Mrs.

Donzes 1st
Newsletter
(2014-2015)
September 5, 2014
Classroom News
Welcome to a new year! We are off to a great
start in our first grade. The kids are learning the names of
their new friends and they are learning the routines and
procedures of being in first grade. Your children are
wonderful! They seem very excited about this school year
and I am delighted to be their teacher! We have a lot to
be excited about even though weve only been in school a
few days. You will read about some of what we are doing
on the next page.
It was wonderful meeting you at open house last week. Of
course there were a few things I forgot to tell you about.
Please make sure you label all then envelopes that
you send to school so I know what it is for,
especially if it is money for something. Please put
your childs name on it too. Thanks!
I have the special schedule listed on the page. It
will tell you what days we have specials.
Wednesday is our day for library, which begins
next week. Your child will bring his/her library book
home on Wednesdays, but please make sure they
return it by the following Tuesday to ensure that it
is ready for us when we go to library on
Wednesday. Any child that forgets his/her book
will not be allowed to check another one out that
week.



Important Dates
Sept: Dont forget to read to/with
your child and record it on the
September Reading Calendar. Goal
is: 15 minutes 5 times a week. Your
child will earn a Pizza Hut Personal Pan
Pizza starting in October. In
September your child will get to pick
something out of our Way to Go or
You Did it bucket.
Sept. 12: School pictures
Sept. 16: Logans Fundraiser Night
Sept. 17 -18: Successful Start
Conferences 5-7pm
Sept. 19: Popcorn Day, 25 cents a bag
Sept. 23: Late Start Day, school begins
at 10:40
Sept. 26: Johnny Appleseeds
Birthday/apple theme for week/watch for
notes about bringing in favorite kind of
apple on Sept. 22.
Special Schedule:
Monday: MUSIC
Tuesday: PE
Wednesday: COMPUTER LAB
& LIBRARY Try to have books all
returned by Tuesday so your child knows they
can check out another book on Wednesday.)
Thursday: ART
Friday: P.E.
Mrs. Kim Donze Email address: kdonze@rockfordschools.org
Blog:: kimdonzeclassroom.blogspot.com (This is not current yet, will be shortly.)
Office Phone #: 616-863-6362, Classroom phone #: 616-863-6363 ext. 4721
I will be sending home a volunteer consent form for you to fill out and return if you would like to, or have signed
up to be a helper in our classroom. If you filled one out already please disregard the form. I am sending it
home with every child, because I dont want to leave anyone out. Thank you in advance for helping us this year.

What Were Learning
Reading: We have spent time looking at books this week, and
reading new poems and songs in our poem folders. Next week I will be
assessing the students and give them some leveled and genre books to
keep in their book boxes at school for Read to self time. The children
will learn there are 3 ways to read a book and how to choose a book.
Math: We have spent most of our math time learning about the
calendar this week. Next week the kids will get their math journals, and
home links (homework) will go home. Please make sure your child
understands the directions. You may need to assist a little and look it
over to see that it was done correctly. Then have them pack it in their
folder to be returned the next day for credit. Please make sure your
child has his/her name on their papers for credit. Thanks!
Writing: We have spent most of our writing time doing beginning
of the year assessments, but I am impressed with their ability to come
up with ideas to write about. Everyone has put great effort in their
writing, and I am excited. I will show you all the growth they make this
year at conferences. You will be amazed!
Science: At this time the Monarch caterpillars have not arrived.
We are waiting patiently, and begun thinking about them, and talking
about What we Know right now. We are thrilled and we will keep you
posted on all the stages they go through in the next few weeks. I will
send some pictures soon. Im sure the kids will also keep you posted on
their life cycle.
Social Studies: We have been writing
our social contract togetherthese are the rules
we will follow in our classroom. We will also be
learning about the Constitution this month.
Word Wall Words:
Any word with an * next to it, means it
does not follow a rule for sounding out.
Sept. 8-12
Every day this week we will
introduce 5 words from list 2.
Skill work: at family
Sept. 15-19
can, *one, me, like, did,
and color words
Skill work: an family and short /i /sound
Sept. 22-26
get, see, *were, *do, this
Skill work: et word family, and we will
begin teaching the students about
digraphs, using a story called The H
Brothers.



Belmonts Best
Mrs. Thelen will invite
these kids to eat their
lunch with her during the
week of:
Sept. 15: Carson Moore
Sept. 29: Elle Fonnesbeck
PTO has purchased a book
for each child again this
year and they will receive it
at lunch on their special
day.
Remember to fill out the Belmonts
Best paper and return it soon.

Other Information Here
We will be starting Belmonts Best in a few weeks so
please get that orange paper filled out and return it
soon. (It was in the handout at open house.)
I sent home a book order at open house. If you would
like to go on-line to order books for your child you will
need to register at the web address:
scholastic.com/readingclub The activation code is:
LQBV6. Or feel free to send a check along with the
order form back to me at school. Happy Reading!
Please remember to email me back about a day that
works best for you in regards to Sept. conferences.
I look forward to talking with you soon.