Exhibition Packets, Mystery Readers and Field Trips

Please be on the look out for exhibition packets to be coming home this week.  These will include your child's learning team plan, as well as any other materials needed to begin the exhibitions!  If there are any questions I can answer, please do not hesitate to ask them.

Some families have already filled out the form to be a Mystery Reader to our village this year.  If you would like to read a special book to Lighthouse Village during our village meeting time, please let me know.  Remember - don't tell your child...it will be a surprise!

Our first field trip of the year will be coming up soon.  The other Lighthouse teachers and I are working on a fun and educational trip for the children.  Volunteer chaperons are always welcome, and will be selected on a first come, first serve basis.  I hope you will be able to join us for one of our trips this year!

Also, congratulations to Kyle for being Coach Marbry's star last Thursday!

Learning Team Meetings

Please be on the lookout for learning team meeting reminders to be coming home the night before your appointment.  Please also try to be on time, as many meetings are scheduled back-to-back.  At this meeting, we will be discussing your child's goals for their first exhibition.  As our interest portion will be based on a special place, please have a few places in mind so that we can discuss and choose the best possible topic.  I look forward to seeing each family this week!

On a side note, Malik was chosen as the physical education super star today!  Keep up the great work, Malik!

Another Star!

On Thursday, Keveon was selected as Coach Marbry's physical education star student!  Way to go, Keveon!

Shining Light

This week was Lighthouse Village's first Shining Light celebration since we became 1st graders!  Each week, the Lighthouse teachers choose one student from each of their classrooms as an example of someone who made outstanding choices, tried their best in all activities and was a leader to their peers.  This week, our Shining Light is Ronin!  Congratulations Ronin!

Thank You!

I would like to thank all of the families for making our 1st grade Back to School Night such a great success.  A special thank you to those families who were able to attend! 

Please be on the lookout for the learning team meeting sign up this week.  I have available times before and after school, as well as during lunch and my prep hour.  Learning team meetings will take place next week.  See you then!

Back to School Night!

This is a gentle reminder that Back to School Night is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 15, 2010, at 5:00pm.  There will be an introduction by our new school leader, Ms. Johnson, in the gym.  Following that, I encourage you to come see our completed classroom and hear about our daily events, 1st grade exhibitions, curriculum and expectations for the year.  I look forward to seeing everyone there!

Also, we have some exciting news from this past week!  This year, Coach Marby is selecting a "Star Student" from each class during their time with her in physical education.  I am proud to announce that our class' first star went to Ronin!  The second time we met with her, she selected Kyndal!  I am very proud of all the studnets as they work hard to earn their stars!

In addition, we have a new lunch room award, called the SOUPer Star Award!  Each class has a sign with their name on it in the village area.  Everyday, the teachers who have lunch duty will select which class was the SOUPer Star for the day!  The class with the most stars out of 5 at the end of the week earns extra recess the following Monday.  I am so excited to announce that our class was the SOUPer Star class for Monday, Septemeber 13th!  This was great because it was not only the first day to earn the star, but it showed myself and the other Lighthouse teachers what great leaders the 1st graders are!  Keep up the great work!

School Uniforms and Healthy Foods

Please remember to send your child to school in the correct school uniform.  This means that all shoes should be completely black or brown, with no boots or sandals.  Pants should be black or khaki with no holes in them.  It the pants have belt loops, please have both boys and girls in a brown or black belt - please no glitter belts.  Shirts should be either solid red, white or black, have a collar and be tucked in at all times.  All students should wear socks every day, in solid black, brown, red or white.  If your child has earrings, please send them in with either studs or hoops small enough that their finger cannot fit through it - this is for safety reasons.  Our new uniform violation forms will be sent home if your child is not in complete uniform.

As part of our school health initiative, we are asking that all food sent in for lunch or snack be healthy.  Examples of unhealthy foods include chips, donuts, candy, cookies or soda.  Instead, please consider foods such as pretzels, goldfish crackers, apple sauce, yogurt and water.  All unhealthy foods will be removed from the lunch table and sent home in backpacks.  In addition, our class will be provided with a healthy snack each morning.  As our snack cabinet is based on donations from families, we ask that, if possible, each family donates a snack for the whole class (17 children).  If you would like to send in a healthy snack for your child, you may do so as well.

I look forward to seeing each family at Back to School Night, this Wednesday evening!  As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.  Have a great second week of school!

Our 1st Week!

Wow!  That first week of 1st grade went by so quickly!  This week, we discussed our hopes and dreams for 1st grade.  There were so many different goals that the children set for themselves.  These included learning how to read and write more words, learning how to do harder math and becoming a great illustrator!  I am so proud of them for setting their goals high!  I know they can do it!

This week, we also talked about how we, as a class, can help to make eveyone's dreams come true.  We decided on 4 classroom rules:

                                                   1.   Be safe.
                                                   2.   Be kind.
                                                   3.   Share with friends.
                                                   4.   Do your best!

This year, we have a new technology AMPT class.  Our technology teacher, Ms. K worked with our students this week to see what they wanted to learn.  They also talked about the different parts of computers such as the monitor, keyboard and mouse.  The children were very excited both times we met with her!

Our AMPT schedule for the first 6 weeks is:

Monday:  Physical Education  w/Coach Marbry
Tuesday:  Technology  w/Ms. Karlstad
Wednesday:  Art  w/Ms. Seiklay
Thursday:  Physical Education  w/Coach Marbry
Friday:  Technology  w/Ms. Karlstad

On the days that we have physical education, please remember to bring a change of gym shoes for the children.  They must wear their uniform shoes before and after gym.  Thanks!

We will begin having music during the second 6 week AMPT rotation.  Our new music teacher is Ms. Ritter.  We are very excited to meet her.  You can follow her blog at www.ellenthompsonmusic.blogspot.com

Have a great weekend!

Welcome to 1st Grade!

I would first like to welcome each family to our classroom!  It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces on "Meet the Teacher Day", even though most of you have already met me! 

This year, I have many exciting things planned.  If you have had a chance to visit our classroom, you may have noticed that we have a new theme this year.  While last year we were "Camping Out in Kindergarten", as first graders we will be "Cooking Up a Great Year!"  Our classroom has been turned into a restaurant called the Kefgen Cafe!  We even have a refrigerator door to hang all of our hard work on!

I am very excited for this year, and I hope you all are too!   See you all at UPA!

Mr. Kefgen