Tuesday November 29, 2022

We got started on some wintery trees for our bulletin board display for the Christmas Concert coming up on December 15th!  Families are invited to come celebrate the season at Woodlands School on the evening of the 15th, or alternatively to come to our dress rehearsal in the afternoon if the evening time does not work for you.  Keep an eye on the school weekly update for information!

Friday December 2nd will be Colour Day at Woodlands.  Room 4 voted to dress in as much blue as we can...shirts, hoodies, pants, socks, and whatever else you have in your closet:) 

Monday November 28, 2022

Today we discussed the similarities and differences between our classroom community and our school community.  There are many expectations, routines and rules around being part of each community...some are the same and some are different.  Ask your child if they can tell you some of them.

We also looked at some examples of 'birds' eye view' maps to draw our own versions of a Woodlands School map.  Students sketched, coloured and labelled the important landmarks of the school.  As we talk about community and citizenship, we will expand our thinking to how we show our communities respect and generosity.  It will tie in beautifully to our Food Bank food drive that we are starting next week!

 

Thursday November 24, 2022

The Grade One team is proud to announce that we are hosting the holiday Food Bank food drive at Woodlands December 5th-16th!

Our class met up with our Grade 5/6 buddy class today to make posters to advertise our food drive.  The kids worked in teams and created some dynamic advertising!  We will start raising awareness next week and have boxes in place to collect food items starting December 5th.  The class that brings in the most items will win an extra outdoor recess...as well as the pride in knowing they are helping others in our community. 

No school tomorrow due to conferences...have a great long weekend!

Wednesday November 23, 2022

Today's story workshop session saw the students drawing from their own experiences to create original stories to tell, write and share.  We read Arnold Lobel's 'Frog and Toad All Year' story "The Ride", which was a highly relatable story about a toboggan ride gone wrong.  We agreed that Arnold Lobel probably had some experience as a child riding toboggans in the snow, and that he used his experience to help him tell the story.  We use our own lived experiences to help us tell stories, just like real authors!

Small cracker/cereal/snack boxes are a big hit with our students these days.  Our class loves to build and create small worlds and structures with interesting materials, so we would appreciate any donations of small boxes for our engineering activities!

If you are able to join our class on our field trip to Storybook Theatre on December 8th, please let me know.  We are still hoping to find one more parent volunteer!

A package went home with your child today for you to reference during our online Parent/Teacher conference.  These work samples will be very helpful in guiding our discussions about your child's strengths and areas for growth.  Please be sure to keep them close by for your conference time.

Tuesday November 22, 2022

With all the germs and viruses floating about these days, it was a good day to talk about hygiene in Grade One.  We discussed the importance of hand washing, coughing and sneezing into elbows and most importantly how to deal with 'boogers'.  We read 'I am a Booger, Treat me with Respect', by Julia Cook.  This book conveys important information with humour, and makes this topic very relatable.  Our students made pamphlets that emphasized the tips they learned about proper nose blowing habits and will hopefully remember everything they learned about boogers:)

Please be sure to sign up for parent teacher conferences taking place online this Thursday and Friday!

Monday November 21, 2022

Our class learned about the meaning of transparent and opaque materials today.  Ask your child if they can recall any of the objects we found around the room for this activity.  'Transparent' and 'opaque' were brand new words for all of us.  See if your child can explain the difference between transparent materials and opaque ones.

Letters and consent forms went home on Thursday for our exciting field trip to Storybook Theatre on December 8th.  I will send home forms to students who were absent last week...please remind me that you need one if you don't see one in your child's backpack.

Please book your Parent-Teacher conferences as soon as possible...these conferences are an important touchpoint for how your child's first part of Grade One is going.  There are still lots of spaces available!

Thursday November 17, 2022

Our first day of inline skating was a big success.  Each student made progress from the start of the session to the end...and there were lots of smiles and perseverance!

A package went home with your child today about an exciting field trip coming up on December 8th.  We are taking our Grade Ones to Storybook Theatre to enjoy a festive holiday live theatre performance...and we get to ride a bus!  Please go over the information enclosed and sign and return the consent forms in the coming days.  The cost for the trip is $17 per student, which can be paid through your MyCBE account.  We are so excited about this big outing!  I will be looking for 2 parent volunteers to accompany us on this trip.  If you have your police clearance and can join us, please email me at adnicholas@cbe.ab.ca to let me know.

Here is the link to 'The Candy Cane Kids' production: https://www.storybooktheatre.org/candycanekids

Wednesday November 16, 2022

We learned a gigantic word today...chromatography!

We performed an experiment with paper towel, water-based markers and water to watch chromatography in action.  Ask your child about what they observed as the colour molecules reacted to the water and the paper.  It was fascinating!

Inline skating happens tomorrow!  Bring helmets if you have them, and please be sure to mark your child's name inside.  In order to participate your child MUST have a signed consent form returned to school.

Tuesday November 15, 2022

Our class discussed the word 'perseverance' today during our Social Studies block.  This is a really important concept for Grade One students to grasp as we are all facing many challenges in our learning and experiences growing into independent little beings.  Perseverance means not giving up when tasks are difficult, and learning to try again in spite of frustration!  Ask your child what they sketched for their visual journals...maybe it could spark a discussion of things you have encountered that required your perseverance.

Monday November 14, 2022

We enjoyed both recesses outdoors today as the temperature has warmed up beautifully.  Thank you for helping your child stay organized with mitts, hats, snowpants and boots...there are many children with the same outer wear (thank you, Costco!) so be sure to label your child's things so we know who belongs to which items.

Alien In-Line skating will start for Room 4 on Thursday.  We will skate Thursday, Monday and Tuesday so no need to send helmets until then.  There are still a few outstanding consent forms.  If you do not sign and return a form, your child will not be permitted to skate so please be sure to return your form before Thursday.

Thursday November 10, 2022

We enjoyed a lovely and solemn assembly hosted by our Grade 5s and 6s to commemorate Remembrance Day.  

Today we spent some time doing STEM challenges...building, engineering, observing and creating.  A big part of these open-ended activities is problem solving, and starting over if something isn't working.  These are awesome skills to build!  

Enjoy your long weekend with some warmer (somewhat) weather.

Wednesday November 9, 2022

We lowered the lights during our story workshop today to explore a nighttime setting for our stories.  We had some battery-operated tea lights to light our work spaces and some wintery pieces to inspire our creations.  

We learned about pictographs today.  We graphed our favourite pets and our methods of getting to school using our whiteboards to draw symbols and create our graphs.  We had some interesting discussion around how survey answers can be influenced by things like weather (as in how we get to school) and favourite pets (families living in the city vs. families living on an acreage).

No school on Friday as we commemorate Remembrance Day.

Tuesday November 8, 2022

Our writing activity today centered around the idea of peace.  We used our 5 senses to interpret what peace means to us in our everyday lives and we came up with some great ideas!

Peace feels like walking barefoot in the grass after the sprinkler has been on...

Peace sounds like wild animals calling...

Peace looks like white snow...

Peace tastes like raindrops on your tongue...

Peace smells like nature...

Our Remembrance Day assembly will be hosted by our Grade 5/6 team, and will start at 10:45 on Thursday morning.  All are welcome.

Alien Inline Skating will take place next week at Woodlands.  Our Grade Ones have been assigned 3 time slots:  Thursday the 17th, Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd from 12:45-1:35.  If you could come to help put on skates and helmets at any of the sessions listed above, please email me to let me know. Many hands will make light work!  Don't forget to sign and return the consent forms so your child can participate.

A message went home today about some holiday fundraising activities organized by Parent Council.  Please check your child's backpack!

Monday November 7, 2022

 We stayed inside for both recesses today as the weather was just too cold for our fresh air breaks.  On days like these, we offer students some unstructured free time to colour, build, play math games and read as well as do some online movement breaks.  It doesn't give us quite the same experience as an outdoor recess but it's our reality in Calgary!

Photo retakes are tomorrow for students who missed picture day or who didn't quite get the look they were hoping for:)

Our Remembrance Day assembly will take place at 10:45 on Thursday in the gym.  Families are welcome!  

Don't forget to fill out and return the consent form for Inline Skating next week.  Let me know if you need an extra copy.

Friday November 4, 2022

We made some beautiful poppies today after a really insightful conversation about Remembrance Day.  The students asked questions like "Who fights in wars?", "Did they have to fight?" and "What are countries fighting about?"  It's very humbling to have these conversations with little ones, and I'm sure some of your kids will come home with some interesting dinner table questions this weekend.

Students went home today with an information sheet about Alien In-Line skating.  Please have a look and fill out the form to return to school so we are ready to 'roll' on the 14th!

Thursday November 3, 2022

We used a different medium to experiment with colour mixing today. Ask your child what colours they created with their plate of primary colours, and what they noticed about how the colours mixed. 

Our school will be enjoying an in-line skating residency with Alien In-line later this month. I will be sending a form home with further details tomorrow. 

Wednesday November 2, 2022

We did an experiment with primary colour mixing today to see if we could experience an optical illusion.  Ask your child to show you what they made and took home to trick the eye into seeing secondary colours.  (You will need a pencil and some tape to make it work).

We had two very snowy/windy recesses today.  Thank you for sending your child ready for the weather.  A big BIG help to all teachers is to help your child be independent with dressing for winter.  If your child struggles to do up zippers, put on gloves and pull snow pants over boots please spend some time practicing these independent skills.  

Here is a note about our school's cold weather policy:

Dress for Success | Winter Weather Reminder

Students go outside at recess and at noon hour to play, socialize and exercise unless the temperature drops below -20 degrees celsius with the windchill. With Calgary weather being so unpredictable, students must be prepared for changing weather conditions with proper winter coats, snow pants, hats, boots and warm mittens each day. Many students are coming to school unprepared for the outdoor conditions.  Please ensure your child has all essential outdoor items before they leave home.  It's no fun making snow angels without your mittens! CBE schools rarely close due to snow or cold temperatures. All CBE schools remain open to provide a safe, warm and secure environment for students. We respect parents/guardians right to make their own decisions about sending their children to school during extreme weather events. If your child will not be attending classes please ensure you contact the attendance line to report the absence (403) 777-8640 ext 1.

Tuesday November 1, 2022

The snow is supposed to keep falling tonight...please send your child with all the winter gear tomorrow.  Practice in putting on tight gloves and pulling snowpants over boots would be much appreciated!

Would you like to come in to read with Grade Ones on Tuesdays between 8:45-9:45?  We would love to have you!  Please let me know if you are interested and I will set up a schedule.  You must have your police clearance in order to volunteer within the school.  Thank you!

It's November and we are already thinking about Christmas fundraisers through Parent Council.  See info below:

Christmas 2022 School Council Fundraisers

This year, get ready for the holiday season while supporting your children's school in TWO different ways! 

 

1. Get your festive treats! 

Order Purdy's Chocolate online by heading to our special Purdy's online ordering portal

The order deadline is Monday, November 28

2. Get your festive trimmings!

Make your home feel (and smell) joyful and bright. Head to the following link to order online. https://woodlandscalgary.growingsmilesfundraising.com/home 

The order deadline is Monday, November 23