Hola!

We started off the day today with a writing activity.  This activity focused on reading and then creating graphic stories (comic books).  This is an important type of writing, as it is writing with a different purpose and audience than the children are used to.  As a class we read a graphic story about Little Red Riding Hood which they really enjoyed.  Then they began creating their own graphic stories about The Gingerbread Man.  The stories are coming along very well and will be completed in class tomorrow.  In language the children also worked on finishing sentences, special sounds and homophones.  We also had another whole school rehearsal for the upcoming Gala concert.  The children are getting very excited for this event!  In our IB unit of inquiry today we began studying The Group of Seven.  This is an iconic group of Canadian painters who helped put our art scene on the map.  The children watched a power point presentation about this historic group of painters, and then completed a reflection in their journals about what they learned.  Ask your child tonight to tell you something that they remember from this important lesson.  We also read another chapter of The Tale of Despereaux.  The students went to P.E and french class.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words, and Letters and Sounds pages 118 - 119.

Important information: 

• If you have not yet sent in the $26 and ROM trip permission form, please do so as soon as possible.  The form and trip money are due by next Monday, February 13th. 
• Please see my posting from last night with an explanation of the poetry (oral presentation) contest that is upcoming at SJA.  All children brought home a poem they are responsible for memorizing and then reciting in the competition.  The in-class judging of the poetry reciting will take place on Wednesday, February 15th, and the winner from this contest will go on to compete in the school-wide competition on Thursday, February 23rd.  Parents, families and friends are invited and encouraged to attend the final competition on the 23rd to watch the students compete.  The competition begins at 9am.
• The costumes for the Gala are changing!!!  Please send your children in whatever 'fancy' outfits they were going to be wearing for the night of the Gala.  You do not need to send them in red and white which was the original design for the class performance.  The choir outfit remains the same.
• Tomorrow is a gym day again.  Please send your children in their gym clothes.  Gym will be on Tues and Wed for the entire month of February.
• The Gala is happening this Saturday!!  This is a very fun night for the students and families, and all classes will be performing.  Please make sure to send in the ticket money as soon as possible because ticket sales are ending in the next day or so.  You must have paid for your tickets prior to Gala to be able to attend.  I have been given a list from the Parent Guild with names of families who have not yet paid for the Gala tickets: Chidiebere, Conliffe-Layne, Lindsay, Yousif, Norris, Rangwala and Voker.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson