November 28, 2014

Bricks 4 Kidz
On Monday morning our class took part in Bricks 4 Kidz in the gymnasium. Students teamed up with a friend and were given a Lego kit and an iPad to help navigate their step by step instructions. Each partner group made a moving, battery operated dragster race car using Lego! It was awesome to see the students working together, solving problems, and overcoming challenges to create something they were proud of. After completed their cars, students were bubbling with excitement to race other cars and we ended by having a friendly race with all of our cars. It was a great experience.

Check Out One of Our Races Here!

Creating Dream Catchers with Mr. D
On Wednesday we had our last visit from our CREATE artist, Mr. D. We continued to work on our dream catchers. Weaving the dream catcher is quite a challenging task but our class was definitely up for the challenge! I enjoyed watching the students encourage and help each other complete each step. This was a very authentic project that I'm sure the students will remember for years to come.

Our "Flower Power" Thank You Card for Mr. D - Handmade with Love!

Congratulations Chloe and Gairien!
Chloe and Gairiden were the virtue winners for respect and received their certificates at Tuesday's Achievers Assembly. These two are consistently respectful to others within the classroom and on the playground. Great job!

Student Reflection & Goal Setting
As we set aside our work from Term 1, our class reflected on their performance in order to set new goals for term 2. Students were preparing to lead their conference by reflecting on their organizational skills, work habits, study behaviors, their favorite classes and their most challenging classes. They also chose several pieces of work they are most proud of to share with you at Friday's conference. Completed work from Term 1, aside from the units we are still currently working on, will be sent home at conferences.

Birthday Shout Out to Fatima Z! 

Important Dates and Reminders:
Monday, December 1: Home Reading Logs are Due
Thursday, December 18: Fireside Festival - Daytime - 10:30 - 11:45 AM and Night - 6:30-7:30 PM
Friday, December 19: Winter Caroling Assembly 11:00 - 11:40 AM
                                       Last Day of School Early Dismissal at 2:30
December 15-19: SRC Candy Cane Sales - .50 cents per candy cane
                             *All proceeds from the sale go towards buying new school crazy carpets.

Upcoming December Spirit Days:
Monday, December 15: Candy Cane Day
Tuesday, December 16: Blue and Silver Day
Wednesday, December 17: Snowflake Day
Thursday, December 18: Red and Green Day
Friday, December 19: Glitter/Sparkle Day

November 21, 2014

Bullying Awareness Week
This week was Bullying Awareness Week. On Monday, our class took part in a listening and viewing response activity dealing with different bullying situations in Taylor Swifts music video, "Mean". The video introduces 3 separate examples of bullying and students identified the target, the bully, the bystanders, and the effects. We had great discussion involving how to stand up  for what we believe is right, even if it might not be the most popular choice. Our talk about bullying even led us back to some important points about peer pressure as they noticed many of the bystanders in the video joined the bully, rather than put a stop to the bullying. It was a memorable activity that I hope keeps the conversation going at home and school. Putting someone down will never help you reach the top. Let's put an end to bullying!

First Nations Art 
On Wednesday we welcomed Mr. D back into our classroom. We started the first steps of our next project - making dream-catchers! The students created the circle of their dream-catcher out of a willow branch. We have our strings attached and are ready to start weaving next Wednesday when Mr. D returns for his final visit.

This is the dream-catcher Mr D. made for our classroom when he was explaining the steps to our class. The final product is well worth the challenge and we are all very excited to create one of our own!

Fossil Fun!

This week we are learning about fossils as part of our rocks and minerals unit. With help from the Royal SK Museum, I was able to bring many "hands on" fossils into the classroom for the kids! They were highly engaged as they rotated through each fossil station. 

Birthday Shout-Out to Abdullah! 

Holiday Book Orders
Holiday Book Orders were sent home with your child on Monday. December is a short month for school and I know winter vacation will sneak up on us, so the book orders went home a bit earlier then usual. I want to make sure students receive their orders back before the winter holidays begin! They will be due next Monday, November 24th.

Important Dates and Reminders:
Friday, November 21: Report Card Day
Monday, November 24: Bricks 4 Kidz Day and Book Orders Due
Tuesday, November 25: Achiever's Assembly 10:45-11:45
Friday, November 28: No School - 3 Way Conferences

November 14, 2014

CREATE Artist Visits 
Although it was a short week at school,  there certainly wasn't any shortage of excitement in our classroom! On Wednesday we had CREATE Artist, Lloyd Dubois, visit our classroom. Mr. D creates beautiful pieces of Indigenous art work and gave us some tips on how to create our own! Students created beautiful paintings by making their own stencils and using sponges as their paint brush. This project was definitely one of the highlights of our week! We look forward to Mr. D returning to our classroom next week!

Volleyball Skills

During the past few weeks, our class has been working very hard on developing their volleyball skills in Phys. Ed. Students have been learning how to properly serve, set, bump and rotate. They have been practicing these skills through partner and small group rallies, mini-volleyball games and finally a few full court volleyball games. The students were able to demonstrate how to properly keep score while learning the basic rules of the game! This week students were assessed on their basic volleyball skills, while volleying the ball back and forth with a partner. 

3 Way Conferences: Confirmation Sheets

Please sign and return the conference time notes as soon as possible. This note was sent home on Wednesday and I would like to collect them all back by the end of next week in order to arrange alternate meeting dates and times if necessary. At this time, all conference times have been filled, so if you're unable to make your assigned time please let me know on your conference time sheet. Thank you!

Important Dates and Reminders:
Thursday, November 20: Bricks 4 Kidz Permission Forms are Due
Friday, November 21: Report Card Day
Monday, November 24: Bricks 4 Kidz Day
Tuesday, November 25: Achiever's Assembly 10:45-11:45
Friday, November 28: No School - Conferences (See conference note for your assigned time)

November 7, 2014

Elder Betty Visits
On Wednesday we had a special visitor in our classroom, Elder Betty. After learning that we were working on our Rocks and Minerals Unit, Elder Betty shared a few stories along that topic . She also talked to us about the medicine wheel and wild life.  The students also were able to ask her a few questions. We had a great time and look forward to her next visit.

"Bricks 4 Kidz" Day
On Monday, November 24th, Bricks 4 Kidz is coming to Gladys McDonald School. Bricks 4 Kidz is an educational service that uses LEGO bricks to teach the basics of architecture and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Bricks 4 Kidz provide opportunities for children to awaken curiosity and inquiry, stimulate observation and exploration skills and enrich, enhance school curriculum and link the science concepts learning in school to the larger world.

The cost is $7.00 per child. Please make this payment before November 20th using School Cash Online.  Permission notes were sent on Wednesday. Please sign and return at your earliest convenience.

Remembrance Day Assembly
On Friday morning we had our Remembrance Day Assembly. The students wore their poppies and took part in 2 minutes of silence. Earlier in the week we decorated a class wreath and on Friday Fatima Z. and Mohammad P. represented our class in the laying of the wreath.

Reading Party
On Friday afternoon we celebrated meeting our home reading goals with a class party! It was a fun filled afternoon! We played several cooperative games as a class, followed by some free-choice activities and many students joined in on a soccer game. We enjoyed some treats back in the classroom while playing some board games. Fatima E. even shared one of her games from Pakistan! I have a feeling everyone is going to work very hard to reach their November reading goal (15 minutes every night)! A little birdie told me there are already plans for a pajama/karaoke party in the works if we reach our next goal! Stay tuned and keep reading!

Scholastic Book Orders
On Friday, November's Scholastic Book Orders were sent home. If you choose to order, please return the order form with payment before next Thursday, November 13th. Please make cheques payable to Scholastic Ltd.

Conference Times
Conferences are on Friday, November 28th and there will be no classes this day. Next Wednesday,  I will be sending a note home with your conference time, in your child's agenda. Please sign and return your confirmation sheet before Monday, November 24th. If you are unable to attend please let me know on the confirmation sheet, and return it to school with your child. Thank you.

Birthday Shout - Out!
Happy Birthday Ishmal! On Tuesday Ishmal celebrated her 10th birthday!

Important Dates and Reminders:
Monday, November 10: P.D. Day - No School
Tuesday, November 11: Remembrance Day - No School
Wednesday, November 12: Bear-a-Palooza Day
Thursday, November 20: Bricks 4 Kidz Permission Forms are Due
Friday, November 21: Report Card Day
Monday, November 24: Bricks 4 Kidz Day
Tuesday, November 25: Achiever's Assembly 10:45-11:45
Friday, November 28: No School - Conferences