Newsletter #15

 January 8^th Edition of

The Kindergarten/1 Class News

Welcome back Everyone!

I hope you all had a good holiday and are ready for a great new term. The kids are, understandably, readjusting to the routines and expectations of the classroom and are likely pretty tired out after our days!

 

Please be sure to send in a bag with a full set of spare clothes to be left at school (if you haven’t already done so). Everything was sent home before the break so if you don’t remember sending clothes in this week, your child likely doesn’t have any at school. 

 

I also appreciate all the art folders that have come back. I will be re-filling these to send home. 

 

We have started learning how to count to 10 in Hul'qumi'num and the kids are really enjoying it! We are also exploring counting collections using different tools such as tens frames, number paths and groupings.

In science we will be studying objects in the sky, seasons and the senses. 

 

Along with our free choice days, the class has been enthusiastic about learning basketball skills.  

 

There are some exciting events coming up this term including a portable planetarium and our annual talent show (historically known as the Spring Showcase but it’s winter so… let’s call it the Winter Talent Show). 

 

Next week is ‘Nn’ week for Show and Tell.

 

Important Dates to Remember:

January 14 The Circle

January 27 Portable Planetarium 

February 14 Valentine’s Day

February 16 No School

February 18 Early dismissal (12pm) for Student Led Conferences.   

February 20 Winter Showcase  

February 25 Pink Shirt Day  

 

It was a great first week back. I hope you enjoy your weekend.

 

Warmly,

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org

 

Newsletter #14

 December 18^th Edition of

The Kindergarten/1 Class News

Hello Everyone!

Here is our last newsletter before the break!

 

Our last week was full of activity and excitement. The power outages and heavy rain made for some interesting days. Our forest pathways are all about shin-deep with water, so true gumboots are required if there is any hope of dry feet. 

 

We got to watch our school band program perform for us on Wednesday. They have been working hard to learn instruments, and it was great to see! We also enjoyed having our big buddies read to us.

 

We all enjoyed our winter concert! Thank you to those of you who made it out to watch!  

 

If you have any library books at home, please return them after the break. We are missing quite a few books, and the library needs them back. I have kept the reading logs at school so they don't go missing over the break. We will resume home reading in January. Thanks again for your support with this.

 

Art folders were sent home. If you can send the folders back to be re-filled, that would be great! There are also gifts inside that your child can open at any time. 

If anyone plans to extend their break, please let me and the office know. 

 

Important Dates to Remember:

January 5 School re-opens.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday and we will see you next year!

 

Warmly,

Ara Van Riel 

avanriel@sd64.org

 

 

 

Newsletter #13

 December 4^th Edition of

The K/1 Class News

Hello Everyone!

Energy is high as we approach the winter break. We are doing our best to remember classroom expectations. A reminder from home may help...

 

This week we fit in some seasonal extras like decorating the school Christmas tree, Christmas tree art and nature activities (these required some measurement skills) and making special ornaments that were sent home on Thursday. The next couple of weeks will also be full of extra fun and festive spirit so let’s do this!

 

Calling all spoons! We usually have a few spare forks and spoons to offer here at school, but I think they have all travelled home to you… if you have any extras that you notice in your drawer, we would all appreciate them being sent this way. Extra plastic bags are also welcome!

 

If you know that your child will be starting the holiday off early, please let me know so I can give them their X-mas gift early. 

 

Our class has been practicing our song for the Winter concert, and we will be performing at 1:30pm on Dec. 18^th in the gym for those who can make it. 

 

Next week is the Re-Gift Fest!! Please bring your donations in on Monday! 

 

Important Dates to Remember:

December 10 The Circle

December 10 Re-Gift Fest

December 18 Winter Concert 1:30pm

December 19 Winter Break begins

January 5 School back in session

 

Warmly,

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org

 

 

 

Newsletter #12

 November 27th Edition of

The Kindergarten/1 Class News

Hello Everyone!

We had a wet but exciting week. Thanks to those who have retuned the borrowed rain gear. It is a must these days as the kids are not shy to get wet!

 

We are nearing the end of the term, and I am noticing so much growth in all our learners. We continue to practice reading and writing skills and have begun learning about rhyming words in our Oral Language Groups. You can easily reinforce this skill at home by playing rhyming I-Spy! 

 

Our class was very excited to be the winners of the weekly school challenge! The challenge was to see which class was the best at greeting others or responding to being greeted. We won the cup and got a special reward. 

 

You may have noticed “pet rocks” come home. These were part of a fun art project inspired by the book, “Ishi: Simple Tips from a Solid Friend” by Akiko Yabuki. This is a story about sharing happiness and turning a hard situation into a good one. We had a lot of fun making our own book with these rocks!

 

Please remember to bring in any lightly used items for the Re-gift Fest by Monday, Dec. 8th. We encourage families to donate the same number of items as the number of people in their immediate family. On the 10^th, the classes will all get to go and choose a gift to wrap and bring home to give to immediate family members on Christmas (or other special time if you don’t participate in Christmas). It’s a nice lesson on giving that we all enjoy every year. If any of you would like to help wrap presents on the 10th, please contact PAC.

 

Important Dates to Remember:

December 8 Re-gift Fest donations brought in

December 10 Re-gift Fest “shop”

December 18 Christmas Concert 

December 19 Winter Break begins 

 

Enjoy your weekend!

Warmly,

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org