Dec 16 - 20

Wow....we are already at the last week of school before the well deserved Christmas break.  It certainly has gone by quite quickly!  We have learned a lot and I look forward to continued learning after the break.  Thank you for all that you do for your child and their education.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May you have a blessed holiday season and a relaxing time with your family.  ~Mrs. Nelson

Monday

• Library books due

Tuesday

• Library day is TODAY (in case you forgot on Monday)

Wednesday:

• Dress rehearsal for students with last names A-L at Park Meadows Baptist church - we walk over after lunch*
• A-L Winter Concert at Park Meadows Baptist church 7 p.m. (students arrive at 6:30)
• After school skating 3:45 at Adams
• Spelling City is due today

Thursday:

• Dress rehearsal for students with last names M-Z at Park Meadows Baptist church - we walk over after lunch*
• M-Z Winter Concert at Park Meadows Baptist church 7 p.m. (students arrive at 6:30)

*If the weather gets really cold again, we have a Plan B for dress rehearsals. All students will take buses to the church on Wednesday morning. We will be there for the whole day and both groups will do their dress rehearsals. We will not go back on Thursday except for the performance in this scenario. Stay tuned to the agenda for details!

Friday:

• Last day of school for 2013!!
• Energy Day Assemby 8:30 a.m
• Merry Christmas!

Dec 9-13

Oh the weather outside is frightful.....AGAIN!  At least today we got to enjoy recesses outside!  With two weeks left to go until the holiday break we have a lot of work planned for the students and some exciting plans laid out.

Curriculum update:
Math - we are finishing up on geometry, learning about flips, turns and rotations and also moving into another pattern unit.
Science - moving from rollers to the wheel and axle
LA - something exciting - which is a secret!

Monday

• The holiday lunch was today, which was fantabulous!  Thank you to the long list of volunteers who organized, collected sponsors, cooked, served, set up, cleaned and I'm sure there were more things!  To the people that donated their time, there is nothing more precious.  The gift of time and togetherness are so important to give to one another.  Today is one of my favorite parts of working at Galbraith!  The feeling inside the gym for that sit down lunch is something to be experienced.  

Tuesday

• Library books are due - we will be going there today!
•  We say goodbye to Mr Georgeson who has been with us since the beginning of November

Wednesday:

• After school skating at Adams 3:45-4:45

Friday:

• We should be able to frolic this Friday.  Last Friday we did a human log roll in the gym for a combined science/PE lesson! 

Just a reminder about next week - the concert will take place at Park Meadows Baptist Church on Wednesday, Dec. 18 - 7 p.m. (for A-L last names) and on Thursday, Dec. 19 - 7 p.m. (for M-Z last names).  Dress rehearsals will take place the same afternoon at the church starting at 1 p.m. if for some reason you or a grandparent can't make it in the evening.  Your child has been asked to dress in all black.  Please don't go buy anything new, dark blue/navy also works well.  Thank you!

Lastly, our energy day assembly will take place on Dec. 20; 8:45 a.m. in the gym . Feel welcome to attend. 

Dec 2 - 6

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful....and since we'no place to go, let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! For the first of December and Mr. Dallas Harty at Sobey's south climbing up on the roof to raise money for Hampers of Hope - do we expect anything less for the weather.  We do live in Southern Alberta and really, anything can happen!  Please remember to dress for the weather, whether your child takes the bus or walks. 

Curriculum:

• In math we have started the first part of our geometry unit. The other half will take place later on in the year. Part of this unit will be taught through art.
• Our Peace Poems are published and hanging in the hall! Please feel free to come and read them.

Monday:

• Reminder to start recording home reading on the December calendar if you haven't already.
• Library books due as well as Friday letters
• We started our countdown to Christmas.  Ask your child what was in the sock today!

Wednesday:

• After school skate 3:45-4:45 at the Adam's

Thursday

• Field trip to the Nordbridge Senior's Centre to sing carols (during Music class).  Weather dependent.  Right now the weather report is calling for -27 with the wind chill.  If it warms up, we will be walking; if not, we will be staying at school

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday - weather dependent. Right now the weather report is calling for -30 with the wind chill. If it warms up to above -20 we will frolic, otherwise, we will have PE indoors.

Nov 25-29

I want to thank all the parents that came to visit me at parent teacher interviews.  It was nice to catch up with you and I look forward to the more conversations with you. Please know that you are always welcome to send a note in the agenda or email me if you have concerns. 

Curriculum:

• We will be finishing up the time unit in math this week. There will be a review in class today and a quick quiz on Wednesday morning. Look for a study guide coming home.
• In Language Arts we are finishing up our peace poems, and will be posting them on the bulletin board outside our classroom. If you get a chance, you should definitely come and take a look as these poems usually end up to be quite powerful pieces of writing.

News Items:

• It's almost time for our holiday lunch! Order forms will be going home today. Please fill it out and return it no later than this Friday. This is a free lunch provided by School Council so they are asking that ALL forms come back whether your child will be taking part in the lunch or not.  The hot lunch day is Monday, December 9. 
• We had a bus evacuation practice today. Ask your child how to safely get off a bus in an emergency.
• Just a reminder that you can follow the blog by email. You will receive an email every time the blog is updated. See the link on the right hand side.

This week's schedule.
Monday:

• Holiday lunch order forms going home

Tuesday:

• Energy Day Assembly at 8:30 a.m.
• Hot lunch day
• Last day of Book Fair

Wednesday:

• After school skating at Adam's 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Thursday:

• Family Fun Night in the gym 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday
• Holiday lunch forms due

Nov 18-22

My deepest apologies.  I'm sorry that this was not posted earlier. 

Curriculum Update:
Math - Telling Time. This can be tricky for some kids.  A couple of things you can do to help out at home is to count by 5's, use an analog clock to tell time or use flash cards (home made or purchased at the dollar store) and practice saying times in a variety of ways (6:30 or half past six)
Language Arts - New spelling words given last week.  We will focus on a pattern for two weeks.  This week is short a and e sounds.  Also we have been journaling a lot about peace.  Our end in mind is to create a peace poem. 


Monday

• Lock Down practice - your child did an AMAZING job!
• Friday letters were due back

Tuesday

• Library today
• Faces of Fire - A Parks Canada presentation
• Parent Council was tonight.  The next meeting will be Dec 17.  

Wednesday

• Afterschool famiily skating.  Kids must be with an adult.  All students must have a helmet and adults that choose to join us on the ice must also wear a helmet.  There will be five sessions in total. 

Thursday

• School in the morning.
• Parent Teacher Interviews this afternoon.  I look forward to meeting with you and your child.   I still have some times left on Thursday and my goal is to meet with all of you. 

Friday

• No school for students.  This is a day set aside for interviews as well.  Due to a family funeral, I will not be in the school today.  

Nov 12 - 15

I hope you all enjoyed a great fall break and had some time to relax as well as spend some family time together.  Most of all, I hope you had the chance to reflect and remember the reason we had a day off yesterday.  The discussion that we had as a class on Thursday after our Remembrance Day Assembly was strong and powerful and I hope your child came home to continue the discussion and to investigate their "story" so that they can carry on the importance of Remembrance Day.

Curriculum Update:
1. Math - moving into time.  The students will be introduced to metric notation (writing the date in only numbers); telling time (digital and analog) to the hour, quarter, and minute; as well as learning about elapsed time (the amount of time that passes between activities).
2. LA - peace poems.  The students have been writing a variety of entries based on peace and will be creating their poems in the next couple of weeks.
3. Social - still studying the regions of Alberta.  The students have covered the Rocky Mountain Region and are now visiting the Foothills.
4. Science - Simple Machines.  Last week we had an introduction to the Simple Machines unit using toys and some mystery sounds.  Ask your child what they have learned so far. 

Lastly, we are glad to welcome into the class Mr. J. Georgeson.  He will be with us until early December teaching your child.  He is in his first teaching practicum under the supervision of myself.  He will be joining us for some parent teacher interviews next week.  Should you have any questions that need to be directed to him, you can send them in the agenda or of course email me and I will pass them on.

Speaking of parent teacher interviews - please don't forget to sign up for them!  Go onto the Galbraith webpage and there is a link on the left hand side for Parent Teacher Interview Booking.

Week at a Glance:
Tuesday

• Spelling City due
• Library today

Wednesday

• I will be away this morning for a dentist appointment (I will return for this afternoon)

Thursday

• 9 a.m. MAGIC show!  This is a reward for the Dance-a-Thon fundraiser.  There will be a morning show as well as a parent evening show.

Friday

• Enrichment Friday - we have had a few weeks off and we are excited to return to our routine!
• Clothing orders are due.  There will be a new "logo" on the hoodies as well as a "7 Habits" t-shirt.  I'm excited to order mine! 
• Frolicking Friday!  DRESS for the weather!

Nov 4 - Nov 8

November is here and so is the snow!  Be sure your child is dressing for the weather as they do go outside up to -20 degrees Celsius.  The fresh air is good for the brain and for our learning!

Thank you to the parents that came to our dance-a-thon on Friday, the students and staff had a blast and to Parent Council - thank you!  Thank you to our community of parents, friends and family for their generous support in our fundraiser.  At last notice and count, we had raised $11,439.30!  That is amazing!

Week at a glance:

Monday

• Books to be returned & Friday Letters as well.

Tuesday

• Indy 500 for Tone-It-Up-Tuesday - - students don't forget your water bottle!
• Leaps & Bounds - Teaming Up for Tobacco Free Kids program this morning
• Spelling City is due today

Wednesday

• Mr. J. Georgeson will be starting in our classroom for the next five weeks.  He is a PS1 student from the university and he will be given the opportunity to teach your child under my supervision.  
• New Spelling City assignment given 

Thursday

• Remembrance Day Assembly at 10:30.  Parents welcome.  

Friday

• No school; enjoy the fall break and we will see you on Tuesday November 12.