A Peek at the Week: May 29- June 2nd

It is hard to believe that we are heading in to June already! As I mentioned last week, this is a busy time of year and it will be important to be looking at updates during this last month of school. Whole school updates are found on the school website http://wps.blackgold.ca/and classroom updates are found on Class Dojo.

Ms. Tailor Pedersen will be starting on Monday as our guest teacher for the remainder of the school year. She is a recent graduate from the Concordia University Bachelor of Education program and has been completing an internship called the Bridges Program at Willow Park School for the month of May. She has been working in our classroom during the mornings this month. It is nice that our guest teacher is someone the students are familiar with, and that she is also familiar with them! I will be transferring the ClassDojo account to her on Friday. She will be in touch with you next week with her contact information and how to best communicate with her until the end of the year. Later on this week, I'll be sending home some of your child's work that has been completed this term.

This week:

• Field trip forms were due last Friday, May 26th. If your child's forms and payment have not been returned, they will not be attending the zoo field trip. 
• Tomorrow is 'Moving On Day', which means grade 1s will spend some time in the grade 2 class with the grade 2 teachers learning more about what grade 2 will be like. 
• We could still use 1-2 volunteers for Monday's field trip. If you are available please let me know by Thursday.
• Friday is our last pizza by the slice lunch of the year. $2/slice. Please send in your payment by first thing Friday morning. Also, please let your child know WHERE there money is. We've had a few cases of students finding payment for frozen treats or pizza after the money was collected because they didn't know they had it or where to find it. Home/School folders are the best place to put the money as I check them first thing in the morning during announcements (as long as your child remembers to hand their book in, which is their responsibility!)
• We are celebrating our class UNBIRTHDAY PARTY on Friday- rather than encourage individual snacks sent on individual birthdays, I like to set aside a day to celebrate everyone's birthday all together! That way students with birthdays that fall on the weekend or during holidays get a chance to join in on the fun, too! If you'd like to send a special snack please let me know so that I can inform you of student allergies and how many students are in the class. 

As always please let me know (by the end of the week!) if you have any further questions or require additional information. As I mentioned, Ms. Pedersen will be in touch with you early next week!

A Peek at the Week: May 22-26th

It is a very busy week and month ahead! Please be sure to check updates regularly, as things tend to run a little off schedule due to all of the special events that happen around this time of the year. As always, do not hesitate to ask if you have further questions or require additional information.

• School Pictures: Our 1H Class Photo is tomorrow morning before swimming lessons!
• Swimming Lessons tomorrow- send swim gear!
• Div. 1 Choir Pizza Party on Thursday at lunch in the Music Room
• Jump Rope for Heart pledges are due on Friday
• Zoo Field Trip permission forms and payment are due this Friday, May 26th. We are in need of about 1-2 more volunteers. Please let me know if you are available! 
• Spelling Tests are on Friday
• Frozen Treat Friday this Friday- please send your $1.00 in by Thursday
• Hot Dog forms are due next Wednesday

A note about LIFT:

Now that everyone participating in LIFT has received all of the LIFT packages, I'm going to stop sending them home. Thank you to everyone who participated in this program. If you have any bags or items from the bags at your home, please send them back. I am missing the Colours card game and the blue sea horse stuffy. We will continue nightly home reading! 

On Friday, June 2nd we will be having our class UNBIRTHDAY Party! It is a chance for us to celebrate EVERYONE in the class' birthday, as many have birthdays in the summer or on weekends. We will play some classic birthday party games and enjoy some birthday treats. If you would like to send some birthday treats such as cupcakes, cookies, fruit, veggies, or cheese and crackers on this day, please let me know! This will also be my last day before I head out on maternity leave so it will be nice to end the day with a party!

A Peek at the Week, May 1-5

Next week is Education Week, and we have many exciting plans!

Our Jump Rope for Heart kick-off assembly was today. I will be sending home fundraising forms on Monday. It is easy to get started. Simple go to www.jumpropeforheart.ca and click register, then choose your province and school, and fill out your fundraising information. Every student who signs up to participate receives a skipping rope!

It is track and field season as well. Students interested in participating in the track meet came home with permission forms yesterday. Please sign and return promptly. If your child did not have a form, it is because they have decided they do not want to participate.

Library has been moved to next Tuesday afternoon as we missed Library this afternoon. Students will have their books from Tuesday-Friday as we will still have Library next Friday.

Wednesday May 3rd is Early Dismissal as well as "Hats on for Mental Health" day. Students are encouraged to wear hats, We also have swimming lessons on Wednesday.

On Thursday May 4th we will be having a school-wide Spirit Day- "May the 4th be with you". The dress up theme is 'Space Day'.

Students will receive their new word sorts on Monday, and their spelling tests will be sent home. I was not able to get spelling tests marked and recorded to send home as a result of all of our FUN activities today like Stuntnastics presentations and the Jump Rope for Heart kick-off!

Please consider sending a change of clothes to school.
With the wet weather, we have had many soggy pants, socks, shirts, etc. after falls in puddles. It is always a good idea to send an extra pair of clothes to change into in back packs. Our school supply is limited and running very low. 

Have a great weekend!

A Peek at the Week, April 24-28

I hope that you had a great weekend! 

• LIFT home reading program will continue this week
• ATB Bank Day tomorrow
• Swimming Lessons Wednesday
• Frozen Treat Friday orders need to be in by Thursday 
• Friday is our Jump Rope for Heart kick-off presentation. Older grades will also be showcasing their Stuntnastics routines. The students will be excited to have their own chance to make up routines in small groups at the end of the week as well (not for presentation in grade one). 

We have started a unit on Fairy Tales in Language Arts this week and are focusing on The Three Little Pigs while continuing to learn about building things in Science. Today we toured around Willow Park School and inspected how the walls were built in our school. We noticed that just like the strongest house was made out of bricks, our school is built out of a similar material! (Cinder block). Students practiced using different materials to build walls and later in the week they will build homes of their own! Take some time to note walls made out of different materials as you go about your week (stone walls, brick walls, cinder block walls, wood, drywall, etc.).

A Peek at the Week, April 10-14

Keep practicing word sorts and spelling words at home! This week's Spelling Tests will be on Thursday.

We are learning all about how to read and identify 'bumper words', which are words where the e is silent at the end. The 'silent' or 'sneaky' e reaches over one letter, and 'bumps' the vowel on its head to make the vowel say its name. Examples include game, here, bone, nine, and tune.We are also learning about compound words (rainbow, cupcake, butterfly). While reading with your child, keep your eyes open for these two new types of words! 

We continue to work on Mental Math (addition and subtraction) strategies in Math and will begin our Measurement unit soon. 

In Science we continue to work on Building Things, and in Social we will begin to learn all about the community of Leduc. 

On Tuesday the ATB bank will be open at lunch!

On Wednesday morning we will head to the LRC for our 2nd swimming lesson. Please remember to send swimsuits, towels, goggles, etc. in a separate bag from their backpacks. A plastic grocery bag works just fine if your child does not have a swim bag. 

On Wednesday, students are encouraged to wear their OILERS gear (or Oilers colours) to celebrate Game 1 of the PLAYOFFS Wednesday night! 

Wednesday also happens to be our community event for the month: a family movie night at the school. More information to follow!

On Thursday it is Pizza by the Slice lunch. 

No School Friday, April 14th; Monday, April 17th; Tuesday, April 18th. Enjoy the Easter Long Weekend!

Book Fair Information

The Scholastic Book Fair is going to be held in our library learning commons and is scheduled to run from Friday, April 7th, 2017 to Thursday, April 13th, 2017. The book fair will be open daily from 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. We will also be open on Wednesday, April 12th from 3:00-6:00 p.m. for our family night.

Students will visit the book fair during their regular scheduled library class to browse and make their purchases.  Students are encouraged to make their purchases during their regularly scheduled library class.

Scholastic Book Fair Shopping Schedule - April 7th - April 13th

TIMES	Friday - April 7th	Monday - April 10th	Tuesday - April 11th	Wednesday - April 12th	Thursday - April 13th
Period 7: 12:45 - 1:15	2P - Peters	3T -Taylor	5T - Titus	KK M-W - Kubik	2H - Hannon
Period 8: 1:15 - 1:45	1H - Haugan	3M - Mitchell	1HR - Hoover	Open	Open
1:45 - 2:00	RECESS	RECESS	RECESS	RECESS	RECESS
Period 9: 2:00 - 2:30	Open	KS M/W - Schroeder	4M - Mackiewich	Open	KK T-TH Kubik
Period 10: 2:30 - 3:00	4P - Peterson	1C - Clarke	5D - Diduck	2E - Elgert	6 C&H - Chapman
After School 3-4 p.m.	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open
After School 4-6 p.m.	Closed	Closed	Closed	Open	Closed

Looking Ahead at Next Week!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The students had a blast setting traps for their leprechauns today. Leprechauns are too sneaky to come around when students are in school...We will wait and see what happens on Monday morning!

Looking ahead at next week:

• The Lego Field Trip fee of $7.50 is due on Monday
• Hot Dog Day payment for April 5th Hot Dog Day is due on Wednesday (I had originally said it was due the 15th... I apologize for the miscommunication!)
• Frozen Treat THURSDAY is next week. Payment must be in on Wednesday morning
• Report Cards go home on Thursday
• NO SCHOOL FRIDAY! School resumes after spring break, Monday, April 3rd. 

Because we will have so much change floating around next week, PLEASE make sure your child's payments are labelled with their name and what the payment is for! Thank you in advance :)

Have an excellent weekend! 

A Peek at the Week: March 13-17

The results from Family Day Unplugged are in, and 1H came in 2ND PLACE!!! Nice work everyone!

Spelling words and sorts went home last Friday. Please make it a priority to take some time and practice spelling words and sorts at home, emphasizing beginning sounds, middle vowel sounds, and ending sounds. Our spelling test will be on Thursday this week, as Friday is St. Patrick's Day and we have some special activities planned. Fridays are very busy with assembly, art, music, library, and PE, so it leaves us with only the usual spelling test time to squeeze in some St. Patrick's Day fun! Please remember to wear green and Shamrocks on Friday! 

Swimming Lesson Registration Forms along with payment are due this Wednesday. 

Friday is Dairy Queen Hot Lunch. 

A Peek at the Week: March 6-10

New spelling words along with a sign language guide went home today. We learned about sign language while we studied our sense of hearing, and today our grade 6 buddies came and helped us create 'secret messages' we communicated using sign language. Using the sign language guide might be a fun way to practice this week's spelling words, which went home today. 

We started a new science project using Google Classroom on our Chromebooks today all about protecting our eyes from the sun, while we learn about the sense of sight and wrap up our 5 senses unit!

We continue to learn about adding and subtracting in math. The students wrote their own word problems today. I am so impressed with how their writing is coming along! We are learning all about 'action words' (aka verbs) in writing, and are having fun acting out what we write. 

This week, we have ATB Bank Day tomorrow and Pizza by the Slice lunch on Friday. Pizza is $2.00/slice. Please send your pizza money in by Friday first thing in the morning. 

Swimming lesson registration forms went home last week. They are due next Wednesday, March 15th. 

Mid-week Updates & Information

There will be a candy bag and chip sale on Thursday, March 2nd at last recess.  The candy bags and chips will be on sale for $1 each.  Please bring in your loonies to help support the Grade 5 fundraising.  It will be based on a first come first serve basis.  Thank you!

***Student money will not be collected in the morning, as I usually do for Frozen Treat Friday or Hot Dog Lunch. Students will be responsible for knowing that they have money for this concession sale and where to find it. I will remind them about it, but I have outdoor recess supervision on Thursday afternoons, so I will not be able to help them.***

• Library will be tomorrow, due to no school on Friday
• Spelling Test is tomorrow, due to no school on Friday
• March Calendars were sent home on Monday
• Bubblegum Word Day(s) will continue tomorrow. Due to Early Dismissal we did not get through everyone today
• Swimming Lesson registration forms went home today. Please return by Wednesday, March 15th

March Calendar

A Peek at the Week: Feb. 20-24

Wednesday, Feb. 22nd is PINK SHIRT DAY. Students are encouraged to wear Pink Shirts to support this anti-bullying campaign.

Frozen Treat Friday orders are due this Thursday.

School Spirit Dress-up Day: this Friday is GLOW DAY. Wear your glow in the dark or neon items! 

Family Dance is Friday, 6:00-8:00. Tickets are available for $2.00 and in the office. All children must be accompanied by a parent to attend. 

Hot Dog Order Forms were sent home today for next Wednesday's Hot Dog Day

We have enough volunteers for our class popcorn day, Thursday March 2nd!

On Wednesday, March 8th, PAWS (Parent Association of Willow Park School) will be holding their AGM @ 6:00. All positions are open and all parents are invited to attend. The meeting is held in the staff room.  

Please return Family Day Unplugged Forms ASAP!

Weekly picture sorts and spelling words were sent home on Friday for extra practice since this is a short week. The spelling and sorting test is this Friday. 

Information Update: Popcorn and Pancake Volunteers Needed!

Thank you to everyone who came out to Student Led Conferences last night. It was fun for me to observe your child having the opportunity to 'be the teacher'. They were so proud to show you what we've been up to in class! 

We have two upcoming volunteer opportunities! Please let me know if you are available to help out on either of these dates.

• Pancake Day is February 28th. We will need a few volunteers at 8:30 as well as some at 10:00 am. Please let me know if you are interested and available and I will pass your information along to Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Elgert to provide more information!

• 1H's turn to host Popcorn Day is Thursday, March 2nd. We will need 2 volunteers to begin at 8:30. Duties include popping the popcorn and delivering the popcorn to the classes. This usually takes about 1-1.5 hours. Please let me know if you are available to help in this way!

There is NO SCHOOL Monday, Feb. 20th. Enjoy the Family Day Long Weekend!

Family Dance

Willow Park will be hosting a Spring Dance on February 24th from 6-8 pm. Tickets are $2 and can be purchased in the office. Come and join us for an evening of guaranteed fun!

Frozen Treat Friday is Friday, Feb. 24th. Please bring your loonie by Thursday, Feb. 23rd.

A Peek at the Week- Feb. 13-17

I hope that you had a nice long weekend! Here is a peek at the week ahead: 

Tuesday:

• Wear red and pink for Valentine's Day!
• AM: 100 Day Celebration. Bring 100 items in a ziploc bag.
• PM: Valentine's Day Celebration. Please see class list sent home last Wednesday for class list!

Wednesday:

• light blue bubblegum word day!

Thursday:

• Student Led Conferences
• Drop in between 4:00-7:00 and your child will have the chance to show you what they've been learning about in grade 1! It will be up to your child to lead this time. Plan for about 15-20 minutes of activities. 

Friday:

• Spelling test and picture sort
• Note that this week we are spelling words that have the sounds of the week at the beginning and end of the word. These may require extra practice. 
• Subway Hot Lunch

A Peek at the Week: Feb. 6-10

Hi everyone! 

There is no school this Thursday, Feb. 9th or Friday, Feb. 10th due to Teacher's Convention. 

As it is such a short week, we will not have a spelling test/sort this week. I'm using this time to review the concept of digraphs and blends, which are when two letters 'stick together like glue' to make one sound. In class, I call them 'word keys'.

Some examples of blends and digraphs

In math we continue to learn about strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems and basic facts. Some fun games on ABCya! include: Balloon Pop Subtraction, Marble Math, and Sum of All Dice http://www.abcya.com/first_grade_computers.htm


Tuesday, Feb. 7th is Banking Day and Grade 1 Sledding Day

Wednesday, Feb. 8th is Pizza by the Slice Lunch
Next Tuesday, Feb. 14th is the 100th Day of School and Valentine's Day. 

• For 100 Day, students are asked to bring a collection of 100 items (please send in a plastic sandwich-sized ziploc-style) that you have counted out together. Past examples have included marbles, cheerios, and paper clips. 
• Class lists with first names will be sent home on Wednesday. If your child chooses to hand out valentines to the class, they must be given to every student in the class. It is encouraged that your child fill out the valentines for printing practice! 

February Calendar and a Peek at the Week: Jan. 30 - Feb. 3rd

Above you will see the spelling words and picture sorts that were sent home on Friday so that students could have extra practice during a short week! With a PD Day this week and Early Dismissal tomorrow that leaves us with less in-class practice time. Bubblegum day(s) will take place this Wednesday and Thursday. Please practice those yellow words and spelling words!

We continue adding and subtracting to 12 and have been diving in to story and word problems. The students are practicing reading simple word problems, looking for words and phrases like "how many more?" or "how many are left?", and then deciding if the question wants them to add or subtract. A good way to practice this at home is to tell simple word stories to your child, even using objects around the house, and have them tell you if it is addition or subtraction. 

For example: 

"I have four grapes and you have six grapes. How many grapes are there all together?" 

"Dad has 4 cookies and then he ate two. How many cookies are left?"

Incorporating this language not only helps your child become more familiar with problem solving vocabulary, but also helps them recognize that addition and subtraction are important skills to master!

We are also working on counting to 100, skip counting (by 2s) and counting by 5s and 10s. On February 14th we will be celebrating the 100th Day of school in the morning and Valentine's Day in the afternoon. 

Here is a look at the busy month of February:

Words Their Way: Blends Unit

Spelling Words:

sh: shot, shut, ship

s: sun, sip, set

h: hot, hut, hat

Marks for spelling and reading

Picture Sort:

Marks for sorting into correct beginning sound categories

A Note About Words Their Way Word Sorts

Sort 12 test was sent home today.

This week, students were told that they would be getting 1/2 a point taken away for every backwards letter. We have spent a great deal of time going through letter formation during the first half of the school year and we have come to the point where a letter reversal will no longer be considered the correct letter. From this point forward, students will also be responsible for indicating the sorting rule of the week at the top of their pages during a spelling test and for all spelling related activities. The boxes at the top will no longer be filled in with the sorting rule.

We will be starting our next unit of word sorts beginning next week. More information will be sent home about the unit and the week's word sorts and a homework menu on Monday.

Have a nice weekend!

A Peek at the Week: January 16-20

Bubblegum Words
After a week of reviewing our old words, new bubblegum words will be sent home tomorrow. Students will be tested on these words next Wednesday!

L.I.F.T
Our Home Reading Program, L.I.FT., began yesterday. Students who read every day for the week will get an activity bag to bring home on Friday. Activity bags are to be returned on Monday.

Math
We have started addition and subtraction to 12 in math. The students are enjoying this new challenge! 

Science
After learning all about reindeer and winter, we are now learning about The 5 Senses.

Health
We are completing our hygiene unit in health, and learning about healthy bodies and minds in assemblies. A tooth-brushing challenge was sent home today. When you have completed it, please return the form for some fun 'swag'!

Other:

• This Friday is Wok Box Hot Lunch
• Next Tuesday is a Banking Day

A Peek at the Week: Jan. 9-13

Happy New Year! I hope that you had an enjoyable, relaxing Winter Break. I was so happy to see the students today and hear of all their exciting adventures over the past few weeks. I sent home January Calendars and Words Their Way Word Sorts today. I am having difficulty uploading the calendar as a picture on the blog, I will try my best to post it on the blog ASAP! Below you will find some important info for the week to come. Please let me know if you have any questions!

• Words Their Way Word Sorts: Spelling tests are now once a week, every Friday. 
• Bubblegum Sight Words that Stick: We will review our pink, green, orange, and blue words this week and send home the next set of words next week. 
• L.I.F.T Home Reading Program: Literacy is a Family Thing! Our L.I.F.T Home Reading Program will start next week! I will send more information home tomorrow along with a program agreement form to be signed and returned by Friday if you wish to participate. 
• Hot lunch orders are due this Friday, January 13th
• Just a reminder that Library is on Friday afternoons!

PAWS is holding a Bottle Drive this Friday and Saturday. Bring your cans/bottles to the school by Friday OR drop them off at the Leduc Bottle Depot on Saturday, January 14 from 12- 3 pm.

If any students or parents can help out on Saturday, or you need bottles picked up, please text Sherri at 780-238-5815.

Show your school (and team) spirit on Friday, January 13 by wearing your favorite jersey for our JERSEY DAY!!

Pizza by the Slice lunch this Friday, January 13 - $2 per slice