This will be an exciting year!  We have much to learn.  I know that most of you are eager to learn to write stories, practice and learn new math skills, and do science experiments.   And think of all the good books we can read!

I hope this will be a special year for you.  I am very excited to be teaching at ESM.  I am thankful to God for providing us with such a wonderful school and staff.  I look forward to sharing God's Word with you everyday.  My prayer is that each one of you will grow to love and serve Jesus.                    Mrs. LaBrash

Here are a few of the special things we do throughout the year.

ARTHUR'S AUTHORS

Each month will feature a different author.  We will read each particular author's work during the month.  We will talk about the author and find out a little about his or her background.  Many of these books are Accelerated Reader books.  The monthly books can be read at home or at school during our quiet reading time.  At the end of the month we will be writing a letter to each author letting him or her know how much we enjoyed their books.

• September:  Marc Brown

• October:  Mercer Mayer

• November: Stan and Jan Berenstain        

• December: James Marshall

• January: Jan Brett

• February: Tomie DePaola

• March: Joanna Cole

• April: Suzy Kline

• May: Mary Pope Osborn

READER OF THE WEEK

I will encourage confidence in oral reading by beginning a "Reader of the Week" activity in January.  I will pick a student to be the "Reader of the Week".  I will ask the student to select a short story to be read aloud in class.  Each student should prepare before hand by reading the book at home to his/her parents.  I will choose a "Reader of the Week" on Monday.  The student will have all week long to prepare.  On Friday the student will read the book to the class.  The other students must also be prepared to listen quietly and appreciatively.

PRAYER BEAR

Our theme this year for our school is Pray, Witness, and Serve.  Throughout the year we will be focusing on these 3 areas.   To encourage my students to pray for each other I will be sending home a "Prayer Bear".  This "Prayer Bear" will spend the weekend at your house.  During his visit your son or daughter (and family) will be reminded to pray for the prayer requests from our class.  In the "Prayer Bear's " backpack you will find a little book with prayers, songs, and stories.  Feel free to use these at bedtime, mealtime, or family devotion time.  Also in his backpack will be a prayer journal for our class.  Use these requests whenever you pray at your house.  Add to the requests if you want to! 

FIELD TRIPS

Throughout the year we will be going on a few field trips.  Some of these include:  Hilger's Pumpkin Patch, Science Central, The Gingerbread House Festival, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Lindenwood Environmental Center, McMillen Health Center, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, and other.