DECEMBER 13-DECEMBER 17

Once again we have a busy week practicing for the Christmas Program. On Wednesday morning your children are to be dropped off at St. Patrick's Church by 8:00. Please do not take them to OLM School. I will be at the church by 7:30. Please make sure you have signed the permission slips. Only about half of them have been returned. They are needed in order that your child be transported back to school around 9:30. Drivers are needed.

Your children should be at the church Wednesday evening by 6:15. They are to wear nice clothes. It would be nice if the girls were in dresses. I know you will enjoy the Christmas Program. We have been working hard on it.

Curriculum remains the same. There will be no new vocabulary words this week. This is a great time to review. After Christmas break we will be starting timed subtraction facts. We will begin with problems in which the whole number that we start with is 10. For example: 10-3=7.

Thank you to those of you who have sent in the food items for the "Spirit of Christmas" dinner. Thank you to those of you who sent in items for the D Street Shelter. They were picked up on Friday. We will again be collecting after the new year. Again, thank you for your generous support.

Friday is a half day with dismissal at 12:30. Remember, there is NO extended care that day. The school closes down for Christmas vacation at 12:30.

Have a great week and a wonderful Christmas vacation. Remember the reason for the season. If you have read this blog have your child write down the color of the Advent candle that was lit on the Advent wreath. GOD LOVES YOU!

DECEMBER 6-DECEMBER 10

I saw some of you Saturday at the Christmas Parade. The OLM float showed the true meaning of Christmas and the OLM Lancer Band was looking good. We are very busy preparing for the Christmas Program. I hope your child is really working on learning the words to all of those songs. I know there are a lot, but children seem able to pick up the words. Please encourage your child to sing.

On Wednesday there will be an all school Mass. It begins at 8:15. It is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. On Friday at 8:00 the first grade will be presenting the morning prayer for Advent. All of the children are involved. You are welcome to come.

Items for this month for the D Street Shelter should be turned in by Friday, December 10. Thank you for your generosity.

Curriculum remains the same. Again, please make sure your child returns homework and readers if they have gone home to be read. Thank you.

VOCABULARY WORDS

king
queen
prince
visit
head
along
need
food
sky
shall

Have a great week. Remember the reason for Christmas. If you have read this blog have your child write on a piece of paper one thing he/she could do to be a "bucket giver" during Advent. GOD LOVES YOU!

NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 3

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed the week off. When we go back we will be very busy practicing for the Christmas Program. Your child should have brought home a song sheet with songs that are to be memorized. Hopefully they are working on that as they will not be having song sheets the night of the performance.

Advent begins on November 28. Please talk to your child about the season of Advent. It is a time that we prepare for the coming of Jesus. We will be talking about this in Religion class.

Curriculum remains the same. In Language Arts we are in Level 3 with our readers. We are reviewing short a, i, and o. We will learn about short e next week. We are also reviewing contractions, compound words, endings of s, ed, and ing, cause and effect, categories, sequencing, predictions, digraphs th, ch, sh, and wh, and comprehension. In Science we will be finishing up the ecosystem. In Social Studies we will be finishing up the Native American unit and will talk about Christmas customs in other parts of the world. In P.E. we are working with jump ropes. In Math we are still taking timed addition math tests whose sum is up to 12. In the Math workbook we are going into a unit on place value. In Religion we will be talking about Advent and Christmas.

VOCABULARY WORDS

forget
show
smart
pencil
best
read
school
time
being
place
sometimes

A few reminders:

Please sign and return the Progress Report.

Please continue to sign the planner.

Please continue to review math facts and vocabulary words.

Make sure your child returns homework and the reader he/she takes home.

Make sure your child is working on memorizing words for the Christmas Program.

On Friday we will be attending The Nutcracker. If you have not returned the permission slip, please do so.

I will be notifying drivers for The Nutcracker next week.


Thank you to all of you for your help and support. It is greatly appreciated. If you have read this blog have your child write down the colors of the candles in an Advent wreath. Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU!

NOVEMBER 15-NOVEMBER 19

I hope you all enjoyed the Thanksgiving Program. The first graders did a great job with their rhythm sticks and in making the turkey centerpieces for the tables. We have one week left before Thanksgiving vacation. Progress Reports will be going out on Friday.

I saw some of you at Barnes and Noble listening to Mrs. Blackburn read with Mercy. It was an enjoyable morning.

Reminders:
Please remember to sign the planners.

Homework assignments should be completed and returned the following day. If you have misplaced an assignment please drop me note in the planner.

Readers need to come back the following day if it goes home.

Some of the first graders are being unkind to their classmates and to the kindergartners. Please talk to your child about this. I am discussing it in the classroom and would like reinforcement at home. Thank you.

Please talk to your child about using the restroom during recess and lunch recess. Many of them are leaving the classroom and missing instruction. Thank you.

Continue to review vocabulary words and addition math facts at home.



VOCABULARY WORDS

pond
count
called
silly
morning
beautiful
put
tomorrow
today
book
belongs

Have a great week. If you have read this blog have your child write down how many days the first Thanksgiving lasted. GOD LOVES YOU!

NOVEMBER 8-NOVEMBER 12

Wednesday evening is the Thanksgiving Program at St. Patrick's Parish Center. The program begins at 6:30 with a Thanksgiving dinner following the program. The first graders will be performing and should be at the Parish Center by 6:15. I would like them to wear jeans and their Indian shirt. I will have their headbands to hand out that evening. I would like them to bring their Indian shirt back to school on Thursday as we will be using them again. The turkey centerpieces for the Thanksgiving dinner were made by the first grade. Thank you to the moms who came in and helped with that project. It was greatly appreciated.

Friday there will be a Veteran's Day program at school. It will begin at 8:30 and all are invited to attend.

Curriculum remains the same. Please continue to review vocabulary words and math facts. Please remember to sign the planners and if your child has homework it needs to be completed and returned the following day.

VOCABULARY WORDS

any
animals
trouble
kind
gave
there
thing
nice
thought
answered
asked

Have a good week. I will see you Wednesday evening. If you have read this blog have your child use one of the new vocabulary words in a sentence and turn it in. The sentences that have been coming in are good and I appreciate the fact that you are reading the blog. GOD LOVES YOU!

NOVEMBER 1-NOVEMBER 5

It was great seeing all of you at the Halloween Carnival Saturday evening. The good news is that our first grade won the Halloween Booth Decorating contest. That means the first grade will be getting a pizza party. Thank you to all of you that helped out in any way.

I also enjoyed meeting all of you for conferences. As I said to all of you, the vocabulary words are very important. You should be reviewing them on a nightly basis. This week there will be no new words. This is a great time to review the ones that we have already had.

It is going to be very busy between now and Thanksgiving. The first grade will be making turkey centerpieces for the Thanksgiving dinner. We will be performing in the Thanksgiving Program and will be making Indian shirts and headbands for the program. We will also be feasting with the kindergarten. Once we are back from Thanksgiving vacation we will be preparing for the Christmas program, as we are also performing in that.

There will be an all-school mass on Friday, November 5, with dismissal at 12:30.

Curriculum remains the same. In reading we are working on contractions, compound words, endings of ing, ed, and s, plurals, possession, cause and effect, sequencing, short vowels a, i, o, vocabulary, and comprehension. In Science we are working on the ecosystem. In Social Studies we are learning about the Native American Indians and the pilgrims. In Religion we will be making a saint book, and in P.E. we are working with rhythm sticks.

Once again thank you for all of you who have been helping with various projects. It is greatly appreciated. Thank you to the parents who sent in food or helped with the Halloween party. Thank you to the parents who donated books from the Book Fair for the classroom. The response for the D Street Homeless Shelter was wonderful. Thank you to all. We will be collecting again by December 10. It was all greatly appreciated. Please continue to sign the planners. If you have read this blog have your child write on a piece of paper what season of the year it is.
Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU!

OCTOBER 25-OCTOBER 29

We have a very busy week ahead of us. It is Red Ribbon Week. A note went home with activities that are scheduled for each day.

Monday: students may wear a hat to school.

Tuesday: students may wear sunglasses to school.

Wednesday: students may wear crazy socks to school.

Thursday: students may wear "red and white free dress" if they bring a canned food item to school.

Friday: students may wear their costume to school.

Report cards went out on Friday. They are to be signed and returned. You may bring it back for the conference. Dismissal all week long is 12:30 because of conferences. I look forward to meeting with all of you. Remember, conferences are only 15 minutes long.

Next week is also the Book Fair. Your child will preview on Monday and bring home a wish list. You are free to browse at the Book Fair all next week. You also received information on a reading contest. Reading logs are to be returned by Thursday. Remember they must be signed by a parent in order to count.

On Saturday evening from 5-8pm is the Halloween Carnival. The first grade has two booths. The first grade is also putting together a Family Fun Night Basket. Parents are asked to donate one item to be included in the basket. The items are to be brought to Mrs. Mills' classroom by Thursday. Thank you to all who have already brought in their items.

Thank you to all the drivers who went to the Pumpkin Patch. Your children had a great time. Thank you to the moms who brought the snacks.

A big thank you to all of you who sent in items for the D Street Shelter. Your response was wonderful. I will be collecting again next month.

Curriculum remains the same. Please work with your child nightly on vocabulary words. It is so important. If your child is having difficulty with vocabulary words the workbook pages will also be difficult for them. The first week in November I will start the timed math tests with sums up to 12. We are still working on addition.

VOCABULARY WORDS

knows
warm
goes
brothers
sisters
about
together
ears
eyes
nose
legs
body

I am hoping you are praying the rosary during this month of October. Mary can do wonderful things for us and she is a wonderful helper. Have a good week and try to be patient what will all the activities that are going on. If you have read this blog have your child write a sentence using the word Halloween in it. I like the sentences that I am getting. Remember: GOD LOVES YOU!

OCTOBER 18-OCTOBER 22

The first quarter ended on Friday. Report cards will be going home on Friday. This is a good time to talk to your child and remind them what is expected of them. They are to always do their best work. They are to work quietly and when work is completed they should be reading and not bothering others.

Tuesday we are off to the Pumpkin Patch. Everyone who has signed up to drive will be driving. I have many drivers, so each vehicle will have either 2 or 3 children. Please be at school by 12:20. We will try to leave by 12:40. Children are to wear their school uniform. It should be a fun afternoon for all.

On Thursdays we say the rosary as a school. If you want to send a rosary with your child you may do so.

On Friday we will have free dress for $1.00. The proceeds will go to "Think Pink" and students are to wear something that has pink in it.

Friday is the deadline for sending in items for the D Street Shelter. On Friday we are also responsible for lunches for St. Vincent's.

Saturday is the "Think Pink" fashion show and luncheon at the Parish Center. It will begin at 11:00. Tickets are available at the office.

Please continue to review vocabulary words and math facts. In math we have gone into subtraction. Our timed tests are still addition. I have given all of the vocabulary tests and will keep them for conferences. Your children were also given the DIBELS screening last week. DIBELS is used to identify children who may need extra help to become good readers. I will also have those scores for conferences.

VOCABULARY WORDS

then
never
many
always
soup
lunch
whose
was
baby
father
everything
grow

Have a good week. If you have read this blog have your child write a sentence with the word pumpkin in it. GOD LOVES YOU!

OCTOBER 11-OCTOBER 15

I hope you have enjoyed your three day weekend. Thank you to all that have returned the Pumpkin Patch permission slip with the money. I will be using all drivers for the Pumpkin Patch unless you do not have all the needed paperwork. Thank you to all who have sent in items for the D Street Homeless Shelter. It is greatly appreciated. You have 2 weeks to bring in your items. I will be delivering all items on the 23rd of this month.

We are starting Level II in reading. In reading we are reviewing contractions, endings of s, ed and ing, cause and effect, categories, predictions, short a and i, plurals, naming and action part of a sentence, and comprehension. During the week I will be testing each child individually on reading vocabulary. In math we will start a new chapter on subtraction. We will continue math timed tests on addition facts whose sum are no higher than 10. In science we are working on the ecosystem. In religion we are talking about God's creation of the world and praising Him for all that he made. In spelling we are working on short i.

Friday is the end of the first quarter. Report cards will go out the following week.

VOCABULARY

some
may
more
mother
tell
surprise
when
again
long
he
she

Thank you for signing the planners. If you have read this blog, have your child bring in a leaf that he/she has found. For your information: October 2 was the Feast of Guardian Angels.

OCTOBER 4-OCTOBER 8

The all-school Mass put on by the 6th grade was wonderful. There were so many pets that were brought to be blessed. We have started to talk about God's creation in Religion, and this really brought the creation of animals to life. I know the children loved seeing all of the different kinds of animals.

Thank you to all of the students who brought in rocks for everyone to see. We have started the Ecosystem in Science and we have been discussing the non-living part of the ecosystem. Your children were excited to be able to touch and see different kinds of rocks.

There will be a Safe Environment Training on Monday, October 4, at 6:00 in the library. Remember, if you want to drive for any of our field trips or help out for special activities in the classroom, you must have this training and be fingerprinted.

I have started timed math tests with sums up to 10. The children are given 2 minutes to do as many as they can. I will shorten the time as we go on.

In another week your child will be having a vocabulary test on the words that have gone home. This week's list will be included. Please keep reviewing the vocabulary words at home. As I have said before, these words are important. They are necessary in order to do workbook pages, board work and reading.

The end of the quarter is October 15, with report cards going out the following week.

There will be no school on Friday, October 8. All of the teachers will be in Visalia for an in service.

Computer Club cookie sales begin on Thursday. After your child has eaten lunch they will be allowed to purchase a cookie if desired. Cookies are usually $.25.

Pop-up pencils, smelly pencils and notepads are not allowed in the first grade classroom. They are a distraction. Thank you.

A reminder about uniforms: All socks must be above the ankle. Only the navy blue uniform sweater or sweatshirt is allowed to be worn in the classroom. No stretchy band bracelets are allowed. No nail polish is allowed. Only post earrings are allowed for girls.


VOCABULARY WORDS

your
where
make
fly
needs
be
tail
work
kite
day
by
that
down

Have a good week. If you have read this blog have your child write down whose feast day is on October 2. GOD LOVES YOU!

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 1

The ITBS testing is over with and I would like to thank all of the parents who supplied the daily snacks. They were thoroughly enjoyed by the children. It is hard to imagine that we are going into October already. Thank you to all that have returned the Progress Reports. I am still missing a few. Please make sure that you sign and return them.

We are moving along in Language Arts. We will be learning about contractions and adding the endings of (ed) and (ing) to a base word later on this week. We have started our 5th little reader. We continue to use the supplemental reader, Bells. We will spend one more week on short a and will then learn about short i. In math we will start timed tests whose sum can be up to 10 on Wednesday. I have shortened the time to one minute with the first set of timed tests. Your children are doing great. And they are getting faster which is why I have shortened the time. On Wednesday I will be giving them 2 minutes as this will be a new group of math problems. But I can sure tell you have been working at home. Thank you. We have started the Ecosystem in Science.

On Friday, October 1, we will have the all school Mass at 11:00. We will be celebrating the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. If you want to bring your pet to school for a blessing you are more than welcome to do that. Pets are to be brought at 11:00 for the Mass.

A few reminders:

Please make sure that your child does the homework that is sent home and returns it the following day.

When your child brings home a reader it must be returned the following day. Some of your children are not returning them.

Please read the planner and remember to sign it. Some are being returned with no signatures.

If your child wears a sweatshirt or sweater to school make sure a name is on it.

Dismissal is at 12:30 on Friday, October 1.


NEW VOCABULARY WORDS

boy
girl
how
with
very
much
I'm
can't
I'll
it's
they
bet
lift

Have a great week. Thank you for all of your help and support. It is greatly appreciated. If you have read this blog, have your child write on a piece of paper what Johnny Appleseed's real name was and the date we celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day.
GOD LOVES YOU

SEPTEMBER 20-SEPTEMBER 24

Progress Reports went out on Friday. I also included the Conduct Rubric which is used by the school. Once again, remind your child to always put forth their best effort. The progress reports must be signed and returned by Friday, September 24.

ITBS testing begins on Monday. It will continue through Thursday. It is important that your child be at school for the test. Please make sure they get plenty of rest and eat a good breakfast. Once again just tell your child to do their best. Healthy snacks will be provided for the children during the testing. Thank you to the parents who are providing the snacks.

This week the spelling test will include 2 challenge words. The challenge words will be ones that your child should know how to spell. Those 2 words are included in the overall spelling grade. We will start our Ecosystem Unit this week. Your children have done great on their timed math tests. I am cutting the time this week to one and a half minutes. Please be working on math facts whose sum goes up to 10. We will be starting those timed tests in another week. A reminder about vocabulary words: please work on them every night. When we are doing workbook pages sometimes your child must read the sentences independently or figure out the missing words. If they do not know the words the pages will be very difficult for them. Your child is also required to read a short story on the board which uses vocabulary words. They are then required to draw a picture that goes with the story. This will also be difficult if they do not know their words. In a couple of weeks they will have a vocabulary test. So keep working on those vocabulary words.

The catalog sale ends this week. Hopefully you have been selling.

VOCABULARY WORDS

clean
all
of
why
up
would
because
this
but
take
find
circle
animal
turtle

Once again, thank you for all of your support and for signing those planners. If you have read this blog have your child give Mrs. Mills a "high 5". Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU!

SEPTEMBER 13-SEPTEMBER 17

It is hard to believe that Progress Reports will be going home on Friday. There will be no grade for Spelling or Science as we have not started those units. This is a reminder that a progress report is just that. It shows your child's progress and lets you know where your child is right now. The first 4-5 weeks have been review with some new skills added. This is a good time to remind your child to always do their best work and to try and finish their work in the allotted time. Neatness, both in handwriting and in coloring is a part of the Effort grade. This is also a good time to review behavior both inside and outside the classroom. A conduct rubric will be going home. Progress Reports are to be signed and returned by Friday, September 25.

On Monday the timed math tests will begin. Hopefully you have been working with your child at home on addition math facts. It is time to start adding in math facts whose sum is no higher than 12. We have started an addition unit in math which should reinforce what you have been doing at home.

Continue to have your child study vocabulary words and to read aloud at home. If your child struggles on vocabulary words, the workbook pages and board work can be difficult for them.

Spelling starts this week. On Tuesday their spelling list will go home. Students will have a practice test on Thursday and their final test on Friday. The score they receive on Friday is the grade that is entered. Please work on spelling words daily. After a couple of weeks I will be giving challenge words that go with the short vowel skill that we are working on.

On Thursday a decorated bag will come home for a St. Vincent De Paul lunch. Fill it and return it on Friday. These will be distributed to those in need of a meal. On that note the service project that I have selected for the First Grade is to help with donations to the D Street Shelter. These donations will be handed out to the homeless in our community. A letter with more information will be forthcoming.

VOCABULARY WORDS

walk
run
jump
play
from
my
friend
is
like
fun
think
home

Thank you again for all your support and for signing those planners. If you have read this blog, have your child write down on a piece of paper who is the mayor of Merced. Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU!

SEPTEMBER 6-SEPTEMBER 10

It was great to see you at Open House. I hope you enjoyed just browsing around the classroom and looking at the textbooks your child will be using in the First Grade. I hope you are enjoying your three day weekend.

Remember, there is no school on Monday. This is a reminder to those of you who have not gone to a Safe Environment Training Session, and want to work in the classroom when needed or drive on field trips. A training session is being offered on Tuesday evening at OLM at 6:00. In order to help in a classroom or drive on a field trip you MUST have this training and be fingerprinted. If you have already attended a session and have been fingerprinted you are fine.

The OLM catalog sale kicked off on Friday. Your child should have brought home all of the information. Hopefully you have already started your sales.

Wednesday, September 8, is the birthday of the Blessed Mother.

Thank you so much for the great job you are doing signing those planners. The students have really gotten into the groove about writing in them.

Curriculum remains the same. We are doing a lot of review. As you can see we have started the reading program. We are now on our second paperback reader. Your children seem to be moving along with the vocabulary words. On Friday their first reading packet will go home. There will be a percentage printed up in the corner. That is to let you know what the grade was on those pages. I will be sending home a letter explaining the grading system on those pages. Because of the three day weekend I had your children write the new vocabulary words and take them home. They were the last page on there work packet that went home on Friday. Look for it.

At the end of the week we will be starting addition in math. On Monday, September 13, they will take their first timed math test. There will be 25 problems and I will start with 3 minutes and then work down to 2 minutes. If they appear to be pretty fast I will shorten the time to under 2 minutes.

In Social Studies we are studying about communities, rules, laws, and leaders. We will be finishing it up in a week and will then go into the Ecosystem in Science.

Spelling words will start coming home on the week of the 20th.

VOCABULARY WORDS

found
going
am
for
under
across
good
bad
so
draw
are
look

Just a reminder: Please talk to your child about money and snacks that they bring to school. The money and the snack is for them. They are not to be giving away their money or snack. I know they all want to be generous but we have had a few minor problems. I have talked to the class and I would appreciate it if you would also review this with them.

No more news at this time. Once again, thank you for all of your support. It is greatly appreciated. If you have read this blog, have your child take one of the new vocabulary words and write a sentence using it. The sentences that came in last week were very good. Thank you. GOD LOVES YOU!

AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 3

Thank you to all of you that read my blog and sent in the apples. I cut them and they were enjoyed by the first graders. Tomorrow, August 29, is Open House at OLM. It begins at 11:00 and runs until 1:00. The tri-tip dinner begins at 11:00 and runs until 2:00. I hope you are all able to come and see your child's classroom and work.

Friday there will be an all-school Mass. Students may not wear shorts to Mass. Dismissal is at 12:30. On Monday, Sept. 6, there will be no school. Enjoy.

Please continue to work on the vocabulary words that have been sent home. We have started our first story in our reading series. Some of you may think the stories are a bit easy. For right now that is good, as your child needs lots of practice reading out loud. By reading out loud your child will become more fluent in reading. Another list of vocabulary words will be going home on Monday.

Continue to work on addition math facts whose sum is no higher than 6. Timed tests will begin on Sept. 13. Your child should also be able to read number words, zero to twelve. Please work on that at home.

VOCABULARY WORDS

over
out
said
and
little
copy
far
away
come
here
now
in
want
bear

Thank you so much for getting those planners signed. That is part of your child's daily homework. If you have read this blog, have your child take one old vocabulary word and write down on a piece of paper a sentence using that vocabulary word. Have them turn it in to Mrs. Mills. Thank you again for all of your support. GOD LOVES YOU!

AUGUST 23-AUGUST 27

We have all survived the first week of school. The first graders are doing well what with all the new routines and the planners. You, as parents, are doing great with signing the planners. Remember, Monday is the day that signatures on the planner are required.

We have been working on our first list of vocabulary words. Remember they are just that, vocabulary. They must be able to read them, not spell them. Your child should also be reading number words up to twelve and the color words. They will be checked on the color words this week. Another list of vocabulary words will be coming home on Tuesday. Add those to the list you already have. We will be starting our first little reader this week.

Your child also needs to be working on math addition facts up to 6. In several weeks I will be starting the timed tests. My suggestion is to buy flashcards. You can get them at the dollar store.

REMINDERS:

Please remind your child to use the bathroom before they come to school and during recess and lunch hour. Some are leaving class on a daily basis, thus missing instruction.

Make sure your child knows whether they are buying a hot lunch or have brought a lunch from home.

Make sure your child knows who is picking them up and where they are to go.

A homework paper must be returned the following day.

Some children still need the 8-pack of crayons. I have asked that you send two of them. We are already using the 8-pack.

OPEN HOUSE is Sunday, August 29, from 11-1. Please come by and look around in your child's classroom. There is also a tri-tip dinner in the auditorium from 11-2.

VOCABULARY WORDS

rain
sun
on
white
it
get
to
do
have
color

THANK YOU for all of your support and help during this first week. It has been greatly appreciated. Keep signing those planners. If you have read this blog have your child bring Mrs. Mills an apple. Have a great week and GOD BLESS YOU!

AUGUST 16-AUGUST 20

Welcome to Our Lady of Mercy School and the first grade. It was so nice to see so many of you at Back To School Night. I know I gave out a lot of information that evening, and it may have overwhelmed you, but trust me, it will all fall into place.

Please make sure your child has all of their supplies by the end of the first week. The planner is most important and your child should have it the first day. Another note will go home to remind you what they need.

The first school bell rings at 7:50 and school begins at 8:00. The all-school Mass begins at 8:30. Because we are having Mass, all girls are to be in jumpers and the boys in long blue cords. You are more than welcome to bring your child into the classroom and help them find their desk and get their things put away.

Your child may bring a snack for themselves. We have recess at 10:00 and that is the time they will eat it.

Dismissal is at 12:30. Make sure your child knows where they are being picked up. You are more than welcome to come to my door to pick them up.

I know this is soon, but vocabulary words will be going home this week. Most of these words should be familiar as many of these were introduced last year while they were in kindergarten. It is most important that your child review these words every night.

VOCABULARY WORDS

go
can
we
see
will
not
what
saw
the
went
you
help
did
looking
walking

Please check the planner every night for homework or general information. Make sure you sign it and return it the next day. I will be giving you a week to get into the swing of things. Thank you for all of your cooperation. I am looking forward to seeing you all.

GOD LOVES YOU!

MAY 24-MAY 28

Oops, I am late with this blog. I am sorry.

Please make sure that your child brings a lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lunch is provided on Thursday.

Tomorrow night, May 25, at 7:00 at St. Patrick's Church, the 8th graders will be graduating. You are all welcome to come.

Please send a large bag with your child on Wednesday, as we will be cleaning desks and chairs and taking things home.

On Thursday your child will have free dress and will have a choice of a hot dog or hamburger for lunch. It is also Field Day.

Yearbooks will be coming out and your child is free to bring them to school to have them signed.

Mass will be at 8:30 on Friday. No shorts are to be worn that day. Dismissal is at 10:00. There is no Extended Care that day. School is officially out.

A sheet with helpful hints for academics during the summer will be going home with your child. Make sure that your child keeps reading.

Have a great summer and thank you for all of your support and help during the school year. GOD LOVES YOU!

MAY 17-MAY 21

The Talent Show was good and the first graders who performed did a super job.
On Friday, May 21, the 8th grade puts on the 8th Grade Carnival. It is from 10-12, with dismissal at 12:30. Free dress is allowed that day. The 8th grade will be around to sell tickets on Friday. I would suggest $5.00. That will be enough to play games and get some food. If that is too much then $3.00 would be good. If your child wants to spend more I usually allow them to buy $5.00 and then have them keep the rest of their money and they can buy more tickets when they run out. Usually they do not run out.
No more news. Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU!

MAY 10-MAY 14

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers out there. I hope all of your parents that attended Grandparent's Day had a good time. I thought the first and eighth graders did a super job on the Mass, the May Crowning and signing the Hail Mary.

A good time was had by all at McDonald's. The class enjoyed the tour and their lunch. Thank you to all of my drivers. You were very much appreciated.

Friday at 8:30 the talent show will begin with K-4th performing first. After a short break grades 5-8 will perform. Hope you can come. We do have a few first graders who are in it.

Curriculum remains the same, however the students are being introduced to double digit subtraction.

Have a good week. GOD LOVES YOU!

MAY 3-MAY 7

We have a busy week at OLM.
Monday, May 3, is Open House all day long at OLM. The Open House will continue until 6:00 p.m. If you have time and want to drop by the classroom, please feel free to do so.
Thursday is the first grade field trip to McDonald's. We will be taking a tour of the facility and then eat lunch. The first graders have free dress that day.
Friday is Grandparent's Day. The first grade and the eighth grade are responsible for the May Crowning Mass that will be held at 8:15. All of the first graders will be participating. There is also a free breakfast for everyone and entertainment for the grandparents. The first grade will be part of the entertainment. We hope to see you there. Dismissal that day will be at 12:30.

Curriculum remains pretty much the same. In math we are moving into double digit addition and subtraction. The first graders will be taking a Reading Assessment this week. It is an assessment that goes with our reading curriculum.

Have a great week. Remember this is the month of Mary. It is a good time to pray the rosary. GOD LOVES YOU!

APRIL 26-APRIL 30

Progress Reports went home on Friday. You have until Friday to sign and return them.

I saw some of you at the Comcast Clean-up Day and out at Relay For Life. Thank you for participating in these two events. The first grade did win the Mini Relay For Life penny war that was held several weeks ago on a Friday. We collected 65.00 that day. We won a free dress day that will be announced. The overall school penny war winner has not been announced.

Curriculum remains the same and we have completed all of the vocabulary words. So now it will be just reviewing them.

Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU!

APRIL 19-APRIL 23

Thank you to all of you for the cookies and soda. The First Communion Mass was truly a religious experience. And the second graders all looked so nice in their new outfits. When the mass was over they all headed for the refreshment table. We had plenty of snacks. Thank you to those of you who took everything over to the church on Friday and set it up and thank you to those of you who helped on Saturday at First Communion. It was greatly appreciated.

On Monday there will be an all-school mass for the First Communicants. We hope you can join us. Progress Reports will go home on Friday. You have a week to sign and return them. Curriculum remains the same.

On Saturday and Sunday Relay For Life will be held at Merced College. If you have the time come out and join in the walk for a cancer cure.

VOCABULARY WORDS

thought
envelope
writing
special
inviting
stamp
wish
should
caught
blew
peering

Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU.

APRIL 12-APRIL 16

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter vacation and celebrated the risen Christ.
We only have 7 weeks left of the school year. And we will be busy. Next Saturday, April 17, at 9:00 a.m., is the First Communion Mass for the second graders. We are in charge of the reception that day. I will be sending a note home on Monday as to what is needed. All first graders are to send in one 2-liter bottle of 7-Up and a dozen cookies by Friday morning. If you are needed to help on Friday or Saturday you will be notified.

Dismissal is at 12:30 on Friday.

In Language Arts we are now in Level 5 of our reading program. We continue to work on vowel sounds, digraphs, blends, contractions, compound words, the s, ed, and ing endings, double the consonant and add the ed or ing ending, sequencing, cause and effect, main idea, reading vocabulary and comprehension. In Math we are working on counting out money and we will be moving into telling time in a week. In Science we are learning about matter. In Social Studies we are learning about U.S. symbols. In P.E. we are finishing up a dance unit and will be moving into a bean bag unit. In Spelling we will start with long o this week. In Religion we will begin learning about the Holy Spirit as a helper.

Please work with your child counting out money. They should be able to take a group of coins and count it out for you. This is the way I teach it at school. I need to see how they got their answer. During this week I will be introducing the quarter. Thank you for all of your help with the reading packets that are going home. When your child is reading at home please have them think about reading loud enough for all to hear and to use expression while reading.

VOCABULARY WORDS

sound
sniff
rough
fur
apples
carrots
smooth
smell
chew
flew
store

If you have read this blog have your child write a sentence using the word Easter in it. Have a great week. I will see you on Monday. GOD LOVES YOU!

MARCH 29-APRIL 1

Thank you for all the pennies that were brought in for the "penny war" on Friday. I heard that we may have won. We had one full bucket and were starting in on a second one. Hurray, plus we were helping a good cause. Also the class did a great job on the morning Lenten prayer.

This is a short week. Dismissal is at 12:30 on Thursday. And then we are off for Easter vacation. There will be no vocabulary words this week. As far as spelling goes I am going to be giving a spelling test that will be a review of the long a, long i, and long e words that we have had previously. There will be no spelling list going home.

Have a great week. If you have read this blog, have your child write on paper what we call the day of the Last Supper and what we call the day that Jesus died. GOD LOVES YOU!

MARCH 22-MARCH 26

Hi, I just returned from a great weekend in Anaheim at the Religion Congress. There were lots of good seminars. So this will be short. On Thursday at 8:00 in the morning, the first graders will be presenting the morning Lenten prayer. You are all invited to attend.

VOCABULARY WORDS

breakfast
decorate
birthday
party
basket
fruit
secret
collect
curl

Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU!

MARCH 15-MARCH 19

I enjoyed seeing all of you for conferences. Thank you to all the drivers who helped out during the week. The Stations of the Cross were well done and the residents enjoyed seeing it. The Spring Program was very good and your children did a super job. Thank you for all of your help and cooperation.

This is a short week, with dismissal at 12:30 on Thursday and no school on Friday. There is free dress (green and white) on Wednesday for St. Patrick's Day. Please continue to send in your pennies for our class jar for fighting against cancer. Thank you to all who have been doing that.

Curriculum remains the same, however in Science we are beginning a unit on Matter, and in Language Arts we will start working on long e. Remember, on Monday and Tuesday evening a reading packet will be coming home. Your child is to read the story and then you are to ask the comprehension questions on the back of the packet. You are to sign the packet and return the following day. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.

VOCABULARY WORDS

against
board
push
toward
happen
hard
ground
gathered
crowd
favorite

Have a great week. I will be going to the Religion Congress down in Anaheim. If you have read this blog have your child write down who is the patron saint of Ireland.

MARCH 8-MARCH 12

The first graders have a very busy week. On Wednesday evening, March 10, they will be performing in the Spring Program. It begins at 6:30 and your child needs to be in my classroom no later than 6:15. I will be here around 6:00. I sent home a note as to what your child is wearing or should wear. If you have any questions please ask.

On Wednesday morning and again on Friday morning the first graders will be traveling to Park Merced, The Hampshire, and Emeritus(formerly The Courtyard)for a prayer service and presentation of The Stations of the Cross with the 8th grade. All permission slips are in and drivers have been notified. Thank you for those that are driving.

On top of that Tuesday through Friday dismissal will be at 12:30. Conferences will be in the afternoon. You may return your child's report card when you come for your conference. There is also a Book Fair going on. Your child will preview the Book Fair on Monday and come home with a "Wish List".

Curriculum remains the same. I have started the vocabulary word testing. No vocabulary words will be going home this week. On Tuesday a reading packet will be going home. Your child is to read the book and orally answer the questions on the back of the packet. This will help with reading fluency and comprehension. Instructions are on the front of the packet. Thank you for your cooperation.

Have a great week. If you have read this blog give your teacher a "high 5" GOD LOVES YOU!

MARCH 1-MARCH 5

The Stations of the Cross with the 8th grade was a great reminder of what Lent is all about. The first graders did a good job. There will be an all-school Mass on Friday, with dismissal at 12:30.

There is also a penny war going on amongst classes. We are all collecting pennies for a "cure for cancer".

The 3rd quarter has ended and report cards will be coming out on Friday. Again, this is a good time to remind your children that they should always put forth their best effort and to remember to follow classroom and playground rules.

Curriculum remains the same. I will be giving a vocabulary test beginning this week.

VOCABULARY WORDS

package
bright
letter
string
another
everyone
right
shoes
inside
perhaps
grown
around
collected
night
present

If you have read this blog have your child write down one kind thing they have done for someone else during this season of Lent. Have a good week. GOD LOVES YOU!

FEBRUARY 22-26

The first graders did a nice job participating in the Ash Wednesday Mass. This Friday the first graders along with the eighth graders will be presenting the living Stations of the Cross. It will begin after morning prayer at about 8:15. You are all invited to attend.

Curriculum remains the same. Your children took a Reading Assessment a week ago. I will review it with you at the March conferences. The first graders have St. Vincent lunches for Friday.

VOCABULARY WORDS

tasty
pulled
eaten
finally
guess
pictures
turned
crayons
spread
watch
listen
frankly
capture

A note about vocabulary words. Please review them on a nightly basis. I will be giving a vocabulary test in the near future.

If you have read this blog have your child write on a piece of paper whose birthday it is on Monday. Have a good week. GOD LOVES YOU!

FEBRUARY 15-19

I hope you have enjoyed the 4 day weekend. We do have a short week, however the first grade is responsible for the Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday. The first graders will be reading, bringing up the gifts, or singing. The Mass begins at 8:15. This is a good time for you to talk to your child about the season of Lent. Lent is a time to grow and change. We will be doing a service project for the needy during Lent. More information will come later.

A thank you to all you helped with the Valentine's Party and International Night. Both were fun and a big success.

In Language Arts we are learning about long a. We continue to review the short vowel sounds, digraphs, contractions, compound words, endings of s, ed, and ing, sequencing, cause and effect, problem solving, main idea, summarizing, vocabulary and comprehension. In Religion we will be studying about Lent and the Stations of the Cross. In P.E. we will be introduced to a dance unit. In Science we are working on the Four Seasons and weather. In Social Studies we will be learning about the United States, symbols, and the flag.

VOCABULARY WORDS

air
square
storm
remember
paint
city
donkey
distant
before
mystery
closet
caused
tasted
leave

A reminder: Progress Reports have to be signed and returned by Friday. Thank you.
Have a good week. If you have read this blog have your child give their teacher a "high 5". GOD LOVES YOU!

FEBRUARY 8-12

Happy Super Bowl Sunday. We had a great week with all of the Catholic Schools Week activities. I think the highlight was Buddy Day. We met up again with our buddies on Thursday and did P.E. with lots of fun dances. It was great fun. Thank you to all the parents that helped transport children back from Mass.

A reminder that Friday, February 12 and Monday, February 15, are holidays and there will be no school. So we have 2 short weeks coming up.

Tuesday evening from 6-8p.m. will be the International Night in the auditorium. It is free and I hope to see you there. The first graders did a great job on their reports about Kenya. They will be on display.

On Thursday, February 11 there will be a Valentine's Party beginning at 1:30. A note went home on Friday with information.

Curriculum remains pretty much the same. In Language Arts we will start learning about the long vowel sounds. We will be taking a Reading test this week. It covers the reading skills that go with our Reading program and the workbook pages.

Progress reports will go out on Thursday. They need to be signed and returned the following week. This is a good time to remind your children how important it is to continue to study vocabulary, spelling words and math facts. Your child should always do their best work, whether it is copying something from the board or coloring. Please remind them about classroom, auditorium and playground rules.
Thank you.

VOCABULARY

world
quiet
forever
family
share
attic
window
toys
climbed
empty
bored
million

Enjoy your day and have a good week. If you have read this blog, have your child write down the winner of the Super Bowl. GOD LOVES YOU!

FEBRUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 5

Well we are off to Catholic Schools Week at OLM. We have a busy week so I will try to give you some of the happenings.

Monday is parent appreciation day. Be expecting a note home from your child.

Tuesday is Buddy Day. It starts off with a Pep Rally as we have a big basketball game that afternoon against McSwain. Your child will be buddied up with an 8th grader. It is a free dress day with students wearing blue and white. Your child should bring a small goodie for their buddy. We ask that it be no more than two dollars. Cookies, a candy bar, or pencils are good. During the day we will be meeting up with our buddies and they will be eating lunch with them. It is a fun day for all.

Wednesday is the Cherish Luncheon. The first graders will be part of the entertainment for that day.

Thursday morning there will be a short patriotic show for the school. During the day we will be making valentines for the Veterans. That evening at 6 p.m. will be a Mother/Daughter-Father/Son basketball game.

Friday is the all-school Mass held at St. Patrick's. Please remember to drop your child off at St. Patrick's Church by 8:00. Mass begins at 8:15. Your children will be transported back to school in private vehicles. All of the permission slips have been turned in and all of you who volunteered to drive I will be using you. Thank you. At 11:15 there will be the annual Faculty/8th Grade Volleyball Game. Dismissal is at 12:30.

As you can see we have a very full and busy week. There will be no vocabulary words this week. Just keep reviewing the ones that have come home more recently. Curriculum remains the same. The reports on Kenya were all wonderful and so very different. Thank you for your help on this project. The International Night will be on February 9, 6-8pm. We hope to see you there.

As you can see we are very busy this week, but it is always a fun week. If you have read this blog have your child write on a piece of paper what day is February 2. Have a good week. GOD LOVES YOU!

JANUARY 25-JANUARY 29

Hi! On Friday Mrs. Van Pelt came in and did all of the fingerprints on the auction item that the First Grade is doing. Remember, Mardi Gras Madness Auction is Saturday night at the Parish Hall. It begins at 5:00pm. Hope to see you there.

Sunday, January 31, kicks off Catholic Schools Week. Our choir will be singing at the 9:00 Mass. If you attend that mass please have your child wear their school uniform so that the parish knows they attend Our Lady of Mercy School.

Please make sure that your child brings a sack lunch on Monday. There will be no cafeteria service.

Curriculum remains the same, however in math we are moving back into addition and subtraction facts up to 18. Your child's project on Kenya is due on Friday. Make sure that they turn them in.

VOCABULARY WORDS
swim
farther
drink
expect
built
hawk
grit
vacuum
edge
enough
clutch
gizzard
everywhere
afternoon

Hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed the football games. If you have read this blog have your child give their teacher a "high 5". GOD LOVES YOU!

JANUARY 18 - JANUARY 22

I hope you are all enjoying the day off on Monday. Thank you to all that participated in bringing in money for Haiti. It was appreciated very much. And the students loved having free dress.

Curriculum remains the same. There are two areas that all of the students should be working on. One is math facts, both addition and subtraction. Some students are improving, but some are not. Flash cards should be used on a nightly basis. Encourage your children to memorize the math fact. They should not be using their fingers. The answer should be automatic. Another area in math that your child should be working on is counting by 10's, 5's and 2's. Lots of the children already know how to do this, but some do not. The second area is vocabulary. There are some students who are unsure of the vocabulary words when asked to read them. The vocabulary reflects the workbook packet grades. Many of those pages they are required to read independently. Thank you for your help in both of these areas.

Your child should have come home with his\her topic on Kenya. We are starting to learn about the country, the flag, the tribes, the weather, etc. Your children are excited about it.

VOCABULARY WORDS

fourth
fifth
sixth
seventh
strange
whole
elephant
pillar
turn
agree
great
moral

No more news. If you have read this blog please answer this question: Did you see any rainbows over the weekend? Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU!

JANUARY 11-JANUARY 15

We had a great first week back after Christmas vacation. Your children were great workers and seemed happy to be back. Report cards went home on Friday. Please sign them and return them by Friday, January 15. A permission slip will be going home this week for the Catholic Schools Mass at St. Patrick's Church. Please sign it and return as soon as possible. Thank you. There will be a safe environment training session on Wednesday, January 13, at 6:00 in the auditorium. This may be the last training session for the year.

Curriculum remains the same. This quarter I will begin unannounced spelling tests with the words they have already had. Your children should be able to spell the spelling words at any time correctly. This grade will be included in their overall spelling grade. I will also begin dictation sentences as part of their spelling grade. The entire sentence must be correct in order to get the extra point.

We have begun subtraction facts on timed math tests. Please work on the math facts at home. Math facts, both addition and subtraction, should be worked on nightly.

VOCABULARY WORDS

try
hard
nice
rest
play
sing
please
thank
word
first
second
third

Remember we do not have school on Monday, January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. If you have read this blog have your child write on a piece of paper what the predicted high temperature for Monday will be according to weather reports. Have a great week. GOD LOVES YOU!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thank you for all the wonderful Christmas gifts. I really did appreciate them. If you sent food or candy, my family and I have eaten it all. We do love sweets. Thank you to the parents that helped with or brought food or items for the Christmas party. A fun time was had by all. Another thank you to all of you that sent in flour or sugar for the needy. Many people went home with full bags of groceries at the "Spirit of Christmas" dinner. The food was much appreciated. I hope you all had as enjoyable vacation and holiday as I did. Let us remember to keep Christ in our hearts during this new year.

On Friday we have an all-school Mass with dismissal at 12:30. Report cards will be going home that day. Remember to sign and return them by the following Friday.
Since this is the beginning of the new quarter this is a good time to remind your child to do their best work (which means their handwriting should always be their best), to stay on task, and to remember classroom and playground rules.

In Reading we have started the Level 4, Unit 1 hardback reader. It is really important that when your child brings the reader home to read the story of the week, they do not go ahead and read other stories. When your child does that it makes it difficult for me to introduce and set up the story as they have already read it and know what happens. So, please do not suggest they read ahead. Thank you. In Language Arts we will continue to work on vocabulary, plurals, short vowel sounds, contractions, compound words, digraphs, blends, short vowel chunks, cause and effect, sequencing, main idea, conclusions, and comprehension. In Science we will begin learning about the weather. In Social Studies we will be studying about the United States, the flag and other symbols. In Religion we will be learning about the miracles Jesus performed. In Math we are still working on place value and number order up to 100. We will be starting timed tests working with subtraction facts up to 12. In P.E. we are still using jump ropes.

For International Night we will be working on the country of Kenya. All first graders will be responsible for a report. I will be assigning each child a subject area. I will be sending the assignment home soon. Be looking for it. It will give you the information that you need.

VOCABULARY WORDS

return
should
old
pair
clothes
cook
knight
small
bring
shall

Have a great week. If you have read this blog, have your child write on a piece of paper what is the date of the Feast of the Three Kings. GOD LOVES YOU!