Our first week was spent focussing on routines, expectations, getting to know each other, with some academics added in. Today the kids learned l'alphabet song and #s 1-10 en Français! We have also done some math review of addition with a brief intro to digital routes.
The letter I sent home is posted below. A letter also went home describing the school-wide critical thinking project: The Most Magnificent Thing so please bring in a box or two and start thinking about what you can create with the box. More specifics next week at a special assembly.
A reminder also to send in money for school supplies and agendas, if you haven't already paid.
Have a wonderful evening and weekend. Enjoy the garlic fest at New Denver if you're heading that way.
September 5, 2017
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 22 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 separate 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 will likely use my class
blog again this year but, as I write this, I am not 100% decided as I am also
trying to use ‘Freshgrade’. If I do use
the blog, I 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 about 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
