December 18, 2012

When I wrote the last post on Sunday night, I fully intended it to be the last posting for this
semester...Unfortunately, the school suffered a tragic loss on Monday when we realized Mr. Murv Cudney had passed away sometime over the weekend. With the school closed on Monday, and Tuesday morning dedicated to grief counseling with all the students, our last week before break has not gone as planned. We will be trying to move forward with as normal a scheduled as possible for the remainder of the week despite the huge hole we feel inside with Mr. Cudney gone. He was a caring friend and committed teacher who will be greatly missed. The photo below was taken of Mr. Cudney and his class last Thursday when all the students got their new Tetlin Eagles sweatshirts.

December 16, 2012

 We have just five more days before the end of the second quarter. I guess the old saying, "Time flies when you are having fun." has certainly applied to the first half of our school year!

A real highlight from last week, was the lovely gift of Tetlin Eagles sweatshirts that were given to all the students and staff. All the teacher and students had a photo taken together by the school Christmas tree. Unfortunately, two students from our group were out absent that day.

With the end of the quarter rapidly approaching, we have continued to make an academic push and most of the students have really rallied to keep up with class assignments and homework daily. We have made time for some fun Christmas projects in preparation for the holiday.

 On Friday, after reading and acting out the old folktale of "The Gingerbread Man", the students even cut out and decorated gingerbread people that were baked and shared with others at lunch time.

Please remember to ask your child about homework nightly. Every Friday there is a math and spelling test for the first graders, and this week will be no exception.

This will be my last note until we return after the break. I wish you all a wonderfully happy holiday and prosperous New Year!

December 9, 2012

It has been so nice over the last few days to have the temperatures rise a bit and I hope the warmer temperatures will hold through our next two weeks before Christmas break. Over the last few weeks the academic expectations have increased, and the students have been working hard on a variety of concepts. On Thursday and Friday each week, the class has more time to make special projects that tie into current units being taught. As we draw closer to the joy-filled holiday season, the students have been making decorations for our classroom. Part of the class was missing for various reasons last Friday when the group pictured below were making tissue covered trees.

Please watch for nightly homework Monday through Thursday, and Friday the completed weekly work will be sent home for you to review with your child. For both kindergarten and 1st grade groups, there is a list of sight words to practice nightly that are copied on bright yellow paper. Those words will allow your child to be a more fluent reader and they will need your help to practice. Also, the 1st  graders have a list of ten spelling words weekly to study for the spelling test each Friday.

In closing, there will be a spaghetti dinner at the school on Thursday that is sponsored by the student council to help raise funds for a school trip. Hopefully, I will have a chance to visit with many of you then.

Have a wonderfully warm and productive week!

December 2, 2012

Warm greetings during this frigid cold snap!

Despite the cold temperatures we have been experiencing, it was really great to see so many students make it to class. We only have three more weeks until the end of the semester and Christmas break, so I hope each student will continue to show such dedication.

Last week, a few of the special activities planned such as music were canceled due to the cold but hopefully the temperatures will moderate this week so travel from Tok to Tetlin will not be an issue. Also, Mary Timm from the Telin Refuges will start an "Animal's Winter Adaptations" unit with the students that will start on
Wednesday weather permitting. 

Please make sure your child gets to school in time to eat a hot breakfast. The kitchen stops serving at 9am, so students that are tardy only get a small snack bar to carry them over until snack time later in the morning. In addition, ask your child about their nightly homework. I send homework home every night except for weekends. There are important sight words for them to practice nightly, along with either math or language activities.

Stay well and have and wonderful week!