We have been learning a lot in first grade! In science, we did some experiments with apples. We compared different color apples and different flavor apples. We talked about the differences between tart and sweet.  Through experiments, we learned that apples float and that they brown after being sliced. In math, we are working on subtraction and adding coins. In phonics, we have started learning digraphs, including ck, th, and ng and suffixes, including "s" and "ing". We are studying realistic fiction and fantasy through reading and writing. We also have been learning a lot about Christopher Columbus. And, of course, we learn about God's love everyday! Below are some pictures of our apple experiments, the students on the playground, and some iPad fun. 

First grade is enjoying the nice weather. We spent some time reading fall stories out in the beautiful breeze. The students thought it was really funny when the wind would take our reading comprehension ball! The students are getting skilled at using the elements of a story (characters, setting, plot, and sequence) to help us retell it and understand it. 

Here are some upcoming events at school:
October 2nd: School Mass
October 3rd: Progress Reports 
October 8th: Fire Prevention Program
October 10th: Grandparent's Day
October 11th: Parent/Teacher Conferences; no school for K-5th grade
October 14th: No School (Columbus Day)
October 24th: Lifetouch Retake School Picture Day
October 31st: Halloween Party

This week our first graders learned about taking care of our beautiful world because it is a gift from God for all people. We went on a nature walk looking for some of God's gifts and they found many, including several animals and many plants. In science, we added to last week's frog lesson, by comparing frogs and toads.  In math, we are doing addition of numbers under ten and we are doing daily review of our calendar and counting coins. In language arts we are still reviewing our letter sounds and we are learning nouns, capitalization, and the suffix "s".
Some important dates coming up include:
September 18th:  No school 
September 20th:  Picture day
September 27th:  Dress down day  

During the second week of school, we worked hard and had some fun doing it. We did some review work in centers while working on our beginning of the year benchmark tests. We are still reviewing our alphabet in phonics, but we are doing more blending sounds to make words. We are learning both short and long vowels. In math, we are working on basic addition and the calendar, This week we will be doing our first spelling test, the kids will be reciting the Sign of the Cross individually, and we will be finishing our benchmark testing. In the pictures below, you can see us working in centers, using sidewalk chalk to draw some of God's gifts to us, and playing at recess. You can continue to scroll down to see previous posts and upcoming important dates. 

The first week of school was a lot of fun! We are reviewing our alphabet and the sounds our letters make. We are doing daily review of the calendar, including seasons, days of the week, and months of the year. During our morning meeting, we work in great detail with our number of the day - we create math problems, we count money, and we review it on the hundred chart. We've read several great stories, and discussed them using the story ball. In science, we learned about the life cycle of a frog and had a pet frog for the day to help us learn interactively. The students are adjusting very well to first grade and I am really enjoying this wonderful class so far!
​Here are some important upcoming dates: 
August 28th:  Home and School "Back to School" night meeting - 6:30 pm in the social hall.  
August 29th:  Dress down day 
August 30th - September 2nd:  No School - Labor Day weekend
September 4th:  Opening school Mass at 8:30 am  
September 18th:  No school
September 20th:  Picture day
September 27th:  Dress down day

It is my pleasure to welcome you to first grade at St. Joseph School! I could not be more excited to teach this wonderful upcoming first grade class! I also look forward to meeting all of you at first grade's Back to School Parent meeting on August 14th, 2019 at 6:00 pm in my classroom.

As you prepare for first grade, please refer to our classroom’s supply list below. I have also included a list of supplies for art class that your child will need in addition to the supplies needed in the classroom. Please label your child’s supplies with a Sharpie marker or name labels.  It is very helpful to have every marker, crayon, glue stick, etc. labeled as students will manage their own supplies. When you send your child to school, please have the art supplies in the art tote already, so they do not get mixed up with the classroom supplies.

Classroom Supply List
1 Box of crayons (no higher than 24 count)
5 Sharpened pencils
1 Large eraser
2 Glue sticks
2 2-pocket folders
1 Backpack or school bag
1 Pencil case or box
1 Dry erase marker
1 Coloring book 
1 package Disinfectant wipes
1 box of tissues

Mrs. Fagnani’s Art Supply List    
1 Tote bag (approximately 12 x 16)
1 Box of crayons (24 count)
1 Art shirt (pull-over)
1 Box of colored pencils
1 Box of fat classic colored markers
4 Glue sticks
4 Pencils
1 Eraser
1 Box of tissues
1 Package of Baby wipes

Copy books and journals will be provide by the school. Should you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at any time. You can reach me by calling the office at 717-632-0118 or emailing me at sbiggins@sjshanoverpa.org. May God bless you and keep you and your family safe for the remainder of the summer!

​With anticipation for a very blessed school year,
Mrs. Stacey Biggins

We had our last mystery reader of the school year. We listened to Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Ole by Judy Schachner. In this story, our favorite Siamese cat joins the circus as Skippito the Strong. After many laughs, the students had a snack and played a quick round of the "Ch" train with our mystery reader. The mystery reader program was a lot of fun this year! Thanks to everyone who participated!

We've had some great mystery readers! One reader read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. It's a story about a young raccoon starting school. The raccoon is anxious about the separation from his mother, so she kisses his hand and tells him to press it to his cheek every time he misses home. Then our mystery reader shared a snack with everyone. Our next mystery reader read The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywalt. The story about how the game Rock, Paper, Scissors started is very funny. In the kingdom of backyard, rock was the undefeated warrior; in the empire of mom's home office, paper was an undefeated warrior; and in the tiny village of junk drawer, scissors was the undefeated warrior. When the three met, they all enjoyed playing games where they could both win and lose.  Our reader gave all the students Pop Rocks to help us remember the story.