WEEK OF MAY 12 - MAY 16

Thank you so much for your very generous and thoughtful gifts. The rose bush is beautiful.  I can't wait to redeem my gift cards, as eating out, reading, and shopping are three of my favorite things to do.  I really appreciate your generosity.

Thank you, too, for being a part of our class picnic. I hope you enjoyed our poetry presentation and our non-fiction books.  I was extremely proud of the children as they performed their poems beautifully and worked so diligently on creating their books. I was watching them on the stage and admiring their growth this year.  The obvious physical change is evident but they have developed and grown socially, emotionally and academically also.   They are independent workers, fluent readers, better communicators and looking a whole lot like second graders.  It is fun to look at beginning of the year and ending of the year assessments and see just how much academic growth has taken place.  It has been a pleasure working with each and everyone of your children. Our class has had wonderful chemistry. I look forward to seeing them over the next four years as we pass in the halls and I get to witness their continued maturity and see their academic progress displayed throughout the school.

We have had a week of performances and what a great audience we have been.  We were treated to Reader's Theater where we got to watch books and songs come alive by several of the Mt. Bethel staff.  We were treated to a performance by a children's theater group called Encore, Encore. We saw a wonderful magician/performer in a Cultural Arts presentation called The Circus King.  We had a visit from a Merchant's Walk librarian who presented an introduction to their summer reading program, and we saw a special performance of the 3rd grade Mt. Bethel chorus.

Next week will be equally busy.  Tuesday will be our field day.  Thank you in advance to our parent volunteers.  We look forward to seeing you when we visit your stations.  Please have your children wear their class t-shirts for field day.  Also, lather on some sunscreen in the morning and send a water bottle with your child's name to take outside during the events.  PE shoes are a must!

Information is coming home about next week's Reading Is Hot program.  Each day will have a special theme. We will get to spend a little extra time reading with our Book Buddies.  The children have had a great time with Mrs. Hoogland's class this year and I know this will be a highlight of our week.

Thursday, we will make our summer journals and have our special pizza lunch.  I look forward to seeing those parents who are able to stop by and visit. The children will bring all supplies and items, from their desks, home on Thursday. Please do not send book-bags to school on Friday.  They are not permitted to take anything on the buses Friday afternoon so if your child is going to bring a lunch from home, please send it in a disposable bag.

This will be my final blog and I thank you for reading it this year.  My hope was that it would provide some talking points for family discussion.  I feel as though the year has just begun.  They say time flies when you're having fun.  Truth be told it has been so much fun and it has flown by. I thank you, again, for sharing your wonderful children with me.  It has been a great year and I could not have done it without your support.  Have a wonderful summer!