Happy Easter!!

This will be a quick post! Check out our Insulation Challenge participants on Monday and Tuesday! Thanks for all your hard work and a great job to the class as we wrapped up our unit on Hot and Cold Temperatures for Science! Next we will begin our unit on Boats and Buoyancy!

Thank you to Zane, Brooke R, Ainsley, Kasia, Sasha and Brooke T for bringing things for our Easter party!  I hope the eggs made it home okay!! We had a few rolling around, but everyone got to dip and dye and overall we had a great day!

2 Events that Require Volunteers!

On April 18th from12:30 – 1:30, our students need help with a special art project.  We are making Easter Batiks and the children will be using hot wax to block out their designs.  Parents are needed to ensure student safety by monitoring the electric pans holding the hot wax.  If you can help out with this wonderful project, please email me ASAP.  I am in need of 4 parents to help with this.

A reminder to parents that we are rescheduled for the MORNING of April 26^th, 2012 from 10:00 to 11:30 for our SAAG field trip.  The bus will come at 9:45 to pick up the students from MMH.  If you’d like to help out please email me back and let me know if you’re catching the bus or meeting us at the SAAG. 

Have a safe and wonderful holiday! Happy Easter!

From Miss Tsentouros

Almost April!

Hello everyone! Thanks for checking in at our classroom blog!

A quick reminder that was on the annoucements today: Students are asked to wear BLUE in support of Autisum on Monday! You could even just wear a MMH T shirt if you have one! 
You may have noticed the giant pile of Owl things sent home today. We have finished up our owl unit and our Owl Moon book study.  Please go through your child’s work and talk to them about some topics we covered such as similes, verbs, and adjectives.  We also did some neat owl art projects!  Our “Owl Toilet Paper Tubes” will be sent home just before Easter break.

Speaking of Easter break, I can’t believe we’re almost there!  One unit we will be tying up before we move along is our Hot and Cold Temperature unit.  Students also took home their science duotangs, and we will have a Hot and Cold unit test on Monday when they return. 

PLEASE go through your students Science duotang with them! They should be familiar with the activities we did together.  They need to be comfortable with:

-          Describing temperature by using terms like “hotter than, colder than”

-          Measuring and reading temperature in degrees Celsius

-          Describe how heating and cooling things can change them(melting, freezing, cooking)

-Identify ways in which the temperature in homes and buildings can be adjusted

(by turning up a thermostat, by opening or closing a window, by using a heater in a cold room)

-          Describe, in general terms, how local buildings are heated.

-          Understanding the role of insulation in keeping things hot or cold!

-          Identify a safety rule whne dealing with hot and cold temperatures!

I know it seems like a lot, but we’ve covered all of these topics in class and through the discussions, books, videos and experiments, I’m confident that our students know this!

For those students who wish to participate, we are holding an INSULATION CHALLENGE called "Hold on to that Ice Cube!"
We did an experiment in class to see what kids of materials work best as insluators.  I've challenged the class this weekend to make their own, by combining different kids of materials.  The goal is to keep an ice cube cold as long as possible.    This is completely voluntary!!

Some students chose to participate and brought home a baby food jar and an experiment sheet.  If the project gets completed this weekend, have them bring in the container they've constructed on Monday morning and we'll put them to the test! 

“LOONIE MATH!!!”

To help us practice adding our big numbers, we’ve started Loonie Math!  Loonie math is where every letter is associated with a number (A= 1, B = 2, C =3 , etc).  We’ve been figuring out how much words are “equal to” by adding their value together.  For example, the word GRADE is like adding

7 + 18 + 1 + 4 + 5 = ___

There are many ways to do this!  It is up to the students to figure out what they want to add first! Some can easily see that 1 + 4 + 5 = 10   and that    18 + 10 = 28   so finally they have to add   7 + 28.  By using “Make Ten”,  they should see that 7 + 28   is just like 5 + 30 = 35. 

Of course, there are many different ways to add the numbers together. I’ve challenged the students to find out what family members names are, favourite words, colour words etc.  We are TRYING to find LOONIE WORDS! Words that are exactly 100, no more no less!  Give it a try with your student!!

Our kids took the news of the SAAG field trip being cancelled very well! We are rescheduled for the MORNING of April 26^th, 2012 from 10:00 to 11:30.  The bus will come at 9:45 to pick up the students from MMH.

With Spring break just around the corner, one of our activities (which will tie in nicely with our social studies unit on cultural traditions) is to dye Easter eggs.  We will be learning about how the Ukrainian people traditionally dye their eggs and then each child will have the chance to dye or decorate some of their own eggs. 

Each child will need 4 hardboiled eggs on Thursday April 5th.   

In order to assist with transporting the eggs back and forth from school, I will be sending home cut up EGG CARTONS on Wednesday April 4^th.  Have your child carry their eggs instead of placing them in their backpack.   Please do not send them before that date as we do not have fridge space. 

On April 18th from12:30 – 1:30, our students need help with a special art project.  We are making Easter Batiks and the children will be using hot wax to block out their designs.  Parents are needed to ensure student safety, monitoring the electric pans holding the hot wax.  If you can help out with this wonderful project, please email me asap.  I am in need of 4 parents to help with this.

SHOUT OUT to the Parent Council for putting on such an awesome SPRING DANCE!! Thanks to all those families who were able to come out and support!  Grade 2B...WAY TO REPRESENT!! SO PROUD OF YOU!!!

Don't forget that the Friends of Mike Mountain Horse Society is putting on a Hawaiian Auction Adult Night! 
Date: Friday April 27th 2012
Time:  7-11:30
Location: At the U of L
Cost: 15.00 / person
Dress: Hawaiian! 
Food and drinks will be available, as well as a silent and live auction.  If you have any prizes you are willing to donate, please contact Jodi Meerkerk at meerkerkmj@shaw.ca.

Tickets can be purchased at MMH on April 18th from 6:30 -7:30. 

All money raised will go to parent countil projects in 2012 & 2013...so in other words, all money raised will go back to awesome projects/ events for YOUR KIDS!! Please show your support!

Check out the dates for April to mark your calendars!

I will let you know when I've added new dates!

Thank you!
-Anna Tsentouros

Monday April 2nd- Insulation Challenge! /Wear Blue for Autisim!
Wednesday April 4^th- Choir performances in the am
Thursday April 5^th- Spirit Assembly at 8:30am,  Crazy Hat/ Hair Day, Grade 2s Egg Decorating!
Friday April 6^th – 13^th- Easter Break No School
Monday April 16^th- Classes Resume
Wednesday April 18^th- Grade 2s Batik project at 12:30
Monday April 23^rd- MS Read A Thon Kick Off
Thursday April 26^th- SAAG Art School Field Trip at 10:00
Friday April 27^th- Professional Learning Day No School for Students
Friday April 27th-  Hawaiian Auction Night at the U of L!
Monday April 30^th- Education week begins!



Miss Tsentouros found her camera cord!!

Hi readers!


Just a few things to remember about the upcoming week:


1) If you haven't yet, please sign up for a time slot for our Celebrations of Learning! The students are pumped to have their parents come in and to show off what they've been working on!


2) Both Thursday evening and Friday are available for sit-down Parent/ Teacher interviews. If you feel after reading the report card and the celebration of learning, you'd still like to meet to discuss your child's progress, please email me asap and we can arrange a time for Thursday evening, Friday morning, ...or anytime that works best with your schedule! 


3)  On Wednesday March 14th we have a Spirit Assembly at 12:45, where the Grade 2 students are asked to wear Green as they will be performing their St. Patrick's Day Rap!  If you are able to stop by the gym at 12:45 to see the Grade 2s in action, PLEASE DO! They have been LOVING their time with Ms. Nevels and practising this song and should be a great mini performance!


4) I have enough parent volunteers for the SAAG field trip to Art School near the end of the month! Thank you to April, Deanna, Tony and Mary for signing up!

Have a wonderful weekend! Don't blow away in the wind!

Also, I found my camera cord so I thought I'd update the blog with some photos of the past few events!  Enjoy!

100th Day

  Winter Walk 2012

 Valentine's Day

 Jordin's Magic Show

 Art Class

March News

Hi Readers!

Thanks for checking in- I’ve got lots to update you on for the month of March! Please make sure you update your calendars at home.  Report cards are written and ready to go home on Friday. Please read through the report card with your child! It’s helpful for the office staff if you send back the report card envelope on Monday when you’re done- you do NOT need to send back the report card.  Thank you to those parents who have already signed up for a time for our Celebrations of Learning on Tuesday March 13^th.  If you’d still like to meet for a more formal interview, please email me as soon as possible, and we can find a time next week for discussion. 

The celebration of learning will be a casual time for you to come in, and CELEBRATE what your child has done. It’s supposed to be a time for you to come and see what life is like in the day of your Grade 2 student!  Please be mindful of the time you sign up for, as the room can get quite crowded with many adults.  I’ve already had some parents note that the evening of the 13^th does not work for them, and we’re able to find another time/ morning.  Let me know immediately if it doesn’t work for you.

If you HAVEN’T signed up for a time via Conference Manager, PLEASE visit https://mikemountain.schoolsoft.ca/login.jsf to create a log in and sign up for a time slot. 

Information regarding a couple of the dates listed below in March:
We are going to Art School at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery on Thursday March 29^th! We require 4 parent volunteers who can either catch the bus from MMH or meet us at the SAAG. We are there from 12:45-2:15. Please email me back ASAP if you’d like to join us to volunteer for this trip. Because of the nature of the trip and the program regulations, we’re asking that younger siblings do not join. 

PARENTS WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH A FEW THINGS!

Next week, I’m asking EACH STUDENT at some point in the week to bring 1 toilet paper roll tube (just the cardboard part, not the TP!) as we will use them for an art project. If you have more than one to bring, please send more with your students!  If you have the tube from a paper towel roll this will work as well! 

Last but not least, I’m asking for your help in promoting our Home Reading Program within your homes.  I have noticed a serious decline in the number of students who regularly bring their home reading book back (read and signed) and who are ready for a switch.  If your child has LOST their home reading back, PLEASE let me know so I can send home a new one. I can’t stress how important daily reading, at THEIR level is.  This is the best way to prepare our students for the home work expectations and reading level expectations of Grade 3.  Every day there is a different parent who has volunteered their time to come and switch these books, read with your child, and make sure that our program runs efficiently.  If there aren’t enough books, it is not worthwhile for them to come.  I’ve had a chat with our students today, explaining that it is their responsibility to do this, and not their parents! Thank you for your efforts here. 

Important Dates in March:

Thursday March 8^th- Healthy Schools Expo 5:30-8:30 at MMH
Friday March 9^th- Report Cards Sent home!
Tuesday March 13^th- Celebrations of Learning!
Wednesday March 14^th- Spirit Assembly at 12:45- Dress in Green
Thursday March 15^th-PD Day-No School for Students
Friday March 16^th-PD Day-No school for Students
Wednesday March 21^st- Hot Lunch
Monday March 26^th- Character Ed Assembly hosted by the Grade 3
Thursday March 29^th-  SAAG Field Trip
Thursday March 29^th- School Dance 6:30-8:30 

Family Break!

Our crazy week is over! Thanks to all those parents who came out to visit and help for our 100th day of school! Can't believe it's been 100 days with these grade 2 peeps!

Here are some sites that have some neat games / activities if your student gets some computer time on the break:

Click here for a neat site with read aloud scholastic books. 
Username: elv
Password: bookflix

This website is GREAT for students who need practice with the 100 chart.  Click here!

Click here for some more fun Math games. 

I hope everyone has a  fantatsic Family Break! Enjoy your time with eachother!

Take care,
Anna Tsentouros

Busy week in February!

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to give a quick heads up so you're aware of all the activities we have planned for this week! Thank goodness my voice is back- it's going to be a busy one :)

Tuesday is Valentine's Day and we will celebrate in the afternoon with a Spirit Assembly at 12:45, as well as our classroom celebrations for the rest of the afternoon. Thanks in advance to those parents again who have signed up to bring treats: They are:

Fruit Tray- Zane

Veggie Tray with Dip- Rawley

Cheese, meat and crackers- Brooke. R.

Cookies, cupcakes or muffins- Elora Green

Juice boxes- Morgan

Plates and napkins- Aaron

Here is a class list if you are addressing valentine's for our classmates:

Aaron

Aries

Ainsley

Blake

Braelynn

Brooke R.

Brooke T.

Byron

Cathrine

Conner

Elora

Gus

Jordin

Kasia

Lorenzo

Meg

Morgan

Nicole

Noor

Rawley

Sammie

Sasha

Spence

Taylor

Zac

Zane

We're preparing for the 100th day of school in a number of ways!  One way is that we're thinking about Citizenship:

100 Day Citizenship:  The Grade 2 classes are trying to collect 100 toiletry items to donate to Harbour House at the YWCA.  Items may include small shampoo/conditioner, travel sized toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, shower gel, hairspray, barrettes, soap, etc.  We are keeping a tally as the items come in.  Please send in your items by Friday Feb. 17 (100 Day).  A representative from Harbour House will be coming in and we will present them with these items.  Thanks for helping us support this important charity in our city.

Remember, there is no need to go out and BUY these items- If you have small items that are gathering space in your bathroom, (such as hotel shampoo/ conditioner) please consider donating them to the Harbour House!  Thanks for your help!

On Wednesdsay February 15th the students will be painting the tiles they created for Clay for Kids! 

Friday, February 17th will be our 100th Day of school.  Our students will be busy, busy, busy – engaged in fun learning activities in the gym most of the morning.  All of the activities will be centered around the number 100 and will support counting and math in different curriculum subjects.  Younger siblings are welcome to come to this fun event. 

Thanks to Jordin's Mom and Ainsley's Mom who are coming to help out on 100th day!

Thanks in advance to those parents again who have signed up for their student to bring treats for 100th day on Friday February 17th! If anyone would like to bring fruit or veggies on that Friday please let me know! 

They are:

Fruit Tray- Jordin

Veggie Tray with Dip- Spence
Cheese, meat and crackers- Byron

Cookies, cupcakes or muffins- Noor

Juice boxes- Sasha

Plates and napkins- Brooke T.

I think that covers this week! Thanks again!

-Anna Tsentouros

February is about Kindness

Happy Friday!

Thanks for checking in! 

We’ve had a busy week in Grade 2B with our swimming on Thursday. Thanks to those parents who came out and drove our students as well as swam in the pool. It’s so nice to get out the school once and awhile and let the kids have fun! We made it back in one piece J

On Tuesday, we are having a Character Education Assembly hosted by the Grade 2s. What that means is, we’ll meet in the gym at 12:30, and sit with our MMH Family.  Then, we will go off with our families to do an activity related to Kindness, which is the theme for February.  Afterwards, we will meet back in the gym at 1:30, and the Grade 2s are going to demonstrate a way to show Kindness to the school. Our little performance will be inspired by the Johnny Reid song “Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World”.  Click here to check out the song and lyrics on youtube. 

If you’re able to come out for our quick assembly on Tuesday, we will be in the gym for 1:30, and plan to finish up by 1:55 recess.  We’ve been listening to the Johnny Reid song and our 2s are pumped to show the school that we know all about Kindness. 

Speaking of Kindness...
Our class has participated in many health lessons with our Counselling team- Mrs. Kitagawa and Mrs. Savage.  They've been talking to the Grade 2s about friendship, and how to be a good friend.  Then, we've also been discussing what a compliment is, and when it's good to give a meaningful compliment.  We've been 'secretly' writing meaningful compliments to eachother, and will incorporate them into an art project.  If you have a compliment that you'd like to give your child, I'd LOVE to include it in the art as well. Please feel free to email me  1 quick sentence, complimenting your child!

We have started writing our Jan Brett Mitten stories!  Please take a look through the mini ‘Jan Brett’ package that will come home with your student on Monday.  Our class is pumped to write our own versions of Jan Brett’s “The Mitten”. 

One Math strategy that we’re trying to master is to memorize our “Double Facts” (2 +2= 4, 8 +8 = 16). You can help practice these at home! Once before bed, while you’re driving in the car, anytime really! 

Click here to check out the MMH Newsletter!

This is copied straight from the MMH Newsletter! Please read about our new Breakfast Program:

Mike Mountain Horse has begun its first breakfast club. This will run five days per week from 8:00 to 8:20 a.m. The intent of this program is to help out with students who have not, for whatever reason, had breakfast. Of course we are not prepared to feed 600 students, but for those who really need that energy boost to help them meet a day full of learning op-portunities in the classroom!

Can you help????

We’d appreciate any donations for this program, either in time or breakfast foods! Contact the office (403-381-2211) for more information. Some ideas:

Volunteer one or more mornings a week.

Donate items like: cereal, granola bars, juice boxes, jams, peanut butter, fruit, or any other “breakfast-type” food

Donate funds to MMH (cheques payable to “Mike Mountain Horse”

A few days added to our February Calendar:

February
Tuesday February 7^th- Character Ed. Assembly & Family time
Wednesday February 8^th- Winter Walk at 1:30

Wednesday February 8^th- School Council Meeting at 6:30pm

Thursday February 9th- Arctic Day!

Friday February 10^th- Staff Learning Day No school for students
February 13^th-17^th- Random Acts of Kindness WeekTuesday February 14^th- Spirit Assembly- Dress in Red!
Tuesday Feburary 14th- Happy Valentine’s Day & Class party!
Wednesday February 15^th- Steve Harmer’s Motivational Magic Friday February 17^th- 100^th DAY OF SCHOOL!!
February 20^th- 24^th- Family Break- No school
February 29^th- Pink Shirt Day/ Anti-Bullying day