Weekly News June 7th
Monday morning we started with some printing practice using the Handwriting Heroes videos on YouTube. Melvin came for a visit and brought us his book about feeling lonely. It was my birthday and we celebrated by going for a walk to the park. We took our snack and the novel we've been reading and enjoyed the sunshine (well the kids did - I'm a delicate flower and I wilt in the sun so I brought my umbrella!)
In Fine Arts on Tuesday the students continued their "journey" around the world. They made Chinese fans with Ms. Wood. They were really fun to do and everyone enjoyed fanning themselves throughout the rest of the day! In the afternoon we had our last library visit for this school year. Miss Julie did some movement exercises with us and then read us a story. Most students have now returned their library books and we are soooo close to being the first class to have all of our books returned! During centres some people were able to get the backgrounds done for their self-portraits. Painting is one of the most desired activities so we're aiming to do more of it in the next few weeks.
Wednesday morning we had no obligations so we headed right for the woods. We took the upper path and once we found a good sit spot we started by having snack and doing our writing. After a good play in the upper reaches (where there was much inspiration drawn from the interesting bridge) we went down to our usual play place. While we were there students found (and handled!) slugs and a bird that was hopping around on the ground. In the afternoon there were several students who were inspired by some shapes tracers to dig into some comparing of different shapes during centres.
Thursday we again started with some printing practice on the white boards. Handwriting Heroes is a great letter formation program developed by some OT's on the mainland. The videos are available on YouTube and would be good options for some summer printing practice as they encourage students to form the letters in the correct direction. I presented students with some special triangular mechanical pencils that they were thrilled to receive. They are using them for all their writing now and will bring them home at the end of the year. During our walk on Thursday morning we went to the alley with Ms. Mousseau's class. We noticed lots of beautiful new flowers and also some interesting growth on the back of a fence. It had little red heads on it and looked a bit flower-like too. One student found a green crab apple on our way to the alley and it occupied several peoples attention as they investigated the force required to squish it and smash it. Other students were very focused on the ramp again and both Ms. Mousseau and I spent some time offering our hands for those who wanted extra support for sliding down it. After snack it was Family Time. This was our second month joining in on the family group activities. Everyone was very positive about the time together. In the afternoon we finished up the backgrounds for our self portraits and some people dug into the special sparkly paper that was in the creation station.
Friday morning we did a quick calendar before going down to see Ms. Wood. After Fine Arts we were lucky enough to have a couple of Grade 7 helpers for an hour. They engaged some students in a game of soccer while others played under the trees at the back. After some outside time we had snack and read a chapter of our novel. It's getting very exciting - there are Red Goblins that have taken all the tree folk hostage and the children are trying to save them! We had a little extra time so we did some small centres before lunch. After lunch there was lots of painting action during centres and I managed to get all the self portraits connected to the originals so that you can look at them and see the growth and development over the year!
We have now had our last library day of the school year and all library books are due back as soon as possible so Miss Julie can do an inventory of the library. There is a small contest to see which class can have all of their books back first... not saying I'm competitive or anything but it would be REALLY AWESOME if we could win!
NOTES ABOUT NEXT WEEK - both Thursday and Friday we have field trips - Thursday to Transfer Beach and Friday to Wendy's House and Centennial park. For both trips students will need a bathing suit and towel, sunscreen, a hat, water, and a snack. Thursday for lunch we will be having hot dogs at the beach (cooked by Mrs. LeSargent) and Friday we are still hoping to have some parents deliver the hot lunch (pizza for those who ordered it) to us at centennial park in Duncan. Please let us know if you are planning to come to the park and are able to stop at the school to pick it up for us. Those who didn't order hot lunch will need a picnic lunch on Friday. SOCKS ARE NECESSARY for Wendy's House as they have a "No bare feet / No shoes" rule there.
NEXT WEEK - June 10th - 14th
Monday - Walk day
Tuesday - Final session of Parent-Child Mother Goose - preschool program in the library 9am - 10am
- There will be a guest teacher as I will be at my daughter's graduation from UVIC
Wednesday - Walk day
Thursday - Field Trip - Transfer beach - all K-3 students will need appropriate clothing, water and
snack (lunch will be provided)
Friday - Field Trip - Wendy's House / Centennial Park - all Div 9/10/11 students will need to
remember to bring or wear SOCKS
- book orders are due by the end of the day
In Fine Arts on Tuesday the students continued their "journey" around the world. They made Chinese fans with Ms. Wood. They were really fun to do and everyone enjoyed fanning themselves throughout the rest of the day! In the afternoon we had our last library visit for this school year. Miss Julie did some movement exercises with us and then read us a story. Most students have now returned their library books and we are soooo close to being the first class to have all of our books returned! During centres some people were able to get the backgrounds done for their self-portraits. Painting is one of the most desired activities so we're aiming to do more of it in the next few weeks.
Wednesday morning we had no obligations so we headed right for the woods. We took the upper path and once we found a good sit spot we started by having snack and doing our writing. After a good play in the upper reaches (where there was much inspiration drawn from the interesting bridge) we went down to our usual play place. While we were there students found (and handled!) slugs and a bird that was hopping around on the ground. In the afternoon there were several students who were inspired by some shapes tracers to dig into some comparing of different shapes during centres.
Thursday we again started with some printing practice on the white boards. Handwriting Heroes is a great letter formation program developed by some OT's on the mainland. The videos are available on YouTube and would be good options for some summer printing practice as they encourage students to form the letters in the correct direction. I presented students with some special triangular mechanical pencils that they were thrilled to receive. They are using them for all their writing now and will bring them home at the end of the year. During our walk on Thursday morning we went to the alley with Ms. Mousseau's class. We noticed lots of beautiful new flowers and also some interesting growth on the back of a fence. It had little red heads on it and looked a bit flower-like too. One student found a green crab apple on our way to the alley and it occupied several peoples attention as they investigated the force required to squish it and smash it. Other students were very focused on the ramp again and both Ms. Mousseau and I spent some time offering our hands for those who wanted extra support for sliding down it. After snack it was Family Time. This was our second month joining in on the family group activities. Everyone was very positive about the time together. In the afternoon we finished up the backgrounds for our self portraits and some people dug into the special sparkly paper that was in the creation station.
Friday morning we did a quick calendar before going down to see Ms. Wood. After Fine Arts we were lucky enough to have a couple of Grade 7 helpers for an hour. They engaged some students in a game of soccer while others played under the trees at the back. After some outside time we had snack and read a chapter of our novel. It's getting very exciting - there are Red Goblins that have taken all the tree folk hostage and the children are trying to save them! We had a little extra time so we did some small centres before lunch. After lunch there was lots of painting action during centres and I managed to get all the self portraits connected to the originals so that you can look at them and see the growth and development over the year!
We have now had our last library day of the school year and all library books are due back as soon as possible so Miss Julie can do an inventory of the library. There is a small contest to see which class can have all of their books back first... not saying I'm competitive or anything but it would be REALLY AWESOME if we could win!
NOTES ABOUT NEXT WEEK - both Thursday and Friday we have field trips - Thursday to Transfer Beach and Friday to Wendy's House and Centennial park. For both trips students will need a bathing suit and towel, sunscreen, a hat, water, and a snack. Thursday for lunch we will be having hot dogs at the beach (cooked by Mrs. LeSargent) and Friday we are still hoping to have some parents deliver the hot lunch (pizza for those who ordered it) to us at centennial park in Duncan. Please let us know if you are planning to come to the park and are able to stop at the school to pick it up for us. Those who didn't order hot lunch will need a picnic lunch on Friday. SOCKS ARE NECESSARY for Wendy's House as they have a "No bare feet / No shoes" rule there.
NEXT WEEK - June 10th - 14th
Monday - Walk day
Tuesday - Final session of Parent-Child Mother Goose - preschool program in the library 9am - 10am
- There will be a guest teacher as I will be at my daughter's graduation from UVIC
Wednesday - Walk day
Thursday - Field Trip - Transfer beach - all K-3 students will need appropriate clothing, water and
snack (lunch will be provided)
Friday - Field Trip - Wendy's House / Centennial Park - all Div 9/10/11 students will need to
remember to bring or wear SOCKS
- book orders are due by the end of the day