Happy Mother's Day! NO School Tomorrow!

Week of May 14-17
Sound of the Week - All short vowels
Book of the Week - Prayer for a Child
Mom of the Month - April Rodell
Habits -  All!!!!!!!


Each time I open this Blog, I am blessed incredibly by the beautiful faces above.  I can't believe our year is nearing the end.  Please keep me involved in their precious lives!


Happy Mother's Day to the most wonderful group of mother's put together in one class.  Please know that I have been blessed to see your incredible commitment to the hearts and lives of your children this year.  Wish we could stay together for many years!  


This week will be short but full one.  We continue review of short vowel sounds and sight words.  Your child will be bring home a short vowel reader as they complete each day.  Please read and return the next school day.  I am completing assessments for final Progress Reports.  Beth will be out on Wednesday and Thursday to attend Camp Highland overnight with her daughter in 6th grade.  Michelle Ginnachio will be her sub.


Beth has a summer birthday and we would like to celebrate her on Wednesday, May 23rd.  I will have the students make cards...and something handmade this week while she is gone.  Though you would never know it, Beth loves chocolate!   When you think about it this week and the beginning of next, please pick up a chocolate bar and we will fill a bin with wonderful chocolate for her.  Mrs. Williams class has asked to be a part since Beth works with them too.  I think 20 chocolate bars will be a nice treat!  April, I will handle this for Beth.  Don't want to add to your May list.


This Thursday, May 19th, we will go back out to the garden with Mrs. Rodell.  As I mentioned to some, last week we found a wonderful raised garden next to the gazebo full of rich wonderful soil. The garden has NOTHING in it.   Your kids (and Mrs. Rodell) are anxious to plant.  I learned last week that their is a solar operated rain system that will water our plants throughout the summer.  I will send photos next week.


Please remember that your child may wear any shirt and blue jeans (or uniform shorts) in support of Mama Latoisha's House.  Please email me if you have questions.

The end of our Frogcatcher Farm field trip!

The Story of Ping

Week of April 23-26
Book of the Week - The Story of Ping
Sound of the Week - Short i
Habit - Order
Mom of the Month - Danielle Blackgraves

Upcoming Dates -
April 23 - Danielle reading to class, 11:00 a.m.
April 24 - Jon Colcord reading to class at 10:50
April 25 and 26 - I will be traveling to Tybee Island with PCS 7th graders!  Mrs. Thornton will be my sub with Mrs. Ginnochio as her sub.  I know the kids won't skip a beat with Beth as the sub.  I have saved my personal days to be on this trip with my daughter Katherine, please pray for our time away and for great things with these 7th graders!
Nature Walk - April 26th with Danielle, our MOM and Mrs. Thornton
April 29th - Dessert Social/Meeting at the Parsonnet's next Sunday evening.  Time TBD. Brandy, please let us all know what we can bring.  

Great short e week last week.  The students loved Severn Chinese Brothers.  We continue our studies in China with a classic The Story of Ping.  Great discussions on obeying our mothers!

Short a Week with Madeline (and the Bad Hat) and Seven Chinese Brothers - Next Week

Next Week - April 16-19 - SOTW - Short e
BOTW - Seven Chinese Brothers
This Week - April 9-12
SOTW - Short a
BOTW - Madeline
See photo to right.

Mom of the Month - Danielle Blackgraves
Habit - Courtesy and Neatness

No More BOTW Home during the Week
Iris has asked me at least once a day, "are you sure that we aren't supposed to take a book home and read it with our moms?"  And the answer is "yes", the students will not be bringing home the BOTW to read at home.  We will read each book once a day during the academic week and I highly recommend (from not doing well with this when my girls were young) that you have your child narrate on Thursday afternoon.  We reviewed Madeline today and all seemed very comfortable.  You will need to write (or can have your child write) the name of the book in the space provided.  Would love to see every student have their narration on Monday morning so that all can smile as their journal is read aloud. 

Frogcatcher Farm - May 2nd
We will be visiting Frogcatcher Farm on Wednesday, May 2nd.  This is a Chapel Day, but we have been given permission to not attend Chapel that day.  All students and mothers are invited to my house 195 Fernly Park Drive, Johns Creek, Doublegate Subdivision, for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and then we are planning to walk through my neighbors yard to Frogcatcher around 9:15.  The cost is 5.00 (originally 10.00) but school is paying 5.00 of this.  All Adults are FREE, so please come if you can.  If you cannot attend the breakfast or Frogcatcher, we will have one of our parents meet you at school that morning and bring your child to my house.  It is a wonderful, rich day!  Please send 5.00 in envelope marked Frogcatcher to school by next Thursday, April 19th.

Plans are in the works for our April Parent Meeting at the Parsonnets.  Please let me know which Sunday or Wednesday nights in the month of April might work for you and your spouse to attend. 

The Grouchy "L"adybug and L Week

Week of March 19-22

Sound of the Week - L
Book of the Week - Eric Carle's "Very Grouchy Ladybug"
Mom of the Month - Laurie Bradley
Habit of the Month - Attention

Important Dates for next two weeks!
March 22 - Parent Teacher Conferences (see schedule below)
(also on the 22nd) Annie, Jr. - PCS Spring Musical - March 22nd 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.
                                  and 23rd 4:00 and 7:00 Annie, Jr.  - Please come! 
March 26th - Billy Badge (Johns Creek Police Department Mascot) visits to share safety tips.
March 30th - April 8th - Spring Break and Easter!

I look forward to meeting with you this week (and next)!  I have many wonderful things to share.  I has been encouraging to do March assessments!  The children have come so far, especially since January.

We will begin word spinners this week (a step up from sliders).  These will be in your child's bookbag on Wednesday afternoon.  Please practice at home. 

THANK YOU for your incredible generosity during the Boosterthon this fall.  Our classroom received 122.00 to spend just for our classroom (10%) of our class total!  Honestly, I had no idea that you Lee class parents had donated $1,220.00.   The most in kindergarten classes! Thank you so much.  As a class, we called last week and ordered a "listening station" for our classroom with 4 headsets! Will work with CDs or MP3 players.  The kids are excited, the teacher is excited! Be encouraged as the remaining contributions are being combined to purchase and install playground accessories that are more appropriate for our age student (lower monkey bars, a see-saw). 

Conference Schedule:
Blackgrave/Boos - 8:00
Colcord - 8:30
Grubbs - 9:00
Thomson - 10:30
Rodell - 11:00
Mansfield - 11:20
Burns - 11:45
Parsonnet - 12:20

Bradley and Brubaker - Week of March 26th
Bradley - Tuesday, 27th at 7:50 a.m.
Brubaker - Week of 27th (will call you back Rachel, thanks!)

Poetry Recital - Letter H Week

Week of March 5-8

Sorry picture above is small, will work on this...it must be a title shot.  Thanks, Thomsons!

Today was another of those incredible teaching days where I have thank my Heavenly Father for a chance to spend a year with your children!  Thank you for all of your time in helping your child with their Nursery Rhyme.  The children came so far in the last three weeks!  It is a such a blessing to see them step up on the Kindergarten stage and recite for the first time! 

Hoping that Harold and the Purple Crayon, our BOTW,  can make it home with everyone this week.  Please return the Book tomorrow. 

We will be attending Academy of Arts Coppelia tomorrow at 10:15 in the Main Auditorium.
Bake Sale tomorrow.

Next Wednesday, March 14th, is Atlanta Sympony Orchestra at Duluth First Baptist.  I will contact the moms who are driving by email tonight.

I will send list of times for Conferences tomorrow afternoon.  Please return top choices by Friday, if possible.

R Week brings Signs of Spring! Picture Day

Week of February 27-March 1

Sound of the Week - R
Book of the Week - Miss Rumphius
Mom of the Month - Dayna Thomson
Habit - Thinking!

Important Dates:
February 29th - Class Picture Day (forms came home in backpack last Thursday)
I will need to collect money prior to Wednesday and turn into photographer when we are photograhed.  This Day is also Arts Festival for PCS.  We will not be dressing up and particpating, but will have a day of Circus stories and a craft. 
March 7 - Poetry Recital - a can't miss (if possible)!  Each child will recite a Nursery Rhyme (or 2).  We will have a simple reception following in our classroom.  Laurie Bradley, our March MOM will contact you about food items to bring.
March 14th - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Duluth First Baptist - Dressy Enrichment (Chapel Attire).  Will contact Moms who are driving very soon.  Carseats required.

Readers this Week:
Monday - 10:45 - Cooper's Nana and PopPop
Tuesday morning early - Barbara Mansfield, Sarah Kate's grandma
Tuesday after recess - Jon Colcord, Joshua's grandfather
Thursday at 11:30 - Hudson's "Pops"

Wow!  We have the most incredible group of GRANDPARENTS I have ever seen in this class.  The kids are thrilled when they read.  Thank you!

A huge thank you to Dayna Thomson for going above and beyond as Mom of the Month for February; you were wonderful.  Thanks for the supplies, beans and rice, setting up for your dad to come and share about Africa, the amazing Valentine's Day Party, and a very special Nature Walk.  Your pictures are a blessing...thanks for sharing.

Last Thursday, I had one of those "Blessing" days with your children!  As you know, we took a Nature Walk (thanks Dayna and Meghan for going with us)!  Before the Nature Walk, we observed a "REAL" birds nest and each child was asked to collect items in their bag so that they might build their own birds nest when we returned.  The students collected leaves, pinestraw, sticks, dirt (and the boys,  rocks, of course..still not sure how that would fit into a nest) as they played on the trail and enjoyed fellowship with one another (and Mrs. Booher's class who joined us).  When we returned to the playground, the students each built a nest of their own.  I wish each of you could have heard their realizations.  They tried to weave the pinestraw, fill with leaves and even "spit" in the dirt to help compact.  Several worked for 20 minutes or so.  Though they were hesitantly pleased with their work, they were frustrated too!  During this nest- building time, they realized that they could not build a nest like Mama Bird.  With only her beak and her bird-like strength, (and a tiny brain)...she is able to build a masterpiece that we as "human people" (per Joshua) cannot build.  The children realized that God has equipped her like nothing or noone else to build a place to protect and grow her young.  They were in "Awe" of God's faithfulness to the "birds of the field".  I learn so much from their wonder and perspective!  Thank you for the priveledge of having time with your children each week.

N Week - bring Nature Walks (Weather Permitting)

Sound of the Week - N
Book of the Week - Storm in the Night
Mom of the Month - Dayna Thomson
Habit -

Thank you to Dayna Thomson and Brandy Parsonnet for a very special Valentine's Day party last week!  I know this took planning, shopping and cleaning...and we appreciate you! 

We are planning to have a Nature Walk this week on Thursday at 9:45 a.m..  Dayna Thomson and Meghan Grubbs will be with our class.  Please have your child wear tennis shoes and layer.  If weather is bad, we will postpone. 

Reminder: Poetry Recital is Wednesday, March 7th at 9:00 a.m.  Please invite grandparents.  Students will wear Sunday attire.  Girls - dresses or skirts, boys - polo shirt or button down (or coat and tie if they would like).  Our Mom of the Month for March, Laurie Bradley will be contacting you about specific food items to bring for a very simple reception following.  THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS EVENTS OF THE YEAR.  Please make plans to attend.

School Verse: Our class is doing "Parts" of the school verse.  I will do most of this at school with the students.

"U" Week - Ugly Duckling and Special Class Get-Together

Week of February 13-16
Sound of the Week - U
Book of the Week - The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinckey and other Fairy Tales
Mom of the Month - Dayna Thomson
Our class is working on First time Obedience these first two weeks of February.
Habit of the Month - Thinking

Reminders -
Valentine's Day After School Get-Together at Cooper's House - Tuesday, 14th  I just heard from Dayna Thomson that all students are attending!  Wonderful!  Thank you Parsonnets for hosting and Dayna and Brandy for planning. 

Wednesday, February 15th - Late Start

Poetry Recital - March 7 at 9:00 a.m.  Your child will bring home Nursery Ryhme this week for memorization and recitation at the Poetry Recital.  Each child has helped to choose.    We are working on parts of the School Verse here at school.

Thanks so much for your continued prayers and encouragement this year.  The students have made incredible progress academically since we returned in January.  Each week I am blessed to see their efforts to really grow and learn. 

O is for Opposites!

Week of January 23-26

Sound of the Week - O
Book of the Week - The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge
Habit of the Month - Self-Control
Mom of the Month - Melinda Colcord

Important Reminders:
Class meeting - Tuesday, January 24 in our classroom at 6:15 and Campus meeting in Main Auditorium at 7:30.  Please let the Parsonnets know if will not attend.

We are off and running with our reading readiness activities and the students are incredibly ready.  Please be sure to  let your child "read" the book that he/she brings home each week.  It contains all word families and sight words for the week.  They are thrilled to be able to read the books in class!  We are finishing our "Fat Cat" books tomorrow (Monday) morning and will bring home tomorrow afternoon.

Thank you Melinda Colcord for being our awesome Mom of the Month.  The mussel shells were a hit.  I had two moms tell me that their child told them that they couldn't wait to show them their "mussels". 

Looking forward to meeting with you on Tuesday evening. 

Letter T, Chapel and Mussel Harvest

Week of January 17-19
Sound of the Week - T
Book of the Week - The Very Last First Time
Mom of the Month - Melinda Colcord
Habit of the Month - Self-Control

Important Reminders - Elementary Chapel on Wednesday, January 18th at 8:30 a.m. in the Day Chapel.  Readers this week - Pops Colcord, Tuesday and Melinda Colcord, Thursday.

Progress Reports are available on Tuesday, January 17th after 12:30 p.m.  These must be picked up in Elementary office.

Parent Meeting next Tuesday evening in our classroom 6:15.  Campus meeting following at 7:30.  

Students were engaged and excited to begin with our Word Family Books last week and then to create our Pam and Sam book last Thursday.  If is a joy to see their wheels turn as they are beginning to sound out words and recognize sight words.  I love teaching Kindergarten.  Please encourage them to read their handmade book with you on Thursday evening.

Our book of the week is a unique story of a family living in the Artic Circle.  I will send a link to a special BBC documentary that we found last year. 

"M"agnificent "M" Week - Homework begins this Week!

Week of January 9-12
Sound of the Week - M
Book of the Week - Owl Moon - by Jane Yolen
Habit of the Month - Self Control (different than post last week)
Mom of the Month - Melinda Colcord

This will be our first week of nightly HOMEWORK.  The students seem excited!  Each night your child will bring home a page or activity to be completed at home.  The first few weeks your child might need guidance, but most of the pages or activities have been done many times in class.  Yes, they should color and complete...always putting forth their best effort.  Please text me if you have any questions. 

Also, I told the students last week that each day the Super Server may bring in something for Show-n-Tell (this is new also).  Our Super Servers this week are...Monday - Joshua, Tuesday - Iris, Wednesday - Hughes, and Thursday - Jacob.  If possible, it would be great if they could bring something that begins with the Letter of the Week (this week M).  If they just MUST share something that doesn't begin with Letter of the Week, that if fine too! 

Please pray for our class this week as we now move on to many reading readiness activities.  We will create our first Word LIst book, create a book using "m" as ending sound, and talk about short a. We will introduce "sight" words as well.   It is a big week academically for these little ones.  They are ready and EXCITED! 

January brings Poetry, Snowmen and Word Books!

Week of January 4-5

Sound of the Week - Review of Letters to Date
Book of the Week - Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost
Habit of the Month - Responsibility
Mom of the Month - Melinda Colcord

Happy New Year!  I hope that your Holidays were special and somewhat restful.  I look forward to seeing your little ones bright early tomorrow morning.  This week will be mostly review letter and letter sounds that we have studied to date as well as number activities.  Our book of the week, Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening is actually a poem with fantastic illustrations.  With a two day week, it will be very important for you to return the book the following day.  I hope to get two extra copies at the public library tonight so that all families can read.

Please be aware of the following upcoming dates:

January 6th - Father Daughter Dance - - (this date is different from original calendar)
January 13th - Investigating Perimeter School for Prospective Parents  7-9:30 p.m. - Please encourage friends interested in our school to attend.
January 16th - MLK Day - No School
January 17th - Report Cards Available at Noon
January 18th - Lower Elementary Chapel - 8:30 a.m. (Chapel Dress)
January 23rd - Right to Life Day for School - (this will not impact Kindergarten school    day)
January 24th - Parent Meeting for Kindergarten 6:15-7:15 Classroom
and Campus Meeting at 7:30 in Main Auditorium - Paul Miller speaking
January 25th - Late Start at 9:25 (Teacher Inservice)

As we continue in January, we will begin many learning activities that encourage reading readiness.  The students grow so much in January-May.  Please celebrate your child's growth and desire to learn.  We will start homework sheets next week.