The last little bit

So.

Here are a few important and fun things to know.

Wednesday, May 26th is the school wide SAFETY FAIR. Encourage your child to walk or ride their bike safely to school that day. Assuming it will not be snowing :)

Thursday, May 27th short day

Thursday, June 3rd Movie and field day. We will watch the movie in the morning and have field day that afternoon. If you are interested in volunteering that day please let me know.

Also we will be sending home note with a list of readers we still do not have back from you... so check backpacks for that.

Field Trip

Reminder to all....

Send a sack lunch with your child to school tomorrow unless you sent back the form ordering school lunch.

My homeroom parents be to school a little before 10:00.

Mrs. Strasser's homeroom just before 9:00

A few little things

1)

STARTALK dates:

July 19-23rd (2nd grade)

August 9-13th (1st grade)

Startalk is a summer camp program designed to help kick-start the year in chinese immersion. Your kids will be in the 2nd grade camp, and will spend the day completely in Chinese with myself and the new 2nd grade teacher. More details will be sent home later, but for now, here are the dates.

2) THANK YOU! Thank you so much for letting me spend all day with your children. And thanks for the many thank you notes and gifts.

3) Field trip next Thursday, May 13th. We will be going to the parkway as a whole first grade, but in shifts. So if you volunteered to come that day and are in Mrs. Strasser's home room, please be at the school by 9:00. If your child is in my home room (my morning) please come by 10:00. We plan on being back to school a little after 1:00.

IMPORTANT!! If you did not send back the form ordering a school lunch for your child, there won't be one. So please send a home lunch with your child that day.

Incredible

So I had the opportunity this weekend to host a friend's parents on their first trip to America. They were from Taiwan, and spoke but very little English. As we took them around our beautiful state, watched them touch snow for the first time, laughed with them, and listened to their incredible stories, I just had an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I am able to speak this amazing language. How many doors have been opened and experiences had simply because of this ability.

I am so happy for your children, whom I love so much, that they too will have the ability to converse with and learn from such an expanded number of people. Language is a gift, and I just want to thank you for giving it to your child. Thank you for supporting them and putting them in this program. They have all come so far. And it is a beautiful thing.

flashcards

Here's a site with printable flash cards for character practice. This coming week we'll be practicing animals and animal habitats.

http://www.semanda.com/wordlist.aspx?WordlistID=1

bi sai!

It was great so see so many of you at the race! Our first grade Chinese Immersion class was well represented.

Reminder that all chinese readers are due back to the school by Friday, May 7th. So start looking around your house for any strays. I will be sending home a note with your child letting you know which ones I have not yet received back.

Here's some information on Chinese classes being offered by Granite Peaks lifelong learning this spring and summer. It might be a good way to help your child keep up the language over the break. Or else give you an opportunity to get a basic understanding of how this language works and surprise your child by having something to say back to them in Chinese. Oh yes, and I happen to know the teacher :)

Learning Chinese is fun! Beginning 1 Our teacher opens your child's lingual ability in a whole new way. Without realizing it, they absorb the Chinese language as they color, sing, and engage in a variety of activities that introduce basic written characters and vocabulary. Instructor is an experienced elementary teacher who teaches in the Chinese Immersion program through Granite School District. Watch your child's knowledge grow. Tuesday, Thursday 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm; 9 sessions starting June 1, 2010, ending July 1, 2010 Tuition: $39.00 Instructor: Bagley-Chipman Location: Cottonwood Campus Map Beginning 2

Tuesday, Thursday 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm; 10 sessions starting June 1, 2010, ending July 1, 2010

Tuition: $39.00

Instructor: Bagley-Chipman

Location: Cottonwood Campus Map Intro to Chinese for adults Class Description A civilization dating to biblical times, China has a colorful and diverse history. Tradition is important and cultural development is emphasized. Today, China is a major player in the business world and knowing the language is key to making the connections you need. As a result of this interest, school districts are offering a Chinese immersion program for school students. Whatever your need; whether you need it for business or pleasure, or to help your child in his/her study, we give you an introduction to Mandarin Chinese linguistics, both spoken and written. Thursday 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm; 8 sessions starting May 13, 2010, ending July 1, 2010 Tuition: $65.00 Instructor: Chipman Location: Cottonwood Campus Map see www.granitepeaks.org for more information

homework

Due to the power being out all day at school (which I'm sure you've already heard about from your own 6 or 7 year old) I had to have someone else run off the homework note last minute. Hence you have a full page of what I had typed up as a half page. So sorry for the repetition. I supposed over communication is never a bad thing though:)

It was fun to see and hear many more people using the lingt site this week. It really is an excellent tool for language learning and I encourage you to use it with your child this week. It's a great way for me (and you) to hear your child speak.