June 9, 2008

Dear Parents,

I find it hard to believe this is my last newsletter to you. The year has flown by! I truly enjoyed being your child’s teacher. It was a wonderful year with a wonderful group of children. I look at each one as a blessing from God. Thank you for lending them to me for their first grade year. You are all awesome parents! It was so rewarding to watch the children turn into wonderful readers, writers and mathematicians! I am especially grateful for their spiritual growth. To see them enjoy reading their Bible is something I will never forget. Each child is very special to me and I hope I have been able to make them feel that way. I have grown along with them! They will always be in my heart.

There are many people I would like to thank for their team effort in making this a successful year for each child in my class. First and foremost I want to thank Desiree Ivey for the many different ways she helped our class and me. Her servant’s heart is amazing and her love for the Lord is an inspiration. The kids love working with her and her creative computer and photographic skills are much appreciated.

Next I would like to thank our room moms, Sonia O’Bryan and Missy Suter. Without them the students would not have had as much fun in first grade as they did. They planned our class parties in a way that made Christ the center. We were blessed to have fun and meaningful parties. A big thank you goes out to these wonderful godly women for helping in so many ways to make this a great year for the children and myself.

I also want to thank Denise Colby and her team of Robin DePue, Michelle Mitchison and April Sanchez. They took on the enormous task of the Memory Books (your child will receive hers/his this week). Denise, Robin, Michelle and April thank you so much for creating a book of lst grade memories that will be a life long treasure for each child. I know it took many hours to put them together. The books are amazing!

Jennifer Trenery helped in another way to make this a fun year. She was in charge of the cooking projects that were a fun approach to our curriculum. I want to thank her and all the other parents who came to help with the monthly cooking projects. The children learned from their cooking experiences and had lots of fun while doing it.

The children had a fantastic experience with art this year because of the Meet the Masters art program. The follow up art projects they did would not have been possible without Missy Suter and her sister-in-law, Tish Witkin. Thank you for teaching the art lessons in a way that made each student feel successful. The projects were not always easy but you made it fun and a positive experience for each child. I also want to thank Lynda Carberry and Pamela Wagner for assisting in the classroom during the art project time. We needed their hands to help the children be successful!

Last, but certainly not least, are you parents. I appreciate, more than you know, all the support you have given our class, Mrs. Ivey and me. Those of you that were able to work in our classroom did a wonderful job and enhanced the learning environment for our students. I can’t thank you enough!

If I have left out any names in my thank you’s, I apologize. God knows who you are and that’s what matters!

When you receive this newsletter there will be only two days left in this school year (both minimum days – school is out each day at 12:30 p.m.). On Tuesday, June 10th extended care is available until 6pm. NO HOT LUNCH SERVED. The school office closes at 1:00 for 8th grade graduation. Please call extended care at 777-4338 if you have any concerns about students in extended care. On Wednesday, June 11th, the last day of school, no extended care is available. ALL STUDENTS MUST BE PICKED UP AT 12:30 PM.

We will be spending these last few days in class reviewing and participating in “End of the Year” activities. All parents are invited to the Jana Alayra Concert in the Worship Center from 10:15 -11:15 on Wednesday, June 11th. Our end of the year class party will be from 11:30 to 12:15 that day. Please check in at the office before you come and per school policy, there are no siblings allowed at the party.

I pray you and your family will have a safe and enjoyable summer. I am going to tell the children that if they would like, they can write a letter to Mrs. Ilg or me this summer and we will write back to them. Mrs. Ivey’s home address is: 3770 Forest Ave.,Yorba Linda, Ca 92886. My home address is: 7632 Paseo Laredo, Anaheim, CA 92808. Please keep up the skills they have learned in first grade by reading with them as much as possible, visiting the local library, and reviewing math facts and phonics charts. Keep it fun!

Thanks again for a wonderful school year. These children won’t be my students again but they will always be my friends.

Thanks for a great year!
In Christ’s love,
Barbara Ritchie

How To Contact Me

Email Address :	britchie@friendschristian.org
School Phone :	(714) 777-3009