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

Hi everyone!

I thought it would be best to blog today so that you’re ready for the upcoming weeks.  I hope you had a fabulous family break!  The 100^th day / Valentine’s craziness was sure fun, and the kids had a blast going through the different centers! Here’s some pictures from that day:

 

We have a field trip coming up! To be honest this one kind of snuck up on me, as we were waiting for confirmation of times.  We are going to Home Hardware on the West side! This is an awesome field trip put on by the wonderful staff of the store. It goes along with our Building Things unit in Science, and the students will be taken around to different centers of the store.  This field trip will be on Tuesday March 4^th, from 2:05-3:05.  We need 4-5 drivers to help get us there! If you are available that afternoon, please let me know asap and I will sign you up! Because this field trip goes right until 3:05, we will be a few minutes late getting back to MMH. 

 

March is the time for another reporting period, as well as what we call Celebrations of Learning.  This year, Celebrations of Learning will be throughout the entire school.  On Thursday, March 13^th from 5:30-7:30, you’ll be asked to sign up for a time slot to come and see your child’s Grade 1 work. This is not a parent/ teacher interview, but more of an ‘open house’ in which your Grade 1 student will have work to share.  That’s why it’s called a Celebration of Learning!  March Report cards will be sent home on Friday, March 14^th. 

If after the Celebration of Learning and reading the report card, you would still prefer a more traditional 20 minute parent teacher interview, please let me know and we can arrange for that on Friday March 21^st.  Information on how to sign up for a time slot for Celebrations of Learning using an online system called Conference Manager will be sent home closer to the date. 

Don’t forget to check out the important March dates!

I’m excited to see the kids tomorrow!  Have a good day!

-Anna Tsentouros

 

February

Tuesday February 25^th- After School Skate
Tuesday February 25^th-Hot Lunch Gr. 1-3
Wednesday February 26^th- Hot Lunch Gr. 4-5
Wednesday February 26^th- Pink Shirt Day!

MARCH

Tues. March 4^th- Home Hardware Field Trip!
Wed. March 12^th- School Council Mtg 6:30
Thurs. March 13^th- Celebration of Learning 5:30-7:30
Fri. March 14^th- Report Cards sent home
Mon. March 17^th- Happy St. Pat’s Day!
Mon. March 17^th- Spirit Assembly @ 12:30- Wear Green
Tues. March 18^th- FNMI Guest speaker
Thurs. March 22^nd- Parent/ Teacher interviews in evening
Fri. March 21^st- Parent/ Teacher interviews No School

Hi everyone!

Just a quick blog post about some up and coming things happening in Grade 1. 

A reminder that Hot lunch orders are due on Tuesday February 11^th, and students are asked to wear Red and White for Valentine’s Day AND to support Canada in the Olympics on Thursday, February 13^th! We’ll have a spirit assembly that day at 12:30. 

Great job with your first week of Spelling!  It looks like the students enjoyed their activities.  Watch for the next list coming home tomorrow!

Students will be bringing home a class list on Monday for Valentine’s!  We’ll share and open our valentine’s on Friday morning after the 100 day centers. 

Here are some notes from the Town Hall meeting as well as from the last School Council Meeting. Thanks Kriss Guenter for submitting them!

“The topic was "What Strategies can schools, parents, and the community develop to have all students feel included in the school community?" We talked about what it means to include the community into the schools and the school into the community. It was nice to hear how many ways each level of school provides supports for these areas. Then we all took an online poll to decide what we thought was most important. The poll should be up on the district website by next week. Will be interesting to see the results. Most the topics had to do with the relationships between School, Parent, and community.

School Council Meeting:

- Looking into a Boys Choir for grades 3, 4, and 5 to Start up.
- Already taking ideas for next year’s Gala
- The fundraiser for spring will be a skip - a - thon. It will be a part of the PE skipping unit. More information will come.
- The projected student population for 2014/ 2015 is 680 students.
- Pre K is full for next year, but you can still register to be on the waiting list.
- The Council needs parent volunteers for the Spring Dance in April. Please contact me if you can help.
- The University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College will be in the class rooms at MMH. They will be students from Education 2500, Professional Semester 1, 2, and 3. Also Special Needs Assistants who will be assigned to specific students with specific learning needs.
- Alberta School Council Association Conference and 2014 AGM is April 25-27 at the Delta Edmonton South.

The next Council meeting is February 12th at 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. We may have a Fundraising committee meeting following the Council meeting, anyone interested in helping with the Spring Dance, or planning of a possible Paul Bryant farewell celebration. Hope to see some new faces!”

If you’re travelling for the upcoming break or just enjoying your time at home, I hope you have a wonderful time with your families! 

Thank you!

-Anna

Tuesday February 11^th- After School Skate
Wednesday February 12^th- New Winter Walk Day!
Thursday February 13^th- Spirit Assembly @ 12:30- Dress in Red and White! Go Canada!
Friday February 14^th- Happy Valentine’s Day!
Friday February 14^th- 100^th day of school celebration
February 17^th- 21^st- Family Break No school
Tuesday February 25^th- After School Skate
Tuesday February 25^th-Hot Lunch Grades 1-3
Wednesday February 26^th- Hot Lunch Grades 4-5
Wednesday February 26^th- Pink Shirt Day!

Hi everyone!

I can’t believe we’ve started the month of February!!  I think reality really hit when I had the chance to listen to all the students read from their book boxes last week- WOW! Our reading has really taken off!! They’re SO proud to share.  I love that we’ve got a class of students who love reading! Great job on keeping up with home reading as well! 

We’ve been learning about the OLYMPICS!!  Every day we learn about a new Olympic Sport, and we’re going to follow Canada’s progress when the Olympics begin. We’ve got quite the patriotic little group here, I must say!! Each time we watch a video clip of Canada there’s lots of cheers. 

On Monday, we are starting our spelling program! Spelling is a bit tricky in Grade 1, as it’s usually easy for students to remember to sound out words/ remember rules when they’re practising their spelling, but transferring that knowledge to their daily writing often takes time.  The spelling program we are beginning is a little different than the traditional spelling programs you may have seen in the past.  Students will be bringing home a spelling scribbler on MONDAYS, and it will be returned to the school on FRIDAYS.  Here is the letter that will be inside the scribbler:

 

February 3, 2014

Here is your brand new Spelling Program! This scribbler will travel home every Monday and stay with you for the week, then return to school each Friday. We will glue in the new spelling lists every Monday and your child will highlight the words that they are expected to practise each night. Some recommended activities for February are included on the pink sheet that has been glued in this book. At least three nights per week, please choose one of the listed activities to complete. (However, if you come up with other fun ideas please feel free to try those too!)

 

Each spelling night, please record the date and activity that you chose to do. If the chosen activity requires a pencil and paper, please feel free to use the scribbler; that’s what it is for! Other activities will not require work in the scribbler.

 

Every new list will include 10 words. I recommend that some children do only the first 4 words on the list (Level 1), others will want to do 8 (Level 2), some will want to do all 10 (challenge words). Remember, we want all kids to have fun and be successful with these words. The words that your child is working on will be highlighted on the list. If your child is asking to do more words, please feel free to bump up a level and by the same token, if they are feeling overwhelmed, allow them to take a step back to perhaps only 4 words rather than 8. We want students to find the place where they are thriving and learning, while also being rewarded with success! Spelling “check-ins/quizzes” will be on Fridays. Happy Spelling!

 

Keep an eye out for the scribblers being sent home on Monday!

 

SCIENTISTS IN SCHOOLS

We had such a blast with Scientist Sheryl on Wednesday! Thank you to all the parents who were able to come and help run a center!  Here are some pics of our morning:

 

We have also welcomed Mrs. Wevers in our class! She will be with our Grade 1 group for Monday and Wednesday mornings.  The kids got to meet her last week and are excited to spend some more time with her.

 

On Wednesday, we have our Family Assembly which is hosted by the Grade 4s.  We will gather in the gym at 12:30, and then spend some time with our MMH families.  Also on that day, at 2:05, we will be going on a Winter Walk around the neighbourhood! Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather on this day! 

I've made some changes to our 100 Day celebration- It will still be on Valentine's Day, but we need 2 more volunteers for that morning! Thank you to Kari Manser and Kriss Guenter who have already volunteered to help. If there's anyone out there who is able to come that morning we'd love to have your help!  Thanks!!

I think that’s it for now! Here are your important events for February:

 

Important dates for February:

Tuesday February 4^th- After School Skating begins!
Wednesday February 5^th- Family Assembly @ 12:30
Wednesday February 5^th- Winter Walk Day!
Tuesday February 11^th- After School Skate
Friday February 7^th- P.D day no school for students
Thursday February 13^th- Spirit Assembly @ 12:30
Friday February 14^th- Happy Valentine’s Day!
Friday February 14^th- 100^th day of school celebration
February 17^th- 21^st- Family Break No school
Tuesday February 25^th- After School Skate
Tuesday February 25^th-Hot Lunch Grades 1-3
Wednesday February 26^th- Hot Lunch Grades 4-5
Wednesday February 26^th- Pink Shirt Day!

Hi everyone!

Just a quick blog post about the next few days.  We have our Scientists in Schools workshop on Wednesday January 29th! I think the students are going to LOVE this! Thank you for those parents who were able to sign up to come help on that morning! 
*Scott Elford, Geoff Netzel, Kriss Guenter, Darli McAulay.
 
On Wednesday, we will also meet our new Ed2500 student from the University of Lethbridge! She will be with us on Monday and Wednesday mornings. 

A note from School Council:
Principal Paul Bryant has announced his retirement for June 2014.  If the parent community would like to put forth any input in regards to the new principalship (ie, progams/ iniatives you'd like to continue or add, etc) you can email Sharon Mezei until February 3rd, at sharon.mezei@lethsd.ab.ca. 

A reminder that after school skating begins on Tuesday February 4th, at Nicholas Sheran arena from 3:30-4:30. 

Lastly, I will be away on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th.  Please email me if you have any questions. 

Thanks!  Enjoy your weekend!
-Anna

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wow! I can’t believe we are already back in the full swing of things for 2014!  December was such an exciting month as we planned and prepped for Christmas! It sounded like everyone had a fantastic break and it was exciting to hear about how the students spent their time with their families!

During that last week of December, I was SO spoiled from the students with wonderful cards and thoughtful gifts, which was so unnecessary!   Thank you so much.  It’s no secret that I love my job and I love Grade One, and the kindness and support from all the families is truly amazing!

Our Grade One group has already caught me a few times saying “2013”.  A new year means new beginnings so we talked about healthy resolutions that we could strive for! If you get a chance, come read your child’s resolution for 2014 on our bulletin board outside!

For the next little bit, we will be working on long vowel sounds.  We started with the “Sneaky E” who makes vowels say their own name.  For the next few weeks, your child will be bringing home different activity sheets about different long vowels- if you get a chance, try reading them over again with your student to help with retention. 

In Math, we are diving into some addition and subtraction strategies!  Last week, we discussed how when we’re adding, it doesn’t matter which order we add in, as the sum will stay the same. We also looked at how the sum is the greatest number in the equation.  This week, we’ll work on Math Doubles (1 + 1 = 2, 2 +2= 4, etc), and continuing to use counters as a strategy.  Some information on how you can help your child memorize their doubles facts will be coming home in the next few days. 

In Science, we’ve been learning about Winter and how animals adapt to survive the winter.  We’ve played some fun games in the gym where we’ve had to become animals to show hibernation/ migration, and we’ll continue with some winter activities until we start our next unit called Building Things. 

On January 29^th, we have a special program coming to Grade 1 called Scientists in Schools.  Here, we will have scientists from the UofL come to our class for a full morning workshop about Building Things.  This program will require 4 volunteers to come and help with centers in the classroom.   If you are able to come for the whole morning of Wednesday, January 29^th, please let me know asap and I can sign you up for a center!  It should be a very exciting morning!

Also, for the workshop on January 29^th, each student will need 1 newspaper (a whole edition, not just 1 page).  If you subscribe to a newspaper, and can start collecting newspaper editions for the class that would be wonderful! I can store them in the room so you can send them whenever!

In Social Studies, we’re looking more closely at our Community, and what makes our community so special.  Students are working in a Community Scrapbook where they get to describe their favourite places in Lethbridge. 

Although it’s a few weeks away, we are planning for some 100 Day activities.  100 day is a special day in Grade 1, as we pair up with the Grade 2s for 100 Day Centers in the gym.  This year, we’ll be celebrating 100 Day on Valentine’s Day!  We will need the help of 3 parents on this Friday. If you’re able to run a center on Friday February 14^th from 8-11am, please let me know asap!

During the last week in January, our class will be welcoming an Education 2500 student from the University of Lethbridge to our class! This student will be in our class on Monday and Wednesday mornings, and will come to learn about teaching for 8 weeks.  I’m sure our class will be excited to meet them when they begin their practicum. 

Here are your important dates for January and February so far! Remember to check this blog for date changes!

Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful week!

 January

Tuesday January 14^th- Hat/ Touque Day! Spirit Assembly @ 12:30
Wednesday January 15^th- Hot Lunch for Grades 1-3
Thursday January 16^th- Hot Lunch for Grades 4-5
January 27^th-28^th- Miss Tsentouros’ away
Wednesday January 29^th- Science in Schools workshop in the AM

February

Tuesday February 4^th- After School Skate begins from 330-430 at Nicholas Sheran Rink- all families invited to attend!
Wednesday February 5^th- Winter Walk Day, Family Assembly @ 12:30
Friday February 7^th- PD Day No School
Friday February 14^th- Valentine’s Day/ 100^th Day of School Celebrations!
February 17^th- 21^st- Family Break- No School