Monica Ros School

Dear Parents,

     The next couple of weeks are filled with so many special activities that I thought that you might want to double-check your calendars. Here goes…….

     On Monday at 11 a.m. the school community will gather in Libbey Park to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his special holiday. Under the direction of Mrs. Zonic, the children will sing about 11:10. Unfortunately, I have a long standing doctor’s appointment in Ventura and won’t be able to join the group. It is always a touching tribute and I am sorry to miss it this year.

     Our field trip to see the Chinese acrobats is on January 22^nd and we will leave school at 8:30 am and return by noon. I realize that it is an expensive show and it is a long way to go. Believe me, it is worth every penny spent and every mile driven. Unforgettable!

     That night will be our “Day in the Life…” program. Children should be in the classroom by 5:20 p.m. Please forgive the confusion that I caused last week.

     On Monday, January 26^th we will celebrate Chinese New Year. That day the children will be encouraged to wear any clothes which depict Chinese culture. Most children will probably not have this type of clothing but if a shirt or skirt or robe etc. is available do encourage your child to don that apparel that day. I think that our Miela will be dressed in beautiful Chinese finery to honor her heritage. We will have a Chinese feast at noon so you may want to send a light lunch that day.

     The final treat for the month will be on January 28^th when the ornithologists from Ojai Raptor Center visit the class. If you are free, join us at 9 a.m. for their terrific presentation.

     Thank you for your patience with my constant reminders. Have a happy three day week-end. Mrs. K.

Dear Parents,

  This note is one of sincere gratitude for all that has been done by you to enrich our school life and the lives of others. Thank you for the generous donations of food and money and gifts for our Adopt-A-Family program. Your generosity will enable needy families to enjoy cheer and good food during this season. 
  To the Carneys, the Popes, the Schmids, and the Zahringers we send our thanks for the wonderful books that you gave to the class. Our children and generations to come will enjoy your gifts.
  Stacey_Davis and Donna_Pope spent a morning constructing gingerbread houses. The children are anxious to begin “nibbling” this holiday treat. Thank you, ladies.
  Kent_Jones prepared delicious latkes for the class on Wednesday. Teachers and children alike loved this traditional Jewish food. Thank-you.
  Our Miela has been concerned about the needs of the victims of the recent fires. She has asked that her classmates join her in helping them. At first she thought that she would collect used clothing but after visiting the Red Cross center she and her Mother learned that they were in great need of food. A donation box will be at the gate next week to help fill that empty pantry. Miela and her Mother will deliver your donations.
  Thanks to our current class representatives to Sudent Council, Miela, Sydney and Kate, an awesome Monday is planned for the school. North Pole Day will be enjoyed by all. Lots of surprises are in store. Your child may wear anything to school that vaguely brings the North Pole to mind!
  Have a happy week and please know that I am always grateful for your constant goodness to us. Mrs. K.

Dear Parents,

Thank you for such a beautiful Fiesta. I know that many of you contributed to this happy event. Special thanks are sent to Shea_Davis and Donna_Pope for their leadership. It was a lovely afternoon for all families.  

This letter will be a synopsis of a very busy month. Specific notes will be sent home in the weeks ahead.

Before I enumerate the “ruffles and flourishes” I want you to know that the academic program in Grade One is the priority at all times.

We are off to a great beginning. The children adapted easily to the classroom routine. In language arts we work daily on decoding, word attack skills, spelling, reading comprehension and fluency. Punctuation is emphasized in writing. In math, the emphasis will be on the application of addition and subtraction concepts to story problems. In science, we begin a study of the fascinating life style of arachnids. Pioneer life, the voyage of Christopher Columbus and Veteran’s Day will be the focus in social studies.

This week, your child will bring home a bag of Math Jewels. We begin our memorization of math facts. Your child will show you how to play the game. We will have weekly math sprints to see how we are progressing. As a set is mastered, your child will move on to the next number. All children progress at a personal rate. Enjoy these early facts. They get dicey very soon!

Tomorrow will be a cupcake sale sponsored by the Student Council. Proceeds will be used to make bouquets for the elderly who receive Meals on Wheels. Our class representatives, Adam and Audrey are helping to spear-head this event. Last week Adam was the chairman of the meeting. He introduced himself and then said,” I recognize me and I have $1000 in the bank.” With his credibility established he continued to lead the meeting. During the cupcake discussion Audrey also announced that she had money in the bank and wasn’t sure she would want to spend it on cupcakes. In these dire economic times it is comforting to know that the younger generation is developing financial savvy and restraint!

Remember that there is no school next Monday. It is an in-service, teacher day. Here at Monica Ros we will be preparing for Theme Week. Our theme, “Little School on the Prairie,” will be enjoyed all week in a multitude of ways. Specifics will be sent home via the office. We do encourage the children to wear “old fashioned” clothes, if possible. Dig around in drawers and closets to see if you can find some vintage duds.

An apron, bonnet, shawl, cowboy hat, etc. will add to the fun. Teachers will be wearing pioneer outfits.

Have a happy week and look for more October news in the days ahead! Mrs. K.

Dear Parents,

The class will enjoy a delightful morning at the Underwood Family Farm on Friday, September 12^th. This field trip will culminate our unit on nutrition. The children should wear play clothes and sturdy shoes that day. Please have your child bring a double-bagged grocery sack with handles (Trader Joe’s or Westridge Market have them.) or canvas bag with handles that is labeled with his or her name. This bag will return home filled with vegetables! Also each child should bring a brown bag (labeled) lunch and a disposable container with a drink. No lunch boxes that day, please.

We will have a tour of the 160 acre farm in a vintage wagon pulled by a tractor. We’ll stop to pick vegetables in the vegetable patch. We’ll have a picnic lunch in the shade and end our day petting the animals in the Petting Zoo.

We will depart school a 9 a.m. and return about 1p.m.

A permission slip and driver request will be in the Home Folder this afternoon.

This week our student representatives, Olivia and Arley, reported back to the class about their meeting. Their plans for Monica Ros are exciting days! Final decisions have not been finalized. Deliberations will continue. Will we enjoy a “backwards day” or a “water day” or a “pajama day”? More discussion and time will tell!

Shea_Davis has requested that parents sign up for a turn at a venue on Fiesta Day. The sign-up sheet is on a table outside our classroom.

A reminder—library books are due on Friday.

Have a happy week..

Mrs.K.

It has been a busy but happy beginning in the first grade. The children are adjusting nicely to the expectations and routine of Grade One.

Thank you all for your help with the “Home Folder”. The children bring their folders to class each morning with a feeling of pride and responsibility.

Tyler and Alice were our class representatives at Student Council this week. They reported on the plans of our student government for the days ahead.

During these first days of school Mrs._Stovesand and I have been assessing the children for reading and math readiness. This is an important part of planning programs in language arts and math.

Next week I will e-mail specific information and a permission slip for a field trip that is planned for September 12th. To enhance our study of nutrition we will visit a farm to pick fresh vegetables. After Labor Day you will receive all of the particulars concerning this trip.

May you all enjoy a happy three day week-end.—Mrs._K.

First Grade Overnighter
What????………a class sleepover

When????……..Tuesday night—June 3rd—-7p.m.

Where????…….our classroom

How????……….with sleeping bags, p.j.’s and toothbrush

Who????……….our class

Why????……….to spend our last night together as a class. We’ll say “Good-by and “Good-night”.

     If your child isn’t comfortable with an over-night experience,perhaps, your child could come in p.j.s at 7 p.m.,enjoy a movie and popcorn and be picked up at 9p.m. If you decide as parents that you would rather not have your child participate in the evening at all………that is fine! Your decision will be respected.

     For those children who will stay overnight-a change of clothes will be needed for the morning. Your child should arrive at school at 7p.m. in pajamas with a sleeping bag,pillow and toothbrush and comb. No slippers,flashlights or exotic camping gear. Breakfast(Mrs. Carbajal’s famous pancakes) and a morning snack will be provided.

     I have always ended each school year with a “sleep-over”. The children love this special way to say “Good-by”.

Mrs. Kirkmire

Dear Parents,

As the month draws to a close, I have so many of you to thank for your generous gifts of time and talent. Gratitude is sent to all parents who drove on the field trip to the Wachtell orchard. The following day the class and teachers enjoyed a delicious apple pie treat because Tami and Leila W. spent all evening in the kitchen preparing fresh pies.(This gift was from a lady who has three small children, teaches full time in the Green Room and is a Fiesta Chairman!) We say, ”Thank-you”, most sincerely. Behind the scenes the unsung parent heroes of the first grade are donating hours and hours of time to make our school a better place for all school students. Connie_Cline and Linda_LeBrock are hatching great plans for Fiesta. Joy_Golbere is lending her expertise as a past chairman. Dana_White and Jerry_Ellinghausen can be seen throughout the week digging, replanting and watering our green areas to improve green spaces for the children. Their commitment has made our campus —-so much nicer. Bill_Moses and Bill_Gilbreth have donated weekends of work to build
Sherwood Forest which generations of students will enjoy. Throughout that scorching heat, all weekend long, Bill_Gilbreth hammered and sawed …..and smiled. To all of you, please know that you are creating a happier world for the Monica Ros community. Next week in honor of Native American Day, Mr. Ben_Farrell, a member of the Cherokee Nation, will visit class to share his heritage with the children. Remember that beginning in October the class will dismiss at 2:45 p.m. (except on Wednesdays). A newsletter with October news and notes will come home once the month begins. It is a busy one! Thank you again for cooperation and generosity in all areas of school life.

With admiration, Mrs. K.