Race to $0.25 Tournament

Have you heard about our Race to $0.25 Tournament?  As an extension to our money unit, we're practice adding and exchanging coins.  After the championship match on Friday, we'll take our money to the gas station for an ice cream cone.  

FFA Animals

The FFA students brought animals a few weeks ago.  Our students LOVED getting the opportunity to pet some of them!

5 Things That Make Summer Awesome - PLEASE SHARE

The Kid President strikes again!   The issue brought up in this video is one that exists even at VHE.   Help feed hungry children across America by viewing, liking, and sharing this Kid President video.  

Plant Dissection

While we were studying plants, we carefully dissected a few petunias so we could find all of the plant parts.  Below are a few pictures of our investigation.  

Take Home Books

Today is the last day we will be sending home book baggies.  Please return all take-home books that you may have. 

Thank you!  J      

Better Late Than Never - Happy Mother's Day

Another wonderful reminder from the Kid President.  Thanks for being great!

First Grade Family Fun Night - Thank you!

Thank you for joining us for First Grade Family Fun Night!  The smiles I saw on the faces of first graders was a clear sign that they enjoyed their special evening!  

A special thanks to the following helping hands who shared their time and talents with us that evening!  It wouldn't have been possible without you!

Mrs. Bange - Balloon Animals
Mrs. Leatherman - Flower Planting
Mrs. Anderson - Cookie baking & flower craft
Mrs. Townsley - Photo Booth

Graduation Sunday - Did you know...?

What a beautiful day for the Benton Community Class of 2014 to graduate!  

Did you know there is only about 4000 days until our children graduate as the Benton Community Class of 2025?  I don't think that seems like very many!  Keep making the most of them!  

A special congratulations to our service learner, Morgan Kruse, on your graduation!  We appreciate all you've done for 1U and have truly enjoyed having you be a part of our first grade family!  Good luck in your future endeavors!

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ - SUMMER READING

Help your child avoid the summer slide!  Check out this AWESOME website Mrs. Bange created to help with your child's summer reading goals!  There are a number of resources, info about what Mrs. Bange is reading, and book and website lists categorized by grade level!   I will send out a reminder about this website at the end of the year.  I strongly suggest bookmarking it.  It's never too late to start!  

Bobcat Summer

Early Dismissal Tomorrow

Reminder:

There is a 1:00 dismiss tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14th.  All staff will be participating in professional development.  

Grassheads!

We've been discussing the different parts of plants and their role in helping the plant grow.  We've also been talking a lot about the life cycle of plants and how it is similar to other life cycles we know about.  

As an extension activity, we planted grass in cups decorated with Mr. Potato Head parts.  We also "dissected" a plant of our own and found a seed, roots, stem, leaves, bud and flower!

Your first grader will take his or her "Grasshead" home on Thursday evening.  

Rodgers Park

Tuesday, May 20^th, the VHE students will be talking their annual field trip to Rodgers Park in Vinton.  Each student will need a peanut/tree nut free sack lunch.  We will not be bringing coolers, so please pack an ice pack to keep their food and drinks cool.  It is also helpful when kids bring 2 drinks with screw-on caps for drinking throughout the day.  Please wear tennis shoes, a hat, and put on any sunblock/bug spray at home. 

We will leave the school around 8:30 and return around 2:30.  If you are interested in helping, please contact me before May 16^th.  Volunteers will need to drive their own vehicles because there is not enough room on the bus.  

Money Unit

Reminder:  

We will begin our study of money very soon.  To aid us in making this unit as relevant and real as possible, we are asking that you send your child with the following money amounts in a Ziploc bag with your child's name by Friday, May 16th.

10 pennies

5 nickels

5 dimes

4 quarters

Thank you!

Thank You!

I received some special flowers from my favorite first graders.  Thank you for thinking of me on my birthday!  I feel so blessed to be able to share it with such a wonderful group of kiddos.

Greenhouse Visit

The first graders went on a field trip to the HS Greenhouse as an extension of what we're learning in science.  The five needs of plants have been our main focus so far this week.  We'll move into the parts of plants and then discuss how plants are an important part of our lives.  

The HS students do have a PLANT SALE going on RIGHT NOW.  Please call the HS office for more information If you are interested in purchasing any flowers or vegetables.

Train Days

If you or your children are remotely interested in trains, this is a great opportunity!  The depot only opens once a year.

Train Days this Saturday at the Belle Plaine Area Museum. The Depot will be open from 10-1 pm on Saturday. The museum will have exhibits and the Iowa Model Train Club will have 7 different track sets running. Stop by the Belle Plaine Area Museum and discover Belle Plaine's history!!  

Twisters Gymnastics & Indian Creek Nature Center

We had a fabulous day of learning last Friday on our first grade field trip to Twisters Gymnastics and Indian Creek Nature Center. At Twisters, students completed three different stations and were able to complete an obstacle course, hop on a giant trampoline, and finally jump in a foam pit.  Then our students were able to exercise their bodies and minds while exploring the wonders of the pond.  Naturalists described different aspects of the environment and then allowed students to net for pond life. 

THANK YOU to the Keystone/Van Horne PTO for providing the financial means that made our field trip possible!  Also a huge thanks to the PTO for all they do for us throughout the year.  This organization does so much to support student learning and growth and we are so fortunate to have such a great partnership.