Exploring liquids

Our science unit, Exploring Liquids, allows the students to use a variety of liquids in great little experiments to learn what properties liquids possess.  On pieces of wax paper, the students dropped small amounts of the liquids and then recorded their observations.

Can you see the difference between the water, oil, dish soap and honey?

Ask your child to explain what they have learned.  They might surprise you with the word "molecules'.

Being able to transfer their observations and thinking onto paper is a very important skill.

O Canada! ( a reason to be thankful!)

It is always exciting to get mail!  This large package arrived in our classroom this week.

The students are learning about our own wonderful country and have worked on a map of Canada and a map of Alberta.  We read a story about our flag, and then opened this mysterious package.

Inside were a whole array of bright and colourful maple leaves all the way from Ontario, graciously collected and then sent to us by Mrs. Matheson's brother and sister in law (and their puppy Sprocket)!

The students were amazed at the variety of colours and sizes of these leaves.  It seems amazing that this important symbol of Canada, one we so easily identify with, does not naturally grow here.  The ones that have been planted, never seem to get to this bright colour, falling off when they are still green or just turned yellow.

Each of the students' social studies duo tang now has a real maple leaf on it!

Oh Canada!  How proud we all are of thee!

Look at the smiles!  They are almost as big as these leaves!

Here's the letter that will be coming home on Tuesday:

Dear Parents,

As part of our belief that we should all live a long and active life, the students as Madonna Catholic School will have the wonderful opportunity to participate in swimming lessons this year.  We will be swimming from 1:45 to 2:30 Thursday afternoons in October, November, and December specifically on October 23, October 30, November 6, November 20, November 27, December 4^, and December 11.

We would love to invite fathers and/or grandfathers to take on the role of supervisor to ensure that the male students are safe as they change.  As Mr. Harmata reminded all of the teachers, our school district’s policy is to have all volunteers who will be in contact with students on a regular basis to provide a criminal record check, a child intervention check and sign a confidentiality undertaking also with an acceptable use agreement.  All of those forms can be obtained through the school’s front office.  It may seem like a great deal of work, but our children are so very precious to us, that I know you won’t mind taking the time to get these forms filled out.

The fees, which cover both the lessons and the bussing, are being collected separately from school fees and payment options are listed on the long yellow sheet which is in the plastic pouch of your child’s BEE binder. I will also need to know what level of swimming your child will be entering for these lessons by Wednesday, Oct. 15 so that the information can be shared with the pool staff who organize the students into appropriate groupings. 

A gentle reminder that long hair is best braided for the lessons, that combs cannot be shared, that swimming items should be packed in a separate sturdy waterproof bag (not a disposable bag from groceries) in the backpacks in the morning, and that the students will not have time to blow dry their hair so having a warm hat is encouraged.

 Just another quick note:

Please know that you are welcome to join our school as we celebrate mass on Wednesday, October 15 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish at 9:30 a.m.  I am asking all the children in my class to bring one small non-perishable, such as a can or small box of food, which we will contribute to the food drive that the parish is conducting for those with less than us.  Did you know that our parish is currently sponsoring a family from Columbia and that they are in the legal realm of bringing and sponsoring a family from Syria?  We are all asked to do our part. 

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,"    Matthew 25:35

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Have you seen a turkey around here?

Thank you so much families, for taking this little project and elevating it to a new level of fun and creativity.  After the students heard the story of Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano, about a turkey who knew that he was destined to be invited to be part of Thanksgiving dinner, as the main course, this project was introduced.  In the story, the turkey uses disguises to avoid his fate.  The students were given turkeys to disguise and also they were asked to use the turkey's voice to describe how he would explain his new look.

It was the student's opportunity to stand up and share in front of their classmates.  The classmates listened closely to what the turkey said and then guessed what the turkey was actually disguised as.

The ideas ranged from....mad scientist

to

clown,

"army guy"

and

ballerina!  

The students were so proud of their creations!

Tonight was the second Parent Council meeting of the school year and sadly, again quorum was not reached.  The rules state that there must be 8 parents attending in order for votes to be taken.  There were only 6.  Would you be willing to participate in this important part of our school community?  The meetings are about once every 6 weeks.  Many exciting projects are planned but it takes many hands for the work to get done.  Please consider coming out to the meeting planned for November!

More - Less - Same

For the last few days, the students have been working with dot cards, training their brains to 'see' a quantity rather than having to touch each dot and count on.  

Using a variety of dot cards and ten frame cards, the students are practicing using the cubes to demonstrate how they can create a quantity that is MORE or LESS or the SAME as the quantity shown on the card.

To adults, this seems like such an easy activity, but there are a number of students who are challenged to understand these mathematical terms. They need to continue to refer to the original card to remember that they are making quantities for that number.

Lots of smiles when they were successful!

Pete the Cat

I had never heard of this toy, ORBEEZ, until this week.  I believe that they come in a plastic bag and that they are available in many colours.  They might be meant to be traded, but I am not sure.  The problem is that they contain a chemical and that a 'google' search revealed that as few as 12 being ingested can cause the need for the child to be hospitalized.  There are special needs students who would not understand the seriousness of this, in our school.  There is a preschool housed within our building, as well as the Brighter Beginnings program, with children as young as 2 1/2 years.  The possibility of children, birds or animals coming to harm because of these little jelly like balls is just too great, so please, PLEASE do not allow your child to bring these to school.  If they do appear, I will have to keep them until a parent comes to claim them.  It is for the sake of our children's health that this needs to be the rule.

Pete the Cat appeared just a few short years ago but has quickly become a favourite of young students!  We spent last week using his stories as a backdrop to many of our activities.

The students enjoyed our 'guided drawing' lesson, learning that simple lines and shapes can help us create more robust figures.  They each chose how to add details to the background.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, gave the children a chance to follow directions, practise cutting and gluing and then add details.  They turned out so cute!

Peanut Aware Zone

Thought you might like to see how our budding artists are starting to bloom! These little Wemberlies are from last Friday when we talked about the reality that worrying does not really help us achieve anything!  Instead, we should be willing to try new experiences!

Here's our own little art gallery with our framed 'dot' paintings along with two proud artists!

Our classroom needs to be a 'nut aware' zone this year as one of our classmates has a peanut/nut allergy.  I know how important protein is for growing bodies and how difficult it is to ensure that children get all the nourishment that they need with a packed lunch.  As a class, we talked about the ways that our classmate might have contact with peanuts through our lunches.  One little boy mentioned that we has 'WOW butter' and when I was shopping I found this one, which is actually made with sunflower and sesame seeds along with flax.  Please try to add a little note that just says that the sandwich is made with the alternative that will keep our little friend safe.

Just a reminder that sending a fresh fruit or vegetable every day for morning snack really keeps the children energized until lunchtime.  Please help avoid the 'sugar' rush that happens when a prepackaged snack such as 'fruit snacks' is sent.  The children are busy learning and really need your support to fuel their tummies to keep going!

Thanks so much!

International Dot Day 2014

I am sure that when Peter Reynolds wrote this amazing little book, he did not know that the impact that the line "Mark your mark...and see where it takes you?" would have around the world.  Around September 15ish, this day is celebrated, helping children in over 70 countries find out that they can do it!  Making their mark is worth the effort.  The story may focus on art, but the message is bigger than that.  You can accomplish whatever you set your mind to.  What starts off small can grow and grow.

The students had the opportunity to see that their 'dots' could be colourful and beautiful and worthy of being framed.  I'll share the final display later this week.

Does this little angel look just a little more special today than usual?  I think so!  She had an amazing Sunday.  She was baptized!  God's blessings to her and her family!

Take a look in your child's Bee binder, or kanga pouch, or homework folder for this note. (All three were sent home today).  It explains our READ TO SELF program which is called Home Reading.  The children will be bringing home a book each night, Monday to Thursday.  

They will fill in the Reading Log with the book title, and then the adult who has heard them read (mom, dad, grandparent, babysitter) will sign their initials in the other box.  These get handed in each Friday, but it is best if the paper stays with the child in their book pouch.

The kanga pouch from last year is a great choice, but if you don't have one, try getting a plastic pouch with a zipper or snap like the one pictured above.  I find the best selection at Dollarama.

The pouch is to protect the book when juice, or water or some other liquid spills in the backpack.  It also helps the child know that this should be coming to school each and every day to be exchanged for a new book.  

I didn't take a photo of the homework folder, but it will be used to send assignments that need to be finished and brought back the next day (on the right side of the folder) and also assignments that have been completed and assessed and can be left at home (on the left side of the folder).  The feedback may assist you in knowing how you can work with your little one at home on a concept that is not quite solid yet.

Here's a little video of the story "The Dot"  Enjoy!