9 / 26 / 2025

💡ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Please bring "Frog and Toad" by this Wednesday, October 1st, if you haven't yet. Thank you!
• We are doing an Animal Report during the second quarter to be due in January. More information about this will be given during the Parent-Teacher Conferences. 
• Sign-up link for the Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 13-15 through this link:  https://archwaychandler.configio.com/
• From our nurse, Mrs. Sheila Spanbauer:  Dear Parents and Guardians, Flu/cold season is coming very soon. Please continue to teach your children proper hygiene habits such as washing their hands right after using the bathroom, after they cough or sneeze and before they eat or touch their eyes or mouth. Help them practice sneezing or coughing on their sleeve, to help prevent any possible spread of microorganisms. I would like also to remind you that scholars are not allowed to have medications (pre-scribed or over the counter) in their backpacks. This can cause a serious safety concern for all the scholars.  Please reach out to me if your scholar needs to take any prescribed or over the counter medications. I do need these medications to be in their original packaging and for prescribed medications to be labeled with the scholar's name. All medications should not be expired. Thank you for your cooperation in our goal of keeping our school healthy!

💡DATES TO REMEMBER

• October 1st - Kingdom Meeting (wear Kingdom shirts from last year or this year)
• Friday, October 3rd - Early dismissal at 12:30
• October 6th - October 10th - No school (FALL BREAK)
• Monday-Tuesday, October 13th-14th - Parent Teacher Conferences
• Monday, October 20th - Egypt Party (organized by room parents)
• October 25: Trunk or Treat (4:30–6:30 pm)
• October 29th - Classical Character Day
• November 15: Mother Son Kickball (12 pm)
• November 25th - Field Trip at the Phoenix Zoo (We need 10 parent chaperones for each class. Sign up coming on October 20th.)

💡REMINDERS:

1. The scholars should bring the following daily:

• Water bottle with name
• Healthy and dry snacks in front pocket
• Take Home folder (please make sure scholars empty it at home)

2. Please review the Driveline procedure here: directionsforparentsdrivelin.docx We have also attached the file in the resources on the right side of this webpage.

💡WHAT WE LEARNED THIS WEEK 

📕 LITERATURE / GRAMMAR: We finished our Owl at Home series, and started Aesop's Fables! We retold the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" through a reader's theater. We also read about "The Dog in the Manger and The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing" Next week, we will kick off our Frog and Toad Series.  

 

In Grammar, we continued to talk about nouns, and practiced story narration.

📕 SAYINGS: 

• Wolf in sheep's clothing  

• Practice makes perfect.

• If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
• Fish out of water 

📕 POETRY: We are proud to see our scholars recite their poems next week!

 

📕 READING: Thank you to our first parent reading volunteers! We still have slots for the month. We need volunteers every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:15 - 11:45. Check your teacher's page on top for the reading volunteer signup. 

Sight Word Bookmarks will be on a ring in your child's reading bag or in a binder sleeve. We will be testing for sight word knowledge once a week. During this time, we will be moving students to the next sight word list if they have mastered the previous one. (Please do not mark off sight words at home- we will do this in class). 

📕 SPALDING: Continue practicing at home the phonograms they haven't mastered yet. Check out the Spalding resources on this website to review letter formations, spelling/Spalding rules and phonogram list.

 We practiced jobs of silent final e:

                Job 1: Silent final e jumps over the consonant and makes the vowel say its name.

                Job 2: English words don't end in u or v.

                Job 3: c and g will say their second sound.

                Job 4: Every syllable needs a vowel.

                Job 5: No job (silent final e does not do anything, it just has to be there).

       

         rule 4: Vowels say their name at the end of a syllable

                  rule 8:  /er/ can be found in "Her first nurse works early." 

                  rule 17: Double f, l, s after a single vowel that says its short sound 

rule 18: "ay" is used to say a at the end of a base word 

📕 MATHEMATICS:  Students were able to identify addition equations and subtraction equations for a given number number bond (Fact Families). They also learned how to compare numbers through subtraction. 

 

📕 HISTORY: We learned about Pharaohs and the everyday people and made puppets for them. We found out that camels are what they used to travel in the desert as well. We also studied about how pharaohs were wrapped in strips of cloth and buried in pyramids. 

📕 SCIENCE: In our current unit we talked about how animals use their parts. We also talked about plant parts and how plant parts help the plant. We also wrote in our journals about what things we use as humans that are similar to animal and plant parts.

Have a good weekend. One more week until Fall Break!

1st Grade Team 

9 / 19 / 2025

💡ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are into the final stretch for our first quarter. We are only 2 weeks from marking the year as a quarter done. This means students need to ensure that they are finishing out the quarter strong, which means keep studying phonograms, continue to turn in neat homework, and work hard to obey classroom rules. If each scholar shows such dedication, they are guaranteed to succeed in first grade. 

💡DATES TO REMEMBER

• October 1st - Kingdom Meeting (wear Kingdom colors)
• Friday, October 3rd - Early dismissal at 12:30
• October 6th - October 10th - No school (FALL BREAK)
• Monday-Tuesday, October 13th-14th - Parent Teacher Conferences
• Monday, October 20th - Egypt Party (organized by room parents)
• October 25: Trunk or Treat (4:30–6:30 pm)
• October 29th - Classical Character Day
• November 15: Mother Son Kickball (12 pm)
• November 25th - Field Trip at the Phoenix Zoo (We need 10 parent chaperones for each class. Sign up coming on October 20th.)

💡REMINDERS:

1. The scholars should bring the following daily:

• Water bottle with name
• Healthy and dry snacks in front pocket
• Take Home folder (please make sure scholars empty it at home)

2. Please review the Driveline procedure here: directionsforparentsdrivelin.docx We have also attached the file in the resources on the right side of this webpage.

💡WHAT WE LEARNED THIS WEEK 

📕 LITERATURE / GRAMMAR: We've just finished The House at Pooh Corner. We learned a lot about friendship and little lessons about life from those friends! After Pooh and his friends, we met Owl at Home. We will find out more about him next week!

 

In Grammar, we have been studying how to write proper nouns of places specifically our cities, the different states of America, and our street names. 

📕 SAYINGS: 

• Wolf in sheep's clothing 

• Practice makes perfect.

• If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
• Fish out of water

  

📕 POETRY: Next week, students will recite one of these poems in front of the class with a group. We will check for memorization, tone, clarity of voice and stance.

 

What are Heavy?
by Christina Rossetti

What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow;

What are brief? Today and tomorrow;

What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth;

What are deep? The ocean and truth.

 

Flint 

by Christina Rossetti 

An emerald is as green as grass,

A ruby red as blood;

A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;

A flint lies in the mud.

A diamond is a brilliant stone,

To catch the world's desire;

An opal holds a fiery spark;

But a flint holds fire.

Work (Work While You Work) 

by Anonymous   

Work while you work,

Play while you play,

This is the way 

To be happy each day.

All that you do,

Do with your might,

Things done by half 

Are never done right.

Hearts Are Like Doors 

by Anonymous 

Hearts, like doors, will open with ease,

To very, very little keys,

And don't forget that two of these

Are "Thank you, sir" and "If you please!"

Hope 

by Langston Hughes

Sometimes when I’m lonely,

Don’t know why,

Keep thinkin’ I won’t be lonely

By and by.

Don’t Worry if Your Job is Small (Mighty Oak)

by Anonymous

Don't worry if your job is small, 

And your rewards are few. 

Remember that the mighty oak, 

Was once a nut like you.

📕 READING: Thank you to our parent reading volunteers! We appreciate you giving up your time to help out. We still have open slots for the month. We need volunteers every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:10 - 11:45. Check your teacher's page on top for the reading volunteer signup. 

Sight Word Bookmarks will be on a ring in your child's reading bag or in a binder sleeve. We will be testing for sight word knowledge once a week. During this time, we will be moving students to the next sight word list if they have mastered the previous one. (Please do not mark off sight words at home- we will do this in class). 

📕 SPALDING: Continue practicing at home the phonograms your child hasn't mastered yet. Check out the Spalding resources on this website to review letter formations, spelling/Spalding rules and phonogram list.

 We practiced jobs of silent final e:

                Job 1: Silent final e jumps over the consonant and makes the vowel say its name.

                Job 2: English words don't end in u or v.

                Job 3: c and g will say their second sound.

                Job 4: Every syllable needs a vowel.

                Job 5: No job (silent final e does not do anything, it just has to be there).

       

                 rule 4: Vowels say their name at the end of a syllable

                 rule 5:  i and y may say /i/ (long sound) 

                 rule 6:  y, not i, is used at the end of an English word

                  rule 17: Double f, l, s after a single vowel that says its short sound

                  rule 18: Use 'ay' to say /a/ at the end of a base word, never /a/ alone. 

rule 19: i and o will say their name if followed by two consonants

📕 MATHEMATICS:  We started our unit on subtraction and discussed when to use them to take away and take a part. You may continue the discussion at home. They will have a check up test next week.

 

📕 HISTORY: We opened our unit on Ancient Egypt, studied its geography--and the fact that it's home of the longest river in the world! We created a foldable of the Nile. Have your child use the crocodile cut-out to tour you along the Nile! We also learned about Ancient Egyptian Farming. 

📕 SCIENCE: We began a new unit learning all about plant and animal survival. We talked about what different parts animals have and how animals use these parts.

Have a good weekend!

1st Grade Team 

9 / 12 / 2025

💡ANNOUNCEMENTS

Just a reminder that there are no clubs this coming Wednesday, September 17th due to the faculty in-service day.

Attendance and Absences at ACA

Regular attendance and arriving on time are essential for every ACA student’s success. Consistent routines build confidence and help students stay on track with their learning.

Excused Absences

According to Arizona law, excused absences include:

• Illness or medical appointments
• Mental or behavioral health
• Bereavement or family emergencies
• Homelessness
• Military processing
• Out-of-school suspensions

-Parents/guardians must call or email the school before 8:00 a.m. to report an absence. Without a message, the absence is recorded as unexcused. Students with chronic illness should contact the office for a Chronic Illness form.

-After an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to make up missed work. Each teacher will share their own policy and deadlines for completing assignments.

Unexcused Absences & Vacations

All other absences are considered unexcused under state law, including vacations. Please schedule family trips during school breaks.

⚠️ Important: Teachers will not provide homework or classwork in advance for unexcused absences such as vacations. Students are also not guaranteed make-up work for these absences.

State Requirements

• Five or more unexcused absences = “habitually truant”
• Missing more than 10% of school days (excused + unexcused) may result in a citation
• Ten consecutive unexcused absences will result in withdrawal from ACA

Key Takeaways for Families

• Always call/email before 8:00 a.m. to report absences
• Excused absences = work can be made up
• Vacations/unexcused absences = no work provided ahead of time
• Consistent attendance is critical to your child’s academic success

💡DATES TO REMEMBER

• Wednesday, September 17th - 
  Early dismissal at 12:30 (Teacher In-Service); PSO Dining Fundraiser at Carolina's (7 am–7 pm)
• October 1st - Kingdom Meeting (wear Kingdom colors)
• Friday, October 3rd - Early dismissal at 12:30
• October 6th - October 10th - No school (FALL BREAK)
• Monday-Tuesday, October 13th-14th - Parent Teacher Conferences
• October 25: Trunk or Treat (4:30–6:30 pm)
• November 15: Mother Son Kickball (12 pm)

💡REMINDERS:

1. The scholars should bring the following daily:

• Water bottle with name
• Healthy and dry snacks in front pocket
• Take Home folder (please make sure scholars empty it at home)

2. Please review the Driveline procedure here: directionsforparentsdrivelin.docx We have also attached the file in the resources on the right side of this webpage.

💡WHAT WE LEARNED THIS WEEK 

 

📕 LITERATURE / GRAMMAR: We continue our series on The House at Pooh's Corner. We read the chapter about Tigger not climbing trees, another about Pooh's invented game,  and another about Christopher Robin's notice.

 

We are starting our Owl at Home reading next week. Please bring the book to the class if you haven't done it yet!

 

📕 SAYINGS: 

• Wolf in sheep's clothing
• Practice makes perfect  
• If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
• Fish out of water 

📕 POETRY: The students practice reciting and memorizing these every week. They will do a poetry recitation in front of the class on the last week of the quarter.

Flint 

by Christina Rossetti 

An emerald is as green as grass,

A ruby red as blood;

A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;

A flint lies in the mud.

A diamond is a brilliant stone,

To catch the world's desire;

An opal holds a fiery spark;

But a flint holds fire.

Work (Work While You Work) 

by Anonymous   

Work while you work,

Play while you play,

This is the way 

To be happy each day.

All that you do,

Do with your might,

Things done by half 

Are never done right.

Hearts Are Like Doors 

by Anonymous 

Hearts, like doors, will open with ease,

To very, very little keys,

And don't forget that two of these

Are "Thank you, sir" and "If you please!"

Don’t Worry if Your Job is Small (Mighty Oak)

by Anonymous

Don't worry if your job is small, 

And your rewards are few. 

Remember that the mighty oak, 

Was once a nut like you.

 

 

Hope 

by Langston Hughes

Sometimes when I’m lonely,

Don’t know why,

Keep thinkin’ I won’t be lonely

By and by.

📕READING: Thank you to our first parent reading volunteers! We still have slots for the month. We need volunteers every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:10 - 11:45. Check your teacher's page on top for the reading volunteer signup. 

Sight Word Bookmarks will be on a ring in your child's reading bag or in a binder sleeve. We will be testing for sight word knowledge once a week. During this time, we will be moving students to the next sight word list if they have mastered the previous one. (Please do not mark off sight words at home- we will do this in class). 

📕 SPALDING: We introduced the rest of the first 69 phonograms this week. Continue practicing at home the phonograms they haven't mastered yet. Check out the Spalding resources on this website to review letter formations, spelling/Spalding rules and phonogram list. 

We practiced jobs of silent final e:

                rule 7:  Job 1: e jumps over the consonant to make the vowel say its name

                             Job 2: English words don't end in u or v

                             Job 3: e makes the g say /j/ and c say /s/

                             Job 4: Every syllable needs a vowel

                             Job 5: e has no job

                 rule 4: Vowels say their name at the end of a syllable

                 rule 5:  i and y may say /i/ (long sound) 

                 rule 6:  y, not i, is used at the end of an English word

                  rule 17: Double f, l, s after a single vowel that says its short sound

                  rule 18: Use 'ay' to say /a/ at the end of a base word, never /a/ alone. 

rule 19: i and o will say their name if followed by two consonants

📕 MATHEMATICS:  Students practiced addition facts. We learned about "true statements" in Math. Students reviewed addition concepts and they will take a test on Monday. Our next unit is on subtraction within 10. 

 

📕 HISTORY: We wrapped up our journey into the ancient world of Mesopotamia. We made our pop up ziggurat booklets and listened to the story about King Gilgamesh.  

 

📕 SCIENCE: We are coming to the end of our unit on the sun, moon and stars. This week we talked about what we know about stars and how stars move. We also read a little about Galileo and explored the term 'astronomy'.

1st Grade Team