Thank you!

Dear 1MC Families-

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your children with me this year. This has been an amazing year of growth and learning for your children and for me. Thank you so much for trusting in me to love and care for your children. Coming to work at Devotion and with our class has been a treat that I look forward to every day! I love my job, and that is a huge credit to your children and families.

      Thank you so much for your continued support of our class. It has been so reassuring to know that you are available to check-in, help out, donate supplies, or hear a fun story about the day.

      Thank you so much for your generous class gift. It was wonderful to be able to make this last week extra special for the kids. They loved having popsicles, a pizza movie party, and being able to walk to the park and have fun with bubbles, sprinklers, and their third grade buddies. I’m sure your children will hold on to these memories, so thank you for helping them happen. Thank you also for the heartfelt card and the lovely Brookline books. I will look at them and fondly remember my time in Brookline and Devotion.

      As I move on to my next adventure, I will think of Devotion and our adventures in 1MC often. I will miss the many smiles, the great learning and insights, and the kindness I saw with your children. I would love to stay in touch and hear updates of summer fun and second grade. I’ve added my email address and new home address below.

      I wish you all a fun and relaxing summer, and a great experience with second grade and beyond.

                                                Sincerely,

                                                Mrs. McNamara

krosemcnamara@gmail.com

518 East Linus Street, Milwaukee, WI 53227

Some Pictures from our Week of Fun!

Extra Choice Time with Toys from Home!

Dancing to our favorite videos in Spanish!

Watching Monsters Inc. with our Reading Buddies

Fun at Coolidge Park with our Reading Buddies!

Letting our Bunny Copters go down the stairwell with Mrs. Miller!

Almost Second Graders!

Weekly News

Important Dates

·      Friday, June 14^th: All Books Must be returned to the Devotion Library!

·      Monday, June 17th: Devotion Drums Concert

·      Thursday, June 27^th: Half –Day, Noon dismissal, Lunch is NOT served

·      Friday, June 28^th: Last Day of School, Noon dismissal, Lunch is NOT served

*If you will be out of town of leaving Brookline before the last day of school, please let us know. We want to be sure to have your child’s materials ready for his or her last day.

Homework

This week, students will practice making and using contractions. Students will also compare and contrast the life cycles of Butterflies and Darkling Beetles.

1MC Wish List

·      Brown paper bags, like the ones from Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. We will use these to send home children’s supplies during the last week of school.

Thank You!

Thank you so much for all of your support and enthusiasm with our family breakfast. It was a huge success. The children loved sharing their great work and accomplishments with you.

Literacy

We wrapped up our Word Wall Words with contractions last week. We will continue to use and practice all of our Word Wall Words. We will also continue to read and think about books in our Reading groups.

Science

Thank you also for your support and enthusiasm of our insects unit, particularly with opening your homes to our beetles and mealworms. The kids have loved watching the life cycles of these insects. We are looking forward to watching our butterflies emerge from their chrysalises.

Conversation Starters

·      What did you notice about your caterpillar or chrysalis this week?

·      What did you write in your recipe for a friend?

·      Who did you play with at Choice Time? What did you play?

·      How did you help our class get a marble this week?

·      How did you act like a second grader this week? 

Home for Mealworms and Beetles?

A Home for Mealworms and Beetles

Dear Families,

We are allowing our Darling Beetles to go home. We are happy to keep mealworms and beetles in our class at school, but would like to offer the option for children to take them home and care for them as pets. We have talked in class about how your child should talk with you about this decision. We absolutely understand that insect pets are not an interest or possibility for many families.  If you would not like beetle pets at your home, your child will add his or her beetle to our classroom beetle home next week. We will only send home beetles with families that have confirmed interest.

If you and your child would like to keep them, here is some information to consider:

• ·      Soon, the mealworms and beetles will prefer a bigger space/ container. We keep a 1-3 inch layer of bran flakes or oatmeal on the bottom of the container.
• ·      Pour the whole content of your child’s container into the new habitat. If they have laid eggs the will do so on the food that is there. Then you will see a new generation of mealworms.
• ·      They need moisture, so place a piece of potato, apple, or carrot in the container periodically.
• ·      You will be able to create many life cycles by leaving the old food in the habitat where they lay eggs. Continue to add new pieces of apple or potato and new layers of oatmeal or bran flakes.
• ·      When baby mealworms hatch out of eggs, they are very small and difficult to see.
• ·      Whenever possible, keep them out of direct sunlight. They prefer less light.

If you and your child later decide to return your pets to nature, here are a few suggestions:

• ·      Find a somewhat protected spot not in direct sunlight.
• ·      Dig a slight hole and pour the contents of their current habitat into it. That way, they have a food source and protection until they make a new home.

Some more very detailed information can be found here:

http://mytutorlist.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-start-mealworm-colony.html