Dear Parents/Guardians, June has arrived! The students are enjoying playing outside. It is amazing to see how much the students have grown and learned since September. Our days have been full of singing, counting, reading, writing, colouring, learning, and laughing. This spring, we have been discussing how all creatures are gifts from God and that each is special in its own way. We need to respect all living things to care for the world around us. Here is an overview of what we will be focusing on during June in regards to the Four Frames of the Kindergarten Curriculum: Belonging and Contributing: We are so proud to see how each student’s confidence in themselves have developed over the last few months. They understand that they belong to their classroom family and can see what makes them special. During whole-class community time, we will continue to encourage them to share their creations, tell their stories and express their feelings. Self-Regulation and Well-Being: We will continue to play gym games both inside and outdoors for the rest of the year. This week we were lucky enough to practice our dancing skills with a Luv2Groove workshop. It was a fun way to keep our bodies healthy by being active. We focused a lot on safety inside the classroom throughout the year. We will be exploring how to be safe in other ways, such as wearing sunscreen on sunny days, looking both ways when crossing the street and wearing a helmet when riding a bike. We will be reading books, watching videos, participating in activities and having discussions about various safety topics. Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours: The Kinders love rhyming! A current favourite class activity is reading Dr. Seuss books. We will continue to work on our rhyming skills until the end of the year. Here is a fun rhyming song to listen to with your child to help work on their rhyming skills: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt1czlnCUCg We have seen such a growth in students’ writing abilities! They have been practicing tracing their letters, printing their names and writing simple sentences. Please continue to practice any popcorn words that come home in your child’s mailbag with them. For Math, we have been enjoying going on shape scavenger hunts as a class and discovering that shapes are all around us. You can practice with your child at home by asking them to find different shapes around the house. We have been exploring measurement during our learning centres and will continue this until the end of the year. We are learning how to measure things using everyday objects. The Kinders will also be learning about Canadian coins and how to use them in everyday life. In French, we continue to work on recognizing the letters of the alphabet, numbers, and colours. We are also learning summer vocabulary. Here is a list of French summer vocabulary: une coccinelle- ladybug une abeille- bee une mouche- fly un moustique- mosquito une sauterelle- grasshopper une fourmi- ant le sable- sand les lunettes de soleil- sunglasses les sandales- sandals le costume de bain- bathing suit la crème glacée-ice cream le poisson-fish Problem Solving and Innovating: For the rest of the year, we will continue to do spring-themed experiments. We will be exploring the properties of water, the growth of plants and the effects of heat from the sun. You can sense the excitement in the room during these whole-group activities. They provide many opportunities for the Kinders to make predictions, record observations and discuss their findings. Housekeeping Items:
June 7th: PD Day (no school) June 14th: Scholastic orders due June 19th: Year End Family BBQ June 25th: Year End Mass at St. Ignatius Parish @ 10:00 am. June 26th: Senior Kindergarten Leave-Taking Ceremony @ 9:30 am. June 26th: Report cards go home June 27th: Last day of school. Summer vacation begins! Thank you for your continued support. N. Leman C. Potvin
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Dear Parents/Guardians, The nice springtime weather is returning. We hope it will stay! The warm weather has given us lots of opportunities to play and exercise outdoors. Just a reminder that the children still need to remove their outdoor shoes and change into their indoor shoes to keep our school clean. Rubber boots and an extra pair of socks are a good idea when it is muddy and wet outside! This month, we are continuing to explore spring activities. As well, we will be talking about farm animals and pets. We will be giving thanks to God for bringing such diverse animals into our world. We will focus on the importance of respecting and kindly treating all creatures of God. Here is an overview of what we will be focusing on during May in regards to the Four Frames of the Kindergarten Curriculum: Belonging and Contributing: We were happy with all of the kind acts we witnessed during our whole-school Lenten project which was to build a kindness chain. Way to go! One of our class jobs is the Good Deed Monitor. This person will continue to expand on our kindness theme by sharing with the group any kind acts they witness throughout the day. Of course, anyone else who notices a friendly act can share too! Music is another way to express ourselves. We have been learning many new songs as a class which we love to sing throughout our day! We will provide more opportunities to learn through music and will encourage the Kinders to come up with their own songs and movements. Self-Regulation and Well-Being: We will be visiting the gym more frequently this month to play cooperative games and use equipment such as balls, nets and hula hoops. These type of activities are fun ways to work on balance and coordination. On warmer days, we often bring the equipment outside to enjoy the nice weather. The Kinders love gym time! Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours: We will be focusing on the letters x and y this month. We will also be reviewing all of the letter sounds and learn some letter blends, such as ai and oa. Please continue to practice any popcorn words that come home in your child’s mailbag with them. We will also be focusing on rhyming activities. We will be listening to songs and reading stories that have rhyming words in them and try to identify these words both as a class and individually during play. For Math, we will continue to make class graphs and have discussions about them. This activity is a way for students to get comfortable using math words such as most and least. We also will be talking more about different shapes. We will look for shapes in our classroom and the yard. It’s fun to learn how much math is all around us! Here is a list of the French vocabulary for the month of May: le chat (cat) le chien (dog) le cochon (pig) le canard (duck) le mouton (sheep) la vache (cow) la poule (chicken) le poussin (chick) le cheval (horse) l’oiseau (bird) la dinde (turkey) Problem Solving and Innovating: The students absolutely love the Creation Station! They have been using recycled materials to create many different things, such as doggy boathouses, binoculars, Canadian flags and ninja outfits. The Kinders are getting very good at explaining how they make the creations. Please send in any recycled materials (egg cartons, boxes, paper towel rolls, milk cartons, fruit trays, etc.) that you no longer need to help add to our stations! We will continue to explore the outdoor environment. We will be going on a scavenger hunt next week to find different living things and then discuss what we discover. We will also be doing spring-themed whole class experiments. We can't wait! Housekeeping Items:
Important Dates in May: May 8th: Hot dog lunch May 9th: “Muffin and Mingle” - Please join us from 8:15 am to 9 am. May 9th: Rag and Bones Theatre and Parent Literacy evening @ 6:30 pm. May 10th: Easter Mass at St. Ignatius Parish @ 12:30 pm. May 16th: Welcome to Kindergarten Evening - for new JK friends May 17th: PD Day (no school) May 20th: Victoria Day (no school) May 24th: Scholastic orders due (they will go home the 10th) Your partners in Catholic Education. N. Leman C. Potvin Dear Parents/Guardians, April has arrived and Spring is finally here! After all that snow, it is nice to feel the warm Spring sun and breezes again. This month, we will be focusing on “Spring/Le printemps” and “Easter/Pâques”. Spring is a symbol of new life. Our activities will invite the children to observe and explore the signs of new life that surround us. Now that the snow is melting away, our schoolyard is very wet. There are many puddles and lots of mud, especially in the grassy areas. The children should be dressed accordingly for our wet playground. Splash pants and rubber rain boots are very helpful in keeping socks and clothing dry while at school. Here is an overview of what we will be focusing on during April in regards to the Four Frames of the Kindergarten Curriculum: Belonging and Contributing: We continue to encourage students to express themselves through the arts. A current favourite activity is painting. We have been providing opportunities to paint both individually and in groups. It’s a creative way for them to contribute their ideas and interests. For our Lenten project, our school has been building a kindness chain. When a student does something kind for someone else, their act of kindness is written down on a paper heart and added to the chain. This project fits in well with our Kindergarten program, where we learn about the importance of acting with compassion and kindness. During class discussions, we talk about nice things that our peers do for each other and encourage each other to continue these kind acts. Self-Regulation and Well-Being: We have been revisiting the importance of using our words to express how we are feeling. Instead of yelling or crying when someone upsets us, it helps to explain to others why we are upset. We have learned phrases such as “I don’t like it when you ___ (grab/yell at/run away from) me. It hurts my feelings. Stop.” We want to make sure that the Kinders are comfortable using these phrases which help them manage their feelings. Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours: The letters that we will be focusing on this month are j, z, w and v. Ask your child different letter sounds and actions. We also will continue to learn a new popcorn word each week. Please continue to practice any words that come home in your child’s mailbag with them. We continue to read guided math books as a class from a resource called Mathology, which help us connect math concepts to the real world. As we talk about season changes, we also will look for the patterns that we see, such as the leaves growing and the snow melting. We also will be making class graphs and having discussions about them. For example, students voted for their favourite animal by writing down their names. We then discussed which animal had the most votes, the second most votes and the least votes. This month, during our French activities, we will be working with the following vocabulary: le printemps / Spring le soleil / sun le lapin / bunny la grenouille / frog un oiseau / bird le nid / nest un oeuf / egg la fleur / flower la chenille / caterpillar le papillon / butterfly la pluie / rain le parapluie / umbrella Il pleut. / It’s raining. Il fait soleil. / It’s sunny. J’aime le printemps. / I like Spring. Problem Solving and Innovating: The snow is finally starting to melt, so we are now able to discuss the changes we see in nature that we were hoping to discuss during March. Many students have already spotted some buds growing on the trees! Our Creation Stations are in full swing. The children are independently creating inventions out of recycled materials. It’s exciting to see their unique work! This type of activity helps young learners develop the skills to become innovative thinkers. Please send in any recycled materials (egg cartons, boxes, paper towel rolls, milk cartons, fruit trays, etc.) that you no longer need to help add to our stations! Housekeeping Items:
April 16th: Museum of Nature permission forms due April 18th: Museum of Nature Field Trip April 19th: Good Friday (no school) April 21st: Easter Sunday April 22nd: Easter Monday (no school) April 22nd: Earth Day April 26th: Scholastic orders due (they will go home the 12th) Thank you for your continued support. N. Leman C. Potvin It’s hard to believe that spring will be arriving soon! The children are very excited for the new season to begin. We are just beginning the season of Lent. The students are learning that Lent is a time to prepare for Easter. Using Easter symbols and activities, they are discovering that Easter is a time to celebrate that God loves us and that God is the giver of life. By preparing for Easter, the children are learning that doing kind things for others is a way to become more like Jesus. Here is an overview of what we will be focusing on during March in regards to the Four Frames of the Kindergarten Curriculum: Belonging and Contributing: The Kinders have been learning about different people in their communities in both French and English. More specifically, we have been exploring many kinds of jobs that people have and what these jobs involve. We will continue to share personal experiences and discuss how we all contribute to our home, school and neighbourhood communities. We have been encouraging students to express themselves through the arts. They have been making self-portraits, acting out different characters in the dramatic play area and drawing pictures of their favourite things. We will support their ability to share their feelings and ideas through the arts until the end of the year. Self-Regulation and Well-Being: We continue to focus on the capacity to make your own choices. The students are reminded to make good choices throughout the day, whether it involves listening during carpet time or using kind words with peers. We also continue to celebrate their ability to make decisions on their own when we notice them choosing new friends to play with or participating in different learning activities. Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours: We will spend the rest of the month reviewing the letter sounds and actions that we have learned so far in the first 3 phases of Jolly Phonics. We want to make sure the students have a solid understanding of each letter before finishing the rest of the stages. We also will continue to learn a new popcorn word each week. Please continue to practice any words that come home in your child’s mailbag with them. During our math lessons, we have been reading guided math books as a class. The stories are from a resource called Mathology. The books are fun and engaging and help put math into real-life contexts. For example, we read a story this week that involved children counting all of the animals they saw as they rowed their boat down a river. The students loved the story and also got to hear it in both French and English! In French, we are continuing to learn about community helpers. After March Break, the children will be exploring and discovering the concepts of movement and travel. We will have various activities and discussions on transportation. Here is some vocabulary: une auto/ a car un bateau/ a boat une bicyclette/ a bicycle un hélicoptère/ a helicopter un train/ a train Je roule. / I drive. un avion/ a plane Je vole. / I fly. un autobus/ a bus Je flotte. / I float. un camion/ a truck Problem Solving and Innovating: As spring arrives, we will have many opportunities to explore and discuss the patterns we see in nature. We will learn more about how seasons always change in the same pattern cycle and what makes each season unique from the other. We will continue to do whole class experiments. The Kinders really enjoy making predictions and asking questions during these activities. We hope to encourage students to start creating mini-experiments of their own! Housekeeping Items:
Important Dates in March: March 5th: Shrove Tuesday March 6th: Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent) March 7th: Senior Kindergarten Graduation Photo Day March 8th: Family Movie Night at 6:00pm March 11th to 15th: March Break (no school) March 22nd: Scholastic orders due Thank you for your continued support. N. Leman C. Potvin Dear Parents/Guardians, February has been a very busy but exciting month so far. Thank you to all of the parents who have been sending in extra Kleenex, Ziploc bags and wet wipes. We really appreciate it! The Valentine's Day celebrations have been in full swing. The holiday allows us to explore the value of friendship and caring. We learn to accept each other's differences and understand that our differences are what makes us all unique. We see our differences as gifts from God. The children will learn the value of friendship and caring by continuing to develop such skills as listening to others, taking turns, sharing and lending a helping hand. Here is an overview of what we will be focusing on during February in regards to the Four Frames of the Kindergarten Curriculum: Belonging and Contributing: We have been working hard on recycling various items properly. We have also recently started to collect empty Lunchables containers as a school-wide initiative. Now that students are becoming more comfortable with recycling, we will focus on WHY we recycle. We will discuss kid-friendly videos and books about the topic so that they can understand the importance of their everyday contributions in terms of helping the environment. Over the next several weeks, the Kinders will be learning about the important people in their community and how they contribute. They will have opportunities to share personal experiences about their favourite places around the area, such as where they like to eat or play. We will help them understand that their neighbourhood is another type of community in which they belong to. Self-Regulation and Well-Being: We have been having so much fun playing outside with all of the snow that has fallen so far this winter. With all of this outdoor play comes many conversations about safety. We will continue to help students be aware of what is safe versus unsafe during play. Getting dressed properly by wearing all of our outdoor clothes is another way we stay safe by preventing frostbite. A part of a developed sense of well-being is the ability to make your own choices. We are celebrating that many of the Kinders are choosing where to play more independently and are comfortable being the first to try a new activity. We are encouraging them to make positive choices and not to be influenced by those around them who may not be doing the same. Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours: We’ve seen growth in students’ ability to recognize letter sounds and pair them with actions. Way to go! This month we are focusing on the letters g, o, u, l, f and b. Popcorn words will continue to “POP UP!” around our classroom for the remainder of the year. Please continue to practice any words that come home in your child’s mailbag with them. With all of the Valentine’s Day excitement, the Kinders have been busy creating cards and pictures for their loved ones. They are using resources around the room to help them spell their friends’ names, such as name tags and labels. Many have also shown interest in writing special messages. We will support this interest in writing by encouraging students to write for different reasons. Some examples of different writing opportunities are creating a sign for the dramatic play area, making a list of their favourite foods or signing their name on a class sign-up sheet. Our math lessons continue to focus on the skill of subitizing. Subitizing is the ability to recognize the number of objects in a small set without counting. Please continue to practice this skill at home by playing games with your child that require dice or by holding up a certain amount of fingers for a few seconds and asking them how many they see. Here is another fun video to practice subitizing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwWwcMPFNts In French, we will be learning vocabulary related to Valentine’s Day, Friendship, people/things we care for, and community helpers. février- February la Saint-Valentin- Valentine’s Day le coeur- heart les amis- friends la carte- card une enveloppe- envelope la lettre- letter la fleur- flower cupidon- cupid le facteur- mail carrier le policier- police officer le docteur- doctor le dentiste- dentist le professeur- teacher le pompier- firefighter le pilote- pilot le cuisinier- chef or cook la caissière- cashier le plombier- plumber le concierge- caretaker or custodian Problem Solving and Innovating: The snow has been making for some fun experiments down in Kinderland! We have had chances to discover whether or not salt makes snow melt faster and what temperature of water melts snow the quickest. As we continue with more experiments over the next few weeks, we are encouraging students to make predictions. We remind them that predictions don’t have to be the right answer but that we would like to hear why they think something is going to happen. We are also encouraging students to participate in our class discussions about the results of our finished experiments. Housekeeping Items:
Important Dates in February: February 14th: Valentine’s Day - card exchange and Cake Walk. February 14th: Kindergarten Communication of Learning Reports go home February 15th: PD Day (no school) February 18th: Family Day (no school) February 22nd: Winter Fun Day Thank you for your continued support. N. Leman C. Potvin We hope that everyone enjoyed their holidays and are having a wonderful new year! The Kinders are happy to see their friends and educators and have been settling back into routines. This January has had quite a bit of snow so far, which is great for exploration! A favourite activity has been investigating what happens when we mix dry paint with wet snow. As we discuss seasonal changes, such as the leaves disappearing and the snow falling, the children discover that these changes are exciting and beautiful gifts from God. Here is an overview of what we will be focusing on during January in regards to the Four Frames of the Kindergarten Curriculum: Belonging and Contributing: The idea of belonging to many communities will continue to be a big theme throughout the year. We have been sharing our family experiences and realizing that we have many things in common with each other but also have differences. The children are learning to respect these differences by being open to new ideas and using kind words. The Kinders have also been participating in environmentally friendly practices. They have been learning about the importance of recycling and how our actions can make a difference in the world. One of the classroom jobs is to sort the recycling bins which allows the children to learn they can help the environment. Ask your child to recycle items at home whenever possible. Self-Regulation and Well-Being: The children are still practicing breathing techniques to help them with their social and emotional needs. The main ones that we focus on are the “drain”, “balloon” and “S.T.A.R”. Ask your child to show you how to use each technique. We have been encouraging them to go to a quiet space when they’re feeling upset and need to take a break and practice one of the breathing methods. We are helping students realize the benefits of choosing a balance of active (dancing, building, dramatic play) and quiet activities (puzzles, reading, rest time). They are learning that their bodies need an equal amount of both to stay healthy. Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours: We continue to work on pairing letter sounds with actions so that they are easy to remember. This month we are focusing on the letters c, k, e, h, r, m and d. Ask your child what sound the letter c and k make! In the next few weeks, we will start learning about popcorn words. Popcorn words are words that “POP UP!” frequently in reading and writing. It is important that young readers can recognize the words quickly so that they can develop early literacy skills. If you see these words come home in your child's mailbag, please help them practice reading the words. The children have been working on a math skill called subitizing. Subitizing is the ability to quickly identify the number of items in a small set without counting. We have been practicing this skill using dice. For example, we might show the side numbered 5 for about three seconds and then ask the students what number they saw and how they know. You can practice this at home using dice from a board game or even by holding up a certain amount of fingers for a few seconds. Here is a fun video to practice subitizing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsolyKELCs0 In French Language, we are learning winter vocabulary through activities, songs and poems. We are focusing on naming our winter clothing in French. Here is a list of some vocabulary you can practice at home with your child: janvier / January l’hiver / winter les bottes / boots le flocon de neige / snowflake la tuque / hat le bonhomme de neige /snowman les mitaines /mittens les patins / skates le manteau / coat les skis / skis le foulard / scarf le traîneau / sleigh les gants /gloves les pantalons de neige / snow pants Problem Solving and Innovating: Stopping the spread of germs is still a big focus as flu season is here. The children are slowly becoming experts on proper times to wash their hands throughout the day (before lunch, after playing with toys, after using the washroom). We have also been learning to sneeze into the crook of our elbow to prevent our germs from travelling around the classroom. The children are learning to become little innovators through asking questions. We are encouraging them to ask questions throughout the day in different contexts. Some questions that help spark their thinking during a learning experience are “what do you think will happen if....?”, “why do you think…?” or “how did you know…?”. Housekeeping Items:
Important Dates in January: January 18th: Milk orders due January 21st: Term 2 milk starts January 18th: Scholastic orders due January 25th: PD Day (no school) Your partners in Catholic Education. N. Leman C. Potvin Dear Parents/Guardians, It’s hard to believe that the month of December has arrived already! When we see all the boots, mittens and hats, we are quickly reminded that winter is just around the corner. December is always an exciting time in the classroom. It is a joyful period as we wait and prepare for the coming of Jesus. During Advent, the children enter into the holy season through story, ritual and symbol. The children will be waiting and preparing their hearts for the birthday of Jesus. They will be listening to and retelling the Christmas story and celebrating the gift of God. Every week, we will have an Advent celebration. Through songs, the symbols of light and the Advent wreath, the children will be experiencing the gift of God coming among us. As well as preparing for Jesus’ birthday, we will be discussing preparing our homes for Christmas and Santa’s visit. Here is an overview of what we will be focusing on during December in regards to the Four Frames of the Kindergarten Curriculum: Belonging and Contributing: As mentioned above, a big focus of December will be on the Advent season. We will be exploring ways in which to spread hope, peace, joy and love in our everyday lives. We will also continue to talk about how everyone belongs to a community and often can belong to more than one community at a time. Students should know they can contribute to these communities. We get excited when we hear that they are making connections between home and school! Self-Regulation and Well-Being: We have been teaching students calming techniques to use to help regulate their emotions. The methods are from a program called Conscious Discipline which is designed to help children with their social and emotional needs. Ask your child to show you the “drain” and “balloon” techniques. We have also been practicing yoga after rest time, which is another calming exercise that promotes well-being. With the cold weather comes many layers, so students have been working on getting dressed and undressed on their own. The order we have been teaching the children to get dressed in their winter clothes is snow pants, boots, jacket, scarf/neck warmer, hat and mittens. The more practice your child has with dressing themselves for the cold weather, the quicker they will get. Layers can be tricky! Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours: The students have been working on letter sounds for the past couple of weeks and will continue to focus on phonics throughout December. They have been learning to pair letter sounds with actions to help them remember. Ask your child to show you the actions and say the letter sound for the letters s, a, t, i, p and n. We continue to work on number recognition and learning that we can show a number in a variety of ways. For example, we can show the number 2 by holding up two fingers, having two students stand up or putting two rocks on a ten frame. You can help your child at home by asking them to find different amounts of objects around the house (“Can you pass me two spoons, please?”). This week we are focusing on number two. Here is a fun video that we watch in class. If you watch it with your child, ask them to let you know all the ways they see the number two! The Number Two Song www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkd-Vs_gTyc The students will be working on learning French words related to the season of Christmas. Here is a list of the vocabulary that they will be working on throughout the month: le Père Noël (Santa Claus) la canne de Noël ( candy cane) le renne (reindeer) Noël (Christmas) Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas) l’étoile (star) le cadeau (gift) la neige (snow) le bas de Noël ( Christmas stocking) le sapin de Noël ( Christmas tree) la cloche ( bell) un ange ( angel) la crèche ( manger) le bébé Jésus (baby Jesus) la couronne (wreath) Problem Solving and Innovating: We are wrapping up our focus on healthy eating. The students continue to pick healthy snacks on their own each morning and have learned the effects of different foods on our bodies, especially why to avoid too much sugar and eat more fruits and veggies. We are still focusing on how to stop the spread of germs through handwashing and good hygiene. We were lucky to have a Scientists in School workshop last week! The students got to investigate many different simple machines through various hands-on activities. They had fun exploring Science centres in groups and even made a lever, which will be sent home this week. Thank you again to the parents who came to volunteer! Housekeeping Items:
Important Dates in December and Early January: December 10th: Advent Liturgy - Week Two (ran by the Busy Bees) December 12th: St. Michael Christmas Store December 17th: Advent Liturgy - Week Three December 18th: Christmas Mass at St. Ignatius Parish @ 12:45 pm (ran by the Friendly Frogs) December 21st: Advent Liturgy - Week Four December 21st: Last day of school before Christmas holidays. December 22nd to January 6th: Christmas holidays (no school) January 7th: First day back to school Thank you for your continued support. N. Leman C. Potvin Dear Parents/Guardians,
We had a very exciting and educational October in Kinderland. We explored season and weather changes in our yard such as the changing of leaves and discovered that sand turns into mud when it rains. The students have worked hard to be responsible members of the classroom and build healthy friendships. Thank you to all of the families who came out to the Halloween Party. It was great to see everyone dressed up in their spooky costumes! Also, thank you to those of you who donated to the Cake Walk and congratulations to all the winners of the yummy treats! Here is an overview of what we will be focusing on during November in regards to the Four Frames of the Kindergarten Curriculum: Belonging and Contributing: We continue to work on expressing ourselves to others both in the classroom and on the yard. More specifically, students are learning to give and receive positive messages throughout their day. We are teaching them about compliments and how to use an appropriate tone of voice. We are still developing our Family Trees. Please send in a family photo if you have not done so already. We will be talking about how everyone belongs to a community and often can belong to more than one community at a time. We will explore the differences and similarities between school and home and talk about how we contribute to both environments. Self-Regulation and Well-Being: We will help students read non-verbal cues from others. We often show our feelings and emotions through our gestures and facial expressions. We want students to be able to name their feelings and identify how others may be feeling. Students are learning to solve problems that may arise on their own. Whether it is a social conflict in the yard or choosing an area to play during learning centers, we want them to realize they have the ability to resolve issues independently. We are teaching them phrases to use, such as "I don't like it when you take the toy from me. Next time, please ask me first", which helps them develop these problem-solving abilities. We hope each student can develop the confidence to solve problems on their own. Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours: The students are more comfortable recognizing their names. We are happy to see the growth in their learning so far! We are now challenging them to determine how many clap syllables their name or their classmates' names have. You can practice this activity at home with your child. We are working on number recognition, focusing mostly on numbers 1, 2 and 3. We are learning that we can show a number in a variety of ways and that we see numbers all around us. For example, we can show the number 1 by holding up one finger, having one student stand up or putting one rock on a ten frame. You can help your child at home by asking them to find different amounts of objects around the house (“Can you pass me two spoons, please?”). Here are some links to helpful videos that we use at school to help the students learn the alphabet, letter sounds and numbers up to 10. You can also access these under the “Educational Websites” tab. Alphabet Rap (letter names and sounds) www.youtube.com/watch?v=36IBDpTRVNE Phonics Song (with pictures) www.youtube.com/watch?v=BELlZKpi1Zs&t=109s Letter Factory (letter sounds) www.youtube.com/watch?v=neItURLvyIQ&t=319s The Number One Song (showing number one in different ways) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Huggdy7ohb4 The students have been working on learning French words related to healthy eating. Here is a list of the vocabulary that they have been working on so far: la collation santé- a healthy snack les fruits- fruits la pomme- apple la banana- banana le melon- melon la fraise- strawberry le raisin- grape les légumes- vegetables la carotte- carrot le céleri- celery le brocoli- broccoli la tomate- tomato le yogourt- yogurt les craquelins- crackers le fromage-cheese Problem Solving and Innovating: The students have been doing amazing choosing healthy snacks to eat every morning. Many of them no longer need assistance from an educator. We are very proud! We will continue to learn why healthy food is beneficial for our bodies. As the flu season begins, we will be focusing on practicing and discussing personal hygiene. We want students to understand why we wash our hands and the importance of preventing the spread of germs. They will learn that good hygiene is another step to keep us healthy and safe! Housekeeping Items:
Important Dates in November: November 15th: Kindergarten Initial Observations reports go home November 16th: PD Day - no school November 22nd: Kindergarten Interview Night November 22nd: Picture re-take day Thank you for your continued support. N. Leman C. Potvin Dear Parents/Guardians,
The Busy Bees visited the Scholastic Book Fair today. The Friendly Frogs will be going tomorrow. Please check your child's mailbag for their book wish list! Both classes will have a chance to go back to the Book Fair to purchase books this Friday. Thank you for your continued support. C.Potvin N.Leman Good Morning Kindergarten Parents and Guardians,
In keeping with our board's scheduling model, we will be altering our current (French/English) week about schedule to a day on/day off schedule. This means that your child will have French programming with Mme Leman for one day and then English programming with Ms. Potvin the following day. Both the children and the ECE (Early Childhood Educator) remain in the same class at all times, and the teacher moves on a day on/day off schedule. Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Langdon or Ms. Bissonnette should you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued support. Mme. Leman Ms. Potvin |