10 days and counting to Christmas Eve

Here we are at the last week before Christmas break -- where did the time go?
We DO have 5 more days of school, and lots of work to do in it....
Our last Jolly Phonics sounds will be covered this week -- long u sound eu, ew, u_e,as well as oy, and ou/ow.
Sight words this week are you and your.
Special events for the week are as follows:
Tuesday, Dec 15th - Scavenger Hunt
Wednesday, Dec 16th - Santa/elf hat day
Thursday, Dec 17th - Christmas surprise
Friday, Dec 18th - candy canes for all - there is a BYOM (bring your own mug) for 6-12 - it's advertised as K-12. Last year an elementary student was burned buy the hot chocolate, so we will not participate in this part of the event.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE -- SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!

Countdown to Christmas

This week we are presenting our Elementary Conncert on Wednesday, December 9th at 1:00 pm. Come and share in songs of the season with us. You may send clothes for your child to change into, or you may come help them change at lunch time. Lunch will be in the classroom on Wednesday, and the cafeteria will not be serving lunch that day, as the room will be set up with chairs for the audience. I look forward to seeing you all there!

New sight words this week are are and all.

We have learned almost all of the sounds in the Jolly Phonics program - the ones for this week are ay, ea, igh - y, and ow - oa. (long vowel sounds for a, e, i, and o).

On into December!

Another 5 day week! And tomorrow is December 1st - wow! Where does the time go?
New sight words this week are do and to. We continue with sounds er, ar, and au/aw.
We would like to wrap up the last packages to the soldiers in Aghanistan with toys for the children and snacks for the guys. As well, we also need to gather the rest of the money for the books we want to buy through the World Vision program. Saying that, if we could have any donations to a K-2 teacher by Friday, we can get that in the mail as well. Thank you for your support in these two very worthwhile activities - good for the recipients and good for our children to help other, less fortunate children.

FIVE DAYS THIS WEEK!

After a long weekend, here we go into a full week! Hurrah!
Keep up the great work practicing those sounds and sight words. The new words for this week are be and was.
Thank you to the parents who attended Parent-Teacher Interviews. Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time with questions, concerns, and comments related to your child's time at school. It is important that we all work together to make school be a positive experience for your child.
As well, I hope you will keep in mind our special projects for the next month - collecting money for books for children in need through World Vision and collecting small children's toys and toiletries for two Grand Manan soldiers serving in Afghanistan (Trevor Ingersoll and Cane Zwicker) to hand out to the children there.

Another short week...

This week is a short one because of Parent-Teacher Interviews (Wednesday night and Thursday morning) and teacher PD (professional development)on Thursday afternoon and all day Friday.
New sight words this week are me and we.
A reminder was sent home yesterday about our two projects here in K-2 at GMCS - collecting money to buy books for children through World Vision, and gathering small toys, combs, etc for soldiers to pass out in Afghanistan at Christmas time. Thank you for helping in these activities to help your children be aware of others needs in the holiday season.

A beautiful start to the week!

It sounds like it's going to be a beautiful week, weatherwise - please remember to help your child keep healthy in a variety of ways: healthy snacks and lunches, proper clothing for outdoor recesses, and reminding him/her to always cough or sneeze into his/her sleeve. I was pleased with the response to the H1N1 vaccine - the kids were great!
New sight words for the week are he and she. We will do more sounds as well - remember to check your child's yellow duotang and review with him/her all of the sounds we've done to date. Thanks for your perseverance with this and all "homework" involved with school. It really shows in the way the children are becoming more confident about the things they are learning.
Wednesday is the Remembrance Day holiday, so we have a break in the middle of the week.

November!

Well, Halloween is over and so is Daylight Savings time.
New sight words for this week are I and the.
We will visit the Fire Department on Thursday in conjunction with safety topics we will cover this month.
We had a great trip to the Nursing Home last Friday, which was enjoyed by all, young and old!
Keep practicing those sounds from the yellow duotang - as I've said many times, practice makes perfect....
Keep up the great work with the homework duotangs as well! Thanks for helping your child excel in school!

coming up to Halloween

Lots has gone on in October, and I hope you have been able to follow the dates in the previous blog. Between the Thanksgiving holiday and those days off, and the arrival of a new grandson on Oct 16th, my blog has suffered. So - for the rest of this week:
Our word wall has 8 words in total at present - a, is, dad, mom, at, that, or, and for. Please keep going over all of the sounds and letters that make them from the yellow "Sound" duotang. We are just about halfway through our Jolly Phonics program. I am quite pleased with the students' progress. We are beginning to put the sounds we have learned together into words that the children can read, which is exciting.
Today Lisa Williams, from the RCMP, came and gave a talk to students in Grades K-5 about Halloween safety. On Thursday our K-2 classes will go to Mrs. Brown's Grade 3/4 to watch them perform a play they've been practicing. On Friday the Ks will go to the Nursing Home at 10am. They should bring their costumes to put on before we leave the school. Friday afternoon we will have our usual activities in each classroom after lunch, completing the day, and month, with an assembly in the Great Hall.
Next week, on Thursday and Friday, our students will be immunized for the H1N1 virus. Please send back the permission forms, signed yes or no, by this Friday, Oct 30th.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, September has flown past and now we're into October - the month of turkeys and witches....
Kindergarten students are now bringing home "tricky and sight word" bags. Each week there will be two new words added. Please go over these words nightly, as they will help the children better understand some of the intracacies of the English language. Like I tell them - Practice makes perfect!!! This weeks words are a and is. New words that will come home next week are mom and dad.
I'm really pleased with how the children seem to be picking up the sounds we are learning. Keep practicing them each night, as well, please. They should also be practicing making the letters that go with each sound.
Kindergarten classes are going to the Nursing Home on October 30th - costumes included. More info to come on that later in the month.
As for my homeroom - book orders came home this week and are due back to me Tuesday, October 13th. We are also doing both Reading Club (Grades One and Two only until after Christmas) and You and Your World.
Our next K-2 assembly will be at 1:15 on Friday October 30th. You are welcome to attend and see the classes "perform" poems, songs, etc they have learned.
Other October events - weather permitting, there will be an evacuation drill on Wednesday, October 14th. The student body walks to the Anglican Church (K-5), and Central Wesleyan (6-12). Grades K-2 will dismiss from the stone church at the regular time, and Grades 3-12 will walk back to the school to complete their day. If the weather doesn't cooperate the date will be postponed.

Welcome Fall!

Well, here we are in a new season - the year passes so quickly!
This week Kindergarten parents will notice that the homework has gone from one page to two - Language Arts on the front and Math on the back. Keep up the great work! And remember, please, to send the yellow Sounds duotangs back to school every day and homework by Friday. Thank you!
The annual GMCS Terry Fox Run will take place on Friday. K-2 students walk around the school a few times for our part. Please send in a loonie for your student's donation to the cure for cancer.
We have had two fire drills so far this year. We will have four more over the course of the school year as well. We also have evacuation lockdown practices scheduled, which you will hear more about when the time comes.
Have a great week!

WELCOME BACK!!!!!

Well, September is here, and we're all excited to start a new year! I hope each one of you had a great summer and is ready to have a wonderful, exciting, fun year at GMCS!
There are lots! of things coming home in agenda bags this week - for parents as well as students. Book orders are due back to me (homeroom) by this Friday, Sept 11th. Please sign and return the Highlights, Puzzlemania, and Chirp slips asap, yes or no, as I can use these slips to get free items for use in the classroom. Information slips are extremely helpful to us, so please don't miss that one.
The letter in the front of the K Homework duotang will, hopefully, answer some of the questions that you have concerning your child's first year here. As I stated there, please don't hesitate to phone me with any questions or concerns you might have.
We will be having a fire drill on Thursday (weather permitting), and will practice with your children this week so they will be ready for it.
Here's to a GREAT year!!!

the last hurrah!

Here we are, and it's Wednesday of the last week already......... where does the time go??? Here's the scoop for the rest of this week:
- today the K-8 students will be dismissed at 10am. Graduation is at noon.
- Thursday is a full day, and the K-2 will go to the Anchorage at 11, and
dismiss from there at 2:00
- Dismissal for 3-12 is at 11:00, with K-2 leaving at 12.
Have a wonderful summer. I'm looking forward to a great new year in September!

TWO MORE WEEKS!!!!!!

School is winding down, and this week we will make two trips. The first trip is to the Grand Manan Museum (just our Kindergarten class) on Wednesday, June 10th. On Thursday June 11th, we will have our annual "Day at the Beach", leaving school at 11:00am for the Anchorage Park. Any family members who would like to join us are more than welcome. Your child will need a bag lunch (two drinks would be a good idea, and one could be water), sunscreen, a towel, a hat, beach toys (labelled with his/her name), and clothes appropriate for the weather that day. If it is raining on Thursday, we will go on Friday. The buses will pick the children up at the Anchorage to return them home at the regular time.
Hope to see you at the Anchorage!

JUNE is here!

Well, only three more weeks of classes and this year is a done deal.... We are still doing lots of work, so please help your child remain focused on school work.
We have completed the list of tricky and sight words, as well as going through the letters of the alphabet. We are doing a lot of review, and this is important to make sure the students remember what we've learned this year.
Mrs. Jones has put a slide show of our Spring Carnival on her blog - please take a minute or two to have a look. We all had a great time!
As well, please keep an eye open in your child's agenda for information re our trip to the Anchorage on the 11th (rain date 12th), and see his/her homework duotang today for a slip about June 16th, when they are to stay home as next year's class is coming for a visit that day.
There will be no more homework, which I'm sure pleases both you and your child.
Have a great week!

SPRING CARNIVAL WEEK

I think it finally feels like Spring has arrived!!!! This week there are some school-wide activities to celebrate. Monday is PJ Day, Tuesday is Dress like the Opposite Sex Day, Wednesday is Twin Day ( get a friend to dress just like you), Thursday is No Pants Day (wear shorts, etc), and Friday is Hat Day. On Friday there is a Fun Day as well -- There will be inflatable toys for all, and the time for K-2 to use them is 11:00-11:50. There will be a movie shown in the afternoon - BOLT (you can check it out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_(2008_film). There have been permission slips and notes for lunch and treats on Friday come home. Please have these back asap.
We will cover the last two letters this week - Y and Z. As well, the last of our tricky and sight words - goes, does, made, and their.
Have a great Spring Carnival week!

Happy Victoria Day!

Well, you know the year is drawing to a close when we celebrate the Victoria Day holiday...

I will soon be sending home a list of all of the words your child has brought home this year in his/her "Tricky and Sight Words" bag, so you can have them to review through the summer months. This week's words are right, two, and four.

We are nearing the end of the alphabet as well - this week we are doing words that begin with the letter Ww and Xx. As there aren't many that begin with Xx, we will also talk about words with Xx in them.

Friday is a day off for students, as teachers deal with union business in the afternoon after a morning professional development session.

There won't be many more weeks of homework. Please review with your child the work done through the year and make any corrections, as well as completing any missed work. Thank you.

another full week!

Somehow last week's blog never got published, and I apologize for that. We are coming to the end of our alphabet work, doing two letters each week. This week we are working with U and V. Our sight words are would, should, and could. I will soon send home the complete list of sight and tricky words we have had during the school year - your child should be able to read each of them.

On Tuesday afternoon, May 12th, the school will be having an evacuation practice. In this procedure the whole school evacuates the building and walks (in class groups) to, for grades K-5, the Anglican Church in Grand Harbour. Upper grades go to Central Wesleyan Church. The buses will pick K-2 children up from there to return them home on that day. Grades 3-12 will walk back to the school, continue classes, and come home from there on the buses. This practice will be held unless it is raining, and the weather looks good so far.

countdown to MAY!

Three days at school this week - and then a few weeks of 5-days (at last!) at school.....

Letters Q and R are the targets this week, and the sight words are other, were, and because.

Thursday is a district Professional Development day for teachers, and we are off to Moncton for the annual province-wide Subject Council meetings on Friday.

Keep on working!

Another short week for GMCS, as Monday, April 20th, is a Curriculum Day for teachers, and we will all be going to St. Stephen to meet with our grade level counterparts in the district.

We are finding words that begin with the letter Oo and Pp this week. Our sight words are more, before, and of.

We have been practicing our emergency procedures in the past weeks - lockdown, fire drills, and evacuation (to come soon)- and will have some more practicing as the weeks go by.

Keep on working

On into April!

This week we are featuring the letter Nn. Each week we do a variety of activities relating to the letter we are studying. Please remember, if your child brings home the letter bucket, please help him/her to find a number of items that begin with that letter. Our sight words are any, many, and had.

We are beginning a new Reading Club this week in K-2, so look for your child's Reading Club duotang and bag, and help them with the activities you find inside.

on to Easter!

Another 4-day week! And after that a 4-day weekend! But this week will hopefully be a bit quieter than last week was. Thanks to those of you who came out to Parent/Teacher interviews. If any of you were unable to attend and would like to meet with me, please don't hesitate to contact me. The phone number in my classroom is 662-7083.

We are concentrating on the letter Mm this week. Sight words are who, which, and with.

This is our last week for You and Your World sessions and, beginning next Tuesday, April 15th, we will again be doing Reading Club activities.

Lots going on this week!

Well, this week will be a busy one - starting with the report cards that come home today. Tomorrow the TNB Young Company will be putting on their presentation of "Charlotts's Web". Wednesday afternoon the MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) group will be putting on a presentation for K-5 students. On Thursday we will have a regular school day, with Parent-Teacher Interviews from 6:30-8:00pm. Friday morning will be more Interviews, from 9-11:30. Therefore there will be no school for students on Friday, April 3rd. There is also a Scholastic Book Fair taking place in the library Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Times are attached to the flyer your child brings home today.

Please have a good look at your child's report card, and return the envelope (signed on the back) with the interview response sheet inside. I look forward to seeing many of you Thursday and Friday.

We are emphasizing the letter "Ll" this week, as well as the following words: look, why and where.

Have a great week! Don't let your kids get the best of you on April Fools Day!!!!
;0)

Spring has Sprung!

Well, the first day of Spring has come and gone, and we're still waiting for warm, Spring-like weather. I know it will come, but sooner would be nice,eh?

The letter Kk is our emphasis this week, along with the sight words what, when and okay. In Math we're practicing numbers to 10 - counting backwards and forwards, what comes before and after, etc.

Report cards come home next week, probably Monday, March 30, but possibly Tuesday, March 31st. Parent-Teacher will be Thursday night (Apr 2) and Friday morning (Apr 3). There will also be a Scholastic Book Fair at that time in the library.

Please send $2 with your child for the TNB Young Company presentation of Charlotte's Web on the 31st of the month.

Once again, even though the snow is gone, the wind blows cold on the playground. Please make sure your child has snow pants, boots, mitts, and a warm hat for recess.

Spring is coming soon!

Another week of Winter left, and I'm ready for Spring - I imagine just like everybody else in the cold north, I bet....

We are talking about words that start with J this week. Our sight words are on, down, and little.

Report cards are just around the corner. They will come home in a couple of weeks, so I will be doing some testing in both Math and Language Arts areas. Attendance is very important at every level in your child's school years. Important information can be missed, so please encourage your child to attend every day (unless, of course, they are sick).

Students have been asked to bring in a twonie for the Theatre New Brunswick Young Company's presentation of Charlotte's Web on March 31st.

The Scholastic Book Fair will be held April 1, 2, and 3 in the library.

In like a lion!

I understand March came in like a lion - I was away and missed it. Too bad. Hopefully the weather will turn much more Spring-like soon!!
This week we are talking about the letter Ii and words that begin with either of the sounds of I. Our tricky and sight words are in, old, and only. Keep practicing all of the words that have come home so far, as well as the Word Box bags that come home nightly.
In Math we are working on numbers from 6 - 10, as well as reviewing all we have learned so far this year.
TNB Young Company is coming to put on the play "Charlotte's Web" on the 31st of March. We ask that each child (Grades K-12) bring in at least $2 to help cover the cost. The TNB group always does a great performance for our students. Thank you in advance for helping provide this activity for your child.

Snow Day #7!!!!

Well, here we are, at home again, shoveling snow! Let me tell you, I enjoy being outdoors, but I'd rather not be shoveling snow.... the classroom seems a better place to be. Oh well, we can't do anything about the weather, can we?

Grade Level Trials that were to be held today will be tomorrow morning at 9am in the Great Hall, with the Finals being at 6pm Wednesday night.

We are "doing" letter H this week, along with the words live, give, and his. As well as sending homework in promptly, I again ask that you send the Word Box bags daily so your child can get as much reading practice as possible. I keep telling the kids, "Practice makes perfect!"

DAY 100 is here!

Tuesday, February 17th is Day 100. We are excited to see all of the projects that come in. We are also excited for the special activities in the gym. Parents are invited to come and watch us - the event will begin after lunch, probably around 12:55 or so. Projects will be displayed in the Great Hall after the activities in the gym are completed.

Homework will come home as usual on Monday. Tricky and sight words for the week are like, have, and and. The letter of the week is Gg.

Please continue to send the tricky and sight word bags back to school to get the new words put in. As well, I need to get the Word Box bags back as soon as they have been read - new ones will be sent home through the week. When one is returned one more will be sent home. I have lots, and the practice is important.

Ahhhhhhhh, Winter !!?!!!!

Well, we either have too much ice or it's too cold to go on the playground. At least we're at school.....

This week's tricky words are: from, by, and one. Along with practicing all of our tricky and sight words, we are focusing on the letter F. Help your child identify things that begin with F through this week, please.

Wednesday afternoon will find us celebrating Valentines Day. If you would like to supply a treat for our homeroom. please let me know.

As it stands at present, Day 100 will be on Wednesday next, the 18th of February. I hope all Day 100 projects are well underway and ready to be brought to school by next Monday, the 16th.

The Professional Development day we were to have this Friday, February 13th, has been postponed due to snow days. So there will be school as usual on that day.

Have a great week!

Happy day after Ground Hog Day!

Well, in my book the groundhog didn't see his shadow, so we should be seeing the end of winter - well, sometime before June 1st! How's that for a prediction?

This week we are emphasizing Ee words. As well, our tricky and sight word bags came home with so, my, and love for your child to add to his/her memory. Please keep reviewing the whole bag - repetition is the key to remembering these words.

Yesterday a couple of letters came home. The Day 100 letter, stating that we are now looking at Tuesday,February 17th as our day for celebrating the number 100. The day will be moved ahead if there are any snow days between now and then. Have fun making your Day 100 projects. It always amazes me - the imagination of the children and the variety of displays of the amount that 100 is.

The other letter was about our Public Speaking program. Each child is required to give a "talk" at the amount of time for their grade level, at least in the classroom. Please help your child with this requirement of the Language Arts curriculum. Have fun with it - it helps if the student talks about a familiar subject that they are interested in. Once again, imagination is the key.

Have a great week!

more cold weather!

Another week of cold weather - and yet another reminder to dress your children WARMLY!
Sight words this week are yes, no, see, and go. Our letter of the week is "D" - you can help at home by finding things that start with the letter D around your house.
A list of names will come home soon for Valentines Day, which will be observed on Feb 11th. We will be observing Day 100 on Monday, Feb 16th (unless there is a snow day between now and then) - information will be sent home soon on our plan for that day.

Snow day once more.....

Well, Monday is here and no school..... so here's what we're doing for the rest of the week:

This week we are doing activities related to the letter C. Tricky and sight words for the week are: there, they, and can. Homework will be coming home on Tuesday, and should be returned to me on Thursday. Sorry for the short time to do it this week, but I can't predict snow days..

Remember once again to dress warmly - last week was a doozie! Hopefully the temperatures will moderate and we'll have warmer days.

winter abounds!

Well, we lost two days to the weather last week, let's hope this week is a full one.

This week we are talking about things that begin with the letter B. Our tricky words are said, here, and it. If your child brings home the alphabet bucket, please help him/her to find a few things that begin with B. The Sounds duotangs stay home noe - please remember to go over the sounds with your child once or twice a week. The students will be bringing home books to read soon, and every chance you have to help them practice the sounds of the letters they've learned will help them to become stronger and more confident readers.

Happy New Year!

Welcome back - here's to a great 2009 part to the 08/09 school year!

There are two notes coming home on Monday of this week. One is about the Math unit we will be covering and the other is about Language Arts. Please read each one carefully - if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

As well, please remember to send appropriate clothing for recess times outside. The playground seems to always have the wind, no matter what direction, and it is a cold one!

I hope you all had a great break and are ready to "get back at it"!