First Grade Update
October 22, 2026
Every Week is a Great Week in First Grade!
We had a fun short week last week and a great week back together after MEA! Thank you for your generous donations toward Vis Give Day! To celebrate, first graders can wear their pajamas to school on Monday, October 26!
The upper school engineering class built toys for a first grade audience, and we got to test them this week! (See photos!) We wrote opinion pieces to respectfully share our feedback with the engineers.
If you haven't already, please let me know who will be attending our class Halloween party next Friday. First and last names are needed for check-in. Also please let me and your child know if you will be taking them straight from the party at 2:30 or if they will be staying for car line/extended. If you would like someone other than a parent to take your child at 2:30, please email me your permission. Thank you!
Learning
Believe and Read
Consonant blends: First graders can identify, tap, and blend 2 consonants next to each other at the beginning or end of words. First graders can differentiate between consonant blends and consonant digraphs. Students know how to mark both. Have fun finding blends and digraphs when reading with your first grader!
Comprehension
Unit 4: We read about the importance of recess and other brain breaks for learning. We identified verbs while reading, then we acted them out!
Math
Subtraction within 10: We finished chapter 3: Subtraction within 10, and we are ready to begin chapter 4: Numbers within 20. Please see the School-to-Home letter coming home in red folders on Friday. We also began subitizing this week, which is a great way to grow number sense - and first graders are loving it!
Religion
Jesus, Our Lord and Savior: We learned about Visitation Sister, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We toured campus to find many beautiful depictions of Jesus's Sacred Heart. Tell your first grader what the Sacred Heart means to you.
Social Studies
Geography: We explored many different kinds of maps and learned key features of maps. Discuss maps in your home or look up interesting maps with your first grader! Next week on Tuesday, please send in a map of any kind to share with the class for a map gallery walk.
First Grade Halloween Party, October 30, 1:20-2:30
Please email me to let me know who will be attending so I can put them on a list to sign in at the Heart when they arrive. At 2:30, parents are welcome to sign out their first grader with me and leave. If you would like someone other than a parent to take your child, please email me to let me know who will be taking your child. If your child is staying for car line/extended, please make sure they know that, too. Thank you!
Thank you so much to our PA reps, Katie and Caitlin, who are organizing this party!
Country Study
Families are invited to come into the classroom to share knowledge and lead an activity of your choice!
As part of our Groves Comprehension curriculum, first grade will be studying the following countries this year: Peru, Nigeria, Afghanistan, India, China, Argentina, Mexico, and France.
Do you have a special connection with one of these countries?
If so, you are invited to come into the classroom to share more. For example, you can show us pictures of your time there, teach us about the geography of the country, bring in an artifact, or something else! Feel free to be creative!
If you do not have a personal connection, but you would like to participate, you are welcome to find a book about one of these countries to come in and read and share.
Note: If you have a special connection to another country or community, you are invited to schedule a time with me to share your knowledge and lead an activity!
Please email me if you are interested in participating.
Postcard Project
Throughout the school year, we will attempting to collect a postcard from all 50 states!
Ask the person sending the postcard to please write:
What they love about their state!
A fun fact about their state!
A word of encouragement for the class!
Our mailing address:
First Grade c/o Tara Wengronowitz
Visitation School
2455 Visitation Drive
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
Popcorn and Cookies
Friday, October 30
Friday, November 20
Friday, December 18
Friday, January 29
Friday, February 26
Thursday, March 18
Friday, April 23
Friday, May 28
Upcoming Dates
- Wednesday, October 28: Formal uniform, All Saints Day Mass
- Friday, October 30, 1:30-2:30 Halloween Party
- Thursday, December 3, 6pm: Christmas concert