October 16, 2009

 Dear Parents,

 We will walk to the Onekama Public Library next Thursday at 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.  Each library visit I will drop off any books returned to me the day before our visit.  If you return your child’s books to me on or before next Wednesday, then I’ll return them after school.  If your child returns them on Thursday, then s/he will need to carry them back to the library.  As always you may return your child books on or before the due date to any Manistee Public Library branch: Arcadia, Bear Lake, Kaleva, Onekama, Wellston and Manistee.

Our Halloween party is Friday, October 30^th at 11:45 to 3:00 p.m.  I am going to try something new this year.  Your child is able to come to school with his/her costume on and wear it all day.  If your child has a weapon as part of his/her costume, it needs to stay at home.  The following people have volunteered  to be classroom helpers: Gretchen Burtch, Sheila Falk, Amy Evans, Kaona Martell, Deanna Osga and Jason Pate.  You will be in charge of an art project so please come to the room at 11:30 a.m. for instructions.  Amy Evans, Lynette Maxey (apples), Deanna Osga, Jason Pate (cupcakes), and Laurie Porter are providing snacks.  For those providing snacks, please let me know ahead of time so we don’t duplicate snacks.  I would like to have a mixture of sweets and healthy snacks.  Jennifer Bromley and Kaona Martell are providing drinks.  Sheila Falk is providing plates.   Laura Petrosky is providing cups.  Please note that we no longer have a costume parade throughout the school.  Enclosed is a wish list of items needed for all the parties for this school year. 

 Our Michigan weather is unpredictable as we change from fall to winter.  Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately.  Students should have a coat, hat and gloves with them everyday.  Once our winter weather is upon us, your child will need a winter coat, hat, gloves, snow pants, snow boots, and a pair of inside shoes. 

During the winter months students should come to school in their snow boots and switch to their inside shoes at school.  Once it is time for recess students will change from inside shoes to snow boots and of course the same will happen at last recess.  This process avoids us from sitting on wet and dirty carpet, but I’ve noticed that several students are unable to tie their shoes so this process will be very difficult for them.  Please spend some time with your child over the next several weeks before the wintry weather begins. This skill will not be taught at school.

Next week your child will begin a new homework assignment called “Making Words.”  I’ve attached a blank copy for you.  It is a phonics activity to practice letters and their sounds.  On Tuesdays students will practice “making words” with unifix cubes at school.  Then they need to try to make those same words at home using paper letters.  The challenge is that I don’t give them a list of words to make.  They may make some of the same words or new words.  We’ve practiced “making words” at school for the last three weeks.  For “making words” homework, I do not need the letters returned to me.  I would just like to see the words made.  Please have your child return just that portion back to school with his/her name is on the back.  Currently we do not group the words together as instructed by the directions.

Also next week we will begin a two week unit discussing safety.  The first and part of the second week we’ll discuss fire safety: dangers of fire, preventing fires and burns, fire emergency and calling 911.  On Monday, October 26^th we’ll visit the Onekama Village Fire Department to discuss these topics again with Firefighter Bret and Firefighter Jeff.  The second week we’ll discuss personal safety.  The unit does discuss personal space and inappropriate touches.  Please trust this is grade appropriate material.  Some of these topics may bring up some interesting questions  or comments at home.  Keep your ears open.  We’ll also discuss the three D’s for telling: dangerous, destructive, and disturbing. 

We have a classroom web site.  Be sure to visit our web site at http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us/e2010/Mrs.Niederstadt/index.htm

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

• ¨       Onekama Public Library – October 22 at 11:45 -1:30 p.m.

• ¨       Onekama Village Fire Department – October 26 at 11:45 – 1:30 p.m.

• ¨       Halloween Party – October 30 at 11:45 – 3:00 p.m.

• ¨       Substitute – November 4 at 8-11 a.m.

• ¨       School Store – November 6

• ¨       Early Dismissal – November 24 at 12:30 p.m.

• ¨       Parent-Teacher Conference – November 24 at 5-8 p.m.

• ¨       Parent-Teacher Conference – November 25 at 8-11 a.m.

• ¨       No School (Thanksgiving Break) – November 25, 26 & 27

Warmly,

Shantel