Category Archives: Holiday Actitivies

Early or Late Spring?

Thousands of years ago when animalism and nature worship were prevalent, people in the part of Europe where Germany is today, believed that the badger had the power to predict the coming of spring. They watched the badger to know when to plant their crops.
This tradition was brought over to North America, predominantly to Pennsylvania in the United States, where it was the groundhog, not the badger, which made these “predictions”.
According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow on February 2 it will return to its burrow, indicating that there will be six more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, then spring is on the way.
The Groundhog Day concept first became popular in Canada in 1956 when Wiarton Willie became a household name for his early February weather predictions. Wiarton’s Groundhog Day festival grew as Willie’s fame increased. It became one of the largest winter festivals in Bruce County, Canada.
There are also other groundhogs in different parts of Canada. For example, Shubenacadie Sam is reportedly the first groundhog in the country to stick its head out on Groundhog Day. Other groundhogs include: Gary the Groundhog in Ontario, Brandon Bob in Manitoba and Balzac Billy in Alberta.

Kennedy, Ava and I will be watching what Shubenacadie Sam does in Halifax and we’re both hoping he doesn’t see his shadow and spring is on its way! We need some sun and warmer weather!

What do you think will happen?! Let me know in the comment section!

Merry Christmas Division 9! I hope everyone has had tons of fun over the past week celebrating and spending time with your friends and families! It’s been a nice and relaxing time during the past week celebrating my birthday and Christmas with my family! Kennedy and Ava and I have been visiting the German Christmas Market, watching movies, visiting family and taking care of our stick bugs. There’s now 11!! We’ll head to Comox to see Kennedy and Ava’s Grandma and Grandad after New Years. Enjoy your 2nd week of winter holidays everyone and I can’t wait to hear about all your celebrations when we return in 2025!

Jingle’s last week with us had her Playing Battleship with our Starbucks bear, Hanging from Ms Watt’s stained glass, Getting in a sticky situation on our clock and Becoming stuck in a Pepsi bottle! I sure hope she was proud of our behaviour these past 3 weeks and will give us a thumbs up to Santa! 

Click HERE for a closer look!

Jingle continued to visit us this week, Riding in Santa’s sleigh on Mrs Roberts bulletin board, Keeping an eye on our Calendar and Stealing Ms Watt’s candy canes to hide for everyone in our classroom.


Click HERE for a closer look!

Jingle has been having so much fun hanging out with Division 9’s Grade 3s this past week. Riding Ms. Watt’s reindeer, Snoozing in the Lucky Duck bowl, hiding out in the Treasure Chest and Falling into a stocking.
I can’t wait to see what she gets up to next week!


Click HERE for a closer look at her adventures!

Santa has been sending Jingle, a friendly scout elf from the North Pole, to Room 203 to watch and report on whether Nelson’s Grade 3s are being naughty or nice! She keeps an eye on who is filling their classmates’ buckets during the month of December. Looks like she’s back and having some fun!
I can’t wait to see who’ll be the first to spy the new spot she’ll be watching from each day! I hope her daily report to Santa includes many acts of kindness that she witnesses in our classroom.

  
A December Calendar packed with super fun holiday activities is soon to come and theres Grinch and Max enjoying a book at our listening centre!?
What’s your favourite song to sing along with at Christmas time?

A partially decorated door awaiting your finishing touch!
What’s your favourite part of the winter season?!