This month, our special education staff discussed with our students the importance of Person First Language. When we are communicating with and about people with disabilities, we should always use Person First Language. This form of language places emphasize on the person, NOT the disability.  All people have individualized goals, interests, and abilities, whether they have a disability or not. Person First Language allows us to look at these individual characteristics rather than the disability. An example of Person First Language is “child with autism” rather than “autistic child.” Raising awareness for this type of language will ensure that ALL students feel comfortable and valued at our school.

From the Special Education Staff

Ms. Shene’s Holiday Gift Exchange

On Friday, December 23^rd our class will be doing a holiday gift exchange.  Students can buy a gift to exchange with another student in our classroom.  The gift should be no more than $5.00.  If your child is a boy, he should buy a gift for a boy.  If your child is a girl, she should buy a gift for a girl.  Please have the gift wrapped and labeled, “To: Boy, From: Student’s name” or “To: Girl, From: Student’s name.  Each child who brings in a gift will receive a gift in exchange.  This is optional, so you do not have to buy a gift.  However, that means your child will not receive a gift from another student.  This is a fun activity that the students enjoy and encourages the idea of giving to others.  Please make sure all gifts are brought to school by Friday, December 23^rd if your child is participating.  If you have any questions, please email me at shenew@dearbornschools.org.

Happy Holidays,

Ms. Shene

Show your school spirit during the week of December 19th!

Monday, Dec.19: Snow School Spirit Wear Day

Wear your Snow Apparel or blue and white.

Tuesday Dec. 20: Hat Day

Wear your favorite hat.

Wednesday Dec. 21: Mix and Match Day

Wear items that do not match for a fun and wacky combination.

Thursday Dec. 22: Dress to Impress Day

Wear your fancy clothes.

Friday Dec. 23:  Ugly Christmas Sweater Day or wear the colors red and green.

Below is the Sign Up Genius for our Classroom Holiday Party:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4eafa822a4f94-holiday

I hope everyone enjoyed the Snow Day yesterday!

Spelling words (/in/ and /ain/ patterns):  bargain, fountain, curtain, dolphin, begin

Academic (Science):  change, liquid, steam, melt, freeze

Holiday Shop is this week in Room 5.  Our class will be shopping tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11:00 am.  Please send money with your child to school if they plan on shopping.

Since Monday was a Snow Day, we will go over the Unit 4 Math Study Guide today and the test will be on Wednesday.

Students must bring their recorders to school every Thursday for Music.  We have music at 9:00 am, so students will not have time to call home if they’ve forgotten their recorders.

The lunch time policy for playground time is students must have snow pants and boots on in order to play on the grass.  Otherwise, students are restricted to the blacktop only on outside recess days.

If your child wears boots to school, please send in a pair of shoes for them to change into in class.  Wet boots are to be left in the hallway so we do not have puddles throughout the classroom.

Please remember to bring your child to school on time.  The first bell rings at 8:35 a.m.  Students should already be lined up in the gym at 8:35 so we can start the Pledge of Allegiance.  Many students are walking into the gym at or after 8:40 a.m.

Students are to turn in their Weekly Reading Logs every Monday with a parent signature.  If students are not responsible and forget to turn it in or do not have a parent signature, they will have to change their card.  We have been doing this for the past 9 weeks, so it should be a routine by now.

HOLIDAY SHOP
Our Holiday shop starts next week! Please come and help the students pick out some great gifts for the upcoming holidays! We can’t have a great time with out our wonderful parents helping. Please sign up on the sign up genius so we know that you will be there. Thank you!

From the PTA:

Book Bingo

Friday, December 9th

Join us Friday for Book Bingo!  Doors open at 6:15 pm with Bingo starting promptly at 6:30 pm. Bingo tickets are $3 per pack of four.  Make sure to wear your pajamas!  We’ll have  pizza, drinks and delicious baked goodies for sale.

If you are interested in donating any 2-liters, water, or baked goods for purchase, please drop them off on the rack outside the office, anytime before 6 pm.

Please bring small bills (no twenties). We appreciate all of your support and can’t wait to see everyone!

The PTA is planning popcorn day for Friday, December 9th.  Popcorn costs $0.50 per bag.  You can pay Ms. Shene anytime this week, or even Friday morning!

Spelling words (silent letters):  doubt, knuckles, plumber, wrestle, receipt

Academic words:  push factor, pull factor, migration, immigration, movement

Thank you to the Szor family for the donation of 24 glue sticks, 12 dry erase markers, and a large container of animal crackers for snack!  You generosity is greatly appreciated!

This Friday, December 9th is Pajama Day.  Students are asked to donate a jar of peanut butter for our food drive in order to wear their pajamas to school on Friday.

Our class will be attending the Secret Santa Shop on Wednesday, December 14th at 11:00 a.m.  Students are able to bring money to school to shop for family and friends for the holidays.  More information will be coming home soon from the PTA.

Students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:20 a.m. to line up in the gym.  Kid’s Club is in the gym until 8:15, so the gym is not available for line up until 8:20.  Students can go to the cafeteria for breakfast at 8:00 a.m.

The M & M challenge has begun for the month of December.  It will run until January 14th.  Students should be reading on MyOn at home as often as possible, and going onto MobyMax at home as often as possible.  Students have been assigned lessons in the Math section of MobyMax on decimals to help prepare for our Unit 4 Test.

Students should also be going onto xtramath.org as often as possible.  We are able to go onto the website at least once a week in class.  If students go onto the website 2 or more times at home during the week, they will receive a blue ticket on Monday!

Please remember to send your child’s recorder to school with them every Thursday.  We have music at 9:00 and students do not have time to call home if they’ve forgotten their recorders.  This is an important part of their music grade.  We always write a reminder in our Student Planners as well.

There will be a Science Quiz this Wednesday.  A study guide will be coming home today from Mrs. Smith so students know what is on the quiz.  They should also bring home their Science Notebooks that we’ve worked on in class to help them study.

Thank you to the McClain family for the generous donation of books to our classroom and school.  Most of the books will go into our classroom library for students to read during school.  Others will be donated for the next Book Bingo.  The McClain family donated 40 chapter books!!!