Week of September 10-14

Dear families,

We've had a wonderful second week of school. We've already had 9 days of school! This is what we did this week:

The Juniors received their Jolly Phonics Duotang. Each week we focus on one letter sound and the children complete an accompanying page in their duotang. Last week we did "Ss" and this week we did "Aa." Jolly Phonics is an excellent method of teaching children to read. www.jollyphonics.com The Seniors also received a phonics duotang, which is a review of the letter sounds they learned last year and has them write the beginning, middle and end letter sounds of words. These duotangs stay at school all year. If you will be away for an extended vacation I will send it home with your child to work on.

The "popcorn" or "sight" words of the week were IS and AND. Each week your child receives the sight words. Please put them on your fridge or on a door in your child's room to practise at home. We also learned the "Popcorn Word Song," a copy of which is in your child's mailbag.

In today's mail bag your child received two "Snuggle Up and Read" books. Each week your child will receive two books and s/he should return them in Monday's Mailbag in order to receive two new ones.

Our Juniors are learning to recognize, spell and write their names, and the Seniors are learning to write their names using an upper case letter at the beginning, followed by lower case letters. I have sent home dot-to-dot names for each of your children to practise at home.

We continued our "Pete the Cat" author study. The children are in the process of completing three booklets about colours and Pete the Cat. Next week we will start an Inquiry on Pets!! We will also start learning about patterns and writing numbers.

Please remember that your child needs indoor shoes as well as outdoor shoes. Your child should be able to out these shoes on by him/herself, and s/he should be able to run and play in them. Your child also needs a change of clothes at school.

Please remember that all the food your child brings to school MUST be nut-free. Some of our classmates are also allergic to pineapple, sesame and tree nuts. Please read packaging carefully. Thank you!

The Seniors have received their first Journals! Journals are due each Monday. You'll be amazed at the progress your child makes throughout the year. Start by labelling, writing popcorn words, anything that encourages your child to write. Journal entries should include a drawing. Thank you! The children will get a sticker on their journal each time they complete it.

The school had another Fire Drill as well as a Lockdown Drill this week. The children did an excellent job.

Thank you so much to Dante's mom who was the Mystery Reader this week! Our Grade Parents Leah and Tina will be sending you a contact information list next week so that you can arrange playdates etc.

When your child completes homework, please ensure they write with a pencil. Thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to read about what is happening in your child's life at school. I update this blog every Friday throughout the school year. A fun thing to do is do read the blog together so you can talk about your child's days at school!

That's the news from our classroom this week! I hope you enjoy this last weekend of summer and I look forward to seeing you next Thursday at Curriculum Night!