Saturday, February 23, 2013

Thank you to everyone for attending the Open Houses last week.  It was wonderful to share your child's accomplishments with you.
We are continuing our unit on measurement and are practised measuring with blocks last week.  This week the children will practise ordering objects according to quantity.
Both classes are enjoying working with their Grade Four Reading Buddies.  This week the children and their buddies are sorting animals according to weight.
I am introducing Sight Word Books this Friday.  These books will be sent home each Friday and will introduce sight words for your child to practise.  Sight words make up more than 50% of everything that young children read.  Many of these words are not pronounced or spelled in regular ways, so it is very important for children to learn these words by sight.  I am also including copies of each sight word for your child to keep and use at home.
Upcoming events:
Wednesday, February 27-storyteller and author Natalie Vachon will be visiting in the library.  We will be attending her presentation during our library time.  Children will not be exchanging books this week due to the presentation.
Friday, March 1-Blue and Yellow Day!  Show your LKS spirit and wear blue and yellow!
Monday, March 4-Morning trip to Young People's Theatre.  We will return to school at approximately 12:15 pm.
Tuesday, March 5-Afternoon trip to Young People's Theatre.  We will leave school at 12:00 pm.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Happy Family Day weekend everyone!  We had a wonderful Valentine's Day party on Thursday.  Thank you to all the volunteers and everyone who sent in food and drink.  It was a great day filled with friendship and excitement.  The children completed 4 activities including: making a cat out of hearts, creating a creature who had his "eye" on them, designing a Valentine's Day card and constructing a heart collage.  After our "sweet" snacks the students opened their valentine cards.  Amid the "wows' and "awesome" quotes, the children read their valentines.  It was such a special moment!
The bulletin board in the hallway is now complete with the students' work of how they would each spend $100.00.  Have a look the next time you are in the school, it will bring a smile to your face.
A reminder of our Open Houses this week.  Room 159 will be open from 7:45 am -8:45 am on Wednesday, February 20 and from 3:45pm-4:45 pm on Thursday, February 21.  Please see me if you need an alternate time.  You may attend either open house as they are not divided by class.
Our February Sharing Assembly is Tuesday, February 19.  The morning assembly begins after morning announcements (approximately 9:00 am ) and the afternoon assembly begins at approximately 12:40 pm.  The March Sharing Assembly is Friday, March 22.
The office has just completed 2 days of Junior Kindergarten Registration.  Registration forms are still available in the office, if you know anyone who is eligible for Kindergarten in the fall.
Mailbags will be sent home Tuesday and Friday this week, due to the Family Day holiday.
I will be sending home the March leader calendar on Friday.
The children look forward to seeing their Grade Four Reading Buddies.  They will be completing a task dividing light things and heavy things as we continue with our measurement unit.
A reminder that children should be seeing an optometrist to check their vision on a regular basis.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

The children had a wonderful time celebrating the 100th day of school on Friday.  Thank you to everyone who volunteered in the classroom and everyone who sent in food and drinks.  The children rotated through 4 centers.  They played BINGO, created a 100 day hat, stamped out the number 100 on a 100 grid and wrote about 100 things they would like to eat and 100 things they would not like to eat.  Also a big thank you for helping your child with his/her 100 collection.  On Thursday, each child presented his/her 100 collection to the class.  It was wonderful hearing about where the 100 items came from and how they were organized and counted.  Thanks again for assisting in our celebrations.
We are beginning a new activity on our leader charts.  The leader will be discussing his/her address (house number and street) and adding this to his/her chart.  Thank you for practising this information with your child.
Valentines may be sent in Monday to Wednesday this week.  This gives the children time to deliver them before our party on Thursday.  Thanks in advance to all our volunteers.
I am so pleased with the progress the children are making.  Watch the hallway bulletin board for the"If I had 100 dollars" writing activity.  The children enjoyed spending 100 dollars on anything they wished. Making lists, writing notes and cards are valuable opportunities for your child to practise using their sounds and sight words in meaningful writing activities.  While on vacation, have your child keep a journal about one fun activity each day. 
Junior Kindergarten students will receive their first report card on Monday.  All students will receive a final report card in June.  A reminder of the Kindergarten open houses on February 20 and 21.   
A reminder that Friday, February 16 is a PA Day and there is no school.  School is also closed on Monday, February 18 for Family Day.  Enjoy the long weekend with your friends and family.  Since there is no school on Friday, mailbags will go home Monday and Thursday this week.  Please return the sound review books by Wednesday.  I will put in a new sheet, even if the previous sheet is not completed.  The next week mailbags will go home Tuesday and Friday.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Welcome to the first full week of February!  This will be a very busy month with lots of special activities.  Thank you to all the volunteers who are assisting with our celebrations.  We are looking forward to the 100th day party, celebrating Chinese New and Valentine's Day.  The children completed a measuring investigation this week.  All students found items in our classroom that were shorter and longer than their feet and then recorded their findings. It was a wonderful  hands-on learning experience.      
A reminder that we will be sharing our 100 day projects on Thursday, February 7 as an introduction to our celebration on Friday.  Please see me if you have any questions.
I set home a note regarding Valentine's Day on Friday with the names of the students for valentine cards and important dates.  Please contact me if you did not receive this note.  It is on pink paper and inside your child's sound review book.
Thank you to everyone for your Scholastic Book Orders.  Just a reminder to please put your name on each form that you submit.  We have to separate all the forms and cheques for ordering and payment, and sometimes have extra books left over without any way of identifying their owner.  
We have 2 short weeks in February and a reminder that book bags will be going home on Monday and Thursday, the week of February 11, and Tuesday and Friday, the week of February 19.  Thanks so much to all the parents who have done book bags this year.  I could not do this program without you.
Thanks also for returning the theatre trip permission forms.  I have forwarded the names of the volunteers and the Grade Parents will be drawing 4 lucky names.