May 7, 2026

 Hi Families,

Another week has flown by! The students have been enjoying learning about biomimicry in science! Ask your child to name a few inventions that mimic nature. We wish you all a wonderful weekend! Your child has a special keepsake in their backpack 🙂

Field trip

Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered to chaperone our field trip! All volunteers have been randomly selected and contacted at this point. If any unforeseen changes occur, I will contact the next randomly selected chaperone.

 Field trip details:

🐨 Bring a sack lunch with disposable materials (paper sack, ziplock baggies, etc).

🐒 If you would like your child to wear sunscreen, it must be applied prior to arriving at school. Your child can also wear a hat :) We will be going rain or shine.

🐼 Please wear comfortable clothes and tennis shoes. Kildeer shirts if possible!

🦎 Have a discussion with your child about making safe choices and staying with their chaperone at all times.

🦒 We will leave promptly at 8:30 so please make sure your child arrives at school on time.

🐢Please DO NOT send your child with any money. Students cannot purchase anything on this trip.

Summer Birthdays

We’d like to celebrate with those students who have birthdays over the summer. Please choose a day that works with your schedule to celebrate your son/daughter’s Summer Birthday!

Behavior

As the year starts to come to an end it becomes more challenging to be in control of our behavior.  We are working hard on demonstrating expected behaviors in the classroom and in the hallway. We do this by modeling expected behaviors, talking about what these behaviors look like and sound like and practicing them.  As we are going through our day, we are finding that many behavior prompts and reminders are needed.  We would love your help in encouraging our students to show positive behaviors regularly.  Below are some areas we are focusing on:

1. Follow directions the first time they are given. 

2. Show whole body listening:  (eyes looking at the speaker, ears ready to hear, mouth quiet, hands in your lap or by your side, feet are quiet on the floor and body facing the speaker)

3. Stay on apps that your teacher assigns.

4. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.

5. Calm bodies and voices.

Reminders in the mornings at home and follow up conversations after school would be extremely helpful. We are so grateful for your support!

Important Dates

-Tuesday, May 12th-Early Release-2:05 dismissal

-Friday, May 15th-Wear Kildeer spirit wear or colors; PTO Family Picnic 6:00-8:00 pm and 1st Graders perform

May 1, 2026

 Dear Families,

We have been continuing to  practice telling time.  Using analog and digital clocks, the students are learning how to tell and write time to the hour and half hour. For more practice at home, check out some of these practice sheets.  

Field Trip!

One of our favorite events in first grade is our trip to the Brookfield zoo.  This trip will be on Thursday, May 28th.  Your child brought home a form in their folder for you to fill out that will allow them permission to attend this field trip.  No money will be collected however the form does need to be signed and returned.  On the form there is a spot for notifying me if you would like to join us on the field trip as a chaperone.  Once all forms are collected chaperones will be randomly selected.  You will be contacted if you have been selected.  

***If you know your child will NOT be able to attend can you please send back the permission slip form stating that your child will NOT be attending.  This way we know that all student plans are accounted for.

Thank you! 

Plants

The students have been learning so much about the structures and functions of plants! They

chose to plant wheatgrass, radish, poppy, and/or basil seeds. They were able to watch their

plants sprout and spread their roots as they grew in transparent containers. Students will be

bringing their plants home today! Be sure to ask your child about the different parts of the

plant and what they do.

Disney Day

On Friday, May 8th first grade is going to have a themed day of learning.  We will be pretending to go on a trip to Disney and all of our learning will be based around that theme.  If your child would like to dress the part they can wear Disney themed outfits.  Some examples would be dressing like a Disney tourist, a Disney Character/Princess, clothing that has Disney Characters on them, Disney Ears…ect.  Looking forward to a fun day of learning! 

Literacy

Click here for the newest caregiver letter!

First Grade Tricky Words

Here are the tricky words we have been or will be practicing this school year. Please have your child continue to practice reading and writing these words.  We have worked on Unit 1-6  in class so far. Unit 6 is a review of all of the tricky words we have learned this year.  

Looking for some games and activities to help your child practice tricky words in a fun and exciting way?  Check out these ideas!

Recess

As the weather is unpredictable this time of year, please send your child with coats to keep them warm at recess.  Recess is still so early in the morning that we are not at the peak high temperature for the day yet. We go outside every day and we want to make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather at that time of day.

Expected Behaviors

We are continuing to work hard on showing expected behaviors. Gentle reminders at home are very helpful. As a reminder the Cougar 5 are:

• Follow Directions

• Use Kind words

• Keep hands and feet to self  

• Make safe choices

• Do my Best

Important Dates

-Week of May 4th-Teacher Appreciation Week

-Wednesday, May 6th-PTO Appreciation Breakfast @ 8:00 am

-Friday, May 8th-Disney Day

April 24, 2026

 Hi  Families!

We had so much fun planting a variety of seeds this week! We can’t wait to see what sprouts first. We will continue to learn about how plants use their different parts to help them grow through hands-on activities and explorations! 🌱

Field Trip!!

Your child brought home a field trip form for the Brookfield Zoo! Please return the form as soon as possible! 

MAP testing

Our Spring MAP Testing will take place on Wednesday, May 29th and Thursday, May 30th .  We are asking that you take a few moments to talk to your child about some test taking tips.  Here are some suggested talking points: 

1.   We know you have learned a lot!  Try your best so you can show what you know. 

2.  It is important to take your time and not rush through the test.  

3.  Read or listen to all answers before making your choice.  

4. Please make sure you have headphones and that your ipad is charged.  

As always, a restful night's sleep and a good breakfast are recommended!

***A working pair of headphones is needed so please ask your child if their headphones work at school.  If they do not send them with a new set please!

Kildeer PTO Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

Thank you so much for your continued support and partnership throughout this school year. As a token of our appreciation, we would like to invite anyone who has helped at any of our class parties or school events this year to our Kildeer PTO Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday, May 6 at 8:00am.

Please click on the Google Form below to RSVP by May 1st. We hope to see you there!

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast RSVP

Disney Day

On Friday, May 8th first grade is going to have a themed day of learning.  We will be pretending to go on a trip to Disney and all of our learning will be based around that theme.  If your child would like to dress the part they can wear Disney themed outfits.  Some examples would be dressing like a Disney tourist, a Disney Character/Princess, clothing that has Disney Characters on them, Disney Ears…ect.  Looking forward to a fun day of learning! 

Telling time 

The students are working hard on telling time. We are including these practice sheets  again in case you didn’t have the opportunity to utilize them last week. 

First Grade Tricky Words

Here are the tricky words we have been or will be practicing this school year. Please have your child continue to practice reading and writing these words.  We have worked on Unit 1-6  in class so far. Unit 6 is a review of all of the tricky words we have learned this year.  

Looking for some games and activities to help your child practice tricky words in a fun and exciting way?  Check out these ideas!

Recess

As the weather is unpredictable this time of year, please send your child with coats to keep them warm at recess.  Recess is still so early in the morning that we are not at the peak high temperature for the day yet. We go outside every day and we want to make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather at that time of day.

Expected Behaviors

We are continuing to work hard on showing expected behaviors. Gentle reminders at home are very helpful. As a reminder the Cougar 5 are:

• Follow Directions

• Use Kind words

• Keep hands and feet to self  

• Make safe choices

• Do my Best

Important Dates

Wednesday, April 29th-MAP Testing

Thursday, April 30th-MAP Testing

April 17, 2026

 Dear Families, 

We are practicing telling time and counting coins in math.  Using analog and digital clocks, the students are learning how to tell and write time to the hour and half hour.  Recognizing the coins and knowing its values, skip counting and grouping coins by like value are some of the skills we have been practicing. For more practice at home, check out some of these practice sheets.  

Literacy

Click here for the newest caregiver letter!

Science

Click here for the newest caregiver letter!

Paper Towel Rolls

We are going to be doing a project in math soon using empty paper towel rolls! Please note that we will not be using toilet paper rolls, only the paper towel rolls (the longer tubes). If you have any empty paper towel rolls at home, please send them in! Thank you very much for your help! 

First Grade Tricky Words

Here are the tricky words we have been or will be practicing this school year. Please have your child continue to practice reading and writing these words.  We have worked on Unit 1-6  in class so far. Unit 6 is a review of all of the tricky words we have learned this year.  

Looking for some games and activities to help your child practice tricky words in a fun and exciting way?  Check out these ideas!

Recess

As the weather is unpredictable this time of year, please send your child with coats to keep them warm at recess.  Recess is still so early in the morning that we are not at the peak high temperature for the day yet. We go outside every day and we want to make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather at that time of day.

Expected Behaviors

We are continuing to work hard on showing expected behaviors. Gentle reminders at home are very helpful. As a reminder the Cougar 5 are:

• Follow Directions

• Use Kind words

• Keep hands and feet to self  

• Make safe choices

• Do my Best

Important Dates

Friday, April 24th-½ day-11:45 am dismissal

April 10, 2026

 Hi Families!

This week we had so much fun visiting the book fair! Thank you to all that volunteered their time and donated books to build our classroom library.  We appreciate it all.  Also, we had a great time in social studies sharing  Our Magical Family presentations.  It was amazing to see all that we have in common and what makes us unique.  The students were so proud when they were sharing.  

Literacy

Click here for the newest caregiver letter!

Science

Click here for the newest caregiver letter!

Paper Towel Rolls

We are going to be doing a project in math soon using empty paper towel rolls! Please note that we will not be using toilet paper rolls, only the paper towel rolls (the longer tubes). If you have any empty paper towel rolls at home, please send them in! Thank you very much for your help! 

First Grade Tricky Words

Here are the tricky words we have been or will be practicing this school year. Please have your child continue to practice reading and writing these words.  We have worked on Unit 1-6  in class so far.

Looking for some games and activities to help your child practice tricky words in a fun and exciting way?  Check out these ideas!

Recess

As the weather is unpredictable this time of year, please send your child with coats to keep them warm at recess.  Recess is still so early in the morning that we are not at the peak high temperature for the day yet. We go outside every day and we want to make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather at that time of day.

Expected Behaviors

We are continuing to work hard on showing expected behaviors. Gentle reminders at home are very helpful. As a reminder the Cougar 5 are:

• Follow Directions

• Use Kind words

• Keep hands and feet to self  

• Make safe choices

• Do my Best

Important Dates

-Tuesday, April 14th-Early Release-2:05 pm dismissal

April 2, 2026

 

Dear Families, 

We hope you all had a wonderful spring break. It was great to see all of the students’ smiling faces back at school! We loved hearing about all the great adventures you had.  This week we also continued to work on our opinion writing and word problems.  

Literacy

Click here for the newest caregiver letter!

Social Studies Family Homework

To end our Social Studies unit we invite you to create a family slide with your child .  This is the same slide your family may have created for the I Am Me, We Are Kildeer event. If you already made it please don't feel like you need to make another one,  just share the one you already created.  These slides will be shared during our social studies culmination day.  Please practice presenting their slide with you at home to prepare them to share with the class.   Please click HERE to make a copy of the “Our Magical Family” slide. Once your slide is complete, please email or click the share button. Send it to kstrauss@kcsd96.org. Thank you!

*If you would rather have a paper copy please let me know. 

Due by April 6th

First Grade Tricky Words

Here are the tricky words we have been or will be practicing this school year. Please have your child continue to practice reading and writing these words.  We have worked on Unit 1-5  in class so far.

Looking for some games and activities to help your child practice tricky words in a fun and exciting way?  Check out these ideas!

Recess

As the weather is unpredictable this time of year, please send your child with coats to keep them warm at recess.  Recess is still so early in the morning that we are not at the peak high temperature for the day yet. We go outside every day and we want to make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather at that time of day.

Spring Book Fair 

Our class will be attending the Book Fair next week! We will be previewing the book fair to make a list of your child’s favorite books. Then we will visit the book fair again to purchase books at a later date. The Book Fair will only accept e-wallet purchases. Be on the lookout for the principal's message for more information.

Paper Towel Rolls

We are going to be doing a project in math soon using empty paper towel rolls! Please note that we will not be using toilet paper rolls, only the paper towel rolls (the longer tubes). If you have any empty paper towel rolls at home, please send them in! Thank you very much for your help! 

Expected Behaviors

We are continuing to work hard on showing expected behaviors. Gentle reminders at home are very helpful. As a reminder the Cougar 5 are:

• Follow Directions

• Use Kind words

• Keep hands and feet to self  

• Make safe choices

• Do my Best

Important Dates

-Tuesday, April 7th-Book Fair Preview 8:40-9:00 am

-Thursday, April 9th-Book Fair Purchase 8:40-9:00 am; Pajama Day

5:30-7:00 pm-Book Fair open for families