Thank you so much for all of your contributions to Staff Appreciation this past week! Honestly, it is a genuine treat to teach your wonderful kids. The volunteer support we enjoy in the classroom and on field trips all year is the cherry on top, and the unreal showering of pampering and love we received the past week is...surreal, magical sprinkles!? We are the luckiest staff anywhere, and felt very spoiled this week.
Highlights of the Day
This morning after editing our message and comparing weather forecasts for the upcoming week, we had a blast shaking off the week at our grade one dance party. We finished up this week's round of aw/au/al literacy centers and guided reading, and got THISCLOSE to finally finishing 'Matilda.' It is hard to put down a good book! After doing a fabulous job keeping the steady beat in music, the students played a game to review their near-doubles facts, and worked on their rural landscapes for the agamographs. We finished our morning celebrating a friend's birthday!
Sight Words
We are focusing on "pinchy" sounds this week, /au/, /al/, and /aw/
because saw also all talk walk awesome almost calm
Mail Pockets
- No new mail went home today
Music Monday
Please join us for our special "Music Monday's Celebration"assembly on May 1st at 1:00 pm in the gym. This is an annual event that brings together students, musicians, parents and community members to celebrate the gift of music in our lives.
We hope to see you there!
Please and Thank You
- Grade One will enjoy observing spring seasonal changes on our next Ridge Walk Thursday, May 4 at 1:30. We would appreciate one or two more volunteers, please.
- Our class will visit the Calgary Drop-In Centre on Thursday, May 11 to learn about how our city supports its vulnerable citizens, and to volunteer sorting donations. We will also enjoy exploring nearby Patrick's Island via the Riverwalk that afternoon. We would appreciate 5 volunteers to come with us.
- The Grade Ones will enjoy will learn about how plants and animals in the natural world thrive together during our Fish Creek Park program on Wednesday, May 24. We are hoping to have 5 volunteers for this day full of science and fresh air.
- While we realize June 14 is further down the road, we are hoping to have 8 - 10 of our fabulous volunteers join us on our Urban Community Tour. This exciting day exploring Calgary's landmarks and local history is made much smoother with a small adult-child ratio, and is always one of the most memorable highlights of the grade ones' year. We hope you can come with us! :)
Thank you for being so giving of your time! Please email Elysa or Melissa if you are interested and available for any of these experiences.
Math Facts
When we play fact fluency games in class, we are currently reviewing doubles, near-doubles, "ten buddies," one more (+1) and one less (-1) facts. Please feel free to review these at home! It can be a fun way to pass time during car rides or waiting in line, and you can use simple items like dice or playing cards to make a game of it. For example, roll the die or take a card -- what is that card's "ten buddy?" What is one more or one less? What is the double of that number? How fast can you go!?
Upcoming Dates
May 1 - Music Monday assembly, 1:00
May 4 - Ridge Walk (2 more volunteers needed, please!)
May 11 - Calgary Drop-In Centre volunteering (4 more volunteers needed, please!)
May 24 - Fish Creek Park "Thriving Together" program (5 volunteers requested, please!)
June 14 - Urban Community Tour (8-10 volunteers requested, please!)
Daily Challenge
What did you include in your rural landscape for our agamograph illusions? We live in the urban community of Calgary. Look at a map (of Alberta, or anywhere else you choose) -- can you find and name 3 rural communities?