Outdoor Kindergarten

The week ahead: April 14-18

I am collecting clean yogurt or sour cream containers in 500-750 ml sizes for our nature collections. Please send in any you might have at home.

• Monday and Tuesday – we’re going to a new park! As always, we’ll learn new rules and boundaries as we explore our outdoor classroom. This week outdoors we’ll go on a storywalk, Easter egg hunt, and try making nests like a bird.
• Wednesday – Library and Home Reading book exchange. Field trip notices sent home.
• Thursday – Easter arts and crafts
• Friday – no school for Good Friday.

Have a wonderful long weekend! See you Tuesday, April 22 at Brae Island for our Earth Day activities at Kwantlen.

 

 

We had a very good week back at school. Students are eager to be learning and playing together again! Spring is bursting into action with snakes, cherry blossoms, daffodils and more to be discovered and appreciated.

 

 

We are creating cherry blossom art by blowing paint to create branches.

Ks used their muscles to help move sand to create a new sand play area in the primary playground.

April Fool’s Day was good fun.

The week ahead: April 7-11

• Monday – at the park. It looks like a rainy couple of days. Please send an extra jacket layer.
• Tuesday – at the park. Salmon dissection – we’ll have a close up look at the outside and inside features that help these amazing animals survive! (Teacher led – students can observe or take breaks as needed.)
• Wednesday – at FLE. Library and Home Reading book exchange. Drumming after school.
• Thursday – at FLE. Kona Ice truck and Kickball game after school.
• Friday – at FLE. We’ll work on our cherry blossom art with our big buddies and get outside for some gardening and playtime. Entrepreneur Fair before lunch. Please send $2-10 if you would like your child to be able to buy something made by older FLE students.

I hope everyone had a great spring break with at least one ice cream cone!

I had an amazing time in Costa Rica immersed in nature!

 

 

 

 

The week ahead: March 31-April 4

• Monday – we are starting back at the school. I can hardly wait to see how our salmon, potatoes and daffodils have grown!
• Tuesday – at the park.
• Wednesday – at school. Library. Drumming after school – everyone welcome!
• Thursday – at school.
• Friday – at school. Morning walk.

Community Event invite:

Sunday, April 6 11:00-12:00 Fish Release at Yorkson Creek

Come join me and help 50,000 chum fry get safely from the hatchery truck to the waters of Yorkson Creek, one bucket at a time. Wear your boots and prepare to get muddy! Derby Hills Park on 98th Ave (20500 block).

 

This term has flown by! It was great to share all the progress the students have made. Thank you to every family for supporting your child’s learning!

Last week, we learned about rocks and fossils and told animal stories. We all love rocks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The week ahead: March 10-14

• Monday – at the park. We’ll continue learning about rocks and go on a shape scavenger hunt.
• Tuesday – at the park. Big hike to see the other side of the Island followed by a marshmallow roast! (teachers will provide)
• Wednesday – at the school. Please send back all books for their Spring Break rest. We will be planting our Spuds in Tubs today and predicting how many potatoes will be harvested in June!
• Thursday – at the school. Ache Brazil performance in the afternoon. Kona Ice fundraiser after school.
• Friday – at the school. Green Team House Cup celebration in AM.

I wish everyone a relaxing and fun spring break! See you back at school on March 31!

 

The week ahead: March 3-7

• Monday – at the park
• Tuesday – at the park
• Wednesday – Library and home reading book exchange. Early dismissal at 12:08. Conferences 12:30-4:00
• Thursday – no school for conferences 8:00-7:00
• Friday – skating PM. Please send car seats, skates, gloves, helmets, etc. in a separate bag and parent drivers, please come to the classroom at 11:50 AM. Anyone who missed the first skating session, please be assured this is beginner-friendly and parents are welcome!

I am looking forward to seeing you all at the conferences!

 

This week we’ll be highlighting kindness and including others. We’ll also be learning about different cultures around the world in a Countries Scavenger Hunt!

The week ahead: February 24-28

Monday – Report Card Prep. No students attend.

Tuesday – at the park

Wednesday – Library and Home Reading book exchange. Pink Shirt Day.

Thursday – at school. Kindness story telling.

Friday – Countries Scavenger hunt (in school)

The snow and sun was lovely while it lasted. Students enjoyed their winter day at the park in many ways:

• Testing the ice on the Fraser River by tossing pebbles.
• Relaxing in the trees.

 

• Having a snow picnic.

 

 

 

 

 

• Sharing Valentines with the campers.

 

 

 

Thank you for sending in the fruit for our Friendship Fruit Salad! It was a hit!

 

The Week Ahead: February 18-21

Please sign up for a Student Inclusive Conference appointment online this week (opens Wednesday or Thursday)

Tuesday – Mr. Knowlson will be teaching again for me. Students are beginning a new Science Unit on Materials.

Wednesday – Library and home reading book return. (Most library books were already returned last week)

Thursday – At the school. Fun lunch day.

Friday – At the school. Potential for a walk in the AM. This is the deadline for completing the Parent Reflection Form online.

Please check emails for an update on the outdoor day for Tuesday, Feb. 11.  We are keeping an eye on the wind chill factor and the trail conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

Skating was so much fun! Learning or practicing a new skill takes resilience and this is our Hawk Virtue of the month. Way to go Hawks for showing resilience on the ice! Students are now sharing a Counting Collection when they have been chosen as Special Helper. This gives each student a chance to show their counting skills and practice how quantities can be broken apart into smaller subsets.

The week ahead: Feb. 10-14

• Monday – no students attend. Professional Development Day.
• Tuesday – at the park??
• Wednesday – at FLE. Library books can be kept for another week, as the Book Fair is taking over the library and there will be no book exchanges. Please return home reading books.
• Thursday – at FLE.
• Friday – at FLE. Valentine’s Day. Please send a cup of chopped fruit for our Friendship Fruit Salad, and a dish with a fork or spoon. If your child wants to deliver Valentine cards, please be sure to send one for everyone in the class (20). We will make big envelopes to hold our cards in.
• Next Monday, February 17 is Family Day – enjoy the holiday!

 

 

 

 

 

Last week we were making up stories about snow and now it’s finally on the ground. We’ll have a great time at the park in the snow this week! Dress kids in boots and snow or rain pants and coats, with several pairs of gloves/mitts. We have extra hand and foot warmers in case they get chilly. (Thanks to parents Laura and Morgan!)

• Monday – at the park.
• Tuesday – at the park (unless weather turns too cold or icy)
• Wednesday – at FLE. Return Library and Home Reading books.
• Thursday – at FLE.
• Friday – at FLE. Skating field trip.
  • Parent drivers please arrive at the classroom at 11:45 AM for carpools to the rink.
  • Send a booster seat for your child if they are riding in another car.
  • Send a labeled bag with your child’s gear including skates, helmet (unless renting), gloves, snow/rain pants
  • Any children who are new to skating are allowed to use the carts and take breaks to colour or watch on the benches.
  • All children must stay in the rink area unless escorted by a parent or staff to the washrooms.

We were blessed with another beautiful, sunny and cool set of outdoor days last week and it looks like our luck will hold for this week as well.

Please send a hand towel if your child doesn’t yet have one in their backpack. Drying hands after washing helps them stay warm and clean. We do not have paper towels at the shelter. Thanks!

We’ll be learning about snakes and Lunar New Year traditions for the Year of the Snake this week.  We’re wondering about the garter snakes that live at the park and how long they will hibernate for!

The week ahead: Jan 27-31

• Monday and Tuesday – at the park
• Wednesday – at FLE. Send in skating field trip form, library and home reading books (Sorry…I have a big stack of mail bags in the classroom). Lunar New Year begins.
• Thursday – at FLE. Fun lunch.
• Friday – at FLE. No walk due to assembly. Crazy Hat Spirit Day!

*Looking ahead to Skating on Friday, Feb. 7 – I will need two parent volunteers to collect the helmet and skate rentals from the shop in a tote bin or wagon and bring them to the changing room to distribute, then return at the end of the skate. I will have a list of sizes needed. Please let me know if you wouldn’t mind doing this job. (I will pay for the rentals with the school credit card)

*Looking ahead to Valentine’s Day – If your child would like to give cards, please send them on Friday, Feb. 14. Please have them put their own name on each card but NOT any particular friend’s name. This way it is much easier and quicker for kids to deliver them. There are 20 students in our class. We’ll also be making a ‘Friendship Fruit Salad’ to share. Please send in one cup of chopped fruit that your child enjoys on Friday, Feb. 14.