Dear Parents,

"April in Paris" is GVA-DC's second silent auction and gala taking place on April 18th! We have once again teamed up classrooms to create beautiful gift baskets to be featured and bid on at the event. 

Your classroom basket is a "Legos” themed basket.

To sign up, click here https://tinyurl.com/r5zy6nu

All donations are tax-deductible. Donations should be dropped off in the office's Auction box during school hours.  Please mark your donations with the AM teacher's name and estimated value so it can be put in the appropriate basket. Items must be in by March 11th. If you need an extension, please email Laura Widhalm and let her know. 

We look forward to working with you and having a successful 2nd auction and gala for our school!

If you have questions, please email [email protected] or [email protected] .

Thank you so much for supporting GVA-DC! All funds raised from the auction will go to support technology at GVA-DC!

This week we learned about words having bossy er in them, wrote using facts, started talking about main idea and details, went over an open number line for math, and read/ discussed Jackie Robinson and Rosa Parks.

January 31^st is an early release day at 12 PM.

Our morning class has started practicing for International Day on February 28^th.  If you are available to help and need volunteer hours please let me know.

This week we learned about words having bossy or in them, wrote using how-to steps, read a story looking for feeling and senses, went over graphing and data vocabulary for math, and read/ discussed Harriet Tubman.

Book orders are due by tonight if interested.

There is no school on Monday due to Martin Luther King Jr. day.

Spirit night is Tuesday, January 21, 2020 from 4-8PM at Volcano Chinese –Sushi.  You can dine in or do take out.  Just remember to tell them you are from GVA.

January 31^st is an early release day at 12PM.

Early bird tickets for the silent auction night start February 10-March 10.  The deal is 1 ticket and drink ticket for $40 and 2 tickets and two drink tickets for $80.  March 11 the price goes up to $45 a ticket with no drink ticket.  The auction is in April.

Our morning class has started practicing for International Day on February 28^th.  If you are available to help and need volunteer hours please let me know and in what capacity.

This week we learned about how to use commas in a list, put the parts of the book Sneezy the Snowman back in order, bossy r with ar, time, and reviewed classroom expectations.

Book orders are going home today and will be placed next Friday.

On January 21, 2020, we will have a spirit night at Volcano Chinese and Sushi from 4-8 PM.  A flyer is going home today.

The morning class will be involved with the South Korea International Day in February.

In April we will have our second GVA auction night.  Soon I will be sending more information and asking for specific types of donations for our basket.

This week we reviewed ch and sh digraphs, started talking about place value, started talking about main idea and details, finished talking about needs and wants, talked a little about holidays around the world, worked on our factual chapter books, and read Sneezy the Snowman and did a fun project.

Dibles and Maps test scores went home in Friday folders yesterday.  There are five students who missed tests due to absences.  These students did take the tests on Wednesday, but scores were not ready to print.  I will send them after the break.

I have processed three book orders and one of them was delivered and books sent home.  I put through two additional book orders over the past week and they have not been delivered yet.   They also should be ready to send after break.

Thanks to everyone who brought something last minute for our winter party on Wednesday.   The students appeared to have a great time!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe break!

This week was a little different due to MAPS and Dibles testing.   I plan to send results next Thursday.  There were a few absences and makeups will most likely take place sometime after the break.  Grades will also be completed by next Friday.   With Dibles sometimes the score will go down because it is the first time we actually test reading instead of pre-reading skills.  Please remember to read nightly with your children.  When we partner your child will grow more.  If scores have gone up please continue to do what you are doing and if scores have gone down significantly I urge you to read.  Thank you for your assistance.

This week we did learn about digraph wh, continued writing our factual books, did more with commas, talked about consumer and producer, and talked a little more about shapes.

I plan to put through another book order tomorrow if you are at all interested.

Next Wednesday my afternoon class will have a party.  I will give more details soon, most likely it will start at 2:30 PM. If you are interested in coming please send me an email so I can tell the front office.  If you are interested in bringing food I plan to set up the SIgnUp Genius sometime this weekend.

Remember next Thursday is a half-day due to International Day and Friday is no school for students.

I wish you all a wonderful break and time to spend with your family.

This week we learned about digraph sh, started learning basic economics, continued learning about coins, finished reviewing shapes, finished the first bend of informational writing and started learning about commas.

I am going to place a Scholastic order tonight due to trying to get the books before we leave on winter break.  It typically takes a week to get books once ordered, but I want to give as much time as possible.

We have had a few confirmed cases of lice eggs.  In an effort to keep spreading to a minimum I am cleaning all classroom pillows and earphones for the computer area.  These will return after winter break.

Reminder Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 10, 2019.  If you are interested in donating to GVA please see the flyer going home today in Friday Folders.  The other side of the flyer tells information about a holiday bake sale on Wednesday, December 18, 2019.

This week we learned about diagraph th, did more with shades of meaning, discussed what it was like being on the Mayflower, continued to talk about defining shapes, started talking about telling time, continued working on informational writing, and did an adjective activity. 

Enjoy your break, stay safe, and enjoy family time.  Please remember to take some time for reading!

When we come back:

Monday, December 2, 2019, is the first day of school after Thanksgiving break.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019, is Spirit Night at Colonna’s from 4-8 PM. 

I am excited to announce we collected over $22,000 for our Fun Run.  If you donated or were involved in helping this event take place thank you.

This week we learned about digraph ch, starting to learn about “the H Brothers”, defining shapes, shades of meaning, and writing using informational writing. 

Please remember to set aside at least twenty minutes daily to read.  Try to pick books of interest or go to the library.  For variety, students can read to you, they can do RazKids online, you can read to them, or they can listen to books on cd.

Next Friday, November 22, 2019, is a teacher workday followed by Thanksgiving break the next week.  Please enjoy the time with family! 

A few families I sent home handwriting packets.  Please remember those are due the week after we get back from Thanksgiving break.  Also, some families have been reading bags in books I sent home.  Remember to send them back when you are ready for the next level.

Coming from the school,l we are still in need of some parents who would be interested in shoveling on snowy days before school.  We also need of a King Soopers Lead to keep the advertising going and thirdly a research assistant who can help lookup information from home.

PIC is next Thursday, November 14, 2019.

This week we learned about the –og family, finished our fall descriptive writing piece, started informative writing, started to talk about history, and continued to work on fact families.  We also started to define shapes using advanced vocabulary such as scalene triangle.

Schoolwide the door decoration contest is starting soon.  I was wondering if any parents could help?  Please email me. To get a prize the students need to make part of it and the door is supposed to be educational.  I was thinking about something with Sweden.  

The second-grade classes are doing a pajama drive through November 21, 2019.  They are accepting only new pajamas, in sizes newborn to adult, complete sets with both bottom and top or appropriate nightgown, pajamas for all seasons but especially winter months.  Please donate if you are interested.

Congratulations to the French Village for a wonderful international day yesterday!

Due to weather conditions, Monday, November 4, 2019, is the rescheduled prize day for the Fun Run which will take place with PM classes.

Yesterday, the students cleaned out classroom folders.  Please take a moment to clean out Friday Folders and look over the work your students have done for the past month.  Also, please remember to sign your student Friday Folders.  Also, some students still need help with remembering to bring Friday folders back by Thursday.

Schoolwide we like to encourage parent involvement.  In an effort to do so we are aiming at 80% of parents signing and returning Friday folders.  Periodically, I will let you know where our classes stand.

This week we worked on our fall writing, continued reviewing fact families, and finished talking about cultures with looking at the Seven Wonders of the World.

There has been a rise in the number of students bringing toys to school.  Toys can get lost and become a distraction in the learning environment.  Please keep the toys at home.

During some conferences, I said I would be sending home resources.  Please check your Friday folders and I appreciate partnering with you on your child’s education.  Please let me know if you need anything.

This week we learned about the –ip family, started learning about adjectives, did some fall writing, continued to work with fact families, as well as cultures around the world.

The field trip next week is canceled and we plan to have one after the holidays.  I will keep you posted

Tuesday: For now prize day for the Fun Run is scheduled on October 29, 2019, with afternoon classes.

Thursday: October 31st from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Costumes: Students may change into costumes prior to the “Parade of Costumes” at 2:30 pm (costumes SHOULD NOT be worn all day!)  All costumes should adhere to the following guidelines:

-No masks or full face painting will be allowed. However, students can have “limited” makeup like whiskers, freckles, eye makeup, etc.

-Costumes must not be too scary or inappropriate for the school environment. Please, no gory or grotesque costumes.

-No props are allowed. (no swords, weapons, wands, etc)

-The school is not responsible for costumes that are torn or damaged while at school.

-Costumes should not interfere with the ability of a student to go to the bathroom by themselves.

 Parade: Beginning at 2:30 pm, students will march in the “Parade of Costumes” through the hallways and out in front of school (weather permitting) to show-off their costumes.  Parents wishing to view the parade may line up along the outdoor parade loop along the front sidewalk.

Classroom Parties: Classroom parties will commence immediately following the parade.  Please take note of an email from Sign Up Genius.

Friday International Day France and early release at 12:00 PM