The Riddle Box is back! The students were quite excited about the idea of answering riddles. One week of each month will be our 'riddle week'. Each day of that week, a grade is given a riddle after our morning announcements. Their answer needs to be written down and put into the Riddle Box before lunch. The winners are then announced the following morning. Each winner receives a coupon for their creative thinking!

Our new "Act of Kindness" was assigned today. The students are to help carry in groceries for a parent, grandparent, or neighbor. While discussing this during our announcements, a student asked if they could carry in something else other than groceries. He had suggested sporting equipment or suitcases. It is nice to see the students thinking beyond just what is mentioned. I encouraged them all to complete this easy task, helping with whatever needs carried in the house.

The students are enjoying a new book this week, Frankly, Frannie Doggy Day Care by AJ Stern. Frannie is a young girl desperate for a job with an office. She comes up with a "fantastical" plan to become a veterinarian and her best friend Elliott will be her secretary. Her big problem is convincing her parents that she should quit school and work in a vet's office! There are more problems that lie ahead for this ambitious girl.

Our new Character Trait from Chick-Fil-A was introduced this week. This month's trait is self-control, choosing to do what you should do, not what you want to do. Losing self-control can happen to all of us. Whether it is eating healthy or following the rules of a game. We discussed the importance of displaying this trait and how it can often times bring about other traits such as respect, responsibility, and patience. This trait can also be very helpful to us as we achieve our New Year's Resolutions!

Reminder about our January PTO meeting tonight at 6:30. Hope you can make it.

The temperatures are finally proving it is Winter. I reminded the students this morning to wear winter coats, hats, and gloves. They will be going outside for recess as long as the temperature, with the wind chill, is 20 degrees or higher. A pair of boots may be needed if there is snow on the ground to let the students use as much of the playground as possible.

Happy 2012! It is nice to be back into our school routine after the Holiday rush! Hope everyone enjoyed time with family, friends and did not eat too much! This month is one of my favorites for being in school! Routines are established, there is a calm in the air, and students are ready to move forward with their learning. Please re-establish and keep those school-home routines to make this week a successful transition for "school mode."

Twas the day before winter break when all through the school not a person could wait, not even the teachers. The children were anxiously awaiting the sound of the 2:30 bell, while visions of playing danced in their heads...

May you and your family enjoy the Holiday Season. I'll see you in the New Year!