Have a Wonderful Summer!!!

Important Information

Your scholar should have brought home some reading information. The first part is their log on card so they can access Reading A-Z this summer! The second page shows the student's current reading level; if they are below, approaching, at, or above the first grade reading level; and all the phonograms they currently know! The third page is their dibbles report. The forth page gives some information on how to strengthen your scholar's reading abilities. The fifth page is the parent/caregiver tool kit. It gives you tips about reading with your scholar. The last page is a reading log for students to keep track of all the books they read this summer!

Farewell from 1D

I cannot believe this is it; the end of the most unusual school year to date! Thank you for your unconditional support,  trusting me to teach your scholars and prepare them to be spectacular second graders! They are ready in all facets of the sense, and to be honest, they have been acting like second graders for a while now (Hahaha).  Remember to keep them reading during the summer! Encourage them to play 'school' with their siblings and practice those phonograms. Practice math when you can! Encourage them to expand their vocabulary by using new fun words! And most importantly have fun this summer! Spend time together and cherish the time with your scholars! They are an awesome bunch of kiddos!!!

The end of the school year is an exciting time, yet sad at the same time. I will be moving to north Austin this June (due to my husband's job). I will be working at a school in north Austin this next school year. I have LOVED working at Great Hearts and am excited for the new direction Western Hills is headed! I will truly miss each and every scholar I had this year. They were the kindest, sweetest, most curious bunch I have had! I LOVE how they loved learning and how their faces would light up when they discovered something new. I wish them all the best in second grade. I know they are going to be superstars!!!

Love,

Mrs. Zimmerman 

I'm so grateful that I've been able to be a part of this journey with your scholars. They work so hard! Not a day went by where I was not amazed by them! Shakespeare wrote in his play Romeo and Juliet "Parting is such sweet sorrow" and I feel this statement so strongly. Saying goodbye to your scholars is so hard, but they have worked hard and are ready to continue their educational journey, so I couldn't be happier!

Much love,
Mrs. Chisholm

Farewell from 1C

Thank you 1^st grade for all the memories.  This was my first time teaching 1^st grade and I will always cherish the all the joy and laughter we shared.  Seeing you all mature in Spalding was one of my greatest joys.  I will miss you all and I look forward to seeing you in the hallways next school year.  Keep trying hard things. Have a wonderful summer and eat lots of tacos!
Mrs. Olivas

Hello!
Greetings to parents of 1C!
It has been my pleasure to teach your scholar this year!
We have had many obstacles to overcome with distance learning, to on campus learning, to switching teachers, switching of assistance, new students, students leaving and keeping all of your scholars safe.
During all these challenging, I felt nothing but love and support.
Your children have filled my heart with love and so many love notes and special gifts.
My first year of teaching in a school has been very rewarding.
I can not thank each of you enough.
A special thanks goes to Ms. Longoria and Ms. Olivas for their love and support as well!
 
Love,
Ms. Epp

Farewell from 1A

Dear First Grade Families,
It has been a privilege and honor to have worked with you and your children this past year. I congratulate both scholars and parents for working together while at home while learning online and completing assignments. During the summer I encourage all our first-graders, soon to be second-graders, to read daily, memorize your addition and subtraction math facts, tell time by the clock, and keep a writing journal of what you will be doing during your time off. I wish you a relaxing, fun summer and look forward to greeting you as students of second-grade, while you walk down the hall in the fall!
 
Sincerely,
Ms. Kramer 😊

Dear Families,
I started working with your Scholar late in the year, but I grew to love them pretty quickly. I’m incredibly thankful for the time I’ve had with your child. I can confidently say we’ve all grown, either academically, in character, or both. I am saddened to hear that some will not be returning to GHWH next year, but I look forward to seeing some sweet, familiar faces in the hallways. Thank you for all of your support and encouragement throughout the year. It is deeply appreciated. Enjoy your summer!

Kindly,
Ms. Cavazos

Announcements for May 21st, 2021

We would like to recognize the following scholars for showing the virtue of humility.
1A Marina Matehuala
1C Grey Egbert
1D Jordyn Sanchez

Science

We've had so much fun in science this week. Your scholars got to put on a shadow puppet show where they were able to to share a performance about how shadows are made! You may be able to convince your scholar to give an encore; I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as we did! Thank you for your support this year; we couldn't have done it without you!

History
It is our last week of school!
We will be having a History test on Tuesday, May 25^th.
An email was sent with the study guide. Your scholar has also received a hard copy of the review.

Math

This past week our scholars completed Unit 18-Subtraction within 100. They also studied coins and bills learning their values and names. This next week they will learn about personal finance (what does it mean to save, spend, give to charity, and knowing the differences between wants and needs. They will also learn to make different amount of money to go “shopping!”

Literature

Recently we had our My Father's Dragon quarter party! We had so much fun! We pinned a flea on a gorilla; colored a dragon mask and had our adults tie it on our scholars; had a snack complete with PB&J's, tangerines, iced animal cookies and swamp water (green Hawaiian punch with dry ice)! The best part was our bubble blowing contest. Scholar were given a piece of bubble-gum, but this was no ordinary gum! It was painterz gum! It colored the inside of their mouths! We all had so much fun! This party could not have been as amazing as it was without the hard work of our volunteers. Thank you to everyone who cut out dragon masks, fleas, traced gorillas, and donated sandwiches, tangerines cookies and juice, punch bowls, and napkins! Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts!

So Long, Farewell, Until We Meet Again

I cannot believe the last day of school is right around the corner! For me it will be bittersweet. My husband changed jobs back in January and now that Covid has eased up, the company wants everyone back in the office.  We will be moving to Austin, TX in June. I have LOVED working at Great Hearts Western Hills and will truly miss not seeing my first graders in second grade next year! I wish each and everyone of you the best. Your scholars will be amazing 2nd graders and I know they will soar to new heights! 

                                                 All the Best,

                                                 Mrs. Zimmerman

Announcements for May 14th, 2021

 Science 

We had a fantastic review and test this past week. Thank you for preparing your scholars for this test.

The last two weeks we will be doing some fun activities to wrap up our school year!

Math

Reminder to our first-grade parents: This is a reminder to please refrain from using the term “borrow” when assisting with subtraction within 100. Subtract the ones first, then, if needed, we take a ten from the tens place and add it to the ones. For example, 42 – 24 = ? 4 cannot be taken from (subtracted) 2 so we need to take a 10 from the 4 tens and add that to the 2 ones in 42. 42 now becomes 3 tens and 12 ones and 4 can be subtracted from 12. 12 – 4 =8 ones. 3 tens – 2 tens is 1 ten therefore 42-24=18 or 1 ten 8 ones. This procedure teaches the students how they solved their problems and provides the background for higher level subtraction.

 

This week we complete our unit regarding subtraction within 100. The students will take the chapter test on Tuesday and Units 1-18 Cumulative Test on Wednesday after a review of math concepts they have learned from the beginning of the year. Thursday and Friday scholars begin our money unit. They will be introduced to various coins and bills learning the value of each coin and dollar bill. They will also learn to add the total value a set various coins, and total value of a set of bills. Please continue to discuss the values of coins and bills and invite your scholar to count the “change” from your purse or pocket!

Literature

Last week we celebrated our My Father's Dragon quarter party! Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who drew gorillas, cut out fleas and masks, added string to the masks, donated cookies, punch, sandwiches, tangerines, and dry ice! Our party was AMAZING!!! The scholars played pin the flea on the gorilla. They colored a dragon mask and wore them during the party. Students received a piece of bubble-gum that changed mouths to all sorts of colors! They had a snack of a peanut-butter sandwich, iced animal cookies, a tangerine and swamp water! Actually, it was green punch complete with dry ice!  This was the best party ever!!!

Homework

We have had many, many questions about homework over the course of this year. Here are some of the more popular questions and the answers to those questions....

• Q: Why do we assign homework?
• A: to reinforce the concepts taught in school

• Q: When should homework be done?
• A: Many parents report that homework should be done shortly after getting home from school and should not be put off until the evening when scholars start to get sleepy.
  

• Q: Does my scholar need to complete the homework?
• A: Yes! It is an expectation at Great Hearts that every student complete their homework as it is assigned as the homework is graded. Great Hearts is a rigorous school and every student is expected to meet to the expectations.

• Q: What if my scholar cannot complete their homework?
• A: Communication is the key. Communicate with your scholar's teacher to let them know why. If your scholar could not complete their homework because they chose to watch TV, then the homework would most likely not be excused and would be counted as late. However, if your scholar could not complete their homework because of illness or some sort if emergency, then most lkely it would be excused and no points deducted; again communication is the key - Talk to your scholar's teachers!

• Q: Why can't homework be done at school?
• A: Homework should be done at home to reinforce concepts we have taught at school. If homework were done at school, then it wouldn't be called homework, it would be called schoolwork! At Great Hearts, we partner with parents and expect they take an active role in helping their scholars on their path to success which means parent are needed to help with nightly homework.

Announcements for May 7th, 2021

Science
Study the take-home study guide for Unit 2 Ch.1-4! The test will be on Thursday, May 13th.

History
We will be in Unit 8, From Colonies to Independence. We will be learning about Paul Revere and other interesting topics!

Math
Our first graders have completed learning about adding numbers within 100 in a variety of ways. This week they will learn to subtract within 100 with and without renaming. They will learn how to subtract by tens when appropriate, subtract by tens then ones, and count back and use base-10 blocks as manipulatives to help familiarize them with the abstract form of subtraction. Please continue to work with your scholar memorizing their addition and subtraction facts up through 20.

Other Announcements
Please send a book for your scholar to read during dismissal. 
Please send labeled water bottles to school with your child every day of the week. Thank you!