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Hello Everyone and Welcome Back!

Today you will see a Shape Of The Week – Tuesday to Friday Page at the top of the blog.  The page provides you with the activities and assignments you are encouraged to complete by the end of this week.  There are 4 reading passages from READ WORKS, 1 creative writing assignment (poetry) and some math activities to access and explore.

I realize that everyone is on a different learning journey within our grade 2/3 class.  The reading passages have a range between grades 2-4.  All reading passages and questions have an audio option.  I encourage students to read as much as they can independently but absolutely use the read aloud option for support. At the end of each passage you are directed to move on to the question portion of the activity. The first  few questions are multiple choice.  The remaining questions require you to create an answer.  Again, everyone is moving at their own academic pace.  Therefore, some of you will answer only the multiple choice questions.  Some of you will answer all the questions.  And some of you will answer multiple choice for some reading passages and all answers for other reading passages.  Whatever works best for you this week.  The only request I have is that you make sure you click SUBMIT after you have completed whatever you can for each story.

I have also made the time frame for the reading passages the entire week.  I am hoping you are able to complete 1 story a day but if it works better to complete 2 on one day, you can.  Please try to complete all 4 but it is expected that you complete what suits your learning needs.  I am keeping scores private for this week.

If you have any questions about the READING PASSAGES, please not hesitate to email me joanne.enchelmaier@burnabyschools.ca or comment on this post.  I do realize that even reading the daily blog posts requires parent support so I fully understand that parent guidance is necessary.  Thank you so very much for being a partner in this with me. Hopefully, more student independence will develop over the coming weeks.

Please work through the other activities listed in the Shape of The Week.  No other assignments will be given this week other than those listed on the Shape Of The Week Page. I will add a blog post daily. By the end of the week, the cinquain can be emailed to me, scanned and attached to an email or even sent through a comment on one of this weeks blog posts. The Mrs. E. Doll photo can be emailed to me.  Just remember to add your name to any work sent in.   It is expected that at least one of the activities will be shared with me.

Have a terrific Tuesday!  Mrs. E.

We have made it to the end of another school week Division 9.  We have all been distanced from one another for 4 weeks now.  Yet, we continue to be in this together.

I want you to know how thankful I am for the work you have been doing with your families.  I understand that it has most likely been a challenge to find space, time and energy to move through all of the emails, blog posts, activities and new technology for your entire family.

Our families are very diverse with a variety of dynamic situations going on in the home at this time.  It is just like our classroom where we have diverse needs and dynamic learning journey experiences.  Just as I have to respect the variety of individuals that you all represent in my class, I have to respect those same unique qualities while you are at home.

Therefore, next week, use the Shape of the Week as a guide of opportunities for you to engage in and explore.  Choose 1 activity/assignment to share with me or do them all.  Wherever your learning journey takes you, go with it.  Some of you are participating in the most creative and rewarding educational experiences and extensions of your learning with your parents and siblings as your guide.  As I mentioned, we are in this together and I appreciate the team that we have!

If you have not yet sent me a picture or statement about the Clinton Heart Project, please do today if you would like it added to an album that I may be able to share so that we can have our own Division 9 Neighbourhood Walk.  Please try to access the READ WORKS program, even if you just attempt 1 question, so that I know you have been able to access the program.  On Tuesday, I will clarify about READ WORKS so you can all move through it in a way that best suits you and your learning.  The Shape of the Week will be posted on a page at the top of the BLOG.

Now for Think About it Thursday…what do you think about this?

Good morning everyone!  I hope you have had a chance to view the special message Clinton staff sent to you.  The video was a sharing of our hearts to let you know that we miss you.  I have added the video to the resources link on the side bar of the blog.

You may have also noticed that I have a new special addition to my family.  It is our new puppy named Winnie, short for Winslow.  She arrived on Saturday and was 10 weeks old on Monday.  Her story is very similar to the chapter book story by E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web, that we were reading before Spring Break. 

Hannah, my daughter, is like the character Fern in Charlotte’s Web.  Our little Winnie is like Wilbur.  She was the “runt” of a litter of Cocker Spaniel puppies.  She almost didn’t survive.  She has had a few surgeries already in her short little life.  She is fiesty, smart and full of life despite still being about half the size she should be for her age. We love her soooo much!

This is why I chose a reading passage about a dog for our new reading program that I mentioned in a family email I sent out.  Some of you have already tried out Read Works.  Thank you.  By Friday, I am hoping that all of you will have at least signed in and tried a few questions so that I can see that you have access to the Reading Program.  On Tuesday, we will start with a story a day.  The weekly passages will all have the same theme for the week.

I know many of you have been getting outside for walks with your families.  We were to begin the Walk 30 Challenge at Clinton this month.  During our community walks, I would have asked you to look at all the different plants blooming and blossoming.  So keep your eyes peeled for tulips, daffodils and crocus.  Some plants that Clare, Selina and Cara may remember are peony, rhododendron and azalea.  Lilac will pop out in May and you may see hydrangea.  There are so many garden and wild flowers that you may come across. The Cherry Blossom Trees are beautiful at this time of year and I know Clinton Street usually has a canopy of blossoms.

So look, look and look again for these signs of Spring.  I may post some photos of plants that I come across but until then, if you are not sure of what you are looking for there are many images online.  And if you want to check out another science site that also supports your understanding of plants, copy and paste this link https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/pictures/plants.html   It is also another great resource for learning about our planet and nature.  Have a great day!

mysteryscience.com/live

Dear families,

There is going to be a special live science show done by someone named Mystery Doug today, Tuesday, April 7th. He’s a science educator you may all enjoy seeing. All you need to do is open this website link:

https://mysteryscience.com/live

The show will be about 20 minutes long and will start at:

10am PT
Tuesday, April 7

P.S. Can’t make it live? View the recording at mysteryscience.com/live after the event

Hello Division 9!  I have a heart felt activity for you to participate in.  Many students and classes at Clinton will be joining in this opportunity.  Click below and a word document with the information about the Clinton Heart Hunt will download for you to read.  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and will enjoy sharing the love!

clintonschoolhearthunt (1)

Eyela has been wanting to say “hello” to all of you for some time now.  She really misses you.  She sends her love and wants you to know she has been practicing social distancing, hand washing and staying at home.  I really enjoyed being able to connect with so many of you either by phone call or email this week. You all seem to be doing well, engaging in many wonderful activities with your families.  I am very fortunate to be able to work with such a wonderful group of students and families.  Enjoy your weekend. Eyela and I are going to get out for a walk now.  The hail has stopped and the sun is shining.

Spring has sprung and I’m delighted to be able to connect with you despite the current circumstances.  The last BLOG post I shared, welcomed you to a new decade of possibilities.  Never did I imagine the possibilities we would have to consider during a pandemic.  I am hoping that you are all well and found interesting ways to experience a most unique Spring Break.

As today would have been our first day back at Clinton, you can imagine that I would have asked students to reflect on their Spring Break adventures.  I do believe that this still may be a starting place as we move forward in a direction that I too am learning to navigate through at this time.

So, Division 9 students, please continue to reflect on each day.  Consider our classroom learning journey and where you might place your personal icon.  Are you on an uphill, downhill or wishing you could carpool! Keep a daily diary of your thoughts, experiences and activities.  I encourage you to consider the weather each day as you write your journal entry.  Look outside.  Watch the trees.  Look at the shadows.  Watch the clouds.  Notice the raindrops. Taking time to observe the weather patterns of the season will help you when considering the setting of a story that you read or write about.

Speaking of story and writing, congratulations to Cara, Bosco, Prisha and Evan Sihota.  Their writing pieces were chosen as winners in the Burnaby District WORDS writing contest.  So proud of all my Division 9 student writers.

This week, I’ll be communicating with Clinton staff, gaining some insight and understanding as to how we move forward as Clinton Thunderbird Stars.  Until we next connect, know that I miss you, I am thinking about you and we are all in this together.

Hope you all have a Meaningful, Marvelous Monday!

Mrs. Enchelmaier

The start of 2020 in Room 15 has been filled with so many opportunities already.  

We began with considering all of our curiousities and wonders, adding to our I Wonder Board. What creative imaginations the students have.  Their imaginations will support the possibilities of our ADST (Applied Design Skills and Technology) sessions taking place in the library.  They are getting the chance to work with Keva Planks, Lego Chutes, Little Codr Cards, Pixel Art, Elenco Snap Circuits, Circle Loom Knitting and much more.  Each center will help to develop their exploration, problem-solving and building/making skills but more importantly their self regulation, perseverance and resilience.  

As students continue to understand that everything on Earth is connected and that making a difference in the lives of others is important, they have been part of a writing campaign sending letters to volunteers who are supporting the animals of Australia affected by the bush fires.  Each student has written a letter of kindness and care along with a picture of their favourite Aussie animal to the volunteers of WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation.    We hope that our messages of hope will continue to support the many who have experienced such challenging circumstances.   https://www.wires.org.au                                             

As we move through January and February, we look forward to PowWow Dance Lessons, Snowshoeing, a Lion Dance Performance for Chinese New Year, a hand drumming workshop, the Burnaby South Science Fair, Literacy Week and our final Soccer Clinic Lesson.

We are certainly beginning our decade with so many possibilities.  

Ho ho ho!  The Division 9, Room 15 hot chocolate/tea stand has been a wonderful experience for staff and volunteers at Clinton School.  The students appreciate having visitors come to the classroom and enjoy a cup of warmth.  

Peter Pan was a memorable time as students enjoyed watching Tinker Bell hang from the walls of the theatre and Peter Pan trick old Captain Hook.  A walk through Granville Island and lunch at the Kids Market Place was a treat.

Soccer lessons have been lively and fun.  Division 9 decorated the gym doors with colourful soccer balls with messages of  gratitude and kindness.  

We look forward to gingerbread cookie decorating, band concert, the Pancake Breakfast and Christmas sing a long next week.

Have a festive December!  Only 2 weeks until Christmas.

Happy New Year from Division 9.  

It is so nice to see the progress the students have been making over the past few months.  They are putting forth a positive work ethic and enjoying the many activities they have been part of. Learning about the temperate and tropical rain forests was highlighted by the ScienceMadeFun Synergy Shannon scientist.  She brought the canopy, understory and forest floor to the classroom. Taking part in the Legacy Walk, wearing purple and proudly displaying the Orange Shirt Day signs made a very powerful statement in the community.  We are so very excited to have our indigenous artist support our reconciliation path to reconciliaction by engaging the students in the planning of a mural that he will create for our school.  The mural launch assembly will take place at the end of the month.  Having opportunities to work with a variety of classes has been rewarding for Division 9.  They work with the Division 5 buddy class regularly, participate in P.E. class with Division 11 once a week and have enjoyed time spent with Division 8 and our camouflage hunts.  Working with the entire school on Rangoli drawings to create awareness and understanding about Diwali made for a memorable afternoon.  And what a crazy day we had on crazy hair and hat day.  The teachers really enjoyed participating as well.  As we look toward December, the class is getting excited about welcoming the staff into our classroom for hot chocolate/tea and a sweet treat.  They have already created the invites.  Appreciating and giving back to the community will hopefully open up their hearts as well.

December will be full of experiences too. We look forward to soccer lessons, an Urban Safari visit, Peter Pan, gingerbread cookie decorating, pajama day, pancake breakfast and the sing-along.