CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING WCDS EVENTS
Upcoming Dates:
- Monday, September 1st – Labor Day – No School
- Thursday, September 11th – Parent Night (Grades 1st – 8th Grade)
- Monday, September 15th @2:00 – SK – 5th Grade Assembly
- September 22 – October 3 – Parent/Teacher Partnership Meetings
- Tuesday, September 23 – Preschool – 1st – School Pictures
- Wednesday, September 24 – 2nd – 5th – School Pictures
What an exciting and joyful week it’s been as we’ve officially wrapped up the first week of first grade! The classroom is buzzing with new energy, big smiles, and a little bit of nervous excitement as we began the year as big First Graders! The first few days were all about getting to know each other and how we each play an important role in our classroom and school. Students loved sharing 3 fun facts about themselves as they eagerly pulled items from their “All About Me” bags.
One of the biggest parts of starting first grade is learning the expectations and daily routines that help our classroom run smoothly. We learned how to be a “Whole Body Listener” in all areas of our school. We informed students that at WCDS we are respectful, caring, determined, and safe learners! We discussed what each expectation looks and sounds like in real life, and we practiced them throughout the day. We’re learning that rules aren’t just rules—they help keep everyone safe, happy, and ready to learn. We know that first grade is a huge jump from SK and we are determined to PERSEVERE through. Please ask your child what this BIG word means! ; )
Did you know we learn “SECRETS” in first grade? These secrets reveal what letters do when they get together in a word. Our first secret was in the word AUGUST. See if your child can tell you what “au” says! We unlocked our top secret chest to reveal other words that have that same sound and then added it to our top secret notebook. Our Firsties are so excited to unlock more secrets throughout the year to help us becoming more fluent readers.
This week we learned about stamina as we picked our first “Good Fit” books for our book boxes. Students learned to pick smart spots around the room that maximize their engagement with their book. They explored how to be a book lover rather than a book bully. We then got to practice partner reading with our 3rd grade Cougar Buddies.
In math, we brushed up on our number sense as we counted, used dice, and practiced using 10 frames. Students loved reviewing their counting skills while playing “last man standing.”
Our school will be participating in Social and Emotional lessons every Monday. This week’s lesson highlighted mindfulness! At its core, mindfulness means paying attention and is connected to social and emotional learning and academic success. It practice that supports students in noticing what is happening inside and outside themselves in the moment. It’s been shown to improve academic outcomes and help with many social-emotional issues. Over the course of the school year, students will learn mindfulness tools to help with their feelings and emotions, make responsible decisions, and improve their overall self-management.
A few daily reminders:
-Please send two healthy snacks each day for your child.
-We start our morning promptly at 8:45. Please allow your child enough time to settle in, complete morning work, and explore our morning. 8:20 is the perfect time to arrive to school.
-Email both dfuentes@wcdsedu.com and kmead@wcdsedu.com when sending a message. As always, you can also continue to use the talking points app for communication as well.
We hope you have a wonderful long weekend. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Danielle & Karen
