One last goodbye...

Dear 2010-2011 First Grade Class,

You have grown so much this year and I am very proud of you. It was a pleasure and an honor to have been your teacher. I pray that you would always remember to Love GOD and love others.

Love,

Miss Carde

Zoo Field Trip

Well parents, we had an awesome time learning about God 's Amazing Creation! It was an experience we won't soon forget and the first of many adventures we have at The Heiskell School.

Please enjoy our pictures from the trip.

The Night Before

Well, it's the night before the zoo field trip. We've been working hard to get ready for our zoo field trip. The students are full of questions and I'm certain they will have a wonderful time at the zoo. Some final tips before tomorrow.

1. Get plenty of rest tonight. Tomorrow will be a long day.

2. Continue to practice rolling your sleeping bag and packing it. You may even want to practice carrying it around your house.

3. Make sure you've packed everything you need.

4. Pray. Pray that we will arrive safely. Pray that the children (and teachers) will have fun learning about the wonders of God's creation. Pray that we would be closer as a class.

5. Have fun!

Looking forward to our FIRST overnight field trip.

Our Zoo Field Trip is Here!

We've eagerly anticipated our overnight field trip to Zoo Atlanta and it has finally arrived!

Not only is this a special time for our students, but it is a special time for me as well. I've watched as the children have learned so much and matured in areas that were, at one time or another, very challenging. I've often joked that I am probably more excited about this trip than the students, especially as I watch them use all the tools they've learned about responsibility and obedience, caring for each other and trust that we've discussed all year.

It's truly a turning point in our journey together and what an amazing journey it's been! It also marks the close of our year together. I am deeply honored that we will have this opportunity to spend time with one another. I pray it will truly be hidden down in our hearts.

National Day of Prayer- May 5, 2011

Each year, people around our nation gather in prayer for our country, its leaders and its citizens. We had a wonderful time of prayer yesterday as students prayed for our government officials, our families, our schools, the media and other issues pertinent to this time in history. Here is a sample of the prayers that were on the hearts of our children.

"Bow your heads and close your eyes. Dear heavenly Father, I pray for our country that they will make wise decisions, and President Obama especially, and that the Lord will be with him all of his days. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen."

"Dear Lord, Thank you for my country and freedom and peace. Please be with our leaders and president. In Jesus name Amen."

"God we pray for President Obama and that he will make good decisions for our country. I pray for the world that they follow you. Amen."

"Dear Lord, I pray for the safe return of all the soldiers overseas."

"Dear God, Please help President Obama to do what is right and to make good decisions. Please protect the U.S. from harm. Help those who do not have jobs. And help those who are hurt."

"I pray that there will be no more tornadoes in this country."

"I pray for the President. I pray that the President will obey the Bible."

"I pray for our nation to be protected."

"Dear Lord, I pray for our nation and that there will be no more big wars and that everyone will believe in you and that our president will make good decisions. I pray this is Jesus name. Amen. "

Amen.

We're batty about writing

Today, students wrote a story entitled, "The Bat Who Couldn't Fly". Here's a sample of their work.

"Once upon a time, there was a bat who could not fly named, well, Bat. All the other bats made fun of him because they could fly to night school but he had to walk. When he went to his mom she said, "God made every bat with good gifts. Like, you maybe get better grades on your spelling test than the others." Bat thought about it for a moment. Bat said thanks to his mom. When he went to bed he said a prayer, thanking God for his good gifts. When he woke up, he had a smile on his face! The End."

"Once upon a time there was a bat and it couldn't fly. He really wanted to, but it was really hard for him. He kept trying and trying and trying. Then he got it, and he was really happy. The End."

We're so proud of our budding writers in first grade.

It's coming soon...Our Zoo Field Trip

We are very excited about our overnight trip to Zoo Atlanta! Here are a few reminders:
· Your child will be responsible for managing and carrying all of his belongings, especially his sleeping bag. Please help prepare your child by practicing this at home.
· Send a light snack. The zoo provides a snack and a continental breakfast for us.
· Have your child eat a hearty dinner before we go to the zoo.
· Your child should wear Heiskell School uniform khaki skorts/shorts, Heiskell School T-shirts, and tennis shoes.
· Please arrive by 5:00 pm.
· Please pray for our trip.
We are thrilled to be able to share this opportunity with your children, as they learn more about God’s awesome creation, and continue their journey towards independence and maturity. Please contact me at dcarde@heiskell.net for further questions.

Olympic Day

From the sounds of the first trumpets until our special lunch with family and friends, Olympic Day was a huge success. Please enjoy our pictures as we take a look at Olympic Day from start to finish.

Olympic - Fanfare And Theme Mp3
Mp3-Codes.com

First Grade Poetry Corner Presents...

"April Rain Song" by Langston Hughes

We're nightcrawling...

Did you know that Zoo Atlanta is one of the oldest zoos in America? It actually began in 1886 when the city was given a spotted fawn to start an animal collection. Here's the rest of the story...

"The Atlanta Zoo was first established in 1889, when a traveling circus broke down outside of Atlanta on its way to Marietta, Georgia. Workers abandoned the circus animals, including a jaguar, black bear, gazelle and several pumas. A local businessman bought the abandoned animals during a public auction and then donated them to the city of Atlanta, which housed them in Grant Park. Private donors provided more animal species for the zoo to display, and the city of Atlanta added additional exhibits in the 1950s and 1960s to accommodate the growing number of animal residents."

Read more: Atlanta Zoo Facts | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6113738_atlanta-zoo.html#ixzz1KdctxzBe

Ressurection

Every year, our prefirst and first grades have the opportunity to review the story of Jesus' death and resurrection in a very special way- through resurrection eggs. A few of the children our given eggs which contain within them a symbol to represent our Savior's journey the last week of his time spent on earth. From bread to symbolize the last supper with His disciples to the stone that covered His tomb, our students were able to participate in it.

Most

Sunday, I sat in service thinking about the wonderful sacrifice God made in sending His Son Jesus. Every year, it is my desire to have a fresh revelation of what this means. It's easy for me to mentally ascent to the great sacrifice God made for me. At least until our church showed a movie entitle "Most". In this short film, a polish man takes his son to work with him at a drawbridge. The movie switches scenes between the father and son, who clearly love each other very deeply, and a train full of people who are oblivious to what is going on around them. The father places the son in the grassy area just in front of a window where he is watching the bridge. As a boat comes, the father raises the bridge to allow it to pass through. After checking briefly on his son, he goes to check the machinery. Just then the train comes. The boy noticing the train, yells for his dad- but realizing he is unable to reach him, he runs to help the train himself.

As the father returns, he realizes the train is coming and then he notices his son is missing. He watches with horror as his son falls into the bridge pit and he is left with a anguishing decision-leave the bridge up while others may die, or lower the bridge and sacrifice his son.

This movie reminded me that the greatest expression of love is sacrifice. God loved us so much, that He was willing to give us His greatest and best...His only begotten Son. What an amazing sacrifice. I pray we will never be dulled to the beauty and depth of God's love.

Countdown to Nightcrawler Trip 2011

It's that time again. It's time for our first graders to take their first overnight field trip at the Heiskell School. Are they ready? Are YOU ready? Over the next few weeks you can check our blog for updates, tips for preparation and interesting facts that will aid you in preparing your child for the trip. The "Nightcrawlers" will arrive at school Thursday, May 12th at 5pm and return the following morning at 10:30am. You can begin now by helping your child learn to roll their sleeping bag and stow it away. We're looking forward to a wild animal adventure.

Hope for Haiti

Dear Parents,

Many of you have heard about the devastating earthquakes that have shaken the international community within the past year. The journey towards reconstruction is a long one, and is not easily trod without the help of those around you.

Some of our Junior High students have a wonderful opportunity to visit Reformation Hope in Haiti in just a few short weeks. Would you consider helping them by making a donation? For those of you parents who would like a special night out, there will be a parents night out fundraiser for the Junior High this Friday from 6pm-10pm. Please consider lending your support.

Counting Money in First Grade

Counting Money in First Grade, a set on Flickr.

We've been counting money in class this week. It's been lots of fun. We may even have a class store. How can you practice at home? 1. Create a store at home. Have your child make price tags for items around the house and count money to purchase those items. Don't have real coins to use? Why not make them! 2. When grocery shopping, have your child calculate the total of certain items, then help you to pay at the check out line. Happy Shopping!

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is here again and what I am most excited about is the wonderful opportunity we have to share love. Jesus shares with us that the most important thing we could ever do is to love God, to love others and to love ourselves. One day, someone asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment. His response...to love.

"'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

How are you demonstrating love today?

Focus on the Family offers a great "recipe" for Valentine's Day. I hope you enjoy.

Valentine´s Day: Show-and-tell

Mealtime Prayer: Thank God for the many ways He shows His love to you. Give examples.
Thank Him for the people who love you and for those you love.

Appetizer: Have each person tell the other family members one thing he or she loves
about each of them.

Main Course: Valentine’s Day is a special day to let others know we love them. What did
you do today to show your love for someone? What tells you you’re loved? What are other
ways that we can show our love for one another? (For example, ... give
breakfast in bed, clean the kitchen.)

Table Talk:
• How does God show that He loves us?
• Why do you think God wants us to love one another?
• How can children show love to their parents? How can parents show love to their
children?
• How can we show our love for God?

Vitamins and Minerals: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

The Hundredth Day of School

Hurray! We've made it to the Hundredth Day of School! WHA-HOO! We brought in a hundred things and we even aged to ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD overnight. Oh what fun it was. We even went on a Hundredth Day Parade!

Paper Making

Have you ever made paper? Did you know there are three things that are needed for something to be considered paper? Well we learned a lot at the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum at Georgia Tech. Thanks to our paper guides Ms. Amanda and Mr. Juan for helping us to learn both the history of papermaking and how to make paper. We had a wonderful time as we looked at the history of papermaking from bark, to animal skin to our modern papers. (Ask your child what is the name of the Japanese paper about which we learned. (Hint...it starts with the letter "W") Answer below.)

If you've never gotten a chance to see the Paper Museum, check out our pictures! You may also check out their website: http://ipst.gatech.edu/amp/education/museum_virtual_tour.htm.

P.S. The answer is "Washi"

Picture Parent

Today was Picture Parent Day! It is doing these times that a volunteer mom or dad comes to our class to share with us about a famous artist. After that we get a chance to do work like the artist. Today we learned about Paul Cezanne. Our picture parent, Mrs. Young, talked to us about how Cezanne grew up in France and about the differences between a portrait and a landscape. We also learned other cool things...

"He used so much paint that the painting would crack."

"He wanted to be in a contest, but nobody liked his paintings so he never won. But he kept on trying."

"He painted portraits."

"He loved to paint."

Check out our own still life...

Happy New Year!

Happy 2011!
We are certainly very excited about our new year. This week during our Bible times we have been talking about giving our best and greatest gifts to God because He's given His best and greatest gift to us. What better way can we thank Him than by offering him our praise.