This morning we edited our message for wacky, mixed up -ng words and sang our "Ten Buddies" song in poetry. After a yoga adventure, we had another visit with elder Shirley Hill and learned some new Blackfoot words. After recess we did our first round of "-ng" literacy centers and learned a math game to help us practice our "ten buddy" facts. In the afternoon we exchanged our library books, then did 2 science experiments to help us learn about our sense of taste. After all, if we are going to be good chefs and cookbook authors, we need to understand our palates! We explored the 4 tastes of salty, bitter, sweet, and sour with an observation experiment, then learned how our sense of smell and taste are connected by trying 2 similar textured foods with a plugged nose. There were some surprises and trying of new foods for lots of us, like jicama and dates.
Mail Pockets
- Scholastic flyers went home today -- please return by Monday if interested in ordering.
Words of the Week
Each week we will focus on a set of high frequency words that we are using in our poems and morning message. Feel free to practice these and look for them in your own books! This week we are focusing on "King -NG" chunks.
thing going sang strong along bring
Family Traditions Brunch
You are invited to share in the Grade One Family Traditions potluck brunch to celebrate the learning we have been doing around families, traditions, and recipe writing! Part of our social studies curriculum is understanding and appreciating traditions that shape our identities and communities. Students are encouraged to bring a dish that is a tradition for their family -- it could be cultural, seasonal, passed down through generations, or just something special to/enjoyed by your family! The children are working on turning these dishes into a community cookbook as a writing project. Our guest expert cookbook author is looking forward to attending this celebration after being part of our learning and writing process, and to help us photograph the food! Family members are welcome to join us for the brunch at 8:00 am on Friday, February 9. Please bring or send all necessary serving utensils with your family's dish, and we will provide plates, cutlery, and napkins.
Please and Thank You!
- Thank you so much for discussing and sending in family recipes with your children. We really appreciate the family involvement in this social studies inquiry.
- Please return CPO field trip forms by Monday, if you have not already. Please also send back Atria Retirement field trip forms by Friday. Thank you!
- Please consider contributing valentine craft decorations to bring to Atria Retirement home on February 13th. In addition to sharing a musical performance and reading with the residents, we will be crafting valentine cards with them. Contributions might include stickers, ribbon, rhinestones, etc. Thank you in advance!
-Please consider contributing a small zip-lock bag containing a handful of countable items for class math estimation stations. The handful ideally contains between 10 and 100 items, and these items could be anything from dried beans or pasta, to paper clips, to buttons! Thanks very much for your contributions.
- Thank you for returning school Library books for Wednesday (our scheduled weekly exchange time is Wednesday afternoon).
Volunteer Opportunities:
- We would love to welcome morning literacy volunteers into our classroom from 8:00 to 8:30 each morning. If there is one morning a week that works for you, wonderful, but drop-ins are always welcome, too! Just let me know the day before, please. This role will involve helping to create sight word rings, as well as reading one-on-one with students
- We would appreciate 3 more volunteers to join us for a heartwarming (pre)Valentine morning at Atria Retirement Centre on Tuesday, February 13. We will be performing songs, reading, and crafting valentines with the senior residents.
-We are seeking 3 more volunteers to join us for a fun, educational, and outdoorsy day at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre on Thursday, March 1.
Thank you very much for considering! Please email Elysa ([email protected]) or Danielle ([email protected]) if interested to confirm your availability.
Pink Shirt DayWednesday, February 28th is Pink Shirt Day! Wear your pink shirt as we learn about how kindness makes a difference.
Teachers Convention Week
Thursday, February 15 and Friday, February 16th is Teachers Convention - No School for Students. REMINDER that Wednesday, February 14 is EARLY DISMISSAL. Students will be dismissed at 11:45.
Spring Concert InformationThis year's concert will be around the theme WATER. Preparations are already underway.
Reminder: Students only perform one night. Families only attend one night. There are two different productions of the event being practiced to accommodate the size of our gym.
Wednesday, March 21 - ONLY students with the last names A-L perform and only families with the last name A-L attend.
Thursday, March 22 - ONLY students with the last names M-Z perform and only families with the last name M-Z attend.
Upcoming Dates
Feb. 9 - Grade One Family Traditions Brunch (more information to come, but mark your calendar, please!)
Feb. 13 - Atria Retirement Home volunteer visit (singing, sharing books, and crafting valentines with residents!) in the morning
Feb. 14 - Early Dismissal: 11:45 pm
Feb. 15 - 16 - Teacher's Convention - *no school for students*
Feb. 19 - Family Day - *no school*
Feb. 21 - Opa Fun Lunch (must order by Friday, Feb. 16)
Feb. 28 - Pink Shirt Day
Mar. 1 - Fish Creek Park Environmental Learning Centre (all day field trip -- 4-5 volunteers needed)
Mar. 8 - Telus Spark field trip
Daily Challenge
After eating your snack or dinner this evening, what could you identify with each of the 4 main tastebud tastes on your tongue (salty, bitter, sweet, and sour)?