Wednesday 30 May 2012

Wonderful Wednesday!

Good afternoon everyone,

We began the day with circle time and discussed what we did the night before. We also talked about our upcoming trip to the zoo next week and how excited we all are to go!

Following this, we worked on some "colour by numbers" worksheets in order to better our numeracy skills and knowledge. After these worksheets, we went to the gym to practice our song for the upcoming Arts Night (Wednesday, June 6 at 7 PM in the main gym). We practiced until lunch time!

After our yummy pizza lunch, we had gym and then came back to the classroom to practice a little more. Following this, we had french class and then second lunch. After second lunch, we finished the day with centre activities, which included weaving, file folder activities, free drawing and playing with rescue heroes.

A few reminders, which can also be found in your child's agenda:

-Casual Day is tomorrow
-The trip to the zoo is next Tuesday. If you are volunteering and driving, please DO NOT forget to purchase a parking pass ($10 incl. tax) when we get there. You WILL NEED this pass to exit the zoo!
-Also please dress your child in his/her gym uniform for our field trip!!!!
-Arts Night is next Wednesday on June 6 at 7 pm. A reminder to please dress your child in the following costume:

           1) Blue jeans (NO patterns/embroidery please)
           2) Plain white t-shirt

Thanks and have a great night!


Miss H.

Wednesday 23 May 2012

The Day of the Science Fair!

Good afternoon everyone, 

We began the day with circle time. After this, we reviewed what we learned about density, using our science experiment as an example. As a class, we went over our hypothesis, materials, procedure and  conclusion. We did this until lunch, which began a little earlier today because of the science fair. 

After lunch, we worked on a few letters worksheets and also on some worksheets that worked on our fine motor skills. We had another lunch and then French class. After French, we went to present our science project in front of parents, students and judges. This went very well. We also got to see all the different experiments conducted by other students. 

When we finished, we came back to the classroom, had story time and silent reading until home time. 

A reminder that ALL FIELD TRIP FORMS/MONEY (including parent volunteer money - $15) are DUE by THIS FRIDAY!!!!


Have a wonderful night!!

Miss H. 

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Hello!

Good afternoon everyone,

After a long weekend, we began the day with circle time and then got into language. We went over the letter Yy, which we learned last week. Following that, we went over other letters, which include W and X. 

After snack time, we had story time and then went to the gym and practiced on the stage for Arts Night (June 6). We did this until lunch time. 

Following lunch, we went over our experiment for the science fair tomorrow and then had French and Music class. After second lunch, we had centers.

Volunteers for our field trip to the Toronto Zoo on June 5 are the following:

Mr. Shaefer, Mrs. Karia and Mrs. Al Attar


A few reminders for the upcoming week:


-SJA Annual Science Fair is tomorrow. I have sent home individual written parts for a few students to present during our science fair. Please help your child to study his/her part if he/she is given one. Those who have not been given a written part are presenting some pictures taken during our experiments. Parents may come to see the Science Fair (in the main gym) BETWEEN 2 pm and 3 pm. 
-ALL FIELD TRIP FORMS/MONEY (INCLUDING $ FOR PARENT VOLUNTEERS) ARE DUE BY THIS FRIDAY
-Track and Field Day is this Friday from 1 to 3 pm. Please dress your child in his/her gym full uniform for this event. Also put lots of sunblock lotion BEFORE the start of school. Please provide your child with water bottle, hat and/or sunglasses if possible


Happy International Travel Day!


Thursday 17 May 2012

Happy International Travel Day!

Good afternoon everyone,

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for bringing in a food item for our special day. Everything tasted amazing and the food selection was so diverse. Although it was a first for many students to try foods of different cultures, they enjoyed it very much.

We began the day with language and worked on the letter Yy.

Following this, we began International Travel Day. Our first activity was our travel to Hawaii. There, we made grass skirts. They turned out great!

Next, we travelled to Italy and made some yummy looking pasta necklaces!

Following lunch, we experienced yummy foods from different countries. For example, gatia and sev from India, Spanish Empanadas, shrimp and pork dumplings from China, spinach fritatta from Brazil, ham and egg sushi from Korea, vegetable samosas from Pakistan, and cheese pizza from Italy.

Everything was sooo yummy!

After this, we had French and Music class.

Following second lunch, we travelled to Brazil to play soccer. Following this, we came back inside and decorated our own flags from Kenya... where Miss H. was born and resided for half her life!

Again, thank you all for making this day happen... we couldn't have done it without each of you!

Have a great long weekend :)

A reminder: Toronto Zoo field trip forms/money are due NEXT Friday!

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Hello everyone,

We began the day with circle time. Following this, we did our experiment two more times, each time with different quantities of water and oil. We also drew diagrams based on our observations of each test.

After this, we had snack time followed by Language. We learned the letter Yy.

We sang a new Jolly Phonics song and then did two worksheets on the letter Yy. Following this was lunch when we had a Pizza lunch. After lunch, we had gym class and practiced our song for Arts Night.

To end the day, we had centers.

A reminder that tomorrow is International Travel Day. Don't forget to bring in a food item!!!! :)




Miss H. 

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Hello everyone,

We began the day with circle time and discussed what we did on the previous day. Following this, we put on our lab coats and began a science experiment. We discussed the meaning of a hypothesis, materials, a procedure and the importance of recording our observations. Following this, we began our experiment for the Science Fair, which will be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. 


We will be basing our experiment on density. We will be testing whether or not oil is more or less dense than water. In this experiment, we put 1/2 cup water in an empty water bottle. Following this, we added vegetable oil until the bottle was full. We added ten drops of purple food colouring, which caused the water to turn purple. Finally, we added an Alka-Seltzer tablet to the mixture. Although we conducted our research prior to today's class, we conducted an experiment in order to support our hypothesis. Our hypothesis is "when we add oil and water to the water bottle, the oil will be on top and the water will be on the bottom. When we add an Alka-Seltzer tablet to the oil and water solution, it will cause bubbles to form within the layer of oil."

The results: As stated, the oil did stay at the top, whereas the water remained on the bottom. After added the Alka-Seltzer tablet, we noticed that the "fuzziness" of the tablet caused purple bubbles to form within the layer of oil.

Why did the oil stay on the top as opposed to mixing with the water?


We learned that oil is actually less dense than water. In Layman's terms, oil weighs less than water does, hence why it remained at the top of the water bottle. After dissolving in the layer of water, the tablets formed a gas, which caused bubbles to rise to the oil layer, taking some purple water with them.

Well, that's enough of a science lesson for today! I hope everyone learned a little from our fun project. Pictures to come soon as we will be doing two more tests this week to validate our hypothesis.

Following the experiment, we recorded our observations in writing as well as with the use of a diagram. We all understood that this is a very important process while conducting an experiment.

This took up a majority of the day. However, we did have french, music, and some centers to conclude our warm, sunny Tuesday at St. Jude's Academy.

Have a great night!

Miss H.

Monday 14 May 2012

Hello!

Good afternoon,

Today we began with circle time and discussed what we did over the weekend. One student got a new scooter and rode it over the weekend, while another student went shopping for a new water bottle. Overall, it seems as though everyone in the class enjoyed his/her weekend!

After circle time, we worked on numeracy and did some counting worksheets. We also did a counting exercise which required each student to collect and count five toys from the toy boxes and to share what they collected in a group circle.

Following this was language and we continued singing a Jolly Phonics song and did two letter worksheets on the letter Ww.

Because it was such a beautiful day outside, we decided to eat our lunch outside. After lunch, we practiced our song for Arts Night and then had French class. Following second lunch, we ended the day with centers.

Please check your child's book bag for the Toronto Zoo field trip form. All forms and money are due by Friday, May 25, 2012!!!


A reminder that there will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, May 18, 2012 and Monday May 21, 2012!


Have a super night!


Miss H.

Thursday 10 May 2012

Hello!

Good afternoon everyone,

We began the day with circle time and then progressed with letters. We continued to practice writing letters with whiteboard markers. Everyone is doing very well and I encourage parents/guardians to continue to practice recognizing and writing letters with your child.

After snack, we worked on patterns and formed different pictures using pattern blocks. This was a lot of fun and everyone is doing well with recognizing their shapes, colours and also differentiating between a pattern and one that is not a pattern.

Students working on letter formations (D, E, F and G)


After lunch, we practiced our song for Arts Night on June 6. Following this, we had French and Music class. After second lunch, we concluded the day with centers.

Have a great night!

Miss H.

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Rainy Wednesday!

Good afternoon everyone,

Today, we began the day with circle time and discussed what new things are going on in our lives. Some of us went to the Rainforest Cafe lately while another student is getting hardwood flooring completed in his house! A lot is going on in and outside of the JKA classroom!

After circle time, we worked on our letters and practiced writing letters on our own "Cars 2" whiteboard sheets and whiteboard markers. This went over very well. The letters we practiced writing today were A, B, and C. Please continue to work on letter sounds with your child. Here is a good link to a song we've been listening to in class. This song covers all of the letter sounds.

Letter Sounds Song by Jack Hartmann

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy1Kmt9sMOA

We also went for a walk (W for Walk) on this nice day. We looked for things that started with each letter of the alphabet as a group. Here are some of the things we saw:

A: ant
B: bird
C: car
D: dandelion
F: Flower
G: grass
H: house or hydrant
I: insect
L: leaf
P: pine needle
R: rock
S: stick
T: tree
W: weed
Y: yellow flower

Following our walk, we had pizza day. After lunch, we worked on transportation collages. We will continue to work on them tomorrow as well. We looked through National Geographic magazines for different types of transportation and found many pictures pertaining to this topic!

We also had French and ended the day with centers.

A reminder to complete, sign and return the forms for next Thursday's International Travel Day. Also (if applicable) please write in your child's agenda what food item you will be bringing.

Have a nice, relaxing night!

Miss H.

Monday 7 May 2012

Marvelous Monday!

Good afternoon all,

We started off the week with circle time and shared what we did over the nice, sunny weekend. Many of us were out and about while some of us had the pleasure of relaxing, staying in and watching a nice movie. Following circle time, we got started with math continued to work on our patterning unit. We made and decorated our own maracas out of styrofoam cups, markers and pasta. Following this, as a class, we created different patterns by shaking our own maracas. This was a lot of fun and some students got a chance to create their own patterns for the rest of the class to copy.

We also learned a new letter today, Ww. We sang a Jolly Phonics song on 'Ww' called the "Wind." After singing this, we did a couple of worksheets on the letter Ww.

After lunch, we had gym class and then practiced our song for Arts Night on June 6. We had French followed by second lunch.

To conclude the day, we completed a cut and paste worksheet and also got to create our own still-life portraits of a vase with flowers that was displayed in the middle of the table.

Please read over, sign and return the note sent home today regarding International Travel Day. Please return this form by Friday, May 11, 2012.


Have a super night!!!

Miss H.

Friday 4 May 2012

Have a great weekend!

Hello,

Today was a busy, fun-filled day at St. Jude's Academy. In the morning, we had a dress rehearsal for the French Cafe later on today. Everyone did such a wonderful job presenting at the French Cafe. Good job everyone!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I will see you all on Monday!!!!!

Miss H.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Good Afternoon!

We began the day with circle time and also worked on a new booklet based on colours. It is called "Rainbow Hair." We also had dress rehearsals, like yesterday, throughout the day. We will be doing this until our performance at the French Cafe on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 12 pm. 


We continued working on our colours booklet until lunch. After lunch, we had another dress rehearsal and then practiced our song for Arts Night, "You Are My Sunshine." We also finished our mini booklets, which will be sent home tomorrow. A reminder that all work sent home should be kindly returned the next day. This work is to be used for display in each child's school portfolio.

Towards the end of the day, we had centers, which included number file folder games, creative drawing, building and imaginative activities!

A reminder for ALL parents to bring in their child's costume (plaid shirt, shorts, suspenders) on Friday morning before French Cafe begins.


Hot Dog Day and Pattern Day are both tomorrow.


Enjoy your night!

Miss H.