Hi Families,
Tomorrow is Picture Day! No forms need to be returned, just your best smile!
Ms. Thomas
Monday, 30 September 2019
Friday, 27 September 2019
Friday, September 27th, 2019
Hi Families,
Monday, September 30th is Orange Shirt Day. Within our school community, we come together to learn about our collective history through conversations on the history and impact of Residential Schools in Canada. Our classrooms discussions will be focused on belonging, and what happens when you are made to feel like you don't belong, connecting to our ongoing Circle of Courage. We will also be exploring the story of Phyllis Webstad. We encourage children to wear orange on Monday to acknowledge the day of education and remembrance.
This week, we explored the idea of being a Peace Maker. We looked at some Peace Makers through time, including Maria Montessori, Martin Luther King Jr., Jane Goodall and Gandhi. Through their examples and ideas of peace, students identified how they could be a Peace Maker, writing it on a dove, and adding it to our school tree near the front office.
We also learned about Terry Fox, and tracked his journey on a map of Canada, using excepts from "Terry Fox: A Story of Hope" as well as the Terry Fox Foundation website that has selections from his Marathon of Hope journal: https://www.terryfox.org/terrys-story/journal-map/ Despite the weather not being at its best, students put all their energy into our Terry Fox Run on Thursday. Thank you to the Active Living Committee for organizing such an energizing assembly, and the run itself.
We introduced the idea that these Peace Makers and heroes all show "Generosity": the value of giving back to individuals and the community.
Through Guided Drawing lessons, we are developing a Bullseye Rubric, using exemplars to help identify what is "off target" work, "on target" work and "bullseye" work. Students use this rubric to self-assess, set goals and improve their work. This week, we developed criteria for Colouring and Details/Background.
We started the routine of Classroom Jobs. Students have been assigned a job that contributes to the care of our classroom, and is completed at the end of the day. Ask your child what their first assigned job of the year is.
Thank you to the families who were able to come and visit the classroom during our Open House. Please watch the blog for information regarding a rescheduled date for our Family BBQ.
In your child's mail folder this week:
- Picture Day notice.
- School Council Survey information.
- Poetry Folder. This week's poem: Your Best.
- Math Folder. Please see the introductory letter at the front.
Important upcoming dates:
- Orange Shirt Day: Monday, September 30th.
- Picture Day: Tuesday, October 1st.
- PD Day: Friday, October 11th.
- Thanksgiving (No School): Monday, October 14th.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Ms. Thomas
Monday, September 30th is Orange Shirt Day. Within our school community, we come together to learn about our collective history through conversations on the history and impact of Residential Schools in Canada. Our classrooms discussions will be focused on belonging, and what happens when you are made to feel like you don't belong, connecting to our ongoing Circle of Courage. We will also be exploring the story of Phyllis Webstad. We encourage children to wear orange on Monday to acknowledge the day of education and remembrance.
This week, we explored the idea of being a Peace Maker. We looked at some Peace Makers through time, including Maria Montessori, Martin Luther King Jr., Jane Goodall and Gandhi. Through their examples and ideas of peace, students identified how they could be a Peace Maker, writing it on a dove, and adding it to our school tree near the front office.
We also learned about Terry Fox, and tracked his journey on a map of Canada, using excepts from "Terry Fox: A Story of Hope" as well as the Terry Fox Foundation website that has selections from his Marathon of Hope journal: https://www.terryfox.org/terrys-story/journal-map/ Despite the weather not being at its best, students put all their energy into our Terry Fox Run on Thursday. Thank you to the Active Living Committee for organizing such an energizing assembly, and the run itself.
We introduced the idea that these Peace Makers and heroes all show "Generosity": the value of giving back to individuals and the community.
Through Guided Drawing lessons, we are developing a Bullseye Rubric, using exemplars to help identify what is "off target" work, "on target" work and "bullseye" work. Students use this rubric to self-assess, set goals and improve their work. This week, we developed criteria for Colouring and Details/Background.
We started the routine of Classroom Jobs. Students have been assigned a job that contributes to the care of our classroom, and is completed at the end of the day. Ask your child what their first assigned job of the year is.
Thank you to the families who were able to come and visit the classroom during our Open House. Please watch the blog for information regarding a rescheduled date for our Family BBQ.
In your child's mail folder this week:
- Picture Day notice.
- School Council Survey information.
- Poetry Folder. This week's poem: Your Best.
- Math Folder. Please see the introductory letter at the front.
Important upcoming dates:
- Orange Shirt Day: Monday, September 30th.
- Picture Day: Tuesday, October 1st.
- PD Day: Friday, October 11th.
- Thanksgiving (No School): Monday, October 14th.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Ms. Thomas
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Doors Open YYC - This Weekend!
Hi Families,
This weekend, locations across the city are hosting Doors Open YYC, an opportunity to see Calgary from a new perspective, with special access, insider's views and behind-the-scenes experiences.
Green/Sustainable sites, Historic sites, Food and Drink sites, Science and Technology sites and Amazing Architecture sites...there are a lot of exciting and FREE opportunities for families.
Check it out! https://www.doorsopenyyc.org/sites-directory/
Ms. Thomas
This weekend, locations across the city are hosting Doors Open YYC, an opportunity to see Calgary from a new perspective, with special access, insider's views and behind-the-scenes experiences.
Green/Sustainable sites, Historic sites, Food and Drink sites, Science and Technology sites and Amazing Architecture sites...there are a lot of exciting and FREE opportunities for families.
Check it out! https://www.doorsopenyyc.org/sites-directory/
Ms. Thomas
Saturday, 21 September 2019
Friday, September 20th, 2019
Hi Families,
This week, we spent some time celebrating "International Dot Day" (September 15) and exploring how the lessons in the story from Peter Reynolds connect to our Circle of Courage explorations into Mastery.
Your child will be bringing home "The Dot Song" poem to share with you. We have been learning the song and actions in our classroom. Here are the links if you would like to explore them with your child:
The Dot Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5mGeR4AQdM
The Dot Song Motion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_I43cxDQ-o
We also used the book "10 Black Dots" as a mentor text to create our own writing samples using the stems "One dot can be..." and then branching into "___ dots can be..." Students came up with some extraordinary ideas!
Finally, students created individual art pastel/watercolour resist dots, as well as contributed to a small group art piece using different loose parts to stamp dots and circles. Both will be displayed during our upcoming Open House.
At the end of the week, students added to the Mastery portion on our Circle of Courage by illustrating something that they are practicing in order to improve. There is a wonderful range of skills connected to sports/activities/interests, as well as school based goals, and self-improvement. Really reflective of who each of them are as individuals!
We visited the library for the first time this week! Students will have brought their library book home on Thursday. Usually we have library exchange once a week, but at this point in time, we are waiting for a replacement library assistant, so it may take a while to establish a consistent schedule. Please watch the blog for updates - we appreciate your patience!
Please see the additional blog notes on our upcoming Terry Fox Run, Open House and Back to School BBQ, all happening this week on Thursday the 26th!
In your child's mail folder this week:
- Student Demographic Verification Report. Please complete as per the instructions and return to the school.
- Back to School BBQ and Open House invitation.
- Fun Lunch ordering notice.
- Poetry Folder.
A reminder to please return your brown envelopes of back to school paperwork, as soon as possible.
ADmazing Coupon Book fundraiser is on-going into October. If you do not wish to purchase a book, please return it to the school.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Ms. Thomas
This week, we spent some time celebrating "International Dot Day" (September 15) and exploring how the lessons in the story from Peter Reynolds connect to our Circle of Courage explorations into Mastery.
Your child will be bringing home "The Dot Song" poem to share with you. We have been learning the song and actions in our classroom. Here are the links if you would like to explore them with your child:
The Dot Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5mGeR4AQdM
The Dot Song Motion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_I43cxDQ-o
We also used the book "10 Black Dots" as a mentor text to create our own writing samples using the stems "One dot can be..." and then branching into "___ dots can be..." Students came up with some extraordinary ideas!
Finally, students created individual art pastel/watercolour resist dots, as well as contributed to a small group art piece using different loose parts to stamp dots and circles. Both will be displayed during our upcoming Open House.
At the end of the week, students added to the Mastery portion on our Circle of Courage by illustrating something that they are practicing in order to improve. There is a wonderful range of skills connected to sports/activities/interests, as well as school based goals, and self-improvement. Really reflective of who each of them are as individuals!
We visited the library for the first time this week! Students will have brought their library book home on Thursday. Usually we have library exchange once a week, but at this point in time, we are waiting for a replacement library assistant, so it may take a while to establish a consistent schedule. Please watch the blog for updates - we appreciate your patience!
Please see the additional blog notes on our upcoming Terry Fox Run, Open House and Back to School BBQ, all happening this week on Thursday the 26th!
In your child's mail folder this week:
- Student Demographic Verification Report. Please complete as per the instructions and return to the school.
- Back to School BBQ and Open House invitation.
- Fun Lunch ordering notice.
- Poetry Folder.
A reminder to please return your brown envelopes of back to school paperwork, as soon as possible.
ADmazing Coupon Book fundraiser is on-going into October. If you do not wish to purchase a book, please return it to the school.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Ms. Thomas
Thursday, 19 September 2019
Back to School BBQ - Thursday, September 26th
Hi Families,
The Lake Bonavista School Council Back to School BBQ is on Thursday, September 26th.
Please find a pink notice in your child's mail folder this evening with details.
The link for food ordering is: https://lakebonavista.yapsody.com/event/index/470306/welcome-back-bbq
Hope to see you there!
Ms. Thomas
The Lake Bonavista School Council Back to School BBQ is on Thursday, September 26th.
Please find a pink notice in your child's mail folder this evening with details.
The link for food ordering is: https://lakebonavista.yapsody.com/event/index/470306/welcome-back-bbq
Hope to see you there!
Ms. Thomas
Gum
Hi Families,
I wanted to post this information as many students have questions about chewing gum at school.
Yes, I allow gum in our classroom. Other teachers in our school prefer not to have gum in their classrooms, so this permission to have gum is for our classroom only.
For safety reasons, I have the clear expectation that gum not be chewed in gym, or outside while playing. If your child is sent to school chewing gum, they will have to spit it out, as we have gym first thing every morning.
My recommendation for bringing gum to school and supporting a healthy, manageable consumption: keep a pack of gum (or two daily pieces) in your child's lunch-bag. This way, they are only accessing gum when it is best suited to instructional time (i.e. after snack for morning learning, and after lunch for afternoon learning).
To respect other classrooms and the school environment, we do not chew gum in the Music room or library. If we are visiting another classroom and the teacher asks us not to, we respect that. If I see or hear gum, it gets spit out.
Before sending any gum for to school, please have a conversation with your child about expected behaviours. I would recommend a conversation of how much and when, and not sharing.
For safety reasons, I have the clear expectation that gum not be chewed in gym, or outside while playing. If your child is sent to school chewing gum, they will have to spit it out, as we have gym first thing every morning.
My recommendation for bringing gum to school and supporting a healthy, manageable consumption: keep a pack of gum (or two daily pieces) in your child's lunch-bag. This way, they are only accessing gum when it is best suited to instructional time (i.e. after snack for morning learning, and after lunch for afternoon learning).
To respect other classrooms and the school environment, we do not chew gum in the Music room or library. If we are visiting another classroom and the teacher asks us not to, we respect that. If I see or hear gum, it gets spit out.
Before sending any gum for to school, please have a conversation with your child about expected behaviours. I would recommend a conversation of how much and when, and not sharing.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to clarify any of this information. Your support from home is appreciated!
Thank you everyone!
Ms. Thomas
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Terry Fox Run 2019
We will be having our Annual Terry Fox Run on Thursday, September 26, 2019, at 2:00pm. Teachers will be discussing with students the life of Terry Fox and the contributions he has made to cancer research. We would like to extend the invitation to all parents and families to join us for the Terry Fox Run! Also, a reminder that our school Open House and BBQ are the same day, so you’re welcome to join all of the events!
Students can dedicate their run to someone who they know that has been affected by cancer. Please speak to your child prior to our run and if they choose to, they can write who they are running for on a sticker that they will wear during the run. These will be available in the classroom on Thursday.
Should you wish to make a donation online, please use the following link to donate through the Terry Fox website:
or
Feel free to send in cash donations with your child which will be collected by the teachers (Donations will be accepted until next Thursday, September 26th).
Let’s keep Terry’s dream to find a cure for cancer alive.
Thank you!
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