Last week was certainly an exciting and busy week! The kids had a fun time sharing their 100 Day collections. Thanks for helping your child create his/her project. Another big thanks to those parents who came to help with 100 fruit loop necklaces! Last Friday, we said a bittersweet goodbye to Mrs. Dhaliwal. We wish her all the best as she awaits the arrival of her baby.
Our new phonics sounds this week are “j” and “oa” (as in goat). The Jolly Phonics Smartboard program (which I have been waiting for in the mail for quite a while) arrived last week! The kids and I are very excited to start using the program. Our class sharing for Read Around the Planet will be at 9:00am on Monday (as long as technology and the school Wifi cooperate for us). Please do not be late for school as we are teleconferencing live and arriving late will cause a big interruption in our very limited conference time. In Math, we are beginning to tell simple addition equations (aka: “math stories”) with objects, our bodies, pictures and numbers.
This week our “Healthy Living” unit will continue to focus on how to avoid spreading germs (proper hand-washing and personal hygiene), daily exercise, body parts and their function (e.g., skin, bones, muscles, heart, etc.). The kids loved the Sugary Drinks demonstration we did last week where we matched drinks to a cup with the equivalent amount of white sugar. We talked about looking for nutrition labels and how reading them can help us make healthy choices. The kids were amazed by how much added sugar was in fruit juice from concentrate, pop and slushies (the kids labeled these drinks as “once-in-a-while-treats” on their own :))! Consuming too much of these sugary drinks mean the kids' energy spikes quickly (“hyper” behaviour) and then crashes (“meltdowns, irritable behaviour”), shortly after. Canada's Food Guide recommends that children aged 4-8 years consume less than 10 teaspoons (40 grams/50 ml) of added sugar per day. This means one 200 ml 100% fruit juice-box contains HALF of a child's daily sugar intake and one can of 335ml pop contains 100% of their daily sugar intake! Sugary drinks “bump out” other nutritious beverages, contribute to higher caffeine intake, and a higher risk of dental cavities. When children fill up on sugary drinks, they consume fewer nutritious foods and beverages (especially milk) and risk deficiencies of essential nutrients. I have challenged the kids (and their parents too :) ) to “BUMP OUT” and/or limit SUGARY DRINKS at school by only bringing water, white milk or one 100% fruit juice box in their lunches. Thanks for your cooperation! I also really appreciate how respectful parents have been about promoting healthy snacks and treats by refraining from sending candy and sweets to school!
REMINDERS/HOW PARENTS CAN HELP:
* Please send a family photo for your child to display on our FAMILY WALL a.s.a.p. Your photo will be returned to you at the end of the school year. :)
* Return completed February Homework calendars to be entered in the prize draw later this week
* Hot Dog Lunch orders due March 8th
* Senor Froggy Lunch orders due March 11th
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
This week’s Star Student is Mason.
Monday – Library book exchange and- Read Around the Planet with Mrs. Gorman
Tuesday – Happy Birthday Lacey!
Wednesday - P.E. with Mrs. Gustafson
Thursday – Roots of Empathy visit with Wayne and baby Ava
Friday - P.E. with Mrs. Brkovic
UPCOMING EVENTS:
-March 11 - Term 2 Report Cards sent home
-March 21-April 1 -SPRING BREAK
-April 4th - Pro-D Day (No School)
FYI: -Kindergarten Open House (Student “Brag” Night) -TBA [most likely during the week of March 14-18. Mrs. Hyslop and I are waiting to finalize a date and time once Mrs. Dhaliwal’s position has been filled]
See everyone tomorrow!
Ms.Gartrell