BAG LUNCH TOMORROW!!!!!!!


We had a practice lock down drill today and our boys did great.

Things are going well.

Sorry I've been busy but I'll update this more soon!

Schedule of craziness this week:

Monday: Welcoming Mrs. Robertson back we hope!
Tuesday: IEP at 9am.
Wednesday: IEP at 9am
Thursday: Field Trip to Explore N Moore 10-2.
Friday: Ms. Stern is out.

I'll be away this weekend so if you need me, email is best.

Remember, 7 dollars are needed by Thursday along with BAG LUNCHES!!!!

Swimming was amazing. Everyone became fishes.

Field trip next week, 7 dollars. Five dollar admission and two dollars for a lunchroom usage fee. We're going 10-2 May 1st.

I'll be sending pictures home soon of firestation/swimming.

:-)

The rumors are true

Luis left us for a new home in Utah. We hope that his family travels well and gets there safely. We sure will miss him in our class.

Mrs. Cassarino came and told my friend Grant today that she too went to the dentist today and he gave her a sticker for being so brave! I sure hope that Grant was that brave for all the teeth counting!!!

TOMORROW is SWIMMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, I can't wait. I of course can't find my swimsuit, but I'm excited (and have others just not the one that I really wanted to wear). Mrs. Robertson won't be able to join us as she is home having thrown her back out over the weekend so we promise to take lots of pictures! Ms. Childers will be joining us as our second adult along with our peer mentors Robbie, Leah, and Melissa. It'll be a great time!


Remember for IEP meetings that there is parental input. We type it in there but if you want to bring some notes with you so you make sure that it's there, that's important. Here's why it's important. This is the document that teachers read to know all about your child. Think of everything and anything that you'd want them to know about your child to make them (the child) a huge success story. As there are no guarantees about teachers from year to year as I'm told, imagine that the teacher next year is a stranger and that this document is going to help them plan accordingly for your child.

If you're up for it, don't forget that tomorrow is family fitness night for k-2!!!

:-)

We are on for swimming. 12-2 on Thursday. Four dollars per student. Bag lunch required.

:-)

Sink and Float

We did a great science experiment yesterday that held everyone's interest for well over an hour (we had some 4th grade helpers!)

First, we fashioned our own boats out of tinfoil and then, we had one tub of water, everyone got a chance to float their own boat as I added paperclips one by one to see how many they would hold. It was hysterical.

The point of the lesson was for them to learn that boats would float better with flatter bottoms and higher walls (so, the canoes went down quickly!).

It was excellent and messy, but worth it!

Some highlites of Friday:

Grant was working on his cube and couldn't put the pieces back together to make the cube so he asked for help. After, I fixed it, he said "You did a wonderful job!" Typically, I would first have to say "what do you say?" and he'd say "Thanks" but instead I got this full sentence.

Patrick played a full on game of catch and chase with Grant, Robbie, and Darius. He was the one to initiate it and everyone played. He's also been in love with setting up the trains so that there is a super train jump for them to make.

Darius has been using excellent words to express his feelings. In fact, he's now a pro at shrugging off the bad stuff, including when Ms. Stern says it is time for math! In addition, we had a long talk about how monsters are pretend and make-believe and he shared this information with many others.

We read the story "The monster at the end of this book" which stars Grover from Sesame Street and all the boys loved it since it asks for big voices, little voices, and all the ones in between. It is still one of my all-time favorite books ever.

We're not sure yet as there seems to have been some mix-up between when the field trip form left our school and getting to transportation because the swimming field trip is the only one that transportation seemed to know nothing about. Good thing that I had to call them to change the times. As a result, I'm not 100% sure at this time that we are indeed going but unless I hear back negatively, we are. I'll be sure to let you know when I do.

Other than that, have a great weekend and I hope you enjoyed the report cards, international night, and all the rest!

Some of my friends got more inclusion time than others as we had two boys who decided to spend the first hour of school in screaming fits. They did fantastically well (those in inclusion)

Next Thursday is the pool. I can't remember how much it will be and I'll try to get a firm answer tomorrow, I hope! It's no more than 8 dollars, but I can't remember. We need bathing suits, towels, (pool shoes if you want), and bag lunches.

Sensory day was a hoot and I apologize for all the messy boys who came home. We only had one friend who didn't like to be messy but he was one of my friends from the morning fits who was just having a long day.

But now, honestly, I'm spent.


Oh yeah, tomorrow night is International Night at Weems. I'm a horrible teacher who didn't send home the fliers so they'll be in the bookbags tomorrow. Sorry about that. We were too messy for everything going on.

Enjoy!

Sensory Day

We're having sensory day today. We're going to, for lack of better words, be playing with our food. Yes, I checked into all the ingredients so we'll be fine.

spaghetti, jello, cool whip, and finally, shaving creme to clean up our messes.

:-)

I do not enjoy three day weekends

for the fact that it's a rough start coming back for the boys.

I was on an interview committee in the morning and so when I walked in at 9:15, Robyn had it under control but thankfully handed them over.

Grant, Darius, and David did a great job in specials. Patrick and Luis had a rough time in PE but I assured Mrs. West that it was because we just weren't used to schedule again yet. (I dread to see what happens after the two weeks off at Christmas time next year!)

We did manage to salvage the day. There's been a lot of interest in magnets and we'll be starting our sink and float unit in preparation for the field trip next week (no worries, everyone will be floating and there will be no option for sinking!) However, if there is more interest in the bathtub with taking things that would normally float and making them sink, this is why.

That's about it. Enjoy!

Most amazing field trip....hands down so far

Today we headed to the firestation. Absolutely amazing. We saw where firepeople eat, sleep, watch tv, and hang out. We watched as Mrs. Robertson and Melissa (one of our peer mentors) went all the way up on the firetruck ladders. All the boys took turns trying on boots and jackets. They climbed into the trucks. And yes, the all took turns using the hose!!! It was great.

We then headed to Harris Pavillion. Yes, I know I said no farmer's market, but we worked our way around it and everyone is okay. Since it is so early in the season, not many vendors were out. We ate lunch in the gazebo and both Patrick and Grant wanted to know where the ice was (Patrick actually tried to skate on the pavillion and instead ran around saying that he was skating.)

The weather was perfect as were the boys.

When we got back to school, we said goodbye to Melissa and a little while later, headed down to an assembly. Oh yes, there was a magician at school today! Magic tied in with reading was had for an hour.

Needless to say, the boys should sleep well tonight!

Remember, no school on Monday for students. Report cards go home NEXT friday.

Melanie-I apologize, I have Grant's applesauce container still at school along with some other things from his lunch that I'll send home tomorrow.

IEPs are right around the corner as well. We're aiming at having them 1-2 weeks before they are actually due to avoid craziness and misfortune (mostly on my part). Also, we are planning them for 8am. If for some reason, 8am can't work, I can be flexible but I'm trying to avoid spending a great deal of time away from the boys and leaving them with subs. I will however provide ample choices in days and will contact you before. Basically from what it seems to me is that in pre-school they were scheduled almost a week to the day apart and so I'm just going in the same order.

As always, if you have any questions, just let me know!

Art Show Tonight!

There is an art show tonight at school starting at 6pm. The book fair is also going on.

We had a rough start to the morning with some of our friends not wanting to be at school so some of my other friends got the chance to go to first grade inclusion time! They loved it.

Next Thursday we'll be heading to the Firehouse. In the afternoon, we have a magician coming to encourage us to read!

I will be leaving early next Friday and won't be available all weekend. Should you need me, try my email but I can't promise that I'll get the opportunity to answer before Sunday night.

April 14th, don't forget, no school for students.

It's almost time for report cards! And then right around the corner is IEP time. Aren't you excited?!?!?!

There is now a page for parental input on IEPs. Basically, I would type it up into the section the day of, but if you want to start writing things down so that you don't forget them, it might be worthwhile.

:-)

FYI

The Manassas Pump It Up is holding a Bounce for Autism to raise funds for the Autism Society of America on April 8th from 5:30-7:30. Entry is donation based with a suggested donation of $10 per person.