Weekly News January 25th
Monday we went for a walk to the beach. This time some people actually found ice! On our way down to the boardwalk we notices some changes from last week - including some trees that are growing new buds! It was my daughter's birthday so we wrote a message for her in the sand - which then sparked some other sand writing. It was a lovely day to explore and there was a bit more exposed beach this time. We noticed a rainbow that ended in the water. We didn't go all the way to the ferry dock this time so that kept us moving past the Queen Street park to get back to school for the bathroom. Just before lunch recess we had a look at the rocks that some people brought back and did some sorting and classifying of them. We started a pocket chart about it and are working on different ways to sort them. So far we have size, shape, colour, and texture.
Tuesday morning I finished putting up the display of our collaborative art from last week's family time discussion about Everyone is Important. After calendar we did some painting with Ms. Wood in fine arts and then we went and used Ms. Mousseau's room for story workshop. There were some old materials, some new materials, and lots of collaborative and in-depth story telling! After snack we looked at some rocks and played a game of "I Spy" with rock descriptions and classifying. We added some more rocks to our pocket chart. In library in the afternoon Miss Julie read us a story called "It's a Big World, Little Pig" about a pig who travels to Paris to compete in skating.
Wednesday we started with a walk to the woods. On the way we saw the beginnings of the daffodils that Ms. Martin's class planted near the fence. They are just peaking up out of the ground! We are noticing lots of changes every time we go out walking! In the woods there was a great deal of cooperation in the work on the dam and then some people stumbled across a new "lake" in the woods. These children really enjoy playing in water! After snack Mr. Seymour came to remind us of the story he told last week about the hummingbird who put the fire out one drop at a time. He had some illustrations for us to colour and cut out. This was a great activity for checking in on where fine motor skills are at this time of year. The pictures are on display in the hallway - please feel free to pop in and check them out. In the afternoon we had another go with the Rig-a-ma-jig building set. It was centres time and there was a lot of distraction so it didn't get as much attention this time.
Thursday I had an appointment so Ms. Weston was the guest teacher. She said she really enjoyed being with our class.
Friday I found that Ms. Switzer had loaned us some new books about rocks so I put them on the display with all the rest. They were a big draw for some people during reading time! It was our Family Literacy Day event and Read-a-thon kick off on Friday morning. Mrs. Calverley told us about when she got duck-taped to the wall last year when the kids met their reading goal. This year we have a bigger goal - 100,000 minutes. We talked as a class about how much reading we should do at home and at school to help meet the school goal. If we make it, Mrs. Calverley will have to wear a mask, flippers, and snorkel for a week! Your child came home with their home reading goal sheet in the back of their BFF. We are aiming for 10 minutes per day at home. I will be doing a school record sheet as well. Reading at this stage includes listening to someone else read and reading the pictures alone or with someone else. Your child also brought home their pledge form as this is a fundraiser for the PAC. Grandparents and aunts and uncles are great sources for pledges!
It was really lovely to see so many people come for the Family Literacy event! Thanks to everyone who came to read with us! The muffins were yummy (so I heard!). For our outside time on Friday we went by ourselves to the lower playground. We tried all going around it like an obstacle course and it was lovely to see so many students trying things that scared them! I know that the students really enjoyed being the only ones on the equipment and we will do it again soon.
Reminders:
Registration is now open for Kindergarten this September. It helps us a great deal to have the early registrations so that we can plan for our classes for next year. Also, on the subject of planning for numbers, please note that the next long range planning meeting for school configuration for the north end of the district (Crofton and Chemainus) is happening on Tuesday evening at 6:30 in the Crofton gym.
Lego club is the first and 3rd Thursday's of the month in the basement of the Crofton Community Centre on Musgrave Street from 3:30-4:30. Please mark your calendars! Parents will be required to be in attendance - this is not a drop-off program.
We will continue to walk in all weather - please make sure your child has appropriate footwear and clothing.
PLEASE NOTE: Students in other classes who are still working on a traditional reporting method will be bringing home a summary of their learning (report card) soon. As I am using alternative means of sharing your child's learning, you will not be receiving one at this time. My goal is to have at least three more samples of your child's learning loaded onto FreshGrade by the second week of February. The FreshGrade portfolios, combined with this blog, the BFF's, face to face conversations, and direct messages and phone calls are all intended to keep you informed of your child's progress at school. If at any time you feel that you need more information, please feel free to contact me. You will receive a formal learning summary (report card) at the end of the school year. Ideally, the learning summary in June will not tell you anything new, as you should already be aware of all progress and any areas of concern through the other communication methods.
There are still a few parents who are not accessing the FreshGrade portfolios regularly (I can tell who you are!!!). The students will begin to add their voice to the posts over the next couple of months and if you need support to access them again please feel free to contact me. You are always welcome to add any comments or questions to any of the posts.
NEXT WEEK - January 28th - February 1st - read-a-thon week 1
Monday - Walk day
Tuesday - Library Day
- Parent-Child Mother Goose - preschool program in the library from 9am - 10am
- North End Long Range Planning Community Conversation Meeting #2 @ 6:30 pm in gym Free childminding available
Wednesday - Walk day
- 2 hour early dismissal - students will be dismissed at 12:13pm
Thursday - Walk day
Friday -
Tuesday morning I finished putting up the display of our collaborative art from last week's family time discussion about Everyone is Important. After calendar we did some painting with Ms. Wood in fine arts and then we went and used Ms. Mousseau's room for story workshop. There were some old materials, some new materials, and lots of collaborative and in-depth story telling! After snack we looked at some rocks and played a game of "I Spy" with rock descriptions and classifying. We added some more rocks to our pocket chart. In library in the afternoon Miss Julie read us a story called "It's a Big World, Little Pig" about a pig who travels to Paris to compete in skating.
Wednesday we started with a walk to the woods. On the way we saw the beginnings of the daffodils that Ms. Martin's class planted near the fence. They are just peaking up out of the ground! We are noticing lots of changes every time we go out walking! In the woods there was a great deal of cooperation in the work on the dam and then some people stumbled across a new "lake" in the woods. These children really enjoy playing in water! After snack Mr. Seymour came to remind us of the story he told last week about the hummingbird who put the fire out one drop at a time. He had some illustrations for us to colour and cut out. This was a great activity for checking in on where fine motor skills are at this time of year. The pictures are on display in the hallway - please feel free to pop in and check them out. In the afternoon we had another go with the Rig-a-ma-jig building set. It was centres time and there was a lot of distraction so it didn't get as much attention this time.
Thursday I had an appointment so Ms. Weston was the guest teacher. She said she really enjoyed being with our class.
Friday I found that Ms. Switzer had loaned us some new books about rocks so I put them on the display with all the rest. They were a big draw for some people during reading time! It was our Family Literacy Day event and Read-a-thon kick off on Friday morning. Mrs. Calverley told us about when she got duck-taped to the wall last year when the kids met their reading goal. This year we have a bigger goal - 100,000 minutes. We talked as a class about how much reading we should do at home and at school to help meet the school goal. If we make it, Mrs. Calverley will have to wear a mask, flippers, and snorkel for a week! Your child came home with their home reading goal sheet in the back of their BFF. We are aiming for 10 minutes per day at home. I will be doing a school record sheet as well. Reading at this stage includes listening to someone else read and reading the pictures alone or with someone else. Your child also brought home their pledge form as this is a fundraiser for the PAC. Grandparents and aunts and uncles are great sources for pledges!
It was really lovely to see so many people come for the Family Literacy event! Thanks to everyone who came to read with us! The muffins were yummy (so I heard!). For our outside time on Friday we went by ourselves to the lower playground. We tried all going around it like an obstacle course and it was lovely to see so many students trying things that scared them! I know that the students really enjoyed being the only ones on the equipment and we will do it again soon.
Reminders:
Registration is now open for Kindergarten this September. It helps us a great deal to have the early registrations so that we can plan for our classes for next year. Also, on the subject of planning for numbers, please note that the next long range planning meeting for school configuration for the north end of the district (Crofton and Chemainus) is happening on Tuesday evening at 6:30 in the Crofton gym.
Lego club is the first and 3rd Thursday's of the month in the basement of the Crofton Community Centre on Musgrave Street from 3:30-4:30. Please mark your calendars! Parents will be required to be in attendance - this is not a drop-off program.
We will continue to walk in all weather - please make sure your child has appropriate footwear and clothing.
PLEASE NOTE: Students in other classes who are still working on a traditional reporting method will be bringing home a summary of their learning (report card) soon. As I am using alternative means of sharing your child's learning, you will not be receiving one at this time. My goal is to have at least three more samples of your child's learning loaded onto FreshGrade by the second week of February. The FreshGrade portfolios, combined with this blog, the BFF's, face to face conversations, and direct messages and phone calls are all intended to keep you informed of your child's progress at school. If at any time you feel that you need more information, please feel free to contact me. You will receive a formal learning summary (report card) at the end of the school year. Ideally, the learning summary in June will not tell you anything new, as you should already be aware of all progress and any areas of concern through the other communication methods.
There are still a few parents who are not accessing the FreshGrade portfolios regularly (I can tell who you are!!!). The students will begin to add their voice to the posts over the next couple of months and if you need support to access them again please feel free to contact me. You are always welcome to add any comments or questions to any of the posts.
NEXT WEEK - January 28th - February 1st - read-a-thon week 1
Monday - Walk day
Tuesday - Library Day
- Parent-Child Mother Goose - preschool program in the library from 9am - 10am
- North End Long Range Planning Community Conversation Meeting #2 @ 6:30 pm in gym Free childminding available
Wednesday - Walk day
- 2 hour early dismissal - students will be dismissed at 12:13pm
Thursday - Walk day
Friday -