It’s incredible that Christmas break is nearly here already! This week will be very busy and exciting with our Winter Concert and special activities.

HIGHLIGHT FROM LAST WEEK:

• Looking for our class Elf’s hiding spot each day
• Playing hand-made drums and singing traditional First Nations songs with special visitor, Daryl
• “You Can Count On Me” Math event (parents playing a game with Kindergarteners)

 
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
We will focus on the letter "Mm” this week. In Math, we will have a visit from Zero the Hero on Monday for our 60th day of school! We will also continue playing a dice game called, “Roll A Snowman.” We still have library on Monday; however, students will need to bring their books back before winter break (Friday, Dec. 18th at the latest).  
 
We have our school-wide dress rehearsal for the Winter concert on Tuesday. The performances will take place on Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 12:45 pm. Please make sure to attend the appropriate concert (Wednesday- families with last names beginning with A-J; Thursday for families M-Z), due to fire marshal regulations, we can only have so many people in the building at one time :) Please send your child to school in their costumes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We are asking that the students wear black bottoms and a red or white top (no logos please – or just turn your child’s shirt inside out and cut off the tag). Your child can also wear a Santa hat if he/she already has one, if not, please don't worry about purchasing one, it is not necessary. 
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Friday is school-wide Pajama Day AND Free Pizza Day. Thanks PAC and Panago for this generous donation! On Friday afternoon, we will be watching a Christmas movie in the Library with Mrs. Dhaliwal’s class. 
 
REMINDERS/HOW PARENTS CAN HELP:

• Sign and return your child’s report card envelope so it can be re-used next term and so I know you’ve read about your child’s progress :) (the report card is your copy to keep)

• Last day to bring non-perishable items for ME to WE Leadership students FOOD DRIVE is Dec.16th. The collection bins are outside the office
• Some very nasty germs (mostly flu) are currently going around our school. We have had staff and students becoming ill while at school. Please do not send your child to school if he/she is not feeling well. I know it would be disappointing to miss his/her first Christmas Concert, but it would be even more disappointing to have a stomach bug on Christmas Day (or to throw up on stage during our concert...). We will be sending home children we believe to be sick in an effort to keep everyone as healthy as possible as the holidays approach :)

 
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
Monday – Library (books must be returned by Friday, Dec. 14th)
Tuesday – Dress Rehearsal (students come to school in costume)
Wednesday – Winter Concert @ 12:45pm (students come to school in costume)
Thursday – Winter Concert @ 12:45pm (students come to school in costume)
Friday – Pajama Day
           - FREE PIZZA DAY (for those students who returned the BLUE PAC form)
           - P.E. with Mrs. Brkovic
           - Roots of Empathy visit

UPCOMING EVENTS:
-December 21- January 4th  - WINTER HOLIDAYS
-January 4th – welcome back to school
 

The Kindergarten students in our class and Mrs. Hyslop/Mrs Dhaliwal's class will be wearing the following for each of our concert performances (Dress rehearsal - Tuesday. Dec. 15, Performances Weds. Dec. 16 AND Thurs. Dec. 17):

-Black bottoms (pants, shirt)
-White OR red shirt (preferably plain colour with no logos)
-Santa hat (if you have one already, it is not necessary to go buy one)

Thanks very much! :)
-Ms. Gartrell

There is no school on Monday as it is a Professional Development Day for teachers. We have a busy, 4-day week ahead of us though!

HIGHLIGHT FROM LAST WEEK:

• Meeting our class Elf (elf on the shelf), the class named her “Jingles”
• Filling our "class bucket” and playing a new game, “Musical Letters”, as a reward
• Practicing our winter concert song on stage
• Mrs. Buchart (school literacy coordinator) introducing “kid-writing” (phonetic and imaginative writing)

 
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
We will focus on the letter "Rr” this week. Mrs. Buchart with come visit our class again to help with our “kid writing” skills.  In Math, we will play a dice game called, “Roll A Snowman”. We will be wrapping up our Social Responsibility theme this week or next week. Last week, we introduced WALK, TALK, SQWACK – if someone is bothering you:
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. SQWACK – ask an adult for help. We discussed “tattling” vs. “telling” and when each is necessary/not necessary. Telling is HELPFUL - when we are trying to get someone out of trouble/danger. Tattling is HURTFUL - when we are trying to get someone in trouble. We read another Julia Cook book called, “Tattle Tongue” in case you hear your child talking about a yellow and purple polka-dotted tattle-tongue! This week we will talk more about getting help and saying sorry if we were bothering someone.
 
Our class, along with Mrs. Hyslop/Dhaliwal’s will continue practicing our song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” on the stage this week. More info. about what clothing to wear for the concert will be shared next week. Thursday will certainly be a busy day! We have “You Can Count On Me” Math event for Kindergarten parents 8:30am in library.  Final numbers have already been given to the facilitator; however, it may be possible for a few people to join if they bring their forms in first thing Tuesday morning. Wayne will also be coming for our Roots of Empathy visit, and we are very lucky to have special guest in the afternoon, Pauline Saxy who will share a First Nations story and activity with our class. Report cards will be sent home at dismissal on Friday. 
 
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP:

• Please leave the black clip on your child’s agenda. This is a much better “bookmark” alternative to the flimsy rulers that keep falling out!
• label your child’s snow gear so it can be returned to the owner if anything is lost

 
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
Monday – NO SCHOOL – Pro-D Day
Tuesday – Library (quick exchange with Mrs. Hoffman)
Wednesday – P.E. with Mrs. Gustafson
Thursday – Roots of Empathy visit
                -  “You Can Count On Me” – 8:30am in the library (pre-registration is required)
                -  Special guest, Pauline Saxy will share a First Nations story and activity
Friday – P.E. with Mrs. Brkovic
           -  Menchies day
           -  Report cards go home today 
 REMINDERS:

• ME to WE Leadership students are doing a FOOD DRIVE for the food bank until Dec. 16th. If you would like to donate non-perishable items, please send them to school with your child. The collection bins are outside the office

UPCOMING EVENTS:
-Wednesday, December 16th – 1:00pm School Winter Concert in the gym
-Thursday, December 17th - 1:00pm School Winter Concert in the gym
- Friday, December 18th – PAJAMA and FREE PIZZA day (thanks Panago!)
-December 21- January 4th  - WINTER HOLIDAYS!

See you Tuesday! :) 
-Ms. Gartrell