Dear Santa

We wrote letters to Santa today. Looking at some of the letters I'm thinking Santa may go broke this year!

Dear Santa,
Takak you for my stuf you gaf me. I wut a maken girl doll. and Wii gams. and dsi games. and mesket.
Your Friend
Sydney
Dear Santa,
Santa Thacu for the presits las yer. Tis yer i wod lick agost r wors I wod lick a trdatack 2 ples gunsi iwlr 2 Thacu bi.
Your Friend
Brayden
Dear Santa,
Thank you for the gift this yoar I want a super maio Galixie 2.

Your Friend,

Joshua
Dear Santa,
I bin rely rely good this yer. how is roodof doing? for crismus I wunt a tv a zuhzuh pet a zuhzuh petstashin a Ituch npthreplayr catays tus of cady a baby sister.
Your Friend
Alexis


Dear Santa,
I wut to see waw roodoFF is doing and I wut a weey.
Your Friend,
Katie
Dear Santa,
thak you for my bik. Can I have 1 of yor bels. I have ben god these yore plese wel you gev me old tim soopr moryo bruthrs for wii.
Your Friend,
Zane

Dear Sant,
I’v ben good this year I’v got ol As. for chistmas I wunt a shool set.
Your Friend,
Regan



Dear Santa,
Thanks for the presents that I got last year thay were asum. This chrismis I wood like Woody and boolzie and Slincky Dog and a Mb3 plaer. and any thang else late I wonted.
Your friend,
Taigan
Dear Sannta,
Thacs for my fifsts. you are nisy. This year I woud like some gamse for my ds. And kitkitrige. And also kalindre. And a cuple moue. I wount dooter set. And notboock. And zoozoo pet stufe
Your Friend,
Mallorie
Dear Santa,
I have bin good this year. I hlpe my mom cook. I want an ipod tuch. A smartbord. And a calinder. And a 150 puzzl.
Your Friend,
Kennedy
Dear Santa,
Tank for the ol thu pesins. I will like a fese stuf Santa and I wut a pepr Dog and I wut wost cktr
Love,
Hannah
Dear Santa,
I have bin vare good this year. For crismis I wood like a slence dog frun toy store 123.
Your Friend,
Tanner Dear Santa,

I want a dsi for December.
Love,

Chase

Dear Santa,

For crismis i wont a bax blade Lego Harry pottr set Harry pottr acshin figr
Your Friend,

Wilson

Dear Santa,
I wut a dog and troy kr
Love,
Alex Mejia Deare Santa,
Thac uow for the cupudr. I wut a tresis.
Love,
Angeline

Dear Santa
I help miy dad feed miy dog I help my mom I wunt a paatbol gun
your friend
Tristen

Dear Santa,

I wunt a par uv clos and a par uv shos and a par uv pans and a new bacpack and a gam and a boc and a swetr and mitns and sno bots

Love

Makenna

Dear Santa,

I wut a dol is biw

Love

Emma

Dear Santa,

I wut a DSI for December.

Love,

Emaleigh

Learning About Ethiopia

Kidist is a seventeen-year-old exchange student from Ethiopia. We were lucky to have her in our class today. She was so adorable and full of life. I loved the joy that showed in her face as she talked to the kids. She started by asking us if we knew which continent Ethiopia is in. Of course the kids had to shout out guesses, even though they had no idea. I heard China, India, and South America. We might need to study geography.

She explained that it took about 21 hours for her to fly here. Zane said, "That's almost a whole day!" Tristen commented, "That's farther than Tulsa to Colorado."

She read us a story in her language and then translated it. The kids enjoyed the story and loved seeing the pages of the book written in another language.

She told us some interesting things about her country like some of the important buildings there and all about her country's flag. She also told some of the differences in her country and ours.

She lives in a house made of wood and mud. They have no refrigerators or stoves. They cook over a fire and hunt for food using a simple bow and arrow. Her favorite food in America is ice cream. She had never had it before she came here. They have dirt floors and most kids sleep on the floors. They don't have beds or bedrooms. She said 40% of children in Ethiopia live on the side of the road. Hannah asked me if we could send beds and toys to the children there. I wish we could.

There aren't many doctors in Ethiopia and it is very expensive to see a doctor. Kidist lost both her parents. Her mom died while having a baby and her dad died from what started as a cold. She and her siblings live with her aunt.

The kids seemed a little sad and asked if she liked Ethiopia. She immediately answered yes. They asked why and she asked, "Do you love your country?" The kids all agreed they did and she explained that even though they are a poor country she still loves it! She signed our autograph books and some of the kids gave her things they made. Tristen complimented her and said she had pretty hair. When she got ready to leave I told the class to tell her good-bye. To my surprise several of them shouted, "Adios!"

We were so blessed to have Kidist in our class today. I can tell she has an amazing spirit. It really makes me realize how much we have to be thankful for. Thank you for visiting our class Kidist!

Chapter Book Champs

Zane, Tanner, and Kennedy all passed AR tests on Junie B. Jones CHAPTER books today. We said our chapter book cheer for them and congratulated them. It's amazing that they are already reading chapter books. Great Job!

Good Friends

We read our stories in partners today. I love listening to the things they say to each other.

I heard many of them encouraging each other and giving compliments to their partners as they read.

They were discussing the story and things they new about Honey Bees.

They helped each other with hard words and were very kind to each other.

What an amazing group of first graders!

This morning we had Rise and Shine in the gym.

Emma and Tanner got Hug-A-Bear.

Alexis and Sydney were Students of the Month. Sydney has been sick and wasn't here.

Great Job guys!

Perky Turkey Song

My camera battery went dead at the end, but they love seeing videos of themselves so I posted it anyway.

Helping Others

Seneca Elementary is putting together food baskets for families in need this Thanksgiving. First grade is responsible for potatoes. Each time we receive potatoes in our class we get to add a part to our turkey. The class with the most potatoes at the end of the week earns a party.

We've really been stressing the main reason we're bringing these items (not for the party). Makenna says we're collecting potatoes for poor little kids who don't have food or nothing. Tristen says the families just need a little help and since we have money we should help them.

Zane says, "It makes me feel good to be nice to others. That's why I'm always happy."