Thursday 29 November 2018

Newsletter #11

November 29th Edition of
The Kindergarten Class News

Hello Everyone!
On rainy Monday the class practiced printing the lowercase letter ‘d’ and played ‘couch potato’ in the gym. Later we worked in our journals and finished up our unit on hibernation. We suited up in our rain gear and ventured out for a short play in the forest after being cooped up inside all day. It was nice and wet but so refreshing after two indoor recesses. 

Tuesday we had a chance to browse the books at the Book Fair and then took a trip with our Big Buddy class to the Christmas Tree Farm! The sun was out and the kids had a great time selecting the ‘perfect’ tree for the school. Many little hands carried the tree back to the school and everyone helped to decorate it. Later we made winter tree art and started learning about our five senses and played a sensory bag game in the outdoor classroom. 

Wednesday was a half-day to accommodate the student led conferences. The children all had a chance to practice each station during the day and were excited to show their families what they have been learning. It was so nice to see how proud each child was coming in to do the Student Led Conferences. It was a celebration of learning.

On Thursday the class went to Whole School Meeting where Drew, Caleb and Galini showed their winter tree art to the rest of the school. On Thursday we also had Music class and practiced making life cycles in our Oral Language groups. In the afternoon we played a math game using dice before heading outside.

We have been working hard practicing our song for the Christmas Concert. The class will be preforming the song, “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers”. The kids were given a choice to dress up as a toy (virtually any costume) or be a toy solder. Please ask your child what they decided to be. Most of the boys chose to be a solder and they will need to wear a plain red shirt and black pantsThe concert takes place on the evening of the 18thand we will gather in the classroom at 6:00pm to prepare.

Please remember to bring in any lightly used items to the Re-gift Fest donation room (the library) by Monday. We encourage families to donate the same number of items as the number of people in their immediate family. Next week 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 Tuesday, please contact Jenny.

Important dates to remember:
December 3 Re-gift Fest donations brought in
December 4 Re-gift Fest “shop”
December 18 Christmas Concert 
December 19 Pizza and Pyjama Day
December 21 Winter Break begins 

Enjoy your weekend!
Warmly,

Ara Van Riel
avanriel@sd64.org


Falling our Christmas tree falling in slow motion!

Many hands helping carry the tree!


Decorating time


 Sensory bag activity


Digging rivers to drain the puddles


Enjoying the flooded paths




Jasmine practicing her numbers

Learning about life cycles





Dice math game




Thursday 22 November 2018

Newsletter #10

November 22nd Edition of
The Kindergarten Class News

Greetings Everyone.
This week was a busy one!

On Monday we had our first session of Big Buddies with Mr. Lightfoot's grade 4/5 class. The kids all had a great time getting to know each other. We also had fun playing games with scarves in the gym and went to the library. Monday was school photo retakes. 

Tuesday we worked on printing and welcomed Johanna (a local artist) in to help the class create Christmas tree art that will be displayed at the Fulford Hall Craft Fair and our Christmas Concert. Later we went to the bog and heard a First Nations legend of why Mt. Maxwell is hunched over. 

On Wednesday the class wrote about what makes them happy in their journals and enjoyed having Quentin come and share a story about Quail with the class. After the story, the kids made their own quails. We also worked on friendship skills with Kaz and played in the forest.

Thursday was a busy day. We had our Whole School Meeting (Jamie and Poppy talked about what they are learning about hibernation with the school), went to Music class, and wrapped up our work with story sequencing in our Oral Language Groups. The kids were happy to get outside at the end of the day and we had a lot of fun in the forest.

Next week we will join our buddy class and walk to the Christmas Tree Farm (the neighbouring property to the school) to select a tree for the school. There won’t be a permission slip sent home as this is a walking trip and there is no cost.

Next week is ‘Ff’ week in Show and Tell. If your child has an item beginning with the “Ff’ sound they would like to bring we welcome it.

Important dates to remember:
November 26th Fieldtrip to the Christmas tree farm.
November 27-29 Book Fair
November 28th is an early dismissal day for student led conferences
December 1 Fulford Christmas Craft Fair
December 4 Re-gift Fest “shop”
December 18 Christmas Concert 
December 21 Winter Break begins 


Enjoy your weekend!

Ara Van Riel
avanriel@sd64.org


Working on beginning sounds and counting. 

Buddies!

Serious work!



 Story bag activity


Exploring the bog. We have water!




Working on the quails.




Making the Christmas Trees with Johanna.












Friday 16 November 2018

Newsletter #9

November 16th Edition of
The Kindergarten Class News

Greetings Everyone.

Monday was a holiday and there was no school. 

On Tuesday, in PE, we started learning about different movement activities using scarves. We also continued to learn about hibernation and later went outside to work on letter identification though a game.

Wednesday the kids were thrilled to find some of the forest paths flooded after a night of heavy rain. They worked together building bridges and exploring the waterways. Those without gumboots had to work around the flooded areas. 

On Thursday I was away at an Early Literacy In-service. The class wrote about what happens in fall in their journals, went to the Whole School Meeting and had Music. 

Friday school was in session but it was a half day. Many children were away but we still had a fun morning. We had free-choice in gym and the kids were excited to find their names appear on the page, as if by magic, during an art project. We ended at 11:30am to accommodate a Curriculum Implementation day for teachers. 

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

Reminder: November 28th is an early dismissal day for student led conferences.This is your child’s opportunity to share their learning with you. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your meeting time so you can visit each learning station with your child. These experiences/meetings are this terms report card.

Important dates to remember:
November 19th Photo retakes
November 26th Fieldtrip to the Christmas tree farm
November 27-29 Book Fair
November 28th is an early dismissal day for student led conferences
December 1 Fulford Christmas Craft Fair
December 4 Re-gift Fest “shop”
December 18 Christmas Concert 
December 21 Winter Break begins 

Enjoy your weekend!

Ara Van Riel
avanriel@sd64.org

Playing an alphabet game outside


 Finding little bits of beauty in nature

Our flooded pathway!


Testing out the bridge we built. In Kindergarten we work on collaboration, problem solving, teamwork, design and engineering! 



Our class




Thursday 8 November 2018

Newsletter #8

November 8th Edition of
The Kindergarten Class News


Hello Everyone!

Another week flies by. We all enjoyed the sunny (yet cold) weather. 

On Monday, we learned about printing the lowercase letter ‘o’, learned more about math during our math stations and started practicing a poem for the Remembrance Day assembly. 

On Tuesday we made poppy wreaths in art and we started learning about hibernation in science. We brought this topic outside and played a hibernation game in the forest.

Wednesday we had our school Remembrance Day Assembly and enjoyed a moving performance by the choir and some of the classes. Our class recited a poem called, “Little Poppy”. They did a great job! 

On Thursday we wrote about peace in our journals and went to a presentation put on local author Aidan Cassie who wrote the children’s book, “Sterling, Best Fork Dog Every”. The kids were inspired by her story and loved the book. Aidan has offered every family a discounted price on her book, sold at Salt Spring Books. A “coupon” page was sent home today. There was no Whole School Meeting because we had gathered on Wednesday. We continued learningabout storytelling in our Oral Language Groups and went to Music in the afternoon.

Scholastic book orders were sent home on Wednesday. If you would like to order a book for Christmas and keep it a surprise, email me and I will get it home to you discretely when it arrives. It is easy to place your order online by going to https://canadaclubs.scholastic.ca/en/home
There are many good titles online that may not be listed in the catalogue.

A reminder that the kids who normally bring Show and Tell on Mondays (Caleb, Chet, Drew, Emma and Elijah) will have their turn on Friday. Next week we are looking for items beginning with the letter 'Dd'. 

Important dates to remember:
November 16 Early dismissal for curriculum implantation day.
November 16 Scholastic book orders due
November 19 Photo retakes
November 21-23 Book Fair
November 28th is an early dismissal day for student led conferences.This is your child’s opportunity to share their learning with you. Please sign up on the share point doc for an interview time or contact me so I can sign up for you. 

Have a nice long weekend!
Warmly,
Ara Van Riel
avanriel@sd64.org

Making things with loose parts!

Fun in the forest.



 Art

More forest adventures





Our class after our end of the day sharing circle.

Math fun





  "Little Poppy" 






Newsletter #24

  March 14 th   Edition of The K/1 Class News Hello Everyone, here is the last newsletter before the break.   We all had a fun week and have...