Mrs. Bernhardt's First Grade

Friday, January 17, 2014

January 17, 2014

Last week I talked about the gift of a Christian Education. This week I want to tell you about another gift my parents gave to me, it was the gift of weekly worship together. When I was growing up there was no question what we would be doing on Sunday morning. We would be in church and Bible Study or Sunday School. We went to church as a family, 8:00. I didn't always like getting up for early church and many times as a teenager I begged to drive myself to a later service. But my parents insisted that we went to church together. I still remember being on vacation and finding a local church to attend. Yes, I think I would have rather got up and swam some more on vacation but on Sunday we went to church. Wow, what an impression. God is most important. My parents showed me that in their actions. God is worth one hour even on vacation. I continue to worship on a weekly basis. Jon and I try to always go to church as a family. But times are different and my girls often have games on Sunday. Yet we ALWAYS make sure that church is part of our weekend. Even if it means going on Monday night at Chapel of the Cross. I am thankful for the opportunity to worship weekly for it is in worship that God comes to us and fills us up for the coming week, where God forgives us and gives us new life, where we stand with the body of believes and are built up, where we hear God's word explained to us, where we belong. We are in a new year and a new quarter here at school, maybe weekly worship could goal for you this year/quarter. It would be a great gift to give your family.

A look ahead:
Memory: John 3:16
Religion: Nicodemus Visits Jesus
Grammar: Adjectives
Spelling: Lesson 19, review short a words with consonant clusters
Math: adding two digit numbers without regrouping
Science: Planets
Art: Jim Dine

Literacy Centers:
Writing: writing in a speech bubble
Phonics: y as a vowel
Alphabet: alphabetical order
Name: using synonyms
Math: working with even and odd numbers
Computer: compound words

To help celebrate Lutheran School's Week we will be attending an AriSon concert Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 1:00. Please sign the permission slip and return it Monday. Thanks

GRANDPARENTS DAY - Save the Date: We invited all Grandparents or special adult friend to attend school on March 14, from 8-12. More information and invitation to come!

100 CERAL BOXES: We will need 100 empty cereal boxes by January 23. Please send in your empty cereal boxes!!!

Please start saving plastic lids from water bottles, milk, orange juice... We will be making a collage in April and we will need many lids. Thanks, you may send them in whenever and I can store them or you can keep them and send them in April.

We will be having a class 'store' to help us learn about money. Please send in an empty box or can to 'stock' our shelves.

100th Day Service Project: As a service project for Lutheran Schools Week we will try to collect 100 baby food jars to donate to THRIVE, an pro-life organization. Baby food jars maybe sent in beginning January 21.

100th Day Celebration January 24, 12-3. If you can help with this day please email Heather Horn. heatherbognarhorn@gmail.com

SECOND QUARTER REPORT CARDS: Were sent home on Tuesday in your child's homework folder. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.

As we are now in Third Quarter and I will be preparing the students for Second Grade. I will expect them to be more independent. You can work on independence at home as well. Have you child be more responsible for getting their school things together and if they forget let them face the consequence here at school. I love to work with students on helping them solve their own problems. It is hard to solve a problem if moms and dads solve them before the child has a chance! For example if your child forgets the homework folder please allow the child to solve the problem at school rather than bringing the folder up to school. Thanks for your help.

I will also be grading the papers more carefully and will be working with the students on how to follow directions. I will be marking reversals and capital letters wrong on spelling tests.

National Lutheran Schools Week

January 27 - January 31, 2014

“Witness Always - Raising up Faithful Disciples”

“For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” 1 John 5:7-8 (ESV)

CELEBRATION SCHEDULE

Monday, January 27

PJ DAY- wear pajamas/sweats, you may bring one stuffed animal, you may wear slippers in the room, but bring shoes for outside.

ICE CREAM TREATS at lunch for everyone!

Tuesday January 28

CRAZY CLASH DAY-mix up your dress with mismatched clothes, please no dyed or colored hair.

ARISON CONCERT at Immanuel Lutheran School for Kindergarten - 3rd grades. We will leave at 12:30 and return at 2:30

Wednesday January 29

DISCIPLES OF THE FUTURE- CAREER DAY- dress like what you want to be when you grow up, jeans optional

Thursday January 30

SPIRIT DAY- Wear your Zion Spirit wear red, white and black, jeans optional

TEACHER VS EIGHTH GRADE VOLLEYBALL ASSEMBLY at 1:30

Friday January 31

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM DAY- Wear your favorite sport's team apparel, jeans optional

SHOW ME JUMPERS ASSEMBLY 1:45

It was great to see all of the Dads on Wednesday. It was great so many of the Dads checked out our morning activities and joined us for Chapel.

Look at our smiling faces at the end of the blog!

We had a great time on our field trip today. We enjoyed watching the three short stories: Teacher from the Black Lagoon and the actors and actresses did a great job. Ask your child about the play.

Have a wonderful three day weekend. No School MONDAY for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Remember to spend time in worship.

In HIM,

Amy

DONUTS WITH OUR DADS AND GRANDPAS

We are working on graphing skills.

We made constellations.

We are learning about lines of symmetry and divided squares in half different ways.

We looked at our class mates shape pictures.

We painted snowmen from different perspectives.

We listened to the "Frozen" sound track while painting.

We carefully added details and accessories.

Friday, January 10, 2014

January 10, 2014

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of Herod, Magi form the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:1-2

This week our chapel focused on the gifts of the wise men. The wise men brought gifts fit for a King. Many countries give gifts on Epiphany to remember the gifts of the wise men.

As I think about gifts my parents gave me as a child I see the gift of a Christian Education as the best gift. I now know the sacrifices that they made to afford my education at Lutheran Schools. I appreciate the extra time my parents spent helping me and volunteering at my schools. I was always surrounded by those who shared with me the story of Jesus and His love. I received a high quality education that formed me into the person I am today. I was taught the power of prayer and how to live my faith. I was constantly reminded that Jesus loves me. I saw my teachers in church and saw them live a life of service and love to God. I want to thank you for also seeing the importance of a Christian Education. Life is different here at Zion, we are more than a school. We are a family, a family of believers, brothers and sisters in Christ and like a family things are not always perfect, yet we love and forgive each other. We share Christ and we learn about His love. Zion is a great place to be!

Re-enrollment packets are being sent home today. The packets will be in the Friday Folder. It is my prayer that you are all returning to Zion next year. Please take some time to fill out the packets as it helps with planning for next year if the packets are returned quickly. Please contact Mr. Debrick or myself if you have any questions.

A Look Ahead:
Religion: Baptism of Jesus and the Beginning of His Ministry
Memory: John 3:16
Spelling: Lesson 18
Grammar: Using have and had
Phonics: Y sounding like -i and -e
Science: Stars and Constellations
Math: subtracting 2 and working with money
Literacy Centers:
Writing: Thank You Letters
Phonics: ch, sh, and th sounds
Poetry: Penguin poem
Math: Using symmetry to build a penguin

AN AUTHOR VISITS: Mrs Joanne Bader a published author of children's books came to our room today. She has written many Bible story books. Today she came in and read to us a book she wrote. Since many countries give gifts on Epiphany I gave each child a copy of Mrs. Bader's book and she was so kind to autograph them for us. Check out the pictures at the end of the blog!

We have begun working on a book that will be published. We are excited to see our writing in a book.

Book orders magazines are being send home. Orders will be due Friday January 17. Please go online to order your books. https://orders.scholastic.com/GPF69 Use this link to help you order the books!

SIX FLAGS READING PROGRAM: We are participating in the Six Flags Reading Program. Check the Friday Folder for a letter explaining the program and a recording sheet. READING LOGS will be DUE FEBRUARY 24.

We have been talking about being more responsible as now we are getting closer to second grade. The goals we have set for the next weeks are:
-to put our own homework in the folder at home and
to put the folder in our bookbags all by ourselves

- to walk into school by ourselves and take care of the
morning activities
It is good to help the students set and achieve goals. It is also good to help them grow more independent in age appropriate activities. Thanks for your help!

IMPORTANT DATES:

Wednesday, January 15- Donuts for Dads, join us from 7-7:45 in the church basement for a donut breakfast, dads are invited to stay for Chapel at 8:05-8:50.

Friday, January 17- Field trip to the Florissant Civic Center to see the play Teacher From the Black Lagoon. We will have an early sack lunch, NO PEANUT BUTTER PLEASE in our rooms and will travel by bus. The chaperones for this field trip The chaperones will be Mrs. Phipps and Mrs. Hall. We will leave around 11:15 and return at 2:30. Look for a permission form in the Friday Folder.

Friday, January 24- One Hundred Day Celebration!! We need many parent helpers to help prep and run centers. Mrs. Kari McCann is graciously planning this day for us. Please look for information from her about helping with this day.

100 CERAL BOXES: We will need 100 empty cereal boxes by January 24. Please send in your empty cereal boxes!!!

100th Day Service Project: As a service project for Lutheran Schools Week we will try to collect 100 baby food jars to donate to THRIVE, an pro-life organization. Baby food jars maybe sent in beginning January 21.

LUTHERAN SCHOOLS WEEK: JANUARY 27-31 Watch for details next week of special dress days and activities!

February 2, 11:00 We sing in church. Please mark your calendars!

GRANDPARENTS DAY - Save the Date: We invited all Grandparents or special adult friend to attend school on March 14, from 8-12. More information and invitation to come!

Wise Men Still Seek HIM, May you come to worship the King this weekend! May you enjoy the gifts He gives of love, forgiveness, and eternal life, may you be His gift to others as you live your life in God's FUTURE AND HOPE!

Enjoy the pictures and have a snow free weekend!

In HIM,

Amy Bernhardt

Learning about synonyms by making 'synonym' rolls.

We adding word 'icing' to our synonym rolls.

If a first grader makes a 'synonym' roll they are going to want to eat a cinnamon roll.

YUM

We then learned about antonyms using the Dr. Seuss Foot Book.

We traced our feet and wrote antonyms.

Then we made a giant foot poster!

We have begun working on our book for publishing.

Rainbow Spelling

Peer Spelling Test Practice

Art this week...

...of course we painted cardinals in the SNOW!

Students who completed the December Reading Log and had the parent signatures were treated to a bonus book.

Author Mrs. Joanne Bader came to tell us about being an author.

She read on of her books to us.

We loved listening to her.

Thank you Mrs. Bader for the autographs.

Friday, December 20, 2013

December 20, 2013

For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Savior who is Christ the Lord!

Luke 2:11

I pray you have a very Merry Christmas

and that your family's focus remains on Jesus
as you celebrate the season!

Make church a special tradition in your family!

Zion's Christmas Service Times:

Christmas Eve: 3:00, 5:00 and 11:00
Christmas Day: 9:00

I could not be prouder of our class and the constant witness they are for Jesus.

I want to share with you a few ways the class has shared Gospel this week:

Mrs. Tomlinson's, our resource teacher, father, Mr. Morgan is very ill and in the hospital. Our class has been praying for him and sent him a card. I would like to share the text Mrs. Tomlinson sent me Tuesday night, "My dad has not had a good day today. He is very confused and anxious. I told him when he is worried to read his card. He read the card several times and was actually smiling. Please share this with your class and thank you."

We filled over 4 laundry baskets with diapers and wipes as well as donated a pack and play and stroller to ThiVe. Thank you for your generosity!

We made a giant card for Drew. We also decided to send him one of our favorite CDs since we know he loves to sing and dance. The class was willing to give up their favorite CD to share with Drew! Please remember to send him a card during break!!

I was truely touched to watch the First and Second graders lead the Advent worship. Even though I had seen it practiced tons of times, I was amazed at the bold witness to tell the Christmas story

and to sing praise to Baby Jesus!

The Holy Spirit is at work in these children!!

A look into 2014:

Memory: Titus 2:11

Religion: Simeon and Anna see the Messiah

Spelling: Lesson 17

Grammar: synonyms and antonyms

Math: Timed Test over adding 2 and other facts on WEDNESDAY

Science: The stars

Literacy Centers:

writing: thank you letters

word work: contractions

alphabet: reading and visualize

phonics: sorting digraphs ch, sh, th

poetry: Penguins

math: build a penguin

SPECIAL GUEST: To Celebrate Epiphany we will have a special guest the week will get back. The published author Joanne Bader will come to our room, tell us about being an author, read a few of her books, and then autograph a book for us. This will kick off our unit of writing that when end with us publishing a hard bound book. More info to come...

FIELD TRIP TO FLORISSANT CIVIC CENTER TO SEE THE TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. We will be going on January 17, look for a permission slip the week we get back.

I must confess I lost the parent field trip sign up form. If you have not gone on a field trip and would be able to go in on January 17, please email me and I will randomly choose 2 parents. Thanks

Thank you to our room parents for planning our Christmas party and for the volunteer parents who came to help.

Enjoy the pictures from this week and our Christmas Party.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS TO YOU!!!

In HIM,

Amy