NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 30TH

Hi! HAPPY PUMPKIN DAY! We had such a fun-filled day! We finished writing our make-believe stories about our pumpkin characters, and we turned them into picture books! We estimated the circumference of our class pumpkin and how many seeds were in the pumpkin, and then we measured it, carved it, and counted the seeds to see how close our estimates were! While carving, we talked about how a jack-o-lantern can remind us of Jesus. We cut off the top and talked about how God wants us to open our minds up to him. We cleaned out all the "yucky stuff" and discussed how Jesus cleans us from our sins. We carved hearts for the eyes to remind us of how Jesus wants us to see others the way He sees them...with love. Then we carved a cross for the nose to remind us of how Jesus died on the cross for us. The mouth we carved into the shape of a fish to remind us to tell others about Jesus. After that, we carved rectangle ears to remind us of Bibles and to remind us to "listen to" God's Word. Finally, we put a candle inside to remind us that the Bible tells us to be a light to the world!

Before pumpkin day officially started, we had a wonderful time in chapel "kicking off" our Operation Christmas Child project. We will be doing this a little bit differently this year. We will be asking each child to send in 10 of a certain item...for example, someone may be asked to send in 10 toothbrushes...someone may be asked to send in 10 balls...someone may be asked to send in 10 bags of hard candy...etc. We are trying to make 34 boxes for each second grade classroom. On November 19th, we will be putting these boxes together in class (We would love to have some parent helpers!) after our Thanksgiving on the Lawn Celebration. It should be tons of fun! What a great way to share Jesus' love with others!

Here are some other things we learned this week:

• Reading - We read the story "Corduroy" and practiced the reading strategies Making Predictions and Making Inferences.


• Language Arts - We learned about quotation marks and practiced finding them in our reading and using them in our writing.


• Math - We practiced making numbers using ones, tens, and hundreds blocks; we practiced reading and writing number words up to 100; and we practiced reading graphs.


• Writing - We learned how to begin a story by using a "5 finger lead" and how to write a make-believe story with a beginning, middle, and end.


• Science - We learned about different types of soil.


• History - We reviewed map skills, focusing on continents, countries, and states, and we talked about the symbolism of the American Flag.


• Bible - We learned about how God set the Israelites apart, and how we are "set apart" to be different from the rest of the world even though we live in the world. We are special to God!

Here are just a few reminders:

• Our field trip to the Mahaffey Theater will be NEXT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH. BE SURE TO PACK A LUNCH FOR YOUR CHILD THAT DAY AS WE WON'T BE BACK TO SCHOOL IN TIME TO EAT HOT LUNCH! THANKS!


• The Book Fair is next week! Mrs. Corsino's class will shop on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH---THE SAME DAY AS THE FIELD TRIP---at 1:50 in the afternoon. Please be sure to send your child to school with money in a baggie or in an envelope labeled with your child's name that day!


• The flag project is due on NOVEMBER 11TH!


• We will be having our annual THANKSGIVING ON THE LAWN from 10-12 on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH. An order form will be coming home in the Friday Folder! An adult meal will cost $8 and a child's meal $5. YUM!

During my personal devotion time this week, I've been reading in the Book of Galatians. One tiny little verse that "jumped out" at me was a portion of verse 6 which says, "...God does not judge by external appearances..." It fit in with what I've been teaching the children about kindness this week. Just because someone doesn't look pretty or handsome...maybe they're dirty...missing teeth...wearing old, torn-up clothes...doesn't mean they're not kind. And just because someone looks pretty or handsome...wearing expensive designer clothes or shoes... having perfect teeth and a beautiful smile...having a wonderful complexion...doesn't mean they are kind. We need to notice what's on the inside of people...listen to the things they say and watch the things they do. God sees our hearts and He notices what's on the inside!

Have FUN this weekend!

In Christ's Name,

Mrs. Corsino and Mrs. Lupia

PS Mrs. Corsino's Star Student next week will be FAITH.

Mrs. Lupia's will be ADRIANNA.

SECRET WORD: FLAG