Week of April 3-7

It's not the most spring-like weather to start off the first week of April, but I'm sure winter will be done soon!  Lots of kids didn't have warm enough jackets to be outside for recess today.  This is a good opportunity to encourage kids to be responsible for looking out the window and checking the weather so that they can dress themselves appropriately for the day!

Notes:

• A letter is going home today requesting recycled items to build robots with!

Curriculum:

• Math: This week our exploration of decimals will include looking at equivalent decimals in the tenths and hundredths (0.5 = 0.50), and then adding and subtracting decimals to the hundredths place.  You can help at home by giving your child two handfuls of coins and having them write the amounts in decimal format (e.g. $0.65) and then adding the two amounts together.
• L.A.
• Spelling: Lesson 13 continues, assessment on Thursday.
• Writing: We will finish our essays this week and typed them up during our computer period.
• Science: We have just a little bit to finish up this week including the "Garbage R's."  Ask your child what they all are.
• Social: Our geography travels are at an end, but our journey through time has just begun!  This week we go back to the beginning of human history in Alberta and find out what the First Nations way of life was like. 

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due

Tuesday:

• Human Sexuality health lesson 1
• Library books due

Wednesday:

• Human Sexuality health lesson 2

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday

Week of March 27-31

It's Spring Concert week!  We are in "go" mode getting the final touches put on our concert. 

Curriculum:

• Math: We are beginning with decimals this week, first tenths and then hundredths and then comparing them.  You can help at home by having your child find hundredths in real life.
• L.A.
• Spelling: New list #13
• Writing: We will be learning how to write a good persuasive essay this week.
• Science: We started learning about water last week and will continue this week in our discussion of the waste water treatment plant.  We will also learn about "green" cleaners following up what we learned about hazardous materials.  You can help at home by talking about your family's water usage and asking your child if they have any suggestions for improvement!
• Social: We are taking a flying "staycation" through the Grasslands Region this week.  You can help at home by talking about this beautiful region we live in - the landforms, bodies of water, climate, animal life, vegetation and natural resources.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday letters due

Tuesday:

• Tone It Up Tuesday
• Hot lunch
• Family Fun Night 6:00-7:15 p.m.
• Library books due

Wednesday:

• Energy Day Assembly 12:45 p.m.

Thursday:

• Spring Concert dress rehearsals (last names A-K at 9:00 and L-Z at 1:00)

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday

Saturday:

• Spring concert at Park Meadows Baptist Church
• Last names A-K at 1:00 p.m, doors open at 12:30 p.m.
• Last names L-Z at 3:30 p.m, doors open at 3:00 p.m.

Fractions of a Set

We have worked really hard over the last couple of days to understand fractions of a set.  Many students are still struggling with this concept so I have sent home some questions in the textbook to practice.  We found it very useful in class to use counters as a physical representation.  Any object will do.  I have also collected some YouTube videos to help out in case hearing it another way helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQUgBAsW2KA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbKAmtiO-8M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSPgBzWzfrw

I hope you find that fractions can be friendly!

I love spring ahead!  Well, actually, it does play a toll in our lives!  I think the students will be quite tired tonight.  It's always a few days to catch up to the reality.

NOTES:
-Celebration of Learning is this Thursday night from 6-8.  I would love to see all of you come with your child for them to share their learning with you!
-Please return report card envelopes (signed)

Curriculum:
Math: continuing to learn about fractions of a set.  For example 1/2 of 6 = 3.  Or 1/4 of 12 = 3.  We will then talk about would you rather have 1/2 of "this pie" or 1/2 of "that pie".
Science: the students started to learn about worms.  Ask them about the story we read today.
Social: finishing our journey in the Canadian Shield Region
LA: new spelling words (week 12)
       - continuing to work on persuasive writing

This week at a Glance:

Monday

• Friday letters signed and returned
• Report card envelopes

Tuesday

• Eva Olson Presentation at Wilson Middle School, 9 a.m. http://www.thememoryproject.com/stories/1993:eva-olsson/
• library books due back
• Home Alone Program (registration required)

Thursday

• Book Fair
• Celebration of Learning 6-8 p.m.
• Choir after school

Friday

• No school for students

Week of March 6-10

It looks like we have another week of winter weather!  I love Southern Alberta!  Please remind your kids to dress for the weather each day. 






Curriculum:

• Math: We continue our journey into fractions.  We are learning about benchmarks and fractions of a set.
• L.A.
• continue in Lesson 11
• Writing: Connected with our Waste in Our World unit in science we will be learning how to write persuasively.
• Science: discussing the topic of landfills and what sort of waste is in the garbage.
• Social: taking a quick trip to the Canadian Shield Region to learn about the landforms, bodies of water, climate and vegetation.

Monday:

• Friday letters
• District School Council at the board office 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday:

• Library books returned

Wednesday:


Thursday:

• spelling assessment today (week 11 words)
• choir after school

Friday:

• dress for Frolicking Friday
• Report cards go home

Week of Feb. 27- March 3

I hope everyone had a restful break and were able to spend some quality family time.  I sure enjoyed a few extra days to spend with my kids and Teachers' Convention was insightful and worthwhile.


Notes:

• Registration forms for next year were sent home TODAY.  These are due back by FRIDAY.  Please be sure all information is correct and everything that needs to be signed is signed.
• New homework calendars will be sent out this week.

Curriculum:

• Math: We have begun learning about fractions!  You can help at home by talking about how you use fractions in your daily life at home or at work. 
• L.A.
• Lesson 11 words went home today.
• Writing: Connected with our Waste in Our World unit in science we will be learning how to write persuasively.
• Science: With the Wheels and Levers unit finished we will begin the Waste in Our World unit this week.
• Social: The Boreal Forest unit took a little longer to travel through than expected (it is after all 50% of Alberta!) and so we will finish up this week and then head way north to the Canadian Shield Region.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Registration forms sent home

Tuesday:

• Homework Journals due
• Tone It Up Tuesday
• Family Fun Night 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the gym
• Library books due
• Assembly 12:35 p.m.

Thursday:

• Choir after school

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday

Week of Feb. 6 - 10

Wow!  What a lot of snow!  As I type this the sun is beginning to shine and the trees look absolutely stunning.




Notes:

• To avoid attendance hassles and confusions, please contact the office directly if your child will be late or absent.  If you'd like to let me know as well, that's great but I can no longer excuse absences on our system so they need to be phoned/emailed in to the office.
• If your child needs to phone you about something, they will be encouraged to leave a message if they can't get hold of you.  Please make sure your child knows how to contact you and check in with them to see if they know how to leave a voicemail.
• An insert in the agenda went home last week about the free brunch for all students that we will be having as a school community on Wednesday.  Thank you to L.A. Chefs!  All they ask in return is that we pay it forward.
• With more snow coming down, our "snow hills" are getting bigger!  Please help us out by reminding your child that they are not to be played on.  If you choose to come back after school, that's different, but we do not feel that the snow hills are safe.

Curriculum:

• Math: More multiplication and now division too!  You can help at home by getting your child to sing our skip counting songs, practicing basic multiplication facts, looking for arrays and dividing things into equal groups.
• L.A.
• Spelling: New words coming home today - List #10.
• Writing: This is our last week to finish up our Lost stories.
• Science: We will be finishing up with levers and starting to prepare for our unit exam next week.
• Social: In the Boreal Forest we will be learning about ecosystems.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due

Tuesday:

• Library books due

Wednesday:

• Pay it Forward From the Heart breakfast for all in the gym at lunch time
• School-wide pajama day

Thursday:

• Choir after school

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday weather permitting