Hello Summer!!

It's hard to believe, but the end of the 2015-2016 school year is here!  My room is all packed up and ready to be moved over to the ES!  As I reflect back, I am happy with the growth the students made this school year!  I look forward to new kiddos and a new classroom in August.  It will be full of fun, learning, and memories!    

I leave for Europe in a week and I am super excited for that adventure!  I will also be teaching my swim lessons this summer, as well as working on my house.  My summer will end with a trip to FL.  I hope everyone has a relaxing and safe summer break!

See everyone in August! :)

2016 CCIS Olympic Day

Yesterday (5/20/16) was the 2016 CCIS Olympic Day!  Even though the sun was not shining, it was still a great day to be outside having fun, getting some fresh air, and making memories!  We will need to finish some finals on Monday, so we do not have the final totals and winners yet, but I can tell you that the Victorious Gremlins got second in the tug-of-war!

This past week we also went to the MS to celebrate our friend who is graduating 8th grade on Monday, May 23rd!  Shannon was one of my students in my first class at CCES, now she's graduating 8th grade!  I love that our life skills programs work/play together over the years; it's always so fun to see my "old dogs" as they grow up and become adults!

May 16-20 Last full week!!! :)

It’s our last full week at CCIS!  Let’s have a GREAT last week to the school year!

Upcoming dates:

5/20/16: Olympic Day

5/22/16: PSO Color Run

5/23/16: Last day with students, 1:25 dismissal

Reminders:

• Make sure all library books are turned in
• Make sure any fines are paid (library, lunch, etc)
• Read with your child 10-15 minutes
• Send a snack each day
• Tuesday is Library day
• Books, Notebooks, Folder, and Completed Homework need to come back EVERY day

Godly Park

Today (5/16/16) was our final community trip to Godly Park.  It was a beautiful day to be outside with our friends from STEPS and PATH.

Exploration Station

Sorry, I'm a little late posting these pictures from our April 29th community trip to Exploration Station in Bourbonnais, IL.  It was fun to see some of the changes in the community where I started my teaching career.  We went with our friends from the STEPS program at the MS.  The kids had a great time exploring the different areas at Exploration Station.  There was an old fashion ice cream parlor, grocery store, castle (the favorite), airplane, tubes, dress up room, and much more.  We enjoyed a picnic lunch outside near the playground; even though it was a little chilly, all the fresh air was nice!  Before we left, the kids had a chance to play on the playground.
It's always nice to take the kids places they have never been before and give them new experiences.

May 9-13

Happy Mother's Day!!  I hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day!

# of week: 30

Stories: Finish stories

City Shapes

Because You Recycle

Upcoming dates:

5/10/16: Last CCIS library day, make sure all books are returned
5/11/16: 11:35 dismissal

5/13/16: Godly Park Community Trip: students need a sack lunch

5/20/16: Olympic Day

5/22/16: PSO Color Run

5/23/16: Last day with students, 1:25 dismissal

Reminders:

• The weather is changing, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately
• Review Edmark Words/Personal info several times a week
• Read with your child 10-15 minutes
• Send a snack each day
• Tuesday is Library day
• Books, Notebooks, Folder, and Completed Homework need to come back EVERY day

Please encourage your child to work hard and have good behavior so we can end the school year on a good note.  We have A LOT of fun stuff coming up, and I want the students to be able to participate and enjoy those fun things!

May 2-6

I CAN NOT believe we are in the final month of the school year! 16 school days left for the kids! Let's have a great end to the school year!

# of week: 29

Stories:

City Shapes

Because You Recycle

Upcoming dates:

5/3/16: Book Fair, kids can bring money to buy a book

5/5/16: Final CC library visit

5/6/16: Muffins for Mom, 7:30-8:00 am, Olympic Day money ($3) due

5/11/16: 11:35 dismissal

5/13/16: Godly Park Community Trip

5/20/16: Olympic Day

5/22/16: PSO Color Run

5/23/16: Last day with students, 1:25 dismissal

Reminders:

• The weather is changing, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately
• Review Edmark Words/Personal info several times a week
• Read with your child 10-15 minutes
• Send a snack each day
• Tuesday is Library day
• Books, Notebooks, Folder, and Completed Homework need to come back EVERY day

Please encourage your child to work hard and have good behavior so we can end the school year on a good note.  We have A LOT of fun stuff coming up, and I want the students to be able to participate and enjoy those fun things!

April 25-29

Letter of the Week: Zz

# of week: 27

Stories: Finishing stories

Busy at School

Bats Day and Night

Upcoming dates:

4/27/16: Muffins for Mom slip due

4/29/16: Community trip

5/3/16: Book Fair, kids can bring money to buy a book

5/6/16: Muffins for Mom, 7:30-8:00 am, Olympic Day money ($3) due

5/11/16: 11:35 dismissal

5/23/16: Last day with students

Reminders:

• The weather is changing, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately
• Review Edmark Words/Personal info several times a week
• Read with your child 10-15 minutes
• Send a snack each day
• Tuesday is Library day
• Books, Notebooks, Folder, and Completed Homework need to come back EVERY day

Olympic Day is coming in May.  Our class will be tie-dying shirts to wear that day.  I will buy the shirts the kids will need for that day.  Please send $3 to pay me back for buying the shirts.  Please contact me if you have any questions.  Please send money by Friday, May 6, 2016.

April 18-23

Letter of the Week: Zz

# of week: 27

Stories:

Busy at School

Bats Day and Night

Upcoming dates:

4/20/16: 5th Grade concert @ HS 7:00 (Betty)

4/22/16: CCIS Career Fair and Spelling Bee, Earth Day (green/blue day)

4/27/16: Muffins for Mom slip due

4/29/16: Community trip

5/6/16: Muffins for Mom, 7:30-8:00 am

5/11/16: 11:35 dismissal

5/23/16: Last day with students

Reminders:

• The weather is changing, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately
• Review Edmark Words/Personal info several times a week
• Read with your child 10-15 minutes
• Send a snack each day
• Tuesday is Library day
• Books, Notebooks, Folder, and Completed Homework need to come back EVERY day

Olympic Day is coming in May.  Our class will be tie-dying shirts to wear that day.  I will buy the shirts the kids will need for that day.  Please send $3 to pay me back for buying the shirts.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

Welcome Back Monarch Butterflies!!

In the fall, our class read a News-2-You about how Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico during the winter months and migrate back to the US and Canada during the spring.  I found this article on the Scholastic website and we read about how the Monarchs are on their way back north.  The kids were able to recall the vocab we learned in the fall and were able to tell me why the Monarchs migrate in the fall.  We read that there are triple the amount of Monarchs coming back this spring compared to last spring!  Even though there are more Monarchs, we still need to do more to help them.  I told the students to be on the look-out for Monarchs flying around Coal City!

Monarchs Make a Comeback

April 11-15

It was a great first week back after spring break.  31 more school days till summer break!  That’s crazy to think about, but let’s have a great last couple weeks and finish up strong! :)

Letter of the Week: Yy

# of week: 26

Stories: Finishing stories

Backyard Camping

Building a Road

Upcoming dates:

4/13/16: 11:35 dismissal

4/14/16: Family Wellness Night @ HS 6:00-8:00

4/22/16: CCIS Career Fair and Spelling Bee, Earth Day (green/blue day)

4/29/16: Community trip: more info to come

Reminders:

• The weather is changing, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately
• Review Edmark Words/Personal info several times a week
• Read with your child 10-15 minutes
• Send a snack each day
• Tuesday is Library day
• Books, Notebooks, Folder, and Completed Homework need to come back EVERY day

Wild Friday!

We've been back at CCIS for a week, and what a week we've had!  Glen and his new dog Bear came to school on Monday morning to talk to the students about being safe.  4th grade had their music concert on Wednesday night.  Thursday we went over the the Public Library for a visit with Ms. Rene.  And today (Friday) we had Donuts with Dad before school (what a GREAT turn out), the PARCC assembly, and furry friends in the afternoon!  The rabbits belong to my parents (I used to raise rabbits in 4-H and FFA), and they brought them in to show the kids because we read a Scholastic News about Rabbit Island in Japan.  Mrs. Gernez's class also came in to hang out with the rabbits.
I think what makes CCIS a special place is how we work hard, but play hard too!  I hope the kids had a great first week back and are ready to rock the last few weeks of the school year! :)

 

April 4-8

I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Easter and Spring Break!  I was able to see some family/friends and get some projects around my house done.  We are in the final stretch of the 2015-2016 school year, so let’s help the students finish up strong!

Letter of the Week: Xx

# of week: 25

Stories:

Backyard Camping

Building a Road

Upcoming dates:

4/6/16: 4th grade music concert at HS

4/7/16: CC Public Library visit

4/8/16: Donuts with Dad, CCIS 7:30-8:00 am

4/13/16: 11:35 dismissal

4/14/16: Family Wellness Night @ HS 6:00-8:00

4/22/16: CCIS Career Fair and Spelling Bee

4/29/16: Community trip: more info to come

Reminders:

• The weather is changing, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately
• Review Edmark Words/Personal info several times a week
• Read with your child 10-15 minutes
• Send a snack each day
• Tuesday is Library day
• Books, Notebooks, Folder, and Completed Homework need to come back EVERY day

March 21-25

This week is a goofy week with skating and our PBS event, so no stories, letter/number of week.

Letter of the Week:

# of week:

Stories:

Upcoming dates:

3/21-3/23: Roller skating in PE

3/24/16: Donuts with Dad RSVP due

3/25/16-4/3/16: Spring break (classes resume 4/4/16)

4/6/16: 4th grade music concert

4/7/16: CC Public Library visit

4/8/16: Donuts with Dad, CCIS 7:30-8:00 am

4/13/16: 11:35 dismissal

4/14/16: Family Wellness Night @ HS 6:00-8:00

4/22/16: CCIS Career Fair and Spelling Bee

4/29/16: Community trip: more info to come

Reminders:

• The weather is changing, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately
• Review Edmark Words/Personal info several times a week
• Read with your child 10-15 minutes
• Send a snack each day
• Tuesday is Library day
• Books, Notebooks, Folder, and Completed Homework need to come back EVERY day