We are honored to have learned about USMC SGT. Owen Lennon and to have met his family. God Bless the USA!

We loved watching our caterpillars turn into butterflies! We hope we see some of them flying around the school!

We had so much fun at Field Day on Monday! We worked as a team and everyone had a blast!

This month’s superpower is Patriotism. The Poppy Lady by Barbara Walsh is our book of the month. It is About Moina Belle Michael who helped establish the red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for veterans. The following video is the the famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae written in May 1915. This video is in remembrance of all those who have lost their lives during war.

A Poppy is to Remember is another tribute to our American service men and women, as well as to those from other nations who have fought side by side with them to restore peace and freedom in troubled regions of the world. Even as they fought and died together, let us also remember them together.

As a tribute from you to all the soldiers who lost their lives fighting for freedom try these activities:

1. Write a cinquain and post your poem to this post.
2. Participate in this month’s challenge – THE POPPY CHALLENGE

Back by popular demand… The Peeps Challenge! After nine years the Washington Post is no longer sponsoring its annual peeps contest. We want to keep this challenge alive at Cottage Lane. Get those creatives juices flowing and find out more information here – THE PEEPS CHALLENGE.

Tonight is the opening ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. There are so many opportunities to learn about winter sporting events, countries around the world and athletes. Here are a few links:

• Mrs. Ramirez friend, Stacy Spletzer, is working with athletes for WADA. Watch her videos and send her questions here, Greetings from the Winter Olympics.
• Mrs. Wagner’s Winter Olympics Online Scavenger Hunt. You can find fun facts, create Olympic rings and/or learn the science behind sports.
• The official 2018 Winter Olympics website – PyeongChang 2018 will host the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. Find voting results and all the latest news as South Korea prepares for the Games.

Compassion is caring about others more than yourself.

Will you ask someone to join you at lunch? Will you reach out and play with someone at recess? Will you listen more to those around you?

Be a “Soup-er” Hero and bring in a soup can and another item for our local food pantries. SOCES is asking 3rd graders to bring in canned vegetables, 4th graders to bring in peanut butter or jelly, and 5th graders to bring in canned tuna, chicken and other canned meat.

Eve Bunting’s Train to Somewhere is our book of the month. Many orphans were placed with caring families across the United States. Read to find out if Marianne is chosen to be with a compassionate family.

Remember our Compassion Twins message for this month. “Show Love. Be Kind. Keep Compassion on Your Mind.”

“Forgiveness does not change the past,but it does enlarge the future.”
~ Paul Boese

Forgiveness is Cottage Lane’s Superpower of the month. At our assembly, The Forgiver reminded us about the importance of forgiveness and new beginnings. Please visit the Forgiveness Assembly page for additional songs and videos.

Below is our poem for the month, “New Beginnings”. A New Year’s Resolution is a tradition which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice, beginning on New Year’s Day. One way we can better ourselves is to forgive.

Choose one or more of the questions below and write a comment:

• Are some mistakes easier to forgive than others? Explain.
• Why is it sometimes difficult to forgive others?
• What are some ways you can be more forgiving?

As a school community we will place our thumbprints on a dove. These doves will represent the peace in our hearts that will bring peace to the world!

Nothing like ending the week with friendly game of kickball with Mrs. Eckert’s class!