Mrs. Eichberger's First Grade News Thursday, January 6, 2005
Happy New Year 2005!

Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the holiday season with your families. Our class came back ready to learn. We started our week with assessment in reading comprehension and word decoding. I will give you a detailed narrative of your child’s progress as a reader and writer with our upcoming report cards. Report cards are distributed to families at the end of the month. If you would like to meet with me to discuss your child’s mid-year progress, I encourage you to do so.

Tsunami Relief Fundraiser

The students of Onekama are banding together to raise funds for Tsunami Relief. The NHS and Student Council members will be hosting a Hat Day on Friday, January 7. All proceeds will be donated to the Tsunami Relief Fund efforts. The cost will be 50 cents for middle/high school students and 25 cents for elementary students.

We are going to rely on students' integrity and honesty in participating in this worthy cause. The students were very curious as to why the tsunami occurred. Many of the children shared their feelings after seeing the aftermath on television. It is helpful to discuss this event with your child.

Math

We are measuring objects in the classroom using our rulers and tape measures. We are also naming numbers less than 100 using base-10 blocks. We have been introduced to timelines by making a 24 hour time line.

Language

Our story this week was The Legend of the Lady Slipper — a Native American story of a young girl’s courage and beauty. The lady slipper, a native flower of Michigan, serves as a reminder that with each harsh winter we experience, there is always a beautiful warm spring to follow. We also read Our Friends. Our friends can teach us new things! We wrote about what our friends teach us. "My friends, Mr. Thorr taught me how to play soccer." "Ms. Woolman taught me to paint."" My mom taught me how to walk." "My dad taught me to work."

Student Work/Report Cards

Your child will be bringing homework samples completed this week and just before our vacation in December. Included is a writing about what your child did over their vacation and a letter to Santa. Please review this work with your child. As this second semester approaches the demands for neater and more consistent work will be expected. Given the requirement for the higher expectations, I will still maintain sensitivity to your child’s individual abilities. As mentioned before, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s work, please feel free to contact me. Your child’s academic progress will be reviewed in the upcoming report cards and narratives.

Book Order

I encourage you to order for the month of January. There are many high quality books at very economical prices! Please return your order by Monday, January 10, along with a personal check for the exact amount. Please, no cash.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

  • Friday, January 21 — No School - Professional Development Day
  • Week of January 24 — Report Cards Sent Home

Mrs. Eichberger's HomePage for 2004-2005

Main Onekama School Page: http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us