 11:00 AM and we will be going directly to dress-rehearsal for our Christmas Program that night.  Please do NOT plan on taking your child after caroling. Everyone needs to return to People’s Campus. We will be taking carpools. Please return the carpool permission slip that came home last week if you have not already done so. Many thanks!

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.9th until Dec. 12th, 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.12th, 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.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS – Our class will have a special  gift exchange and celebration honoring Jesus’ birthday on Thursday, Dec.12th . 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 12:30 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.

 MATH –    We will continue to work on our money contract, however, we will not be having a test on this chapter now. It will be included during our next Math test in January. This will be reviewed throughout the rest of the year as well. Any practice at home counting change will be very helpful.

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.

PEACH BLOSSOM – Please check the handout that came home on Dec. 2nd  which includes the requirements and the dates for this assignment. 

REPORT CARDS – The 2nd quarter report cards will come home on Thursday, Dec. 12th.

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!!!!

HOMEWORK – The Reading Log and math homework that came home  on Dec. 6th  will not need to be returned until Friday, Jan. 10th. You only need to record one week’s worth of Reading Log (100 min.) We will not be doing a Book Project for the month of December. In the homework for Dec.6th, the requirements for the next project was included, however it will not be turned in until Jan. 31st . Our next genre in January will be Poetry. You can be thinking about a book for that assignment. 

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM – Everyone is invited to a “Candlelight Christmas” on Wednesday, December 11th, at the FCS Gym. The program will be from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.  Please drop your child off in the Music Suite (just to the right when you enter the gym.)  I will be in there waiting for them. When the concert is over, you will also pick them up here.

SKATING PARTY – Both grades will be going skating on Friday, December 13th at Cal Skate of Clovis.  Travel will be by CARPOOLS.  For those who offered to drive carpools, thank you. However, we will not need your services because most are meeting at Cal-Skate.  Reminder,you can go directly to Cal-Skate…..you do not need to come to school first. 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.  The schedule for skating is as follows:

1st Session – 8:15-9:55 AM / Classes:  Tally, Raymundo, Fraser Weimer
2nd Session – 10:15-11:30 AM / Classes: Ferguson, Hancox,VanderKooi,  Broersma

All skating fees for second 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. 13th will be donated to charity.

Calendar

12-11 – Singing at the Stephen Care Homes

12-11 – Teacher Inservice – School dismissed at 12:00 PM

12-11 – Christmas Program – 5:30 PM  – FCS Gym

12-12 – Birthday Party for Jesus – 12:30 PM

12-13 – School dismissed at 12:00 PM

12-13 –End of Quarter 2.

12-13 – Happy 8th Birthday Justus Rocha

12-13 – Skating at Cal-Skate

12-16 – 1-3 – Christmas Vacation – Happy Birthday Jesus!

12-25 – Happy 8th Birthday Cyriche Zarandin

12-29 – Happy 8th Birthday Adrianne Paderna, Ryleigh Chavez & Joshua Brown

1-5 – Happy 8th Birthday Tryphena Gunawan 

1-6 – School Resumes – Happy New Year!!

1-7 – Happy 8th Birthday Caleb Mynderup

Spirit Day is every Friday…wear your favorite FCS shirt!!

       There will be no Spelling Test or Bible Verse Test this week.

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!!!