Hi Everyone!

The performance Tuesday was wonderful!  Thank you for coming, and for supporting the students as they learned and practiced their lines.  It's so touching to watch them perform patriotic songs dressed in America's colors.  Gets me every time....

Volunteer Thank You Breakfast:
The Pinebrook Volunteer Thank You Breakfast will be Friday, June 3rd at 8:15 am in the cafeteria at school.  The teachers donate the food and supplies, and our office staff coordinate the event.  This is our way of thanking YOU for your volunteer efforts throughout the year.  If you have volunteered in any capacity at Pinebrook this year (in a classroom, at an event, in the office or library, etc.), please mark your calendar for this event.  You can attend the Breakfast and then plan to head to our classroom at 9:45 for our Poet's Tea!

Poet's Tea
We are busy preparing for our Poet's Tea next Friday, June 3rd from 9:45 - 10:30 am in our classroom.  All families are welcome to attend.  There is no dress code for the tea, but I did encourage the kids to dress "fancy" if they'd like.  We'll have some light refreshments at the tea.  I sent home a food permission slip in yesterday's Thursday folder.  Please kindly return it as soon as possible.  Meantime, our lunchtime is immediately following the tea, and you may choose to stay to eat lunch with your child.  If you're staying to eat lunch, please plan to say goodbye to your child in the cafeteria at the end of our lunch period.  Our regular instructional day will resume after lunch.

Ice Cream Social and Food Collection:

The PTA End-of-Year Ice Cream Social will be Friday, June 3rd from 6-7:30 pm at school.  This year, the Ice Cream Social is combined with a food collection.  Please refer to the flyer sent home in yesterday's Thursday folder for more information.

End-of-Year Celebration:
Please mark your calendar for our First Grade Finale on Thursday, June 9th from 1-2:30 pm in our classroom.  All families are welcome to attend.  More details, including a food permission slip and volunteer / donation opportunities, will follow.

Field Day:
Field Day is coming on Tuesday, June 7th, with a rain date of Thursday, June 9th. Mr. Lose and Mr. McPherson will set up some fun games and stations outside, and the kids will rotate through for a morning of fun.  A few of the stations involve water play, so boys typically dress in swim trunks and a t-shirt, while girls usually wear a swimsuit under their clothes.  The kids change out of their wet things when Field Day is finished, and then we eat lunch together in our classroom.  The afternoon is fairly laid back because the kids are typically exhausted.   Mr. Lose and Mr. McPherson still need many volunteers to make field day a success.  If you're able to volunteer that day, please contact Mr. Lose at christopher.lose@lcps.org or Mr. McPherson at brian.mcpherson@lcps.org.

*Please watch next week's Thursday folder for some more specific guidelines and information about Field Day. 

Please return Library books:
Mrs. Higgins has begun the daunting task of accounting for the thousands of library books in our Pinebrook library.  If your child has books checked out, the books are not officially due until June 10th.  However, if your kiddo is done reading the books, please send them back as soon as possible.  This will help Mrs. Higgins with her end-of-year inventory.  I told the kids today that I will begin to hand out Puma Paws on Tuesday for any books returned early.  Each book is worth 2 paws.  

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will continue reading Charlotte's Web.
• Writing:  We will finish our poetry anthologies.
• Math:  We will finish our measurement unit.
• Social Studies: We will finish talking about Memorial Day.

I think that's all I have for you this week.  Enjoy the long weekend!  It finally feels like summer!

Box Tops and Labels for Education Due Tomorrow!

Happy Thursday!

Please send Box Tops and Labels for Education to school tomorrow!  It's the last collection day.  Any class that collects at least 1,000 Box Tops will earn a popsicle treat!  We are so close!

Thank you!

Weekly Update

Hi Everyone,

We're really closing in on the end of our year.  My weekly updates are long, and I thank you for hanging in there and reading them each week.  When I think about it, I find I can't apologize for the length of my updates.  I believe so strongly in the home-school connection, and as a parent, I want to feel connected to my own boys' classrooms.  I hope these updates help you feel connected.

Can I just say?  We started our end-of-year Literacy testing, and I am BLOWN AWAY by the progress the kids are demonstrating.  I mean...seriously...if your kiddo comes home and says, "Ummm.....Mrs. Lombardo asked if she could kiss me today," you'll know why!  Kudos to you for ensuring your child is reading, reading, and reading.  Instead of growing 1 or 2 readers in our class, you've managed to grow an entire crop!  I will try to stop gushing now, but really....I am just so amazed, so proud, and so excited to see what the kids are doing.  I am blessed beyond belief to watch the transformation that happens from Day 1 of first grade to Day 160 of first grade.   #bestjobever

Here's the other information you need to know...

American Symbols Performance:
Pack your camera and your tissues!  Our American Symbols Performance is Tuesday (May 24th) at 8:30 am in the gym at school!  Students should come to school that day dressed in any combination of red, white, and blue.  If you are attending the performance, please plan to arrive to school by 8:15 am so you can sign in before proceeding to the gym.  *Important note: when you arrive to the gym, you will see risers set up across the front of the performance area.  To help in your seat selection, our class will stand on the 3rd set of risers from the left.

PTA Fitness Night / Bike Rodeo:
The PTA Family Fitness Night and Bike Rodeo will be next Wednesday at 6:00 here at school.  I've never been to this event, but I'm sure my Jonah will want to attend, so perhaps I'll give it a whirl and see you there!  :)

Homework Update:
The coming week will be the last week of written homework. There will be NO written homework after Memorial Day.  I will continue to expect daily reading...by now, reading should not be homework...reading should be LIFE!  :)

Memorial Day Travel:
A friendly reminder there is no school on Monday, May 30 due to the Memorial Day holiday.  If your child will be absent or leaving school early any day next week in advance of Memorial Day, please kindly send me an email and notify the office by filling out the online absence excuse found HERE or the early release / dismissal change found HERE.  

Volunteer Thank You Breakfast:
The Pinebrook Volunteer Thank You Breakfast will be Friday, June 3rd at 8:15 am in the cafeteria at school.  The teachers donate the food and supplies, and our office staff coordinate the event.  This is our way of thanking YOU for your volunteer efforts throughout the year.  If you have volunteered in any capacity at Pinebrook this year (in a classroom, at an event, in the office or library, etc.), please mark your calendar for this event.  You can attend the Breakfast and then plan to head to our classroom at 9:45 for our Poet's Tea!

Poet's Tea
Please mark your calendar for our Poet's Tea on Friday, June 3rd from 9:45 - 10:30 am in our classroom.  This will be the culminating event of our Poetry writing unit, and all families are welcome to attend.  At the tea, you'll enjoy poetry readings and light refreshments.  I'll send home a food permission slip the week before the tea. After the tea, you may stay to eat lunch with your child.  If you're staying to eat lunch, please plan to say goodbye to your child in the cafeteria at the end of our lunch period.  Our regular instructional day will resume after lunch.

End-of-Year Celebration:
Please mark your calendar for our First Grade Finale on Thursday, June 9th from 1-2:30 pm in our classroom.  All families are welcome to attend.  More details, including a food permission slip and volunteer / donation opportunities, will follow.

Field Day:
Field Day for Grades 1 and 2 will be on Tuesday, June 7th, with a rain date of Thursday, June 9th.  For those of you new to Pinebrook, Field Day is coordinated by our Dynamic PE Duo, Mr. Lose and Mr. McPherson.  They set up some fun games and stations outside, and the kids rotate through for a morning of fun.  A few of the stations involve water play, so boys typically dress in swim trunks and a t-shirt, while girls usually wear a swimsuit under their clothes.  The kids change out of their wet things when Field Day is finished, and then we eat lunch together in our classroom.  The afternoon is fairly laid back because the kids are typically exhausted (I still remember my Jonah curled up and fell asleep on his towel on the afternoon of his 1st grade Field Day!).  Mr. Lose and Mr. McPherson need many volunteers to make field day a success.  If you're able to volunteer that day, please kindly complete and return the volunteer sign up form I sent home in last week's Thursday folder. More details about Field Day will follow as the event gets closer.

Library Update:
A friendly reminder that library lessons will be in our classroom for the duration of SOL testing. Students will not check out books during this time. The books your child currently has will be due on Friday, June 10th.  That will be our last day of library for the year.

Relay for Life:
Our Teachers Makin' Tracks Relay For Life Team is ready for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life tomorrow at Heritage High School in Leesburg! The opening lap is at 11:00, and our team will be there for the day to join others in the fight against cancer.  If you are out and about, we'd love to see you at Relay!  You can purchase a luminaria in honor, or in memory, of a cancer warrior, offer us some encouragement, or walk with us.  

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will synthesize all the good reader strategies we've studied this year as I begin to read Charlotte's Web to the kids.  
• Writing:  We will continue our Poetry writing unit.
• Math:  We will continue our Measurement unit.  We will measure objects using standard and non-standard units, we will talk about tools used to measure, and we will practice measuring many objects in and around our classroom.
• Social Studies:  We will talk about the meaning and significance of Memorial Day.

Questions, comments, and feedback are welcome.  Have a great weekend.  Just a few more weeks!  WOW!

I Will Be Out Tomorrow

Hi Everyone,

A quick note to tell you I'll be out tomorrow.  I have a dentist appointment.  We've also been having some work done at our house, and it's my turn to be home to supervise operations and let contractors in.

The regular update will come tomorrow, as usual.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you!

Weekly Update and Some Important Dates

Hi Everyone,

We've had an interesting week in Room 9.  I think the weather is affecting the kids...cabin fever or something.  I'm finding a majority of the kids had a lot of difficulty demonstrating the "3 R's" this week...responsibility, readiness, and respectfulness.  While it's certainly not every child, there are enough things happening that I've used my "frustrated teacher voice" more than any other time in the year.  Please will you have a chat with your student about the importance of being ready, respectful, and responsible at school...in the classroom, the halls, and the cafeteria?  I simply don't like feeling the way I felt this past week...there hasn't been much Sunshine in First Grade...literally or figuratively!  Thank you in advance for your support with this.

Meantime, here's the rest of the information you need to know...

American Symbols Performance:
Next week, we will make final preparations for our American Symbols Performance.  The performance will be on Tuesday, May 24th at 8:30 am in the gym at school.  Students should come to school that day dressed in any combination of red, white, and blue.  If you are attending the performance, please plan to arrive to school by 8:15 am so you can sign in before proceeding to the gym.  *Important note: when you arrive to the gym, you will see risers set up across the front of the performance area.  To help in your seat selection, please know that our class will stand on the 3rd set of risers from the left.

Library Update:
For the next 3 weeks, library lessons will be in our classroom because the Library will be used as a testing site.  Students will not check out books during this time. The books your child checked out today will be due on Friday, June 10th.  That will be our last day of library for the year.

End-of-Year Celebration:
Please mark your calendar for our First Grade Finale on Thursday, June 9th from 1-2:30 pm in our classroom.  All families are welcome to attend!  More details, including a food permission slip and volunteer / donation opportunities, will follow.

Field Day:
Field Day for Grades 1 and 2 will be on Tuesday, June 7th, with a rain date of Thursday, June 9th.  For those of you new to Pinebrook, Field Day is coordinated by our Dynamic PE Duo, Mr. Lose and Mr. McPherson.  They set up some fun games and stations outside, and the kids rotate through for a morning of fun.  A few of the stations involve water play, so boys typically dress in swim trunks and a t-shirt, while girls usually wear a swimsuit under their clothes.  The kids change out of their wet things when Field Day is finished.  Mr. Lose and Mr. McPherson need many volunteers to make field day a success.  If you're able to volunteer that day, please kindly complete and return the volunteer sign up form I sent home in yesterday's Thursday folder.  More details about Field Day will follow in upcoming Thursday folders.

Poet's Tea
Please mark your calendar for our Poet's Tea on Friday, June 3rd from 9:45 - 10:30 am in our classroom.  This will be the culminating event of our Poetry writing unit, and all families are welcome to attend.  At the tea, you'll enjoy poetry readings and light refreshments.  You may stay to eat lunch with your child if you'd like, too. More details will follow.

Relay for Life:
Our Teachers Makin' Tracks Relay For Life Team is ready for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life next Saturday, May 21st at Heritage High School in Leesburg! The opening lap is at 11:00, and our team will be there for the day to join others in the fight against cancer.  If you are out and about, we'd love to see you at Relay!  

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will summarize stories, make connections to stories, and identify our favorite parts.
• Writing:  We will continue our Poetry writing unit.
• Math:  We will begin our Measurement unit.  We will measure objects using standard and non-standard units, we will talk about tools used to measure, and we will practice measuring many objects in and around our classroom.
• Social Studies:  We will make final preparations for our American Symbols Performance.
• Science:  We will finish our Plants unit.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or comments about any of the above information.  Thank you for your support.  Have a great weekend.

Important Library Update

Hi Everyone,

Please help your child remember his/her library books tomorrow.  It will be the last opportunity this year for the students to check out library books.  The library is being used as an SOL testing sight, and will be closed from May 13th - June 6th. Mrs. Higgins will come to our classroom for library lessons during those 3 weeks, but there will no book checkout.  The students will keep the books they check out tomorrow until Friday, June 10th, which will be our LAST library class.  ALL books will be due that day.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you!

Weekly Update and Happy Mother's Day!

Hi Everyone!

Happy Mother's Day!  Here's a message for the moms from Kid President...

...and here's your weekly update!

Thank You, Thank You, and Thank You Again!
I can't begin to thank you appropriately for the kind words, beautiful flowers, and many gifts you sent in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.  The generosity you showed during Teacher Appreciation Week is both overwhelming and humbling.  I can't thank you enough for the treats and kind words.

Odds and Ends:

• In the coming week, we will begin to practice at school for our American Symbols performance.  Please ensure your child is continuing to say his/her line each day (from memory!) at home with a clear, confident voice.
• Please check the "Important Dates" section of this blog for upcoming events at school.  You can find the dates for events like Field Day, the Ice Cream Social, and More!

Read, Read, and Read Some More:
Our end of year literacy testing is fast approaching!  When I administer the end-of-year Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA), I will be asking your child to read a story out loud, to retell the story in sequence using characters' names and providing as many details as possible, to identify a favorite part of the story and to state why, and to make a personal connection to the story.  I can't say it enough.....Please, please, please be sure your child is reading every single day (weekends too!) and is practicing these skills.  

Poet's Tea
Please mark your calendar for our Poet's Tea on Friday, June 3rd from 9:45 - 10:30 in our classroom.  This will be the culminating event of our Poetry writing unit, and all families are welcome to attend.  At the tea, you'll enjoy poetry readings and light refreshments.  You may stay to eat lunch with your child if you'd like, too.  More details will follow.

Focus Areas for the Coming Week:

• Reading:  We will practice summarizing fiction stories by retelling the story in order using characters' names, providing as many details as possible, identifying our favorite parts, and making connections.
• Writing:  We will begin our poetry unit.
• Math:  We will finish our money unit.
• Social Studies:  We will practice for our American Symbols performance.
• Science:  We will study plants, including plant needs, plant parts, and plant life cycles.

As always, questions, comments, and feedback are welcome.

Finally, a very Happy Mother's Day to the moms!  I wish you many blessings, and a day that honors you for the love, dedication, and support you offer your sweet babies everyday!  Thank you for sharing them with me!