Week of April 8-12

Dear families,

This week and next we will be focusing on Earth Week activities. We are learning about caring for the Earth, recycling, and signs of Spring. Now that the warmer (and often rainy) weather is here, I would like to ask you to remember to dress your child appropriately. As you know, the weather can become cold within a few minutes at this time of year if clouds cover the sun, so it is best that your child has a coat or sweater with them every day.

In Language, we have covered a lot of ground with the Jolly Phonics Program. Over the last few weeks we have focused on the letters/letter sounds O,U L and F. We are also beginning to work on double vowels such as AI and AY. Please encourage your child to work on his or her Phonics duotangs at home as well.

We are also going to be learning about and reviewing two- and three-dimensional shapes. Is our Earth a circle or a sphere?

In late April/early May we will start our unit on Canadian Coins and their Values.

The JKs and SKs continue to work on their journals regularly. It is lovely to see the incredible effort and time they put into their journal work. The SKs are creating their own little booklets called "I Know It's Spring" as well. Don't forget to look at our hallway bulletin board for the children's wonderful work.

We have almost completed our little book called "Flowers Grow" with our Reading Buddies. I think the children really enjoy this special time and the Grade 2s and 3s have a wonderful opportunity to be leaders and role models to the little ones.

Soon we are going to be planting seeds and learning how they grow. This year we will be planting bean seeds, a change from the pumpkin and cherry tomatoes from previous years. When they go home before the May long weekend, please plant them beside a fence so they have support to grow as they climb.

As you have noticed I have changed the set of Snuggle Books to more non-fiction levelled readers. Please continue to read these with your child. One of the rules of thumb in teaching literacy is that the child reads at a level where they can concentrate on comrehension and fluency and experience success.

Please take the time to practice our April poem, "I Love the Earth." We will be presenting it at our next Sharing Assembly. The children who will be receiving certificates for "Co-operation" at our next assembly are Ava, Alex, Yoel and Jack. Well done!

Thank you for your Scholastic Orders. The April/Spring order is due April 30, and the May/Summer order is due May 31.

On April 10, LKS will be wearing pink to support "Anti-Bullying Awareness Day."

It is hard to believe that we are really on the home stretch of the year. I would like to say how very proud I am of ALL the children in my morning and afternoon classes. They have all made great strides this year and has been wonderful to see them learn and grow. Thank you as always for your continued help and support. You are wonderful parents to work with and the children are very fortunate.

Kind regards,

Mrs. Tyndall