Time to catch up on the blog!!

In Language Arts, we will be wrapping up our Fairy Tales unit and students are almost ready to bring home their folders.   They are STUFFED with some amazing work that they are really proud of.  We’ve looked at over 10 different fairy tales, and read many many versions.  We even had a visit from Mrs. T, our school’s FNMI teacher who taught us a first nations legend called Napi and the Mouse.  A nice way to end our Fairy Tale Unit is the Fairy Tale Spring Dance that parent council is putting on at the beginning of April!

In Math, we’ve finished up our Geometry unit and have moved onto Measurement.  For this unit, students are using non-standard units of measure, and are comparing things.  We’re using vocabulary like, bigger than, longer than, shorter than, about the same, etc.   This is a quick unit, and we will move onto Numbers 1-100 as well as Adding and Subtracting to 20 for the remainder of the year.

In Science, we’re getting ready to wrap up our Building Things Unit.  That means that soon, your child won’t be bringing home anymore random cardboard pieces glued to pipe cleaners! J Although this unit is messy, it’s the one the students enjoy the most.  Just yesterday we built beds and chairs just like the ones Goldilocks broke in the Three Bears story.  As the season changes, we’ll be learning about spring. Perhaps if we talk about spring in our class, Mother Nature will listen and bring spring to us outside…

In Social Studies we’ve had a wonderful time listening to the students present their Shamrocks- Wow!! Are they ever beautiful! Thank you for helping our Grade 1s with this special project! We will start our focus now on “Taking Care of Our World”, which will help prepare us for Earth Day. 

Here's our photo entry for the Spirit Cup Challenge! We were suppose to make a shamrock, and the students voted to use themselves in the picture.  We didn't win, and boy did that ever spark up a conversation about fairness!  In the end, we were disappointed but still excited for the class that did win! 

 

I know that Easter break will be upon us before we know it, so here is what you need to know for that crazy day before the break! On Thursday, April 17^th we will have “Dress Like Easter Day!”  We’ve got some pretty creative little minds in here so I’m sure they can think of something to wear! Polka Dots, Stripes, Bright Spring Colours are all things that they can wear!  We will have a spirit assembly at 8:30 that morning, and then the Easter Sock Hop will begin around 12:30.  The Easter Sock Hop is when all the Grades 1 and 2s join together in the gym to show off the different circle and line dances we will have learned.  Families are invited to come and watch our Sock Hop!  It will go until afternoon recess at 1:55. 

After the spirit assembly, the sock hop, and all the recesses, we will enjoy some delicious treats in our classroom to celebrate our Easter Break.  I will email those parents who have signed up to bring treats on that day. 

Thank you to all the families who made it out for our Celebrations of Learning.  The best part of my job is hearing just how proud the students are of their own work, and watching them share their love for learning with others!  It’s really neat to see them take on that kind of ownership.  Thank you as well for your continued support with our Home Reading Program.  Home Reading is the BEST way to help improve your child’s reading.   Keep it up!!

          Don’t forget to keep sending Report Card Envelops and the permission forms for the dental health program! 

Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!

-The Grade One Team

 Here are some important dates for your calendars: 

March

Tuesday March 25^th- Grades 1-3 Hot Lunch
Wednesday March 26^th- Grades 4-5 Hot Lunch
Wednesday March 26^th- Family Assembly @ 12:30
Thursday March 27^th- 1230 Skip a Thon kick off assembly

 

April

Thursday April 3^rd- Fairy Tales School Dance 530-730
Friday April 4^th- PD Day
Monday April 14^th- Mrs. Weaver’s last day in our class
Wednesday April 16^th- Air Band Show @ 12:30
Thursday April 17^th- Dress Like Easter Day, Spirit Assembly @ 8:30, Easter Sock Hop for Grades 1-2 @ 12:30, and Easter Treats in our class @ 2:05

April 18^th- 27^th- Easter Break No SchoolMonday April 28^th- Classes Resume

 

 

This quick blog post is to remind you of our school wide "Celebration of Learning", which will take place this Thursday March 13th from 530-7:30, and you can sign up for a time slot online via Conference Manager.  I see some families have already done so!  If you've never used Conference Manager, you can visit the school website for the link and instructions.  You can also call the office if you need help.  

A reminder that this Thursday night is not a parent / teacher interview.  The students will have chosen what they want to show you, and the evening is just as it's titled, a celebration. It's a time for them to proudly show off the things we've done at school, and they are EXCITED to have you! While attendance is optional, I strongly urge you to come and celebrate with us, as these students have so much to be proud of.  If you are unable to come that evening, please email me with an alternative date and time outside of school hours and I'm sure we can make something work!

If you sign up for a time slot and then find yourself running 10 minutes late- please still come!  If you forget to sign up for a time slot and only realize this on Thursday night- please still come! The time slots are to just organize us a bit so that we don't have 22 families showing up at once.  

The following day, your student will be bringing home their report card!  For me, the March reporting period are the easiest ones to write and assess, because the students have seen so much growth since the beginning of the year.  We're all readers, writers, and it's so neat to see the students function as a group.  We all also have things to improve on and so it becomes a report of "here's everything we're doing really well, and here's everything we need to improve on and continue to do with the last 3 months".  

When you get a chance to look through your child's report card, it is yours to keep. You do not need to return it to school, or bring it for our "Celebration of Learning". In an effort to go green, you can return your envelope if you wish and I will reuse it again in June. 
Of course, if you prefer a traditional 20 minute interview to discuss your child's report card, this is always an option. Please contact me so we can plan for a time to meet on Friday March 21st, or at another date and time that works for you.

I hope this helps!  Let me know if you have any questions!    

Thanks!

The Grade 1 Team