What's New Newsletter November 25 - 29, 2013

What’s New in One and Two?

Week of November 25 – 29, 2013

*Reminders – Hot Lunch Lady orders due on Monday, November 25

                   - BOSTON PIZZA HOT LUNCH on Wednesday, Nov. 27

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SCIENCE                                                                                                                              

This week we will be continuing our study of Objects and Materials.  Ms. Hosegood (our student teacher) will be helping us discover what type of material would make the best raincoat for Little Red Riding Hood.  We will be comparing balls made of different types of materials and testing their suitability.  Don’t forget to keep an eye out for small appliances to use when we build our robots later on in this unit.

FRENCH                                                                                                                     

 Last week most of the children brought home a small French book about a snowman (Le bonhomme de neige).  They do not have to read this story to you.  I sent it home just to let you know what we have been working on.  We are starting to work on Christmas vocabulary this week.

FRIDAY                                                                                                                        

This Friday, November 29, I will be away from school.  I am attending a workshop about autism.  Mrs. Isaac will be substituting for me.

MUSIC EVENT                                                                                                             

Don’t forget that this Friday, November 29 is a special musical evening with our own Mr. Badiuk performing along with Keith and Renee.  There are still some tickets left for this wonderful concert.  If you are interested, please contact the office.  I hope to see you there!

What's New Newsletter November 18 - 22, 2013

What’s New in One and Two?

Week of November 18 - 22, 2013

*Reminders – Student-led Conferences on Tues. and Wed. - Nov. 19 & 20

                   - Boston Pizza lunch orders due on Friday, November 22

                   - Hot Lunch Lady orders due on Monday, November 25

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!                 MAYA                 NOV. 21

SCIENCE                                                                                                                     

We are starting our next science unit this week called “Objects and Materials”.  Later on in this unit we will be making our own robots out of old/broken small appliances (hair blowers, radios, mixers, etc…).  We will be cutting the electrical cords off so they don’t have to work.  We cannot take old computers or TVs because of the unsafe materials.  So please, start looking around your house and ask your family for suitable appliances.  We will not need them until closer to Christmas time.  Please do not send anything to school yet, we don’t have room to store them.  Thanks.

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES                                                                             

The student-led conferences are being held this week on Tuesday and Wednesday after school and evening.  Your child will be sharing their learning portfolios with you.  There will be other families in the room at the same time.  If you have not received a conference time confirmation sheet yet or have not signed up for a time slot, please call the office.

MATH                                                                                                                              

In math class we have been working on addition.  We are learning the different ways to make each number (1+2=3, 2+1=3, 3+0=3, 0+3=3).  All of these number sentences belong to the house of three.  Some children count on their fingers, which does work, for a while.  Some children draw a picture or tick marks.  We have been working on using a number line to add.  Start at the first number and count up the number of hops.  We are also working on knowing the facts automatically, by heart.  You can help your child practice their addition facts in a fun way at home.  Ask them some questions while driving in the car or while making dinner.  Learning is increased if the problems are meaningful and based on real life situations.

What's New Newsletter November 11 - 15, 2013

What’s New in One and Two?

Week of November 11 – 15, 2013

*Reminders – NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 11 – Remembrance Day

                   - Scholastic book orders for November due Friday, Nov. 15

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REPORT CARDS                                                                                                           

 The November Report Cards will be coming home with your child this Friday, November 15.  You should have received information regarding the sign-up for Student-led Conferences by e-mail from the office.  They asked each family to choose a night and the finalized time would be arranged by the office.  The conferences will be held next week on Tuesday and Wednesday after school and evenings (Nov. 19 and 20).  If neither of those days work for your family, please let me know and we will arrange another suitable time.

The Student-led conferences are a time for your child to share what they have learned this term with their parents.  We are encouraging the children to take ownership of their learning and they are very excited to show you their work.  I will be there both evenings if you have any general questions.  If you would like to meet with me privately after the conferences are finished, please arrange an alternative time with me.  See you next week!

SOCIAL STUDIES – FAMILY TREE                                                                                                      

We have almost finished our social studies unit “I Belong”.  Please return the FAMILY TREE page to school a.s.a.p.  We will be sharing these with each other and discussing our families.

BOXTOWN                                                                                                               

Hopefully you had a chance to visit BOXTOWN last week.  The children worked enthusiastically on building their community.  Some worked in groups and some worked individually.  It was very interesting to see what they considered important for a community.  One of the more challenging parts was deciding how they would divide their projects at the end and who would take which part home (lots of negotiation and compromise).   

What's New Newsletter November 4 - 8, 2013

What’s New in One and Two?

Week of November 4 – 8, 2013

*Reminders – NO SCHOOL on Friday, November 8 (Admin. Day)

                   - NO SCHOOL next Monday, November 11 (Remembrance Day)

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BOXTOWN                                                                                                                           

 We had so much to do last week that I postponed building Boxtown until this week.  If you send recyclable things on Monday, we can still use them.

REMEMBRANCE DAY                                                                                              

The students will be having their Remembrance Day ceremony this week on Thursday, November 7 from 10:30 am to 11:00 in the chapel area.  Each class will be participating in this ceremony with a short poem or song and we will finish with a minute of silence at 11:00.  Parents are always welcome to join us if they wish.

THANK YOU                                                                                                              

Thank you to all of the snack parents for our party treats last Thursday.  They were delicious (and creative).

FAMILY TREE HOMEWORK                                                                                                                   

 I am sending home a “Family Tree” sheet with your child on Monday.  Please help them write the names of their family members in the appropriate spaces.  They are supposed to draw a small picture of each person and colour the tree.  Please return this sheet to school next week. 

CARE BUDDIES                                                                                                         

We started something new last week called Care Buddies.  Each morning after O Canada, the children gather in small groups of three and talk to each other.  They start with hello and how are you?  They may talk about what they did last night or any other topic that they choose.  The purpose of the Care Buddies is to build a sense of community and belonging for each child.  We will keep the same Buddies until Christmas time and then switch.  We tried to make the groups, not with best friends, but with classmates that they did not know as well.  It would be helpful if everyone could come to school on time, so that the children do not miss out on this special activity.