Mrs. Bannister's Kinderhive

May 16, 2008

This week has been very "bizzzzzzy!"  We are still working hard to learn these last days of school!  Please continue to get your child to school on time so they can fully participate in all activities.

Of course the highlight of the week was Field Day on Thursday.  We were quite fortunate to avoid the rain and everyone had a great time!  Thank you to Mrs. Kelsch, Mrs. Gregory, Mrs. Garcia, Mr. Smith and Mrs. Autera for joining us!  A special thank you to Mrs. Autera for providing water bottles and popsicles for our students!

This week we also went to the Library and learned all about the summer reading program sponsored by the Cobb County Public Library System.  I encourage you to participate in this fun program this summer.  Just visit one of Cobb's public libraries for more information! 

Next week is filled with lots of fun activities as well. 

• Grandma Joan reads to us on Tuesday
• We get our special awards on Tuesday (not a parent event)
• Beach Day on Thursday 9:00-10:00 (parents invited!)
• Last Day of School on Friday!  Ice cream celebration at 12:00 (parents invited)

For Beach Day,  please dress your child in regular clothing (no bathing suits).  Send in a beach towel!  Please apply any sunscreen BEFORE your child comes to school (we cannot apply it here).  It is a fun morning of dancing on the blacktop!

April 25, 2008

ARRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!  Sometimes technology is not as convienent as we would like!  I typed up our beautiful newsletter and it won't let me post :(  Oh well...Plan B!

It might not be as beautiful, but the information is still the same!  Enjoy this week's Weekly Buzz!

This week we began to learn about babies…of all kinds! Human babies, animal babies, and plant babies! Remember those mother/baby pictures you sent in a while back? We compiled them into a fun guessing game book called Mommies and Babies. The children are having lots of fun identifying the mommies of our class! We also learned several new animal baby names when we read A Pinky is a Baby Mouse.

Here is a fun game for you…
What is a baby beaver called?
A kit!

How about a baby giraffe?
A calf!

Do you know what a baby shark is called?
A pup!

Finally, a baby platypus?
Ok, this is a trick question…there is no “special” name for a baby platypus. Perhaps your family can think of one!

Now that the weather has finally warmed up, we also did a lot of planting this week! In front of the building, we planted marigolds and dianthus in two large pots. We check on them often and give them water as needed. Thanks to Mrs. Lambert and the rest of the Fun Run Committee for trusting us with this special assignment!

We also read Jack and the Beanstalk as well as Kate and the Beanstalk. Ask your child to tell you what is the same and different about these two stories. Why read these “tall tales?” We planted our own beans of course! We planted three bean seeds each, the traditional way (in soil) and three bean seeds in special greenhouses hanging in our window. We are also experimenting with some special seeds. We are depriving some of water and sun to find out if they can still grow.

This week in the computer lab, created Earth Day Posters with KidPix!

Please return your Portfolio Breakfast RSVP so we know how many people to expect and if we need to find a special sub for your child.

CRCT continues through Tuesday. Please remember to have your child here on time so we don’t disturb the testing classes.

Make sure you check your newsletters (ours and QAAF) for upcoming events. There are lots of special things going on as we wrap up the school year!

Reading logs for April are due! We will not have reading logs in May! But keep reading!!!!

April 18, 2008

This week's "newsletter" is in a different format so that I can inform you of all the upcoming events and activities you want to make sure you have on your calendar!  Can you believe we are down to the final five weeks of the school year???

April 23-30:  First-Fifth grades are going to be taking the CRCT.  So that we can minimize the disruptions in the building, please make sure your child is at school on time each day! 

May 5-9:  Our turn on the morning announcements (more information will be sent home next week).

May 6:  PORTFOLIO BREAKFAST.  This is a time for you to be amazed over your child's growth this year in writing. Your child has made so much progress and we can't wait to share it with you!  If you are unable to attend, please me know so that I can arrange for a Shallowford Falls staff member to come and share with your child.  Come have fun and enjoy your child's accomplishments.

May 8:  Field trip to Fernbank

May 13:  Volunteer Brunch.  Our way of saying thank you to YOU for being wonderful parents this year!  Please join Mrs. Waskowsky and I at 10:45 for a special adult lunch that day!

May 15:  Field Day (usually 8-10 in the morning)  You are welcome to join us that morning as we enjoy various games and activities.

May 20:  K Awards Day.  This is an "in-class" celebration and is only for kids :)

May 22:  Beach Day (9-10 in the morning).  A fun hour of dancing and enjoying the outdoors on the blacktop.  Again, you are welcome to join us for the celebration if you are interested.

May 23:  The LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!  We will plan an class ice cream sundae dessert for our last day.  More information will come!

March 28, 2008

Click to download Weekly Buzz

March 21, 2008

Click to download Weekly Buzz

March 14, 2008

Click to download Weekly Buzz

A few "ketchups"

Sometimes in class we need a "ketchup" day...that is, we need to catch up on a few projects.  Well, today is my day to "ketchup" on our blog.  We have been so busy in class, that I didn't have time to compile all of it into a newsletter last week, so look forward to this week's newsletter with two weeks worth of information.

First, thank you soooo much for the beautiful cards and tulips on my birthday!  The kids were so sweet and made the day very special.

We had a blast at the Alliance on Wednesday.  Seussical the Musical is a fun adaptation of several Seuss stories including Horton Hears a Who and Horton Hatches an Egg.  The children were on their best behavior and were enchanted by the story.

The book fair is open all this week.  Thank you to all who have purchased a book off our class book list to donate to our class library.  The children really enjoy these books! 

Thursday from 6:30-7:00 you are invited to hear your favorite author (your child) read aloud a book that he/she has written for this very special evening. In addition, we will share our class book, The Mitten in the Snow, which has been published in hard copy! If you ordered a copy, you can pick it up that evening.

In addition, you are invited to enjoy the art exhibition of our favorite artists (you guessed it...your kiddos!). Your child's beautifully framed artwork is available for purchase during the event. This is a very special night for you and your child. The students have worked very hard preparing for this evening and we know you will be so proud of them!

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday at 6:30!

February 29, 2008

Click to download Weekly Buzz

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Next week is Read Across America in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2).  Our entire school will have special themes for each day in which students may dress according to the Dr. Seuss book of the day.  We’ll even get the cafeteria involved by serving special food each day.

The daily themes are:

Monday – wear green for Green Eggs and Ham.  The cafeteria will be serving green food that day

Tuesday –  Hat day for The Cat in the Hat. Wear your favorite hat that day.

Wednesday – In honor of Wacky Wednesday, students may wear mis-matched, backwards or inside out clothes.  (The rest of the school will be "wacky," but since we are going on a field trip to the Alliance, I respectfully request that our children save the "mis-matched" clothes until Friday.)

Thursday – In honor of The Foot Book, students may wear two different shoes or crazy socks.

Friday – Drop Everything and Read Day.  The cafeteria will be serving birthday cake for Dr. Seuss’s birthday to students purchasing lunch that day.  (This will be our "makeup" wacky clothes day).

Kindness

Today Ms. Gregory came for our February Character Education lesson about Kindness.  She shared with us a wonderful site that you and your child can enjoy together!  Click here to learn all about Kindness with Moozie the Cow!