February has brought a lot of activity in many areas. Over the past few weeks we have celebrated Ground Hog Day, the 100th Day of school, and this week we will be celebrating Valentine's Day. It was wonderful to see the unique collections the children brought in for our 100th Day celebration. Thank you so much to the parents who volunteered this week and who will volunteer next week. Your help and time are greatly appreciated!

In Language, we are continuing to move forward with the Jolly Phonics program and with learing our High Frequency "Popcorn" words. So far we have learned IT, IS, SEE, LOOK, AT and THE. I am very impressed with the in-class writing the SK children are doing with little their books and accompanying pictures and I have posted them on my hallway bulletin board. Well done!

The homework booklets that are being sent home with the children are an excellent way to consolidate and extend what the children have learned at school. It is also a great way opportunity for the children to practice the printing of their letters and words. Although I teach printing of letters when we learn new sounds and words, the children need to practice more so that they are familiar with the correct letter formation.

Because of the time element in our program it is necessary to enlist your help at home. Past experience has shown that children whose parents work with them each day have the most success with the program. We practice sounds at school every day as a group but one-on-one work at home is absolutely necessary.

In Math we are continuing to learn about patterning and sequencing and are also starting to learn about measurement. The children are beginning to demonstrate more complex patterning skills using 2-3 attributes. We incorporated patterning and sequencing in our 100th Day activities, with the children using different coloured dabbers and counting different coloured Smarties.

I have noticed that many of the children are beginning to become more independent in dressing themselves. Many of the JK children still need a lot of help with zippers but it is quite a delight to seee that they are slowly making this progression. Please continue to encourage your children to dress themselves independently. Please also take a peak in our Lost and Found bag in the cubby room. It is getting pretty full! Sometimes the children don't recognize their own clothing, especially mittens and gloves.

We are also continuing our book study of The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. This special book, published in 1962, was the first children's book to portray a child of colour and was the recipient of the prestigious Caldicott Medal. I chose to study The Snowy Day this month, February, to honour Black History Month.

The children are starting to bring in Valentines for their friends. I have found in the past that it is easier for my little JKs to just sign the cards. It is too much printing for them to write everyone's name and it is too difficult for them to have to try and find everyone's Valentine mailbag with the right name on it. You can imagine what that can be like! My Sks can do what they are most comfortable with. Each child will have a Valentine bag to collect all their cards in. Writing and/or reading their friends' names is a great little literacy exercise too!

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs. Tyndall