September 9, 2015

Hello families and friends,

This week we have started working on building our reading stamina in our small groups.  Each of the classes has been able to go for 4 minutes as a whole group!  Ask your child about what good Read to Self looks like and what their job is during that time.  We will continue working on building reading stamina over the next few weeks; can we make it to 30 minutes?  We have also been working on patterning.  The students have been exploring with using different manipulatives to create patterns using different things (colour, shape, etc.) and different types of patterns (ab, abb, abc, etc.).  We have also talked about what the core of a pattern is, and what makes something a pattern instead of just a bunch of things.

This morning we did our first S4 lesson.  S4 is a program in collaboration with the Calgary Police Service, and it stands for Start Smart Stay Safe.  We talked about "buckets", and did an activity around ways that we can help to fill each others' buckets.  Ask your child what ideas they had.  We finished off our day today looking at colour, and talking about some of the things that we know about colour and some of the things that we are curious about.  Post your questions about colour in the comments below.

Thank you to those that have already been sending in order forms for the Entertainment Books.  If you have those finished, or know you are not going to be selling any, please send those back to your child's teacher as soon as possible.  Also if you have not returned the Consent to Publish forms, fee forms, or medical forms those need to be returned to your child's teacher as soon as possible.

Fun Lunch is coming up!  It will be Wednesday, September 23rd.  If you would like to order this for your child you can do so through the Cranston School website.  Send in the remittance form with payment to your child's teacher as soon as possible.

In the next couple weeks, our triad is planning on going on a community walk.  We will be looking for about 10 parent volunteers to help out with this.  If you are available during the mornings (we will probably be going from around 9:30 - 11:00) and would like to come please email Mr. Soulliere at <gasoulliere@cbe.ab.ca> with the subject line COMMUNITY WALK VOLUNTEER.  Include in the email the name of your child.

Some questions have come up with regards to the process of dismissal at the end of the day.  Please make sure that your child knows who they are supposed to be meeting each day, and have a designated place for them to meet set up.  Children in grades 1 to 4 are expected to be able to do this on their own, and in the event that they are unable to find the person they are supposed to meet they need to look for a supervisor.  These teachers are clearly indicated by their orange vests.  Your assistance in helping your child to do this is appreciated.

Have a wonderful Wednesday,
Room 3/4 Triad