Safety Town

Wednesday, September 29 the Galaxy Kids had the opportunity to attend Safety Town at the Harlem-Iriving Plaza. The students learned what to do in case a fire starts at home. We climbed out of the window after the room filled with "smoke," and we learned when to stop, drop, and roll. The students also learned what to say and do if they think a stranger is trying to trick them:
First the scream "No!", then run away, and tell an adult.

Dispatcher Kelly helped us learn how to dial 911, and when to dial 911. Parents we need you to practice your address with your children! Should there ever be an emergency, the students need to know their address. We will be working on this with them at school too!

We also learned that guns are not toys, and what to do if we find a gun in the area:

1. Stop!
2. Don't Touch
3. Leave the area
4. Tell an adult

Finally we practiced walking in the crosswalk. We learned when it's safe to walk across the street (green light), and never to cross the street on a yellow or red light. At a stop sign, we learned to look both ways, listen for cars, and then cross. We must always stay within the cross walk!

Parents, please review these safety tips with your children. Next week begins Fire Safety Week. Lt. Dan will be here to talk to us again about Fire Safety.

Spoons Behavior System

We have a new behavior system in our classroom! Each student has five spoons with his or her name on them in a little holder. Should a student not be following directions or following our classroom rules, they will be asked to pull a spoon. Each student will have opportunities to earn the spoons back throughout the day, but after all five spoons are gone, the parents will be contacted. If a student has lost spoons and has not earned them back by the end of the day, they will bring a paper home indicating the number of spoons they had left and the reason why they lost the spoons.
Students who have kept all five spoons all day for the week will have an opportunity to do something special, of their choice, in the classroom at the end of the week.

Rainforest Unit

The Galaxy Kids are finishing up their Rainforest Unit! We learned there are four layers in a Rainforest: Emergent, Canopy, Understory, and the Forest Floor. Various animals live within the four layers of the Rainforest including Ocelots, Tree Frogs, Capybaras, Sloths, Leaf Cutter Ants, and more! The students had a great time discovering where the Rainforests are located, and saddened to learn that the Rainforests are disappearing. We talked about ways that we can help save God's creation with small changes we can do around the house. Using a refillable water bottle is one simple way to help!

Back to School Night - September 23

Come and see what we have been doing so far at the Academy! Visit the classrooms, meet our parents and teachers, and see what your child has been learning since our first day of school!

Parent and Teacher Expectations of Each Other

The school year has started off great! In an effort to continue in this successful path, I wanted to share with you some parent and teacher expectations from an article in the August/September issue of Today's Catholic Teacher. We thank you for entrusting your child in our care. As a school community, we are committed to fulfilling our obligations in educating and enriching your child.

The expectations below are some expectations parents should have of their child's teacher:

• The lessons on morality, ethics, religion, and dealing with others begins at home, and should be reinforced in the classroom.
• The teacher will provide quality instruction with the inclusion of Catholic values and Church teaching
• The teacher will maintain order and discipline in the classroom
• The teacher will contact you, the parent, frequently to report on your child's progress
• The teacher will notify you immediately of an emergency involving your child
• The teacher will contact you when there is a problem
• The teacher will use up-to-date teaching methods
• The teacher will try to meet the individual learning needs of your child
• The teacher will be fair (NOTE: Fair does not mean equal.)

The expectations below are some expecations teachers have of their students' parents:

• You will bring your child to church regularly
• You will provide your child with supplies
• You will be present at parent-teacher meetings and at other significant occasions in your child's life at school
• You will account for your child's whereabouts
• You will support school policies, classroom rules, and the teacher's decisions
• You will help with, not do, homework and assignments
• You will provide up-to-date information in case of an emergency involving your child
• You will contact the teacher when there is a problem.

For more information on these expecations and communication strategies, please visit the link to the article from Today's Catholic Teacher: http://www.catholicteacher.com/archive/articles_view.php?article_id=2687

FSA Meeting

Hi Parents! We are still looking for parents to join our Family and School Association! Most of our meetings will be held on Thursday evenings, but our next meeting will be Monday, September 20 because on Thursday, September 23 we have Back to School Night!

We hope you can be a part of our FSA. It is important to have our parents involved in our school to help plan various events, support fundraisers, help with our "Special Lunches," and more!

We hope to see you Monday, September 2o for our first meeting of the 2010-2011 School Year!

Rainforest in Room 100

Our classroom is slowly becoming a rainforest. There is so much to learn about the rainforests, and the students are very excited to research plants, animals and people that live in the rainforest. So far we have learned that there are four layers in the rainforest: emergent, canopy, understory, and the forest floor. Also, that there is limited sunlight on the forest floor, and it rains A LOT!
Each day we spend time learning about various mammals, reptiles, birds, plants, trees, and food that lives or comes from the rainforests.

We know that the rainforests are slowly disappearing, and we are going to try to use only reusable water bottles, save paper, and do what we can to help save the rainforests.

Spirit Wear and Picture Day

Spirit Wear will be sent home on Tuesday!!

You should receive an email from me through Constant Contact regarding School Pictures. Picture Day will be Tuesday, September 14.

The Galaxy Kids

Wow! Can you believe we completed our first "half" week of school? We are off to a great start. Today, we started learning about Rain Forests. Next week we will begin to transform our classroom into a rain forest. I may ask for some help with some items from home, but I will let you know in advance.
Next week our Specials classes start! Don't forget, Wednesdays and Fridays the students should wear their new Spirit Wear shirts for gym class. The students will not change, but remain in these clothes all day!

First Day of School

Our first day of school was wonderful. It was so nice to see so many familiar faces, as well as some new faces. Check out my pictures below of the Galaxy Kids getting acquainted in their new room.