Mrs. Niederstadt's Class

March 7, 2008

 Dear Parents,

The animal research projects look fantastic!  I took pictures of the students and their projects on Tuesday.  You can visit our website at http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us/e2008/g1-2/Animal/Mrs.N.Project.htm.  This week we began transferring their animal information into their hard-covered books during our reading workshop time in the morning.  We’ll continue into next week. 

Next week second grade has a theme (magazine) test with Mr. Mauntler.   Please be sure your child has had a good breakfast and is to school on time. 

On Wednesday, March 12th we will go to Pizza Hut for lunch to celebrate everyone reaching his or her goal for all six months of the Book-It program.  Congratulate your child on a job well done!  Students need to bring their Pizza Hut cards to receive their last sticker and medallion.  Your child will be using her/her March Pizza Award Certificate to receive a personal pan pizza.  I will purchase the drinks.  If your child does not like pizza, then s/he can bring a packed lunch.  Afterwards we will go to the Manistee Public Library.  We will return our Onekama Public Library books at the Manistee Public Library.  Please be sure your child brings his/her books.  We will tour the library and have the opportunity to check out three books.  If you are available to chaperone, then we would love to have you join us.  The children’s library is on the upper level, but students need to go to the lower level to check out their books.  We’ll leave at 10:30 a.m. and should return around 1:30 p.m.

Our new first grade science unit is called “Properties of Matter.”  We’ll view a short movie on-line provided by Discovery Channel.  We’ll conduct some experiments on attributes of matter: color, size, shape, sinking or floating.  Also learn about liquid, solids and gases by conducting experiments using water to ice to water.  Second grade will study History – Living and Working Together in Communities with Mrs. Eichberger.  Students will demonstrate chronological thinking by distinguishing among years and decades using a timeline of Onekama Village and Manistee County events.  They will discuss changes in local community over time.  Lastly they will write a historical report about the history of the local community.

 Throughout the week we’ll continue to celebrate March is reading month.  Monday is Riddle Day.  Students can bring in a riddle to share with his/her classmates.  Tuesday is Read My Shirt Day.  Students can wear a shirt for everyone to read.  Thursday is Newspaper Day.  Students can bring in a newspaper to read.  Friday is Big and Little Day.  We will buddy read with Mr. Neph’s fifth grade class.

http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us

Parent-teacher conferences are Wednesday, March 26th at 5-8 p.m.  In order for me to conference with all families in three hours, you would be allotted 7 minutes per family.  As we both know this is not enough time so I am going to send home your child’s report card on Friday, March 21st.  Please review your child’s report card.  If you would like to meet with me, then you can contact me to schedule an appointment for conference night.  Also I would like to open the hours to 4-8 p.m. so this would allow us 10 minutes per family if all families participated in conferences. 

 

During spring conferences parents want to know about next year’s placement of their child and teachers’ assignments.  Here are some things you may want to consider.  With our current enrollment numbers, we anticipate a straight second grade, a straight third grade and a 2/3 split for next year.  In the past Mr. Mauntler has taught the straight second, Mrs. Bromley taught the straight third and Mrs. Catanese has taught the 2/3 split, but currently Mrs. Bromley is our special education teacher.  These are just projection so please don’t take them to the bank.  I just want to give you more information to help you make an informed decision about your child’s education.  At the end of the school year I’ll make recommendations to Mrs. Hagen about next year’s class make-up regarding which students would do better in a straight or split classroom.  Of course she makes the final decision along with parent recommendations along with current enrollment numbers.

The following dates you may want to add to your calendar:

  • Pizza Hut & Manistee Public Library field trip – March 12
  • Girl Scout Meeting (2nd grade) – March 13
  • Young Author’s Night – March 20 at 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
  • Camp Read-a-Lot – March 21
  • Report Cards Sent Home – March 21
  • Parent-Teacher Conferences – March 26 at 4-8 p.m.
  • Substitute – March 27 & 28
  • Spring Break – March 31 – April 7
  • Pleasant Valley Greenhouse field trip (2nd grade) – April 11
  • Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) test – April 14 - 18

 

Warmly,

Shantel

Mrs. N.'s Main Page for 2007-2008