Bonjour!

We started off the day today with our weekly spelling tests.  The students will be bringing home their marked tests with them tonight.  I ask that any incorrect words get re-written ten times each (including the bonus word).  In language today the children worked on an activity that had them practicing their special sounds recognition, they worked on their cursive, and we read another chapter of Dealing with Dragons.  During our unit of inquiry today we continued discussing the differences between natural and man made materials.  We took up yesterday's homework, and worked on an organization activity where the students had to cut out and organize pictures of different materials based on their characteristics.  We were lucky enough to be surprised with some special guests today too- the Mississauga Fire Department!  The crew brought their fire truck and all their equipment and gave us a tour and a talk about their important profession.   Ask your child to tell you about this experience tonight.  I also have some pictures included at the end of this posting.  The students also went to french and P.E classes.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, re-write incorrect spelling words ten times each (including bonus), cursive pages 168 - 169, and Letters and Sounds pg. 150.

Important information:  On Monday, April 16th our class is going to be having a science quiz on the concepts learned to date in this unit.  Some of the main items that the students are going to be tested on are identifying objects, materials and structures, our five senses, descriptive words, the scientific method, and natural versus man-made materials.  Please help review these concepts for Tuesday's test.

It has been announced that St. Jude's is going to be having its first annual school-wide Spelling Bee on the 12th of June.  More details for this exciting event will follow shortly!

The upper year students are having a production of The 12th Night on Thursday, April 26th 2012.  All students from SJA are welcomed and encouraged to attend this free production with their friends and families.  The production begins at 7pm in the SJA auditorium.  An invitation was emailed out yesterday.

I am still waiting for report cards to be completed and returned to me from many students.  Please complete the 'Parent's Comments' section of the report card and return to school as soon as possible.

The French Cafe is taking place on May 4th at St. Jude's Academy.  All classes are participating for this exciting event.  Invitations with specific details will be sent out shortly.  Our class is doing a Renaissance piece for the event.  Girls are asked to come to school is fancy Renaissance themed gowns or robes, and boys are asked to come in fancy Renaissance themed attire with a tie.  For more information and pictures please see Mme. Stella's blog.  Invitations were emailed out yesterday.
We did not have choir practice this week due to the Bake Sale.  Please make sure your child is practicing the choir song at home.  You can find the song lyrics at http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/theparenttrap/doyoubelieveinmagic.htm and play the song for them at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKyGyH9mWHk.


Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Nelson

Happy Thursday!

We started off the day today working on a writing activity.  The children were asked to create fictional stories of their choice that incorporated at least 3 of their weekly spelling words. It was great to see how innovative and creative the students are able to get with these types of tasks now!  During our unit of inquiry today the students continue working on their 'structures with a problem' stories.  In this assignment all the children were asked to create a fictional story about a structure with a problem (e.g a bridge with no end, a building without a roof, an elevator with no doors, etc.) and draw an illustration to go with it.  The students completed their stories and illustrations today and then all had a chance to read their completed stories to the class.  We all had a lot of fun with his.  We also began discussing a new topic in our structures unit- natural versus man made materials.  As a class we spoke about the differences, the pros and cons of using the two types of materials when building structures, and where the two different sources of materials come from.  The students then worked on an activity that had them sorting and organizing objects into 'man-made' and 'natural' categories.   In math today we had a mental math competition to practice this important skill.  Today's competition focused on odd and even numbers.  This was a new concept to many of the students, so it was nice to see them begin to pick up on it by the end.  Help your child practice counting their odds and even numbers at home tonight!  We had a class Spelling Bee in the afternoon that they really enjoyed that is going to help prepare for the 1st Annual St. Jude's Spelling Bee taking place on June 12th, 2012!   They also went to french and P.E classes.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words, complete 'natural versus man-made' worksheet and cursive pages 166 - 167.

Important information:  The Streetsville Library field trip forms are due back by Monday, April 16th if your child is attending.  This is a free trip that will allow them to complete the research component for an upcoming project, as well as explore the library and sign out books.

It seems there was confusion with this week's spelling words.  Please find the list at the end of this posting to help your child study for tomorrow's test.

It has been announced that St. Jude's is going to be having its first annual school-wide Spelling Bee on the 12th of June.  More details for this exciting event will follow shortly!

The upper year students are having a production of The 12th Night on Thursday, April 26th 2012.  All students from SJA are welcomed and encouraged to attend this free production with their friends and families.  The production begins at 7pm in the SJA auditorium. 

I am still waiting for report cards to be completed and returned to me from many students.  Please complete the 'Parent's Comments' section of the report card and return to school as soon as possible.

The French Cafe is taking place on May 4th at St. Jude's Academy.  All classes are participating for this exciting event.  Invitations with specific details will be sent out shortly.  Our class is doing a Renaissance piece for the event.  Girls are asked to come to school is fancy Renaissance themed gowns or robes, and boys are asked to come in fancy Renaissance themed attire with a tie.  For more information and pictures please see Mme. Stella's blog.

The Grandparent's Day concert is being combined with the French Cafe this year.  This means that all Grandparents will receive special invitations to this event on May 4th.

We did not have choir practice this week due to the Bake Sale.  Please make sure your child is practicing the choir song at home.  You can find the song lyrics at http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/theparenttrap/doyoubelieveinmagic.htm and play the song for them at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKyGyH9mWHk.


Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Grade One                    Grade Two
1. glad                            1. worked
2. flag                             2. sending
3. play                            3. wants
4. black                          4. glasses
5. clock                          5. sees
6. clay                            6. burning
7. fly                               7. reached
8. blue                            8. blue
9. glue                            9. wishes
10. clover                      10. opening

Good afternoon!

It was so nice to get back into the classroom today after such an extended time away.  It seems that everything went very well in my absence which was great to see.  I have heard from all the students that they had a great Easter weekend with their families which was nice to hear!
We started off the day today working on a writing activity.  In today's lesson we discussed recipes.  As a class we spoke about why we make recipes, and some of the good ways and not so good ways to create a recipe.  We read some examples of recipes and then created a recipe together as a class for scrambled eggs.  The children were then asked to go back to their seat and independently create a recipe of their own.  It was very neat to see some of the things they came up with!  Ask your child tonight to tell you about their recipe.  In language today the children worked on rhyming words, special sounds, contractions and cursive writing.  During our unit of inquiry today the students continue working on their 'structures with a problem' stories that they began yesterday.  In this assignment all the children were asked to create a fictional story about a structure with a problem (e.g a bridge with no end, a building without a roof, an elevator with no doors, etc.) and draw an illustration to go with it.  This activity will be completed in tomorrow's class and then marked with a rubric.    In math today the children worked on finding lines of symmetry (grade one) and estimating masses of various objects (grade two). They also went to french and P.E classes.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words and cursive pages 164 - 165.

Important information:  The Streetsville Library field trip forms are due back by Monday, April 16th if your child is attending.  This is a free trip that will allow them to complete the research component for an upcoming project, as well as explore the library and sign out books.

I am still waiting for report cards to be completed and returned to me from many students.  Please complete the 'Parent's Comments' section of the report card and return to school as soon as possible.

Today's SJA Bake Sale was a great success.  The Bake Sale if going to be running again for its final day tomorrow during reccess and after school.  If you would like your child to purchase something, they may bring money with them again tomorrow.  Baked goods start at 50 cents.

The French Cafe is taking place on May 4th at St. Jude's Academy.  All classes are participating for this exciting event.  Invitations with specific details will be sent out shortly.  Our class is doing a Renaissance piece for the event.  Girls are asked to come to school is fancy Renaissance themed gowns or robes, and boys are asked to come in fancy Renaissance themed attire with a tie.  For more information and pictures please see Mme. Stella's blog.

The Grandparent's Day concert is being combined with the French Cafe this year.  This means that all Grandparents will receive special invitations to this event on May 4th.


Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Good evening!

I was away again today at an IB conference at Upper Canada College.  I am looking forward to getting back into the classroom tomorrow morning!

Please don't forget about the SJA Bake Sale tomorrow at recess and after school.  The Bake Sale begins at 50 cents.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Good afternoon!

We started off the day today working on story writing.  Our class has become so successful turning their spelling words into sentences, that I have increased the expectations of them to now have to turn their spelling words into a creative writing story.  Each child was asked to create a story with any topic of their choice, and their challenge was to incorporate at least 3 of their weekly spelling words.  The stories that were turned in after this activity were great!  During our unit of inquiry today the students began building structures using the recycled materials that have been brought in this week.  The students were put into pairs and were allowed to create a structure of their choice (boat, car, tower, bed, chair, plane, etc.)  The only stipulations were that it was in fact a structure and that it was free standing.  The students will complete their structure in tomorrow's class and will be marked with a rubric.  Please see the pictures at the end of this blog posting of the students working hard today.  During the afternoon the children completed an Easter activity where they were each given a hard boiled egg that they were asked to decorate into a bunny.  A lot of creativity came out with this!  Each child is bringing home their Easter Bunny with them tonight.  They also went to french and P.E classes.


Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, and practice weekly spelling words for tomorrow's spelling test.

Important information:  All students have brought home a field trip form for our upcoming field trip to the Streetsville Library.  This trip is taking place on April 18th at 9:00am and it is a free trip.  At the library we are going to be taking a tour, listening to stories, and completing a structures research project.  Please make sure you return the signed permission form by April 16th at the latest.  Please note, there is a section on the form for you to indicate if you would like your child to sign up for a library card, and if you allow them to sign out books to take home with them.

I am still waiting for report cards to be completed and returned to me from many students.  Please complete the 'Parent's Comments' section of the report card and return to school as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, April 11th Miss. Elliot's class is going to be holding a bake sale during lunch recesses and after school.  They are hoping to raise funds for their upcoming Ottawa field trip.  Bake goods will start at 50 cents each.  If you would like your child to purchase something, please send money with them on that day.

The French Cafe is taking place on May 4th at St. Jude's Academy.  All classes are participating for this exciting event.  Invitations with specific details will be sent out shortly.  Our class is doing a Renaissance piece for the event.  Girls are asked to come to school is fancy Renaissance themed gowns or robes, and boys are asked to come in fancy Renaissance themed attire with a tie.  For more information and pictures please see Mme. Stella's blog.

Once we return from the Easter weekend students may come to school dressed in their summer uniforms.  This means that students can wear their polo shirts with their gray pants or tunics and do not have to wear a sweater or a vest.  Students may also come to school wearing their navy SJA shorts instead of pants on gym days.

The Grandparent's Day concert is being combined with the French Cafe this year.  This means that all Grandparent's will receive special invitations to this event on May 4th.

I am going to be away on an IB conference all day tomorrow and will not be at SJA.  I wish all families a safe, and happy Easter weekend.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Good afternoon!

We started off the day today in the computer lab.  The students were asked to complete various activities on the computer to help practice their keyboard and mouse skills.  Afterwards they were able to have some free time on the computer playing on www.pbskids.org.  During our unit of inquiry today the students learned all about the scientific method.  We learned that this is the model for science experiments that any scientist, at any stage, in any place would use to ensure that they perform an experiment correctly.   The students learned that there are 5 stages to the scientific method (1) have a question (2) make a hypothesis (3) perform the experiment (4) make your observations (5) create a conclusion for the experiment.  Today each child had to create their own question and hypothesis before we began our experiment using different materials to build structures.  The students had to test which type of material built the tallest structure.  The students made observations, throughout and formulated conclusions at the end of the experiment.  And we all had a lot of fun doing it!  Please see the pictures at the end of this blog posting.  In math we worked on measurement after our experiment.  The children were asked to estimate the heights of the towers and then measure them in centimeters.  They also went to french and music classes.


Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words, and cursive pages 160 - 161.

Important information:  SJA report cards went home on Friday.  All students have received their report cards.  I want to remind families that the final page of the report card needs to be completed and sent back to school.  Once we receive the completed final page, we will make a school copy and send it back to you to be kept as part of your own records.  Please send back the comments as soon as possible.

I am asking that children begin bringing in recycled materials for an art project that we are completing on Wednesday.  The students have been asked to look through their houses and recycling bins to find materials that can be cleaned and brought to school to build structures with.  Items we are looking for are cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, kleenex boxes, cotton balls, juice boxes, yogurt tubs, egg cartons, pop cans, water bottles, straws, empty toilet paper rolls, empty paper towel rolls,  pop bottles etc.  If you have any items that you can send in with your child for Wednesday's project it would be greatly appreciated.

On Wednesday, April 11th Miss. Elliot's class is going to be holding a bake sale during lunch recesses and after school.  They are hoping to raise funds for their upcoming Ottawa field trip.  Bake goods will start at 50 cents each.  If you would like your child to purchase something, please send money with them on that day.


The French Cafe is taking place on May 4th at St. Jude's Academy.  All classes are participating for this exciting event.  Invitations with specific details will be sent out shortly.  Our class is doing a Renaissance piece for the event.  Girls are asked to come to school is fancy Renaissance themed gowns or robes, and boys are asked to come in fancy Renaissance themed attire with a tie.  For more information and pictures please see Mme. Stella's blog.

Once we return from the Easter weekend students may come to school dressed in their summer uniforms.  This means that students can wear their polo shirts with their gray pants or tunics and do not have to wear a sweater or a vest.  Students may also come to school wearing their navy SJA shorts instead of pants on gym days.

The Grandparent's Day concert is being combined with the French Cafe this year.  This means that all Grandparent's will receive special invitations to this event on May 4th.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Happy Monday!

We started off the day today copying down the new weekly spelling words and working in spelling workbooks.  The students worked on words with 'r' blends (grade one) and words that have a vowel paired with an 'r' (grade two).  In our IB unit of inquiry today we had review session on the knowledge we have gained so far in this unit.  As a class the students reviewed what they know about materials, objects, structures, descriptive words and their 5 senses.  We had to opportunity to view a power point presentation of different interesting buildings in Canada and used the knowledge of descriptive words to discuss them.  The children then worked on an activity that had them naming and describing interesting buildings found in Ontario, such as the Rogers Centre, the CN Tower and Roy Thompson Hall.  Ask your child tonight to show you what they learned!  During language today we read another chapter of ' Dealing with Dragons' by Patricia Wrede and the students worked on their cursive.  In math we worked on exploring lines of symmetry (grade one) and measuring the masses of various objects (grade two).  They also went to french and P.E classes.


Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words, Spelling Workbook pages 105 - 108 (grade one) 101 - 104 (grade two), math page 169 and cursive pages 156 - 157.

Important information:  SJA report cards went home on Friday.  All students have received their report cards.  I want to remind families that the final page of the report card needs to be completed and sent back to school.  Once we receive the completed final page, we will make a school copy and send it back to you to be kept as part of your own records.  Please send back the comments as soon as possible.

I am asking that children begin bringing in recycled materials for an art project that we are completing on Wednesday.  The students have been asked to look through their houses and recycling bins to find materials that can be cleaned and brought to school to build structures with.  Items we are looking for are cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, kleenex boxes, cotton balls, juice boxes, yogurt tubs, egg cartons, pop cans, water bottles, straws, empty toilet paper rolls, empty paper towel rolls,  pop bottles etc.  If you have any items that you can send in with your child for Wednesday's project it would be greatly appreciated.

The SJA Running Club will meet on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

The French Cafe is taking place on May 4th at St. Jude's Academy.  All classes are participating for this exciting event.  Invitations with specific details will be sent out shortly.  Our class is doing a Renaissance piece for the event.  Girls are asked to come to school is fancy Renaissance themed gowns or robes, and boys are asked to come in fancy Renaissance themed attire with a tie.  For more information please see Mme. Stella's blog.

Once we return from the Easter weekend students may come to school dressed in their summer uniforms.  This means that students can wear their polo shirts with their gray pants or tunics and do not have to wear a sweater or a vest.  Students may also come to school wearing their navy SJA shorts instead of pants on gym days.

April 6th is Good Friday.  There is no school on this day.

April 9th is Easter Monday.  There is no school on this day.

The Grandparent's Day concert is being combined with the French Cafe this year.  This means that all Grandparent's will receive special invitations to this event on May 4th.

Contrary to the school calendar, the Skate-a-thon is NOT taking place on the 27th of April.  Details regarding the Skate-a-thon will become available as soon as possible.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Grade One                 Grade Two

1. brown                     1. world
2. green                       2. girl
3. trap                         3. skirt
4. from                        4. her
5. drink                       5. first
6. broke                      6. worth
7. grow                       7. word
8. train                         8. sir
9. grew                       9. turn
10. brow                    10. were