What a great week we’ve had! The children are buzzing along, learning new routines, figuring out what kinds of things they like to do, exploring each other and the classroom. Some of the highlights of the week: planting chrysanthemums outside our classroom and reading the book, “Chrysanthemum”; reading the “Name letters” that you wrote for your child; having our first art class (it will be on display in the hallway); learning new songs, like “The Green Grass Grows All Around” and “The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night”; acting out our journal stories, and so much more. The absolute highlight of the week, however, was our 2-day cooking project with Sophia’s mom, Karen, who made homemade pasta with the children and then macaroni and cheese. What made it really special was the twist she did to accommodate some children with food allergies: she made spagetti out of a spagetti squash! It was cool to see it come out all stringy like flour and egg spagetti. Many of the children liked both kinds.

This week we’ll be painting our wood sculptures (note: not everyone did one), doing more planting, math games, shapes, apple graphing, making apple sauce, chalk drawing, counting in Spanish, The Three Bears, and whatever else we come up with.

<strong>HELP!</strong>

We need some more wood pieces and someone to help us cut them. If you have a table saw and/or access to wood scraps, we sure could use them. I also picked up some pvc pipe and connectors to use in the building area. If you have a way to help us cut it, please let me know.

<strong>THANKYOU! </strong>

Thanks to those of you who brought snacks in. We’ll try and work out a system at Open House on Wednesday night so we can share this.

Thanks again and again to Karen Macklin for the cool cooking project. Karen is interested in becoming a chef and wants to lots more cooking with our students.

<strong>Student Teacher</strong>

For those of you who haven’t met Yoella Watkins, she is doing a practicum from Harold Washington College and will be with us in the mornings until December. Some days she’ll spend in Ms. Bethanie’s and Mr. Jeff’s rooms.

<strong>REMINDERS:</strong>
<ul>
	<li>Please fill out the directory form for the <strong>Ray School Directory</strong>. It is a very useful tool for all of us. If you do not want your name listed, please let me know.</li>
	<li><strong>CANDY SALE!</strong> Remember, candy sale orders/donations are due Oct. 4.</li>
	<li><strong>Library books </strong>and the bags they came in are due on Mondays.</li>
	<li><strong>OPEN HOUSE is WEDNESDAY NIGHT at 7:00PM</strong>. If you can arrange childcare, you will get more out of it since you won’t have to mind your child. Please come with questions and suggestions.</li>
	<li><strong>TRIP FORMS</strong> are going home Monday. Please fill them out and send in money for the plays. They are $7.00 a ticket. We have a limited number of tickets for chapperones, so if you want to go, get your money in early. Our first trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory is on Thursday, Oct. 11. <strong>WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS TRIP!!!</strong> It is free for both you and your child.</li>
	<li>If you haven’t sent in your <strong>letter to your child</strong> about how you came up with his or her name, please do so. We’d like every child to have one so no one feels left out. We’ll be putting them up on the back bulletin board.</li>
	<li>If you haven’t turned in your <strong>EMERGENCY FORM</strong>, please do so right away. We must be able to reach you or your representative if your child gets sick or hurt.</li>
</ul>
<p align="center"><strong>DON’T FORGET THE 57th ST. BOOK FAIR ON SUNDAY, 1-6PM</strong>!  Volunteer signup is on the back door.</p>