A Journey to Wellnes

As you have probably heard by now, a student in my afternoon class has recently been diagnosed with Wilms' tumour, a cancer on her kidney that has also spread to her lungs and lymph nodes.  Bridget is a very happy, energetic, loving little girl and we are all missing her terribly at school.  She underwent a successful surgery to remove her kidney on Thursday and is recovering at CHEO.  As we have been talking about Bridget and what she has still to face on her road to recovery at school, you may want to talk to your child at home about their feelings and concerns on this important topic.  I have assured them that Bridget is getting the very best care available while she is at CHEO, and as a class we have sent her a card and little gift.
Attached is a flyer outlining some of the efforts being made to help out Bridget and her family during this difficult time.  We began fundraising at the Summer Send Off at the school on Thursday night and I was amazed by the generosity of the families in the Stonecrest Community.  If you would like to donate you can still do so at the school.  Bridget's family friends will also be collecting freezer food donations, donations of gas cards, etc. at the school.  Every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated.

For the Love of Bridget

Pinhey's Point

We had a great time learning all about animal habitats last Friday at Pinhey's Point.  Luckily we had a nice sunny day to enjoy our activities outside!

Morning Class

Afternoon Class

Graduation Party

On Monday, June 24th, we will be having a special End-of-the-Year/Graduation Celebration!  Parents of morning students are invited into the classroom from 10:30 to 11:30 am, and parents of afternoon students are invited into the classroom from 2:30 to 3:30 pm, to watch a short class performance and slideshow, and to see their child receive their kindergarten 'diploma'.

I realize that this can be a very busy time of year, so please let me know if you, or another family member, is unable to attend this event.  Past experience has taught me that every child needs somebody in the audience to celebrate their achievment with them.  Thank you for your understanding in this matter and I look forward to seeing everyone at the Graduation Party!

*Just a reminder that the following students are signed up to bring in treats for the end-of-the-year party:

Morning Class . . .
     Fruit Tray - Sam
     Veggies & Dip - Olivia
     Cheese & Crackers - Gavin
     Cupcakes - Kirsten
     Cookies - Colton
     Juice - Emma
If you would like to sign up for juice (or something not on the list!) please let me know.  It is always great to have extra food for this party as we will have many parents and siblings partying with us!

Afternoon Class . . .
     Fruit Tray - Sofia
     Veggies & Dip - Taniele
     Cheese & Crackers - Hannah W.
     Cupcakes - Austin
     Cookies - Brayden
     Juice - Ava
If you would like to sign up for fruit (or something not on the list!) please let me know.  It is always great to have extra food for this party as we will have many parents and siblings partying with us!

Thank you so much!!

May Homework Project

I meant to send home the information for the May homework projects this morning, but unfortunately, after all the excitement of evacuating the school for a while because of the earthquake, the information didn't end up making it home!  I will post the information here for anyone who was interested in getting started and then send home a paper copy next week as well.

May Homework Project

This month we are turning into plant scientists!

This month, we are learning all about the parts of a plant and what plants need to grow.  For the May family project students are being asked to find a plant growing in their yard (or near their home) and observe it.  Based on their observations, they are to create a labelled diagram of the plant they observed.

The diagram should include the following:
    the name of the plant (preferably in French!)

    la tige (the stem)

    les racines (the roots)

    les feuillles (the leaves)

    la fleur (the flower – if it has one)

   

They might want to let us know what the ‘needs’ of the plant are (i.e., la terre, le soleil, l’air et l’eau) and any other interesting points that they discovered while observing their plant. 

Due Friday, May 31^st, 2013

Paperwork! Paperwork!

It is such a busy time of year in senior kindergarten that it's easy to forget about all the paperwork that needs to be filled out!  Our field trips are right around the corner, as next Thursday, May 23rd we are off to a half day field trip at Pinhey's Point in Dunrobin.  Then, on Tuesday, May 28th the morning classes are going to the Museum of Agriculture for the day, while the afternoon classes stay home.  The afternoon classes will then have their turn at the Museum of Agriculture on June 4th, while the morning classes stay home.  Please be sure that you have sent back the permission forms for these two exciting trips, and a big thank you to everyone who volunteered to accompany us!

Order forms were also recently sent home agendas.  Grade One teachers find agendas an extremely useful tool for communicating with parents and for teaching organizational skills to students.  If you need another copy of the agenda order form please let me know.

Finally, don't forget that the Kindergarten Spring Concert is this Thursday, May 16th!  We have been very busy practising our songs, as well as a special dance that we learnt with Yves during the awesome Luv 2 Groove dance workshops we had a couple of weeks ago.  Students should arrive at their classroom no later than 6:15 pm on the night of the concert.  If your child will not be participating in the concert, please let me know as soon as possible as it affects where the other students are placed on stage.  Thank you!!

May Montre et Raconte

This month we are learning all about plants and things that grow.  For montre et raconte, students are to bring in and present something that grows.  It could be something from the garden or yard, something to eat, etc.  We are talking about the parts of plants and what plants need to grow and will be keeping the montre et raconte items in the classroom for a little bit for students to examine with their magnifying glasses and label.  Please help your child learn the name of their item in French (if you need help with this visit http://www.wordreference.com/).

Ici on parle français

Throughout the year the students have been learning a large amount of French vocabulary words that they are now ready to start using on a more regular basis!  To help encourage them to speak in French at school an incentive chart has been set up in the classroom.  When a student makes an effort to speak to the teacher or another student in French (outside of circle time) they may be given a point beside their name on the chart.  Once they have received a certain number of points they will be presented with a certificate and a small prize.  Bonne chance les amis!

We 'Heart' Art

As we continue with our exploration of famous artists we looked at two more painters this week: Claude Monet and Georgia O'Keeffe.  After looking at a variety of Monet's landscape paintings and reading a book about the water garden he created outside of Paris, we made our own versions his painting 'Bridge Over Water Lilies'.

After Monet we looked at American artist Georgia O'Keeffe, who is best know for her flower canvases and southwest landscapes.

We created our own flowers using warm colours for the petals and cool colours for the backgrounds.

Spirit Week

Next week is Spirit Week at Stonecrest!  Students are invited to dress up for all  of the special dress-up days that will be happening at school (or you can just choose some of them if you prefer!).

Monday, April 22nd is Retro Day

(come dressed in the '50's, '60's, 70's, '80' or '90's style)

Tuesday, April 23rd is Wacky Hat or Hair Day

(wear your hair as wacky as you like it)

Wednesday, April 24th is Country Day

(come dressed as a cowboy or cowgirl)

Thursday, April 25th is Character Day

(come dressed as you favourite character from a book, movie, TV show, etc.)

Friday, April 26th is Sports Day

(come dressed as your favourite sports person or in the equipment/outfit of your favourite sport)

And don't forget that the evening of Friday, April 26th will be the Family Dance in the gym!

More Spring Centers

As we continue to look at famous artists, we are now learning about American Pop Artist, Jim Dine.  Famous for his paintings and drawings of everyday objects, we took a special look at his paintings of hearts and decided to create some of our own. 

We talked about warm and cool colours and enjoyed using oil pastels and watercolour paints to create our masterpieces.

In math, we are looking at all the different ways of making ten.  Addition is a great concept for students to be practising at home.  You can try giving them a number and asking them to find all the different combinations to make that number.

This week we have been reading the story 'La petite araignee' (a French version of The Eensy, Weensy Spider).  Each student will receive their own copy of the story, with some of the words missing, that they must fill in the blanks to complete.  Once they have finished the story they read the story with me.  Be sure to have them practise reading it with you when they bring it home!

The Kinder Gallery

It has become tradition here at Stonecrest for the Kindergarten Team to turn the front lobby of the school into a Kindergarten Art Gallery each spring, just in time for Education Week (May 6th - 10th).  To help us prepare to create our stunning masterpieces, we will be learning about some famous artists and types or art.  We began our art appreciation by looking at Russian Abstract Artist Wassily Kandinsky.  After examining some of his paintings, we used his painting 'Squares With Concentric Rings' to make our own circles.

Now, seeing as how we are a kindergarten class, we decided to change things up a little bit and turned our circles into beautiful spring trees (a great idea from Pinterest!).

It's Raining, It's Pouring!

This week we are continuing to learn all about weather!  We have been talking about how different parts of the world have different types of weather and how rain and wind affect us.  In our journal center the students have been working together to come up with weather-related sentences that they copy into their journals and illustrate.  One group in the afternoon class came up with these sentences . . .

For art, the students have been drawing a rainbow using pastels on black construction paper.  They then tear paper that they glue on to cover their lines.  Finally, they label the different colours.

We have been talking about addition a lot in class and this week the students have the task of figuring out all the different ways that they can make a sum of '7'.  They then complete the addition sentences and read them out to me.

Our shared reading for the week is a poem called 'Gouttes, gouttes' (Click here to get a copy of the poem).  We brainstormed a list of things that get wet in the rain and then the students filled in a missing part of the poem to make their own verse.

L'arc-en-ciel & Cinq cerf-volants

In class we have been working on a song called 'Cinq cerf-volants' and poem called 'L'arc-en-ciel'.

Just click on the links below to download your own copies that you can use to practise with your child at home.

Cinq cerf-volants

L'arc-en-ciel

Hello Spring!

While it may not feel like it today, spring has arrived and this month we will be talking all about weather.  We will be practising French weather-related vocabulary words, talking about how we adapt to different kinds of weather and exploring how our weather changes from season to season and what causes different weather phenomenons.

In our centers this week we have begun to write in journals.  Working in a small group, we brainstormed some simple sentences beginning with 'J'aime . . .' (I like) that the students then wrote and illustrated in their new journals.  We are focusing on using French vocabulary words we have learned to date, writing from left to right, using spaces between words and a period at the end of our sentences, and sounding out words.

Another job that students are to complete this week involves unscrambling the names of some colours before colouring a rainbow.

Continuing with our weather theme, students are also working on an activity where they have to roll a die twice to see how many raindrops they need to add to the umbrella picture.  They then have to complete the addition sentence at the bottom of the page.

Our final center of the week is a fun duck art activity where students draw and cut out the pieces for their own little ducky that is swimming in a painted pond.  The picture is completed with a patterned picture frame.  The results have been super cute!

All Aboard!

The Alphabet Train projects that have been coming into school look fantastic!  Unfortunately, I forgot about the long weekend when making the March calendar, therefore, if your child's train car is due on Friday, March 29th, they should try to bring it in on Thursday, March 28th so that we can finish the project up this week.

Easter is Egg-cellent!

With Easter just around the corner, we have been working on some chick and egg crafts in the classroom.

In this activity students have to match the upper and lower case letters.  Once done they have to name the letters in French for me.

We have been reading a short story called 'Le petit poussin' together in small groups.  Students then complete their own little book of the story.  Be sure to ask your child to read the story to you when they bring it home!

And of course we needed a cute chick craft!  The students had to trace and cut out the egg, star and heart shaped pieces and then glue them into the shape of a chick.  They had a choice of a few different materials to use as feathers.

Transportation Time!

We have started an exciting unit all about transportation vehicles so that we can learn about the many ways people get around.  Here is a list of transportation vocabulary words to practise at home.
une voiture (car)                                  un autobus (bus)
un camion (truck)                                une bicyclette (bicycle)
un bateau (bus)                                   un train (train)             
une motoneige (snowmobile)             un avion (airplane)
une montgolfière (hot air balloon)       une caravane (camping trailer)

I would like to make a book of transportation vehicles for the students to look at and would love to include some pictures of the vehicles they have at home.  If you would like to send in a colour picture (no bigger than 5 x 7) of your car, truck, motorcycle, bike, etc. that could be included in the book that would be fantastic!

Chief Top Leaf Visits Stonecrest

Yesterday we were lucky to get a special presentation by Chief Top Leaf.  He brought in a wide variety of stuffed Canadian birds and mammals and told the students all about how the different species adapt for winter.  The kids were amazed to learn about some of the camouflage tricks the animals use and enjoyed seeing real examples of the animals that they might not get a chance to glimpse in the forest.

Report Cards

As you are by now aware, report cards went home this week.  While there is no day set aside for parent-teacher interviews at this time of the year, please do not to hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about the content of you child's report card.  I am happy to meet with parents before or after school to discuss 'next steps' and set goals for future learning.  I am also available via e-mail.

Yogurt Containers

Help!  We are in need of lots of the individual serving sized yogurt containers for our paint center.   If there is anybody out there who uses these at home and wants to rinse them out and send them to school, all of the little artists and myself would greatly appreciate it!

(p.s. We could use some of the serving-sized plastic apple sauce containers too!)

Learning Buddies

Today our grade two learning buddies came for a visit.  This is the second time that they have come to visit the morning class and the first time for the afternoon class.  The grade two students in Mme Pecarski and Mme Stairs' classes made up number flashcards to practise number recognition and sequencing in French with our kindergarten students.  The younger students love the chance to learn with some older buddies and the grade two's do a great job acting as teachers!

Winter Activity Centres

In our centres this week the students were completing some winter science, language and art activities. 

Students conducted science experiments to see if an ice cube melts faster in hot water, cold water, someones hands, sprinkled with salt or left alone in a bowl.  They worked together to predict the outcome and record their results.

We read the book 'Fais comme moi, Cachou' and the students illustrated the main characters and their favourite part of the story.

Painting is a hoot!  Students' painted some beautiful owls on a snowy winter night.

Center Time!

Well, we are off to a great start in 2013!  I hope everyone had a happy and restful break (I know I sure did!). 

Since coming back to school we have once again started working on four different centers at a time (we tried it earlier in the fall and found that we just weren't quite ready for it!).  What this means is that each of the four groups of students in the class has a different 'job' to do for the day (we call it our 'travail'), in addition to free-choice centers and snack time.  We have four jobs on the go at a time, which students will rotate through over the course of four days.  On the fifth day we will usually do an activity all together. 
Here are some snapshots of the centers that we have been working on this week . . .

We have been learning the French vocabulary words for some winter clothing items and each student is adding a page to our class book about what they wear in the winter.

We talked about how mittens always come in matching groups of two.  Students then get to make their own pair of mittens that we then used to practise counting by 2's.

We have also been talking about 'plus' (more) and 'moins' (less).  Students used plastic tongs to add Cheerios to their work to see which number was greater.

In other news . . .

I finally got around to enlisting the help of some grade 8 'tech' support to get our ancient Mac computers up and running and the students are thrilled to be able to use this technology in the classroom!