A Note From Ms. Hines

Good Evening!

My last day in Mr. Young's classroom is tomorrow, Thursday. The past four months have flown by. It has been wonderful getting to know each and every student in Mr. Young's classroom; I have learned so much from every child. Parents, thank you for accepting my intern position with open arms and being so supportive throughout the past couple of months (especially during my solo week!) 

It has been a privilege to be a part of Tom's classroom and Waitsfield Elementary School. The staff, parents and students have such a positive energy; it was a fantastic community to be a part of. Starting in January, I will interning at Berlin Elementary School in a 5/6 multi-age classroom. I will certainly miss Mr. Young's classroom and students. I hope to visit Tom's classroom in the spring.

Have a very happy holiday and enjoy your winter break!

Best,

Brandy (Ms. Hines)

December 21, 2011

Good Afternoon Friends!  The students have done a wonderful job with the Secret Pal items.  The kids are having a lot of fun with it.  Please remember that the book is due tomorrow.  Also, this week's math survey is due tomorrow as well.

I hope everyone has a wonderful break with a fun and festive holiday and New Year.

Peace,
Tom

December 19, 2011

Good Afternoon,
  I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I spent the weekend in NY with my basketball team.  Having 25 high school boys in a hotel can be a bit draining.  The book orders are in.  However, all of the order forms have mysteriously disappeared.  Could you please let me know if your child ordered.  This way I can sit with those kids and see if they remember which ones were theirs.  There wasn't a lot of books ordered so it should be fairly easy.  I will send them home tomorrow.

**Please remember that Secret Pal cards are due tomorrow, the snacks on Wednesday, and a wrapped book on Thursday.

**The math survey will be sent home on Wednesday of this week.

**There will be reading homework tomorrow and Wednesday.


Have a great week.
Peace,
Tom

December 16, 2011

Good Morning,
  This morning a few of our up and coming performers participated in a play called Bully the Bullfrog.  The show was amazing, I mean where else can you combine amphibians and rap.  The students were  quite proud of themselves and did a fantastic job.

  Please remember that there are no parent volunteers needed next week.  We will be working on our family gifts.

Have a great weekend,
Tom

December 14, 2011

Good Morning,
  Today our class found out that they were chosen the winners of the "Window Category" for the Chamber's Festival of Lights.  The class was presented with a certificate announcing the $450 prize.  I am hoping to use the money to purchase an IPAD for the class.

 I was out of school today.  My daughter, Julianne, was sick today.  I did talk with Ms. Hines this morning and was able to set up the academic day that I had planned.  This afternoon, the students finished their Earth, Moon, and Sky unit by taking the district wide assessment.

  Please remember that we will not be needing parent volunteers next week.  We will be using the station time for reading groups and for working on a parent gift.

  I hope you have a great day.
Peace,
Tom

December 12, 2011

Good Morning,

  I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I had a fun weekend filled with family activities, a basketball game, wrapped up the college course I teach with an exam on Sunday, and finished Sunday filling out an accident report about my car.  A poor old lady backed into me in the Shaw's parking lot.  I felt bad for her.

  This week we will wrap up our science unit.  Ms Hines will give the final assessment on Wednesday.  Once we get back from break, we will start our social studies unit on Local History.  This will tie in nicely with our Artist in Residence in February.

  It looks like everyone will be participating in the Secret Pal event.  Today, your son or daughter will have a letter in their homework bag that explains the schedule and who he/she has for a Secret Pal.  Please  make sure to send in the items on time.

*There will be a new math game sent home this week.  The survey will be due a week from Thursday.

THIS JUST IN!  I can't go tomorrow, but maybe some of you can go.

Hi Tom & Second Grade Class,

Congratulations! You are among the winning Festival of Lights entries.

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday 12/13 at Timbers for the Community Holiday Party
5:30-7:30pm and distribution of Thousands of Dollars in prizes to benefit
area non profits.  Awards to be announced around 6:15pm.

We look forward to seeing you there.


Susan & Robbie

Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce

Peace,
Tom

December 9, 2011

Good Afternoon,
  This morning started with a 5th and 6th grade assembly.  The students created mini skits about their learning of the solar system.  They were quite funny, engaging, and taught us many things about space.  After assembly, we spent some time writing in our Weekly News, had Fundations, learned about space history and talked about astronauts.  This afternoon we had math and art.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Peace,
Tom

December 7, 2011

Good Morning,
  A very quick day with two specials and an early release.  We were able to get stations in today.  The students worked on their character writes from the book, Who Stole Mona Lisa?  Some of the students were also able to move onto a picture of the character he/she chose.  The students also worked on their mittens and snowflakes for the Chamber's Holiday Contest.  Each child also met with me for reading and practiced his/her sight words.  Today's specials were Music and French.

Peace,
Tom

Good Morning:

  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  My daughter had her first basketball scrimmage, and my team had their first one as well.  On Saturday evening, our kids' school had a lantern parade in Waterbury.  It was quite an impressive sight, seeing that many glowing lanterns marching along.

  It is hard to believe but we have less than three weeks before vacation.  This time will certainly fly by and will be packed with the typical academic demands and a few special events/projects.  Below is a list of a few of those things.  Please take note of all of this and please feel free to contact me any questions, concerns, or any additional feedback.

*The Valley Rotary's  Light Contest.  For the past three years our class has participated in this contest by decorating the windows in our classroom that face the parking lot.  Each year the Rotary picks a theme and asks the community to get involved.  It is a great nonsecular way of celebrating community spirit.  This year's theme is Vermont Country Holiday.  I am going to hang white lights in the windows, and ask that the kids design snowflakes and use paper to draw and decorate mittens.  I will also put a runner sled in the window that appears to be riding along the winter hillside.  If anyone has any of the white batting that looks like snow, could you please let me know.

*Secret Pal:  I would like to have the kids participate in a classroom wide Secret Pal event.  This would involve the students doing three specific tasks for their Secret Pal.  The event would run the last week of school before our holiday break.  On Tuesday, December 20th, the kids will have to make a Happy Holiday's or Happy New Year's card for their Secret Pal.  On December 21st, the kids would have to make a snack for their Secret Pal, and on the 22nd, the kids would have to bring in a wrapped book for their Secret Pal.  If you don't want your child to participate in this, please let me know by Thursday of this week.

*Ms. Hines Last Day:  Thursday December 22nd, will be Ms. Hines' last day with our class.  I would like to have a little good bye and thank you celebration on this day.  If you would like to donate a food or drink item for the celebration, please let me know.

*Parent Volunteers:  I am going to ask that we don't have any of our regular parent volunteers come in during the week of December 19th-22nd.  The kids will be working on a special "New Year's" gift for their families.  It would be nice for them to keep this a surprise.  As always, people are free to come in during the day any other time that week.

I hope everyone has a great week.  Please remember to read each night and fill out the book log.  This is week 2 of the math game, so their will not be a new game sent this week.

Peace,
Tom

December 2, 2011

Good Morning,
  This morning we went through three different science stations.  Each station had a specific focus on the Moon.  Ask your child how Oreo cookies aided in teaching them about our Moon.  We also spent time writing in our Weekly News Journals and each kid was tested on this week's sight words.  This afternoon we had math and art.

  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Peace,
Tom