Thank you to those of you who extended well wishes for my daughter!  It has been a stressful week but everything with the surgery went really well!!!  I appreciate your kind thoughts and prayers!

Our spelling words for this week are:
ran, sit, win, not, can, let, because, caught, fault, pretty
Bonus words: animals, argument

We started our 1 School 1 Book assignment for the year.  It's called Zapato Power.  Our whole school will read the book in our classrooms, have discussions, complete activities, and even take part in a school wide service project.  We are collecting new or gently used shoes for Shoeman Water Projects, which is an organization that collects shoes and exports them to secondary markets for resale.  Then they use the funds generated to provide communities around the world with clean drinking water, well drilling rigs, water purification systems, repairs for hand pumps, and health and hygiene training.  Thank you James and his family for donating quite a few pairs of shoes so far!  We had an almost brand new pair of adult Reebok's donated, but I'm not sure from who.  I've asked the class twice where they came from and no one has claimed them! So thank you, whoever you are!  :)  This project will run until May 19.

There will be a hat day on May 6 to raise money for Joshua's Great Things, which is an organization that raises money for children with brain cancer.  Joshua was a student here at Whiteside.  When he was in first grade he was in my homeroom.  He passed away in 2013 from a long struggle with brain cancer.  His family runs the organization and they do "Great Things" for children with brain cancer.

Reading story this week:  The Great Ball Game
Reading Homework journals due Thursday, May 5
Multiple Choice reading tests and spelling test on Thursday, May 5
Written Reading and Spelling test on Friday, May 6

I am so proud of our kiddos for their amazing work on last weeks reading and spelling tests as well as our math test!  We had a LARGE number of A's and A+'s on these tests.  (I counted the math grades--- 14 A's or A+'s)  WOW!  Great job!!!!!  The written reading tests are getting better and better!  I am LOVING our complete sentences!  We are just about ready for second grade!  YAY!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALANA FOR MAKING HER AR GOAL TODAY!  WOO HOO!  

The Book Fair is running.  Our day to shop is Tuesday, May 10 during our Library time.

Mayfest and Carnival is May 17.  Parents, if you can, consider taking a morning off work to attend the Mayfest.  Mrs. Brush organizes a FANTASTIC performance, which the whole school takes part in.  More information about this day will come home later.

High Fives & Hugs!  :)