Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Today we had a great day!  Summer students spent some time reflecting and journalling about their fantastic field trip to Ralph Klein Park while Winter and Autumn did some work around Seasonal Changes to prepare them for their trips.

The Winter group goes on their field trip to Ralph Klein Park tomorrow:  Please ONLY pack a lunch, snack and water bottle.  We need to be able to fit our visual journals and our indoor shoes in our backpacks.  Please dress for the weather as we will be outside for longer periods.

Reminder to our Autumn group: please return your field trip forms for their trips by Friday, December 13th.

We also focussed on Reading today with Read to Someone, Read to Self, Literacy Centers and Guided Reading.  

We had another wonderful day in Phys Ed with Green Fools.  Students have been asked to think about what skill they want to perform during the sharing time on Friday.  

Reminder that next week is Spirit Week (see below).

Tuesday, December 10

Summer Group went on their field trip! 

        

Today, the Summer group went on a field trip to Ralph Klein Park & Environmental Education Center. They went on a long walk throughout the park and learned a lot about local animals and their relationships to the seasons.

The Environmental Education Center had lots of interesting facts and things to see!

         

Those of us who stayed at school had a bit of an unusual day in comparison to our normal schedule. After Ignite, both classes had Phys. Ed. together. We're still enjoying our Green Fools residency. We're learning to walk on tight ropes, juggle, use devil sticks, and balance. It's loads of fun! 

        

This is our last week with the Green Fools, so we're really trying hard to improve our skills while we have our great Green Fools instructors here. 

   

The Winter Group remained with the Green Fools for a full hour to account for the Phys. Ed. time they'll forego while on their field trip this Thursday. Autumn Group returned to their home room to begin Literacy. We had two unique themes for the day because Summer Group was away. Winter's theme revolved around Robert Munch books, while Autumn was focused on the works of Jan Brett. Autumn's Literacy lesson today grew from Brett's book called "The Mitten". After reading the story, we were all tasked with retelling the story in our own writing. 

It was at this point that we all went outside for a body break. 

We continued work on our writing after our break while Winter Group began an art project based on a Munch book they read. Soon after, Autumn went to Music class. 

After lunch and Mindfulness, we continued work in separate Winter / Autumn groups. Autumn did a counting and number patterns exercise following the reading of "Trouble with Trolls". Winter did a Making Words exercise based on Munch's "Finding Christmas" book. Winter then continued their beautiful artwork while Autumn began an art piece based on Brett's "The Hat". 

Fun was to be had by all in the Peace Pod! 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• If your child is in Autumn or Winter group and has not yet returned a field trip form, please do so. 
• There will be a Green Fools Celebration on Friday at 9:15AM to 9:45AM in the Gym. Parents are invited.

Monday December 9, 2019

Today we had IGNITE, a group meeting, literacy centers or read to self/read to someone and guided reading.  Winter and Summer groups went to music and they are working hard to prepare for the winter concert.  The afternoon performance does not require tickets but the evening one does.  We ask that only ticket holders come in the evening.  We can't have children on laps as that increases our numbers (fire restrictions).  I know some of you have concerns or questions regarding that and you can contact the office or check today's Monday Connect for more information.

Today during our word work time, the Winter group did a matching game for the /ip/ and /ing/ word families.  The Autumn group worked on rhyming pairs and sorting out word families then moved onto one word family and started generating words for that word family.  The Summer group worked on spelling a variety of words independently.  All three groups engaged in a read aloud: A Moose In A Maple Tree or The Snowy Day or The Pout Pout Fish and the Big Bad Bully.  Ask your child which story they engaged in.

Ask your child about gym (Green Fools) today.  We had lots of fun with the slack lines and barrels!

For the Summer group that goes on their field trip to Ralph Klein Park tomorrow:  Please ONLY pack a lunch, snack and water bottle.  We need to be able to fit our visual journals and our indoor shoes in our backpacks.  Please dress for the weather as we will be outside.

Reminder from Autumn group: please return your field trip forms for their trip on Monday December 16th.

Winter Group: We are still desperately looking for some more volunteers for our trip on this Thursday.  Please email Ms. Disher if you can come and have your clearance.

Green Fools Residency:  There is no formal performance for showcasing the work from kids.  Please check the physical education blog link for information if you would like to come and see what we have been doing in an informal way: https://ehsphysicaleducation.blogspot.com/

school.cbe.ab.ca/school/ericharvie/Pages/default.aspx

Have a fantastic day!
The Peace Pod

Thursday, December 5, 2019

This morning we had a wonderful morning with Mrs. Kinsman reading Wishtree.  I think we are getting close to the end.  What can your child tell you about the story?  Then we enjoyed more time with Green Fools in Phys Ed.  We have learned to juggle, balance plates and peacock feathers, use flower sticks and scarves.  The Green Fools always make us laugh!

After a story with Mr. McCambly, "Franklins Neighborhood", we went outside to enjoy the sunshine.  Once inside we had a relaxing period of reading and literacy activities.

After lunch we had Mr. Kelly come in to do some art with us.  He read "How to Catch a Star" by Oliver Jeffers. He taught us how to draw cylinders and spheres and create shadows with our shapes.

While half of us did art the other half had a chance to upload our Tuscany Community structure into Iris.  Student work that is posted on Iris can be accessed from home using the students ID number and password.  If it hasn't been sent home yet please speak to your child's homeroom teacher.

We said goodbye to our Student Teachers today.  We wish them all the best in their future as Teachers.

**All Ralph Klein Park field trip forms have gone home.  Ms Disher's class, Nov 12th, is in need of Parent Volunteers.  If you are able to help out please contact Ms. Disher ASAP (jadisher@cbe.ab.ca)**

REMINDERS:

• No School Tomorrow Dec 6th
• Families Helping Families (http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/ericharvie/about-us/news-centre/_layouts/ci/post.aspx?oaid=503aa829-8a03-46d7-a157-eae8b56ed2bf&oact=20001

 

Wednesday December 4, 2019

Today we had baby visits!  All of our Roots Babies have grown so much and today we sang songs and asked lots of questions to learn all about their milestones.

During our Literacy block, most students read "But No Elephants" and wrote a response to the question - If you could have any pet, what would it be?  Why?  Some of their dream pets were cats, puppies, pandas, platypus and fish.  Some other students had some time in their Guided Reading groups working on a variety of reading strategies.

After lunch, we practiced Mindfulness and then dove right back into our Community structures.  We did a gallery walk to see all of our classmates creations.  Then we spent some time comparing and discussing our designs with a small group.  What shapes and materials did your child use to build their community structure?

The last part of our day was spent practicing our Math skills through partnergames and enjoying more circus tricks with Green Fools during our Phys Ed time.  What was the special item that was fun to balance with today?

Autumn had their field trip forms sent home today.  Please check your child's backpack for the yellow form.

Stay warm... feels like snow!

Peace Pod

REMINDERS:

• Please return Field Trip forms ASAP for Ralph Klein Park
• Eric Harvie would love your support with Families Helping Families.  See the following link: 

http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/ericharvie/about-us/news-centre/_layouts/ci/post.aspx?oaid=503aa829-8a03-46d7-a157-eae8b56ed2bf&oact=20001

• NO SCHOOL Friday, Dec 6 - Professional Development Day

         
         
         
         

Tuesday December 4, 2019

Ask your child about what they did in health and gym classes.  Ask your child about the story read today It Takes A Village (Summer and Winter groups).  Autumn group worked on more word work.

We finished up our big building project and will be reflecting on it tomorrow.  This project combined math and our science unit on building things.  Ask your child about what they have been building.

Field trip forms for Summer and Winter groups are due by Thursday December 5th.  Today the new Home Reading page for December went home for the Winter group.  Tomorrow it will be sent home for Autumn and Summer groups.

Have a terrific night!
From The Peace Pod

Monday, December 2

The year is nearly done! 

Today our morning was heavily focused on literacy. After Ignite, we began with our reading groups and literacy centres. Then we had a free writing session were our theme was about what we had done over the weekend. After a movement break, we continued writing until lunchtime. 

In the afternoon, we focused on the Inquiry project about community landmarks we have been working towards over the last week or so. We finished up our planning phase and, by utilizing our knowledge of 3D objects from our Math studies, we began building our landmarks. This project accounted for most of our afternoon until we went to Phys. Ed. where we were delighted to begin the two-week residency of Green Fools, a circus and theatre society. The Green Fools began teaching us how to juggle today. Ask your child for a demonstration! 

http://www.greenfools.com/about/

Reminders:

Dec 5/19 - Field trip form for Ralph Klein Park are due for Summer and Winter (Autumn forms will be coming home soon).  If you would like to volunteer, please email your classroom teacher.

Dec 6/19 - Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL