Dear Parents,

How many of you ate a paczki on Tuesday, for “Fat Tuesday”?  (I told the firsties about “Fat Tuesday” last week and they couldn’t stop giggling at the name…lol) I ate mine over the weekend…and it was tasty!  Do you know why some people eat them?  What “Fat Tuesday” is all about?  It is the day before Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of the season of Lent.  Some people give up something for Lent, as a remembrance of what Christ gave up for us.  Some people, instead of giving something up, add something to their lives; extra prayer time, extra devotion time, extra worship time, etc… Whether you give something up, or add something to your lives, I pray that you DO take time to reflect on Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, for US…in order that one day we will be with Him in heaven one day.

Take a listen to this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kvFtXphmMU&list=RD8kvFtXphmMU&start_radio=1



There have been a few pirates spotted in the firstie classroom, this week!  Thankfully, they have been nice ones….whew!  

Thanks for helping your firstie to create a pirate patch, for our spelling sound “ar”….such fun! 


We are just trucking along in math!  They are doing so well!  Our math test for chapter 9 was today!  For chapter 10, we will be adding tens and ones! Keep working on those flash cards!  


With the 3^rd quarter nearing the half way mark, we are getting a little too complacent with school starting times, and with homework and studying.  Please remember that school begins at 8:00 and if the kiddos aren’t in their seats at 8:00, they are marked tardy.  Firsties need time in the morning to get ready for their day; sharpening their pencils, turning in their homework, using the bathroom, getting a drink, chatting with their friends BEFORE school begins, and starting their “bell work”. Please help me with this!  Thank you for making sure that your firstie gets to school in the morning, with enough time to get settled for their day!  Also, please continue to check your kiddo’s folder each and every night for homework and/or important papers.  


If you haven’t sent in the permission slip for our trip to Valley Lutheran high school, please do so by TOMORROW.  This is for the Joint Worship Service, that all of the area Lutheran schools will be attending.  We are riding buses to and from Valley and for some it will be the first time they ride on a bus, which is very exciting! 


Take home story bags are due TOMORROW!

Have a great night!
Blessings,

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Whoa! I just realized that I need to catch you all up…it’s been a little while. 


First of all, did you know that your child performed surgery?!!

Yes!  The firsties did!  They performed surgery on words!  We “took words apart” and made contractions.  With the surgery, they all had to wear gloves, masks, and some wore hats and gowns.  They did a great job (though some found it difficult to use the gloves…) and hopefully it was a good memory and a way for them to remember contractions.  

"Concentrating" 

Secondly, did your firstie show you their “love bug” from me?  Their “love bug” was their little Valentine’s Day gift from me.  Each was unique and special…just like the all of the firsties! 

Bowling on Valentine’s Day was fun!  I told the kids today that I was so impressed with how they cheered each other on and were so encouraging to their classmates…it was really nice to see. J

Did you have a nice, Mid-Winter break?  I was able to go home to Muskegon and spent a little time with my parents.  But while I was there, a family friend, passed away in her sleep.  She was a wonderful Christian woman and there is no doubt that she is with Jesus.  But, she wasn’t sick.  She was 71.  It rattled me a little bit, if I am being honest.  There was no warning!  

Then in Chapel today, this was the last verse of the hymn that we sang.  

(I am so sorry that it is sideways...)

What a beautiful reminder!  I KNOW that God is good and is in charge.  


Blessings on your evening,

Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,

Happy 100^th day of school! (Okay….just one day late…) Can you believe that we are already on day 101?!!?!? I am still a little in disbelief that it is already the third quarter! Time is sure flying by!

Below are a few pictures of our day yesterday and the fun that we had! 

The firsties started their day with a little scavenger hunt I hid 100 Hershey’s kisses all around our classroom and they had to find them all.  It took some time, but eventually all were found! 

Each kiss had a number on the bottom and the kids had to match the number on the bottom, with the number on the mat. 

In the afternoon, instead of Daily 4, there were 4 different activities that each firstie had to complete. 

One activity was to create a “100 Monster” following the directions.  

Another activity was to use the digits 100, and create a picture.

  

A third activity was to find out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop.  Ask your firstie how many….(I think that most discovered, that it took more than 100 licks…)!

The final activity was to use 100 cups to build a tower, working in their groups.  Because of our smaller class size, the girls have had their own group and it is always interesting to me that, typically, the girls have a harder time with this activity, than the boys.  Hmmmm…..

So proud! 

"We had to put a lot on the bottom, because it kept falling over, Miss Gallagher."

"That was SO FUN!"

"We made it taller than us, Miss Gallagher!"

Thank you for sending in the 100 items! We discovered that is was interesting to see how 100 of one item can be SO MUCH and 100 of another item, looks as if it is not much at all.  


We had a total of 24 students sick in our school today…YIKES!!  We have been talking a lot about washing hands correctly and killing those pesky germs! 

Blessings on your evening! 
Miss Gallagher

Dear Parents,
Happy Tuesday!  Just a quick blog today! I wanted to share with you a few videos that we have watched since we have been back.  The firsties LOVE them and I wanted them to be able to access of them at home. J


In Social Studies we have been learning about continents, countries, states, etc…This video is a fun way to help kiddos remember all of the continents. Enjoy!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCYERpZ4Ujc


I am sure that you are aware, but we have been studying LONG vowels.  The firsties learned a new song to help remember and review the different vowels and their sounds.

Please watch and have your kiddo show you their “bat” and each sign language vowel.  


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2hXa8dbK3o


Please make sure your kiddo is prepared for our practice spelling test tomorrow and that he or she is practicing tying their shoes!

Blessings on your evening!

Miss Gallagher

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