Spring has sprung!  It sure has not felt like Spring the last few days but it is coming soon!  Please keep a close eye on the morning temperatures.  This morning when we went outside it was 33 and quite brisk.  I am making the kiddos wear hats and gloves with that temperature.  I know we are all anxious for beautiful weather but right now the mornings are still chilly so keep sending some warm clothes with your child. (No need for boots or snow pants! ;-)  

I hope you all enjoyed our Spring Break and were able to spend some time with your families.  Everyone was excited to be back at school yesterday and we have hit the ground running every since.  We are moving right along with our Jolly Grammar.  The kids are loving the new and exciting lessons everyday and I am loving how much exposure to language they are getting.  We are now able to recognize verbs, pronouns, proper nouns, common nouns and adjectives. We have also been working on past, present and future tenses.  It is just amazing to see them working and learning each day. Have you noticed a difference in their reading this year? Do you have older children who did not have Jolly Phonics and Jolly Grammar, if so do you see a difference? I would be interested to hear any feedback you have from this program. Right now Kalona Elementary are the only first grade friends who are enjoying this fun curriculum. The other first graders teachers are always anxious to hear us talk about the growth and improvements we are seeing daily from our students.  I would love to share some anonymous comments with them as well. If you have any thoughts on Jolly Phonics/Grammar feel free to send me an email. Upon sharing with others I will leave your name out of the discussion. 

This week marks the end of Live Healthy Iowa.  This week Ms. Jenna has been pulling one name from each classroom for a prize of a one day pool pass at the Kalona Pool.  Yesterday our winner was Gabi Robertson!  We will celebrate everyone's hard work on Monday afternoon with an assembly congratulating all the kids on their hard work and drawing some grand prize winners. 

In your child's backpack last night you should have found their Art Fundraiser packet. Please look through all of the information, order what you would like and return it back to school by April 15.

Spring pictures were sent home in Friday Folders this week. If you wish to purchase all of the pictures please send the envelope with your money enclosed, if you wish to buy only a few pictures return the pictures you do not want and the money for the ones you do want and if you do not wish to purchase any pictures please return the packet of pictures ASAP.

Elementary yearbooks are for sale through tomorrow. A paper went home a few weeks ago with an order form. If you have not ordered one and still wish to but cannot find your paper, send me an email and I will get you a paper or fill out a form for you. Yearbooks are $8. 

Thank you to everyone who came to parent teacher conferences, it was great talking with all of you and sharing all the great things your child has done throughout first grade.