Dear Parents,

 

I hope that you are enjoying a restful long weekend!

 

If you had a chance to look at your child's report card on the Portal, please be advised that you should focus on the Skills (N-not yet , W, M) rather than the number/letter grades. The Skills are your child's "report card".

 

 

 

We will discuss your child's progress at the conference, but please be aware now that a Skill grade of "W" is usually the norm at this time of the year. The "M" is what we hope each student achieves by the end of the school year! And, "W" covers a large area of progression as the skill is being worked on toward mastery. It usually means that the child is not consistent yet in that particular skill and needs more practice to achieve the "M". However, some students may not achieve the "M" in some skills until second grade as many of the first and second grade skill areas overlap. I hope that this helps you understand the Skill-based report card a little better! It is a bit complicated!

 

Monday 11/13 is an EARLY DISMISSAL day for Parent-Teacher Conferences. There is NO AFTERCARE OR BEYOND THE BELL ACTIVITIES on Monday 11/13! Please be prompt picking up your children AND arriving for your Conference. Students are not allowed to attend conferences in first grade. I sent home in folders this past week a sheet of confirmation for the day and time for each conference. I am looking forward to meeting with you and discussing your child's progress! 

 

If you are planning to have your child's picture retaken on Monday 11/13, you should have already contacted Mrs. S. in the office and received a Lifetouch order form in your child's green folder on Thursday. 

 

Please send in stuffing for the hungry in our community by Wed 11/15. Thanks to all who already contributed!

 

For the Book Fair, your child will create a "Wish List" of books (and I am sure other fun items!) on Tuesday when we visit the Fair as a class. The Wish List will come home and you may decide which books/items your child may purchase when they go back on Friday during their Gym time with Mr. Gartner. Please use the e-wallet option or send cash/check clearly labeled in an envelope with your child's name and teacher name in case it gets lost. You may also choose to take your child to the Fair during the week to purchase the books for your child. Please refer to the Book Fair schedule in the CAS Sunday email blast.

 

Casual Day for a Cause on Wednesday 11/15: Bring $2 and wear red, white, and blue to support Wreaths Across America.

 

Wear Gym uniforms and sneakers to school for Friday's Mass this week.

 

There will be a Parent Craft this Thursday 11/16 in the afternoon! I look forward to another wonderful activity for our class to experience! Thank you, parents for signing up to volunteer for this craft. More opportunities each month will be posted by our Homeroom Parents. Volunteers will be rotated to offer all Virtus Trained parents the opportunity to help in our classroom. (Maybe even some dads will sign up!)

 

This past week we completed our 2nd Catholic Identity Service Project for the Homebound. Mrs. Thota and Mrs. Gustafson went on a hunt to find very small pumpkins (Great job, Moms! Thanks so much!). With Mrs. Lorenti's help, we decorated them with tissue paper squares, mod podge and glitter to make them shiny. Then we wrote a message of gratitude and a Thanksgiving greeting on "leaf" tags: "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever." (Psalms 107). I delivered them to Sr. Sally and will also give some to Fr. Mariusz to bring to the elderly/homebound parishioners.

 

When I spoke with Sr. Sally, she mentioned how much those she visits enjoyed receiving the paper flowers we made in September. One elderly couple she visits still has them on display in a planter of soil that they pushed the stems of the paper flowers into! It's so wonderful to hear this feedback of the difference that a simple act of kindness can make for someone! Please see the CAS photo site for the pictures of this project and check out the new galleries and photos that I have added to existing galleries as well. Enjoy!

 

If your child will not be in school any of the days next week due to Thanksgiving travel plans, please let me know ASAP for planning purposes on my end. I truly appreciate that communication very much!

 

Thank you for all you do to make my job easier each day! Your children are a breath of fresh air, spread cheer and kindness like confetti, and are so very enthusiastic in their learning! 

 

Blessings,

Mrs. Carpanzano