One World Drumming: Sharing Celebration

In the upcoming week, One World Drumming will be sharing the rich and incredible culture of West African drumming with students throughout the school. To celebrate and share our learning, we will be having a performance share on Friday, March 6th at 10:30am in the gymnasium. We would love families to join us! 

Thursday, February 27th, 2020

Hi Families,

A reminder that tomorrow, Friday, February 28th, is a PD Day, no school for students.

We started our week making predictions about the new lunar cycle. Some common names for the lunar cycle are the Worm Moon or Sap Moon. Students made connections between previous lunar cycles, as well as our learning with Green Calgary to add detail to their predictions.

Making connections to a variety of sources of information,
as well as past experiences and personal observations. 

Our Phys. Ed. time this week was spent outside enjoying the beautiful weather, and the sun filled mornings. During this time, we also got reacquainted with our school garden, noticing signs of seasonal change: new growth on bushes, buds coming up in one corner, and green ground cover peeking through the snow, giving us local examples to include in our lunar cycle observations.

Students recalled information from our Green Calgary presentation last week to identify foods in grocery flyers, and create a table

Ask your child about each food they sorted.
How did you know it was a "yes" food or a "no" food?

Ask your child about each food they sorted.
Were there any foods you needed to do further research on?

Grade 2 students completed their second buddy test today.

Next week, we start our drumming sessions with One World Drumming. There will be an opportunity for families to come and watch an informal performance on Friday, March 6th. Please watch the blog for times. Our drumming sessions are first thing, every morning.

Reminders for next week:
- please continue to exchange your child's Home Reading books on a regular basis.
- Scholastic book orders are due on Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Ms. Thomas

Monday, February 24th, 2020

Hi Families,

Today we were treated to a special presentation by Bonavista Eye Clinic called Eye See, Eye Learn, promoting eye health and safety in children. Students are coming home with a pair of Fribbit eyes, as well as a pamphlet of information from the clinic.

Also in your child's mail folder this evening is a Scholastic order form. Orders can be made online (see flyer for details) and are due Monday, March 2nd.

Finally, grade 2 students are coming home with new spelling words for practice.

Have a wonderful evening everyone!
Ms. Thomas

Classroom Volunteer

Hi Everyone,

I am wondering if there is someone interested in volunteering this week in the classroom?

Task would include: take down of current displays, glueing art in student scrapbooks, organizing and hanging new display.

Ideally, Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning or Thursday afternoon would work best.

Please send me an email if you are interested :)

Thank you!
Ms. Thomas

Friday, February 21st, 2020

Hi Families,

What a great week back from Teacher's Convention and Family Day long weekend!

We started our week with an incredible field-trip to the Leighton Art Centre. It was a beautiful day for a drive in the foothills, to get outside and enjoy the snow, and most of all, to learn from our art instructor, Jenna, about willow loom weaving and clay techniques to develop landscapes. Our finished art pieces will stay in our classroom until Student-Led Conferences in March.

Thank you to all our volunteers who were able to support out learning during our first off-site field-trip of the year!

Using a variety of colours and textures for willow loom weaving. 

Creating a landscape drawing in our mini Leighton sketchbooks. 

Our classroom Volunteer Google Doc has been updated with upcoming opportunities to volunteer: ArtFelt Studios, Scientists in School and Swimming. Thank you to everyone who has contacted me already about volunteering, it is so appreciated!

Link to Google Doc: Room 8 Volunteer Google Doc

On Wednesday, we celebrated Winter Walk Day, an opportunity to encourage students to be active outdoors in winter. Again, we had a beautiful morning to get outside. Walking alongside students, it was fascinating to hear them talk about the changes in snow as we walked along the perimeter of the field - you could easily tell which areas get more traffic than others!

Grade 2 students had their first Buddy Spelling Test, and brought home their papers to share with you. Even one word correct on their Buddy Test shows growth, and is celebrated. We have definitely been off schedule with our spelling program, but hope to establish a routine starting this upcoming week.

On Thursday, we had a visit from Green Calgary to introduce an upcoming topic of study: worms. Learning about worms connects grade 1 and 2 science topics, Needs and Characteristics of Living Things and Small, Crawling, Flying Animals. We learned how to identify cocoons, baby, teen and adult worms, as well as how and why to vermicompost with red wigglers. Students enjoyed getting their hands dirty, and exploring Nancy's compost bucket applying all we learned.

Nancy, from Green Calgary, teaching us about worm body parts using Squirm.

Exploring some of the compost from Nancy's bin - what will we find?

Close looking - is it a baby, teen or adult worm? How do you know?

Finally, on Friday, we learned a new math game, Subtraction Bingo, with our buddies. Students were regrouped to have both a Reading Buddy and math Buddy in order to build additional relationships, and collaborate with a greater range of learners.

We have started the final book in the Elmer series, "The Dragons of Blueland". Each of the books in the series has included a map of the story setting. These maps are a wonderful way for students to retell the story, focusing on important events, make predictions, as well as develop their sense of geographical thinking as we introduce and practice cardinal directions.

Map of the Island of Tangerina and Wild Island from "My Father's Dragon".

Feather Island from "Elmer and the Dragon". 

Our final map, from "The Dragons of Blueland".

One World Drumming is currently visiting our school, providing students the opportunity to work with a drumming artist on the djembes. Our drumming sessions take place the first week in March. The program is being hosted in the gym, which means that our daily Physical Education will be taking place outdoors for the next two weeks. Please ensure your child continues to come prepared for the weather.

Upcoming Important Dates:
- Monday, February 24th: Bonavista Eye Clinic visit
- Friday, February 28th: PD Day, No school for students
- Monday, March 2nd - Friday, March 6th: One World Drumming sessions
- Monday, March 16th: ArtFelt Studios visit
- Thursday, March 19th: Student-Led Conferences (PM)
- Friday, March 20th: Student-Led Conferences (ALL DAY)
- Saturday, March 21st: March Break begins


Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Ms. Thomas

Family Literacy Event - Tomorrow at 2:00pm!

Tomorrow, students at Lake Bonavista School will be celebrating Family Literacy Day!

The theme for Family Literacy Day 2020 is “Let’s Read Together”. Students will gather together to participate in a whole-school literacy assembly in the afternoon, followed by an opportunity for families to come and read together in our school environment.  

**Update - please understand that only adult family members are invited to attend at 2:00pm**

Please join us on February 12^th, 2020 starting at 2:00pm and “Let’s Read Together”!

Math Websites

Hi Families,

Students have recently been introduced to two website activities to practice concepts being taught in the classroom:

Number Bonds to 10: https://www.mathplayground.com/number_bonds_10.html


There are opportunities for students to extend their learning by making connections from Make 10 bonds, to Make 20 bonds, and Make 30 bonds.



Balancing Equations (Equality): https://solveme.edc.org/Mobiles.html

Students can solve existing mobiles, or create their own.








These are great websites to work on together, building communication of reasoning.

Ms. Thomas

Valentine's Day

A few students have asked about Valentine's Day as it runs over Teacher's Convention this year. For the students who would like to bring valentine cards from home, we will exchange them on Wednesday, February 12th in the morning. If your child is uncertain of all their classmates names, they can address their valentines with "Dear Friend". 

Please note we have 18 students in our class. Thank you!

MAPSS Movie Event

The MAPSS Movie Event is a month away and it is time to get your tickets!

Students and families of all 3 CBE Montessori Schools are invited to join us for the 4th annual MAPSS Movie Event!

Sat, 7 March 2020

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM MST

Movie – Onward by Disney Pixar

You will notice we are all at one central location: Scotiabank Theatre Chinook. We are looking forward to the event and seeing many of you there.

MAPSS March 7th 2020 Movie Event

Family Dance

Family Dance Wednesday, February 12 @ 6:30 pm

Have you got your tickets to the Lake Bonavista School Family Dance? 

Purchase tickets online at: lakebonavista.yapsody.com  

Tickets are available until February 11. 

Contact lbstreasurer1@gmail.com if you would like to buy tickets with cash or cheque.

Everyone loves the Cake Walk! Add a donation of a cake, cupcakes or cookies online, too.

Leighton Art Centre Field Trip

Hi Families,

Please watch for Leighton Art Centre field trip forms (green) coming home today with your child.

You will need to return the Acknowledge of Risk, Medical Information page and payment slip.

If you have contacted me about volunteering, your child will have brought home appropriate forms for you as well.

We are still looking for two volunteers to join us on Tuesday, February 18th. If you are able to volunteer for the day, and have an up-to-date security clearance, please contact me.

Thank you!
Ms. Thomas

Report Cards

Hi Families,

On Thursday, your child will have brought home their first report card for this year.

Please take some time to read it over, and if you have any questions or concerns, contact me so we can discuss it together.

Our next "official" time to touch base about your child's learning is during Student-Led conference on Thursday, March 19th and Friday, March 20th.

Please keep the report card for your records, and send the signed envelope back to school for use in June.

Thank you!
Ms. Thomas

Save the Date! Family Literacy Event!

Save the Date! 

On Wednesday, February 12^th, 2020, students at Lake Bonavista School will be celebrating Family Literacy Day!

The theme for Family Literacy Day 2020 is “Let’s Read Together”. Students will gather together to participate in a whole-school literacy assembly in the afternoon, followed by an opportunity for families to come and read together in our school environment.  

Please join us on February 12^th, 2020 starting at 2:00pm and “Let’s Read Together”!