January 23/19

Tomorrow - Friday, Jan. 25th is a "Curriculm Day' for teachers.  Students do not attend school.

Our science world field trip is on next Thursday.  I will send home an email in the next couple of days with all the details.  Please send in money if you haven't already done so.  Thanks

Div. 9 goes out every Tuesday for 'Forest Fun' rain or shine. Please make sure that your child is dressed (coat and rain boots if possible) for this and has an extra set of clothes just in case as they need to prepared on Tuesdays but everyday for recess and lunch.  Our district does have a 'West Coast Recess' policy as they really need the fresh air and exercise!

Div. 1 and 2 are hosting  our first 'Family Movie Night' on January 31.  Tickets do need to be purchased in advance.    It is a family movie night but if you are unable to attend, there will be adults available to supervise students, please check in with Mrs. Davidson or Ms Acaster if this is the case.

When: January 31st, 2019

Where: Fairview Gym

What time: 5:45pm-730pm

What Movie: Daddy Day Care

How much: $2/ ticket

There will be popcorn and candy bags sold. 

All ages are welcome. 

Jan. 18/19

Div. 9 were great scientists while dissecting their owl pellets! It was a big success, even students that thought it was gross still thought it was cool and an interesting part of nature.  They couldn't believe all the bones that they found - one pellet had 4 skulls in it!  Alicia and Lexi's grandmother
joined us for the dissection and was impressed and commented how much she learned!

A cool website that they could visit to show you a virtual dissection is
https://kidwings.com/virtual-pellet/index2.html

On Monday we started our connections unit with Mrs. Neufeld and Mrs. Walker.  The students represented a time that they felt connected or that they belonged by using loose parts.

HOMEWORK THIS WEEKEND:  Please talk with your child about what kind of things makes it hard to connect (belong) at school?

We had a BC Lions Energy Saving presentation this afternoon - please ask your child all the things we can do to reduce the amount of power we use.

Please sign up for our field trip on Thursday, Jan. 31 and send in the money as soon as possible.  We will be doing the draw at the end of next week to see who our two free parents are and I'll let you know.

Happy New Years!! January 11/19

Just a reminder that tomorrow is pajama day and please also bring a mug for hot chocolate (thanks again to the PAC!) Thanks also to the following people who I am hoping can bring the food/goodies for our New Years Party - Carter, Rhys, Kamryn, Saga and Steve.

We had our owl presentation today, the kids were very excited and engaged for a full hour and a half!  We were so impressed with how much the students recalled about their knowledge of owls.  Ask your child what they learned (I know I sure learned a lot!)and what they liked best.

Here are a few pictures of our new exploration stations.  The students are measuring the height of different kinds of owls.    

   
Div. 9 students love Kapla and it is amazing what they can create!

Several students still have not brought headphones in, could you please send those in asap.
We use them both in the classroom and in the computer lab.  In addition Dr. Saul would like to start using them for music as well but he can't do this until everyone has a set.

All students in Div. 9 received a free Scholastic book for up to $6 for their Christmas present from me this year.  Please order online this month or wait for a future order if there isn't anything that appeals to your child.  They have until June to use it.  Thanks!

Our field trip to Science World is now up on the portal please sign up asap and either pay online or please send in cash.  This will be our big field trip of the year, we decided to do it earlier as it supports our body unit and it is often difficult to get buses in June.  We have also decided to watch an Omnimax film about Pandas.  We want to send out a special thank you to the PAC for augmenting the cost of the bus to make this trip a more affordable outing. I have had several questions about whether parents can come on the bus and I think we will should have room as there are only two classes - once we have the total numbers of parents interested we should know.

Just to let you know that I am now coaching basketball on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school.  If you are unable to pick up your child at 2:20 on those days I will be asking them to wait at the office so they would be supervised by an adult.  Thanks!

We will be starting our spelling program next week.  Students will be writing their words in their planners on Mondays. They will do activities with these words throughout the week to develop their phonetic skills, vocabulary and understanding of the English language (many of the crazy exceptions!) We start with the short vowels and then move to long.  We will work on  spelling activities during school Monday-Wednesday and then anything that is not complete will be sent home for homework on Wednesday nights.  We will have a a small quiz (5 words plus 2 bonus words) on Fridays. Please do not be concerned if the words seem to easy for your child.  Research has shown that results of spelling tests do not necessarily transfer to daily writing, our objective is to learn the patterns/rules and give your child the skills to write. There will be the opportunity to try some challenging 'bonus' words that use the same pattern.  You can also challenge your child at home by coming up with some more difficult words to 'test' them on.  Thank you in advance for your help with this program.

The January dates have been added to the 'Monthly Calendar'.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Dec. 20/18

Div. 9's stockings were hung on the fireplace with care!  Each stocking has a winter or Christmas riddle on it which they will share with parents that are able to join us for family reading tomorrow.

Excitement is definitely in the air.  We have had a week of Christmas crafts, math and even explorations.  The students each brought home their bag of Christmas crafts from around the world as well as their special craft gift that they made for you with their big buddies.

At one of our Explorations stations the students created 'The Polar Express'!  Every group had great ideas as you can see below.

Thanks so much to Carter, Rhys, Kamryn, Saga and Steve for providing the snacks and goodies for our celebration tomorrow.  In addition thanks to Rhys' family for giving our class the opportunity to try Stroopwaffels - a Dutch tradition which we are planning to have with our hot chocolate tomorrow.  Also to Lexi and Alicia for sharing pomegranate and the prosperous wishes for the new year that come with that!

Poetry, Songs, Math and More is coming home tomorrow.  It has several Christmas math games that would be a fun way to practice their math skills with family over the holidays.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!!

December 13th

Skating was lots of fun.  Thanks so much to our parent drivers and helpers.  We couldn't have gone without your help and support!

Thanks to everyone for coming to one or both of our concerts.  The children are still singing 'Dominic" whenever they have a chance.  They did an awesome job at both performances!
As you hopefully saw on the portal there are some wonderful pictures of our concert on the following link

https://karenmcphotog.smugmug.com/Fairview-Christmas-Con…/…/ you can buy copies of photos for $.28 (cost of developing) OR you can hit the download button next to the cart button and download for FREE!!  Thanks to Karen (our secretary) for taking these. I did download some from our class, as you can see she really captured the enthusiasm!

We started our Christmas Around the World crafts on Wednesday which the students are all very excited about.  I'd like to thank  Libby's mom who came and helped out on Wednesday (and will also join us on Tuesday) and Lexi and Alicia's grandma volunteered today, Rhys' mom on Monday.  We really need the extra help so thanks so much.  If anyone is available on Wednesday after recess to join us please let me know.

FYI - hand, foot, mouth disease is going around Fairview and our classroom.  Unfortunately they are only contagious when there are no signs.  Please just keep a look out.

Friday, Dec. 21 is Pajama Day and bring your favourite Christmas book.  The PAC is providing hot chocolate after recess.  Please have your child bring in a mug.  Also snacks for our celebration that afternoon will be provided by...Fruit Plate - Carter, Veggie Plate - Rhys, Sweet Treat - Kamryn, Popcorn/chips or pretzels - Saga, Other - Stephen.   Thank you all in advance!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  

Dec. 6/18

Christmas is in the air and in the classroom! We have started special Reader's Workshop, Math and Exploration stations.  Our theme is Christmas and holiday traditions around the world.  If you were interested in providing a food/treat that is from a different country please let me know and we can arrange a date.  Some of the ideas we had were mince meat tarts (just mini) from England, mini cinnamon buns from Sweden,  gingerbread (Germany), etc.

We had our first owl presentation this morning.  As you can see it was pretty cool.  We were proud of how much the students from Div. 9 & 10 were able to recall that they knew about owls and how much they learned even today!

Today we had our last RW presentation which was a play.  The students did an awesome job making their masks and presenting the play "The Hungry Shark".

Skating - we currently are short drivers and several students have not signed up or paid for skates/helmets please do so asap or we may need to cancel.  Drivers please remember you need to have an up to date driver's abstract.

Christmas concert is next Tuesday evening and Wed. afternoon (there are still some tickets available for both concerts).  There is also a dress rehearsal on Tuesday morning at 9 which you would be able to attend if it works best with your schedules (it however will be a rehearsal so maybe stopping and starting).  Div. 9 & 10 are signing 'Dominic the Donkey'.  We have 7 Dominic donkey hats and 7 students volunteered to wear them.  These students are:  Lexi, Will, Stephen, Charlie, Liberty, Colton, Carter.  These students should wear black or grey to match these hats.  Dr. Saul had the idea of an Italian Cafe so all the other students can wear black pants, white shirts, black bow ties (if you have them), fedoras (again only if you have them) or dresses. 

Pajama Day on Dec. 21st.  We will also be having special Fairview hallway reading that morning.  Students are encouraged to bring their favourite Christmas book to share with someone.  The PAC is also making hot chocolate for everyone after recess.

Our Christmas celebration will be on the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 21.  Snacks will be provided by: Fruit Plate - Carter, Veggie Plate - Rhys, Sweet Treat - Kamryn, Popcorn/chips or pretzels - Saga, Other - Stephen.                 Thank you all in advance!!

Enjoy this Christmas weekend, I heard we might even get some snow.  

Nov. 29/18

I am really looking forward to meeting with all of you at conferences.  Remember to arrive at the time you signed up for conferences (if uncertain check the portal) and your total conference time is 30 minutes. You are with your child first in the hallway to go through and celebrate their learning and then the last 15 minutes is in the classroom conferencing with me.  If you are unclear please email or come see me for clarification.
Tomorrow is an early dismissal at 11:00.  Please still send your child to school in the morning though, as we have a lot of last minute finish-up to prepare for our conferences.

Several students are bringing home overdue library book notices tomorrow.  Mrs. Holmes is really hoping to get these books back into circulation.  Please look and return these as unfortunately the next step is billing:( Thanks!

Owls and More - there are still a few students who have not paid for these special activities. Please do so asap.

Donations for the Christmas Hamper will be gratefully accepted until Tuesday, Dec. 4th.  Thank you for supporting this great cause.

Christmas concert is just around the corner.  If you haven't already done so, please go on 'EventBrite' to get tickets (even if you are planning to come to the free afternoon performance).
Over the weekend please practice Dominic the Donkey and for costumes please look at past blogs.

Skating on Dec. 13th is now on the portal.  Please sign up and send in the money if renting skates and/or helmets.

Entrepreneur Fair for our class is December 6. All profits are going towards grade 6 and 7 camps. Most items will be between $2-$4. Nothing will be over $5! Please send money in a labelled bag so it is obvious what it is for.  

We have booked an exciting field trip on Thursday, Jan. 31 to go to Science World. We have booked a school bus but will need a few parent volunteers.  Please mark your calendars with this date.

I am excited to meet and celebrate your child's learning over the next couple of days!  Sheralyn