Take Three!
Dear Parents,
We will have Japan Day tomorrow! The bus is ready, and the Carrington’s are set for the class to arrive at 10:45!
Thank you, Noha, for all your flexibility!
Susan
Japan Day Changed!!!!
Dear Parents,
Japan Day has been moved to Wednesday, February 24, 2010. We are looking forward to our trip to the Carrington’s home to look at Japanese art, hear stories, and enjoy traditional Japanese food for lunch. Traveling by bus, we will leave BCD at 10:30 am, and return at 1:00pm. Stay tuned for a full report of our adventure!!
Susan
Japan
Hi Everyone!
We are well into our study of Japan… maps, folktales, festivals and math! We learned about Girls’ Festival and Shichi-Go-San. Girls’ Festival, held on March 3rd, is a time to celebrate daughters. Families in Japan celebrate this day with dolls, handed down through generations, that are taken out once a year for display. Girls invite friends for tea and cakes to celebrate this day. Shichi-Go-San really interested the children. It is held on November 15, and it is a festival for girls aged 3 and 7 and boys 3 and 5. It is a day for special blessings for healthy growth. The children have had the most fun with origami projects and Japanese math! The children learned to write numbers 1-20 in Japanese last week and this week used that skill in addition!
We have a few things coming up. Our Valentine’s Day event is this Friday. The children made Valentine’s Day bags this week, and look forward to a “Super Choice” party. Alaska Day will be next Wednesday, February 17th. Please send in all winter wear! We spend most of the morning outside. On the 23rd we will have field trip to the Carrington’s home to see Japanese Art and have a Japanese lunch.
I look forward to talking with each family in the next week as we approach our mid-year phone calls. This will be a good time to share more about your child’s experience.
Hope you enjoyed the “Snowish Day.”
Dear Parents,
These past two weeks have been high energy in First Grade. It is delightful to be back in school. The children did not miss a beat and they are back to the routines and schedules.
We started our study of Japan. The children created passports,maps and carp kites. We are reading Japanese folktales and exploring different aspects of life in Japan. Often children know someone who has traveled to, or lived in, Japan. It is appropriate for the children to share things from home that are related to this unit of study.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Dear Parents,
Your First Graders are having fun learning and playing all day at school. It is amazing to see how much they have grown in this first trimester.
This past week we began our exploration of celebrations. This mini unit is in preparation for our study of Peace. We are looking at ways families celebrate, beginning with our very own families. We will read, write, and make projects that reflect what we are learning.
In math we continue to work with addition and subtraction through games and practice. Next week we will add a bit of geometry as we explore shapes and solids. We will take on challenges using tangrams, pattern blocks, and geo-blocks.
Mixer is now part of the week in First and Second Grade. The classes mix on Thursdays for a special choice time. We are able to play, create art, and enjoy the company of our neighbors . This coming week we are adding Math Mixer to our Wednesday schedule. This mixer will focus on math activities and games.
Now that the leaves have fallen and morning dew is freezing, you may want to update the extra clothes that you sent in at the start of the school year.
Have a great weekend!
Susan
Dear Parents,
Life was in full swing on Friday at BCD Halloween Day. The children worked hard all morning and were more than ready for an afternoon of fun. We paraded around the campus showing off our costumes to younger and older students. Arriving in the Music room, we enjoyed songs and presentations from the Lower School classes. Upon returning to class, we had yummy snacks and played at some of our favorite choice time activities. Many thanks to Tyler Weld, Stephanie Iverson, and all the parents who helped make this day a success!
This week we will be learning a few new math games that we will use throughout the year. The children love learning math through games. It is interesting, challenging, and fun!!
Soon we will begin our studies of celebrations. I want all the children to have an opportunity to be represented in this study of how we all celebrate with our families. Please let me know if there is something we can include in this study that would be important or meaningful for you child.
Dear Parents,
Life is rolling along in First Grade. We are working with addition, exploring the elements of a story, learning more about trees, and celebrating V.I.P.s.
Mountain Day was fantastic. The weather was perfect and the energy was high. We hiked, played games, made book marks, and ate lunch together with our friends in grades K-3. Surprisingly we still had energy when we returned to BCD!
The Lower School Food Pantry is open. This year long community effort helps provide much needed food to local distribution sights each month. We are trying to form healthy habits of taking care of others in need. Food can be sent in at any time. The pantry is located in the First Grade cubby room.
On Monday, October 26th the First Grade will travel to Berkshire Botanical Garden to learn more about trees. This field trip is not on the BCD Calendar. We will leave BCD after snack and be back in time for lunch.
Enjoy the weekend!
New Friends in First Grade
Dear Parents,
This has been a delightful week of change. Fall has a funny way of bringing about the best in change. We have First Graders turning seven, new groups, and schedules, and two new additions to our class.
Harrison Carrington returned to BCD as a First Grader. Harrison and his family have moved back from Arizona and we are happy they are with us. We are all glad to have his energy back in the group!
This week we welcome Ghaday to our class. She and three of her siblings will start at BCD on Monday. They are from Saudi Arabia and now live in Pittsfield.
We have taken the opportunity in the past two weeks to learn more about children from around the world. So many interesting conversations and ideas were discussed. We also found so many connections with children who have the same interests, celebrations, and school experiences.
As a result of our growing size, the children will travel to some specials in smaller groups. This will allow for the children to work in small groups for reading, as well as in Art, Science, Library, and French.
I enjoyed seeing many of you at back to school night. Keeping lines of communication open are key to our children’s school experience. Please call or email me as questions or comments arise.
Enjoy the week ahead!