Christmas Party

Hey there everyone! I volunteered to plan the Christmas party for Ms. Oaks class. I believe there was another mom also, but Ms. Oaks wasn't able to find the sign up list in the short time we had to discuss it on Thursday. In any case, we are looking at the afternoon of December 18th, time TBD. I have already purchased two little craft items and goodie bags for the kids. So what remains are treats (cookies, etc) and drinks, decorations (?), plates, cups, napkins; music, and maybe a storyteller/reader. I'm open to suggestions and definitely to help, so if you all could chime in and let me know your thoughts, that would be great. Also, could the other mom who volunteered give me a call? my cell is 914-4282. Thanks everyone, Patricia (Kyndal's mom).

Hello all you parents!!
Hope you are all on this list! If by chance you noticesomeone is missing, please let me know. When: December 11th- Thursday
Where: ZACH SCOTT THEATRE
What: "Holiday Heroes"The ever-popular Holiday Heroes explores different holiday traditions like Hanukah, Kwanza, Christmas and more. As the two bumbling stage hands ready the set of a Big Holiday Show, they discover the trappings of the different traditionsin the prop box and create a musical tribute to the season. I put up driver request lists outside of both classrooms.THANKS EVERYONE! The play starts at 9:30. We want to leave St.Francis at 9am. So parent drivers please meet at your child's classroom by 8:45 so all kiddos can be organized with drivers. The plan is to leave St.Francis by 9am.

See ya'll there!

Marcie, Mary and Laura

Class Halloween Party

Jadua Skywalker

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Josh, Penny & Jo

Halloween fiesta!

Top o' the morning, y'all!
Mrs. Oaks' class Halloween party will be on Thursday at 12:30. The kids are welcome to bring their costumes, but Mrs. Oaks asks that they please don't wear them to school. They'll be able to change before the party.

On another topic: have you made your pledge to the Pinnacle Project? It's the school's annual fundraiser campaign. I know times are really tight right now, but we are asking every family to give what they're able. You should have received a brochure in the mail a couple of weeks ago, but if you have any questions, please ask me.

Happy Halloween!

Mary

Early release on Wed., Oct. 22

Happy Monday everyone!
Here's a few tidbits:
1. Remember that the kids get out at noon on Wed. There will be aftercare starting at noon and going until the usual time. IMPORTANT NOTE: there will be no hot lunch, and the first-graders will NOT eat lunch during school. But don't worry: they'll be able to eat their sack lunches in aftercare.
2. The HOWL is this Saturday, Oct. 25, 4:00-7:00 p.m. Have you signed up to staff your classroom booth? There are still some slots open.
3. If you ordered a HOWL t-shirt for your kiddo, be sure to have him/her wear it this Friday for the HOWL rally (during chapel).
4. Mrs. Oaks' class: our Halloween party will be on Friday, Oct. 31, 12:15-1:30. Kedra Ishop is signed up to do this party, but we need one more person. Please get in touch with Kedra if you can help.
That's all for now.
Paz y amor,
Mary

More on the Howl + teacher conferences

Also wanted to mention that Mrs. Watts' class is doing its own booth at the Howl. I can't remember what it is, but I know there is a sign-up sheet outside her class.

Teacher conferences will be the week of Oct. 20th. Look for a sign-up sheet for Mrs. Oaks next week.

No school on Monday (Oct. 13), so enjoy the long weekend!

GO FISH at the HOWL!!

Hey Everyone!
Today I posted the sign up sheet for our homeroom's booth for the Howl. We have been assigned GO FISH! We need two parents to set up, two to break down the booth after the carnival, and several volunteers to man the booth throughout the event. Our set up time is set for 2pm, but we can do it anytime earlier as well. This year's Howl starts at 4pm. The planning committee has a bunch of supplies from Howls past, so the three of us will take a look at what we have and then put out a request for extra supplies that all of us could probably gather up from the piles of plastic that gather in the corners of the house. Stay tuned, and please sign up to help out for this fun event!!!
Any and all ideas for a great booth are welcome!

IMPORTANT -Parent Driver's Records Request

I was just told that any parents who sign up to drive the kiddos on a fieldtrip need the following on file in the office:
1. Driver's License #
2.Copy of Current Insurance
3. 3 year Driver's Record
Here is how I got mine on-line:
www.txdps.state.tx.us
click- Order Driver Records
click- Driver Record Request
Fill in the information and request TYPE 2-$6.50

If anyone feels weird about giving credit card info on-line, i'm afraid you will have to go down to a dps office to get your records.
It takes 5 days to receive records in the mail...so PLEASE do this quickly. Our first fieldtrip is Oct.2
and we will need drivers.
When you receive your records- put them in a sealed envelope with the other requested items with your name on the front INTO the orange envelope at ms.oaks door. That way Oaks and Watts will know who can drive. Records will be given, unopened, to the front office to put on file.
Thanks everyone!

Amy's Icecream Fieldtrip

Thursday October 2 10am

Amy's Icecream:
5624 Burnet Road
Austin Texas 78756
512-538-2697

Participants make and taste a batch of ice cream and go into Amy's walk-in freezer to taste and smell various ingredients. Following the tour, participants get a 4-oz. serving of Belgian Chocolate or Mexican Vanilla ice cream with M&Ms. There will be a non-dairy option too.

We will be putting up a notice asking for parent drivers etc.... Miss Oaks thought it would be nice to get there alittle early so the kids can play on the playscape. whoo hooo

CLASS SCHEDULE

Hey all, it is possible this might change BUT as of now.....Here is how the days look for the kiddos:
Mon: Art + Music
Tues: Library + PE
Wed: Spanish +Music
Thurs: Spanish +Computer
Fri: Chapel + Computer

FEB. 09 FIELDTRIP

We got a go ahead from both Watts and Oaks for our first field trip reservation!!!!
whoooopppeeeeeee!!!!!! There will be more field trips earlier in the year, but this is our first
booking. Since it isn't until Feb. we won't ask yet who can drive! At the end of January we will put up a note asking for chaperons and directions etc.... The Paramount asked that there be only 1 parent for each kid-so i reserved seats for 3. BUT, since we will need more drivers than that--some parents can share a seat with their kiddo. Like me, cuz i ain't missin' this one!!!


SUPER SCIENTIFIC CIRCUS

Monday, February 9, 2009
Show @ 10:00 am
The Paramount Theatre
The Super Scientific Circus starring Mr. Fish and Trent the Mime, proves that science can be fun and funny. Alternately assisted and foiled by the comedic antics of Trent the Mime, Mr. Fish uses amazing circus skills involving boomerangs, bubbles, beach balls, bull whips, and magic to introduce the principles of friction, inertia, centripetal force, aerodynamics, sonic booms, air pressure, and ultraviolet light.

During the program students learn: how ultraviolet light is different from white light, how to balance a broom in the palm of your hand, why spinning objects defy gravity, why a whip cracks, how to put a needle through a balloon, how to make their own boomerang, why bubbles are always round.

This event is appropriate for students in grades K thru 8th grade.
CHECK IT OUT:
http://www.austintheatre.org/site/PageServer?pagename=youthoutreach

go to 'About School Shows' to learn more....

First Day Greetings!!!!

Hello Fabulous First Grade Parents!!!

Greetings from your new room parents, Marcie Poss, Mary Marrero and Laura Evans, at your service! Why three, you ask? Well, like you, we all have busy lives but we all want to contribute to our children's lives in a significant way. We believe there is power in numbers, and it takes a village, and any other cliche you would like to insert, but seriously we can all do it if we do it together! The three of us hope to help Mrs. Oaks and help all of the parents of this awesome class to use our creativity and our available time and resources to help make this a memorable year. You work? No problem. You have other kids? No problem Your hobby of underwater basket weaving take up most of your time? No problem. We will use a combination of good ideas, good communication and good organizational skills to allow all of us to be part of the team without letting the rest of our crazy whirlwind existences suffer.

First, the blog. We have decided to take advantage of technology in order to keep everyone up to date. On Sunday nights we will post our weekly blog which will include reminders for upcoming events, pertinent information for field trips, parties etc, and a to-do list with opportunities for volunteer work in the class room. This way, everyone will be up to speed, and can offer their time or resources in small, do-able increments. We will also post pictures of the class and stories of the kids for all of our enjoyment. This first picture is from their very first day, as Mrs. Oaks had them each make a wish for the year with candles in a fruit plate (healthier than a cake-she's a smart lady!) I personally wished for a pony but my husband said no, there is no room! Oh well.

The cool thing about the blog is that everyone can post, comments, pictures etc, and we have made it private so that only our class can see it (gotta be safe in these days of cyber-weirdos!)
Also we will have some sections where you can list your talents and resources, and an idea page for ideas for parties, field trips etc. We will try to make your ideas into reality, so help us by letting us know how and when you can help. No idea or offer is too small!!!
We are currently working on getting everyone's email addresses together, and I will also send home a note with instructions on how to use the blog. Please call any of us with questions or comments once you have tried it out. We look forward to a great year with all of you!

Sincerely,
M, M and L