Weekly Update: October 6 - 10

We have a wonderful week ahead planned as we continue to build our number sense through math exploration, review our letter sounds, and learning about harvest time on the farm. This week we will also create gratitude journals, as we take time to think, draw, and write about what and who we are thankful for. Our annual K/1 fun run - The Turkey Trot is this Thursday! This is always a fun activity the week before Thanksgiving.

We have now had a few rainy days here at Lochside, which have given us a chance to practice using our outdoor gear. If you haven't already, please send in labelled rain pants, a rain coat, extra clothes, and any other gear you think will help your child feel comfortable as we do go outside rain or shine. Thank you for your help with this!

Looking ahead:

Monday: 

• Family reading (8:45-9:00): Family members are welcome to come and join us for a shared reading time to start the day.

• Journals: "I can" sharing. What CAN you do?

• Buddies with Mr. O'Connor's class

Tuesday:  

• Special Thanksgiving art project

• Literacy workshop starts - please send in a shoebox with a lid by today as we will be making little libraries for our upcoming home reading books.

Wednesday: 

• Outdoor learning Beyond the Fence  - How can we help to take care of nature?

Thursday: 

• Library book exchange  - please return your 2 books so that you can take out new ones!

• Turkey trot! Our annual K/1 fun run is this morning.

Friday: 

• Music with Mrs. Alexander

• Mathletics in the computer lab

Weekly Update: September 29 - October 3

This week we will continue to work on our letter sound review, number subitizing, and sharing the last of our 'all about me bags'. The kids have done such a great job sharing their interests as well as listening, making connections, and asking questions after these mini presentations. Well done!

Monday is Orange Shirt Day, and as we reflect on the challenging history and reality of residential schools, our class discussions will be on how schools should ALWAYS be a safe, caring, and welcoming place to be and learn. Every child matters, and should feel welcome at school. Students are invited to wear an orange shirt or an orange piece of clothing to school on this day. 

Looking ahead:

Monday: 

• Orange Shirt Day

• Family reading (8:45-9:00): Family members are welcome to come and join us for a shared reading time to start the day.

• Visual Journals: what does every child need to feel safe and cared for at school?

• Buddy activities with Mr. O'Connor's class

Tuesday:  

• National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (No school)

Wednesday: 

• Outdoor learning: we will be revisiting our 'sit spots' and using our senses to make observations.

Thursday: 

• Discussion topic: how can I be a bucket filler (a good friend)? We are actively practicing using "safe hands" and "kind words" in class as we build the skills needed to be a good friend.

Friday: 

• Art card project - coming soon!

Weekly Update: September 22 - 26

After two full weeks of school together, our classroom community is coming together nicely, as the students learn routines and enjoy learning and playing together. It was so nice to meet and connect with many of you at the family picnic/open house on Thursday, and watch your children share their new classroom with you! If you haven't had a chance to email me a family photo yet, please do so and I'll add it to our family wall this week.

In the upcoming week we will continue to focus on our classroom community and taking care of ourselves, each other, and this place (these are our Lochside Beliefs). We will also be starting a mini science study about apples and harvest time. Please send in an apple with your child on Friday for our experiments and a special treat!

With wet weather on the horizon, this is a gentle reminder to please send in rain gear for your child to keep at school. We will be going out rain or shine, so rain pants, a rain jacket, boots, and extra clothes that can be kept in your child's basket in their cubby make for successful outdoor adventures.

A quick note about school supplies - if you have not yet paid the $50 to the office (online HERE or by cheque), the office staff are hoping to have all school supply money in by the end of the September. If you need help with this or would like to pay in cash, they are happy to help you out, so stop by anytime.

Looking ahead:

Monday: 

• Non-Instructional day (no school for students)

Tuesday:  

• Zones of regulation: we will be practicing identifying our "zones", feelings,  and using tools to help us feel calm and regulated throughout the day. Parent information and zones magnet will be sent home today in backpacks.

Wednesday: 

• Outdoor Learning: safety and 'sit spots' Beyond the Fence.

• Collage art project, "all about me"

Thursday: 

• Math focus: recognizing and representing numbers in different ways.

Friday: 

• Photo Day!

• Apple day! Please bring 1 apple to school today.

• Music with Mrs. Alexander

Weekly Update: September 15 - 19

Our first full week together is complete, and we are off to a great start in Div. 6! This week we will continue to spend lots of time getting to know each other, building routines, and meeting other important learning partners in our school. This includes our class educational assistants (Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. T., and Ms. Rileigh), teacher librarian (Mrs. Molloy), library technician (Ms. Unger), French teacher (Mme Cannady), music teacher (Mrs. Alexander), and other important people in our learning community.

Thank you to everyone for sending in your forms and 'getting to know your child' information. This is always so helpful as I get to know all of the students. Please send the forms back at your earliest convenience along with rain pants and an extra pair of clothes (in a labeled bag) for your child to keep in their cubby.

To help everyone stay informed, I usually send out a weekly update every Friday, with information about the week ahead. Art posts and project work often go up on our website during the week as well, so feel free to bookmark this page to stay in the classroom loop!

Looking ahead:

Monday: 

• Our first family reading is today! (8:45-9:00): Family members and caregivers are welcome to come and join us for a shared reading time to start the day.

• International 'Dot Day': practicing creativity, courage, and collaboration with today's activities.

•  Heading out 'beyond the fence' to play around with a special name project with our big buddies in Mr. O'Connor's class.

Tuesday:  

• "All About Me" bags continue to be shared and sent home. 

• Math focus: representing numbers BIG and small in different ways

Wednesday: 

• Discussion topic: What makes our class a safe and happy community?

• Outdoor Learning 'Beyond the Fence"

Thursday: 

•  First library visit with Ms. Unger. Two books can be taken out each Thursday and returned the following Wednesday into our library basket. Please include a large bag or ziploc in your child's backpack on library days to keep their books clean and dry.

• Popcorn Day

• Welcome back school picnic and open house (4:30-6:30). I will be in our classroom between 4:30-5:30 with our outside door open if you would like to come by with your child and have a look around and say hello. 

Friday: 

• Terry Fox Run (1-1:30): families are welcome to come and cheer us on or join in on the main field. Students are invited to bring in a "toonie for Terry" to support cancer research.

• Music with Mrs. Alexander

School Supplies

This year our Grade 1 teachers are ordering supplies for students, as we are striving to make getting school supplies easier and more affordable for families. This will include everyday tools and supplies for each student. 

If you haven't already done so, please follow this link (click HERE) for an option to pay online, or send a cheque for $50 made out to SD63 to cover this cost. I have all of the supplies ready to go for the students in our class already, so I hope this makes things easier. ** If you prefer to buy your child's school supplies, please check in with me and I will give you a Grade 1 supply list.

Your child will also need to bring a pair of indoor shoes to school next week labeled with their name. These shoes are used for gym time as well so they need to be appropriate for running. Please send velcro or slip-on shoes in if your child is still learning to tie their laces so that they can be independent in changing their shoes at school. A big thank you in advance!  

Welcome Back!

I hope that everyone is enjoying a wonderful summer! I look forward to hearing all about it when the children return to school this week. The first few days of school are often full of feelings of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. Here is what to expect this week to help you talk through the transition back to school with your child:

Tuesday:

• The first day of school will only be from 8:40 - 10:15. 

• All enrolling students return and go to their classroom from last year. This gives us a chance to check in with families, take attendance, enroll new students, and help make up our new classes. What that means for our class is that I will see you at 8:40 at our usual lineup spot outside our classroom door. We will have a chance to check in, play together, and share about our summer holidays. We will not have a scheduled snack time, but you may wish to pack a pocket snack and water bottle for your child in case they get hungry. I can't wait to see all of your bright smiles!

• Buses will be running on schedule

Wednesday:

• Regular school hours for Grades 1-5, 8:40 - 2:48. One more day in our old classroom. Drop-off and pick-up at our classroom door as usual. Please do not bring in school supplies until Friday.

Thursday:

• Regular school hours for Grades 1-5, 8:40 - 2:48. We are planning on moving students to their new classrooms this afternoon. Morning drop off will be at our regular classroom door. Please send your child with snacks, a lunch, and a water bottle. 

• Please do not send in school supplies until Friday.

• UPDATE: The end of the day is a busy time - all grade 1 and grade 2 students will be going with their new teacher and classes to the main field.  You can pick them up there after checking in with their new teacher. If you chose a spot to meet, know that they will now be on the field at the end of the day. 

Friday:

• First full day in your new class (expected). Have a great day in your new classroom!

More information on the first week back to school can be found on our school website, and as always, do not hesitate to connect with me if you have any questions.

** More information on the first week back to school can be found on our school website.  Families, you will be notified of schedule changes through your school contact email and on the Lochside website. I will update our class website each day this week by 4pm as well. As always, do not hesitate to connect with me if you have any questions.