Grade 1 News & Updates

I am so excited to welcome you back to our amazing school on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 9:00am! I can't wait to meet you all as we begin an exciting year of learning and fun together! See you soon!

~ Mr. G

June 19, 2023

Dear Families,

It’s hard to believe that I am sitting at my computer to write our very last update of the 2022-2023 school year! I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by! We have learned lots of new things and had lots of fun along the way. It has truly been my pleasure to work with each one of your incredible children. While I am tremendously sad to see them go, I believe that they are more than ready for Grade Two and their new teacher will be lucky to have each and every one of them! Here are a few final reminders to get our last four days together started:

School Lunch Association – School lunch services have concluded for the year. Children will require a packed snack and lunch each day this week!

Picnic in the Park – We are excited to celebrate a successful year in Grade One with a picnic in the park! On Monday, June 19, 2023 (weather permitting), we will be visiting Bowring Park in St. John’s for a day of fun at the park. On this day, we will have the opportunity to participate in some park activities, including: playing some games, playing on the playground, and visiting the duck pond. We will also be eating lunch at the park.

Your child will need a recess snack and lunch packed from home. It would also be a good idea to pack a couple of extra drinks and/or a water bottle. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the changing weather and temperature. Your child should wear a hat and sneakers appropriate for walking and playing safely. Flipflops or sandals should not be worn on this day! Please apply sunscreen and insect repellant at home in the morning and send along the bottle in a sealed baggie inside your child’s backpack so that he/she may reapply throughout the day. Your child may also bring a beach towel or small blanket to sit on during our picnic lunch.

If the weather is not favourable on this day, our Picnic in the Park will be rescheduled to Tuesday, June 20, or Wednesday, June 21.

Beach Day – In the event that our Picnic in the Park does not go ahead, Monday, June 19, 2023 will Beach Day! Students are encouraged to dress for a day at the beach (shorts, t-shirt, sandals/flip flops, hat, sunglasses, etc.). Students are invited to bring along a beach towel to sit on. We will participate in some math, literacy, and art activities with a beach theme. We will enjoy a cold beach treat!

Ice Cream Day – Our year end celebrations will continue this week with Ice Cream Day on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Today, our Math, Literacy, and Art learning will focus on the theme of ice cream! We will also enjoy an ice cream sundae treat in the afternoon. There is nothing that families need to prepare at home for this day.

Backpacks – Please ensure your child brings his/her backpack during the final days of school as I will be sending some things home. It is important that parents check the backpack each evening and remove any items that are sent home. Your cooperation in this regard is much appreciated!

Summer Reading and Writing – It is important that you continue to practice essential skills with your child now and throughout the summer. I would encourage you to maintain a nightly reading routine with your child. Continued practice of writing skills as well as Math concept is essential in preserving the gains made in these areas this year. It sets the appropriate tone and foundation for continued success in Grade Two! Setting aside just a few minutes each day throughout the summer will do a world of wonder! Please continue to review your child’s high-frequency words periodically throughout the summer. The public library is an awesome source of reading material over the summer months (and all year)! If your child does not have a library card, I would recommend a visit to pick one up. It is completely free!

Library Books & Baggie Books – Please have a look around your home for any missing library books and/or baggie books. Your anticipated cooperation and attention to this matter is appreciated!

Last Day of School – The last day of school for this year will be Thursday, June 22, 2023. Report cards will not be released prior to this date. We will have a compacted day with a short lunch break. Dismissal will be at 1:00pm. All children will require a packed lunch from home today! Please let me know of any changes to your child’s regular dismissal routine for our final day of Grade One.

School Supply Lists – School supply lists for Grade Two will be available on our school website throughout the summer. Hopefully, this will allow you to take advantage of the Back to School sales over the summer months.

Moving? – If your family will be moving outside of our school zone during the summer, please let us know. This is to ensure your child’s registration at the new school may be in place for September.

Back to School – The first day of school will be Wednesday, September 6, 2023. We look forward to welcoming you all back at this time!

I am looking forward to spending the last four days with your children and sharing in their excitement!

Have a Fantastic Week and an Awesome Summer!!!

Sincerely,

~ Mr. G

June 12, 2023

Dear Families,

Wow! The very last full week together in Grade One is upon us! It is hard to believe how fast this year has gone by. I am looking forward to spending this time with the most amazing children as we continue our learning and celebrate an awesome year together! Here are a few notes to get our last several days together started:

Field Trip Permission Slip – If you have not yet returned your child’s field trip permission slip along with the $4 fee, please do so by Monday, June 12, 2023.

Second-Hand Book Sale – Our class will attend the second-hand book sale on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Books will be sold for 25 cents each with a maximum of 4 books per child. If your child is interested in making a purchase, please send along $1 on Tuesday!

Board Game Day - Children are invited to bring their favorite board game to play with their classmates during the afternoon of Tuesday, June 13, 2023. When choosing your game, please make sure the instructions are easy to follow and there are not a lot of small pieces! No electronics, please!

Watermelon Day – Wednesday, June 14, 2023 is Watermelon Day! We will focus our learning today on the watermelon theme and enjoy a couple of watermelon treats. There is no preparation required from home, other than ensuring your child is wearing sunscreen in the event the weather permits us to get outside.

Rainbow & Bubble Day – Thursday, June 15, 2023 is Rainbow & Bubble Day! Students will participate in Math, Literacy, and Art activities with a bubble theme. Parents are asked to please send along a bottle of bubbles for your child to use on this day, as we will have the opportunity to go outside (weather permitting) to blow a few bubbles! We will also talk about diversity and inclusion today.

Picnic in the Park – We are excited to celebrate a successful year in Grade One with a picnic in the park! On Friday, June 16, 2023, we will be visiting Bowring Park in St. John’s for a day of fun at the park. On this day, we will have the opportunity to participate in some park activities, including: playing some games, playing on the playground, and visiting the duck pond. We will also be eating lunch at the park.

Your child will need a recess snack and lunch packed from home on this day. It would also be a good idea to pack a couple of extra drinks and/or a water bottle. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the changing weather and temperature. Your child should wear a hat and sneakers appropriate for walking and playing safely. Flipflops or sandals should not be worn on this day! Please apply sunscreen and insect repellant at home in the morning and send along the bottle in a sealed baggie inside your child’s backpack so that he/she may reapply throughout the day. Your child may also bring a beach towel or small blanket to sit on during our picnic lunch.

If the weather is not favourable on this day, our Picnic in the Park will be rescheduled to Monday, June 19, Tuesday, June 20, or Wednesday, June 21.

Pajama Day & Movie Afternoon – If the weather is unfavourable for our field trip to Bowring Park, we will instead have our PJ and movie day. Children are invited to wear their PJs to school and bring an extra snack and drink to enjoy during the movie. If our field trip to the park does go ahead, PJ Day and Movie Afternoon will be held on Monday, June 19, 2023 instead.

School Lunch Association – There will be no school lunch service during the last week of school. As a result, all children will require a packed lunch from home on these days. Service by the School Lunch Association will conclude as of Friday, June 16, 2023.

Homework – Our homework and baggie book routine has concluded for the year! Thank you so much for making homework, especially reading, a priority in your home this year. While your child will no longer receive a baggie book, it is essential that you continue to read with and to your child over the summer months. Listening to you read gives your child the opportunity to hear a fluent and expressive reader. The progress that has been made over the course of the year has been truly amazing. I could not be prouder of the wonderful readers your children have become this year! Reading for fun together each day now and during the summer will help maintain the excellent progress that has been made. Additionally, it will help set the tone for another successful year in Grade 2!

Please continue to review your child’s high-frequency words periodically throughout the summer. Continued practice of writing skills as well as math concepts is essential in preserving the gains made in these areas this year.

BEE Folder – Please continue to send your child’s BEE Folder and Baggie to school each day. This will help us continue with our regular daily routines and keep us organized for dismissal. It is important to check your child’s BEE Folder each evening for correspondence from school and please remove any corrected work or activities that may remain at home. Your anticipated cooperation with this is much appreciated!

Library Books & Baggie Books – Please have a look around your home for any missing library books and/or baggie books. A notice of any missing library books signed out to you child will come home this week. Your anticipated cooperation and attention to this matter is appreciated!

Sunscreen – With the late spring/early summer weather upon us, we will be spending more time outside for free play as well as many learning opportunities. Please apply sunscreen at home before coming to school in the morning. You may also wish to send along a bottle of sunscreen for your child to apply in the afternoon.

Water Bottle – Please remember to send a filled water bottle (water only please!) with your child each morning as water fountains remain closed at this time. There is a water filling station in the main foyer where water bottles may be refilled, if necessary. Please remember, water bottles should be spill-proof and not require the top to be removed for drinking.

Change of Clothes – Please ensure your child has a complete change of clothing at school. This can remain in his/her locker for the reminder of the year. By having a change of clothes, we hope to cut down to unnecessary calls home and visits to the school in the event of a spill or getting wet while outside.

Scholastic Orders: Scholastic has reintroduced the “Ship to the Classroom” option. This means that families may place an order for as little as $3 and have it shipped to the classroom without shipping costs. As always, please submit your order online and choose the “Ship to Classroom” option. Don’t forget to enter our classroom code when you visit the Scholastic website at www.scholastic.ca. The “Ship to Home” option is still available. Shipping is free on orders over $40. This is a great opportunity to expand your child’s home library with reading materials that are age and developmentally appropriate. Any and all orders from Scholastic Reading Clubs also help get us resources, materials, and books for our classroom. Mr. Greeley’s Scholastic Classroom Code: RC163970.

Last Day of School – The last day of school for this year will be Thursday, June 22, 2023. Report cards will not be released prior to this date. Further information regarding dismissal time will be communicated to you as it become available.

School Supply Lists – School supply lists for Grade Two will be posted to our school website during the summer.

Moving? – If your family will be moving outside of our school zone during the summer, please let us know. This is to ensure your child’s registration at the new school may be in place for September.

As always, should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me!

Have an Awesome Week!

~ Mr. G

June 5, 2023

Dear Families,

I trust everyone had a great weekend. Hopefully, you found some time to relax and spend time with your family. It is such an exciting time here at school with so many fun activities planned. I am delighted to be able to spend these next few weeks together as a class. Here are some important notes to keep us organized for this busy, upcoming week:

Sports Day – Our annual sports day will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 (alternate weather dates – Wednesday, June 21). An announcement regarding whether or not sports day will go ahead will be made in the morning. Children are encouraged to dress in layers for the changing weather and temperature. Clothing appropriate for outside play is required (i.e., hat, sneakers, etc.). Please refrain from wearing sandals or flip flops. Please apply sunscreen and insect repellent at home. You may wish to send the bottles along with your child in a sealed baggie so that he/she may reapply it throughout the day as needed. Children are encouraged to bring a bottle of water and an extra drink!

Pizza Party - Our class was the recipient of a pizza party for the Move-a-Thon. Thanks to your generous support of our school, our class raised the most money at the primary division (K-3)! To celebrate, our class will enjoy a pizza lunch (cheese and pepperoni) on Friday, June 9, 2023 at lunchtime. If your child does not like pizza or prefers to eat a lunch from home/cafeteria order, that is perfectly fine as well!

Home Reading – This will be the final week for our home reading program (i.e., baggie books). While your child will no longer receive a baggie book after this week, it is essential that you continue to read with and to your child over the summer months. The progress that has been made over the course of the year has been truly amazing. I could not be more proud of the wonderful readers your children have become this year! Reading for fun together each day now and during the summer will help maintain the excellent progress that has been made. Additionally, it will help set the tone for another successful year in Grade 2! Reading together at bedtime is a wonderful way to end the day and spend some quality time together.

Please continue to review high-frequency words with your child periodically throughout the summer. Continued practice of writing skills as well as math concepts is essential in preserving the gains made in these areas this year.

High-Frequency Words – Please continue to practice your child’s high-frequency words with him/her on a nightly basis. These words will appear frequently in the texts your child will encounter. As such, it is important to recognize these words upon sight. Nightly practice is essential in developing a confident, fluent reader.

Once you feel your child is comfortable with a set of words, please email me to let me know. This way, students will each be working at their own pace with high-frequency words. I will assess him/her and then provide the next set of words to practice at home. It is my hope that this approach will help foster a strong partnership between home and school in learning to read and better meet the needs of your child in this process.

BEE Folder – Please continue to send your child’s BEE Folder and Baggie to school each day. This will help us continue with our regular daily routines and keep us organized for dismissal. It is important to check your child’s BEE Folder each evening for correspondence from school and please remove any corrected work or activities that may remain at home. Your anticipated cooperation with this is much appreciated!

Second Hand Book Sale – Our Teacher-Librarian, Mrs. Costello, will be holding a second-hand book sale for students on Tuesday, June 13 and Thursday, June 15. If you have any donations of gently used children’s books, please send them along next week.

Field Trip - In celebration of an awesome year together, we have planned a year-end field Trip to Bowring Park on Friday, June 16, 2023 (alternate weather dates will be Monday, June 19, Tuesday, June 20, or Wednesday, June 21). You find a permission slip in your child's BEE Folder on Monday evening. Please return the completed form, along with payment as soon as possible. We are looking forward to a fun and exciting day at the park!

Library Books & Baggie Books – Please have a look around your home for any missing library books and/or baggie books. A notice of any missing library books signed out to your child will come home this week. Your anticipated cooperation and attention to this matter is appreciated!

Theme Days – Each year we plan some special thematic days for our class for the last week(s) of school prior to summer vacation. A detailed outline of these days as well as the materials (if any) will be sent in a separate email in the coming days. Please read it carefully and post in an accessible place for ease of reference. A June calendar outlining these events has also been sent home. Please note, we have tried to make these days as little extra work for families as possible, as we know it is a busy time for everyone!

Sunscreen – With the late spring/early summer weather upon us, we will be spending more time outside for free play as well as many learning opportunities. Please apply sunscreen at home before coming to school in the morning!

Change of Clothes – Please ensure your child has a complete change of clothing at school. This can remain in his/her locker for the reminder of the year. By having a change of clothes, we hope to reduce unnecessary calls home and visits to the school in the event of a spill or getting wet while outside.

Scholastic Orders: Scholastic has reintroduced the “Ship to the Classroom” option. This means that families may place an order for as little as $3 and have it shipped to the classroom without shipping costs. As always, please submit your order online and choose the “Ship to Classroom” option. Don’t forget to enter our classroom code when you visit the Scholastic website at www.scholastic.ca. The “Ship to Home” option is still available. Shipping is free on orders over $40. This is a great opportunity to expand your child’s home library with reading materials that are age and developmentally appropriate. Any and all orders from Scholastic Reading Clubs also help get us resources, materials, and books for our classroom. Mr. Greeley’s Scholastic Classroom Code: RC163970.

Last Day of School – The last day of school for this year will be Thursday, June 22, 2023. Report cards will not be released prior to this date. Dismissal on the last day will be at 1:00pm.

School Supply Lists – School supply lists for Grade Two will be emailed to you and posted to our school website.

Moving? – If your family will be moving outside of our school zone during the summer, please let us know. This is to ensure your child’s registration at the new school may be in place for September.

As always, should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me!

Have an Awesome Week!

~ Mr. G

May 29, 2023

Dear Families,

It is hard to believe that this week marks the end of May and the beginning of June. Where has the year gone? We really have had a great year together and I am looking forward to spending the last month of school with some of the most amazing children I know! We still have lots of learning to do and many fun, interactive, and exciting activities planned. Here are a few reminders to get our final month of school started!

Professional Development Day – There will be no classes for students on Monday, May 29, 2023 due to a Teachers’ Professional Development session.

Early Dismissal – We will have a one-hour early dismissal for students on Friday, June 2, 2023. The purpose of this early dismissal is to allow teachers the opportunity to participate in the NLESD strategic planning feedback process. Please let me know if your child’s dismissal procedure for this day will differ from normal.

June Calendar – Please find the June calendar in the front pocket of your child’s BEE Folder later this week. The last month of school is always such a busy and exciting one. Please keep your calendar in a safe place for your reference.

Theme Days – During the last two weeks of school, we have some fun and exciting days planned to celebrate this amazing year together! Please see the June calendar and watch for a separate note to be sent home in the coming days outlining all the fun!

Literacy Week – This week is Literacy Week at our school! We have some very exciting activities planned for the week. Please see a separate memo emailed out by Mrs. Ryan last week. We are looking forward to an exciting week of activities!

Hats Off to Literacy & Flashlight Friday – On Friday, June 2, 2023, students are invited to wear a hat, bring a flashlight, and bring a favourite book. Throughout the day, when the signal is heard, we will turn off the classroom lights. Students will D.E.A.R (Drop Everything and Read). Students will remove their hat, turn on their flashlight and read (or we will read a story together). We are looking forward to celebrating “Hats Off to Literacy!”

Literacy Bookmark Contest – Last week, children will be provided with a Bookmark Template. Students are invited to design and decorate their bookmark to reflect the theme of this year’s Literacy Week: “Plant a Seed, Grow a Reader!” Your child’s bookmark must include the theme somewhere in the design. Remember to be creative, be colourful, and have fun! Please return the completed bookmark to your child’s teacher on or before Friday, June 2, 2023. Please include your child’s name, grade, and teacher’s name on the back of your bookmark. One winning design from primary (Kindergarten to Grade 3) and one from elementary (Grade 4 to 6) will be selected. The winning designs will be featured on our school Twitter page and the student will receive a Chapters gift card. Please note, this is an optional activity.

Sports Day – Our annual sports day will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 (alternate weather date – Wednesday, June 21) .An announcement regarding whether or not sports day will go ahead will be made in the morning. Children are encouraged to dress in layers for the changing weather and temperature. Clothing appropriate for outside play is required (i.e., hat, sneakers, etc.). Please refrain from wearing sandals or flip flops. Please apply sunscreen and insect repellent at home. You may wish to send the bottles along with your child in a sealed baggie so that he/she may reapply it throughout the day as needed. Children are encouraged to bring a bottle of water and an extra drink!

Second-Hand Book Sale – Our second-hand book sale will take place on June 13-15. If you have any donations of gently used books, please send them along!

Baggie Books & Library Books – Please have a look around your home for any misplaced baggie books or library books and return them to school as soon as possible.

High-Frequency Words – Please continue to practice your child’s high-frequency words with him/her on a nightly basis. These words will appear frequently in the texts your child will encounter. As such, it is important to recognize these words upon sight. Nightly practice is essential in developing a confident, fluent reader.

Once you feel your child is comfortable with a set of words, please email me to let me know. This way, students will each be working at their own pace with high-frequency words. I will assess him/her and then provide the next set of words to practice at home. It is my hope that this approach will help foster a strong partnership between home and school in learning to read and better meet the needs of your child in this process.

BEE Folder & Baggie – It is important that BEE Folders and baggies are returned daily. As this is part of our daily routine, it helps to teach responsibility and independence. Having the necessary materials also allows for a smooth and orderly dismissal, ensuring all memos, baggie books, etc. make it safely home and back to school in the morning. Thank you to all families who ensure your child comes to school each day with his/her BEE Folder and baggie. Please continue to send your child’s BEE Folder daily, even when our homework routine has concluded.

Checking the BEE Folder – Please continue to check your child’s BEE Folder each evening. It is important that any corrected/returned activities are removed and kept at home. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation!

Scholastic Orders: Scholastic has reintroduced the “Ship to the Classroom” option. This means that families may place an order for as little as $3 and have it shipped to the classroom without shipping costs. As always, please submit your order online and choose the “Ship to Classroom” option. Don’t forget to enter our classroom code when you visit the Scholastic website at www.scholastic.ca. The “Ship to Home” option is still available. Shipping is free on orders over $40. This is a great opportunity to expand your child’s home library with reading materials that are age and developmentally appropriate. Any and all orders from Scholastic Reading Clubs also help get us resources, materials, and books for our classroom. Mr. Greeley’s Scholastic Classroom Code: RC163970.

Outside Play - As the temperature warms up and the weather permits, children will have the opportunity to get outside to enjoy some free play and fresh air throughout the day. To maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of our work and learning environment, it is imperative that children have an extra pair of shoes to change into upon entering our building. I am asking for your cooperation in ensuring outside footwear is not worn inside the classroom. In addition, if you have not already done so, it might be a good idea to send in an extra change of clothes to keep in your child’s locker. This will help prevent unnecessary calls home for clothes in the event of muddy pants on the playground.

Last Day of School – The last day of school for this year will be Thursday, June 22, 2023. Report cards will not be released prior to this date. Further information regarding dismissal time will be communicated to you as it becomes available.

We are looking forward to the next four weeks of fun and learning! As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.

Have an awesome week!

~ Mr. G

May 22, 2023

Dear Families,

Welcome to our last full week of May! I hope you are enjoying the long weekend with your families! I am looking forward to seeing everyone back safe and sound on Tuesday morning. Here are a few reminders to kick off this shortened week:

Victoria Day Holiday – In observance of Victoria Day, there will be no classes for students on Monday, May 22, 2023.

Professional Development Day – There will be no classes for students on Monday, May 29, 2023 due to a Teachers’ Professional Development session.

Field Trip – We are going on a field trip to the Fluvarium on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Thank you to everyone who has already returned their permission slip and payment. If you have not yet returned the permission slip, please do so on Tuesday. As part of this field trip will take place outside, it is important that students are dressed appropriately for the weather.

Children will require a small snack that can be easily carried in his/her pocket. I will be looking for a couple of parent volunteers to accompany us on this field trip. It is imperative that all students arrive at school on time on Thursday. The bus will be leaving promptly at 9:00am to arrive at the Fluvarium on time. We are looking forward to a wonderful field trip!

Reminder About Dismissal – From time to time, things will come up that require you to arrange for someone different to pick your child up from school. It is imperative that you let me know by email (or calling the school for last minute changes). In these incidents, your child’s safety will always be my number one concern. I am unable to release your child into the care of someone else without prior notification. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation on a go forward basis.

Literacy Week – Our annual Literacy Week is tentatively scheduled for the week of May 29, 2023. Further details will be made available as the date approaches.

Baggies & BEE Folder – Please ensure the BEE Folder is returned daily in the baggie! It is important that parents check their child’s BEE Folder each evening and remove any returned activities, your child’s library book, etc. When all students are prepared with their BEE Folder and baggie, it makes for a much more organized and efficient dismissal routine. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this regard.

Baggie Books – Please have a look around your home for any misplaced baggie books as we are missing quite a few. These books are an important part of our home reading program. We have a limited supply in the classroom, and when baggie books are not returned on Friday, it makes it very difficult to have the BEE Folders prepared for the following week. I am asking for your diligence and cooperation in ensuring classroom baggie books are returned to school each day in the BEE Folder. Your anticipated cooperation in this regard is appreciated!

High-Frequency Words – Please continue to practice your child’s high-frequency words with him/her on a nightly basis. These words will appear frequently in the texts your child will encounter. As such, it is important to recognize these words upon sight. Nightly practice is essential in developing a confident, fluent reader.

Once you feel your child is comfortable with a set of words, please email me to let me know. This way, students will each be working at their own pace with high-frequency words. I will assess him/her and then provide the next set of words to practice at home. It is my hope that this approach will help foster a strong partnership between home and school in learning to read and better meet the needs of your child in this process.

Reading – Please continue to read with and to your child every night. Listening to you read gives your child the opportunity to hear a fluent and expressive reader. In addition, rereading your child’s baggy book each night is imperative in improving reading fluency and overall comprehension.

Math – We are continuing to work on Addition and Subtraction to 20. This unit builds on the strategies we learned in our previous addition and subtraction unit to 12. Please continue to practice the strategies we have learned at school. The use of manipulatives (i.e., buttons, coins, dried pasta, Cheerios, etc.) will be beneficial. It may be a good idea to have a collection of materials readily available for practice at home. Many children would benefit from extra practice with subtraction!

Scholastic Orders: Scholastic has reintroduced the “Ship to the Classroom” option. This means that families may place an order for as little as $3 and have it shipped to the classroom without shipping costs. As always, please submit your order online and choose the “Ship to Classroom” option. Don’t forget to enter our classroom code when you visit the Scholastic website at www.scholastic.ca. The “Ship to Home” option is still available. Shipping is free on orders over $40. This is a great opportunity to expand your child’s home library with reading materials that are age and developmentally appropriate. Any and all orders from Scholastic Reading Clubs also help get us resources, materials, and books for our classroom. Mr. Greeley’s Scholastic Classroom Code: RC163970.

Outside Play: As the temperature warms up and the weather permits, children will have the opportunity to get outside to enjoy some free play and fresh air during the day. To maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of our work and learning environment, it is imperative that children have an extra pair of shoes to change into upon entering our building. I am asking for your cooperation in ensuring outside footwear is not worn inside the classroom. Now might be a good time to ensure the footwear your child has at school still fits! In addition, if you have not already done so, it might be a good idea to send in an extra change of clothes to keep in your child’s locker. This will help prevent unnecessary calls home for clothes in the event of muddy pants on the playground!

Sports Day – Our annual Sports Day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Further details will be provided as the date approaches.

Last Day of School– The last day of school for this year will be Thursday, June 22, 2023. Report cards will not be released prior to this date. Further information regarding dismissal time will be communicated to you as it becomes available.

Have a Wonderful Week!

~ Mr. G

May 15, 2023

Dear Families,

Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, and other special ladies in our lives. I hope you are enjoying your special day – you certainly deserve it. The love and support you show for your children each day is truly amazing and to be celebrated! I hope you have the opportunity to relax today and spend some time with your family doing whatever it is that makes you happy! Here are a few notes to get our shortened week at school started:

Professional Development Days – There will be no classes for students on Monday, May 15, 2023 and Monday, May 29, 2023 due to Teachers’ Professional Development sessions.

Victoria Day Holiday – In observance of Victoria Day, there will be no classes for students on Monday, May 22, 2023.

Field Trip – We are going on a field trip to the Fluvarium on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Please complete the consent form and return it, along with payment ($9), at your earliest convenience. If the financial obligation for this field trip is prohibitive to any family, please do let me know.

Children will require a small snack that can be easily carried in his/her pocket. I will be looking for a couple of parent volunteers to accompany us on this field trip. If you are available, please indicate this on the permission slip. If more parents are able to attend than required, I will do a random draw.

Reminder About Dismissal – From time to time, things will come up that require you to arrange for someone different to pick your child up from school. It is imperative that you let me know by email (or calling the school for last minute changes). In these incidents, your child’s safety will always be my number one concern. I am unable to release your child into the care of someone else without prior notification. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation on a go forward basis.

Literacy Week – Our annual Literacy Week is tentatively scheduled for the week of May 29, 2023. Further details will be made available as the date approaches.

Baggies & BEE Folder – Please ensure the BEE Folder is returned daily in the baggie! It is important that parents check their child’s BEE Folder each evening and remove any returned activities, your child’s library book, etc. When all students are prepared with their BEE Folder and baggie, it makes for a much more organized and efficient dismissal routine. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this regard.

Baggie Books – Please have a look around your home for any misplaced baggie books as we are missing quite a few. These books are an important part of our home reading program. We have a limited supply in the classroom, and when baggie books are not returned on Friday, it makes it very difficult to have the BEE Folders prepared for the following week. I am asking for your diligence and cooperation in ensuring classroom baggie books are returned to school each day in the BEE Folder. Your anticipated cooperation in this regard is appreciated!

High-Frequency Words – Please continue to practice your child’s high-frequency words with him/her on a nightly basis. These words will appear frequently in the texts your child will encounter. As such, it is important to recognize these words upon sight. Nightly practice is essential in developing a confident, fluent reader.

Once you feel your child is comfortable with a set of words, please email me to let me know. This way, students will each be working at their own pace with high-frequency words. I will assess him/her and then provide the next set of words to practice at home. It is my hope that this approach will help foster a strong partnership between home and school in learning to read and better meet the needs of your child in this process.

Writing at Home – When writing at home, just like at school, it is not the expectation that your child is spelling all the words correctly. What is most important at this point is that he/she is s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out the words and representing the sound he/she hears. In addition, please remind your child to use uppercase letters at the beginning of a sentence (not in the middle of words), finger spaces between the words, and punctuation at the end of his/her sentences. Children should be completing writing tasks with increasing independence. This means that parents may be there to provide support; however, the writing process should be largely child-led. Should you have any questions or concerns with respect to writing, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Scholastic Orders: Scholastic has reintroduced the “Ship to the Classroom” option. This means that families may place an order for as little as $3 and have it shipped to the classroom without shipping costs. As always, please submit your order online and choose the “Ship to Classroom” option. Don’t forget to enter our classroom code when you visit the Scholastic website at www.scholastic.ca. The “Ship to Home” option is still available. Shipping is free on orders over $40. This is a great opportunity to expand your child’s home library with reading materials that are age and developmentally appropriate. Any and all orders from Scholastic Reading Clubs also help get us resources, materials, and books for our classroom. Mr. Greeley’s Scholastic Classroom Code: RC163970.

Outside Play: As the temperature warms up and the weather permits, children will have the opportunity to get outside to enjoy some free play and fresh air during the day. To maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of our work and learning environment, it is imperative that children have an extra pair of shoes to change into upon entering our building. I am asking for your cooperation in ensuring outside footwear is not worn inside the classroom. Now might be a good time to ensure the footwear your child has at school still fits! In addition, if you have not already done so, it might be a good idea to send in an extra change of clothes to keep in your child’s locker. This will help prevent unnecessary calls home for clothes in the event of muddy pants on the playground!

Sports Day – Our annual Sports Day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Further details will be provided as the date approaches.

Last Day of School– The last day of school for this year will be Thursday, June 22, 2023. Report cards will not be released prior to this date. Further information regarding dismissal time will be communicated to you as it becomes available.

As always, should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me!

Have an Awesome Week!

~ Mr. G

May 8, 2023

Dear Families,

I hope everyone had a great weekend with your families! We are getting ready for another busy week of learning and fun in Grade One! Here are a few notes to get our week started:

School Fundraiser – Prize draws for our Move-a-Thon fundraiser will now take place on Monday.

Field Trip – We are going on a field trip to the Fluvarium on Thursday, May 25, 2023. You will find the permission slip in your child’s BEE Folder on Monday evening. Please complete the consent form and return it, along with payment ($9), at your earliest convenience. If the financial obligation for this field trip is prohibitive to any family, please do let me know.

Children will require a small snack that can be easily carried in his/her pocket. I will be looking for a couple of parent volunteers to accompany us on this field trip. If you are available, please indicate this on the permission slip. If more parents are able to attend than required, I will do a random draw.

Literacy Week – Our annual Literacy Week is tentatively scheduled for the week of May 29, 2023. Further details will be made available as the date approaches.

Baggies & BEE Folder – Please ensure your child’s BEE Folder and baggie are returned daily! It is important that parents check their child’s BEE Folder each evening and remove any returned activities, your child’s library book, etc. When all students are prepared with their BEE Folder and baggie, it makes for a much more organized and efficient dismissal routine. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this regard.

Homework –The importance of nightly reading and writing practice cannot be overstated. The progress the children have made this year is truly amazing and I am so proud of them all. This is due, in no small part, to your commitment and encouragement at home. Your continued cooperation in this regard is much appreciated and of immense benefit to your child. There is a direct correlation between your child’s reading progress and the amount of time he/she is engaged in meaningful literacy activities both at home and school. I am looking forward to even more growth over the coming weeks!

High-Frequency Words – Please continue to practice your child’s high-frequency words with him/her on a nightly basis. These words will appear frequently in the texts your child will encounter. As such, it is important to recognize these words upon sight. Nightly practice is essential in developing a confident, fluent reader.

Once you feel your child is comfortable with a set of words, please email me to let me know. This way, students will each be working at their own pace with high-frequency words. I will assess him/her and then provide the next set of words to practice at home. It is my hope that this approach will help foster a strong partnership between home and school in learning to read and better meet the needs of your child in this process.

Scholastic Orders: Scholastic has reintroduced the “Ship to the Classroom” option. This means that families may place an order for as little as $3 and have it shipped to the classroom without shipping costs. As always, please submit your order online and choose the “Ship to Classroom” option. Don’t forget to enter our classroom code when you visit the Scholastic website at www.scholastic.ca. The “Ship to Home” option is still available. Shipping is free on orders over $40. This is a great opportunity to expand your child’s home library with reading materials that are age and developmentally appropriate. Any and all orders from Scholastic Reading Clubs also help get us resources, materials, and books for our classroom. Mr. Greeley’s Scholastic Classroom Code: RC163970.

Professional Development Days – There will be no classes for students on Monday, May 15, 2023 or Monday, May 29, 2023 due to Teachers’ Professional Development sessions.

Victoria Day Holiday – In observance of Victoria Day, there will be no classes for students on Monday, May 22, 2023.

Writing at Home – When writing at home, just like at school, it is not the expectation that your child is spelling all the words correctly. What is most important at this point is that he/she is s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out the words and representing the sound he/she hears. In addition, please remind your child to use uppercase letters at the beginning of a sentence (not in the middle of words), finger spaces between the words, and punctuation at the end of his/her sentences. Children should be completing writing tasks with increasing independence. This means that parents may be there to provide support; however, the writing process should be largely child-led. Should you have any questions or concerns with respect to writing, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Outside Play: As the temperature warms up and the weather permits, children will have the opportunity to get outside to enjoy some free play and fresh air during the day. To maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of our work and learning environment, it is imperative that children have an extra pair of shoes to change into upon entering our building. I am asking for your cooperation in ensuring outside footwear is not worn inside the classroom. Now might be a good time to ensure the footwear your child has at school still fits! In addition, if you have not already done so, it might be a good idea to send in an extra change of clothes to keep in your child’s locker. This will help prevent unnecessary calls home for clothes in the event of muddy pants on the playground.

Sports Day – Our annual Sports Day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Further details will be provided as the date approaches.

Last Day of School – The last day of school for students is Thursday, June 22, 2023. Further details regarding dismissal time will be provided at a later date.

Have a Terrific Week!

~ Mr. G

May 1, 2023

Dear Families,

Welcome to the first week of May! As we enter our final two months of Grade One, we still have lots of learning to do! It is shaping up to be a busy and exciting month and I am delighted that I get to spend it with some of the most amazing and caring children I know! Here are a few notes to get our week started:

May Calendar – Please find a copy of the May calendar in your child’s BEE Folder on Monday afternoon. Please post it in an accessible place for ease of reference.

School Fundraiser – Thank you for your participation and support of this important school fundraiser. Children will participate in the Move-a-Thon activities this week. Prize draws will occur on Friday of this week.

Field Trip – We are going on a field trip to the Fluvarium on Thursday, May 25, 2023. You will find the permission slip in your child’s BEE Folder over the coming days. Please complete the consent form and return it, along with payment ($9), at your earliest convenience. If the financial obligation for this field trip is prohibitive to any family, please do let me know.