Wow, December is beginning this week! If your child didn’t already share with you, I was in Australia for two weeks (a trip that's been on my Wishlist for so long)! So it’s taking me some time to adjust not only to the time-zone change but to these colder temperatures and SNOW! As snow is arriving, we will be starting new routines for snow-gear. To ensure our hallways are safe and dry, please remind your child to take his/her boots off at the front entrance doors and carry them down the hallway to our class’s designated boot racks. It is also very helpful to label your child’s snow gear so it can be returned to the owner if anything is lost.
HIGHLIGHT FROM LAST WEEK:
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
We will focus on the letter "Hh” this week. We have continued to work on our colouring and drawing skills in our Phonics books. I will introduce the kids to a new phonics movement game called BUZZ (it’s usually becomes a crowd favourite very quickly). In Math, we will continue to work on patterning as well as using the Handwriting Without Tears program to practice correct formation for the numbers 1-3. I am hoping we will have time to play a dice game called, “Roll A Snowman” as well.
While I was away, Mrs. Sweeney began our Social Responsibility theme by introducing the concept of “Bucket Filling”, which is based on a super book, “Have You Filled A Bucket Today?”. The concept means that when you do something kind for someone else, it fills his/her bucket (makes him/her feel good/happy/loved) and in turn, fills your own bucket. However, when you do something unkind to someone else, it empties his/her bucket (makes him/her feel sad/upset/lonely) as well as your own bucket. This correlates really well with our “Traffic Light” behaviour expectations. You may hear your child talking a lot about bucket filling (green/blue choices) and dipping (yellow/red choices). :)
We will continue our Social Responsibility theme this week and talk more about Whole Body Listening, bucket-filling, empathy (seeing and caring about how others’ feel, then trying to help), and how to react to our feelings in appropriate ways (e.g., it’s ok to feel angry/sad/upset/frustrated, but it is never okay to hit/punch/bite, etc.). We will learn about “Anger Mountain” and strategies that help us calm down. We will read some story books about emotions and continue with “Caring Sharing” (the kids loved playing “Rock, Paper, Scissors” as a way to problem solve when we are having a hard time taking turns). We will also discuss what being “assertive” means and what we can do when we need help problem solving as well as saying sorry and making it right if we were bothering someone. Constable Winkels will talk about WITS and I will talk about TILT and WALK, TALK, SQUAWK. These are all similar strategies (although different acronyms) for what to do if someone is bothering you, use TILT (Tell them to stop, Ignore, Leave the area, Tell an adult) or WALK, TALK, SQUAWK
1. WALK - Try to ignore/walk away/play somewhere or with someone else
2. TALK – in an assertive tone, say his/her name, ask them to stop the specific behaviour
3. SQUAWK – ask an adult for help. Next week we will discuss “tattling” vs. “telling” and when each is necessary/not necessary.
Winter Concert
Our class, along with Mrs. Hyslop/Mrs. Lundgren’s have been practicing two songs for the holiday concert: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Up on the Housetop”. I will send a copy of the lyrics home this week so you can work on them at home as well (the verses have been a bit trickier to learn). We have set aside several blocks of time to practice in the gym over the next two weeks so the students will be ready to perform on December 14th and 15th! To keep “costuming” simple, our group of Kindies will wear black pants/skirt/tights and a white or red shirt (please avoid logos - or turn the shirt inside out). Girls can wear a red or white party dress if they’d rather. Also keep safe footwear in mind, the kids will be walking up and down some metal stairs and bench-type risers independently so high-heeled party shoes can be dangerous.
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP:
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
Monday –
Tuesday – Visit #2 with Constable Winkels for WITS program
- P.E. with Ms. Hall
Wednesday –Library with Mrs. Gorman
- Roots of Empathy visit with Wayne
Thursday – Senor Froggy’s Lunch
Friday – PAJAMA DAY
- P.E. with Mrs. Brkovic
REMINDERS:
UPCOMING EVENTS:
-Monday, Dec. 5th – Pro- D Day – No school
-Tuesday, Dec. 6th - Poinsettia orders available for pick-up
-Thursday, Dec. 9th – Term 1 Report Cards sent home (please read and keep the paper report, then sign and return the envelope to school)
-Tuesday, Dec. 13 - 1:00pm Dress Rehearsal for School Winter Concert in gym
-Wednesday, Dec. 14th – 1:00pm School Winter Concert in gym
-Thursday, Dec. 15th - 1:00pm School Winter Concert in gym
-Dec. 19- January 3rd - WINTER HOLIDAYS
See you tomorrow!
-Ms. Gartrell
HIGHLIGHT FROM LAST WEEK:
- Hearing about Ms. Gartrell’s trip, seeing pictures and videos and learning about Australian animals
- Seeing Baby Thomas holding his head up and laughing when we played Peek-a-Boo
- You Can Count on Me - Math event - what an excellent turn-out! Thanks for coming
- Meeting Mr. Specht, from Immigrant Services, and learning about diversity and personal identity
- Introducing the class “Clean-Up Job” wheel – where each student has a job he/she is responsible for each day
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
We will focus on the letter "Hh” this week. We have continued to work on our colouring and drawing skills in our Phonics books. I will introduce the kids to a new phonics movement game called BUZZ (it’s usually becomes a crowd favourite very quickly). In Math, we will continue to work on patterning as well as using the Handwriting Without Tears program to practice correct formation for the numbers 1-3. I am hoping we will have time to play a dice game called, “Roll A Snowman” as well.
While I was away, Mrs. Sweeney began our Social Responsibility theme by introducing the concept of “Bucket Filling”, which is based on a super book, “Have You Filled A Bucket Today?”. The concept means that when you do something kind for someone else, it fills his/her bucket (makes him/her feel good/happy/loved) and in turn, fills your own bucket. However, when you do something unkind to someone else, it empties his/her bucket (makes him/her feel sad/upset/lonely) as well as your own bucket. This correlates really well with our “Traffic Light” behaviour expectations. You may hear your child talking a lot about bucket filling (green/blue choices) and dipping (yellow/red choices). :)
We will continue our Social Responsibility theme this week and talk more about Whole Body Listening, bucket-filling, empathy (seeing and caring about how others’ feel, then trying to help), and how to react to our feelings in appropriate ways (e.g., it’s ok to feel angry/sad/upset/frustrated, but it is never okay to hit/punch/bite, etc.). We will learn about “Anger Mountain” and strategies that help us calm down. We will read some story books about emotions and continue with “Caring Sharing” (the kids loved playing “Rock, Paper, Scissors” as a way to problem solve when we are having a hard time taking turns). We will also discuss what being “assertive” means and what we can do when we need help problem solving as well as saying sorry and making it right if we were bothering someone. Constable Winkels will talk about WITS and I will talk about TILT and WALK, TALK, SQUAWK. These are all similar strategies (although different acronyms) for what to do if someone is bothering you, use TILT (Tell them to stop, Ignore, Leave the area, Tell an adult) or WALK, TALK, SQUAWK
1. WALK - Try to ignore/walk away/play somewhere or with someone else
2. TALK – in an assertive tone, say his/her name, ask them to stop the specific behaviour
3. SQUAWK – ask an adult for help. Next week we will discuss “tattling” vs. “telling” and when each is necessary/not necessary.
Winter Concert
Our class, along with Mrs. Hyslop/Mrs. Lundgren’s have been practicing two songs for the holiday concert: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Up on the Housetop”. I will send a copy of the lyrics home this week so you can work on them at home as well (the verses have been a bit trickier to learn). We have set aside several blocks of time to practice in the gym over the next two weeks so the students will be ready to perform on December 14th and 15th! To keep “costuming” simple, our group of Kindies will wear black pants/skirt/tights and a white or red shirt (please avoid logos - or turn the shirt inside out). Girls can wear a red or white party dress if they’d rather. Also keep safe footwear in mind, the kids will be walking up and down some metal stairs and bench-type risers independently so high-heeled party shoes can be dangerous.
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP:
- Please practice our holiday songs at home
- Review the “Jolly Phonics Sound Group #1” sheet with your child (was sent home when I was away - if you didn’t receive one please let me know as Mrs. Sweeney left quite a few on my desk :S). Have him/her teach you the action and sound (perhaps even the song) that goes along with each letter.
- Dress for the weather every day! All students must go outside at recess and lunch so they need to have a warm winter jacket, gloves and a toque. Boots and snow pants will be needed once the snow is staying on the ground. It would also be greatly appreciated if each child could bring an extra pair of clothes (or leave them in your child’s coat/shelf area) for accidents or muddy/wet weather
- Remember to Label your child’s snow gear so it can be returned to the owner if anything is lost
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
Monday –
Tuesday – Visit #2 with Constable Winkels for WITS program
- P.E. with Ms. Hall
Wednesday –Library with Mrs. Gorman
- Roots of Empathy visit with Wayne
Thursday – Senor Froggy’s Lunch
Friday – PAJAMA DAY
- P.E. with Mrs. Brkovic
REMINDERS:
- Kamloops Salvation Army “HUNGER HEROES” Food Drive: beginning this week, Parkcrest students are encouraged to be Hunger Heroes and bring in the heaviest non-perishable food items they can. The school with the heaviest amount of food will be awarded a Pizza snack sponsored by Papa Johns! There will be collection boxes outside the office. Let’s be Bucket-Fillers and make a difference in our Kamloops community! :)
UPCOMING EVENTS:
-Monday, Dec. 5th – Pro- D Day – No school
-Tuesday, Dec. 6th - Poinsettia orders available for pick-up
-Thursday, Dec. 9th – Term 1 Report Cards sent home (please read and keep the paper report, then sign and return the envelope to school)
-Tuesday, Dec. 13 - 1:00pm Dress Rehearsal for School Winter Concert in gym
-Wednesday, Dec. 14th – 1:00pm School Winter Concert in gym
-Thursday, Dec. 15th - 1:00pm School Winter Concert in gym
-Dec. 19- January 3rd - WINTER HOLIDAYS
See you tomorrow!
-Ms. Gartrell