November 16, 2016

The new basic fact focus is + and - 2; this is the third strategy of 6 that students will use this year.  Repeated practice of basic facts, along with intentional daily instruction of the strategies have demonstrated to be an effective method of basic fact retention.  Details about Basic Fact Games and Basic Fact Strategies can be found on our website.

Students are focusing on Odd and Even numbers this week.  Numbers which end in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 are all even.  Challenge your child at home to identify if a number is even or odd.

The Grade 2s had their passport photos taken this morning, and thankfully, everyone's passports and plane tickets arrived just in the nick of time.  Thanks to Air Canada for getting us all safely to Yarmouth airport, we look forward to driving to Meteghan tomorrow.  

November 15, 2016

This morning, the Grade 2s researched the weather in Meteghan in preparation for our big "flight" tomorrow.  We learned that the weather today was 12C and students created puppets that wore weather appropriate clothing to take with us tomorrow.   

In the afternoon, students had Daily 5 and gym with Mrs. Forchuk.  They also worked on Mathletics, the curriculum based program memberships were purchased by the Parent Council and student accounts are accessible both at home and school.  Passwords were sent home last week, but if you require a second copy, please contact me via email.

Reminder: 
Fruit order pick up is Thursday from 3-7pm.

November 14, 2016

I hope you all had a restful and memorable extra long weekend.  

Today we jumped back into learning with a busy day in 1-2E.  In Math, students completed 24 Number Scoots, where they had to identify the number that is missing on a number line.  

We ended our day by launching the first of 15 MindUp lessons.  MindUp is a research based mindfulness curriculum.  Over the next 8 weeks, students will learn about attention, self-regulation, building resilience towards stress and maintaining a growth mindset.  The program has been the focus of the Black Gold CAP team for the past two years, and we are excited to be using it, alongside Zones of Regulation, again this year.  

Today, students learned three parts of their brains and a character that they can relate to each: amygdala (guard dog), hippocampus (happy hippo), and the prefrontal cortex (wise owl).

November 9, 2016

Today we attended the RBES Remembrance Day Ceremony and proudly donned our poppies in honour of those we've lost and those who continue to serve.  

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

November 8, 2016

It is great to be back at school, after a great day of professional development with the Grade One teachers. With our focus on reading assessment, strategies and specialized instruction, we are working towards strengthening our knowledge of a variety of reading assessments and by month's end will be trained in both the RST and Dibels. 

As part of the Postcards for Peace project, 1-2E students each designed and wrote a postcard to a veteran.  These postcards will be mailed to a several Veteran's Long Term Care Facilities across the province. 

In Art, students completed the project that they began yesterday.  Their poppies are positively beautiful and are on display for everyone to enjoy outside of our classroom.  

In Gym, students enjoyed their second day of catching & throwing stations, with a focus on accuracy.  I would say that the most popular station appeared to be the chicken catch!   

Reminders:
- Remembrance Day ceremony is at 10:45 tomorrow.  Students are encouraged to dress up for the assembly.  Each student will receive a poppy and are encouraged to bring a silver donation.
- There will be a Word Sort test tomorrow.
- Home reading can be kept at home for the extra long weekend.  Please return it on Monday.  
- There is no school on Thursday or Friday.

November 3, 2016

Today we launched our new Math unit on Numbers to 100!  Students used their magic wands to locate "before" and "after" on their magic number lines.  This fun activity can be done at home using a ruler, tape measure or meter stick.  

We also had a blast playing "Toss it Golf" in gym with Mr. Larson! 

The Grade Twos are excited to begin our Social Studies unit on the community of Meteghan.  Over the next month we will take daily adventures to this wonderful Atlantic community!  Our "flight" takes off tomorrow at 1pm and we can't wait!! 

November 2, 2016

The November newsletter is available online.