MARCH NEWS

February was a very busy month! We are working hard towards setting term 2 goals with a specific focus on work habits and learning skills (responsibility, independent work, initiative, collaboration, organization, self -regulation). Thank you for your continued support from home. It’s hard to believe we are now gearing up and preparing for grade 2, 3 & 4! Where has the time gone?

Blue Spruce

The Forest of Reading® is Canada's largest recreational reading program! This initiative of the Ontario Library Association (OLA) offers the Blue Spruce reading program to primary students across Canada. We have begun reading the top 10 nominated books in class and look forward to voting for our favourites! Check out the books we are reading and their descriptions here:

http://www.accessola.org/web/OLA/Forest_of_Reading/Awards_Nominees/Blue_Spruce_Award__Nominees_2020.aspx

Dreambox

We are encouraging students to use their Dreambox licenses at home! We are fortunate to have access to these very expensive licenses and this program provides a valuable opportunity for students to extend math practice outside of school. Your child's login information is available in the front of their planner.

Simple steps to log on:

Computer: 1. Open your browser. 2. Enter this website http://dreambox.wrdsb.ca 3. Put in student login information

Ipad: 1. Download the green Dreambox app 2. DO NOT open the app (I know, it makes no sense) 3. Open your browser.

4. Enter this website http://dreambox.wrdsb.ca 5. Put in student login information, it will then redirect you to the app.

Wonder Journals:

Mrs. Cochrane will be sending a letter home in the next few weeks about a new program for Grade 1's. They will have weekly homework in the form of Wonder Journals. Students will be bringing home journals and the expectations are as follows: Students are to think of one wonder each week to research. They can find answers using books, internet searches, talking to family members etc. Grade 1's are expected to write 2-3 full sentences about their findings. A labelled picture/diagram is also required. Wonder Journals are due each Thursday and will be returned to students on Friday. Thank you for your ongoing support in fostering wonder and inquiry with your children.

What's coming up!

March 13th - Blue Spruce Voting

March 16th - 20th - March Break

March 30th and 31st - Possible Field Trips - stay tuned!

April 1st - Possible University of Waterloo Science Outreach Programs - Grade 1, 2 & 3 - stay tuned!

April 3rd - PD Day

April 9th - Scientists in the Schools Program - Soil!

April 23rd and 24 - Humane Society Visits

JANUARY NEWS

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a restful and wonderful holiday with your family. We hope your child is excited about returning back to school, as some great learning awaits them. We have many enriching learning activities planned, as well as special events coming up in the month of January.

Home Reading

Please continue to read with your child each night in both English and French. Over the course of the next couple of months, as they become ready, Grade 1's will begin to take home-reading books home in French.

Dismissal Routine

As mentioned in our September newsletter, as of January M. Gagnon and Mrs. Cochrane will be changing the dismissal routine Grade 1's at the end of the day similar to the 2's and 3's. Students will no longer need to "high five" when they see a parent or caregiver. If a parent or caregiver has not arrived at the end of the day, students are instructed to find one of the teachers on duty and ask to be taken to the office.

Warm Clothes & Extra Socks

Tis the season for soakers! Please pack a few extra pairs of socks in your child’s backpack. The hallway where the boots are kept becomes full of snow, then puddles after each nutrition break. Your child will appreciate the warmth and comfort of fresh socks if theirs happen to get wet!

Indoor Shoes

Thank you for taking the time to clean or purchase new indoor shoes for your child to wear inside of the classroom and during our scheduled gym times. If you forgot to return a pair of indoor shoes for your child, please send them in as soon as possible. Thanks for your help!

Upcoming Events

Swim to Survive Program - (Grade 3 only). January 15th, January 22nd and 29th. We will leave the school at 1:25pm to walk to Lyle Hallman. We will return prior to the end of the day bell.

January 21 - Scientists in the Schools - Energy - Grade 1

January 24th - PD Day

March 3 & 4 - Mrs. Cochrane away for First Aid Training

March 14th - 22nd - March Break

March 30th - Possible Grade 2/3 Outdoor Education Trip - Stay tuned!

March 31st - Possible Grade 1 Outdoor Education Trip - stay tuned!

April 8th - Scientists in the Schools - Grade 2/3 - Soils

April 10th - Good Friday

April 13th - Easter Monday

Communication

Please continue to check your child's planner for brief messages, notes and reminders. We write short messages weekly to remind families about upcoming events or activities. Our online calendar is also a great resource to use to stay informed about our classroom events.

DECEMBER NEWS

Happy December!

December is a busy month at school as well at home! M. Gagnon and I understand this busy season and some of the yawns we have already seen in our classroom. Here are some updates:

CANADIAN TIRE DRIVE

Thank you to all who contributed to our Canadian Money Drive. Every little bit makes a huge difference in the lives of so many of our Crestview Families! Thank you to Mlle Huggins who has has put her very big heart into this campaign for over 20 years! The campaign has now been extended to Monday December 9th.

HOLIDAY CONCERT

Our Holiday Concert takes place on Thursday December 12th. Primary Choir members are to be at the school by 6:30pm and the concert will begin at 7pm. Thank you to Mrs. Bowe for all her time and passion in designing and coordinating our Crestview concerts.

Last Day

On Friday December 20th the entire school will be participating in a "Merry and Bright" Day. Students are invited to wear "merry and bright" colours or seasonal colours such as red, white and green. Students will be bringing home something special to give to family or friends!

GRADE 1

Language:

Our language program is deigned to allow students to develop reading, writing, media literacy, and oral communication skills by experiencing language in a variety of ways. Students will learn about different types of writing materials (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, letters, plays, reports, etc.) and produce written work of their own in various forms. They will be taught specific skills and strategies to help them in reading and writing.

Science:

We will explore both the world around us and how things work in the following units this year: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things; Materials, Objects and Everyday Structures; Energy in Our Lives, and Daily and Seasonal Changes.

Physical Education:

Your child will work to develop a respect for healthy living and regular physical exercise. Activities and games will be designed to help develop fundamental movement skills.

How you can help at home:

Grade 1 students can benefit from practising literacy concepts at home. This includes printing all alphabet letters (uppercase and lowercase) with no reversals. Writing about topics of interest or related to what we are doing in class using proper sentence structure (uppercase beginning, spaces and end punctuation); and READING! Regular practise builds academic confidence and skill. Reading and Writing are used in every subject area! Discuss activities that we do at school and build on these concepts through experiences at home and in the community.

Thank you for all that you do to support your children at home!

Mrs. Cochrane

Hello Families

We are moving along at a fast pace in Grade 2 & 3. Here are some ideas of how you can continue to support your child at home.

GRADE 2

Language:

Students can:

Practise reading and writing sight words (a list will be sent home).

Read aloud daily to practise fluency. Choose different types of texts (fiction and non-fiction). Questions to consider during, and after reading together?

• Does my child understand what was read?
• Can he/she retell the story in his/her words?
• Can he/she tell me what happened in the beginning, middle and end?
• Does my child understand the purpose (to persuade, entertain, or to inform) of the text?

Practise forming upper and lowercase letters properly and consistently in writing.

Practise writing sentences of all types - questions, statements, exclamations. The focus should be on spelling high frequency words correctly, adding details, and using sound (phonetic) spelling to write unfamiliar words, with proper spacing, capitalization and punctuation.

Engage in conversations related to daily events and personal experiences.

Learning Skills:

Students can:

Practise following directions, focusing and listening attentively.

Practise waiting for his/her turn to speak (not interrupting).

Take responsibility for packing backpack, remembering planners, library books, signed notes etc.

Practise taking risks (trying without help) and demonstrating more confidence in abilities.

Participate in activities that he/she may not be familiar or comfortable with.

Focus on and complete tasks within a reasonable time (tidying bedroom, setting the table, etc.)

GRADE 3

Language:

Students can:

Practise reading and writing sight words (a list will be sent home).

Read aloud daily to practise fluency. Choose different types of texts (fiction and non-fiction). Questions to consider during, and after reading together?

• Does my child understand what was read?
• Can he/she retell the story in his/her words?
• Can he/she tell me what happened in the beginning, middle and end? (Including important details about the setting and characters).
• Does my child understand the problem/solution, purpose (to persuade, entertain, or to inform), message, or main idea of the text?

Practise writing short paragraphs. The focus should be on generating ideas and organizing them logically, adding details, spelling high frequency words correctly, using familiar patterns to write unfamiliar words, recognizing when a word does "not look right" (spelling and meaning). Write with proper spacing, capitalization, and punctuation. Quality over quantity!

Engage in conversations related to daily events and personal experiences. Ask for opinions and ask your child to support their ideas (3 reasons).

Learning Skills:

Students can:

Practise following directions, focusing and listening attentively.

Practise waiting for his/her turn to speak (not interrupting).

Take responsibility for packing backpack, remembering planners, library books, signed notes etc.

Practise taking risks (trying without help) and demonstrating more confidence in abilities.

Participate in activities that he/she may not be familiar or comfortable with.

Focus on and complete tasks within a reasonable time (tidying bedroom, setting the table, etc.)

Thank you for all that you do to support your children at home!

Mrs. Cochrane

NOVEMBER NEWS

HAPPY NOVEMBER!

November is upon us (that was quick!) We are approximately 40 days in to our school year which is hard to believe. We have been making excellent progress across all facets of the curriculum and most students have settled into the structure, expectations and routines of grade 1, 2 & 3.

Progress reports go home on Monday, November 11th. If you are interested in coming in to talk with us, please use School-Day to signup for your interview time on the evening of the 14th or during the day on the 15th .

Learning Skills: How can you support your child at home? Children can..

• Practise following directions, focusing and listening attentively
• Practise waiting patiently for his/her turn to speak (not interrupting, either verbally or patting an arm etc.)
• Take responsibility for their backpacks, remembering planners/home reading, library books, notes etc.
• Practise taking risks (trying without help) and demonstrating more confidence in their abilities. They can do it!
• Participate in activities that he/she may not be familiar or comfortable with
• Focus on and completing tasks within a reasonable time (tidying bedroom, setting the table, etc.)

Home Reading

If possible, home reading should be completed each evening. The books that your child brings home are at their independent reading level, which means they should be able to read these texts fluently and with ease. At school, we work in small groups and they have an instructional reading level where the texts are slightly harder but we work with your child on developing reading strategies and skills.

Indoor shoes

It is very important that your child has a pair of running shoes for use indoors. Additionally, we go to the gym 4 days a week so please ensure the indoor shoes you send are appropriate for indoor play. Flats, shoes with heels and fashion boots are not safe footwear that should be worn in the gym.

Upcoming Events!

We have a lot to look forward to in the month of November! Please visit our calendar tab for more information! Some important dates include:

Remembrance Day Assembly- Nov 11th

PD Day (for parent interviews)- Nov 15th

Visit to Clay and Glass Gallery- Nov 22nd

Thanks for your continued support and enthusiasm!

• M. Gagnon and Mrs. Cochrane