Nov 17-21

Notes:

• Please sign and return report card envelopes as soon as possible so we can reuse them in March.
• Book Fair starts Thursday and runs until Tuesday.  We will visit as a class on Monday and you are welcome to shop during interviews.
• Make sure you have signed in and signed up for a parent/teacher interview.

Curriculum:

• Math - We are finishing up Patterns in Equations and are starting Measurement: Calendar and Clocks.  Here are two fun websites to practicing time: Interactive Math Games and Mr. Meyer's Math Mania. 
• Language Arts - Peace Poems will be finished and ready for you to read by the end of the week!  Lesson 3 in spelling went home today.
• Social - We're going to the Parkland region!
• Science - We are just getting into the Simple Machines unit.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due
• Ask your child about the Making Connections presentation and their Band-aid

Tuesday:

• Library books day is today
• Patterns quiz

Wednesday:

• Guitar tutoring and Guitar Club after school for those who signed up

Thursday:

• Grade 5 microloan project to raise money for business people in Africa. If you would like to participate, please send $1-5 to purchase items or make donations.
• Early dismissal for students (11:45)
• Parent/Teacher interviews in the afternoon and evening

Friday:

• Parent/Teacher interviews in the morning

Nov 12-14

Welcome back!  I hope you all enjoyed a fantastic long weekend with your family sharpening the saw.  I know I did and I'm all ready to go.  We have six weeks of learning until the Christmas break - - that's crazy!

Notes:

• Just like that, it's winter!  It seems a little harder to adjust when we went from +14 to -14 in a few short days.  However, it is just that much more important that our kids are dressed properly for the weather.  It looks like it's hanging around for awhile so if you need some assistance getting your child a proper snow suit, winter boots, mitts or a hat, please let me or the office know and we will help you out.  School board policy states that we go outside for recess as long as the wind chill does not drop below -19. 
• It's that time again!  Parent/teacher interviews are fast approaching.  Please register for an account and book an interview by following this link.  I like to meet with ALL parents so if none of the times work for you, please let me know so we can get together at another time.  It's so important to be on the same page for your child's learning.
• Mrs. Bedford's grade 2 class raised over $600 for their Bridges of Hope program.  Thank you for your support! 

This Week's Schedule:
Wednesday:

• Welcome back!

Thursday:

• Hot lunch money due
• Beef jerky pickup 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the first foyer

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday if the temperature (including wind chill) is -19 or higher
• Report cards go home

Nov. 3 - 7

Notes:

• Last week we had a Show What You Know in math with adding and subtracting 3- and 4-digit numbers including estimation.  The students showed that they need a little more practice, so we're going to try again.  Today's class will be a review and tomorrow we will try again.  Please check with your child to see how well they know how to do this important skill.
• The study guides and booklets went home last week to study for the science test which is tomorrow.
• To ensure our students are ready to learn, it is important that they are eating well, particularly after a Halloween weekend!  Please send no more than one or two small candies for your child to enjoy at school. 
• Reminder that there is no school on Mon. Nov. 10 and Tues. Nov. 11 next week for the Remembrance Day/fall break.

In the Classroom:

• Math - After our adding and subtracting review, we will move on to equations in patterns. Splash Math has adding and subtracting up to 100 000 which is very helpful to practice regrouping (AKA carrying/borrowing) even if the students don't need to add that high yet.
• Language Arts - there are no new spelling words this week.  In writing, we are starting to write our peace poems.  The students' suspense stories are now due.
• Science - After our test tomorrow, we will begin the next unit.  It's a big one because it combines two topics - B: Wheels and Levers, and C: Building Devices and Vehicles that Move.  We call the unit "Simple Machines."
• Social - continuing with the Foothills Region.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due
• Home Alone program for those who signed up
• Library books due

Tuesday:

• School Council meeting 6:30 p.m.
• Indy 500 - bring a water bottle

Wednesday:

• Guitar tutoring in the music room at lunch
• Home Alone program for those who signed up
• Guitar Club after school for those who joined

Thursday:

• We will be visiting Mrs. Bedford's grade 2 class at 1:30 p.m. for their iced tea/cookies/art/jewelry sale.  They are raising money for the Bridges of Hope program and are asking students to bring $1-$5 to either buy something or make a donation.  For more information, watch a video here.

Friday:

• Remembrance Day Assembly 10:15 a.m.

October 27-31

I'm glad to be back to a normal routine this week with a full week of learning!

Notes:
Halloween is Friday.  Students are asked to come to school dressed up.  Students are asked not to wear violent or gory costumes to our school Halloween celebration.  As an inclusive school, we have students of many ages and from many countries.  Please help your child respect the diversity of our school by keeping costumes appropriate for the expectations of this building.

*ABSOLUTELY NO TOY WEAPONS ARE PERMITTED

Curriculum:
LA - Story writing - by the end of the week students will be handing in their short suspenseful story.  They will get class time to complete this task.
MATH - adding and subtracting 3 & 4 digit numbers to 10 000.  Please remember to practice your math basic facts at home on a daily basis.
SCIENCE - finishing up our Lights & Shadows unit.  There will be a test next Tuesday.  A study guide will be handed out today with a review class on Thursday.
SOCIAL - continuing our learning about the Foothills Region of Alberta

Monday

• Fundraising envelopes are due in.
• Library books due.
• Math page 22/23 due in today also.
• Home Alone Program for some students that registered.

Tuesday

• Crazy Hat Day!
• 8:30 assembly and hot lunch day!
• Tone it up Tuesday - please bring a water bottle.  Yoga mats are optional.
• Family Fun Night in the gym (with an adult) 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday

Thursday

• Picture retakes in the upper library - this morning only!

Friday

• Halloween Assembly Parade - 8:30-9:00 a.m.
• We will be writing our Friday Letters today.
• Halloween centers with our class and Mrs. Samayoa's class. 
• No Frolicking Friday today.

Oct 20-24

Another short week is upon us!  Short for students that is.  Teachers will be at school Thursday afternoon and Friday to learn and to work, but students will be let out on Thursday at 11:45.  With that in mind, you will not receive a Friday letter this week.

In the Classroom:

• Math - patterns are finished with for now, but we will come back to them later.  In the meantime, we will be working on adding and subtracting up to 4-digit numbers.
• Splash Math activities to help: Round Numbers (for help with estimation), Addition up to 100 000 and Subtraction up to 100 000 (even though we only go up to 4-digit numbers in grade 4).  Also, Math Facts practice in addition and subtraction up to 9 will be very beneficial.
• Language Arts 
• Writing - we are getting closer to writing our suspense stories.  My goal is that the students have completed their story plans by Thursday.
• Spelling - new words are coming home this week.
• Reading - Thank you for supporting your child's at home reading and helping him or her to log their reading time.
• Science - we will not spend quite as much time on regular science classes this week as we have Scientists in School coming tomorrow.  This program will cover pretty much the whole unit in one afternoon and is a great supplement to what we are teaching.
• Social - today we began learning about the Foothills Region of Alberta.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Clothing exchange - students will be shopping this afternoon, and the gym will be open to the public after school

Tuesday:

• Scientists in School - we have Scientist Anne, a remote sensing scientist, coming to work with us all morning to teach us more about lights and shadows!
• Library books due 
• No Tone It Up Tuesday

Thursday:

• School ends at 11:45 a.m. - teacher learning day in the afternoon

Friday:

• No school for students - teacher learning day

Week of Oct. 13-17, 2014

Welcome back!  I hope everyone had a wonderful break, enjoyed the beautiful weather and got a chance to spend time with family and/or loved ones.

In the Classroom:

• Language Arts - we will be starting to write suspense stories next week.  Tomorrow we will be having a spelling dictation.
• Math - we are finishing patterns this week. Please ask your child if they have completed their booklet.
• Social Studies - quiz on the Rocky Mountain Region on Friday.
• Science - we only have one period this week but we will be learning about shadows.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Thanksgiving Day

Tuesday:

•  Professional Learning Day for teachers

Wednesday:

• Author visit - ask your child about the author who came to talk to us today!
• No library today

Thursday:

• School job applications due

Friday:

• Hot lunch money due
• Frolicking Friday

Oct 6 - 10

It's hard to believe that we are already into October and fall is upon us.  Please remember to have your child dress for the crazy Southern Alberta weather. 

NOTES:

We were challenged by Mrs. Samayoa's class to a reading competition.  Our class did a fantastic job logging their reading but came up short by about 300 minutes.  The details have not been finalized as to when we will be cleaning their room. 

Did you know that this week is Fire Prevention Week?  This year's theme is "Working fire alarms save lives."  It's a good idea to check your smoke detector twice a year to make sure it's working, so when you have to change your clocks for Daylight Savings, check your smoke detector too!

In the Classsroom:
LA -

• Guided reading starts.  Each child has been placed in a group at his/her reading level and will be in a small group with an adult. 
• Guided spelling starts this week also.  Each child has also been leveled according to their spelling ability.  New spelling new sorts will be given out every other week.  Please practice the sorts at home.  (Refer to the blue newsletter that went home today). 
• Lastly, we are starting a "Suspense" story writing unit. 

Math

• We finished up with graphing last week (bar graphs and pictographs)
• This week, our focus is on PATTERNS!

Science -  continuing on with Lights and Shadows.  We will be talking about refraction, absorption, reflection and transparent, translucent and opaque.

Social - a more guided in depth study of the Rocky Mountain Region.


This week:
Monday:

• Friday letters signed and returned
• Library books due in

Tuesday

• Picture money due
• Library day today
• Tone it up Tuesday - will be INDY 500.  Please remember your water bottle.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

• Frolicking Friday - please dress for the weather.