Six more full days of school until summer holidays!!!

We started the week by painting our wood salmon as a part of the “Stream of Dreams” project. We are looking forward to the Fall when all of the fish will be installed on our fence.

On Thursday, the students had a challenge: Use a ball of plasticine to make it into a shape that can float THEN test how many “fish” it can hold before it sinks! They absolutely loved this challenge. Here are some photos:

Then, today we made “thank you” cards and delivered them to all of the helpers in our school to show gratitude for all they do at Brantford.

Have a lovely weekend!

PS The last day of school is Tuesday June 29, dismissal at 10:55.

Wow-we had a blast this week! From making creations using a box to making catapults, we have enjoyed working together during many hands-on lessons!

Here are a few photos:

We read “Not a Box” and “Boxitects” for inspiration to turn a plain box into something else!

Then we read “If I Could Build a Car” and designed our dream cars. Some even had pools and grass fields!

Next, we read “21 Elephants and still standing” which a story about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. We planned and created bridges that could hold 21 elephants, but instead of testing our bridges with elephants, we used 21 dinosaurs!

And finally today we made Elephant Toothpaste and catapults!!

We will be particiapting in the STREAM of DREAMS project on Monay. Please send your child to school in old clothing as the paint we will be using does not wash out.

Have a lovely weekend!

Hello families!

I hope your child has told you that our class is traveling across Canada by reading stories that happen in different parts of Canada. This past week, we traveled to Newfoundland, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Today we read “The Gift of Inukshuk” and learned about Aurora Borealis. The students created beautiful Inukshuk art. I will send a photo next week.

With the very hot temperatures in our classroom earlier this week, we did not feel like doing very much seatwork so we had a lovely puzzle time instead.

We also prepared our daffodil bulbs for storage so we can plant them again in the fall.

I had so many helpers who wanted to clean our floor mats! They worked so hard at cleaning that I would love to take them to my home to clean it!

Have a lovely weekend!

Hello families!

While Ms. Cantafio was teaching the class, the students practiced reading and performing plays including The Little Red Hen, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and The Three Little Pigs.  They were so excited to perform their plays for me this week. They did an exceptional job reading and working as a team during their performances!

We were invited by Mr. McKay’s class to buy books that their class had published. It was a wonderful learning activity where the students were given money to use for their purchases. They needed to count and make change in order to buy their stories.  Check out the photos below from our visit to Mr. McKay’s class.

The June calendar was sent home today.

Please make a note of the early dismissal on Monday June 7 at 12:58.

Have a lovely weekend!

Hello families!

I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know that I am doing well in my recovery. I am still hobbling around (I can’t walk very far yet) but I am still hoping to return to class next week.

I truly miss all the kids so much! Ms. Cantafio tells me they are doing really well.

When I return, the students are going to be helping to plan our last month of the school year. We will be focusing on STEAM activities and lots of outdoor lessons (STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). If you have a moment to research some STEAM lessons ahead of time that would be great! Check out the following links for some ideas. I would love for each student to contribute an idea for a lesson (building paper tube marble tracks, creating ramps for toy cars, building clay boats, etc.).

STEAM activities

More ideas

Reminders:

Friday May 21 is a PRO-D DAY. No school for students.

Monday May 24 is Victoia Day Holiday. School Closed.

Have a wonderful week!

Is it really the last day of April already?

Student Led Conference Folders

On Thursday, your child brought home their student led folder.  Please read the enclosed yellow notice and make time to go through your child’s work with them. Please return the folder, Poetry/Song book, journal, and completed yellow form by Monday.

Ms. C. is having surgery next week

I will be having varicose vein removal surgery on Wednesday.  I have been waiting three years for this surgery so even though I am very sorry to leave the class for 2 weeks of recovery, I felt that I needed to take this opportunity.  I am pleased to announce that Ms. Cantafio will be my replacement until May 25. She has been a TOC in our class already and we have made lesson plans for my time away to ensure their is continuity in lessons.

“Read Every Day” Book bags

I have sent home about 10 books for each student to read at home over the next few weeks. Please keep the book bags at home until I return. Re-reading the books is a wonderful way for students to increase their reading confidence and improve reading skills. RED book bags can be returned during the week of May 25.

Outdoor Learning Photos

Our class tree and potato plants!

Please look for the May calendar with your child’s planner today.

Hello families!

I am very excited to share the news that I was vaccinated on Friday!!! I owe it all to a mother of a previous student who told me about a Burnaby Pharmacy that was offering walk in vaccinations. This is one step toward helping our school community become even safer!

Chess Mania

Uk created this amazing chess board a few weeks ago. The students all became interested in playing chess. We were fortunate to find some chess boards at school so the students are very excited to learn and play chess.

Earth Day

We read the story called “The Lorax” this week. The students were very engaged in talking about how we can take care of the Earth and only take what we need from the Earth. They had so many ideas of how we can show gratitude to the Earth for everything it provides for us.

For our art activity, the students created their own special “Truffala” trees inspired by the Lorax.

You can watch the story on Youtube at this link The Lorax or watch the longer movie on Netflix.

We also listened to a lovely story titled “Thank you Earth”. Watch it by clicking on this link:

Thank You Earth

Indigenous Learning

We had a special lesson from our district’s Indigenous Learning Teacher, Ms. Gamble.  We learned and discussed the reasons why acknowledging the land we live on is so important and learned some special greetings.

and, of course, we had lots of fun building, creating, and playing as always! I continue to be amazed by the creativity of your kids!

Happy Spring everyone! The sunshine this week has allowed us to get outside as much as possible.

The students have probably mentioned that we go outside for our Morning Exercise Circuit EVERY DAY. It has been a great way to wake up our bodies to be ready for learning at school.

Here are some pictures of us doing our math lesson outside:

Our daffodils have fully bloomed! Have a look at the students’ gorgeous “Still life” drawings of our daffodils!

**The students brought home an incomplete assignment titled “The Six Senses of Spring”. If you want to complete it at home, please do so. It is not mandatory to complete it.

Please return your child’s report card envelope (see picture) if you have not already done so. You can keep all the papers inside, I just need the envelope for the final report.

Please make a note that Monday April 26 is a pro-d day. School will be closed for students.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Welcome back to school!

The class has settled nicely back into the classroom routines.  I am very happy to return to the classroom to see their faces and be a part of their learning once again.

Outdoor Fitness

Beginning on Tuesday April 6, we will start every day with outdoor fitness.  Students will enter class as usual at 8:50, wash hands, and hang up backpacks. Then we will be heading to the spider web area at 8:55.  If for some reason you arrive at school later than 8:55, please walk your child to find us outside.

Sunflower Seed Planting

In September, we saved some seeds from our gigantic sunflower that we studied in our classroom. We just planted some of the seeds in our classroom and hope to transfer them to the outdoor planters once the weather is warmer.

Potato Plant Update

Over the Spring Break, our seed potatoes sprouted. One sprout is already higher than the edge of the tub!

We will continue to “hill” (adding soil as needed) until our sprouts are growing leaves. Hopefully, by the end of June we will be ready to harvest our potatoes.

Easter egg decorating

The students were SOOOO excited to dye eggs for Easter. These are hard boiled eggs so if you want to save them please keep them in the fridge to prevent the smell from spreading. I told the kids that I don’t recommend eating them as they had been out of the fridge for a while.

Easter Weekend

A reminder that school is closed on Friday April 2 and Monday April 5 for the Easter weekend.

Please return your child’s report card envelope if you have not done so already. Thank you!

Take care! Stay safe!

Hello families!

We must be approaching Spring…our daffodils are sprouting!

We finally completed our animal research projects and habitat dioramas. They are in the display case for everyone to admire! Way to go Division 14!

We began a “wet felting” project for the Burnaby Art Gallery’s program titled “Arts Alive.” The theme this year is “connections”. Each student chose a colour of wool. We shared a bit of each colour with every student. Then students learned how to rub the wool with water and soap in a plastic bag so it all became connected. I can’t wait to assemble all of the creations into a beautiful wall hanging to be displayed at the art gallery for this year’s exhibit!

all of the creations drying on the clothesline!

Important dates to remember:

Friday March 12 – Report Cards sent home, last day of school before Spring Break

March 15 – 26 Spring Break

Monday March 29 – School re-opens

Have a lovely weekend!