Final Stretch...

Hi Everyone!

So here it is...the final stretch before we begin our journey together. I am getting really excited as I head into our classroom to set up and visit with other Zeh teachers. I have also had the opportunity to attend a few workshops this summer and I have learned some new games for us to play and songs for us to sing. It is going to be a great year in room 13!

I was glad to see that I had some second grade visitors to the blog. (It was also nice to see I had some 4th grade visitors returning to check things out!) You can also access the blog from our grade level page on the Zeh School website. I will be placing a bright, sticky label on your child's agenda with the web address as well. The blog is a wonderful window into our daily activities. I am looking forward to sharing it with you this year.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I love to take pictures and travel in the summer. Here is a peek at my recent adventures:

Not the best beach day at Memorial Beach in Marlborough. Thankfully, I made it out just before the rain started!

Emma & I took a trip to see my parents on Long Island (NY). We had a great time splashing in the ocean at Jones Beach State Park.

Emma won a free ticket to Davis' Farmland from the Northboro Library's Summer Reading Program. What a fantastic place to spend the day!

This is at a place called Innisfree Gardens located in Millbrook, NY. It is so beautiful and there are many "secret" gardens to explore. Here Emma and Mr. Gorham are investigating a fountain.

Still at Innisfree...

My family took our annual trip to the Dutchess County Fair in NY. This goat at the petting zoo made me laugh! He was just waiting for anyone who had a quarter!

I also enjoyed this llama, who was apparently so hot at the fair that he needed to stand in front of the fan!

If you're anything like me, you probably hate to pack your lunch each day. I get tired of the eating the same lunches day after day, but I also don't really like to buy lunch. Luckily, I found a few websites to help keep my lunchbox choices fresh and healthy. There are also some good snack recipes to try as well. Click on the links to check them out if you are looking for some new ideas. Let me know if you find something tasty!


http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/specialfeature/backtoschool_food_sf/


http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/healthy/ideas-kids-school-lunches?src=edit&mag=ghk&chan=hp&link=ideas-kids-school-lunches


http://www.parenting.com/recipes-gallery/Recipes/10-Fresh-Lunchbox-Ideas



I also wanted to post our specialist schedule for the year so that you can plan when to wear sneakers (for physical education) and when to wear old clothes (for art).

Specialist Schedule:

Monday: Music (10:35 am)

Tuesday: Phys. Ed (12:30 pm)

Wednesday: Phys. Ed (1:50 pm)

Thursday: Art (1:10 pm)

Friday: Library (1:10 pm)

Computer Lab will be Wednesday from 10:15-11:15

Reminder: the supply list is available on the post below, if you need it.

Remember to bring in 3 items that describe you on the first day of school and put the items in a brown paper bag. Keep these items a secret until we are ready to share. Have a great few days and I will look forward to seeing you again at 8:20 am (remember school starts 5 minutes later this year!) on Wednesday, August 27th!

-Mrs. Gorham

Summer Fun!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to our class blog! It is here that you will find information regarding our class activities and curriculum updates. I try to post pictures and videos whenever possible. I tried this for the first time with my fourth graders last year and it was well received by the families and children. Be advised that I will only include photos of your child, if you sign the media permission slip when we return in the fall. Feel free to check the archives (on the right side) and you can see what typical posts look like from last year's class. Families are also able to post comments after viewing the blog. I also like to include websites (also on the right) that are relative to our studies at school. Currently, I have some fun websites that can be used to practice math facts.


I hope this post finds you enjoying your summer to the fullest. I have had a wonderful summer so far. I have spent time traveling and with family- a perfect summer for me! I have also had time to sleep in late and read many great books! I have seen many families at the Northborough Free Library- a nice place to cool off and visit. Here are some photos of my recent adventures...



First, my family took a cruise to celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary. It was amazing! It was warm, the beaches were gorgeous and there was lots to do and see. I even tried sushi for the first time...and snails too! Surprisingly, both were quite tasty!

We left New York Harbor and waved to the Statue of Liberty!

Heading down to Puerto Rico, the water was so beautiful!

This is a view from a fort in Puerto Rico. It was quite a climb, but the view was worth it!

The sky grew very dark in Puerto Rico and I liked the shot of these palm trees.

Here is our ship in Tortola, BVI.

This is called Virgin Gorda. Mr. Gorham and I snorkeled here and saw many unusual fish.

In Samana (Dominican Republic), we explored caves!

Emma (my daughter) and I have hit many local beaches this summer. Here she is at Memorial Beach in Marlborough. She is a real fish!

I also went to Ms. Douglass's wedding. She is now Mrs. Spiliakos. She looked beautiful!

We took a quick trip to Tower Hill Botanical Gardens. It was beautiful, but very hot! We will try again in the fall when it will be cooler.

So we still have another month for more adventures! I cannot wait to see more things and of course, take more pictures! I promise to update you again in a few weeks. Be sure to check back before school starts. I will post the specialist schedule next time...so you will know when to wear sneakers for Mr. Sieurin!

Here is the supply list for grade 2. As I mentioned in the letter, I added a pack of "AA" batteries, for all the digital photography/blog posting for our class.

Student Supplies:

• a box of crayons
• a set of markers
• a pack of colored pencils
• 2-highlighters
• sharpened #2 pencils
• 2-glue sticks
• a folder with 2 pockets
• a book for DEAR (silent reading)
• a hard plastic pencil case
• a hand held pencil sharpener (non-electric)
• a pair of blunt tip scissors
• a bottle of hand soap/hand sanitizer
• a box of tissues for the classroom
• clorox wipes
• a pack of "AA" batteries

That's all for now. Please vote (at the top) so I know if anyone is checking this out and leave a comment if you'd like. You need to set up an account to leave comments. It is free and takes no time at all.

Stay cool!

-Mrs. Gorham

The Last Hurrah...

Hi Everyone!
I hope you all had a nice time with your families this weekend. I can't believe that our time together is coming to an end. We had a great turnout on Friday at our Hall of Presidents & First Ladies. Thank you for helping out with the great costumes! Many of you found some excellent treasures at the local consignment shops and at the Salvation Army. Thanks also for coming back to help out with tie-dying in the afternoon! I could not have done it without you! Here's a few pictures from our recent adventures...

Our Egg Drop Containers were a huge success! Room 5 students obviously know a great deal about technology & design. Check out our photos:

If a tree falls in the woods, can you hear it? Well, I did! It fell across Whitney Street during a brief wind storm Tuesday night and then was rolled across my driveway. Luckily, no one was hurt!

Despite the sizzling temperatures, our field trip to Broadmoor Wildlife Sactuary was a huge hit. We learned many interesting facts and I think many of us plan to return...perhaps in the fall!

Presidents & First Ladies was a wonderful event for Room 5. We shared our research with our families, friends, and fellow Zeh community members. Our class was knowledgeable and respectful too! I am so proud of their hard work! ( Not all couples are pictured as I had some trouble uploading these for some reason.)

John & Abigail Adams

James & Dolley Madison

George & Martha Washington

Laura Bush

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Theodore & Edith Roosevelt

John & Jackie Kennedy

Abraham & Mary Todd Lincoln

Frances & Grover Cleveland

Louisa & John Quincy Adams

After all our hard work in the morning, we kicked back with some extra playground time and did a little tie-dying. Thanks for all the donated supplies and volunteers!

Only 2.5 days left until summer break...and my 4th graders become 5th grade students! At work and at play, we have had a great year! We made our goal of earning 200 compliments this year...we earned 239 to date. I am looking forward a wonderful couple of days with my class and a fantastic end to our year!

-JoAnne Gorham