Announcements for March 26th, 2021

We would like to recognize the following 1st grade scholars for demonstrating the virtue of perseverance.

1A Rudy Melendrez

1C Kate Harrison

1D Heidi Esparza 

Science

We are all very excited to see how our classroom mustard seeds grow in the next 10 days! Learning about what plants sense around them has been so much fun!

Your scholar was sent home with a Unit 2 Ch. 2 take home study guide. Please review this with your scholar over the next week. The test will be Wednesday, March 31st. On Thursday we will begin Unit 2 Ch. 3 where we will learn about the traits of plants and animals.

History

We will be reviewing for our Unit test over the Culture of Mexico for the next two weeks.

It has been an exciting and colorful Unit!

Literature

We are about half way though My Father's Dragon. Please have your scholar bring their book to school. We read from the books every day and due to covid, we are unable to share books.

Poem

We had a very special guest today! Mrs. Shallue, a parent of one of our first grade scholars presented Wynken, Blynken and Nod in song form. It was a beautiful lullaby and very much appreciated by all scholars!

Math

Our scholars just completed Unit 14 Multiplication. We had to take a few days extra to re-teach this difficult concept. We will continue to monitor their retention of what multiplication means: how many groups of the same item in each group are there and how many items are there altogether which can be solved by repeated addition. The students will begin memorizing their multiplication facts in second grade. This next week our first graders will begin the next unit: Unit 15-Division. In this chapter, students will be introduced to the concept of division as both a method for sharing a given number of items equally and for finding the number of equal groups formed with a given number of items. Towards the end of the week, we will review Division and prepare for the Units 1-15 Cumulative Review. After Division, our next unit of study will be Halves and Fourths. Please continue to have your scholar memorize the addition and subtraction math facts.

Other Announcements

- First graders should wear their Field Day T-shirts to school on Monday, March 29th.

 

- As the weather warms up, please be sure to send you scholar with a labeled water bottle to school every day.

 

- Uniforms are checked every day. Let’s be Spartan Strong by wearing belts with pants and shorts and uniform regulation shoes and socks. Go Spartans!

- At the beginning of the school year, Great Hearts Western Hills issued B&M students a lanyard to attach to their mask so they would not lose it. We have noticed a great deal of students have either taken their lanyards home or have lost them. 

The lanyards are very helpful especially since we are now eating lunch outside. When properly worn, the lanyard, will keep the scholar's mask from dropping to the ground. Also, the lanyard will keep the mask from flying away on windy days. 

If your scholar brought their lanyard home, please return it to the school. If your scholar has lost his/her lanyard, please replace it.

- Handheld pencil sharpeners

Some students have brought hand help pencil sharpeners to school. Please do not allow your scholar to bring hand held pencil sharpeners to school. Students are not being responsible and are taking them apart and tipping the contents onto the carpet. They are also taking them apart to see what they can fit into the hole to sharpen. If students do bring hand held sharpeners to school, they will be taken up for the day and the scholar will be asked to take it home and leave it there. Thank you for your cooperation.

Announcements for March, 19th 2021

Science 

The scholars did so well on their Unit 2 Ch. 1 Test on Wednesday. Thank you for taking the time to help them study for it because it definitely showed! 

This week we have been learning about animal senses and how they are like our own senses. They use seeing, tasting, smelling, touching, and hearing to help them understand the world around them just like us! 

Next week we will continue to learn about senses. On Wednesday we will learn that plants can sense and react to the world around them, a phenomenon called tropism. Thursday we will review what we have learned about plant and animal senses.

History

We will be taking a test over Mexican Culture, and wrapping up that unit. It was such a fun unit! Our next unit will be the Early Explorers and Settlers.

Literature

We have begun reading My Father's Dragon. Our expectation is that every student have their very OWN copy so they can follow along. By following along, they are building upon and improving their tracking skills as well as their comprehension skills. In addition, we are teaching students to refer back to the text to find answers to questions. Students need their own copy to be able to do that. Thank you to those who have ensured your scholar brought their book to school. Thus far in the book,  we have identified virtues Elmer, the main character, showed toward the cat. Be sure to ask your scholar about it!

Poetry

Continue practicing Wynken, Blynken and Nod. Recitations are on April 8th.

Math

This week in math our scholars will continue learning about the concept of multiplication. Specifically, the students will learn to write number sentences, using the multiplication sign, to represent the total number of items placed within equal groups. They will also be able to find the answers for the number sentence. Parents: please do not have your student say 2 x (times) 5 =10. They will say that process in 2^nd grade. In 1^st grade we say: “2 groups of 5 = 10. Or “2 fives is 10.” Also, in first grade the students memorize addition and subtraction math facts to at least 20 and in 2^nd grade they are expected to memorize their multiplication facts. Please continue to have your scholar memorize their addition and subtraction math facts. Thank you!

 

Other Announcements

Great Hearts Western Hills has a primary objective of developing a "community of learners," dedicated to the highest standards of academics and deportment. As such, a distinctive uniform is a unifying factor within our school community. It is also a visible signature of our school to the large community, an indicator of our unity and of our pride of purpose. This is one of the most important functions of a uniform: it identifies its wearer of that purpose and of one's responsibility to that group. 
Beginning next week teacher will be checking the scholars' uniforms. If students are out of uniform an infraction notice will be sent home. 

If you would like to review the Great Hearts Western Hills Lower School Uniform and Dress Code, you may do so here starting on pg. 98.

At the beginning of the school year, Great Hearts Western Hills issued B&M students a lanyard to attach to their mask so they would not lose it. We have noticed a great deal of students have either taken their lanyards home or have lost them. 

The lanyards are very helpful especially since we are now eating lunch outside. When properly worn, the lanyard, will keep the scholar's mask from dropping to the ground. Also, the lanyard will keep the mask from flying away on windy days. 

If your scholar brought their lanyard home, please return it to the school. If your scholar has lost his/her lanyard, please replace it.

Please remember to send you scholar to school EVERYDAY with a labeled water bottle. We are not using the water fountains due to Covid-19.

 

Field Day is Monday, March 29! We are so excited for it! Please remember to have your child wear their Field Day T-shirt to school that day.

Thank you for your everyday support.

In Truth, Goodness, and Beauty,

The 1st Grade Team

Announcements for March 4th, 2021

Science
Your scholar should have a Unit 2 Ch.1 take-home study guide with their homework. Here is a copy:

 We will be having the Unit 2 Ch. 1 science test when we return from Spring Break on March 17th. Please go over this study guide with your scholar, so that they can feel confident when they return to school. Thank you for all your hard work, scholars! You're doing such a wonderful job!

Math

First-grade math scholars will be finishing the review of Unit 13, Numbers to 40 and then begin learning the concept of multiplication. The students will first learn to identify equal groups and to find the total number of items through repeated addition. Then they will learn to describe the groups using mathematical language.

History

When we return we will be studying the Culture of Mexico! There will be some exciting information shared. We are looking forward to exploring this unit.

Literature

We finished Sam the Minuteman and the students created a beautiful poster highlighting the story elements of Sam the Minuteman. The students worked so very hard and it shows! Their work is amazng!

When we return from spring break, we will be reading the three stories of My Father's Dragon. Please ensure that your scholar's name is in their book and that they bring their book everyday. If you do not have a copy of the book, you may purchase a copy for your scholar here!

Poetry

We have started a new poem titled "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" by Eugene Field. Please practice with your scholar at home. It is best to break up the poem so scholars learn a stanza per week.  We will recite the poem April 8, 2021.

Have a wonderful Spring Break!