October 30, 2012

The at-home reading book for tonight is "Val and Ned".

Remember that tomorrow (afternoon only) students are invited to dress up for Hallowe'en. 
Also, students should bring a SMALL individual-sized fruit box to contribute to our witch's brew.  If anyone would like to send something for the treat table, we'd be happy to accept your offerings with our thanks.

Mrs. Sawka's class is still accepting food bank donations for their Haunted House fund raiser.  The food bank collection is on display at the school's front door.  Please have all donations in by this Friday.  (Many thanks to those who have generously given to this fund raiser.)


Here are some photos from our Halloweener lunch:

October 29, 2012

Excitement is about to reach fever pitch here in Room Four as the following things are lining up for this week:

1.  The spelling list consists of words from the "ook" family.  Study hard!

2.  We will be having a hot dog lunch (a "Halloweener Celebration") here at school tomorrow, so all you parents who pack lunches every day - take a break tomorrow!

3.  We will be having a Hallowe'en party Wednesday afternoon.  Students are invited to dress up and to bring something for the treat table, if they'd like. 

For a cool Hallowe'en card, click here.

And for your weekend viewing pleasure, have a peek at our "Waddlee-Atcha" video.  (It's my first attempt at videography.  I'll try to improve for the future!)

There's a note in the agenda pocket regarding our Monday visit to Mrs. Sawka's Haunted Classroom (admission:  $1.00 and a food bank item) and our Hallowe'en party next Wednesday afternoon.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

October 25, 2012

Happy Birthday (from yesterday) to Angelo and Hana!  And thanks for the birthday treats that Hana shared with us.  Yum!   We need more birthdays here in Room 4!

A note outlining pool hours went home today.  Please check the front agenda pocket.

The book for tonight's reading pleasure is Hal and Nip. 

Study hard for tomorrow's spelling test!

Here is a photo of our Roots of Empathy baby and his mom - and, of course, all his adoring new first grade friends and fans!

October 23, 2012

Tonight's brown envelope book focuses on the short "i" sound (the "i" as it is pronounced in "iguana").  Enjoy Tim and the Tin Man!

October 22, 2012

There's no brown envelope reading today.  Enjoy the break!

The spelling words this week are the ones from last week's list.  Everyone normally gets 100% on the spelling test, but last week we had a pretty dismal showing.  I know the words were tough, so thought I'd give everyone another shot at them this week.  (There was one person who did have a perfect score last week: Angelo!  Because he already has 100% on the spelling words, Angelo has immunity from this week's test.  Super job, Angelo!)

October 17, 2012

The photographer is coming tomorrow morning; anyone who missed photos the first time around, or anyone who is planning on getting retakes should polish up those pearly whites and practise smiling.  (If you are getting retakes, please return the original photo package.  If you are getting photos for the first time, please pick up forms for this from the office.)

The fire chief is also coming tomorrow to pick up the pamphlets that were handed out last week.  If you want to enter your child in the "Fire Chief for a Day" contest, please go through the pamphlet's activities with your child, then sign the front of the pamphlet and return it to the school.

The spelling test will be tomorrow.  (I made a mistrake yesterday when I said it would be Friday - sorry about that.)

The brown envelope book for tonight does not need to be returned to the school.  You can keep it for your at-home library, but please jot down the title and the date on the brown envelope.  Thanks.

Remember that tomorrow is the last day for students this week.

October 16, 2012

We had our first visit from Baby Jack today - what a sweetie!  The students were great with him - and are already looking forward to his next visit!

The Reading Envelope book for today is the first one in our basal reading series.  Students should read the whole book (including the back cover) to parents.

I thought I'd give you a quick little reminder that students have no school this Friday.  Teachers will be attending Institute in Hinton that day.  Our spelling test will be Friday this week.

October 15, 2012

The witch hats that came to school today were fantastic!  We had a hat with feathers, one with leaves, one with a long spooky veil, one with fancy feathers, another with amputated fingers, another with a fancy spider theme, lots with cool home-made artwork, one loaded with candy, one plastered with spider webs .... and lots more.  Great job, everyone!  Some of the hats have been hung already - parents: drop in for a peek, if you have the courage!



We've shifted gears in our at-home reading support program.  Parents have been reading to the students; now it's the students turn to read to the parents.  The students are bringing home an envelope with a short book inside - students should read the book aloud (prompts for when they're stuck are listed on the envelope at the top), then parents need to record the book's title and the date the book was read.

October 12, 2012

We had a very busy day today: two tests, and 3 special events!  The results of the spelling and reading tests are in the front pockets of the agendas. 

Our first special event was a visit from Mr. Smith, the assistant fire chief.  He gave a talk on fire safety and passed out colouring books and a pamphlet on fire safety.  If you fill out the fire safety form and return it, your child's name will be entered into a draw for Fire Chief for a Day - imagine the excitement! 

Our second special event was an afternoon visit from Lynda Shore, who will be presenting a Roots of Empathy program to the class this year.  Lynda has sent home a letter explaining the program, and she has requested that parents complete and return the student/family info sheet that accompanies the letter.

Our third special event was a presentation on an aspect of French culture: creating music with wooden toy dolls - some fun!

Most students have read most of the plastic book bag books, so none were sent home this weekend.  We'll be sending home some different reading material next week.  Hold your breath ......

Please remember that the decorated witch hats are due Monday, along with the Roots of Empathy and fire chief forms.  Thanks!  Have a great weekend!

October 11, 2012

Reminders for tomorrow:

1.  Spelling test

2.  Sight/phonetic word reading test

3.  There will be another cookie sale, this one with a one cookie limit.


We've had our first decorated witch hat returned to the classroom - and a very beautiful one it is!  Hana's hat looks stunning, hanging from our ceiling! 

October 10, 2012

Reminders:

1.  Practise those "ing" spelling words for Friday's test.

2.  Practise those sight/phonetic flash cards for Friday's test.

3.  There will be a cookie sale tomorrow.  Bring a quarter if you'd like a cookie!

October 9, 2012

It was great to see that everyone survived the feasting bonanzas that I'm sure we all participated in over the weekend!  Hopefully everyone enjoyed their turkey dinner bells and Thanksgiving booklets.  Hallowe'en literature and art projects are lining up next.  Whoooeee!

There is no plastic book bag today. 

There is a package of sight/phonetic flash word cards in the agenda front pockets.  Please review flash cards with your child.  We'll have a test on the words on Friday.

Students from Room 4 here at good old JES brought home a witch hat today.  Their homework this week is to decorate the hat and return it to school by next Monday at the latest.  Parents are allowed - encouraged, even - to help.  The hats have been given to the students, so feel free to glue, sew, staple, cut, etc. - anything goes.  I can't wait to see what creations will come back to the classroom!

Last Friday, the class talked about turkeys camouflaging themselves to avoid being eaten.  After our discussion, we looked at pictures of Liu Bolin, camo expert extraordinaire.  Check out the photos of him.  (Just click on the word "photos" in the previous sentence.)

October 4, 2012

Reminders for tomorrow:
1.  Numbers reading test.  Study hard!

2.  Book orders are due.

3.  Bring a SMALL amount of peas or corn or other cut-up veggies (1/2 cup will be plenty) for our Thanksgiving stew.  Thanks!

Thanks, too, to Hana's mom for the delicious treats!

October 3, 2012

These first grade students teach me something new every day.  We made turkey dinner bells today.  One student was very excited about the project, because, as he said, his grandparents have a dinner bell because (here's the educational part) "they were born in the fifties".  Hmmm.  Good to know!

Reminders:
1.  Book orders are due Friday.
2.  Please send a half cup of cut-up veggies (or peas or corn)  Friday morning for our Thanksgiving stew.
3.  The students will have a test Friday on matching the numbers (1,2,3, etc.) with their lettered names (one, two, three, etc.).  This will replace the regular Friday morning spelling test.

October 1, 2012

It's hard to believe that October is here already!  Check the front pocket of the agenda for this month's school newsletter.  There is also a note glued into the agenda, beside today's date.