A Peek at the Week, Dec.19-23

Words Their Way

• Sort 10 Test will be this Friday

Bubblegum Sight Words

• A little break to review pink, green, orange, and blue words this week. No new words until the New Year!

Christmas Party

• We are having a Christmas Party on Friday afternoon. If you'd like to send a fruit tray, veggie tray, cheese and crackers, chips, or baking, please let me know! We now have 17 students in the class.

Traditions of Christmas Recipes

• We are discussing Christmas Traditions in class, along with the sense of taste. If you have a traditional Christmas recipe you would like to send in, I will add it to our class traditions book! Feel free to send in a hard copy, or email me/send me the link as well! 

Christmas Accessories

• If your child has any Christmas accessories or clothes, they are welcome to wear them to school this week! 

Banking Day Tomorrow

• Tomorrow is an ATB Banking Day!

Christmas Concert Details

• Wednesday, Dec. 14 - Dress rehearsal at Daystar Church
• We will leave as soon as possible after morning attendance and will return by lunch time
• Students will be able to watch the concert performance during this time, so they do not need to bring any toys, electronics, etc.
• Please bring a mess free snack and water bottle with them for this time

• Thursday, Dec. 15 - Concert Performances at 12:45 and 7:00 pm
• Students may bring books, small toys, games or electronics to use while waiting. These should be labelled and in backpacks.
• We will be sending students in regular indoor footwear. If you have a preferred pair of shoes you'd like them to wear, please send them in their backpacks. We will be leaving the school in outdoor shoes.
• Busses will leave at 11:45 for Daystar Church
• Students will go to their assigned waiting areas for the performance; please bring a water bottle with them. We will supply a snack for them.
• Doors will open for parents ½ hour prior to the performance.

• Evening performance - 7:00 pm
• Doors will open for parents ½ hour prior to the performance. Students should arrive by 6:45 pm and report to their assigned waiting area.
• Parents should take their child’s outdoor footwear with them into the church.
• Students may bring books, small toys, games or electronics  to use while waiting. These should be labelled and in backpacks. They should also bring a water bottle.
• Parents MUST bring tickets for the evening performance.

• Evening Performance Dismissal - Kinders from the Nursery
• Gr. 1 & 2 from the stage
• Gr. 3-6 from their assigned locations

A Peek at the Week, Dec. 12th- 15th

It is Christmas Concert week and we're busy preparing! 

On Wednesday buses will be leaving at 8:45 SHARP. It will be important to be on time (just as it is every day 😊). Our dress rehearsal will be at Daystar Church all morning. 

On Thursday, our first concert is in the afternoon, at 12:45. We will bus back to the school after the concert. Our second concert is in the evening, at 7:00. 

Two tickets per student were sent home last week. 

Students are asked to dress in 'concert wear'. Headbands and hats have been provided by the school. Thank you to everyone for sending your props in!

Please let me know if you have any further questions or require additional information! 

Sort 10 Words of the Week were sent home today, along with last week's spelling test.

A Peek at the Week, Dec. 5-9

• Please send in toboggan permission forms (and foam toboggans) if you haven't yet! I have some students who have sleds here but no form. No form, No tobogganing!
• Tomorrow is Banking Day.
• Hot Dog Day is this Wednesday. Orders were due last week. 
• Please return Christmas Concert Excursion Forms ASAP! 
• Please practice pink, green, and orange bubble gum words. I re-test students on past words every week too. If students are able to read all orange bubble gum words this week, they will receive a piece of bubble gum and move on to the next level! 
• Mrs. Gray would like students to bring the props indicated on the December Newsletter I sent home and posted on the blog by this Friday at the latest (any time this week is fine). Props will be staying at the school until after the Christmas concert takes place. 
• Spelling Pre-test was sent home today. Final test for sort 9 is this Friday.
• Miss Knull's last day with us is this Friday! We're so thankful for the time she's spent in our classroom, she is going to be a WONDERFUL teacher!

December Calendar & Newsletter

December is a festive yet busy month with a lot going on! There is a lot to look forward to. Please pay special attention to blog updates and ClassDojo as additional information about events pop up throughout the month.

Willow Park School Christmas Concert at Daystar Church

• Wednesday, December 14th: Dress Rehearsal
• Thursday, December 15th:

Daystar Church Address:

3610 Gaetz Road

Leduc, AB

(Corner of Rollyview Rd & Gaetz Rd (RR250))

Christmas Concert Times:

12:45 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

• Mrs. Gray has requested that all students dress in ‘concert wear’ with some sort of hat that will be supplied by the school. Mrs. Gray has requested that students bring the following specific props
• Stockings- Meika, Shaina, John-Sidney, Drew
• Dolls- Grace G., Payton, Emma, Kaylee, Haley, Mae
• Balls- Sam,
• Bexon, Cohen, Nik, Ryder, Isabella TBA

Social/Science: Preparing for Christmas

We will be learning about traditions in Social Studies by preparing a traditional Christmas party and making a Family Traditions Christmas Recipe book. More information will follow in the coming weeks, but in the coming weeks we will be requesting a family favourite/traditional recipe to be sent in! (Just the written or typed recipe, NOT the actual food!)

Class Christmas Party

Friday, December 23rd

If you’d like to send in a snack such as veggie or fruit tray, cheese and crackers, or christmas baking, please let me know so I can give you amounts and any allergy information. There will be more information about our traditional Christmas party to follow!

Sledding

Grade One’s toboggan hill day is Monday. Students may come with toboggans or sleds on Mondays or leave them here! Please make sure that they are well labeled. Students without signed forms will not be permitted to toboggan.

Lost and Found

While we try very hard to make sure all students are taking responsibility for organizing their belongings, with all of these mittens, toques, scarves, and other winter accessories floating around, it is quite the adventure! Please make sure that your child’s winter-wear is well labelled. Lost and Found items are sent to the boot room closest to the gym at the end of the day. If you have a missing item, take some time to check the lost and found at the beginning or end of the day.

No School Days

• Friday, Dec. 2nd
• Last Day of School is Friday, Dec. 23rd
• Classes Resume Monday, January 9th

I am looking forward to all of the excitement that this holiday season brings! As always, do not hesitate to call, email, or check in on ClassDojo if you have any questions or require additional information.

Please continue to check the blog weekly for various information updates!

A Peek at the Week: Nov. 28. - Dec. 2

Report Cards went home on Friday, along with most of the students' term 1 work (except for the work that stays in their workbooks and scribblers). Thank you for returning your child's signed report card envelopes! If you haven't returned your child's envelope with your signature, please do so.

Christmas Book Orders will be placed today after school.

New word sorts will be sent home today. There will be a pre-test on Thursday, Dec. 1 and a final test Friday, Dec. 9th

This Wednesday is TWIN DAY! Younger students do need more parent involvement to pull this day off! Please prompt your child to choose a friend and pick what you're going to wear, or contact the parent of your child's friend to arrange an outfit. Triplets, quadruplets, etc. are also welcome. 

Family Night is this Tuesday evening. Bring your favourite board game and enjoy playing together with your family!

Sight Words That Stick: Your child should have received the green list sight words last Wednesday. Every Wednesday I will sit down with each student and go through the word list with them. If they are able to read all 10 words, they receive a piece of bubble gum. I will also be reviewing previous word lists with them, just as you should be at home. 

Students are enjoying preparing for Boo the Monkey's Party while we continue to learn about equal and unequal amounts in math! Every day Boo the Monkey is hiding in a different place in our classroom and has a new party task for us to prepare with very specific instructions about amounts. 

There is no school Friday, Dec. 2nd this week

Retro Bill Family Presentation TONIGHT

We were lucky to have a special guest at Assembly this morning. Retro Bill, www.retrobill.com, visited Willow Park to give a special, RCMP sponsored presentation on staying positive, being a respectful citizen, and treating one another with kindness. If you'd like to experience his very entertaining and motivational anti-bullying message, West Haven School is hosting Retro Bill for a free Family Presentation tonight @ 7:00. 

Information Wednesday: Nov. 23rd

Sight Words That Stick
Today was bubblegum day! That means students were tested individually on their pink list. If they were able to read all 10, they received a piece of bubblegum. If they were not able to, we will try again tomorrow (meaning they will need to practice tonight). All students received their green list. Please do not stop practicing pink words. Simply add the green words to your bubblegum word flashcard pile. Students will be tested again next Wednesday. 

Frozen Treat Friday
I will be sending our class order in first thing tomorrow morning

Family Game Night
Next Tuesday, Nov. 29th, 6:00-7:30
Bring your favourite game and your family and enjoy a night of board game fun!

Report Cards will go home on Friday, Nov. 25th 

Boston Pizza Hot Lunch orders are due Friday, Nov. 25th

Hot Dog Day orders due Thursday, Dec. 1 (forms went home today)

Toboggan Hill
Please see the information form sent home today, read in detail, and return signed. Students with no form will NOT be permitted to go on the toboggan hill. 

A Peek at the Week: Nov. 21-25

Can't Stop This Feeling Music Video

Students are enjoying our dance unit- this week we are learning a new line dance to the song "Can't Stop This Feeling" from the movie, trolls. I've included the music video as well as the line dance if your child wants to practice at home (or teach you their new moves!)

Can't Stop This Feeling Line Dance

Just a reminder that students will be tested on their pink level bubblegum sight words tomorrow. If they get all of their bubblegum words correct, they receive a piece of bubblegum along with the next level of sight words. Once they receive their next level, which is green, please continue to review both the pink and green words with your child.

Our spelling test for ap and ag word families is this Friday. 

It is also Frozen Treat Friday this week. If you'd like to purchase a revel for your child, please send $1.00 by Thursday morning. Late orders will not be accepted. 

Have a great week!

Information Wednesday

It is that time of year again!

I will be sending home a Scholastic Book Club Christmas order package today. There are many selections that are Christmas themed or could even be possible Christmas presents. If you would like to purchase something and would like it to be a surprise for your child, please indicate this on the order form and I will make sure NOT to send it home with your child, but arrange for you to pick it up from the school instead. 

In order to ensure that orders arrive in time for Christmas break, they must be returned by Monday, November 28th. I will place the order after school on Monday, November 28th. Late orders will not be accepted.

Milk Orders

The milk program is back, orders can be placed online at willowpark.milkprogram.com

Santa's Helpers

We will be collecting donations from now until Dec. 16th. 

Frozen Treat Friday

Send $1.00 to school for Frozen Treat Friday on Nov. 25th. Orders are due by Thursday, Nov. 24th @ 9:00 am. No late orders will be accepted.

Sight Words that Stick: Bubblegum Sight Word Program

I sent home information regarding our Bubblegum Sight Word program today as well. Sight words that Stick! is intended to provide your child with lots of practice reading those words that stick around. We see them everywhere in our reading and writing.Words are sent home on Wednesdays and students are tested on Wednesday or Thursday. Please see the newsletter that was sent home today for additional information. As always, if you have further questions or require additional information, do not hesitate to contact me!

50 Playful Ways to Practice Sight Words: 

http://childhood101.com/2013/09/sight-words-activity-ideas/

A note about 'homework'

Bubble Gum Sight words and Words Their Way word sort programs are two separate programs that we will work on at the same time. Please continue to spend some time each night working on these words. 10-15 minutes of word work (Spelling City or other activities), along with 10-15 minutes of reading (books or RAZ Kids) each evening is just right in terms of homework, unless I have sent other 'extra practice' work specific to your child's areas of growth. During Term 1, we have focused mostly on reviewing letter sounds and identifying beginning, middle, and ending sounds when reading and writing individual words. In Term 2, our focus shifts to reading multiples sentences and simple stories. While our official home reading program will begin at the end of Term 1 (after Nov. 25), students are still encouraged to read every night.

A Peek at the Week: Nov. 14-17

I hope that you had a great long weekend! 

• Picture Re-take Orders are due on Nov. 24th
• Hot Lunch from Domino's is this Friday, Nov. 18th
• ATB Junior Bank Banking Day is always Tuesday (tomorrow)

Language Arts
Words Their Way
Students will receive a new sort today, along with new activities on Spelling City. Their pre-test will be this Friday, and their final test will be on Friday, Nov. 25th. Please focus on sorting the words according to word family, spelling the words, and reading the words. 

Math
We are completing our numbers to 20 unit this week and will begin focusing on the concepts of equal and unequal next week.

Science
We are continuing our creating colours unit by exploring transparent and opaque objects this week

Social
We continue to learn more about the valuable members of our classroom community by interviewing the student of the week, writing about the student of the week, and listening to the student of the week as they share their identity boxes with us.

Health
We continue to explore the MindUp program where we learn about our brain and how it works. 

If you are interested in learning more about the MindUp program, there is an information session TONIGHT at the Leduc Public Library, from 6:00-7:30.

A Peek at the Week: Nov. 7-11

We have a short but busy week this week! 



Remembrance Day Assembly

• This Tuesday, Nov. 8th at 11:00
• Students who are members of a group such as: Brownies, Guides, Cubs, Scouts, Sparks, Cadets,  etc. are encouraged to wear their uniforms.
• Tuesday is a formal dress day. If your child does not have a uniform, they are encouraged to dress in formal wear. 

Words Their Way
-an/-ad word family spelling test will be this Wednesday morning. Students will receive a new sort next Monday. Please practice sorting the words according to the word family they belong to, as well as spelling and reading the words. 

Hot Lunch

The next hot lunch will be Dominoes Pizza on Friday, November.18  2016!!!

All orders must be paid at the time of placing the order and are due by 

November.11@ 3:00pm!  

ORDERS NOT PAID BY November.11@ 3:00pm WILL BE CANCELLED!!

NO LATE ORDERS OR PAYMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED!

Mid-term Break

There is no school on Thursday, Nov. 10th and Friday Nov. 11th.

Information Wednesday (Oct. 26th)

Some Information for the week(s) ahead:

• Pumpkin Carving Night tomorrow from 6:00-7:30
• Frozen Treat Friday loonies are due tomorrow for Friday
• Halloween: costumes after lunch (12:45), costume parade 1:15 (Monday, Oct. 31st)
• No School Tuesday, Nov. 1
• Early Dismissal Wednesday, Nov. 2
• Willow Wear Orders due Wednesday, Nov. 2
• Picture Retakes Friday, Nov. 4
• Hot Lunch:
• The next hot lunch will be Dairy Queen on Friday, November.4  2016!!!
• All orders must be paid at the time of placing the order and are due by October.28 @ 3:00pm!  
• ORDERS NOT PAID BY October.28@ 3:00pm WILL BE CANCELLED!! NO LATE ORDERS OR PAYMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED!

A Peek at the Week: Oct. 24-28

-at Family Word Work
The students continue to work on the -at family for this week, mostly writing with the words and reading stories that have -at words in them. Their final spelling test will be on Friday- it will be the same format as the pre-test that was sent home on Friday. 

Photo Orders Due Tuesday, October 25th

Frozen Treat Friday
Frozen treat money is due on Thursday for this month's Frozen Treat Friday, which is on October 28th.

ATB Junior Bank Tuesdays
Last week was our ATB Junior Bank Grand Opening. If you missed the grand opening but would still like your child to have an account, please send the registration form in any Tuesday, along with an initial deposit (students must have an initial deposit to open an account). If you require a registration form please let me know and I will do my best to locate one for you ASAP!

Pumpkin Carving Night
This Thursday at 6:00 is Pumpkin Carving Night at Willow Park! Families are invited to bring along their pumpkins and carving utensils, and avoid the mess of carving a pumpkin at home by coming to the gym and visiting with other families from Willow Park School while you work on your pumpkin(s) as a family. If you have any further questions about this event please let me know!

Halloween on Monday:

Students are encouraged to bring Halloween costumes along in their backpacks and will be given time after lunch to change into their costumes. You are welcome to come by to assist your child if you feel that they will need it- otherwise, please practice with your child how to get into their costumes independently!

We have been discussing Halloween safety during assemblies and in class. 

TD Grade One Book Giveaway

Since 2000, in cooperation with ministries of education, school boards and library organizations across Canada — the CCBC has given every Grade One child a free Canadian children’s book.

The book is to be taken home by each child to keep and to read with their parents. This far-reaching annual book giveaway program, which provides over 500,000 books to Grade One children across Canada, is fully funded by TD Bank Group. The program is intended to encourage literacy and reading for young children and supports the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s mandate of bringing great Canadian books to Canadian children and to promote a love of reading and a passion for books.

This fall, Grade One children nation-wide will take home Small Saul (Petit Paul), written  and illustrated by Ashley Spires and published, in English,  by Kids Can Press and in French, by Éditions Scholastic.

Enjoy reading this book with your child! 

Information Wednesday

Class Photos

• Order online at www.SmartOrders.ca
• If you place your order before Proff Due, FREE SHIPPING to school
• Proof packages sent home are due back on Tuesday, October 25th

Willow Wear
It’s that time of year again - Willow Wear clothing order time! 

A variety of clothing items for students and adults - all with the Willow Park school logo - are available for purchase.  New this year - Willow Park practice jerseys and full zip hoodie!

Show your Willow Park Pride with your Willow wear!

Two Ways to Order:

1. Access your PowerSchool/Acorn account and make your clothing purchase selection.  You can view available items and place your order using Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, Interac Online Debit and Visa Prepaid - easy and convenient!  All prices include GST.

OR

2. Complete the attached order form and return it to the school with payment by cheque payable to Willow Park School or cash (exact change, please). 
Orders can be given to classroom teachers or to the school office.

Order Deadline:  Wednesday, November 2nd

Anticipated Order Delivery:  end of November

***I will be sending home orders tomorrow!***

Words Their Way

Students should be completing at least one practice activity from the information letter I sent home, or on Spelling City, per evening in preparation for Friday's pre-test. Next Friday will be the final test, but their mark this Friday does go towards their effort grade. 

The Alphabetic level we are at currently only has one word family- eventually there will be more than one sound or word family to sort. For now, focus on students matching the word to the picture. Students should be able to read the words and spell the words. 

Here are some other fun ideas for practicing Words Their Way words at home: 

http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/2012/10/75-fun-ways-to-practice-and-learn.html

If you have any further questions or require additional information about this new program, please let me know!

A Peek at the Week: October 17-21

First of all, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came out to Parent Teacher Conferences this week. This was the first year since I have been teaching that at least one parent 'representative' has attended for every student! I am so glad that you took the time out of your schedule so that we could discuss what the past weeks have looked like for your child, and what the future weeks and months hold!

On Thursday we completed our beginning of the year letters of the alphabet review. Each day we reviewed how to print one letter and the sound each letter makes. At this point we will transition to our Daily 5 Program, which involves Word Work, Read to Self, Listen to Reading, Working on Writing, and Word Work.

I mentioned to you during our conference that we will be starting our spelling program, Words Their Way, this week. We have decided to begin this program with one sort every two weeks, and will eventually transition from one sort every two weeks to one sort per week. You will receive a Words Their Way information letter along with some ideas for evening activities you can take part in with your child so that they can learn to read and write their weekly words. 

As I am a member of a Professional Learning Community of teachers at Willow Park School who are collaborating on the launch of this program, we have received some funding for this program, and with that funding I have purchased the Spelling City program for our class. The Spelling City program is both a website and an app. I will be sending home your child's login information tomorrow, along with some assignments. You may choose to do 1-2 activities/night from Monday to Thursday. Students will also have time to complete their Spelling City activities with our Chromebooks on Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

In addition to Words Their Way, we will also begin learning how to login and use the program RAZ Kids, which is both a website and an app that provides access to many books that are at your child's reading level. We will be using this program in class but your child will also be able to access this program at home, once I send home their login information. Their login information will be sent home to you one evening this week, after their small group has completed their initial RAZ Kids login and assessment session with me. 

Frozen Treat Fridays

Frozen Treat Friday

The Grade six students are doing a fundraiser, so they can attend Camp Warwa in June.  They will be selling pre-packaged popsicles or ice cream for $1 each.  No order forms will be sent home.  Please send your money with your child to hand into your child's teacher.  There will be no option to pay online.  Our first Frozen Friday will be on Friday, October 28th.  The deadline for handing in money, will be Thursday, October 27th.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you have an excellent long weekend!

I have sent home a fun family activity to work on with your child over the weekend called Turkeys in Disguise. Please take a look, set aside some time to work on it with your child, and return on Tuesday! 

Just a reminder that Parent Teacher Interviews are on Wednesday, October 12th and Thursday, October 13th. Please follow the link to schedule a time if you haven't yet. https://calendar.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UVA1WEhEM192SVd2fGRlZmF1bHR8Y2RkY2JlOWUwYzE2YWQ2NmQ0YTdkMTE1N2ZkNzMzNmM

The Book Fair will also be taking place next week. 

Book Fair Dates:  October 11^th- 14^th

Shopping Hours:  12:45 - 4:00 PM

Special Events: The Book Fair will be open during Parent/Teacher Interviews on October 12^th & 13^th from 3-7 PM. 

Payment options: Debit, Credit, Cash or Cheque 

I will be sending home confirmation of PTI times on Monday. I am looking forward to meeting with everyone!

Parent Teacher Interviews Booking

We are trying something new for PTIs next Wednesday and Thursday. Please follow the link to Google Calendars and then advance your calendar to next week in order to book an appointment slot. 

If you have any further questions or concerns, please let me know and I will be happy to help. Willow Park School is hoping to continue using this method in the future, so now is your chance to master a new tech skill! 

Wednesday October 12th & Thursday October 13th
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UVA1WEhEM192SVd2fGRlZmF1bHR8Y2RkY2JlOWUwYzE2YWQ2NmQ0YTdkMTE1N2ZkNzMzNmM

October Calendar