Snow Dance

I guess our snow dance did a little magic! We enjoyed playing in the snow and catching snowflakes! I wish you all a wonderful winter break and we will see you in the New Year! Happy Holidays!

Learning about Empathy

We are starting a new unit in our Second Steps Curriculum.

This unit is about empathy.

These are the following objectives:

·      name feelings when presented with physical cues

·      name feelings when presented with environmental and situational cues

·      compare physical and emotional similarities and differences between two children

·      demonstrate that people can have different feelings about the same situation

·      demonstrate welcoming and inviting behaviors

·      know what the word accident means

·      know what to say when they do something by accident

·      predict how others might feel as a result of their own or others’ actions

·      predict how others might feel as a result of their own or others’ actions

·      recall that listening, saying kind words, and helping are three ways to show caring

·      demonstrate caring and helping in response to scenarios

Throughout this unit, there are a few home links. That means we will be sending home an activity that reinforces the skill being taught and practiced in class. Look out for these in the homework folders. We hope you enjoy practicing these important and valuable skills at home!

Rock Science Unit

We are starting a new science unit all about Rocks! We will be identifying rocks: specifically scoria, basalt and tuff. We will name places where these materials can come from. Students will observe, classify, describe, define and organize rocks by composition, physical changes, and appearance.  Students will compare and contrast screen, rock, and particle sizes.  Students will describe and categorize types of sand paper. Lastly, students will identify components of soil, create a plan for separating soil, and collect soil to analyze. We encourage you to go on rock hunts and take a close look at them! Feel free to bring rocks in to share!

African Tribal Art: Banda Mask

Rainbow Dance Assembly

What an amazing assembly!!

We love reading!

Atkinson Gardern Fundraiser

Hello from the Atkinson Garden!
          You will be receiving an Outdoor Learning Gardens t-shirt order form as part of a fundraiser for the PTA, put on by Outdoor Learning Garden volunteers. These T-shirts are a great way to support your students and teachers, and also make great gifts for the Holidays. We plan to have them delivered right before the winter break.  Please fill out the order form indicating what size and how many t-shirts you want. Place the form and either cash or check in the provided envelope and return to the office PTA drop-off box by Monday day, November 14th. We will be in the main entrance Tuesday during drop off and pick up to answer questions about sizing and will have some shirts to try on for size. Questions? Please contact Diana Browning at browning.diana@gmail.com

Homework for the month of November!

Dear Parents,

                   Because of the November schedule, our homework that goes along with our reading lesson, is also going to be on a different schedule. Homework will go home as usual on Monday November 7^th. If your child would like to turn it on Tuesday, that would be great. If they need the extra day to work on it, you can either bring it with you to your conference, or bring it on Monday November 14^th. The practice spelling test will be on Monday November 14^th. The final test will be on Wednesday, November 16^th. A new homework folder will go home on Thursday, November 17^th. It will be due by Monday the 21^st. We will also have the practice spelling test on that Monday. The final test will be on Tuesday the 22^nd.  WHEW! We will be back on our regular schedule the following week.

Thank you for your support!

        

               

Read Big!

We sent home the Big Read record form with a letter attached to it. Instead of keeping track of pages read, please keep track of minutes. Set a goal with your child, track it and bring back at the end of November. In order to be eligible for a Blazer ticket, the students need to read a total of 900 minutes! Feel free to attach additional pages. Happy Reading!

November Dates

Coming this November:

November 3: Picture Retake Day

                     Assembly: ask your child about it

November 9: Conferences (sent home reminder of date and time in H.W. folders last week. If you need to reschedule, please email me!)

November 10: Conferences

November 11: NO SCHOOL, Veteran’s Day

November 14: Garden, please dress appropriately

November 23-25 NO SCHOOL

Halloween & Wellness Festival!

Halloween:

Every year we receive many questions regarding Halloween.  I would like to remind everyone that we do not promote the bringing of sugary treats or candy on this day.  Additionally, we do not promote the wearing of costumes as it takes away from the learning environment. Many classrooms are having a harvest fest and they will look forward to the activities that they will experience here at school, in their classroom on Monday and/or throughout the week.  Thus, we ask that you do not send your child in a costume and do not send sugary treats on this day.  We appreciate your support.

Wellness Fest:

Atkinson's Fall into Fitness Fest, sponsored by the PTA, is this Friday, October 28th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the school cafeteria and gym. Come and explore 14 stations focused on FITNESS, HEALTH and SAFETY. Please note, while "taster" snacks will be served at the Food and Nutrition Station, this is not a specific food event, so please plan to have dinner before attending the event. 

No spelling for HW this week

As you may have noticed the kids only have math homework and nightly reading this week. We just finished our first Unit of our reading curriculum and are wrapping up assessments. Thank you for your support.

GO PILOTS!

Ms. Edenstrom appreciated all the support! She said she could hear you all cheering for her and loved your posters. Go Pilots!

Direct link to Donors Choose

Here is the direct link to Donor's Choose:

 https://www.donorschoose.org/project/tools-to-help-with-learning/2273177/

Please spread the word to family and friends. Thank you!!

Cheer on Miss Edenstrom and the Pilots soccer team! FREE TICKETS for students

Dear Atkinson Parents and Families,


       As you may know Miss Edenstrom plays soccer at the University of Portland. A lot of you have expressed interest in coming to see a game and she wanted to inform you of the upcoming schedule. This weekend they play their last home games, Friday, October 21st, at 7:00pm and Sunday, October 23rd, at 1:00pm. Before Sunday’s game the seniors will be recognized for their soccer and academic achievements while at the University. Miss Edenstrom was able to get a free ticket for all of the students for both Friday’s and Sunday’s game for any of those interested in coming! If you do decide to come just bring the tickets attached to the letter (sent home 10/19) and they will let the students in for free. Unfortunately, anyone else attending will have to pay the cost of attendance. Hope to see and hear some of you cheering, go Pilots!

Reunification Permission Form

We have received many Reunification Permission Forms, but are missing quite a few. Please return the form as soon as possible. If you need another copy, please visit the office or let me know.  The Reunification Drill is taking place this Friday October 21^st.

Marc Chagall

We had a great day! We had a special visit to the garden and ate some cauliflower popcorn. We learned about Marc Chagall and discussed his fantasy and realistic images. Check out our artwork!

4 day school week

Just a friendly reminder that we do not have school this Friday, October 14th. We will still have our practice spelling test on Wednesday and will do the test on Thursday. In addition to homework, please make sure to read at least 20 minutes every night.

Donors Choose

I have registered our classroom on DonorsChoose.org, an amazing website where individuals can contribute to public schools. Throughout the year, I will post requests for resources that will help make your child’s time at school even more engaging, dynamic, and enriching.
Please spread the word about our classroom page.

Fall Into Wellness Festival October 28

A note from Sheryl:

I am heading up the PTA committee for a school community event at the end of this month called Fall Into Wellness Fest. It will be held on Friday, October 28th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the school cafeteria and gym. 

The event is being held to provide our school community with information and activities on fitness, health, and safety: Each child attending will receive a passport booklet and families can visit as many stations as they want. Once they've completed the station's activity they will receive a stamp or sticker in their passport. There will be an overall fall harvest/Halloween theme and students are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. Stations will include (subject to slight changes):

Food and Nutrition, Running Club, Outdoor Learning Garden, Earthquake Preparedness, Climbing (Bouldering) Wall, Atkinson Basketball league, yoga, Latin Dance, Walk and Bike to School, Fire Safety, as well as stations on overall Health and Wellness and Social and Emotional Learning supported by our school counselor, Mr. Barr. 

Our Food/Nutrition committee is working on snacks for the event. Should be a fun time! 

Please plan to attend with your family. We'd also love your help in preparing for the event, or on the night of the event!

TO VOLUNTEER - Please contact Sheryl Walsh at sherylwalsh06@gmail.com or 503-679-0143, there is much to do and we need your help!

Assembly!

The Oregon Children's Theatre visited Atkinson today! They presented The Adventures of the Tartar Patrol, a play about dental health. A big thank you to Kaiser for bringing this free assembly to our school! Ask your child about what they can do to have healthy teeth!

Homework and Family Times

The students have been doing a great job completing homework and retuning their folders on Wednesdays. Every week we send home Family Times. This is not homework. It is a way to communicate our weekly story and what we are talking and learning about in school. Each day they list ways to help your child practice the skills while having fun. There is no need to turn it in as this is optional. Thank you for supporting your children at home!

Open House

Dear Parents,

         Our great start to the school year continues!  Reading groups are well underway.  Students need to continue to show responsibility, as reading time requires some independent work.

         The children are writing personal narratives in Writer’s Workshop.  We have been busy with Work Place stations in math.  All students have been working on sorting and looking for different ways to sort and classify.  Ask your child about the activities we are doing.

         Thank you for helping your child with the responsibility of returning Homework Folders and library books on time.  Thank you also for your support with your child’s nightly reading.  It really makes a difference in their reading progress.

This coming Thursday, September 22^nd is our open house.  Mrs. Dibblee will deliver an address in the cafeteria at 6:00.  Classroom visits will start after the meeting.  Your child will have an opportunity to show you around the room and some of the materials they are using.  You will also have an opportunity to sign up for a conference time as well as volunteer opportunities.  Conferences this year are on Wednesday, November 9^th or Thursday, November 10^th.

 If you haven’t already, please make sure to have your child bring a family picture that will be displayed in the classroom.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Humphrey

Birthday Memo

Hello families

Memo: Birthday celebrations in class

We have children with serious food allergies. This will make food celebrations difficult to plan.  However, we have a great plan in place to help us celebrate birthdays and keep our children safe and healthy. If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, we say no food items.  We will sing and celebrate without food.  If you want to send something in honor of your son/daughters birthday, please see the suggestions below.

·     classroom book

·     stickers

·     pencil/erasers for each child

·     ball

·     jump rope

Thank you for your help and understanding in this matter.

Mrs. Humphrey 

I wanted to welcome you to first grade! I look forward to working with all of you and making fun memories together! I am excited that I get to be your teacher! We are very lucky and will have a student teacher joining us this school year as well! You will be getting a letter soon reading more about her! Happy first week of school!