Mrs. Rogers’ winter creations

Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing your children with me- they bring joy to our school every day and are a blessing! Below are some highlights of instruction and activities going on at Cedar Mountain in January….

I asked some of our first-graders their thoughts on 2017 and the New Year to come…here’s what they said…

What is your favorite memory from 2017?

Caileigh: My teacher from kindergarten, Mrs. Czergovits; she is a great math teacher.

Frankie: Being in school, I love school!

Sophia: When my baby sister was born and when my tooth came out on Christmas.

Tyler: Seeing my Pop and Autie in North Carolina.

Abigail: When my daddy taught me how to dive.

What did you learn in 2017?

Marcus: I learned how to read.

Leonie: I learned how to subtract, it was really hard at first.

Mason: I learned how to write.

Mia: I learned about different animals like the lemur.

Leah: I got stronger in gymnastics.

Tommy: I learned new trick words.

What is your 2018 New Year’s resolution?

Melissa: drink more milk to get strong

Lily: make cards for people to say hello

Annika: get good at playing tennis

Philip: to see my aunt more and to help people

Sarah: to go sledding with my sister

What advice do you have for grown-ups in 2018?

Serena: make new friends and be nice to each other

Deanna: to help friends that are sad

Alison: to be nice to people

Isabella: celebrate!

What do you wish for others in 2018?

Ethan: that everyone is nice to each other

Molly: that people don’t litter and help pick up trash

Samir: to be nice to each other and help each other

Gaius: to help others

Mrs. Talerico and Mrs. Ollert’s first-grade class recently conducted an engineering experiment with marshmallows and toothpicks. This “Think-Pair-Share” activity had students build a house that would not blow down. Students worked together to draw blueprints and discuss which design might be a better for their marshmallow house to withstand “wind”. The house had to go through multiple tests: blowing on it with one’s breath and then the ultimate test of blowing a hairdryer on the house using different temperature settings. In a final discussion, students made connections to this engineering activity and the story The Three Little Pigs

 

Our December First Grade Students of the Month

Dakota

Meet: Dakota   

Favorite:

Sport: Soccer               Food: Spaghetti (with no sauce)        

Singer: Taylor Swift   Book:  Pete the Cat

TV Show: “Mickey Mouse”  School Subject: Art

Name of Sister and Brother: Lydia and Schyler

Dakota’s teacher should know that she enjoys her class!

When Dakota is not in school, she likes to play with her America Girl dolls with her sister.

Dakota is really good at math and being kind to others.

When Dakota grows up, she wants to be a worker.

 

Kaylie

Meet: Kaylie      Nickname: KK

Favorite:

Sport: Football            Food: Pizza    

Singer: Ed Sheeran     Book:  Elephant and Piggie

TV Show: “Spirit”  School Subject: Music

Kaylie’s teacher should know that she likes her a lot (Mrs. Hyche).

When Kaylie is not in school, she likes to play outside in the snow.

Kaylie is really good at math.

When Kaylie grows up, she wants to be a horse rider.

 

 

Jack

Meet: Jack        

Favorite:

Sport: Basketball         Food: Chocolate         

Singer: Mumford & Sons       Book:  Harry Potter

TV Show: “Pokémon”  School Subject: Art

Jack’s teacher should know that he got a kitten this year.

When Jack is not in school, he likes to play, draw, and go to karate.

Jack is really good at climbing and drawing.

When Jack grows up, he wants to be an astronaut.

 

Layne

 

Meet: Layne      Nickname: Peanut

Favorite:

Sport: Soccer               Food: Sushi    

Singer: Dierks Bently Book:  Harry Potter

TV Show: “House Hunters”  School Subject: Math

Name of Sisters and Brothers: Olivia, Matt, Taylor, Ryan, and Emma

Layne’s teacher should know that she thinks she is the best (Mrs. Battista).

When Layne is not in school, she likes to play with her sister.

Layne is really good at running.

When Layne grows up, she wants to be in the Air Force.

Evan

 

Meet: Evan       

Favorite:

Sport: Soccer               Food: Pizza    

Singer: Motley Crue   Book:  Pete the Brave

TV Show: “Sponge Bob”  School Subject: Gym

Name of Sister: Karen

Evan’s teacher should know that he is good at math.

When Evan is not in school, he likes to play soccer and video games.

Evan is really good at being a goalie.

When Evan grows up, he wants to be a construction worker.

Deanna

 

Meet: Deanna              

Favorite:

Sport: Basketball         Food: Clams   

Singer: Herself!          Book:  Penguins Love Colors

TV Show: “Lion Guard”  School Subject: Gym

Name of Brother: Matthew

Deanna’s teacher should know that she loves penguins.

When Deanna is not in school, she likes to play with her brother.

Deanna is really good at cuddling.

When Deanna grows up, she wants to be an astronaut.

Logan

 

 

Meet: Logan                  Nickname: Logi

Favorite:

Sport: Football            Food: Pizza    

Singer: Pharell            Book:  Dr. Seuss

TV Show: “Paw Patrol”  School Subject: Reading

Name of Brother: Evan

Logan’s teacher should know that he loves to read books.

When Logan is not in school, he likes to play outside.

Logan is really good at scoring touchdowns.

When Logan grows up, he wants to be a police officer.

 

Lexie

 

Meet: Alexandra           Nickname: Lexie

Favorite:

Sport: Softball           Food: Salad    

Singer: Neil Diamond             Book:  I am Invited to a Party!

TV Show: “Elena of Avalor”  School Subject: Gym

Name of Brother and Sisters: Brandon, Jenna, and Kayla

Lexie’s teacher should know that she loves dogs.

When Lexie is not in school, she likes to color and play school.

Lexie is really good at creating art.

When Lexie grows up, she wants to be a Veterinarian.

Kaya

 

Meet: Kaya       

Favorite:

Sport: Swimming        Food: Mac & Cheese 

Singer: Herself            Book:  Cat in the Hat

Movie: “Nightmare before Christmas”    School Subject: Center time

Name of Sisters: Trinity and Serene

Kaya’s teacher should know that she likes pandas and koala bears.

When Kaya is not in school, she likes to color and do art with her friend Jai.

Kaya is really good at building Legos with her little sister.

When Kaya grows up, she wants to be a Veterinarian.

Mia

 

Meet: Mia          Nickname: Peanut

Favorite:

Sport: Gymnastics       Food: Mac & Cheese 

Singer: Her Mom!       Book:  Frozen

School Subject: Math

Name of Brother and Sister: James and Melissa

Mia’s teacher should know that she likes being in her class!

When Mia is not in school, she likes to go swimming, play games and go to gymnastics class.

Mia is really good at signing and doing gymnastics.

When Mia grows up, she wants to be a teacher.

 

 

Layla

Meet: Layla      

Favorite:

Sport: Tumbling          Food: Cupcakes         

Singer: Taylor Swift   Book:  Pete the Cat

TV Show: “Shop Kin”  School Subject: Math

Name of Brother and Sister: Mason and Bella

Layla’s teacher should know that she likes tie-dye!

When Layla is not in school, she likes to play outside.

Layla is really good at math.

When Layla grows up, she wants to be a teacher.

SCA Meeting: Our next SCA meeting will be held on Monday, January 8, 2018, at 9:30. We thank the SCA for all the wonderful programs they bring to the students of Cedar Mountain, especially last month! We appreciate your dedication to our school and students; your countless hours of volunteer time do not go unnoticed! There are many upcoming SCA activities this winter, please see the Cedar Mountain calendar. At January’s meeting, Mr. Joseph, Media Specialist, will be making a presentation on how to help you select books for your child for home reading. The SCA has an opening for a treasurer. If interested, please complete this form and return in January. 

If you missed our SCA meeting on January 8th, here is Mr. Joseph’s presentation on Interest vs. Reading Level– it’s a must see!

In early January, kindergarten students will be administered the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA2) and will begin working in guided reading groups shortly after the assessment is completed. Guided reading is an instructional method where students work in small groups as they read texts at their instructional reading level that review or enhance the skills and strategies taught during Reader’s Workshop.

School Closed: on Monday, January 15, 2018, in observance of Martin Luther King Day

Student Teachers: In January, Cedar Mountain will be hosting three student teachers for the spring semester. Here is an introduction to all of them:

Miss Ashley Annicaro: Miss Annicaro is a graduate student at Ithaca College studying Speech-Language Pathology.  Miss Annicaro recently earned the Cecilia Shimer Award for Academic Excellence in Speech-Language Pathology. Miss Annicaro will be doing her student teaching with Mrs. Kim Gibson, Speech Pathologist.

Miss Jennifer DeBlock: Miss DeBlock is completing her teaching degree at William  Paterson University. She will be student teaching in Mrs. Czergovits’ kindergarten classroom.

Miss Lori Welcome: Miss Welcome is completing her degree teaching degree at William Paterson University. She will be student teaching in Mrs. Talerico’s and Mrs. Ollert’s first-grade classroom.

It’s First-Grade Fun Fridays in the winter at CMPS! Please see this linked letter for information regarding our First-Grade Fun Fridays event after lunch in the gym. Students are invited to share their skills and talents as dancers, singers, cheerleaders, musicians, poetry readers, magicians, and even comedians! 

Outdoor Recess: As a reminder, our students will go outside for recess as long as the temperature stays about 25 degrees. Please make sure your child wears a warm coat, hat, and gloves daily in preparation for playing outside. We try as often as possible in the winter months to have our students go outside for physical activity.

As we settle into the winter months, I would like to remind you to update your personal information on the School Messenger database. It is important for you to be informed of emergency school closings, early dismissals or delayed openings. If you did not receive a call, text or email from last month’s test of School Messenger, this means you are not signed up for this program. Please call the main office at 973-764-2801, if you need assistance creating an account for School Messenger. You can also find our school closings, delayed openings, and early dismissals on the main page of the VTSD site.  If you haven’t done so already,  check out the Vernon School District App…add it to your device to have VTSD information at your fingertips. The app will have you stay connected to all schools in our district.

 

Sincerely,

Rosemary Gebhardt