Good afternoon!


We started off the day today by working on a writing activity.  We explored couplets (two-lined poems) and investigated the characteristics of them.  The children were then asked to go back and create their own couplets that they read out loud to the class.  They did a very good job and had some very creative poems to share!  In our unit of inquiry we continued their discussions of living and non-living things.  We reviewed what we learned yesterday about reptiles and their basic needs.  Then we began discussing insects and explored the characteristics that make a creature an insect.  The children then went back to their seats and created Venn Diagrams that compared and contrasted reptiles and insects.  This was a fun way to see what they have learned.  Ask your child to share with you one fact they learned about insects today!  During language the children worked on proofreading.  The students were asked to review various sentences and see if they were statements (needing periods) or questions (needing question marks).  During math the children worked on counting money, half/whole, and sums and differences (grade one) and sorted and made rules for various types of data (grade two)  The students also went to French and music classes.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words,  Spelling Workbook pages 130 - 132 (grade one) 126 - 128 (grade two),  Jump Math pages 206 - 208 (grade two), and complete math worksheet (grade ones).

Important information:  This Thursday we are going to be having a class Subway lunch party.  This is the second half of our prize that we won from Provincial Partitions way back in October for having the best decorated pumpkin.  All children will be able to have a subway sandwich for lunch (veggie subs will be available).  Drinks and snacks will still be required for this day.

Our class is heading out on a field trip!  We are going to attend the Peel Children's Water Festival on May 24th from 9am - 3pm.  On this trip we will be learning about water and our environment, and how humans need to be careful in the ways we use and treat water.  This trip is a part of our current IB unit.  The signed trip form and $7.00 are due by May 22nd, 2012.  

Some important dates are coming up.  Please make a note of the following:

May 18th- P.D Day (no school for students)
May 21st- Victoria Day (no school)
May 23rd- SJA Science Fair (all classes will display a science project(s).  Families and friends are asked to attend to see the exhibits from 12-3pm)
May 24th- Peel Children's Water Festival Field Trip
May 25th- Track and Field Day (Parents may come to watch from 1 - 3pm)
Information for SJA Summer Camps are now available.  SJA offers a range of camps over the summer months with a variety of themes ranging from karate camps, to writing camps to traditional summer camps programs.  Please contact the school for more information about these exciting programs.

If your child is part of the SJA choir, please make sure they are practicing the choir song at home.  You can find the song lyrics athttp://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/theparenttrap/doyoubelieveinmagic.htm and play the song for them at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKyGyH9mWHk.  The choir's next performance is going to be at Arts Night on June 6th.


Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson