This week, Madame Hada's grade 1 classroom is hosting a dozen eggs getting ready to hatch. We stopped by this afternoon to take a look and then went back to our classrooms to discuss and draw our observations. There were already 3 eggs with little cracks in them, and we could hear some chirping. It was very exciting! After school, I went back upstairs to take a peek and the egg numbered 10 was working up the strength to hatch - and he did! I took some pictures to show the students tomorrow. I'm sure there will be more excitement to witness tomorrow when we drop by to visit!
Le petit poussin est fatigué!
Other news
We are sad to have to say goodbye to one of our students who is moving away. Aurevoir, Bella!! We wish her and her family all the best in their travels.
We will be resuming our visit to Cosmo Senior Centre this Friday, May 3rd at 12:45-1:15 now that the warmer weather is upon us (fingers crossed that the snow is finally gone for good!).
This Thursday is Sparkle and Shine day, which is a school spirit day where students can wear their most sparkly and shiny outfit. The junior choir will also be performing two songs at the morning assembly as their final activity for the year on this day.
A new song
Today we learned a new song about le printemps (spring). You and your child can view the video and sing along by clicking here.
Here is our latest word study poster. The students were really excited to "shake out" the words for this one! We will be sending home the words for home reading tomorrow.
Last Thursday, your child was sent home a StarPheonix newspaper along with a subscription form. This is because Mme Hamilton and Mme Ollerhead are spearheading a fundraising initiative for our school through newspaper subscriptions. This fundraiser is completely voluntary, although any efforts made to raise money for our school is always greatly appreciated. Here is some more information on this subject.
Every subscription that is received through this fundraiser will mean 20 dollars for our school, and every student who brings in a subscription will be entered into a draw for prizes as well. One lucky class could also win an iPad mini!
More paper subscription forms are available at the office (just send a note if you would like more). Also, if a potential subscriber is interested in a digital subscription, he or she should subscribe online and print their confirmation of registration for your child to bring into school as proof of a subscription. If you do not have access to a printer, you may email the confirmation to myself or Mme Tessmann and we will print it on your behalf.
Please refer to the cardstock page that was sent home for more information. If you have any questions about this initiative, please let us know and we will do our best to find the answer.
Here is some news about what's happening this week at École Victoria:
Wednesday (Tomorrow) is the International Day of Pink. Many students and teachers will be wearing pink to celebrate diversity and raise awareness to stop bullying.
Thursday, April 11th is a school spirit day where all the students will be wearing a colour depending on their grade. Grade 1 students are supposed to wear red on this day. We will also be opening up our class store where students will be able to purchase items with their pretend money that they have been earning for speaking French and working hard.
On Friday, April 12th we will be watching a performance by the Persephone Theatre at 9:10am in the gym. There will also be a dance in the afternoon from 12:45-1:30 for our students in the gym. Please bring $1.00 and a non-perishable food item on this day.
It was wonderful to see parents and caregivers for the three-way conferences this week. Here is the latest news in Grade 1 French Immersion:
Les Sciences Naturelles - Les cinq sens
I hope you all had a chance to take a look at your child's poster of the five senses which were displayed in the hallway. Here is what we learned for each sens and how we incorporated our learning for final project on Les 5 sens:
1)La
vue (Sight)
We looked at our pupils in the mirror after closing our eyes and after looking
at the light from the window and noticed how our pupils change size depending
on the lighting in the room. We added a mirror (using tinfoil) to our
poster to represent sight. 2) L’ouïe (Hearing)
We did experiments to test our listening skills and then we added a bell to our
poster to represent hearing.
3) L'odorat (Smell)
We did experiments to test our sense of smell and then I added a drop of orange
essential oil to everyone's posters to represent smell. 4)Le goût (Taste)
We learned about tastebuds on our tongue. Then we ate some chewing gum and timed how long it took for the flavour to
disappear.We added our chewing gum to
our poster to represent taste. 5) Le toucher (Touch)
We learned about different textures (mou, dur, doux, rugueux, lisse) and added
an object to each finger to represent something floppy, hard, soft, rough, and
smooth.
I think that the students really enjoyed this project - and so did I! I borrowed this wonderful idea from another teacher's blog who is a great resource for French Immersion primary teachers. If you are interested, you can find her blog here.
Awnya's skiing video
On Tuesday, Awnya presented a video to the class that she made while on holiday in Golden, B.C. We really enjoyed watching her daringly ski in between trees and over a few jumps and speak to us in French. Her mother has given me permission to share it with you, so if your child would like to watch it again, you can see her amazing skills here.
Home reading
On Wednesday, I sent home the Alphabet 213 Phrases for home reading (we have read as a class up to the letter L, but feel free to read further if your child is motivated to!). I also added a copy of a play we have been learning (La Poule Maboule) to the home reading duotangs, which your child may wish to read over the break. For a really cute video of a bunch of students in Ontario presenting the play, click here.
School supplies
We are also running low on a few items at school, so the break may be the perfect time to pick up some of these items so that your child will continue to be well-prepared for learning for the last 3 months of school. I had the class take a look at their supplies and write down what they were missing if it was something essential for the remainder of the year (ie. dried up markers are not a big concern, as long as he or she has something to colour with). We are also down to the last few kleenex boxes so if you could send a box with your child after the break, that would be greatly appreciated!
Joyeuses Pâques!
To celebrate Easter, I have found a youtube video of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit told in French here. And here is a song about Easter en français that your child might enjoy:
I hope everyone has a wonderful break! We will see your child back at school on Monday, April 8th.
Progress Reports are coming home today. For some tips on how to approach reviewing and discussing this document with your child, please see my blog entry on the subject from term 1.
When looking at your child's marks, please keep in mind that as the school days increase, so do the expectations. Though a student may have received a B in term one, and a second B in term two, it does not mean that there has been no progress. It simply means that the student is beginning to meet the expectations for this point in the year.
A few of your child's teachers have sent their program summaries for term 2. Here they are:
1)From Mr. Schneider, our Physical Education Teacher: Movement Perspective In physical education we are working on, and will continue
to work on, basic movement skills through developmental games and rhythmic
activities. The basic movement patterns include sending, receiving,
accompanying, evading and locomotion skills. The skills are performed at
different levels (high, medium, low) and along different pathways (straight,
curved, and zigzag). Personal and Social Perspective Physical education is an excellent opportunity to evaluate
how students interact with classmates. Do they; include and accept all class-mates,
support and help class-mates who are struggling with a skill, take
responsibility for their actions, listens attentively/stays on task, stay
within the rules of an activity, and display positive leadership skills. The
list of personal and social skills addressed in physical education is almost
endless. Active Living Perspective Hopefully, as students gain skills and knowledge they will
come to value and embrace physical activity as an extreme important aspect of
their lives. Research has shown
the importance of physical activity to the physical health and wellness of
children.Research is now showing one of
the best ways to maximize the brain, and therefore academic performance, is
through movement.
The following skills have been stressed this term:
-bilateral coordination -pursuit and proper angling techniques -agility -cooperative movement -body/space awareness -flexibility -hand-eye coordination -dribbling -throwing -catching -strength and fitness techniques
2)From Mme Denomy: This
term, students learned about some First Nations traditions, celebrations and
aspects of worldview. To better understand these concepts, students
listened to a variety of stories and legends, and have recently completed a
“Circle Book” which explores and explains some of the traditional teachings of
the Medicine Wheel.
3) A paper copy of Mrs. Graham's Arts Education Program Summary was sent home with the progress reports.
We are looking forward to meeting with you and your child for three-way conferences next week. Please contact the office to book an appointment if you have not already done so.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.
Each class was given a bag in which to collect pennies. This is part of the Free the Children/Me to We initiative (same as Water Rafiki Friend Chains). The class that collects the most pennies wins an ice cream party. We discussed that the reason we are collecting pennies is to help others, not to win a party (but it would be a cool bonus). So please send any pennies that you may have lying around and help us to help others.
Report cards and Three-way Conferences
Progress reports will be sent home on Friday, March 22nd. Three-way conferences will be held on Tuesday, March 26th from 4-8pm and on Wednesday, March 27th from 4-7pm. Please call the office to schedule a time.
Perimeter Lockdown Drill Tomorrow
We will be having a perimeter lockdown drill on Thursday, March 14th at around 2:15pm
That's it for now. Looking forward to seeing you at the end of the month!
