March Newsletter

                   March Newsletter

 Ahhhh...spring!  When the snow melts a bit faster than before!

We were lucky enough to see some amazing Irish Dancers from
Stilton School, learn a bit about Ireland and write our own leprechaun stories last week. This week we will focus on things that hatch from eggs...including dinosaurs!

Conference days left=  Thurs. 24^th 4:20-6p.m. 
                                                          and  Friday March 25   8:00am-10:00 a.m.

Reminder : Conferences will again have student work stations like before…two stations of 

20 minutes each. The last station will be the teacher station- and after 5 min. at this station the 

student will be on headphones with a story -so parents and myself can have 20 min. of adult time 

for questions  and recommendations. I have already contacted the parents of students who we 

feel need extra support with work habits, behavior or those who struggle with various aspects of 

either math, reading or writing skills…and March conference time will be a time to review their 

plan. This year report cards go home on March 29.

In the near future we will begin our studies of Mexico. First will be readings about rainforest 

animals in our reading groups- and next we will have discussions about how rainforest animals adapt!  
Folktales as well as a story in the Reading St. program about a boy of Mexican heritage

will round out our reading groups endeavors for the first weeks in April. Hopefully we will be able

to have another travel day event celebrating Mexico, much like we did for Russia, on a Wednesday 
morning before April vacation...or right after...it all depends on how and when parent volunteers are 
available. 
          DEADLINE FOR LAST PARENT TRAINING = TUESDAY APRIL 12 
                                  6:30pm Gorham Middle School Library
                    We NEED you!    Anyone with some time available is most welcome! 

Later we will also start a mini-unit about the country of China. We will a focus on the map, flag, folktale and
Lantern Festival as well as New Year Customs for China. The focus wild animals found there will be:
sun bear, panda, tigers, goats and since it is the Year of the Monkey we will touch on facts of various monkeys as well.) Although this will not be as “in depth” as our Russia study- we will still enter our information in our passports. The study of light and shadows will also be a big unit this 
month- complete with a shadow puppet share of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff".

April 4=   Deadline for our Great Falls silent auction theme basket of "Exercise"

April 8=   Wellness Family Fun Night (See Ms. Fortier’s message included in this newsletter)

Dear 1st Grade Families,

The Great Falls staff have been hard at work planning the next Great Falls family event, the Great Falls Family Fun and Wellness Fair, which will be held on Friday, April 8th from 6-7:30pm.

In order to support future fun and exciting family opportunities, Great Falls is holding a silent auction at the Wellness Fair. We need your help! Each grade level will be putting together a healthy living themed basket that will be auctioned off.

The basket for grade 1 will be all about EXERCISE. We are looking for donations that can be included in the basket. Options can be things such as: water bottle, yoga mat, pedometer, stop watch, jump rope, resistance bands, fitness class gift certificate, weights, swim goggles, itunes gift card, sporting goods store gift card, stability ball, fitness studio gift certificate, exercise journal, hiking guide, trail guide, bike safety lights, ice skating pass, roller skating pass, ankle weights, golf balls and more! Be creative!

We would appreciate any and all donations! Please drop off basket items to the Great Falls main office by Monday, April 4th.

Thank you for your support,

The Great Falls Staff

Using our Groundhog Puppets to explore light and shadows

Using a "shadow stick" to explore and record results