Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday already?! Where has the week gone!!

On Thursday, we started our Fire Prevention and Safety unit.  Students started exploring the Sparky the Fire Dog Website, and next week we have a guest speaker from the fire department coming in. On Thursday, your child brought home some Fire Safety homework. Please help them create a map of your home, complete with an exit route and meeting place.  I realize your weekends will be packed with Turkey and deliciousness, so I’ve asked they be returned on (or before) Wednesday October 12^th. 

*NOTE* One student's homework ended up on the coat room floor!!! If this homework belongs to do, you could just do your house floorplan on a blank sheet of paper from home, or grab an extra copy on Tuesday. 

Students have done an awesome job with their Data Analysis review sheets, so we’ve been working on our test these past few days.  Next we’ll move into some basic counting and practise with numbers.  If your child is pretty quick with counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s, try asking them to count but at different starting points (like in the middle of the 100 chart or on an odd number) or backwards.  Get them to practise their listening skills by asking questions like, “Can you count by 5s, backwards, from 85 to 25?”

Science: Magnet tests will get marked this weekend (in between turkey dinners!) and next week we’ll kick off learning about Liquids. Discovering Liquids is always a fun and messy time.   

After Thanksgiving, we will begin one of my favourite writing projects in Grade 2: Our Halloween/ Fall book.  This year’s book will focus on writing based on our five senses, and it gives students a chance to really practise using their juicy words and begin the editing process from their sloppy copy to their good copy. 

We are all set to go for our field trip to Fort Whoop Up on Wednesday October 12^th! Thanks to the following parents who have volunteered to drive:

Cathrine’s Mom
Zane’s Dad
Aaron’s Mom
Brooke’s Mom
Aries' Dad
Byron’s Mom

Please be at the school for about 12:40ish, as we are due to be at the Fort from 1:00- 2:30. 

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR AT MMH!  The scholastic book fair will be set up in the library, and is open ALL DAY (but closed over lunch).  Parents and younger siblings are welcome to visit the book fair at ANY TIME.  Our class will be going twice: once on October 13^th at 11:15 (our usual library time), and then again on Friday the 14^th for about 15 minutes in the morning.  If you wish to shop with your child at the book fair, you can come and excuse them from class and quickly take them through.  On our first visit, students can fill out their Wish List of what they want / prices, bring it home on Thursday, and then shop on Friday. If you send money in your students agenda, I can keep it safe for them. 

As many of you participate in scholastic orders throughout the year, and have other commitments, please remember, this is completely optional and you shouldn’t feel pressured to buy anything! And I will remind students of that on this end J

Our Grade 2 class met their MMH Families for the very first time on Wednesday, and watched an amazing assembly about something new called the Bucket Philosophy at our school.  It’s based on the book “Have you Filled a Bucket Today?” and it’s a really awesome idea that encourages everyone to use positive encouragement to be a Bucket Filler.  Here’s a link for you to watch if you’re interested I bringing the bucket philosophy into your home:

Bucket Philosophy

Hot Lunch forms are due October 12^th, for the lunch on October 19^th. If your form disappeared in a backpack, please ask the office for a new one.

Life Touch Picture orders are due on October 14^th. If you’d like retakes, please select “retakes”, and return the package.  Picture Retake Day is October 25^th. 

Last but not least, don’t forget about the Free Skate our school puts on at Nicholas Sheran arena.  Our next date is Tuesday October 11^th from 3:30- 4:30. Students require their own skates and helmets (as there are limited ones to borrow) and need their own rides to and from the arena.  If there is anyone from our class who would really like to go, but is stuck for a ride TO the arena, please email me.  

That’s all for now!

Have a great weekend with your families.

-Anna Tsentouros