Art donations for Trillium in Bloom

1. Create art!
2. Print donation form and fill it out.
3. Bring art donation and completed form to Front Desk by next Monday, 10/5.
4. Attend Trillium in Bloom, and check out (perhaps even purchase!) the fabulous creative efforts of our amazing Trillium community.

"Sleep Under" this Thursday!

Get ready for the Grade 1-2 Sleep Under with Brian, Beth, and Whitney.
................................................................
All the fun and excitement of a sleep-over,
but with more actual sleeping -- at home!
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Thurs, 10/1 6:00-8:30 pm
Fri, 10/2 8:15-8:45 am

Thursday evening: pizza party, activities + games (students only)
Thursday night: all kids sleep **at home** this year;
pick up students by 8:30 pm
Friday morning: waffle breakfast at school before class starts

Friday's sharing is "Something from Nature"

Next Thursday SLEEP UNDER!
6-8:30 - play, eat pizza, talent show, big parachute. Not for parents or siblings - just the students. Next morning (Friday) when you come to school we will make waffles and have breakfast together.

October dates for your calendar

Here are some important dates to remember for October, 2009.

• 10/1, 6:00-8:30 pm. Grades 1-2 "Sleep-Under". Pizza dinner, activities+games; all kids sleep **at home** this year, breakfast the next morning before class.
• 10/2, 8:30. First Friday Coffee Klatsch. Coffee and treats in the Multi-Purpose room.
  
• 10/7, 8:00 am-? Safe Routes to School event. Walk or bike to school; equipment give-away.
• 10/9. NO SCHOOL: INSERVICE DAY.
• 10/9-10/10. Trillium in Bloom music festival, school showcase, place-making workshop, and art sale.
• 10/10, 7:00-11:00? Trillium in Bloom Bash. Adults only; music + appetizers + spirits.
• 10/23. Run for the Arts fundraiser, Patton Park. Parent volunteers needed.
  
• 10/24, 4:00-8:00? All-School Potluck and Movie Night (TFT event). Halloween costumes welcome!

First and Second Grade Back to School Night

September 22, 2009

This is what we talked about last night.  If you have questions about any of these, please talk with me (Brian).


Communication

• Blogs
• Mailboxes
• Please provide correct email and contact information
• Conferences in November and March, report cards in February and June.  Schedule additional conferences as needed for a mutually agreeable time.
• Liasons, each class has a liason or two that helps facilitate communication and improve the climate of the classroom

Volunteers

• Sign-up sheets
• Math and Literacy in the morning is for skills development.  More math focus.
• Reading workshop – parent help for “Read Well” program that helps kids with decoding skills.  Important for kids to have one-on-one experience with specific strategies learned during each session.  Would like to have one meeting per week for kids with the need.
• Writing workshop – parents to help with conferencing on written work.
• Morning help – supervise kids in the classroom who get to school between 8:15 and 8:30.  Gives kids a less hectic place to meet before school.  Activities will be out for the kids, just supervise them so they’re safe.
• Criminal background checks required for all people working with kids.  Please get them done as soon as possible.  If you have one on file from last year, no need for a new one.

Sleep Under

• For the class members only, not a family activity.  A couple of parent volunteers per class would be great.  Will have Pizza dinner, talent show, crafts, games and dancing.  Time is 6:00 to 8:30 next Thursday, Oct. 1^st.
• Breakfast the next morning is 8:15 till done. Parent helper would be great.
• Please let us know about food allergies; complete the form, please.

Writing Curriculum

• Using the book “About the Authors” for focus. 
• Please encourage children to be brave spellers and use inventive spelling.
• It increases what is written rather than having kids stressing out about spelling correctly.

Reading Curriculum

• “Reading Workshop” curriculum
• Reading at home is important, use the forms to keep track of the reading that they do.
• Check the strong readers list for traits to help kids with.

Math Curriculum

• “Investigations” curriculum foundation.
• Play math games and help kids create connections.
• Avoid teaching algorithms that have no connection to actual numbers.  Let kids explain how they think about numbers instead.

WANTED: Co-liaison for Brian's class

Brian was on track this summer to have two co-liaisons, but one of his students moved and no longer attends Trillium. And for some strange reason that child's parent is no longer available for liaison duties. Go figure!

So, we have an opening available! We'd love to have one more parent who can help. Come on, it'll be fun!! (The liaisons for grades 1-2 have already met over coffee ... mmm!)

Job: Co-Liaison
Requirement: Willingness to help
Desirable traits: Not phone-a-phobic like the other liaison; available sometimes in the morning when school starts; able to attend some TFT meetings (1st Monday of each month); internet access at home (for blogging, etc)

Talk to Brian or Johanna if you are interested. Thanks!

9/22 Back-to-School Parent Info Night, Grades 1-2

Come to the Back-to-School Parent Info Night, Tuesday, 9/22/09, 6:30-7:30, in the multi-purpose room.

Learn how grades 1 and 2 will function this year, and plug into the many opportunities for parent volunteers. Most of the meeting will include all 1-2 classes together in the multi-purpose room.

The meeting is for adults only, but some childcare will be available, most likely in the Resource Room. TFT President Kerri Creager is organizing childcare volunteers. (Thanks, Kerri!)

Upcoming Dates: Sept-Oct 2009

The new school year is off to a roaring start, and it's not going to slow down anytime soon. Here are some important dates to remember for September and October, 2009.

• 9/22, 6:30-7:30. Grades 1-2 Back-to-School Parents' Night. Information and volunteer opportunities.
• 10/1, 6:00-8:30 pm. Grades 1-2 "Sleep-Under". Pizza dinner, activities+games; all kids sleep **at home** this year, breakfast the next morning before class.
• 10/2, 8:30. First Friday Coffee Klatsch. Coffee and treats in the Multi-Purpose room.
  
• 10/7, 8:00 am-? Safe Routes to School event. Walk or bike to school; equipment give-away.
• 10/9. NO SCHOOL: INSERVICE DAY.
• 10/9-10/10. Trillium in Bloom music festival, school showcase, place-making workshop, and art sale.
• 10/10, 7:00-11:00? Trillium in Bloom Bash. Adults only; music + appetizers + spirits.
• 10/23. Run for the Arts fundraiser, Patton Park. Parent volunteers needed.
  
• 10/24, 4:00-8:00? All-School Potluck and Movie Night (TFT event). Halloween costumes welcome!

Welcome to Brian's Class Blog!

This is a space where we'll post dates, notes, reminders, resources and stories from Brian Porter's 1-2 class. We encourage you to come here often for information and inspiration.