June 27, 2018

Remember that tomorrow students will be dismissed at noon - for the summer! The first graders will be bringing home an envelope with a report card, registration information for next year, a school supply list for next year, a journal, a gift book (keep reading, everyone!!), and their locker's magnetic photo. Please check the lost and found (in the school gym) before you head home with your child for the summer, and ensure that your child's locker is empty and that their shoes have been brought home. Thanks.

I want to thank parents and students alike for all their hard work this year; the students have come a long way! Have a super summer, everyone!

June 22, 2018

Please remember that Monday there will be a Summer Fun Afternoon here at JES! Students should bring a water bottle, a squirt toy (if they have one!), and a bathing suit and towel - to save getting clothing wet on the slip and slide that's planned.

If anyone has not returned the permission forms for next Tuesday afternoon's pool party and next Wednesday afternoon's playground tour, please do so before Tuesday. Thanks.

The school is clearing out old cross country ski equipment. If you're interested, come to the gym anytime between 8:30 and 4:00 next Monday to Friday and, for a donation (which will go to the Right to Read Society), go shopping for some skinny skis!

The first grade students have no formal homework anymore, but I hope that everyone has caught the reading bug and that there will be lots of books read - this weekend, and all summer long!

June 19, 2018

Thanks to everyone who returned playground tour and swim permission forms. It would be great to get all of these in asap ...

We will be going to the public library again tomorrow afternoon for our final visit this year. If you'd like your child to check out library books, please send his/her library card. Thanks!

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Thanks to everyone who sent library cards for our visit to the public library today.  Students who signed out books need to have them back to the library before 3 weeks are up.

I'm hoping everyone will take advantage of our school's new mini-library. It's set up in front of the school, near the corner of Geikie and Elm. If you'd like to donate books to the library, or to take any from it, please feel free to do so! The library was set up in honour of one Jasper Elementary's former teachers: Vonna Arsenault. Vonna passed away last year and her daughter Felina designed, created and installed the library in Vonna's memory. What a lovely tribute!

June 12, 2018

Our Grade One/Two class will be visiting the public library tomorrow afternoon. If your child has a library card and you'd allow them to check out books, please send the card to school with them tomorrow. Thanks.

Thanks to everyone for completing and returning the emergency contact sheets. Hopefully we'll never need to use them!

June 5, 2018

Remember that we'll be going to the public library tomorrow afternoon, leaving just before 2:30 and returning before the afternoon dismissal bell. Also, tomorrow is Wacky Walking Wednesday, a day when everyone is challenged to arrive at school without getting a ride in a vehicle. Some students will walk, some will bike, some may skip, some may arrive in a wheelbarrow ...  L

June 4, 2018

Our class will be heading to the public library this Wednesday afternoon. We'll leave the school around 2:30 and will return before the afternoon dismissal bell. There is no need to send library cards this week, as we'll not be signing books out.

May 31, 2018

Please remember that class photos are scheduled for tomorrow morning. Also, book orders are due tomorrow morning.

May 29, 2018

I'm sorry for neglecting this blog for such a long stretch; I'll try to post more regularly!

Practice your smiles for class picture day, which will happen this Friday, June 1. When the weather permits, the photos are taken outside, which makes for lovely pictures.

The first graders are bringing home some treasures today: bracelets that they designed and created with Miss Murphy, and name plates that they designed and created as a science/architecture project. Enjoy!

Here are some photos of the first grade students with another art project. Thanks so much to Mrs. Zaniol for cutting out all those lizards!

May 10, 2018

Please remember that tomorrow we'll be joining the rest of the school on a field trip to Lake Annette. Thanks so much to Jake's father for volunteering to come along and help us out!

The high school is putting on a performance of "Annie" tonight and tomorrow night. Doors open at 6:30 and the performance will start at 7:00. It should be a great night! Adult tickets are $10.00.

The first grade students have a spelling test tomorrow.

May 9, 2018

There will be a snack sale tomorrow at morning recess. Snacks, as usual, will cost 50 cents each. (Do I smell the opportunity for some math challenges here? How many snacks could you buy with a loonie? With $2.00?)

The first graders were given trees to take home and plant today. All the necessary instructions are on the bag that the tree came home in. What a great opportunity to be environmentally considerate! We talked about the importance of picking an appropriate home for the tree, and the possibility of naming it, the potential it has to grow along with a first grade student ... great life lessons abound!

Thanks to everyone who returned the field trip permission forms for this Friday's trip to Lake Annette. We will be leaving around 11:45 and plan to return by the end-of-day dismissal bell. Please remember to send a garbage-free lunch and a water bottle in a backpack and to ensure that your child is dressed and prepared appropriately for the weather. Thanks. Thanks to Jake's mom and/or dad for volunteering their time to assist us with this day!

May 7, 2018

Remember that there is a presentation/open house regarding emergency preparedness at the Emergency Services Building (firehall/ambulance building tonight), beginning at 4:30.

Thanks to those parents who have returned permission forms for this Friday's school outing to Lake Annette. If you haven't already returned your child's form, please do so asap.

Keep those energy cube challenges going, everyone! We had some pretty impressive results from week one! Remember that if your child does some activity with a family member, they get to double the cubes they get to colour.

Thanks to those who accepted the challenge of a Screen Free Week last week; we even went screen-free here in Room Four. There are lots of great alternatives to playing video games and watching computer, ipad, and television screens; it was great to hear how students spent screen-free time last week.

Last Friday was our student teacher's last day with us. Here's a shot of her with our amazing first graders!

April 26, 2018

Remember to return your Screen-Free information sheet asap! Those who have returned their sheets (and have signed on to remain screen-free for 7 days) will be given a pledge sheet and an activity log sheet to complete. Look for these in students' agendas tomorrow (except for Braiden - yours is in your backpack already!)

Monday (weather permitting) we are planning a nature walk on the town trail - starting across from the CIBC bank and continuing until the town trail meets Connaught - just before the train overpass. We plan to leave shortly after morning attendance and should return well before recess.

There will be a Zumba dance assembly next Monday morning, as well, to kick off Screen Free Week. Students are invited to dress in 80's "aerobic wear" - shorts over top of bright leggings, headbands, leg warmers ... that kind of thing - if they'd like. Should be fun!

There is no spelling test for first grade students tomorrow morning.

The first grade students will be walking to Freewheel Cycle tomorrow morning at about 11:15 to deliver a thank you crown for Freewheel's volunteer efforts for our school. Everyone will be back at school well before the lunch bell.

April 25, 2018

Notes regarding a screen-free challenge went home yesterday; check your child's agenda and return the note at the bottom of it asap!

Student-made crowns went home today for all our parents, to express our thanks and appreciation for all you've done - and do! - for us! Volunteers rock!

April 23, 2018

We've been working through a pirate theme here in Room Four, and so (naturally!) looked up pirate names for everyone and took some pirate photos. Aargh!

Roger "Scarface" Blackheart

Captain "Sharkbait" Deckswabber

Oliver "Dubloons" Hornblower

Patrick "Grog Swiller" Jones

Liza "Peg Leg" Scuttlebutt

Jack "Cannonball" Parrotlips

Harold "Hurricane" Keelhauler

April 16, 2018

There will be a noon dismissal for students this Friday.

We talked about Friday the 13th being an unlucky day, as last Friday fell on the 13th. Following that, the students wrote about bad luck that they'd had - and created sad photo ops to match:

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Welcome to Jake, our new first grader! It's nice to have a new face in our class - and nice to have a name twin for Jacob!

Just a quick reminder: the school's side doors will be locked during the day; the front door will remain open, though.

An announcement was made just before school dismissed this afternoon, inviting students and staff to wear sports jerseys tomorrow to honour the Humboldt Broncos hockey team.

April 9, 2018

Welcome back, everyone! It was great to see so many smiling faces this morning!

Notes regarding a fund raiser went home in the students' agendas today.

We've been told that the side doors will be locked during school hours, and that parents and visitors should enter the school through the main entrance at the building's front. The change is being made to comply with divisional policy and to help ensure student safety.

The first grade students will resume their daily reading and writing home learning today; thanks again for your support with this.

March 23, 2018

Have a wonderful spring vacation, everyone! We'll see you all back here bright and early on Monday, April 9th!

I kept the first graders' agendas and reading envelopes here for the holiday and sent home some art projects instead! Check your child's backpack for and Easter egg and for a shaggy snowman (a souvenir of winter 2018) - woop woop! Here are some photos of the snow people and their proud owners!

March 21, 2108

The tin can "Squawkers" went home today - sorry, everyone, for the noise they create.  If you wet the string at the bottom of the can and then squeeze it as you pull down on it, it does make a cool sound, though!

If anyone is still interested in setting up an interview with me, please come and see me in Room Four; the link to book online has been taken down.

The first graders are doing excellent work with their at-home writing and reading! Keep up the great work, everyone!

March 19, 2018

Report cards went home today! Please return the report card's envelope and the parent comment/signature sheet asap. There is no need to return the report card itself. Thanks.

Here are a few photos of our class from last Friday, when we undertook some St. Patrick's Day activities:

March 15, 2018

I forgot to have the students write "Wear something green" in their agendas (oops) as we'll be celebrating St. Patrick's Day in class tomorrow.

First graders have a spelling test tomorrow and, of course, their reading/writing home learning to complete for tomorrow.

March 13, 2018

Notes regarding parent-teacher interviews went home in agendas today; check your child's agenda pocket!

Just a couple of spring reminders:

* You may want to send a change of clothing for your child, in case they tumble into a wet puddle at recess ...
* Bicycles are starting to appear again; please ensure your child knows how to navigate our streets safely! (I always like to show this video when talking about bike safety. It's cool - and informative, AND it takes less than 70 seconds to see it! Try it out by clicking here.)

March 8, 2018

There will be a small snack sale again tomorrow morning.

Book orders are due tomorrow, if anyone would like to order.

The library is having an Easter Egg Hunt and an Easter movie tomorrow afternoon, from 1:00 until 4:00, if anyone is looking for something to do with their children; sounds like fun!

March 7, 2018

Remember that tomorrow there will be a healthy snack sale at recess. Snacks will be 50 cents each.

Book orders went home today with students in Grades One and Two. If you'd like to order anything, please return the form by this Friday morning. Please ensure your child's name is on the order form. If you're ordering online, my account has been already been set up.

Congratulations to Ben for being in today's spotlight!

March 5, 2108

There will be a healthy snack sale this Thursday morning. Snacks can be purchased for 50 cents each.

Students will be dismissed at 12:50 this Friday to allow teachers to attend a professional development afternoon.

March 1, 2018

Well, March is coming in like a lamb; let's see if it leaves like a lion!

Grade One students: Study for your spelling test, and keep working hard on your reading/writing home learning!

Please remember that tomorrow afternoon we will be going to Centennial Park for a Winter Fun event. Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for this activity, and that they have a helmet with them. Thanks!

February 28, 2018

Remember that tomorrow is PJ Day! Save yourself some time in the morning and arrive with your pajamas on! (Stuffies are welcome, as well!)

February 27, 2018

Remember that tomorrow is Pink Shirt Day! Wear 'em if you've got 'em! (or, throw on a pink tie, or a pink sweater or pants or hair ornaments ...).  Also, we'll be heading to the Activity Centre tomorrow afternoon for a drumming session.

Thursday is our community's Pajama Day, to honour Autoimmune Disease Awareness Day. Everyone is invited to save some time in the morning and wear PJs to school. Let's see how many people we can get to support this very worthwhile cause!

February 26, 2018

Some reminders for this week:

Wednesday is Pink Shirt Day - a day dedicated to anti-bullying. To help honour this day, everyone is invited to wear something pink, and the whole school will be going to the activity centre in the afternoon for a drumming circle event.

A note went home today regarding a winter activity afternoon this Friday at Centennial Park. Check your child's agenda pocket.


We have a new second grade student - Jacob - and, sadly, said good-bye to Ambrose, who moved away last Friday.

Our classroom smartboard was moved to a lower, more student-friendly height last Friday. When it was removed from the wall, we uncovered quite a surprise: some 20 year old art projects created by some former students here at JES. We added our names (naturally!) before the wall got covered up again. Here's a photo of the wall. (Who knows when fresh eyes will see the wall again?!)

February 21, 2018

The first grade students have another layer added to their daily at-home learning: writing sentences about the books they've read. Notes describing the process were sent home in agenda pockets. I can't wait to see what my great learners will write/illustrate!

February 20, 2018

The first graders are studying the "ound" family for spelling this week. Lists are in agendas.

Our student teacher, Miss B, joined us for an observation day today. She'll be here again tomorrow and next Friday to observe the class. She'll join us for 5 weeks, beginning March 19th, for some practice teaching. Welcome, Miss B!

Our review word of the day today was simultaneously.

February 15, 2018

Reminders for tomorrow:

There will be a 12:05 student dismissal to allow teachers to attend a professional development afternoon.

The first grade students should practice for their weekly spelling test.

The first grade students need to record their book titles on their envelopes after reading.

February 14, 2108

Thanks to everyone who sent snacks for our Valentine's Day bash this afternoon! We really appreciated the treats!

Remember that tomorrow there will be a snack sale at recess. If your child completes and returns the kindness "Bingo Sheet" that was sent home yesterday, she/he can hand it in for a free snack at tomorrow's recess sale. Woop woop!

Today was Day # 101 here in Room Four, so we talked about palindromes. (Palindromes are numbers or words that can have the order of their digits/letters reversed without changing the number or word. 1221, "wow", 4975794, and "Ogopogo" are all examples of palindromes.) We talked about a famous palindrome: "A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!" If anyone has any other nice long word palindromes, send them along to school and we'll have a look at them here. Thanks!

Enjoy the rest of this your Valentine's Day!

February 13, 2018

Just a reminder that if your child is bringing Valentines to distribute tomorrow, he/she should bring Valentines for everyone. A class list is posted on yesterday's blog entry.

The first graders have a math challenge for their parents:
What's1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1?

The first grade students also have a Kindness Challenge paper in their agendas. If they complete all the listed challenges, they can return the sheet Thursday and get a free snack from the morning snack sale. (Otherwise, the snacks will be 50 cents each, as usual.)

Please note that there will be a noon dismissal for students this Friday to allow teachers to attend a professional development afternoon.

February 12, 2018

Notes went home with the students regarding our Valentines celebration this Wednesday. A list of all the first and second grade students is on the note; please remember that if your child is bringing Valentines, they should bring one for everyone. Thanks!

Congratulations to Carter S., Matthew, Braiden, and Ben who were our lucky Read-a-thon winners! A note went home with each of these gentlemen, inviting them to a pizza party tomorrow at lunch with Mrs. Campbell! Woo hoo!

The first graders have been practicing spelling "because". We discovered that you can sing the spelling to the tune of the alphabet song - kind of cool!

Tomorrow is the hundredth day of Grade One! There's no need to send any special projects; we'll be celebrating the 100th day over several days, but everything we do will be prepped here in Room Four.

January 29, 2018

Parents, please send a clean, empty tin can to school with your child for an upcoming art project. Any size can will do, but we won't be able to use drink containers. If you have extra cans and could send them along, that would be great, as some children may not have any tins, or may forget theirs. Thanks!

Student-led conferences will be held this week - tomorrow for our first grade class. (I will be away for Wednesday's conference, so moved it up a day.) Students are welcome to bring their parents in to show them what we've been up to here in Room Four! Drop in any time between 3:30 - 5:30; the conference shouldn't take more than a half hour to forty-five minutes.

February book orders went home today. If you'd like to order anything for your child, please return the order forms and payment by this Wednesday. Thanks.

The first graders' spelling lists have been short lately, as our focus for the Friday spelling test has expanded to sentence writing - complete with correct capitalization and punctuation. The students are all coming along very well with this!

The first graders' envelope reading today concentrates on the "j" sound made when an "e" follows a "g" or a "dg". Look for words like edge, badge, hedgehog, etc.

January 24, 2018

Thanks so much to the parents who came out to help with our school's skating event yesterday! We really appreciate your time and efforts; we couldn't have carried off the afternoon without you!

The first graders' book for tonight is The Clumsy Rabbit.  Happy reading!

January 22, 2018

We've begun a review mode of our words of the day and today reviewed the word "initial" in Grade One.

We go skating at JPL tomorrow. Please send children with appropriate attire for skating, and remember to send skates and a helmet. Any parent who'd like to come and help tie skates is most welcome to do so! Parents who will be coming should plan on driving themselves, as the buses will all be quite full that we'll likely be pinched for space - and you'll enjoy a much quieter ride in your own vehicle! Our Grade One/Two class leaves the school at 1:40 and leaves JPL  for our return at 3:00. If all goes well, we should be back just in time for the afternoon dismissal bell.

The first graders all brought home some Oobleck today, to go along with the Seuss book Bartholomew and the Oobleck. The Oobleck has some Borax (a whitening agent for laundry) in it, so PLEASE don't let your child put any near his/her mouth. Also, please have them wash their hands after playing with it.

January 16, 2018

Grade One students have a new word of the day: ecstatic. The at-home reading envelope has an extra book in it today - one that the class made up, based on Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham. Enjoy!

The students and staff are invited to dress up as a Dr. Seuss character this Friday morning. (Remember that Friday is a noon dismissal day.) If you're stuck for an idea, you can always find a piece of paper, label it "Thing 1" and pin it to your child's shirt ...

January 15, 2018

New spelling list for the first graders went home today. The words are all "question words" - where, when, why, etc.

The envelope reading for today is "Snow Fun".

A note regarding our school's Read-a-Thon went home in agendas today.

Thanks to everyone who wore blue today!

January 12, 2018

First grade spelling books went home for parent signatures today.

The first graders' envelope reading for the weekend is The Good Cook.

We've begun learning how to use quotation marks in Grade One. The students are progressing well with this learning; chances are good that we'll incorporate some quotation sentences in next week's spelling test. Stand by for some excitement!

I've updated my online Scholastic Book Club profile so that parents will be able to order online. (Thanks to Bella's mom for bringing this to my attention!)

Everyone is invited to wear something blue on Monday morning, to participate in our school's Wellness Challenge. (We're trying to chase away the January "Blues" by having some shared community activities.) We'll do a class photo Monday morning, so check your dresser drawers and laundry hampers and see if you can come up with some blue duds, everyone.

Enjoy the weekend - and the warmer temperatures it promises to bring!

January 11, 2018

Remember you have a spelling test tomorrow, Grade One students!

Book orders for Grades One and Two are due tomorrow.

Notes regarding a school-wide skating trip to JPL went home with agendas today. Please sign and return the note's permission form if your child has your permission to attend the event. Thanks!

Here are some photos of all the proud new parents here in Room Four at JES!

January 8, 2018

Welcome back, everyone! Here are a couple of reminders/notifications for you:

The first graders have begun a "Word of the Day" program. The word for today is initial. The new words will appear in agendas, along with reminders to read. (Today's book is The Brave Hunter.)

Please remember to send back your child's shoes, if they went home for the holiday.

Please be kind and leave your wet footwear at the school entrances. The students often leave their shoes in their lockers and walk through the halls in sock feet; leaving wet footwear on the mats at the entrances will help keep socks dry - and will prevent people from slipping in puddles. (I've seen some pretty nasty falls from people slipping in wet spots in the hallway.) As well, the school has just been cleaned from top to bottom, and it would be great to keep it shining the way it was this morning! Thanks for understanding!