On Wednesday we will be wrapping up our short study of nocturnal animals with a pajama day.  The children (and me – yay!) will be wearing their pajamas to school and are asked to bring a teddy bear (or other stuffy) friend.  We will be having a pancake snack in the afternoon, served with butter that we will have made ourselves!  Please send a lunch as usual.  This will just be a little treat in the afternoon.

What?!?! Did I just write December?  Time sure is flying by!

Well, here are some important dates coming up in the month ahead:

December 1 – We will begin our annual Food Drive for the Salvation army Food Bank.  Details will follow.

December 2 – Pajama Day (our class only)

December 3 – Christmas-Themed After School Club for grades K-3 students. ( 3:15-4:15)

December 3 – Term One Report Cards go home

December 16 – Last Day of Food Drive

December 18 – K-3 Christmas Concert – 9:30-10:30

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Knight Day.  Children may wear jeans or other casual bottoms with their red or black knight shirt.

You may have noticed that I did not send home a new verse this week.  That’s because I have not yet had the chance to test the boys and girls on their F verse yet…yes, the F verse!  I did send home the G verse last week but didn’t want to start working on it until the previous verse was tested and done.  Unfortunately, I have not yet found a great time in the week to do this testing.  So…I am wondering if there is a parent or grandparent who would be available to come in on Tuesday mornings to do this job for me.  Please contact me by email at dmorris@highroadacademy.com if you are available to help us out in this way.  Thanks!

It sure was a short week for part time Kindies.  Even so, we were able to fit in a lot of great work and play!  We are now reviewing all 26 letters of the alphabet.  Our focus is on the sound (s) they make and how they are formed.  I have been working with small groups of students during “teacher time” and am very pleased with all the great efforts I am seeing.  We are trying to learn our own names using proper letter formation, using a capital first followed by lower case letters.  Hopefully, you have a set of phonogram cards at home and are able to support your child in this area at home.  The back side of the cards gives directions on how to form each letter.

We spent the first part of this month focussing on Bucket Filling, Remembrance Day, and a short inquiry on crows and where they go in the winter.  Now we are beginning a new theme on nocturnal animals.  I was surprised to find out how much the children already know on this topic!  They are obviously a well-read group of four and five year olds!  The boys and girls were interested in finding out if squirrels, foxes, deers, bears, and mice were nocturnal and how nocturnal animals could see when it’s dark at night.  We will explore these areas in the weeks ahead.  I hope to culminate our study of night animals with a pajama day celebration at the end of the month.  Details will follow!

Here are a few pictures taken during play time this afternoon.  Enjoy!

Last week the Kindies participated in an Assembly where we talked about how to have healthy relationships.  We read John 13:34 where Jesus commands us, “Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

We also read the book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

The premise of the book is this:  We all carry an invisible bucket.  We feel happy when our bucket is full and sad when it is empty.  A bucket filler is someone who says or does nice things for other people.  By doing this, they are filling other people’s buckets and filling their own bucket at the same time.  On the other hand, a bucket dipper says or does things to cause other people to feel bad.  A bucket dipper empties other people’s buckets and their own when they say and do mean things.  We will be using the language of the book throughout the year in the primary department.  Hopefully, this explanation will help you to understand what your child is talking about when they tell you that they filled someone’s bucket at school!  You might want to ask your child about bucket filling/dipping.  It could be an interesting conversation!

Just a reminder that the school will be closed this Wednesday for Remembrance Day.

Just a reminder that Tuesday, November 10th, will be our annual Remembrance Day Ceremony at 2pm. All parents are welcome to attend. Students are asked to wear their Full Dress Uniform and everyone will be given a poppy. If you would like to send a poppy donation, the school will be making a donation to the veterans.

A Few Quick Uniform Reminders:

1. The winter uniform is now in effect.  It’s time to pack shorts and sandals away until Spring!

2.  Socks need to be solid black, navy, or white, please.

3. Any undershirts need to be solid white.

4.  Girls should be wearing a pair of black or navy shorts underneath their tunics.

Thanks!

Have a great day 🙂

The grades 5 & 6 classes will be having a bake sale this Wednesday to help support the Syrian Refugee Crisis. All items are .50 or $1.00.  The bake sale will be set up before school in the lobby.  If you wish to participate in this fundraiser instead of sending money along with your child please help them make their selection before school.  Goodies can be saved in your child’s locker until recess or lunch.