Week of June 19-23

This is our last full week of school!  It is going to be a busy one, finishing up curriculum and practicing our French plays.

Notes:

• Mrs. Chase has a summer reading challenge for the kids in celebration of Canada 150!
• We have two special guests coming from High Fitness to do our Tone It Up Tuesday with us!  Be sure to dress for working out!
• Mark  your calendars for next week's trip to Westminster pool.  We could use some parent volunteers so if you can join us Wednesday afternoon (June 28, 1-3 p.m.), that would be great!  We need people who can walk to and from the pool with us, people to be in the water, and people there to help monitor change rooms, etc.  Let me know if you can come!

Curriculum:

• Math: We will take a quick look at ways to compare numbers in Venn and Carroll Diagrams, and we will do a mini unit in geometry.  You can help at home by giving your child a set of numbers to sort into categories.  You can give them the categories or they can figure out the categories.  With geometry, the main focus is pyramids and prisms.  Look around, where can you find them?
• L.A.
• We will be finishing our read aloud book, "We All Fall Down" and do some final journal entries and fun writing activities.
• Science: Our building unit will conclude with linkages, air propelled vehicles, stored energy, simple forces (e.g. gravity) and water propelled vehicles.
• Social: We have a little more to learn about Alberta becoming a province and homesteading etc.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Library books are now past due

Tuesday:

• Hot lunch
• Energy Day Assembly 12:45
• High Fitness workout in the afternoon

Friday:

• "Alice in Wonderland" put on by our very own Drama Club
• Frolicking Friday

Welcome to this rainy Monday!  I hope everyone was able to enjoy the sunshine of the weekend.

Notes:

• A letter about an 1800s school day is coming home today.  This will take place next Tuesday the day after our trip to Fort Macleod.  This is a really fun way to learn about the past and I encourage all students to participate in dressing up - even just a little.
• I would like to remind students to have a water bottle they can bring into class for the hot days that are coming back after the rain (30 by Thursday!).  It disrupts learning to have to go to the water fountain.

Curriculum:

• Math: We will be studying area this week.  You can help at home by having your child cover an object with shapes (e.g. the cover of a book with sticky notes) to see what the area of it is.
• L.A.
• Writing: We will finish our book, "Fatty Legs" this week.  You can help at home by asking your child what the book was about, who the main character was, what the problem in the story was, what was learned by the main character, etc.
• Spelling: As mentioned last week we will be reviewing our lists through this month.
• Science: We will be having an open book test on plants tomorrow.  You can help at home by asking your child about the different parts of a plant and what each one does.
• Social: This week we will finish up our NWMP projects and continue learning about early settlement in Alberta.

This Week's Schedule:

Monday:

• Friday letters, treaties due

Tuesday:

• Library books due

Wednesday-Thursday:

• Regular days! Watch the agenda in case something comes up.

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday

We are heading into the home stretch now!  That being said, we will still be maintaining routines and teaching curriculum.  It is important for kids to come to school well rested and prepared for learning.  I would love to take them outside as much as possible both for PE and for other classes so please make sure your child comes with a hat and water bottle.

Notes:

• If you volunteered this year and did not get an invitation to the Volunteer Tea on Friday, please check with your child.  If it still doesn't turn up, please let me know!

Curriculum:

• Math: We will be reviewing multiplying and dividing bigger numbers and then having the test on that unit.  After that comes our unit on Area.
• L.A.
• Spelling: We are going to stop our formal lessons and instead do some review of the lists we have worked on this year.  This may come in the form of finishing lessons or playing games with the words.
• Writing: We are getting close to finishing our novel, "Fatty Legs."
• Science: This week we will be learning more about the inside of a seed and different types of seeds.
• Social: Our field trip to the cemetery ties in directly to our social studies curriculum.  We will also be learning more about the North West Mounted Police (mounted not mountain as some kids like to say ;) )

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters and library books due
• Energy Day Assembly 12:45

Tuesday:

• Yo-yo Empire assembly 9:00 a.m.
• Hot lunch
• Family Fun Night in the gym 6:00-7:15 p.m.

Wednesday:

• Cemetery Tour (we will have our lunch when we get back)

Friday:

• Volunteer Tea 10:15 a.m.

Week of May 22 - 26

My apologies for missing last week!  I hope you all had a restful, warm long weekend! 

Curriculum:

• Math: We are continuing to work on division.  Please help at home by continuing to practice basic multiplication and division.
• L.A.
• Writing: Our Fatty Legs novel study is about halfway complete.  We are learning some great skills when it comes to reading for information.
• Spelling: Lesson 16 assessment on Thursday.
• Science: We talked today about what plants need and we will also learn about seeds.
• Social: This week is learning about how Canada became a country, how the government convinced people to come out west and what they did to keep the settlers safe.

This Week's Schedule:
This is a very calm week!  Just the regular routines going on.  Please make sure your child has proper shoes for PE and a water bottle to bring in to class.  It is very disruptive when kids keep asking to go get a drink from the fountain. 

Week of May 8-12

It's sure looking green out there after all that rain!  I hope everyone was able to take in some "Vitamin N" over the weekend when the sun was shining.

Notes:

• This is our last week of gymnastics. Please be sure your child has proper clothing or they are not able to participate.

Curriculum:

• Math: We will continue multiplying 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers and then we will apply those skills to multiplying 3-digit by 1-digit.  Keep practicing those basic facts at home!!
• L.A.
• Spelling: Lesson 15 assessment this Thursday
• Writing: Our pun unit will finish off this week.
• Reading: We have just finished a book called, "Get Real!" which helps the kids learn to take care of their mental health.  On Wednesday we will start a novel study called, "Fatty Legs" that describes one girl's experience in a residential school.  You can help at home by talking to your child about what they have read.
• Science: Our bean plants are sprouting!  This week we will learn about roots and stems.  At home, ask your child what veggies they eat that are roots and stems!  The field trip to Helen Schuler will be a great supplement to our learning.
• Social: We will finish up our fur trade chapter by learning about the forts themselves and by the end of the week we will start learning about early settlement in Alberta.  You can get involved at home by discussing how your family came to Alberta.  Were they original settlers?  Recent immigrants?  Moved from another province like me? 
• Health: This week we will have our next lesson in the Kids in the Know program (see the letter that went home a while ago).

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due
• Field trip to Helen Schuler

Tuesday:

• School Council meeting 6:30 p.m.
• Library books due

Friday:

• Enrichment
• Frolicking Friday

Week of May 1-5

It is really hard to believe that is it already MAY!!  I can't believe how fast the time is passing!

NOTES:

• Spring picture day is tomorrow.  All kids will get a picture taken and then you can choose if you would like to order them.
• Hats On for Mental Health this week, Wednesday May 3.
• Gymnastics continues this week and next, please have your child bring their change of clothes.
• T-shirts are needed this week. 
• NEW homework booklets are coming home.  Please read over the note that came with it.

CURRICULUM:

• Math: continuing on multiplication.  Please practice the basic facts at home.
• LA: exploring and learning about PUNS.  Ask your child what the three types of puns are.
• Social: learning about the voyageurs and David Thompson and the importance they had in charting the course for the Fur Trade and Canada.
• Science: we planted seeds today and we are learning about the products that plants make.

WEEK AT A GLANCE:
Monday

• Friday Letters due
• Fundraiser due for Booster Juice

Tuesday

• Library books due
• Spring Picture Day

Wednesday

• Hats ON for mental health

Thursday

• Patroller Training for the Grade 4's.  Ask your child about the information given to them

Friday

• Frolicking Friday
• Enrichment (day two of four)

April 10-14

A short week this week and then the break!  It's hard to believe that when we come back there will only be one week left of April and then it's just May and June!  Where did the time go?!

Notes:

• There is no school April 14 for Good Friday. 
• Easter break is from April 17-21 - no school
• April 24 is a learning day for staff - no school for students
• Gymnastics starts April 25 - please send proper gymnastics clothes (see note that went home)

Curriculum:

• Math - Finishing up decimals and then we will have an assessment on fractions and decimals on Thursday.  The patterns booklet that went home last week is for practice.  I recommend the kids work on it bit by bit rather than all at once.  These are important skills to build moving forward in math.
• L.A.
• Spelling: Lesson 14 begins today and new words are being sent home.
• Writing: We didn't get to typing our essays last week but we will this week!  We will also begin a unit on puns.
• Science: We will build our robots today and the Waste in Our World test is on Wednesday.  A study guide is coming home today and the answers are here on the blog.
• Social: We are taking a break from social this week as we have interruptions and other things we need to catch up on.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due
• Gymnastics note coming home
• Science study guide coming home

Tuesday:

• Library Books Due
• Learning Clicks careers presentation
• School Council meeting 6:30 p.m.

Thursday:

• Energy Day Assembly 12:45

Friday:

• No school - Happy Easter!  See you back on April 25!

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

Jan 30-Feb. 3

I can't believe it is already the end of January!  Time sure flies when learning is happening!


Curriculum:
Math: continuing our journey in multiplication.  Please remember to practice, practice, practice at home!
LA: we will be finishing up on our photography "Lost" story projects.
Science: learning in-depth about a first, second and third class levers.  Ask your child what three parts a lever has.
Social: learning more about the Boreal Forest, specifically bodies of water, climate and vegetation. 


Week at a Glance:
Monday:

• Assembly at 12:40 p.m.
• Friday letters due back

Tuesday:

• HOT Lunch day (My favorite day of the month!)
• Family Fun night in the gym with Mr. Nussbaumer, 6:30 p.m.  Kids must bring an adult with them.

Wednesday:

• Winter Walk Day 10:15 a.m.  Join us if you would like to enjoy some fresh air.

Thursday:

• Sweater Day for the whole school.  The grade 2's are hosting this.  Kids are welcome to bring money for hot chocolate.  The heat will be turned down in the school by 2 degrees
• SWIMMING in the afternoon.  We will be walking.  Dress for the weather.

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday, again dress for the weather.

Week of Jan 23-27

Curriculum:

• Math: We have started learning to multiply (finally! as the kids said).  We're starting out with basic facts and strategies.
• L.A.
• Writing: We have been working on a story about losing an item.
• Spelling: Lesson 9 started today.
• Science: It's all about gears and levers this week.
• Social: Our train is boarded and off to the Boreal Forest.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due
• Cheer Squad for those involved

Tuesday:

• Tone It Up Tuesday
• Hot lunch money due online by 10 p.m.
• Library books due

Wednesday:

• Cheer Squad for those involved

Thursday:

• Choir 3:30-4:30

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday
• Homework booklets due

Week of Jan. 16-20

The sun is shining and it's great to be outside! 


Notes:

• It is much warmer than last week but still winter.  Please make sure your child comes equipped with the right gear for playing outside.  We have recess time for 55 minutes, and our PE periods twice a week are 30 minutes each outside. 

Curriculum:

• Math: We have started multiplication Mad Minutes this week.  You can help at home by helping your child practice the strategies we are learning at school.  For example, skip counting is a great way to become more familiar with the basic facts, and today we talked about multiplying by 2 means doubling the number.  In our lessons we are learning about patterns in tables and charts.
• LA:
• Spelling: Lesson 8 continues with the assessment on Thursday.
• Writing: We will be starting a new writing project this week that will use photography to help tell a story.
• Science: We get to learn about gears this week!  You can help at home by pointing out gears when you see them or have your child find them.  Talk about what they're for and how they work.
• Social: We will be leaving the Parkland region this week, but not before we discuss natural resources and our own heritage.  You can help at home by discussing what is special to your family e.g. foods, skills, languages, celebrations, items/heirlooms, crafts, and stories.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday letters due

Tuesday:

• Tone It Up Tuesday
• School Council Meeting 6:30 p.m.
• Library books due

Thursday:

• Choir after school for those students involved

Friday:

• New Enrichment starts!
• Frolicking Friday

Jan. 9 - 13

Hi!!  Welcome to 2017!  I hope you all had a great break.  I was excited to see the kids this morning (although, I wasn't excited to get out of bed early!)


NOTES:
- swimming letter went home.  If you are able to volunteer, please let me know right away.
- Hot lunch online will be due January 24
- Please dress for the weather as when it warms up, we will be going outside! 
- Snowshoes will also be arriving this week.


Curriculum:
LA: looking back to 2016 and forward to 2017
Math: patterns - AGAIN!
Science: reviewing pulleys and learning about wheel to wheel drive systems and belt systems.
Social: continuing our adventure in the Parkland region.


Week at a Glance:
Monday:
- Welcome BACK!
- Homework booklets and calendars went home today


Tuesday:
- library books due
- new job applications will go home today and they will be due Friday


Wednesday:


Thursday:


Friday:
- Frolicking (provided the weather cooperates!)
- Job applications due