Happy last week of October! Thank you to all the families who came to our math data project showcase on Wednesday. It meant so much to our first graders to show you their graphs and explain what they found.
This Thursday, October 29 is Book Character Day! Students may come dressed as their favorite character from a book. Please, no candy, play weapons, or face masks. Need a costume? Families can pick up donated costumes on Tuesday, October 27, from 8 to 9 am, in front of the main entrance on Newton Street. We will also celebrate our October birthdays that day!
Thursday is also the last day of Term 1. There is no school on Friday, October 30 (Professional Development Day), Monday, November 2 (Records & Wellness Day), or Tuesday, November 3 (Election Day). We'll see everyone back on Wednesday, November 4! In ELA and SLA, we are starting Unit 2: Endangered Animals. Ask your child which animal they'd like to learn about!
First Grade
Weekly Newsletter
Week of October 26, 2026
Hello 1st Grade Families!
- Oct 26 Costume donations — last drop-off day, Monday, October 26. Bring gently used costumes to the main lobby on Newton Street.
- Oct 27 Costume pickup — Tuesday, October 27, 8–9 am, in front of the main entrance on Newton Street. Families can take a donated costume for Book Character Day.
- Oct 29 Book Character Day — Thursday, October 29. Students may dress as their favorite book character. No candy, play weapons, or face masks, please.
- Oct 29 1st Grade Birthday Celebration — Thursday, October 29, 2:45 pm. We celebrate our October birthdays! Healthy snacks to share are welcome (no candy, please).
- Oct 29 Talent Show auditions — Thursday, October 29, 3:30–5:30 pm. Sign up on ParentSquare.
- Oct 29 Last day of Term 1 — Thursday, October 29.
- Oct 30 Professional Development Day No School
- Nov 2 Records & Wellness Day No School
- Nov 3 Election Day No School
- Nov 11 Veterans Day No School
- Nov 25–27 Thanksgiving Recess No School
Specials Schedule
1:30–2:15| Monday Day A | Tuesday Day B | Wednesday Day C | Thursday Day D | Friday No School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartagena | 🎵 Music | 🔬 Science | 🏀 PE | 🏀 PE | |
| Colombia | 🔬 Science | 🏀 PE | 🏀 PE | 📚 Library | |
| España | 🏀 PE | 🏀 PE | 📚 Library | 🎨 Art | |
| DR | 📚 Library | 🎨 Art | 🎵 Music | 🔬 Science | |
| Managua | 🏀 PE | 📚 Library | 🎨 Art | 🎵 Music | |
| Venezuela | 🎨 Art | 🎵 Music | 🔬 Science | 🏀 PE | |
Math News
This short week, we keep working on Module 2, Topic A: story problems where we add to or take from a group. Students read and picture each story, act it out with cubes or draw a math picture, then write a matching number sentence. Thinking about what happens to a number when we add to it or take from it helps students see how addition and subtraction are related.
• Lesson 3: subtract 1, and subtract 1 less than the total (7 − 1 = 6, and 7 − 6 = 1)
• Lesson 4: use fingers to take away 4, 5, or 6 all at once
• Lesson 5: use Read–Draw–Write to solve story problems where the result is unknown
Try this at home:
• Set the table: "There are 3 forks on the table. We put out 4 more. How many forks are on the table now?"
• One less: put out 8 crackers. Eat 1: how many are left? Start again with 8 and eat all but 1: how many are left now? What do you notice?
• Fingers at once: hold up 9 fingers and put down 5 all at once. How many are still up?
More ideas: Topic A Family Math letter
Literacy News
Welcome to Unit 2: Endangered Animals! In English and in Spanish, students will learn what endangered animals need to survive and how we can help protect them.
SLA: We are reading No dejes que desaparezcan (Don't Let Them Disappear), a book about animals like gorillas, blue whales, whale sharks, polar bears, orangutans, and tigers. Students share key details from the book in complete sentences and learn three new words: en peligro de extinción (endangered), sobrevivir (to survive), and extinto (extinct). On Thursday, after exploring a gallery of animal books, each student chooses the animal they will research for the rest of the unit and writes Yo voy a investigar ___ porque ___. (I am going to research ___ because ___.)
ELA: Our weekly questions are What does endangered mean? and Where do endangered animals live? Students take a gallery walk of five animals (polar bears, tigers, sea turtles, crocodiles, and elephants) and write what they see, think, and wonder. Then we read Why and Where Are Animals Endangered? by Bobbie Kalman to write our own definitions of endangered and habitat and to find the book's main topic.
Talk about it at home: Which animal did your child choose, and why? Talk about its habitat together. Does it live in a forest, an ocean, a desert, on the ice, or in the mountains?
Reading at home: Please have your child read to you in English for at least 20 minutes a day.
Ask Your Child About...
Words of the Week
ROARS
Congratulations to this week's ROARS students for showing outstanding character!
Cartagena 
Colombia 
España 
DR 
Managua 
Venezuela