Newsletter #10

November 22^nd 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 26^th Fieldtrip to the Christmas tree farm.

November 27-29 Book Fair

November 28^th 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.

Newsletter #9

November 16^th 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 28^th 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 19^th Photo retakes

November 26^th Fieldtrip to the Christmas tree farm

November 27-29 Book Fair

November 28^th 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

Newsletter #8

November 8^th 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 28^th 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 #7

November 1^st Edition of

The Kindergarten Class News

Hello once again!

We had a spooktacular week!

Monday we practiced printing the lowercase ‘c’. We also had Jessica in again to help with our math stations and went to the library. Later in the afternoon we practiced writing our names in nature and had fun in the forest. 

On Tuesday we made rainbow letters and focused on the different ways people communicate (words, sign language, body language, writing, drawing etc.). We wrote and drew about communicating in our journals. In the forest the kids used a hula-hoop Ven diagram to compare similarities and differences in different coloured leaves.

Wednesday was a day full of excitement and anticipation. We enjoyed the costume parade, went to a haunted house and made a witches brew! The afternoon was our class party. We all had a blast and everyone enjoyed the shared snack. Thanks to the parents who contributed, what a treat! 

Thursday everyone was understandably a little tired after the festivities and appreciated it being PJ day! We made firework art and Violet and Marrella showed theirs to the school at our Whole School Meeting. The kids went to music and then learned more about story telling and using ‘juicy words’ through wordless picture books during Oral Language Groups. 

As we are now in the rainy season, please remember to send your child to school with a rain jacket. We spend time outdoors most days and the children need a waterproof layer. Rain pants and rubber boots are also helpful items.

Important Dates to remember:

Nov. 7 Fulford’s Remembrance Day Assembly at 11:00am

Nov. 12 School closed for Remembrance Day Holiday 

Nov. 16 Early Dismissal
Nov. 19 Photo retakes

Nov.27-29 Book Fair

Nov. 28 Early Dismissal for Student Led Conferences (this is considered your child’s report card so it is important to be available on this day. A sign up sheet was shared through a link provided. If you are unable to use the doc let me know what time slot you would like and I can fill it in for you if it's still free).

Have a great weekend!

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org

Math stations

Writing names is nature

 Fuzzy caterpillar! 

Comparing leaves

Halloween Fun!