The Ridge Blog 2008 - 2009

April Fool’s Day

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 06:27:14 -0700

This works great my both of my computers ... it may take a moment to download if you have an older/slower computer.

Making a Cloud

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:35:35 -0700

It was time for an science experiment and Mrs. Sullivan led the way. She demonstrated for the kiddos how to make a cloud. We all watched as the water was warmed up, poured into a glass container, and covered with another container. It wasn’t long before we could see the cloud and a little precipitation. There were lots of ohhs and ahhs ... easy crowd! :)
This would be a fun experiment to try at home!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:28:55 -0700

Chalk this up to another favorite day in the life of our first graders! As soon as they walked in the door, they were so disappointed that the leprechaun hadn’t made a visit. The kiddos kept a close eye on the door during recess and lunch. They were just sure they could catch that sneaky little fellow! Finally, upon our return from PE, we were surprised to find bags of gold coins for everyone!

Weather Walk

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:18:59 -0700

This morning, the boys and girls in B5 put on their meteorologist hat and took a weather walk. We noticed evidence of weather...temperature, wind, and moisture in the air (we talked about air pressure) around the school. Take some time to talk to your child about what they recorded and wrote about.

Bravo!!

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 16:07:35 -0800

Wow!!! These little first graders can sing! Thank you for coming out to the show!
Mr. Lee did an amazing job with our group. Thank you also to the PTA for bringing Mr. Lee to MRES.

Fun Run

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 16:04:13 -0800

The kiddos did a great job running in the 3rd Annual Monterey Ridge Fun Run. Thank you to Yolanda and Nicole for providing drinks, cups and oranges ... they were very appreciated!

Happy Valentine’s Day

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:08:18 -0800

I think today was another ‘favorite’ day in the life of these first graders. The sugar rush was flowing in B5 for the Valentine Party!
Sweet notes and sweet treats ... a perfect combination.

Rain Break

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 07:34:40 -0800

Thank you for a making me feel so appreciated this week! This year, the greatest gift is the pleasure of spending my days with your children. The encouragement, support, and thanks from each of you make a big difference in my day. The kiddos in B5 come to school every day prepared and ready to learn. The success we have is shared with all of our families!
This week was such a treat! On Wednesday, the teachers and staff enjoyed a luncheon from the PTA. On Thursday, I was presented with gift cards to Target! Brooks and I will be off to shop this weekend for classroom needs. Yesterday, I was surprised with a Visa gift card. I’m saving to buy a new camera soon and will use the gift card to help with the purchase. Thank you so much for your generosity!
After being stuck inside all day, we enjoyed a little time running after lunch. The kids didn’t mind stopping on their way around the track for a quick photo!

100th day of First Grade!

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 05:50:24 -0800

Where did the year go?! On Wednesday, we celebrated the 100th day of school with fun rotations to each of the first grade teachers. In B5, we were in charge of the 100 snack pack! The kiddos each collected 10 pieces of 10 different snacks to make up 100. It was delicious! They did a bit of exercising in one group, writing in a couple others, and math with another rotation. It was a great way to celebrate.

Teacher Appreciation

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 19:30:45 -0800

Thank you for starting this special week off so nicely! It was sweet to see each beautiful face on our class banner... nice job!!! Today was also darling to watch each child bring up their special flower to add to the arrangement. They brighten up our room and smell so divine. These are pictures of just some of the gorgeous arrangement.

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:39:15 -0800

Today we celebrated Chinese New Year ... the year of the ox! The day started with a little practice in Chinese writing. We made a banner, using Chinese characters, that said happy Chinese new year. After recess, the kiddos got to experiment with chopsticks while eating rice and spring rolls. It was quite a sight! The red envelopes were then passed out to each child with the surprise of money inside. The celebration was wrapped up with the making of a dragon hat, which is believed to bring good luck!
Thank you to Mrs. W for the red envelopes, prepping our fun activities and preparing the yummy food.

The Naughty Bears

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:17:19 -0800

The look on the face of each child, as he or she entered the room to witness just how naughty 20 teddy bears on a sleepover can be, was priceless! It happened so fast, all I could do was stand in one place and snap away. There’s no way I could truly capture their joy, but I did the best I could. :)
I loved hearing from the kiddos throughout the day that this was the best day ever! The rain held out to make our parade a success and breakfast delicious! The gummy bears were the biggest hit of the meal! Thank you for bringing in all the food and supplies. Thank you also to the parents that helped set up and clean up!!! You’re the best!!!

Teddy Bear Sleep Over

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:11:31 -0800

Excitement was in the air all week in anticipation of the annual First Grade Teddy Bear Sleep Over. The kiddos loved bringing their special bear and teddy’s favorite book, pillow and blanket. Reading time was made even more special as the children read to teddy. My favorite part of the day was watching them tuck teddy in and read teddy a good night story.

Holiday Party

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:05:21 -0800

Thank you to our wonderful room moms for organizing a special party for the kiddos. The class was very excited to celebrate this special time! They loved the treats, crafts and movie party. I was touched by the very generous gifts from the children. My sister and I had a blast at the after Christmas sales ... the gift cards were wonderful! Thank you for you continued support and thoughtfulness.

A First Grade Ritual

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:14:20 -0700

Right up there with learning how to read and write, another favorite part of the first grade year is the empty spaces often found in a first grade smile. In the middle of our busy Wednesday, this friend lost her tooth and I thought it deserved a quick picture. She had been teasing me earlier in the week with it’s wiggle and I’m glad it’s finally out!