Friday 29 November 2019

The First Day of Winter

Friday Update

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Students are excited for the Dance Residency starting on Dec. 3rd.  In order to participate they need to have the pink permission slip signed and returned to school so please hand in any forms no later than Monday, December 2nd.

Students listened and worked on visualization skills using a page from the book The First Day of Winter.  Images of student work will be posted on the blog next week.

Work on building and recording simple patterns to more complex patterns is continuing in class and is an important foundational math concept and learning.  Students are identifying where patterns are in the school environment including in music and our dance unit.  Our snowflake art was the perfect opportunity to explore more complex patterning!

We hope to see you at our school dance on December 12th between 6:00 and 7:00!

Have a cozy weekend,

Ms. Phillips and Mr. Larson

Snowflake Art



Wednesday 27 November 2019

Mid Week Reminders

Dear parents and guardians,

AM students attend this Friday.  Dismissal time is 1:25.

Ask for a little dance and give your child (children) a chance to show off their new dance moves!  We're practicing The Bunny Hop and The Chicken Dance.  Today we are moving on to Jingle Bell Rock!  We can't wait until next week when we have the dance and movement classes!  If you haven't already please sign and return the pink permission slips on the back of the letter that went home with all students.  If you didn't get a copy please send an email or a note and we'd be happy to send one home.

Students are continuing their work on patterning in math.  We're looking forward to sharing their math learning with you during our Parent Teacher interviews on Dec. 19th and 20th.  And all of their learning and work to date.

Save the date!  December 12th between 6:00 and 7:00 is our school dance.  TLC students are excited to have this opportunity to not wear their uniforms and to show off their moves.

AM students are attending the grade 3/4 learning assembly tomorrow.

Regards,

Ms. Phillips and Mr. Larson






Monday 25 November 2019

Green Giant Visualization Drawing



Here is an example of our visualization work using the "Green Giant" poem!

I am Josephine

A Busy Week in Kindergarten!

Dear parents and guardians,

Our days ahead are packed full of exciting opportunities and tomorrow students can participate in Pajama Day.  It's our monthly Spirit Day initiative.  Students can wear clean and appropriate pajamas and bring their favorite stuffy.  The stuffy must be small enough to fit in their backpack.  Our students choosing not to participate will wear their uniform as usual.

This week's letter is "h".

Next week Movement with a Message is coming to Thorncliffe School.  Look for the pink letter in backpacks for information.  A family dance will occur on December 12th from 6:00 to 7:00 and students will be able to demonstrate their new skills and what we've practiced in gym classes.  They can teach their family their new dance moves!

With the weather so frosty students need to arrive at school dressed for the cold.  Winter coats are a must as our weather changes so quickly and is so unpredictable.

The navy blue vests and cardigans were retired and last year was a grandfathering in year where there was some leeway with the transition.  Students are expected to wear green vests and cardigans going forward.

Have a great week ahead and we hope to see you December 12th!

Ms. Phillips and Mr. Larson


Thursday 21 November 2019

Green Giant Poem


'My Map Book' by Sara Fanelli

New Look Blog and Updates

Hi parents and guardians,

We have updated the look of our blog- we hope you like it!  : )

This week we continued our visualization work with a three day drawing using the poem "Green Giant" by Jack Prelutsky. On the first day we drew the giant's face, on the second day we drew his body, and on the third day we drew his legs and feet.

First students listened to the poem with their eyes closed and used their imagination to visualize what the giant would look like. Then they drew with pencil before choosing colours based on the poem. It was a GIANT drawing!

In Math, we have been exploring sequence and patterns. Students are continuing an established pattern using shapes as well as beginning to create patterns of their own design.

Another reminder that there is no school tomorrow, Friday November 22nd.   

Have a safe and restful weekend!

Tuesday 19 November 2019

Weekly Notes

Hi parents and guardians,

This week our printing and grapheme work will focus on the letter "i".

Students have completed artwork entitled "Map of my Heart" which is now up in the hallway in front of our classrooms and near the gym. After using watercolour paint with at least five colours, students planned out a drawing of the people and things that mean the most to them. They drew their plan with pencil on their heart and then completed the work with black marker.

Just a reminder that Purdy's chocolate order forms went home last week. Please return orders with payment this week.

This Friday, November 22nd, is a Professional Development day for teachers. There will be no classes for students.

Have a great week! 

Friday 15 November 2019

Metis Week Video Link

Hi parents and guardians,

We had some requests for the link to the Metis dancing video that we watched today. Here it is below-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LknTxKuHl1k

Happy jigging!

Friday Post

Dear parents and guardians,

Next week's letter is i.

Weather permitting students are going out for gym class and for some learning on the land.  Our pumpkins have a resting place outside along the side of the school and we're observing them, discussing how and why they are decomposing and watching to see if animals are interested in them.

Purdy's Chocolate Fundraiser is ongoing and please send in any orders to teachers.

Please don't send drink boxes or juices for snacks or lunches.  Our school nurse has asked that students drink water or non sugar drinks.

Students watched a video on Metis dances for Metis week.  We'll be including the steps for the jig in our dance unit coming up in the next weeks.

Ms. Phillips and Mr. Larson

 


Wednesday 13 November 2019

News

Dear parents and guardians,

Library

Thanks for the great response to requests to return all library books in a timely way so more books and choices are available to our students.  During pair and share times students partner with a classmate to share their library books or books from the classroom.  This generates a lot of interest in taking out books that other students have chosen and shared!

Visualization Activity

This year we are focusing on visualization skills and abilities.  Today we're sending home our initial student work using visualization and the poem that inspired the drawings is attached.  Our work on visualization and sharing progress will be ongoing and we will be sending home student work throughout our year!

Purdy's Chocolate - Christmas Fundraiser

Your students have mail!  Please check their backpacks for the catalogue and information. Our school Christmas fundraiser package was sent home today.  Attached is an information letter and we'll update you on information and dates in the coming days and as we approach the ordering deadline.

Ms. Phillips and Mr. Larson






This Week in Kindergarten

The letter this week is e.  Students are brainstorming words with e and extending their list of words to include words with e in both the initial and middle position and words with both graphemes.

PM students only attend this coming Friday.

Students are continuing their math sorting and patterning centers.

Ms. Phillips and Mr. Larson

Thursday 7 November 2019

Sparks and Beavers Uniforms

For AM Parents only,

Tomorrow is our Remembrance Day Assembly.
Students who are members of Sparks or Beavers are welcome to wear their uniform as part of the Remembrance Day ceremony. It will be a regular TLC uniform day for all other students.

As mentioned earlier, Monday November 11th is a holiday and there is no school.

Picture Day


Hi Parents,

If you would like your son or daughter to have retakes please indicate with an email or written note. Formal uniforms are required for the class photo.

This week our letter is "b".

In art, students are collaborating on the creation of a poppy wreath for the Remembrance Day ceremony which takes place on Friday.

Our November virtue of the month is "Persistence". As part of our work we will be discussing the importance of trying again if you don't succeed this first time. Persistence means responding to challenges with effort and an open mind, and understanding that mistakes help everyone grow and succeed, not just in school, but in life!

Monday 4 November 2019

Weekly Notes

Photo Retakes & Class Photo – Thurs, Nov 7, 2019

Proofs of the individual photos were sent home with students on Monday, Nov 4, 2019.  

If you would like your child to have retakes please send the original proof sheet to school with your child. Your child will give the photographer the proof so the photographer can see how to improve the image.  If you do not have the proof sheet on Nov 7, please send a handwritten note allowing your child to have retakes.

All students at school on Thursday, Nov 7 will be in the class photo.  Students are asked to wear their formal uniform on this day. This is the last day the photographer will be at Thorncliffe School for this school year.  J


Winter Clothing

As the winter weather begins to set in please ensure that your son or daughter comes to school wearing their winter jackets. We will ensure that students leave the school prepared for the outdoors.

Remembrance Day Ceremony

Thorncliffe School will be commemorating Remembrance Day on Friday November 8th at 10:45am. Friday is an AM kindergarten day. Parents are welcome to attend the assembly, which will be approximately 30 minutes in length.