Newsletter #19

January 29^th Edition of

The Kindergarten Class News

Hello again!

What a wet January it has been! If your child has borrowed any spare clothes, please wash and return them so they are available again. 

Here are just some of the things we did this week:

On Monday the kids we worked on the lowercase letter ‘g’ in printing. We also went to the library and made Chinese New Year art.

Tuesday, we finished up our section of rhyming in our Oral Language groups, played a math game with numbers and dominos and worked on identifying the beginning sound in words.

On Wednesday we started learning about nutrition and wrote about our favourite foods in our journals. We also problem solved in math and worked on reading and writing sight words.

Thursday we played a number game with cards, went to Whole School Meeting (Athena, Duke F. and James presented their art) and the kids went to music. As always, we enjoyed time outside in the afternoon.

Next week will be “Qq” week for Show and Tell.

February is a very busy month. We will be starting a dance unit on Tuesday mornings run by Robbyn Scott, there will be a Valentines Day card exchange on the 13^th and we welcome any shared snacks to be sent in for this. I am also getting a student teacher in April and she will be coming to observe the class next week, Her name is Courtney Meeker and she is in her fourth year at Vancouver Island University. 

Please send back the skating permission slip/$15 by Monday if your child is going to come on our trip. If money is a problem, remember the school can help with financing if you let me know.

February also marks the opening of Kindergarten registration for the fall. If you know of any families with a child who will be 5 this calendar year and are planning on attending Fulford, please let them know to register in the office. 

Important dates to remember:

February 3-6 Student teacher in the class.

February 4 Dance classes start

February 6 Skating trip

February 13 Valentines Day party and Island Health screenings

February 14 Valentines Day

February 14-23 Against the Current: Orca and Salmon exhibit (our kids have salmon art in the show!) Flyer was sent home.

February 17 Family Day (no school)

February 21 School in session 

February 27 Spring Showcase

Warmly,

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org

      

 Searching for crystals in the "small" forest.

 Exploring our Chinese New Year sensory bin.

 Dressing up

 There has been some major block creations going on!

  

Newsletter #18

January 23^rd Edition of

The Kindergarten Class News

Hi Everyone!

The weather has warmed up and the heavy rain has washed away all of the snow. Thankfully most of the kids are equipped with rain gear so we can still venture outside daily. 

On Monday we worked on printing the lowercase letter j, started learning some basketball skills in the gym and made beautiful winter silhouette artwork. We welcomed Rosemary back from her extended holiday and went to the bog (now a full-fledged pond!).

Tuesday we continued working on measurement in math and played another fun rhyming game in our Oral Language groups. Later we talked about what happens in wintertime and made bird feeders out of pinecones, peanut butter and birdseed.

On Wednesday we practiced reading, wrote in our journals and the kids went to math with Mrs. Lamirand. It was a very wet day so we worked on identifying the beginning sound in words and then spent a shorter time outside.

Thursday I was away at another Changing Results for Young Children meeting. The kids went on a math hunt in the morning, had free choice in the gym and went to Whole School Meeting. Later they had music and outside time. It was a very wet day.

There have been a few permission slips sent home. Please make sure you send them back when you get a chance.

Important dates to remember:

February 4 Antler Ridge dance class starts on Tuesdays until early March.

February 6 skating trip

February 13 Valentines Day card exchange/party

February 13 Kindergarten vision and hearing screenings

February 14 Valentines Day

February 17 Family Day (no school)

February 21 School in session

February 27 Spring Showcase 

Enjoy the weekend!

Warmly,

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org

Checking out the bog!

 The work team busy trying to "process" a new fallen tree in the forest!

James, the word finder.

Making bird feeders.

Forest play

      

  

Newsletter #17

January 16th Edition of

The Kindergarten Class News

Hi Everyone!

What an exciting week for the children. We had a lot of fun in the snow.

On Monday we worked on printing the lowercase letter b, learned about the connection between salmon and orcas, went to the library and enjoyed the dusting of snow!

Tuesday we continued working on measurement in math and started back up with our Oral Language groups where we played a rhyming game. The snow came down all day and the kids were thrilled! The forest is very magical at this time.

Wednesday was a snow day! I hope you all enjoyed your time at home.

Thursday we were open and the sun was shining. We enjoyed a fun time doing free choice in the gym and learned a little about some of the animals in The Mitten book. Winter and Nathan presented about what we learned about the cedar tree at Whole School meeting and then Mr. B. covered the class for the afternoon while I was at a meeting.

Next week will be “Oo” week for show and tell. If your child has something beginning with the letter O to show on their day that would be great. I am not strict about this and they are also welcome to bring something they really want to share, even if it doesn’t begin with O. There have been some students who regularly miss their show and tell day so here is the list again as a reminder:

Mondays – Athena, Duke B, Duke F and Louis

Tuesdays – Lachie, James and Nathan

Wednesdays – Melissa, Max and Reverie

Thursdays – Rosemary, Paddy and Winter

Thanks to those of you who have returned the blue art folders. If you still have yours at home, i'll take them any time.

Important dates to remember:

February 6 Skating trip (more info to come)

February 13 Valentines Day class party

February 14 Valentines Day

February 17 Family Day (no school)

February 21 School in session

February 27 Spring Showcase (info to come)

Enjoy the weekend!

Warmly,

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org

 Snow in the forest!

Making rainbows in the snow.

Playing around with larger/smaller pictures.

     

  

Newsletter #16

January 9^th Edition of

The Kindergarten Class News

Welcome back Everyone!

I hope you all had a good holiday and are ready for a great new term.

On Monday the students were very excited to be back at school. They were bursting with stories about their winter break and happy to see each other. We visited the library, played games in the gym and learned about the letter m. Later we read, “The Mitten” and made mitten art. Outside, we started learning about the cedar tree (the tree of life) from a First Nations perspective.

Tuesday we started a math unit on measurement and wrote about our winter break in journals. Later we practiced reading and continued our study of the cedar tree. The kids have also been enjoying the very flooded forest! This is the time of year that we really need a spare change of dry clothes to be at school!

On Wednesday we continued working with the book, “The Mitten” and explored story structure and a writing project. Later the kids went to Mrs. Lamirand for math and then we drew cedar trees outside before forest play. 

On Thursday the class had Music and Whole School Meeting; Athena and Lachie presented their Mitten projects. We also had free choice in the gym and worked on adding in math. We continue to encourage the children to bring in any spare change to donate to Change for Community every Thursday.

If anyone has a stash of plastic bags that they are willing to donate, my supply is out for sending home wet clothes. 

Thank you to those of you who have already returned the blue art folders. I will be starting to fill them up again to send home at the end of the school year.

With the threat of snow in the forecast, please be sure to check your emails in the morning if you are unsure about schools being open. The people who signed up for the phone tree will get a (very early) phone call but there will be emails sent out to everyone if it comes to bus cancelations or school closures. 

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

Warmly,

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org

 Working on making words.

Playing with loose parts.

Buddy reading

Exploring the flooded forest!

Digging trenches to make rivers and a "hot chocolate" store.

Making dams

We got to visit a new baby lamb!

Drawing cedar trees in the outdoor classroom.

Fun with mud 

Buddy math

Centres