February 2026

Important Dates in February

February is Black History Month!

February 2nd: Groundhog Day!

February 6th: Sports Day! ⚾

February 10th: Lower School Tiger Family Morning! 🐅

February 16th: Start of the Lunar New Year! 🐴

February 16th- 20th: Midwinter Recess! (No School)

February 23rd: 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL! 💯

February 25th: Upper School Tiger Family Morning! 🐅

February 27th: P.S. 230's Black History Assembly starts at 4:30

Fundations

Students will be introduced to new glued sounds. There will be four new glued sounds ending with ng (ang, ing, ong, ung) and four ending with nk (ank, ink, onk, unk). The trick words that will be introduced are why, by, my, try, put, two, too, very, also, some, and come.

HMH Reading

Students will continue to learn foundational skills and review reading concepts.

Students will review the concepts of:

Text Features
Making Inferences
Story Structure
Making and Confirming Predictions
Making Connections
Topic and Central Idea
Theme

HMH Writing

Students will have fun writing an imaginative folktale about how something in nature came to be.

Students will learn about the elements of an imaginative narrative; characters, setting, plot, problem, and resolution.
Students will brainstorm their ideas and select a topic.
Students will use details to expand on their thinking.

Math for classes 102, 104, and 105

Students will be learning about combinations and the commutative property. Students will work on story problems. Students are also learning how to tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks.

Math for Classes 101, 103, and 106

Students will add 2 or 3 numbers with a total within 20. They start with problems where 2 of the numbers make a 10 (for example, 6 + 8 + 4) and learn that you can add numbers in any order, which can make adding easier. They discover the usefulness of grouping numbers to find a sum of 10 when adding. Students find the sum of 2 addends using methods where they count on or use related facts they know. For example, making a ten is helpful when finding the value of 9 + 5. Students can take 1 from the 5 and group it with the 9 to make 10, and then add the 4.

Estrellita

Students will be introduce to forming syllable with i (mi, si, li, fi...). They will be working on making two-syllable nonsense and real words using syllables with i and syllables with e (vive, lite, etc). This will be in preparation for forming three and four-syllable words using syllables a-e-i (primera, idea, amarillo). https://youtu.be/QLdq2rWggik?si=J46by8b1zrUbx3wY

Mr. Schorr (Music): We will celebrate Black History Month through learning African-American game songs. As it is also the month of 'Flutuary,' we will learn about flutes of different cultures throughout the world. We will explore high, middle, and low pitches on the xylophones. We will also explore how notes can move by leaps, steps, or can just repeat.

Ms. Gursoy & Mr. Meehan (Physical Education): This month, we will begin our soccer unit. We will work on skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and some defense. We will practice these skills in a variety of group games.

Mr. Hanratty (Art): In February, first grade students will be learning about the art and life of Alma Thomas, and her artwork’s connection to the ancient art of mosaics. They will also explore the idea that colors evoke emotions (warm colors/exciting, cool colors/calming, etc.), as well as tints.

Ms. Brill (Art): We will be honoring Black History Month by learning about African Americans' contributions to the arts. Mentor Artists include Alma Thomas and Shantell Martin, and Jessi Raulet.

Ms. Bakalac (Science): 1st grade scientists continue to work on the unit Light, Sound, & Waves. They have learned about what are sources of light and what makes a shadow. Students will learn what we use light for and what is refraction of light. To support your child at home, talk about things we use light for.

Mrs. Birshtein (Technology): We will continue to work on being able to sign in on the Chromebooks on our own and use waggle.

Notes from First Grade Teachers 🏡

Read at home!

Make sure your child reads for 20 minutes a day. Ask your child about the stories they read; who are the characters, what is your favorite part, what was the story about?

Students in class 103 should be reading in English and in Spanish!

Check your child's homework folder!

Check your child's homework folder every day for important notices.

Wear sneakers from gym!

Students should be wearing sneakers for gym. If you're not sure, double check with your teacher(s) which day your child has gym.

Try at home

Talk with your child about things you do together at home. Think about the steps you take from beginning, middle, to end. Have your child practice writing sentences, remembering to capitalize the first word and end the sentence with punctuation.

Count forward and back 1-100.

February 2026

Important Dates in February

Fundations

HMH Reading

HMH Writing

Math for classes 102, 104, and 105

Math for Classes 101, 103, and 106

Estrellita

Notes from First Grade Teachers 🏡

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Important Dates in February Important Dates in February

Important Dates in February

Book Of The Month: The Drum Dream Girl Book Of The Month: The Drum Dream Girl

Fundations

HMH Reading

HMH Writing

Math for classes 102, 104, and 105

Math for Classes 101, 103, and 106

Estrellita

🎨 🏀 Specials 🔬 🎶 🎨 🏀 Specials 🔬 🎶

Notes from First Grade Teachers 🏡

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