Busy-Bee-Buzzing Into 2016!

The Busy Bees have been buzzing around, working their little hearts out, and taking on the first month of the year with determination! There's a lot to share with you in this blog! We have important events coming up, a week full of learning ahead, and some fun photos to share. Let's get down to business! 

First things first! I want to tell you about a few things coming up.

From Mrs. Warner:

Next Tuesday, February 2^nd at 6:30 pm, we will be having an auction meeting here at the school. If you would like to help us with this year’s auction, please attend this meeting. We will be discussing donation ideas, ways to improve, and any other ideas. Please e-mail me back and let me know if you will be attending this meeting.(The date of the dinner and auction will be Saturday, May 14^th).

On Thursday, February 11th  there will be a Valentine Dinner at Who Song and Larry's at 6:30pm.  Tickets are $23 per person and include dinner, dessert and beverage.  Tax and tip are also included.  There will be games, prizes and entertainment as well.

Free Child care will be provided at the daycare at 6pm.  There will be a sign up sheet in the foyer if you are interested, and if you will need child care. 

 

Also, I will be needing a few helpers in The Hive on Friday, February 12th. That is our 100-Days-of-School Celebration (in the morning from 9:00-11:00 am), and for our Valentine's Party will be in the afternoon from 1:45-2:45 pm. If you would like to be bring a treat or help out, please let me know. 

Here is a list of names for Valentines:

Noah         Evaleen        Veronica    Dante     Addison     Matthew     Wyatt     Makenna     Grace

Aiden     Sammy     Hadley     Nyahana  

On our 100 Days, I am asking that students bring in a collection of 100 items. But here is the catch, they must all fit into a ziplock back (snack size to large gallon ziplocks are just fine). We will be sharing them and then displaying them in an arrangement that will hopefully look something like this: 

We have a lot of fun to look forward to! Coming up in reading, we will be revisiting a lesson from Journeys that we moved rather fast through due to so much going on the particular week that we covered it. The exciting news is that we are starting a whole new unit! This means some unit assessments and that is why it is perfect for us to review the lesson. 

The Math Minute this week is reviewing "doubles facts": 1+1, 2+2, 3+3, and so on. Please continue working with real coins, identifying them and saying their value. Skip counting (2, 4, 6, 8) is another math activity you can practice with your child. We will be working on doubles facts (adding) and "near doubles". An example of a "near double" would be: 
"If 4 + 4 = 8", then "4 + 5 = 9".  

Home Reading: Please make sure you are practicing sight words as well as spelling words. Reading 20 minutes (or more) a night is a wonderful goal! 

Report Cards will be handed out next week. There are a few things I want you to keep in mind when reviewing your child's report card. We use several types of data at Sonshine Christian. These include weekly reading tests, math tests, spelling tests, independent work, the Fountas and Pinell Reading Assessment, DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literary Skills) and the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress). All of these assessments put together create a snapshot of how your child is doing academically. Sometimes what we know to be true in the classroom based on assessment and observation of performance doesn't seem to match how a student performed on their MAP computerized test, or DIBELS, or visa-versa. It is crucial to keep in mind that many factors can impact test-taking, including how a child responds to tests, how comfortable they are using technology, their overall mood when taking the test, and whether or not they were taking their time on the questions. I understand that some parents may have questions and concerns, and we are here for that. Assessments are a learning tool that we use to measure growth, drive instruction and determine what skills to focus on with your child. I for one am very proud of the hard work these busy-bees have been doing throughout our testing and look forward to how they will progress come spring!


 Coming up in Bible this week we will be studying Elijah. Our verse this week:

 

Some highlights from this week!
 

Having a blast with the Lee/Palmer bunch and Mrs. Warner in music!

 Noah, Aiden, and Dante bird-watching during recess!

 Writers' Workshop!

Bible Lesson

 

                                                And PE with Mrs. B was out of this world!
                                              

That's Wyatt under there! 

Have a wonderful week and please let me know if there is anything I can help with or pray for!
Blessings!~Mrs. Bates

"Snow" much happenin' in the Hive!

Thank you for buzzing by, fabulous K/1 parents! 

First of all, a HUGE thank you to the parents that could make it to our Saturday Cafe! I appreciate all you do and if you couldn't make it this last time, we may have another. I will be sure to keep you posted. There were yummy treats, coffee (of course!) and so many helping hands! It made a world of difference to our teachers and in our school! 

It was so wonderful to see most of you at "Snow"-pen House in the Hive! I know some of you really wanted to be there and couldn't, and you were very missed!

Here are some photos showing our "Snow"-pen House awaiting our guests!

We have been having a great time in the Hive! Last Friday was our Bring-a-Bear Day and the kiddos loved it! 

Coming up this week we will be studying more about animal habitats, and beginning our animal research reports. We will continue to learn about using a number line to solve math problems, and practicing adding doubles. We have a lot coming up in reading too! Please make sure that your kiddo is practicing their sight words and spelling words at home and doing some reading practice everyday. Taking turns reading from a favorite book is a great idea! There is a homework sheet that goes home on Mondays and there you will find creative word work you can do at home! The math minute this week will be practicing doubles-facts: 1+1=2, 2+2=4, 3+3=6, and so on, as far as your child can or wants to go! Saying these together on your car ride to school is a perfect idea. If you want to sit down and write them out or use objects around the house, that would be amazing! 

Coming up in Reading:

Our Bible lessons this week will focus on the Book of Psalms. Our verse comes from that Book:

Have a wonderful week! Thanks so much, Mrs. Bates

So much fun coming up!

Hello, incredible K/1 parents! I am posting this blog rather early because there are lots of reminders of important dates coming up that may impact your schedule. In this blog, I want to give details  about a few important dates/events and explain what next week in the Hive will look like. 

 This coming Saturday, January 16th, we will be having a Saturday Volunteer Cafe Day here at Sonshine. It is scheduled 10 am- 1pm. It is a unique opportunity for parents who otherwise work during the week or have other obligations to volunteer and get to know one another. There was a blue flyer that was sent home and that is your RSVP if you can make it. We would love to know how many people to expect, as well as any children you may be bringing. 

Monday, January 18th, is Martin Luther King Day. School will be closed. We will be learning about the Civil Rights leader in class next week. 

OPEN HOUSE IS COMING!!!

Open House is coming to Sonshine Elementary and Daycare on Thursday, January 21st, from 5:30- 7:30 pm. In our own little Busy-Bee K/1 Hive, we will be having a "snow-pen" house. If you are curious about what that is, you'll just have to drop in and see! 

Here are the details from Mrs. Warner:

Open House is a great time to come and check out what your students have been working on. If you know of anyone who might be interested in attending our school next year, please let them know about this event!

The open house begins at 6:30 in the Sanctuary where there will be a brief meet and greet.  Following this, everyone will be dismissed to their child's classroom. Be sure to check out our awesome library as well! 

We will have a pizza dinner from 5:30pm- 6:30pm in the preschool gym prior to the open house if you are interested.  Pizza will be served for $1 a slice and pop will also be a $1.

There is an Early Release on that day, January 21st. the following day, January 22nd, is a No-School Day (Teacher Work Day). 

 

Next week we will be studying Martin Luther King, winter weather, and doing assessments for 2nd quarter report cards. Due to the shorter week ahead, and because we have started some assessments this week, we will continue with and reinforce this current week's studies. Please see last week's blog for the Math Minute, Sight Words, Spelling Words, and Bible Theme and Memory Verse. 

 

 

 

More reminders from Mrs. Warner (including a fun Valentine's Dinner announcement):

 

On Thursday, February 11th  there will be a Valentine Dinner at Who Song and Larry's at 6:30pm.  Tickets are $23 per person and include dinner, dessert and beverage.  Tax and tip are also included.  There will be games, prizes and entertainment as well.

Free Child care will be provided at the daycare at 6pm.  There will be a sign up sheet in the foyer if you are interested, and if you will need child care. 

Sonshine’s Auction will be here before we know it! We can use everyone’s help to collect items, trips, services, etc! If you would like to help with planning, procuring items, or anything else. Please let me know! The date of the dinner and auction will be Saturday, May 14^th.

 

 

 

 

 We have been having so much fun in The Hive this week, and it's not even over!!!

Some chapel highlights...

Sharing-Time Fun!

We made a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting reptiles and amphibians!

We also had a very fun friendship activity involving M & M's. Each child got a random color and followed the instructions on the chart. What an awesome activity! We talked about how God has designed us all with unique gifts and interests and how He loves us so much. The bees were reminded about how loved they are, how special they are, and how absolutely AMAZING they are! We learned many new things about one another! 

What a wonderful blessing each and every student here in the Hive is! I'm so blessed to be their teacher!!!