States of matter - what is this strange mystery substance?

Students tested and tried different things to determine if this is a solid or liquid.  Want to know more?  Follow this link to some student videos about what they were discovering.

So much fun!

Today we finished our Snowmen presentations.  If your child hasn't yet shown you the snowman and mini-story that they shared with their classmates follow the link to see the whole class set.
4/5D Snowmen or take a look at the slideshow on our blog.

Week of Dec. 16

Monday: No weekly homework - but please see the notice about a novel review coming mid January that is included below.

Tuesday: **Christmas Concert -  We will be performing in the Gr. 4 & 5 Christmas Concert this Tuesday, Dec. 17 @ 6:30PM! Doors will open at 6:15. Performers drop coats and boots off in homerooms and head to the gym to find their performance spot. Please help your child remember to dress their best for the holidays! Holiday hats are allowed. We hope you can join us to celebrate our hard work this semester and the Holiday season

Wednesday:  Snowman presentations - we've built snowpeople in Google that will be presented.  Ask your child to see their unique creation :)

Thursday: desk and locker clean out.  Please help by reminding your child to bring home all containers and spare clothes ahead of time.

Friday:  Half day.  Students are invited to wear their favorite created, borrowed or owned, Christmas sweater or Pjs. Bringing breakfast to class and a stuffy is also allowed on this special Christmasy day.

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            Novel Review are coming soon

A novel review is a type of book report.  

Students will be completing one Mid January (so novels need to be completed before then)

To prepare:

1. Help your child to pick a chapter book that is at an appropriate reading level for them.  Check out AR Bookfinder online to get a general sense of the BL (book level) if you are unsure.
2. Encourage your child to read and talk about what they are reading.
3. Keep track of the important parts of the book.  Below are the main questions. Keeping a journal or taking notes on sticky notes while reading will make completing this assignment much easier!

Understandings to demonstrate

• Character information: age, looks, behaviours, special features, likes/dislikes…
• Main events (in order)
• Compare elements of this story to another one (what is similar/different)
• Rate your novel.  Explain your rating and be able to give specific examples.  Ex: if you rated it well because it is funny, give examples from the story that show it’s funny

Please take some quiet time over Christmas break to read and encourage your child to read.  With two weeks off there's a lot of time to cozy up in a blanket and enjoy a good book - and it will be very important for your child to have a recent book read for mid January when students will be completing a novel reviews.

________________________________________________________________________________

            Novel Review are coming soon

A novel review is a type of book report.  

Students will be completing one __________________

To prepare:

1. Help your child to pick a chapter book that is at an appropriate reading level for them.  Check out AR Bookfinder online to get a general sense of the BL (book level) if you are unsure.
2. Encourage your child to read and talk about what they are reading.
3. Keep track of the important parts of the book.  Below are the main questions. Keeping a journal or taking notes on sticky notes while reading will make completing this assignment much easier!

Understandings to demonstrate

• Character information: age, looks, behaviours, special features, likes/dislikes…
• Main events (in order)
• Compare elements of this story to another one (what is similar/different)
• Rate your novel.  Explain your rating and be able to give specific examples.  Ex: if you rated it well because it is funny, give examples from the story that show it’s funny

French notice -

The fashion show during French class will take place this Thursday.  Students are expected to come to school with their 5 pieces of clothing that they will wear and then describe in class.

If you haven't seen the letter from Mme.Santerre make it's way home yet, here is the copy which has a section for a parent signature to be returned. 

Week of Dec. 9

Monday: All students should have the results of their science test written in their agenda for you to see.  We also spent time in class looking over it.  They will soon be added into portfolios as well.

Tuesday:  Please make sure to see and sign your child's completed reading record if you havn't already.

Wednesday: Reading records are due (with parent signatures).  Descriptive (hamburger) paragraphs are also due.

Thursday: Art  project - Optical Waves is due

Friday: Half day.  Math weekly #6 is due


Information and some "homework" - over the last few weeks I have had many individual and small group discussions with students about concerns that they are having.  Some of these result from accidents ,while others seem to be more purposeful, but they all bothered the other student(s) to some extent.

To help us each to better understand each other we began health today by writing about things that bother us or make us uncomfortable.  I've summarized the main things students said in this document and we've begun talking about each item so that we can practice empathy and understanding for each other in our classroom.  We've discussed events and also some solutions and we will continue to do this in health over the next few weeks.

I would really appreciate it if you take a few minutes at home to discuss and reinforce these ideas with your child as well. 

Thank you for all that you each do to help your child to grow!

Week of Dec. 2

Monday: Book orders going home - due back (or done online) by Thursday morning please so that we can be sure to get them delivered before Christmas. 
If you want to order anything online as Christmas gifts that you would rather I not send home with your child - please let me know and I can put them aside for you to pick up at the office or after school.  Here is a digital copy of the flyer.

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:  Weather Unit Test.    Book orders due.

Friday:  Full day.  Spelling due.  Please see duotang for this week's assignment

Coming soon:  Dec. 17 Christmas concert :)