Newsletter January 2008 First Grade (PDF)

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December 19th PS 39 Wednesday Bulletin

News

• P.S. 39 Student Council is still collecting canned goods for our food drive to be delivered to C.H.I.P.S. on Friday. Please drop-off donations in the lobby.
• The NY State ELA exam for Gr. 3-5 students are extremely important. Please make sure that your child arrives to school on time for each day of the exam, after a good night's rest and eating a nutritious breakfast.
• Are you thankful for a school teacher? The DOE wants to hear from you! In two hundreds words or less, e-mail the teacher's name, subject, grade level & why you are thankful to have or have had that person in your life. The first 200 teachers that the DOE hears about who are still teaching in city schools will be invited to a "Thank a Teacher" celebration.
• P.S. has received a $2,000 grant from Independence Community Foundation. This money will be earmarked for expenses incurred during enrichment clusters.
• Read All About It! P.S. 39 made the news again! Our fifth graders braved the storm last Thursday and embarked on a journey to Greenwood Cemetery to begin their study on Civil War heroes. Log on to www.Brooklyneagle.com to get the whole story.
• 5^th Gr. Read-A-Thon begins Dec. 21^st to Jan. 18^th . All monies must be in by Jan. 25^th. This money will help defray the cost of the senior trip. If you have not done so, kindly submit your $50 for deposit to attend PEEC.
• Inquiry Team action research study for selected students begins Jan. 7^th and meets every Mon. & Wed. from 3:15-4:15 p.m.
• Jewish Museum after-school art program for selected students in Gr. 1 & 2 begins Jan. 9^th from 3:15-4:15 p.m.
• Making Books Sing Residency will begin Jan. 9^th for Gr. K-2.
• Young Composers after-school program for selected students starts on Thurs., Jan. 17^th. The group will meet weekly from 3:15-4:15 p.m.
• After school test prep for math for selected students begins Jan. 22, every Tues. & Thurs. from 3:15-4:15.
• Jan. 22 Arts Connection Movement Classes begin for our PK students.
• The New York University Child Study Center is currently recruiting parents of children ages 3-8 to participate in a 10-week research study that is examining the effectiveness of parenting classes. If you are interested, see or call Lidia 718-330-9310. Classes cover: Effective Discipline, Setting Limits, Use of Praise and Rewards, Handling Misbehavior in Public. These evening classes are relaxed, fun and hands-on for parents who want help with their child's behavior.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS

• Holiday Break Dec. 24-Jan 1

Monday,

Jan. 21^st Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday

• Monday, Jan. 28^th No school for PK students ONLY

Looking Ahead

Reminders

PLEASE RETURN

• Blue Emergency Contact Cards (2)
• Lunch Forms (even if your child doesn't eat lunch)
• Signed Parent Handbook Receipts
• Signed Discipline Code Receipts

PLEASE STAND OUTSIDE THE GATE AT DISMISSAL FOR OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY.

.

From the PTA

GIVE A FREE GIFT TO P.S. 39 AS YOU CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS. Just clip the Box Tops coupons that appear on hundreds of grocery and drugstore products and bring them in to school. Each coupon we return is worth 10 cents to us, and you'd be surprised how many of them you may have been throwing away. The coupons are on Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Huggies, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Ziploc, Kleenex, Hefty and many, many more other products. They're not always easy to spot-put the kids on the case! There is a full list of Box Tops brands at Boxtops4education.com, where you will also find recipes, coupons, deals and discounts, as well as chances to win Bonus Box Tops for our school.

Please take the time; it'll earn us a dime!

This Week

Friday, December 21st	Early Bird 7:45-8:20 M.S. 51 works with PK Read-A-Thon begins for 5th graders Class Rep. Mtg.
Monday Dec 24th –Jan. 1st	School is Closed

Looking Ahead

Wed., January 2nd	Test Prep after-school
Thurs., January 3rd	Chess Club after-school
Fri., January 4th	Family Friday Early Bird 7:45-8:20 M.S. 51 works with PK Class Rep. Mtg. 2:30 p.m.
Mon., January 7th	Inquiry Team after-school program for selected students
Tues., January 8th	N.Y State ELA exam Gr. 3-5 M.S. 51 works with K Chinese Gr. 1 P.T.A. Exec. Bd. mtg. 6:30 p.m. CEC mtg. 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Reminders

Parents-PLEASE remind your children not to respond to strangers & the importance of reporting incidents to responsible adults.

Newsletter January 2008 PreK Piglet

Piglet News

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

_On Thursday December 20^th, The Piglets had a Piglet party. We had so much fun preparing for the party, we dyed t shirts pink, made snouts, and headbands with piggie ears. We also learned many new “winter themed” songs to sing to all of you at the party. We hope you all had as much fun as we did at the Piglet Party.

As well, we wish everyone a very Happy Holiday season. We hope that you are all surrounded with friends and family and you each find joy and peace.

Oh, and Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2008!

We will see you back at school on Wednesday January 2^nd…………..

DID YOU KNOW?

_We have been working with Mr. Ravins 7^th grade class from M.S. 51. They have been coming to our classroom on Friday mornings and spending some time with us; reading stories and writing, and drawing pictures. We call them our “Reading Buddies”, or “The Big Kids”. It has been so much fun sharing our favorite stories with them, and just the other week they brought their favorite books from when they were our age. We knew a lot of the books, but some of them were brand new to us. We will miss our “Big Kid” friends, we hope that we will get to see them again after the New Year. Mr. Ravin and Ms. Imperiale are trying to figure something out.

SCIENCE

_Can we make ice without using a freezer? Is it cold enough outside to freeze water? How long will it take? What temperature does it have to be in order for liquid to freeze?

These were just some of the questions that we pondered, discussed, and resolved. We made ice on Monday December 17^th, All we did was pour some water in a plastic cup, and put it outside for about 2 hours, and it had begun to form a layer of ice on the surface. The water was actually freezing, just from being outside!

We know that the cold weather has just begun, so we will have plenty of chances to have more science experiments. We wonder what else can freeze?

We will become true scientists by wondering about something, posing a question about it, and then doing experiments, observing, and recording.

There is so much we want to know, The Piglet Scientists, will just have to find out the answers together

TRIP!

_{We will be taking our first trip on Thursday January 17^th to Kingsborough Community College to see The Paper Bag Players; On Top Of Spaghetti.}

_{We need parent volunteers to accompany us. Space is limited so please talk to your child’s teacher if you would like to join us.}

_{HAPPY BIRTHDAY!}

_{Aliza- January 4^th}

_{David – January 7^th}

_{Ms. Imperiale– January 17^th}

_{Jesse- January 26^th}

Looks like January will be a party month!
WOO HOO!

Newsletter January 2008 PreK Royal

Royal News

MS 51 BUDDIES

_MS 51 7^th grade buddies have been visiting the “Heirs to the Throne” every Friday morning.

They read to them and work with them in different centers throughout the Pre-K room.

BABIES

_The “Heirs to the Throne” have been sharing what they know about babies, and are looking to expand their ideas.

They are looking for baby subjects to observe and document their findings.

TRIPS

The Paper Bag Players are performing On Top Of Spaghetti at Kingsborough Community College on Thursday, January 17. Let us know if you are able to join us; there is limited seating on the bus.

ROYAL AUTHORS

_The “Heirs to the Throne” who are not feeling shy, are beginning to read their published works to Smokey and Honey bear as well as to fellow Princesses and Princes.

FINGER PAINTING

_Besides working with paint brushes, the “Heirs to the Throne” have been using their hands to create masterpieces.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Liam January 6th

Soren January 9th

Josie January 29th

Aniella January 31st

GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

_The “Heirs to the Throne” have been working frantically to create gifts for the Queens and Kings (their parents) in celebration of Hanukkah, Christmas or winter!

They even decorated their own wrapping paper using the collage medium.

DOCTORS ON CALL

_The hospital and doctor theme is continuing to be important in the dramatic play area. There are also budding veterinarians in the midst.

Lots of vaccinations are being given. Thank goodness for all the band-aid donations! The royal doctors are grateful.

They are still accepting donations. Anyone interested in donating band-aids, please contact the castle infirmary.

Newsletter January 2008 Fourth Grade

Mrs. Ottavino 4th Grade News Mrs. Raymer January 2008

Hope everyone had a peaceful and relaxing holiday break. We will be ready to run with the continuation of Test Prep as soon as we get back on January 2^nd!

Curriculum

Math: Unit 7- Fractions and Their Uses

• Review basic fraction concepts as parts of a whole, fractions on the number line, and uses of fractions
• Practice finding fractional parts of sets
• Add and subtract fractions

Reading:

Reading with Close Comprehension through Biography Book Clubs

• Learn how to have a meaningful discussion on the same book in the club
• Learn how a person overcomes problems and/or difficulties
• Learn how to identify aspects of the person’s life

Writing: Fiction

• Learn how to develop a realistic fiction story
• Learn how to create meaningful characters based on our own life
• Using craft and revision strategies to improve writing skills

Social Studies: New World

Continuing Steps of IIM (Independent Investigation Method)

• Project will end and presentations will be in mid February

Field Trips:

Looking ahead to February:

February 13^th-Roots of Rap

** Please be sure to look in your child’s folder as this date approaches for trip permission trips.

Important Dates:

January 2^nd-Welcome Back!

January 4^th- Family Friday

January 8, 9, 10- ELA TEST

*Please contact us if you plan on participating in a Family Friday. This will allow us to plan our morning time. Please bring a short read aloud book picture book or short story.

REMINDERS:

*The ELA test will be January 8, 9, and 10. Please make sure that your child is present and on-time on all 3 days!

*Please try to have a nutritious dinner and breakfast on each of those days.

*Please try to have your child go to bed maybe a little earlier than usual.

Thank You:

• For your continued support.
• For your early payment for the field trip in May.

Newsletter January 2008 Second Grade

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT 2^ND GRADE!

JANUARY EDITION

CLASS 2-206- MRS. CALHOUN

CLASS 2-204- MS. BERKOWITZ

CLASS 2-201- MRS. HANNAN

What’s new in Reading?

For the month of January, your children will be working on reading non-fiction text with a strategic lens: Readers will get information and grow ideas from non-fiction texts. We are looking to see that students are carrying over strategies learned in previous units of study. This includes, decoding tricky words, stopping to think about characters, motivations and relationships based on the mood of the story, and the setting.

What’s New in Writing?

For the month of January, students will be writing their very own fairytales. Together through read aloud we will notice and discuss different characteristics of fairy tale stories. We will also be working on revising parts of our stories to clear up confusion and developing strong leads and endings.

Ways to help your child at home:

Encourage your child to talk specifically about writing ideas.

You can help your child stretch their thoughts in writing by encouraging them to incorporate elaboration strategies covered in class. These strategies include:

• Showing internal thought through words
• Creating action by slowing down the moment
• What they see, what they feel, and what they hear. (Include sensory detail)
• Expressing a characters feelings using action

What’s New in Math?

For this month, students will be learning all about 3-D and 2-D shapes. The primary purpose of this unit, however, is to develop classification skills. This objective will be accomplished through hands-on activities, in which children observe similarities and differences, among various shapes and explore special relationships.

Ways to help your child at home:

Please participate in math games with your child at home. Assist with homework when necessary, and have conversations around math thinking.

What’s New in Social Studies?

For the month of January, we will be continuing our study of Community. We will be comparing schools of today to schools of long ago. Children will be required to interview a grown-up, as well as a member of our school community. This experience will enable them to have a better sense of vast differences and similarities between communities of past and present.

January Birthdays

Madeleine Lorenzen

Katherine Stubs

Sierra Pile

Tempest Monge

Zale Ledlon

Jeremiah Gaddy

Newsletter January 2008 Kindergarden

SPECIAL THANKS

Thank you to our parents who chaperoned our trip to Staten Island Children’s Museum. It was great to share the experience with you.

LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE LEARNING THIS MONTH

Reading Workshop – The children will be reading “Just Right Books.” The children will be learning the following strategies:

1. Directionality

2. Holding ideas in our minds from page to page

3. How to find just right books at their level

4. Thinking about the book before they read. “What might this book be about?”

5. One-to-one matching by pointing under the words and labels in our books.

Writing Workshop – The children will be learning that writers write for many purposes. They will be writing lists and letters. The children will be learning to use the following strategies:

1. Stretching out all letters and sounds.

2. Rereading their stories

3. Labeling pictures

4. Checking the word wall for high frequency words.

5. Working with a partner to make their stories more readable.

Math – The children will be making and analyzing a bar graph, introducing addition and subtraction symbols, reinforcing and extending counting and numeral recognition, measuring and estimation, pobability and the introduction of attribute blocks.

Science – We will be studying ocean life. The children will be noticing the similarities and differences among sea animals. We will discuss the basic needs of these animals, their physical characteristics and their offspring.

Social Studies – we will continue our discussion of families. Please send in a family photo. Family photos are due on January 31, 2008.

SCHOOL CLOSED

School is closed on January 21^st.

TRIPS

January 18^th – Puppetworks. The cost is $4.00

February 6^th – Kingsborough Community College Theater. The cost is $6.00.

Parents are welcome to accompany us to the Puppetworks. Please see your child’s teacher if you are interested in chaperoning.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Please send your child to school with a healthy snack every day.

Folders should be brought to school daily as it a means of communication between school and home.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU

On the First Friday in January the children will be sharing the stories they published in writing workshop. Join us for our writing celebration

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

K-102

Bryanna – January 24^th

K-104

Joshua – January 1^st

Aurora – January 24^th

K-106

Melany – January 17^th

Niya – January 21^st

We will begin our 10-week residency with Making Books Sing.

On January 15, 2008 Liz Laehy from Making Friends will be visiting the Kindergarten classes. She will be talking to the children about people with disabilities and special needs.

December 2007 Calendar

December 2007
Originally uploaded by ps39.

Click on image for bigger size

December 2007 Calendar

December 2007
Originally uploaded by ps39.

Click on image for bigger size