Welcome! Bienvenue! This is the first post of this school year. Below is a brief description of our day; it expands on the activities identified in your child's agenda. Below is also a copy of the letter I sent home (on mauve paper) yesterday. If you have any questions or comments, you can write them here or in your child's agenda.
We started our morning reading a few of the letters written by last year's students, telling this year's kids what to expect in my class. Then students wrote their first entry in their Reflective Journal, telling me at least three things that they would like me to know about them. I look forward to reading them all.
We also started French this morning! Students learned some of the commands I might give, and how to count to 10. Ask them to count for you!! (un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix)
Commands: Bonjour! Écrivez! Écoutez! Regardez! Levez-vous! Asseyez-vous! Ouvrez les (livres/ cahiers / duotangs)! Fermez les (livres/ cahiers / duotangs)!
In Health & Career we reviewed our school's R.A.I.S.E. by reading and discussing it (p. 6 agenda).
Later, the students broke into groups and did an activity that required them to categorize events into respecting themselves, all individuals, or the environment.
In Math students learned how the Kim Sutton Number Line works in the class.
Mr. Pfeiffer took the kids for P.E. this morning, providing part of my prep time. They will be developing a lot of skills and having a lot of fun with him!
Reminders: Friday, Sept. 30th - Orange Shirt Day (more info to follow)
Please sign your child's agenda to indicate that you have seen it:)
September 7, 2016
Dear Parents /
Guardians,
Welcome to the new
school year! I am really looking forward
to working with your child this year, learning and having fun together. We have a wonderful class of 25 students (thus
far), some of whom have been together previously, and others who are new to our
school and to the district. The
following is a brief description of some of our classroom routines and
expectations. We will be tweaking our
schedule as we establish daily routines over the next couple of weeks, making
changes as necessary.
ORGANIZATION: An
important key to success is being organized and prepared to learn. For some of us, this is easier said than
done! To enhance the success of all
students, I would like to explain our method of organizing our daily work and
use of agendas.
WORKING BINDER:
Students will be using a ‘Working Binder’.
All work that they do throughout the day, including worksheets received,
will go directly into this binder. Thus,
when students bring home their agenda (which will be attached inside the
binder), they will have all of their work with them, completed or not. This way, fewer worksheets will be lost, less
homework forgotten at school or at home, and parents will be able to see right
away what work has been done or what needs to be completed. Parents will also have the opportunity to see
what their child is studying. At the end
of a unit of study, the related work will be removed from the Working Binder to
either be kept at home or recycled.
Special projects, of course, will be kept aside for later reference. I have used this method for several years now
and find that his approach minimizes confusion and supports organization skills
for everyone.
In addition to the Working Binder,
students have separate duotangs for Math Drills That Thrill, ‘Just for Fun’
activities, and French (due to its cumulative nature).
They will also
have Interactive Notebooks for key Math and Language Arts concepts.
AGENDA: Students are required to use an agenda as a
means of recording assignments and communicating with home on a regular
basis. I would like to remind parents
to look at their child’s agenda daily, ask questions about what he/she is
working on at school (look through the Working Binder), and initial the agenda
indicating that you have read it. This
keeps you up to date and helps students see why it is important to use the
agenda. I shall endeavor to sign agendas
daily and respond to any messages you may include. *Please note that what is written in the
agenda is what we are doing each day; specific assignments are homework only if
they have not been completed. You can
help your child keep his/her Working Binder organized by filing worksheets
behind the correct subject tab if misfiled.
HOMEWORK: I seldom
assign homework for the sake of assigning homework. If, however, your child
requires additional time to complete assignments listed in their agenda, they
will need to do so for the following day.
It will be up to your son/daughter to bring home the necessary books and
tools to complete their assignments.
Students are also welcome to stay after school most days to finish up
assignments or get extra help. When
larger projects are assigned, ample notice of expectations and due dates will
be given. An ‘Assignment Check’ chart is
located on the cupboard door just inside my classroom; this will quickly
identify the assignments that have been submitted and those that are missing.
*I have a class
blog and try to post daily. Its format
varies but generally contains information about our day. At times, I may post pictures of artwork /
activities; there are also links to videos and websites that we have referenced
in class.
MY BLOG: www.sleachsd19.blogspot.ca
Columbia Park’s
website: http://www.columbiapark.sd19.bc.ca
School district’s
website: http://www.sd19.bc.ca
FRESHGRADE: I will
be learning about and using this program to share your child’s schoolwork with
you. Watch for more information about
this.
P.E.: I would like to remind everyone that we have
P.E., every day. Full strip (shorts or
sweatpants, T-shirt, proper shoes) is required.
Gym clothes should be appropriate for active participation. P.E., strip can stay at school, but should be
washed from time to time; long weekends or vacations work best. Please help your child come prepared with
clean clothes. Thank you. This makes us
all happy!
WATER BOTTLES:
Please ensure that your child’s water bottle is non-breakable and has a lid so
that, if dropped, it will not spill.
Also, please label and take home on Fridays for cleaning.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
AND AGENDA FEES: Please remember to
submit $30 + $7 (total $37) for the supplies and agenda as soon as
possible. Note: Students are expected to
be responsible and to take care of these supplies throughout the year.
As I have
mentioned, I am really excited aobut this school year and am looking forward to
learning with your child. If you have
any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Respectfully,
Ms. Sue Leach
