Prairie Research, Valentine's Day and The Reading Challenge

Reading Challenge

I'm not sure about that plant - it needs too much water.

On Friday, Prairie Racerunners spent 30 minutes preparing  and then reading with their preschool reading buddies! These minutes may be used toward the Usborne Reading Challenge. Please see information below and get on the reading challenge train!

Willowwind friends are excited to begin a reading challenge!! Are you ready to read?!?!
On Friday, February 3rd, your child took home a bright orange packet of information that highlights this reading challenge. Students are challenged to read at least 300 minutes during the challenge period which ends next Friday! 

 In addition, students can find sponsors to pledge money to support their reading challenge. 

 Each child and Willowwind benefit 100% from each pledge your child receives!!! Half of your child's pledges will buy your family books at the upcoming Usborne Book Fair and the other half will bring in new books for our classroom library and our school library. Pledge checks can be made payable to Usborne Books. To kick off our Reading Challenge, Willowwind friends were able to sample some of he books they can purchase from Usborne through our upcoming book fair. Your child began a Wish List of books, found in their orange packet. 

Helping partners use the computer to research!

Each day, have your child use the orange packet to record the minutes they read or minutes that you read to them. You can automatically enter in 30 minutes each day for your child's school reading that takes place during Quiet Reading Time. On Friday, February 17th return your child's signed reading log, full pledge envelope, and wish list to Willowwind.

Students will then be able to shop the Usborne Book Fair which will take place February 28th through March 1st.





 Valentine's Day Traditions
Our Secret Valentine Reveal is a great way to show love from our heart. Today we enjoyed making Name Poems as an example of a gift for another without having to buy anything extra!

There it is!

There is one more day of Secret Valentine Gifts which is Monday! Then on Tuesday it is the BIG REVEAL. Please send in a small token, no more than $5.00, for the Secret Valentine Reveal. As a low sugar environment please be sure that the Reveal Gift is not a treat. Thank-you.


If you would like to send in classroom Valentines, I will send a list of student names to your e-mail so that friends can address Valentines to their classmates. They are also welcome to address Valentines for their Partner Family Members if they so choose. 


On Valentine's Day we will celebrate with Math Games and Valentine's Day Writing. We may not get to open Valentines in class, so I will send all sweet notes home for sure so families can review together. If you have questions please e-mail me. 

Don't worry - I'll look it up. 

Prairie Research
Today was Day 2 of our Prairie Research with Partner Families. We spent time researching flowers and grasses that we want to plant in our own Willowwind Prairie. Each friend chose 3 or 4 plants to  to the brainstorm, and then as a group we will decide which seeds and plants to grow. This is all possible because of our Seed Savers Fundraising. Thank-you!


Mark Your Calendars
Friday, February 24th - Author's Coco from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Plan on spending the afternoon.


Tuesday, February 28th - Parent Teacher Conferences


Thursday, March 8th - Our Community and Beyond Night from 5:30 p.m.  to 8:00 p.m. All K-6 friends and families should plan to attend.