March 13, 2000

Dear Mrs. Groff and Students,

Our "Alice in Topsy Turvy Land" concert last Friday went very well.  Addey posed with us in our crow costumes before the show.  Many of our parents, grandparents and other relatives came to see and hear us.  We had fun!

Southview School has about 775 students.  We're attached to a middle school with over 1200 students in grades 6-8.  Our school has four kindergartens, six first grades, seven second grades, six third grades, six fourth grades and six fifth grades.  We also have a room for NBA students, kids who need special help learning in school.  We are big!!  About six of those classroom have class pets, including ours.  More about that later.

Today Addey came back to school after spending the weekend with Cayla.
Cayla reported that Addey slept a lot, ate and played.

We began a list of rules to follow to take good care of your pet.  Here they
are:

1. good food
2. fresh water
3. keep clean
4. brush fur
5. clean bed
6. visit the vet
7. exercise every day
8. lots of love

We follow many of these rules to take care of our class pet, Chubby.  He is
a dwarf Holland lop rabbit.  He lives at school during the week and goes
home with Mrs. S. on the weekends.  Patrick and David got to help take care of Chubby two weekends in February when Mrs. S. couldn't.  If you'd like to see photos of Chubby and what we're doing at Southview, visit our web site: http://www.isd196.k12.mn.us/Schools/sv/grade1/sagclasspage/index.html

The time with Addey is going so fast!  Tomorrow we'll put together a class
book about our pet care tips to send with Addey.  Cayla gave Addey a puppy bed;  Tara is donating a mini Addey.  We're thinking what else we can send with Addey to help her remember her visit to Southview in Minnesota.  Before we know it, it will be Wednesday, Addey's last day with us.

Until next time,
First Graders in Mrs. Sagstetter's class

Dear Mrs. Groff and Students,

We said our final good-byes to Addey yesterday and sent her packing
to Maine.  She should arrive in 2-3 days.

Along with Addey we sent a book, Pet Care Rules, a dog magnet from
Southview, a wolf drawing done by Hannah (we are the Southview Wolves), the words to our school song and a Beanie Baby bed donated by Cayla.  Tara decided she just couldn't part with her mini Addey and took her home.

It was fun having Addey visit.  She inspired us to learn more about
different animals.  We are beginning animals reports now.

We hope that Addey can return to Southview next year.  Some of us
want to return to first grade just to say hi to Addey.  Thank you for
sharing her with us.

Good-bye from Minnesota,
First Graders and Mrs. Sagstetter
Southview School
Apple Valley, MN