November 8, 2019

Dear Family and Friends,

This week in school we enjoyed a variety of new math and literacy centres. We also have an amazing new Pizza Shop in our dramatic role play centre. 

We started learning about different ways to represent number and we focused on the number 1. We showed the number 1 by writing the digit, writing the word 'one', drawing one picture, and using a ten frame (power of ten) that looks like this: 

 

Next week we will be practicing how to represent the number 2. 

Our focus for the month of November is Peace. We have been thinking about what the word means and how we can show peace in our classroom and in our own lives. 

We read books about Remembrance Day and learned about the significance of the poppy and how it is also a representation of peace. We did a beautiful art project drawing and painting poppies that will be displayed in our classroom when you visit for parent teacher conferences in December. 

We've been practicing how to work in a team together peacefully and how to engage in shared reading. 

Next week we are going to begin exploring our families and where we come from. You may talk to your child about the different family members you have, both here in Calgary and in other places. This will help prepare them for our class discussions about family!

Important Dates and Information

Remember to check out my twitter account @jesslobel to keep up to date on our activities throughout the week. I post every 1-2 days about things we've done in class! 

November 11 - No school for Remembrance Day. See you on Tuesday. 

November 12 - Scholastic Book Orders Due - If you would like to order anything from scholastic for November please submit the payment online or send it in your child's folder by Tuesday November 12th. 

November 19 - School Picture Retake Day - For children who were absent on our photo day in October or if you would like a retake of your child's photo, picture retakes will be on November 19. 

Snack

• Due to severe allergies, please don't send any snacks that have nuts. 
• Healthy Snack - Please ensure your child has some healthy snacks to choose from and avoid sending junk food (candy, chocolate, chips). Our snack time provides nutrition to the children and helps them have energy to learn. Some ideas are vegetable, fruit, yogurt, cheese, sandwiches, boiled eggs, whole grain crackers and granola bars. Thanks for your support with this. 
• Extra Snack - If your child is in school on FRIDAY please send extra food for your child. They have a long day and get hungry with all our busy activities!

Home Reading - Return books to be changed every Thursday. 

Please have your child read with an adult or sibling every day. You may read the book to them and let them read some of the words if they are able to. Rereading the same book supports success when children are able to remember familiar words and patterns. Throughout kindergarten we will be learning the sounds of the letters and how to blend them together. In your child's book bag is a list of reading strategies that we will also use as the children develop phonemic awareness.

Winter Clothes - As the weather gets colder, please ensure your child has warm, waterproof outdoor clothes. Also keep a change of clothes in their backpack for emergencies. We will continue playing outside as much as possible, as fresh air and exercise are an important part of our students' learning.