Dear Parents,

Greetings from firstie land!  As I am sure you can imagine, the level of excitement for EVERYTHING Christmas is at an all-time high at school!  I feel like I could maybe peel them off of the ceiling…ha.  But if it’s like this at school, I can only imagine what it is like at home. Prayers for you all!


Yesterday, our Superintendent of all the Lutheran schools in the state of Michigan, visited us for Chapel.  He talked to us about his favorite light, when he was growing up.  He actually brought it…but I think that he meant his favorite light as a grown up, not as a child… ha!  

The season of Advent is about preparing for the birth of our Savior.  When Jesus was born, He brought light and hope into a dark, sin-filled, world.  Have you ever been in a room that was completely dark?  Even the smallest light will shine into a dark room.  Just as Jesus was a light to the world, God calls for US to be a light to others.  How will you share the good news of Jesus with others?  How will YOU shine God’s light for others to see? 


The firsties have really loved the song that they sand for the Advent service, so I am sharing it for you and for them to sing at home! (Hopefully the link works!)


https://www.rightnowmedia.org/content/kidsseries/330438?episode=8


Spelling and memory tests are tomorrow!  Please make sure your firstie is prepared for these.  Also, just a reminder that Book Buddies and Take Home Story Bags MUST be brought back tomorrow.  I don’t think that in the craziness of the holidays, that you want all that school stuff laying around…right?  Thank you for your help in making sure that they are returned tomorrow. 


Blessings to you and Merry Christmas! 


Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Anyone else feeling the effects of the FULL MOON?! Oh my goodness!  Our class, as a whole, is a tad wound up! (It is, however, to be expected with Christmas getting closer and closer...) Prayers for you on the Homefront!


The firsties and the third graders did a wonderful job last night; sharing the message and singing praises to God!  Below is one of my favorite Christmas songs….listen carefully to all the words…it’s really something to think about.  God sent Jesus in LOVE…because He loved us SO MUCH and that certainly gives us a reason to celebrate at this time. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIClNSsPvUQ


Keep those books coming in for our Book Exchange for Christmas!  Remember, (and I am going to be obnoxious about this because I had one in the past that didn’t follow the directions at all and brought in a totally inappropriate book), the books need to be from the authors Max Lucado (and ALL of his books are great!) or Patricia Polocco (and some of her books aren’t appropriate for first graders….so please double check with me!).  We are going to be having a pretty low-key Christmas party and are going to watch the movie “The Muppets Christmas Carol” and I am going to make hot cocoa in my crockpot (with whipped cream and marshmallows and sprinkles) and the kiddos can munch on cookies.  


***I need a few of you to send in homemade cookies for the kids to eat while we watch the movie and I also need fancy coffee cups with the lids for the hot cocoa.  Please let me know if are able to send either of those items in!  Thanks! ***


Don’t forget to send in the $2.00 for the parent gift (which we are working hard on!).  Thank you!


Blessings on the rest of the week,

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday! Just a quick blog to give you some pictures from our field trip today. Thank you to all that were able to join us!  A good time was had by all…we even had great weather!


We started outside of the log, one-room schoolhouse and we had to provide our own heat! 

 The firsties had to get the wood that was used to heat the schoolhouse.  They lined up; girls in one line and the boys in the other line.  Girls went first, which was very gentlemanly!  We went back in time to December 5^th, 1870. 

Then the kiddos sat the “desks” and had a quick Science lesson.  They also go to write on slates with slate pencils, which they saw was very neat. 

Then the kiddos put on a little “play” (ask your firstie what part he or she played) 

and they got to make a sashay.  Each student got to create their own sashay and pick out their own herbs.  Such smelly fun!  

We then bundled back up and went to the log cabin to see how people back in the 1870s got ready for Christmas. 

Can you see everyone through the trees?

Firsties were again given chores...ask your firstie which one was their favorite.  

"Polishing the bells"

"Pounding the spices..." "Miss Gallagher it smells so good!"

Adding cloves to apples to make an all-natural air freshener

Rolling out "cookies"

"Ironing"

Adding "decorations" to the cabin.

Then we all settled down to listen to a story and enjoy a cookie. 


At the end of our time in the log cabin, we took a quick trip to see the “one horse open sleigh”, singing all the way there! 

All in all, it was a great trip!

Please make sure that your firstie is prepared for our memory and spelling tests tomorrow. 

Have a wonderful evening!

Miss Gallagher