The Best is Yet to Come!!

Happy Friday! It's hard to believe we're in the FOURTH QUARTER!! Thank you to all parents and students for a wonderful year so far - the best is yet to come!
Be on the lookout this week for the "Mystery Liquid" assignment that is coming home. We have been studying the various properties of liquids - and this will put our knowledge of those properties to the test! The information for this assignment will be included in the homework packet.
Thank you to all the students who submitted entries for the Economic Concepts poster contest! They all looked FABULOUS - I'll keep you posted as to the results!
We will be continuing multiplication this week, and leading into division next week. The students have done a very impressive job with the various skills of multiplication - way to go kiddos!
I hope everyone has a great weekend! If anyone goes to the Cherry Blossom Festival I'd love to see any pictures you take!
Thank you for all your continued support! :)

Happy Spring!!

Hello and happy Spring!! As I'm sure you've heard, our classroom was painted this week. The students were great with being flexible when it came to helping out, and understanding that things may be moved around due to the painters coming and going.

Next week will be a short week - we have an early release day on Thursday and no school for students on Friday. The students will not have a spelling list or mad minute quiz next week. The students will be taking the quarter 3 Math assessment - which we have been preparing for!

We have also started taking a closer look at multiplication this week, and the kids have had a BLAST with it! We've discussed different strategies that can be used to solve multiplication problems - including repeated addition and using arrays.

Next week will be the last week to turn in the economic concept poster contest entries! I included an attachment of the informational letter and a piece of paper that meets the requirements in the email that was sent with the blog. Can't wait to see all the results!

Have a great weekend! Enjoy the spring weather!

Friday the 13th...

Good afternoon! We've had another fantastic week in first grade! Seussical was a hit! If you've never been to the Weinberg Center, I highly recommend it! What a cool place! Thank you to the chaperones who were able to join us!

We've been reviewing time, temperature, and money - and finished up the week with a Jeopardy game with Mrs. Pangborn's class! TONS of fun! Our quarterly assessment for math will be coming up the week of the 23rd, this was a great way to prepare!

Thank you to all of you who have sent in egg cartons for our upcoming planting project! Our final science unit is titled "Organisms" and focuses quite a bit on various life cycles. For example, seed to plant, caterpillar to butterfly, tadpole to frog, etc. Either the cardboard OR Styrofoam cartons are acceptable! Thanks so much!

Coming up in April, our students will be focusing on "how to" writing, as well as persuasive writing. I plan to show the students how to use PowerPoint, and another new program we have called PhotoStory, to create their "how to" projects. Please be brainstorming some different ideas that your son/daughter could show others how to do. Some examples we've had in the past include "How to...make a paper football, draw a dinosaur, do a cartwheel, make a picture frame..." and so on. I'm really excited to see what the students decide to do! Please be mindful that the students will need to be able to show how to do this in five minutes or less. Their PowerPoint presentations will show the different steps of their process. PhotoStory will be put together of photos that I, or another teacher will take of the different steps of the process - and then the students read their directions into the computer! The finished product is like a "how to" video - narrated by them!!

Additionally, I've added a new prize to our classroom prize basket - No Homework Passes! Some of you have seen these come home already. The rules for these are as follows: 1. May only be used for one page of homework. 2. May not be used for book baggie homework. 3. Must be attached to the homework page the student chooses not to do. Thank you!

I have inserted the letter I received from the Magnet Department with a list of links for summer vacation programs.

Summer Program Options for Elementary and Middle School Students

Following is a list of summer program options for children in the Frederick area. The list certainly is not inclusive, but provides some possible options that address a wide variety of student interests. In providing the list, the Office of Gifted and Talented Education of Frederick County Public Schools is not endorsing or promoting the programs, but is simply offering information as a service to parents and children. The programs, phone numbers and web addresses are accurate as of March 2009, but subject to change without notice.

· Maryland Summer Centers for Gifted and Talented Students are sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education and are held in locations throughout the state. Information and online registration are available in February at www.marylandpublicschools.org/summercenters. Summary sheets about the programs are available in FCPS schools in mid-March. A limited number of brochures are available from FCPS Office of Gifted and Talented Education (301-696-6891).
· Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University. Advanced screening process, including testing, is required. Information for this program is available at 1-410-516-0278 or at http://www.cty.jhu.edu/.
· Frederick Community College offers year round programs for students. Parents may call 301-624-2820 to be added to the mailing list or visit www.frederick.edu/courses_and_programs/children.aspx, Programs for Children.
· Summer Institute for the Gifted offers high quality summer programs for academically advanced students in grades 4-11 at prestigious institutions of higher learning. This two-week program is costly. For more information call 1-866-303-4744 or http://www.giftedstudy.com/.
· Rose Hill Manor offers history camps for students in the summer. Information is available at 301-600-1650 or visit http://www.rosehillmuseum.com/ .
· Delaplaine Visual Arts Center offers many classes for students in grades preschool through high school in the arts. Parents may call 301-698-0656 or visit http://www.delaplaine.org/ to request a brochure or to be added to the mailing list.
· YMCA offers summer programs for students. Information is available at 301-663-5131 or
at http://frederickymca.org/ .
· Hood Athletics Summer Camps for boys and girls of various ages in Basketball, Soccer, http://frederickymca.org/ Lacrosse, Volleyball and Field Hockey are available at www.hood.edu/athletics/athletics.cfm?pid=athletics_summercamps07.html.
· Hood College offers swimming classes. Information is available at the Aquatics Center at www.hoodathletics.com/aquatics/aqu-welcome.


· Mount St. Mary’s University Residential/Commuter Soccer Camp is sponsored by the Rob Ryerson Professional Soccer School and offers week long soccer camps for both boys and girls from ages 10-18. Information is available at 301-447-5383 or http://www.scoringoals.com/.
· Dream Catcher Farm, located in Adamstown, Maryland, offers summer riding camps for one or more weeks, with limited enrollment available. The farm features an indoor and outdoor riding rink. Camp includes riding instruction, training in horsemanship, horse care, trail rides and arts and crafts (1-301-607-4238).
· Frederick Arts Council sponsors programs (301-662-4190).
· West Winds All Sports Camp at 11411 Gas House Pike in New Market offers week long camps focusing on golf, tennis, swimming and other sports. Information is available at
1-800-627-2267 or at http://www.campchannel.com/.
· Clustered Spires Golf Course offers golf camps for students all summer (301-624-1295).
· The Frederick SportsPlex offers summer sport camps. Information is available at 301-662-6866 or at http://www.sportsplexent.com/.
· Fountain Rock Park and Nature Center is rich in natural and historical interest and offers many hands on programs for children. Information is available at 301-898-1460 or at www.byways.org/explore/byways/58845/places/73744/ .
· Life and Discovery is a learning institute for enrichment and discovery. Classes include math, Chinese studies, reading and writing. Information is available at 301-631-6838 or http://www.lifeanddiscovery.com/.
· Volunteer Frederick Inc., located at 31 West Patrick Street, offers summer opportunities for students from ages 11-17. Students can choose from three two-week programs called SummerServe Express or one five-week program called SummerServe. There is a charge for these programs, but scholarships are available. Free volunteer opportunities also are available. Students may consider any of these opportunities offered through Volunteer Frederick Inc. to fulfill their service learning requirements. Additional information is available at 301-663-5214 or at http://www.volunteerfrederick.org/.


Local magazines, published each spring, provide information about additional summer youth programs. These magazines, which usually may be obtained at no cost in grocery stores, doctor’s offices and real estate offices in Frederick County, are:
· Frederick County Guide, 301-662-6050 or www.thefrederickguide.com/thefrederickguide/ .
· Family, 301-662-8171 or http://www.fredmag.com/.
· The Recreator (a free brochure prepared by Frederick County Division of Parks and Recreation) 301-600-2936 or http://www.co.frederick.md.us/index.asp?nid=3034.
· Child Guide, 540-955-2004 or http://www.childguidemagazine.com/.



Summer Program Options for Elementary and Middle School Students

Following is a list of summer program options for children in the Frederick area. The list certainly is not inclusive, but provides some possible options that address a wide variety of student interests. In providing the list, the Office of Gifted and Talented Education of Frederick County Public Schools is not endorsing or promoting the programs, but is simply offering information as a service to parents and children. The programs, phone numbers and web addresses are accurate as of March 2009, but subject to change without notice.

· Maryland Summer Centers for Gifted and Talented Students are sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education and are held in locations throughout the state. Information and online registration are available in February at www.marylandpublicschools.org/summercenters. Summary sheets about the programs are available in FCPS schools in mid-March. A limited number of brochures are available from FCPS Office of Gifted and Talented Education (301-696-6891).
· Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University. Advanced screening process, including testing, is required. Information for this program is available at 1-410-516-0278 or at http://www.cty.jhu.edu/.
· Frederick Community College offers year round programs for students. Parents may call 301-624-2820 to be added to the mailing list or visit www.frederick.edu/courses_and_programs/children.aspx, Programs for Children.
· Summer Institute for the Gifted offers high quality summer programs for academically advanced students in grades 4-11 at prestigious institutions of higher learning. This two-week program is costly. For more information call 1-866-303-4744 or http://www.giftedstudy.com/.
· Rose Hill Manor offers history camps for students in the summer. Information is available at 301-600-1650 or visit http://www.rosehillmuseum.com/ .
· Delaplaine Visual Arts Center offers many classes for students in grades preschool through high school in the arts. Parents may call 301-698-0656 or visit http://www.delaplaine.org/ to request a brochure or to be added to the mailing list.
· YMCA offers summer programs for students. Information is available at 301-663-5131 or
at http://frederickymca.org/ .
· Hood Athletics Summer Camps for boys and girls of various ages in Basketball, Soccer, http://frederickymca.org/ Lacrosse, Volleyball and Field Hockey are available at www.hood.edu/athletics/athletics.cfm?pid=athletics_summercamps07.html.
· Hood College offers swimming classes. Information is available at the Aquatics Center at www.hoodathletics.com/aquatics/aqu-welcome.


· Mount St. Mary’s University Residential/Commuter Soccer Camp is sponsored by the Rob Ryerson Professional Soccer School and offers week long soccer camps for both boys and girls from ages 10-18. Information is available at 301-447-5383 or http://www.scoringoals.com/.
· Dream Catcher Farm, located in Adamstown, Maryland, offers summer riding camps for one or more weeks, with limited enrollment available. The farm features an indoor and outdoor riding rink. Camp includes riding instruction, training in horsemanship, horse care, trail rides and arts and crafts (1-301-607-4238).
· Frederick Arts Council sponsors programs (301-662-4190).
· West Winds All Sports Camp at 11411 Gas House Pike in New Market offers week long camps focusing on golf, tennis, swimming and other sports. Information is available at
1-800-627-2267 or at http://www.campchannel.com/.
· Clustered Spires Golf Course offers golf camps for students all summer (301-624-1295).
· The Frederick SportsPlex offers summer sport camps. Information is available at 301-662-6866 or at http://www.sportsplexent.com/.
· Fountain Rock Park and Nature Center is rich in natural and historical interest and offers many hands on programs for children. Information is available at 301-898-1460 or at www.byways.org/explore/byways/58845/places/73744/ .
· Life and Discovery is a learning institute for enrichment and discovery. Classes include math, Chinese studies, reading and writing. Information is available at 301-631-6838 or http://www.lifeanddiscovery.com/.
· Volunteer Frederick Inc., located at 31 West Patrick Street, offers summer opportunities for students from ages 11-17. Students can choose from three two-week programs called SummerServe Express or one five-week program called SummerServe. There is a charge for these programs, but scholarships are available. Free volunteer opportunities also are available. Students may consider any of these opportunities offered through Volunteer Frederick Inc. to fulfill their service learning requirements. Additional information is available at 301-663-5214 or at http://www.volunteerfrederick.org/.


Local magazines, published each spring, provide information about additional summer youth programs. These magazines, which usually may be obtained at no cost in grocery stores, doctor’s offices and real estate offices in Frederick County, are:
· Frederick County Guide, 301-662-6050 or www.thefrederickguide.com/thefrederickguide/ .
· Family, 301-662-8171 or http://www.fredmag.com/.
· The Recreator (a free brochure prepared by Frederick County Division of Parks and Recreation) 301-600-2936 or http://www.co.frederick.md.us/index.asp?nid=3034.
· Child Guide, 540-955-2004 or http://www.childguidemagazine.com/.

Have a great weekend! Thank you for all your help and support!

:) KP

Monday, March 9th

Hello! I hope everyone had the opportunity to enjoy the FABULOUS weather we had over the weekend. We had another busy, successful week last week. Students were able to create town maps using what they learned about coordinate graphing, and we learned how to write limerick poetry! Keep an eye out for these assignments to come home - they turned out great!
Special thanks to Mrs. Phelps for coming in on Friday - the students had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the goodies she brought in for us.
Please remember that tomorrow is our field trip to the Weinberg Center!! We're all really looking forward to it.
Thank you to the parents who have sent in egg cartons! I'm realizing that the cardboard kind are more of a rare find than I thought! So, if you normally purchase the Styrofoam kind, those will work as well - thank you! Also, thank you to those who've sent in the disinfecting products. It's been really very helpful in keeping the classroom as clean as possible.
Have a great week! Let's hope this weather sticks around as long as possible :)

In the event...

...that school is closed tomorrow due to the weather, all conferences will be cancelled. I will be in touch to reschedule conferences at another time. Otherwise, I plan on being there for morning conferences. Have a wonderful evening!