We spent a lot of time this week, and today especially, in conversations, listening and designing art while building our understanding of the importance of Truth and Reconciliation.  Here's some highlights for you that the students wanted to share.

A couple of pictures from our Terry Fox Run this morning (most of our class took off at such high speed that I couldn't get ahead of them to get more but watch for the school newsletter and you might find your child there).  

 Week of Sept.27

We have a busy week with a lot going on.  

Please help to ensure your child has a successful week but supporting them in getting a good night's rest and eating a healthy breakfast.  Giving them a heads up in the morning about expected activities can also be very helpful for many!

Monday:  Math weekly #2 goes home.  It's due completed Friday morning (but earlier is always accepted :)

Tuesday: Canmore Waste Management Center walking field trip in the morning.  Please ensure that your child is well dressed for walking quickly (in good walking shoes) and being outside in the weather with appropriate layers

Wednesday: Terry Fox run (am) - please send a toonie donation (or follow the link from the LGMS homepage to donate directly). We will be running/jogging or fast walking our lap near the river in the morning.  Please ensure your child is wearing clothes and footwear to be successful.

Please encourage your child to wear orange in recognition of Truth and Reconciliation day Thursday. We will be spending time Wednesday afternoon discussing components of Canada's history and the importance of supporting reconciliation.  I had sent out some information and links last week in case you would like to discuss this at home as well.  

Thursday: No school - Truth and Reconciliation day.  

Friday (half day - dismissal at noon):  Math weekly is due

Woo Hoo!  Our fabulous Smart Cookies have been doing a great job and their big number and decimal number reading is awesome!!

Tomorrow as a special prize we will be having Flashlight Friday.  Students are asked to bring a few books of any style that they love as well as a flashlight to enjoy some cozy reading.  They are also invited to bring a blanket or pillow as well as snacks to have in class during these reading blocks.  

* Please check in with your child about their Reading Record and Science shape poem which were due earlier this week.  They need to be all caught up tomorrow to participate *

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Grade 5 science info:  Students will be building wind vanes in science class Monday.  They have created a plan and supply list today and need to have everything with them (plus some extra supplies just in case) by Monday at the latest.  Here is some of the information we used in class and the checklist for building. Items that measure weather

Week of September 20th

Monday: Spelling comes home and is due completed Friday first thing.  

We completed our pretest this morning in class, this helps your child and you to know what errors they are making to work towards mastering these words for Friday.  As well as practicing the ten words there is always a short activity to do with the words.  The assignment and page to complete it on is right in the spelling duotang.  Please help your child to be sure of correct spelling in the assignment so that they don't build errors into their long term memory.

* after 4 periods of class time, students are now expected to have their science shape poem completed.  Please check in with your child about theirs as this is now a homework assignment for completion.

Tuesday: Photo day.  Our photo time is booked for 1:30 in the afternoon

Wednesday: All field trip forms are due back.  If you plan to join us as a volunteer we will need to have your completed RCMP check on file at the school by Friday.  Please let me know as soon as it has been completed.

RR should have been brought home for you to see, review and sign.  This is one way that I can see your child's understanding of reading comprehension on a book of their choosing.  I will be using the rubric at the front of the folder to guide marking and the emphasis is on giving detailed answers that show how much is known.

Thursday: Reading Records are due

Friday (full day): Spelling test - duotangs (with completed spelling assignments) need to be in class first thing for our spelling test.  

* We're hoping to make this Friday a Flashlight Friday - more information will be coming if we work together to earn this :)

 Week of Sept. 13

Monday: Math weekly goes home (this is the first week that we will be doing a homework assignment - it will be due by Friday morning at the latest but students are welcome to return it ahead of time).  This assignment is meant to help you to see your child's understanding at home.  Students are welcome to work through the questions with a parent and to use any strategy (not a calculator) to find the answers.  Work should be shown on the page.

Tuesday: Math pretest goes home - please take a look at your child's math pretest which we completed last week.  They all did a fabulous job of helping me to understand what they already know so that I can plan more time for areas as needed this year :)   Please return these to the school so we can add them to our portfolios.

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday (half day: dismissal at 12:01): Math weekly assignments are due

Volunteering at LGMS this year - We are very happy to invite parents and guardians to join us on field trips once again this year.  We will have a few coming soon related to the gr.4 Waste in our World unit.  If you hope to join us as a volunteer at any time this year we need you to have a criminal record check completed.  I have the forms already printed, please just add a note to your child's agenda and I will send a copy home for you.  

Also a reminder that if you have a child in grade 4 and have a smaller binder that you can send in with them to use in their desk that would be helpful :)

Zentangles

Check out some of our great zentangle designs!

 Week of Sept. 7 th

Tuesday: No homework this week (we will be starting weekly homework next week)

Please ask your child to show you and tell you about their digital name tag in Google Classroom that they started to work on this afternoon.  

Wednesday: Finishing SHIELD good copies

Spelling pre-test.  This is a test to help place students into a level that helps them to grow their skills.  Their level (I have 3 in the classroom) can change over the course of the year (up or down) depending on need.  Your child can come talk to me themselves to ask about changing, I might ask them to change levels or we can also talk together based on the evidence that we are seeing in class.  

Thursday: Math pretest  - this will have a variety of different types of questions and helps me to better understand the level of understanding each child brings to their learning in these areas.  

Friday: 

An additional note - if your child is in grade 4 the supply list had a mistake and asked for one 2" binder instead of two 1" binders.  We will make due with what we have of course because I know supplies are costly but the 2" binders are very big in the desks.  If you happen to have something smaller already at home it would be helpful to switch it out.  We also collect all of the student's "for marks" work into one learning portfolio that will go home for you to see.  This is what the other binder is normally used for.

If you have any questions - please let me know.

Below are a few pictures from a cooperative game we played in gym today :)

 

Welcome back to a fabulous year of learning at LGMS!

This year I am very excited to welcome our newest students in grade four to LGMS and our combined 4/5 class.  Our first few days together have been wonderful and I know we are going to have a great year of learning together.  

If you haven't had a chance to check out the letter from our amazing school counsellor Ms.Liz, please take a look by following this link.  We are very fortunate to have her at LGMS working with individual students and families in addition to the classroom and group work that Mr.D does with his Right From The Start team support.  

Upcoming dates:

Due Tuesday - SHIELD images and words to create our collages 

This week students will also begin to complete some pre-tests with me in spelling and math.  These are not assessments but instead are used to help me to better understand what skills they are already confident in, as well as areas for growth so that I can best plan how we can move forward together.