Hello Families,

This is a big week.  We touch upon President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and the 100th Day of school.  Chinese New Year begins on February 14th and we host a special guest on Friday for the African American Read-In, part of Black History Month.  Very fun, special, and important stuff!  We are making great progress sewing our pillows for the auction on March 6 (many thanks to those who have been able to come in.).  Many of the kids are loving the hand-sewing–an idea for something to do with idle little hands at home!

****Homework this week*****

On Friday we will be exchanging Valentines.  Your child’s homework this week is to complete a Valentine for each student (homemade or store bought) and to design a container to hold the Valentines he or she receives.  In other words, a bag or box.  The bag or box can be simple or ornate–whatever works for your life this week  On Friday, for math, we sort these containers and describe their attributes.  Very fun!

A big thank you to Mike Hoffman, Marina’s father, for inviting us last Friday to a nearby house he is remodeling.  We got to see the “innards” of a house before they are all covered up.  The kids loved it and we made many connections to how our bodies work, we learned new vocabulary, we discussed going into “the trades” when we grow up, and we compared Mike’s blueprints to our drawings of our terrariums.  I love first grade!

That’s it–just a last reminder that we are off from school next Monday for President’s Day.  Have a good one,

Kristin