Important Information, Updates and Reminders from Room 15/16

Outdoor Play 

Each day our students head outside to play (the exception to this is when it’s below -20 or there is a lot of rain – those days will be blue days). They have a 15 minute recess break in the morning as well as a break at lunch. As the cooler weather begins, please make sure that your child is dressed for the weather (rain, snow).

Paint Shirt

We regularly use paint, playdough and science materials in our classroom. These materials may occasionally stain clothing. If possible, please send a paint shirt (an old shirt, or a shirt that you do not mind getting ruined, it can even be a parent’s old shirt) to school with your child in a plastic bag. This will be kept on their hook to use when we are completing messy tasks in the classroom. Once the shirt has been used, or when it needs to be washed, it will be sent back home in your child’s backpack.

Change of Clothes 

With the rainy weather earlier this week, we noticed many students getting wet outside. If possible, please send a change of clothing in your child’s backpack (it can stay in their backpack) that can be used in case they get wet, have a water bottle or juice spill in the classroom or an accident. 

Birthdays 

Birthdays are always an exciting time in Grade 1! Due to allergies and food restrictions, we would prefer that for your child’s birthday you do not send in any food based items. Instead, we would love to celebrate your child’s birthday by learning more about them! Students are welcome to bring in their favourite picture book for us to read to the class on their birthday, as well as bring in two special items for show and tell. If you have further questions about this, please contact your child’s teacher. For students who have birthdays in August, they can bring in their book and special show and tell items in September. July birthdays can bring their items in June. 

Conferences

Next week we have our first set of sit down Parent/Teacher Conferences. The conferences have now opened online. Next Thursday, September 19^th will be an early dismissal day at 12:30pm. There will be no school for students on Friday, September 20^th. Conferences will be happening on Thursday, September 19^th from 3:30-7:30pm and Friday, September 20^th from 8am-12pm.

Slugs

This morning we had some special slug friends visit our classroom. We spent time observing the slugs and then recorded what we noticed and wondered in our green journals. We are curious, are slugs and snails the same? Are they different? Tomorrow we will continue our discussion!

This afternoon we read a book called, "How to read a story". We learned that there are many steps to reading. Then, we practiced with a friend.

At the end of the day, we learned a new math game. Room 15 and 16 practiced different games. Room 15 was learning about making 10s using ten frames.

Great First Week!

We had a great first week with the kids. It was nice to meet so many families last night at the Open House event. Today we had a short assembly to welcome all the students back and discuss our school values and pillars of care. We will be focusing on the 3 pillars of care daily in the classroom. They are 1) Care for Self
2) Care for Others
3) Care for Place
Ask your child for an example of what each of these look like.

Reminders: Monday September 9 is picture day.
On Wednesday September 11 you can sign up for Student Learning Conferences. There are more details in the Weekly Update sent out today from Mr. Emery.

Have a great weekend!

Day 2

We had another great day getting to know the students and their interests. We read a story called "I Like Myself" and after discussing the uniqueness of each student, they planned and decorated their person shape to look like them. The students practiced tracing, cutting and glueing during this creative task and wrote what they like about themselves. 
We continued our discussion about bubbles and students used popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners to create a bubble wand. Tomorrow they will look for answers to their questions about the shapes of bubbles when we test them outside.


Reminders:
-please fill out and return the demographic forms in the white envelope that went home with students yesterday.

-please send an old shirt or smock that your child can use during messy art and science activities

-Tomorrow (Thursday) is the Maple Ridge Open House from 5-7. This is a chance to see the classroom and come say hello to the teachers. There will also be ice cream!

 Formal conferences will take place in a couple weeks where you will be able to sit down with your child's teacher and have the opportunity to share information about your child, ask questions and find out more about activities this year. We will post more info about this at a later date.

Our first day in Grade 1!

We had a wonderful first day in Grade 1!

This morning we explored table top centres, read a story called "First Day Jitters" and completed a journal entry about our summer holidays. The boys and girls were sure excited to share about their adventures this summer!!

This afternoon we did our first science experiment! We explored how to make bubbles using a spray bottle, a straw and some dish soap. We even got to wear special scientist goggles! How exciting! We ended our afternoon with the question, "are all bubbles round"? If we make a bubble wand that is a star or a diamond, will our bubble change shape? We are excited to explore this question further this week!