Mrs.Folkerts Grade 1 Adventures in Primary 

Today the students took home two booklets.  A color booklet and a booklet about apples.  They have colored the pages and practised reading these books.  These booklets may stay home, but I would ask if parents would take the time to hear your child read each page to you.  Our method of reading is called “touch reading”, that is, your child should touch each word (even if they have it memorized) and read each word as they touch the text. (an important part of learning to look at words and say each word with the touch of a finger)  Hope you enjoy experiencing this beginning stage of reading.  Thank you for your support on this journey of beginning reading for your child!

 

This week we learned about Terry Fox through story and discussion.  We did our 2 laps of running around the soccer field in memory of Terry Fox.  Thank you to those who contributed a toonie for the Terry Fox Foundation.   We thank God for healthy bodies, and pray that everyone will stay healthy and safe as the cold and flu season comes upon us.

Dates to Remember: 

Tuesday, Sept.28– Pizza Tuesdays start up (must be pre-ordered)

Wednesday, Sept.29 – Orange Shirt Day

Thursday, Sept.30 – Truth and Reconciliation Day – No school

Friday, Oct.1 – Pro-D-Day – No School

Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Healthy Relationships Assembly

Friday, Oct.8 – Knight Day

Monday, Oct.11 – Thanksgiving Day– No School

Wednesday, Oct.13 – Fall Colors Day

Oct. 1 Drop-Off:

Admin is requesting that beginning October 1st, that parents do not bring students into the building. We are trying to keep the number of extra bodies in the hallways to a minimum because of covid regulations.  If you need assistance with coming in, you can let the staff at the front doors know and they will come and get me and I can help out!

Library:

Just a note that Library is on Thursdays and students will need to return books before the sign out new ones.

Hot Lunch:

We are now able to order Pizza Lunch online through the “munchalunch” programme. It can be found on our Highroad Academy website in the “My Highroad” section. Pizza lunches will be on Tuesdays.

Comfort Kits:

Just a friendly reminder that these comfort kits are due to be returned as soon as possible.  You should have received your child’s comfort kit from last year that needs to be updated as per the letter sent home.  If you are new to the school please read the information letter I sent home last week which outlines what is needed for these kits.

All About Me Pennants:

Yesterday I sent home (in a plastic protector) a paper for you to fill out with your child.  You can scribe as your child tells you what to fill in the blanks.  Students can pencil draw a picture in the portrait section. Please send these completed pennants as soon as possible or no later than Wednesday, Sept. 29.  Thank you!

Grade 5 Buddies:

We are privileged to participate in a Reading Buddy program with the Grade 5 class.   Here are a couple pictures of our first “getting acquainted ” task:

Here is a couple of pictures of our artwork.  Theme:  Summer Season

 

Our first full week of school is done—-yay!! We made it!  It has been a good week of learning and fun.  We are working hard to learn the basic rules and routines of the classroom, but we are off to a great start!  This week we also focussed on reviewing our single letter phonograms (oral) and practising proper formation of uppercase and lowercase letters.  As well, we are reviewing proper formation and understanding of numbers 0-10.  Lots of good effort seen!

Dates to Remember:

Wednesday, September 22 – Toonies for Terry (more details below)

Friday, September 24 – Knight Day

Reminders and Other Information:

• Comfort Kits: I sent home last year’s comfort kits this week with a letter on how to update them. Although we always hope that there will not be a need for them, we realize the need to be prepared! If you could return your refreshed Comfort Kit by October 4th, that would be great!
• Toonies for Terry: On Wednesday, September 22nd, HRA will be doing their annual Terry Fox Run. Students are invited to bring a toonie to donate to the Terry Fox Foundation. All students will participate in a class run together on the school field.
• Rainy Days:  Looks like we will be experiencing rainy days ahead, so please send your child to school with a raincoat and boots if they like puddles! We will be getting outside as much as possible for recess and lunch (even if it’s raining a little), so please send your child dressed for the weather.

Just a quick reminder that it is individual picture day tomorrow. (Thurs. Sept 16)  Come dressed in your best uniform!

How exciting! We made it through the first week! We are getting back into the swing of coming to school.  It has been a wonderful week of getting to know your child and I look forward to the journey that God has set before us.  This week has been full of information and  learning the new normal in Grade One. I also look forward to getting to know all of you parents this year.  Feel free to communicate with me via email and if you need to communicate with me in person, we can set up appointments as needed.

Lots of information will be coming your way … so be sure to check this blog for important or last minute details.

Updated School Start time: Thank you for a wonderful start to the school year. We also want to thank you for taking the time to do your health checks with your children! Just a note to our fabulous parents on our school starting time! Our school doors will be opening at our traditional time of 8:55. Classrooms will be closed until that time as teachers work hard to prepare classroom materials, set up their classroom and participate in before school meetings. We encourage parents to try to arrive at the school between 8:45 and 8:55. However, if students arrive earlier, they can head to the playground where we will have supervision. At 8:55, the school bell will ring and students will be welcomed into the school. On days that are extreme rain days, students will be brought into the gym. Students can enter the gym through the side gym door and head to their grade area. On these rainy days, we would again encourage families to try and bring students as close to the start of school as possible as activities will be limited in the gym.

End of day dismissal: starting this next week the end of the day dismissal will return to normal, which means students will be dismissed from the classroom to the playground where you can pick them up.  There will be after school supervision until 3:25 p.m.

Food with Nuts: while we are not specifically a nut free classroom, students are being strongly encouraged NOT to have nuts in their lunches at school. We have some students with severe allergies in the school, and so if a lunch does have nuts, they will have to remain seated at their desks and wash their hands after (they will not be allowed outside to eat their snacks, which could cut into their playtime.

Gym shoes – not all students have indoor PE shoes, so please send indoor running shoes, which will remain in lockers all year long. Our gym days are Monday, Thursday, Friday

Water bottles – I would encourage each student to bring a water bottle,which we can have in the classroom whenever thirsty.

Getting to Know Your Your Child information sheets went home this week, and I would appreciate if you would fill it out and send it back to class with your child. It is helpful for me to have some information to get the year started off right, and to know what you want me to know about your child.

Dates to Remember:

Thursday, September 16 – Picture day

Friday, September 17 – Knight day

Friday, September 24 – Knight day

Wednesday, September 29 – Orange Shirt Day

Thursday, September 30 – Truth and Reconciliation day – no school

Friday, October 1 – Pro-D-Day – no school