Oh my, I accidentally placed the incorrect date in one of the lines of our field trip permission slip!  Could you kindly sign and return the new one that came home today and send it in to school tomorrow?  Thanks so much!

I was out of school all day yesterday and this morning.  When I got back to school I picked the kids up from lunch recess and they clapped and cheered!  If the people you work with don’t cheer for you, I would highly suggest you become a first grade teacher.  6 and 7 year olds make my day!

Report cards should have arrived at your house.  I’m so happy with the progress everyone is making!  Please sign the report card cover and return it to school along with the comment sheet.  Thanks!

Spring picture payments are due this week.  Please return any unwanted pictures along with your payment for any sheets that you would like to keep.

We are out of glue sticks and erasers – we almost made it to the end of the year!  If you’re out and about and think about it, we would love to have some more to replenish our stockpile.  Thank you!

I’m still collecting empty 2 liter soda bottles.  Keep them coming in!

Our field trip is on Monday.  We’ll leave school at 9:30 and return around 1:00 PM.  I think we are going to have a very fun morning full of hands on science activities!  I can’t wait!

The reading challenge sponsored by Pizza Hut ended in March.  Great job reading everyone!  Keep reading a few minutes each night at home.  It’s a great way to wind down before bed time!

We will finish reading Charlotte’s Web on Wednesday.  Today we got to the part in the story where Charlotte died and Wilbur begged Templeton to get the egg sack for him so he could take it back to the farm.  I may or may not have had some tears in my eyes when some of the kids started to cry!  We talked about how the author made us feel like the characters were our friends.  This has been a wonderful read aloud experience for all of us!  We will be having our Charlotte’s Web celebration on Friday.  If the kids would like to dress like a farmer by wearing  jeans, plaid shirts, overalls, and handkerchiefs, that would be fun!

We had a very fun assembly and visit from Cylo on Friday.  He was proud of the kids for the reading that we do both at home and at school!  Every student received a free voucher for a Barnstormers Game.  Cylo also wanted to tell all of our Eshleman friends good luck on the PSSAs!  First graders may not be taking a test this week, but we are supporting our buddies by leaving them a little treat on their desk!  The kids made them the cutest cards of encouragement!  We’ll also show our support by participating in our PSSA dress up days:

Monday,  4/13               P – Pink/purple/plaid clothing

Tuesday, 4/14               S – Slipper day

Wednesday, 4/15         S – socks!  Wear your mismatched or craziest socks

Thursday, 4/16           A – Athletic/team shirts

Spring pictures were sent home last week.  Pictures are sold by the sheet.  Their is a pricing guide inside the picture envelope.  Keep what you would like to buy and send your payment to school along with any unwanted pictures.

If you aren’t interested in purchasing any pictures, just send the entire packet of pictures back to school.

Our field trip to MU and Freedom Memorial Park is coming up on Monday, April 20.  I have almost all 26 permission slips and lunch forms.  If you haven’t already done so, please return both forms by Tuesday.  Thanks so much!

I hope you are enjoying your long holiday weekend.  We had an exciting day at school on Thursday.  Did the kids tell you they performed  reader’s theater plays for their classmates?  Some of the kids said they were nervous, but everyone did a great job!  They want to do some more soon!  We also did some science experiments using marshmallow peeps.  I overheard one of the kids saying “This was the craziest day I’ve had in my whole life!”  I’m not exactly sure what he meant, but I know he was having a good time while he was learning!

The PTO was able to raise $1,000 from the Boxtops that Eshleman students brought to school.  As a thank you, they are sponsoring a school wide PJ’s day on Friday, April 10.  The kids are welcome to wear slippers too.  They should wear regular shoes to school, and bring slippers to change into for lunch and recess.  Our class won the Boxtop contest for February, so we will receive a special snack from the PTO on April 10th too.

We have been reading Charlotte’s Web during our read aloud time and the kids are soooooooo into listening to the story.  I read one chapter a day and you can see the disappointment on their faces when I end the chapter.  How cool is that?  I have an old copy of Charlotte’s Web from my elementary school days.  I give it to somebody to follow along as I read.  Some of the kids have even brought in their own copy from home.  I am thrilled with their excitement!  I have promised them a Charlotte’s Web party when we finish reading the book.  Everyone wants to watch the movie!  I don’t personally own a copy of the movie but the kids have told me there are two versions.  I was wondering if anyone is willing to lend me a copy (either version) so I can preview them and decide which one to show to the class?  We’ve never watched a movie at school, so this is going to be a BIG deal!

Please send book orders in by Friday, April 10, or order on line using our code.

I need 26 empty 2 liter soda bottles and magazines for some earth day projects that we’ll be doing later in the month.  If you have any that we can use (they won’t be returned) please send them to school.  Thanks!

I’ll be out of school on Monday, April 13 and the morning of April 14.  I leave very detailed substitute notes, so I’m sure the day will run smoothly!

Our field trip to MU will be on Monday, April 20.  We changed the plan and will now be taking a short bus ride to the university.  A permission slip will be sent home soon for you to sign and return.  There is no cost for the trip.  All students will need to bring along a packed lunch.  Packed lunches can also be pre ordered from the cafeteria. Information will be sent home about how to order these lunches.  We’ll be eating at Freedom Memorial Park after our visit to MU.

It’s hard for me to believe that we are beginning the 4th marking period of first grade!  Mrs. Mayzum and I have been reflecting on how much growth the kids have made since September.  Their reading, their writing, their math, their attention span, their humor… everything!  I’m so proud of them!  They’re almost ready for second grade but I don’t know if I’m ready to let them go!

I’ll see everyone on Monday!  School is in session!