We have been keenly observing the eagle live cam from Big Bear Valley in Southern California again this week. The three eggs have not hatched yet but we are hoping to see eaglets soon!

This week, in Social Studies we began to learn about maps and parts of a map. We did a tour of our school to locate landmarks on our school's map (each student had a map to reference). We learned how to orient the map and looked at symbols on the map that represented doorways, stairs, and large furniture pieces i.e. the reception desk in the office. We learned about a compass rose and the names of the four cardinal directions. The students also created their own maps using a template on which they needed to include specific symbols.

Our focus words this week all ended in double consonants. They were: pass, tell, sniff, buzz, and still.

We read the book Some Things Are Scary and then had a discussion about some of the things that scare us. Each student created a page for a class book based on this story. I will share the class book with you at Parent-Teacher Conferences.

In Math, we did three different addition "store" problems. The students had to figure out how to spend set amounts of money at a shape store, a pet store, and a candy store by choosing a variety of items. They were asked to find as many different combinations of items as possible. Here is an example of one of the "stores" that Mrs. Webber created and shared with us.

Thank you to those of you who sent a box in with your child for next week's Leprechaun trap building project. I hope you all received the green note I sent home on Thursday with a list of suggested items you may wish to send in for communal use next week. Please let me know if you have any questions about this project. This is always an exciting creative project that elicits many imaginative writing and storytelling opportunities. Thank you for your support. :)

Please return Home Reading by Monday. This is the day I have set for exchanging reading materials and do not usually have time on other days to do so. I appreciate your cooperation.

Parent-Teacher Conferences can be booked starting next Saturday, March 16. Please see our MTS website for more information.

Conferences will be held from 4 - 8pm Thursday, March 21 and 8am - 12pm Friday, March 22. I hope to meet with all of you to share your child's progress. The Book Fair will be held in the library during these times.

Spring Break is March 25 - April 1. Students return to school on Tuesday, April 2.