Dear Families,

I hope you've had a wonderful work week!  Spring is here again!!!  The temperatures and sunny skies have been amazing :)  Everyone is seizing and savouring it!  Have a great weekend with your family, I look forward to hearing all about your experiences through your child's recount journal on Monday morning!

Hatching Baby Chicks:
It is with excitement and joy that I share with you all the newest members of our class community – fertilized chick eggs!  On Monday evening, I went to Farmer Mike's farm in Stayner to get them.  Then on Tuesday morning, your child had the opportunity to listen and learn all about the process and procedure for hatching baby chicks.  I carefully placed 10 fertilized eggs on the rotator in our incubator which is serving as the mother hen.  

Over the weekend if you have a moment, please ask your child the following questions, you'll be amazed at their knowledge they've gained already about this exciting learning :)

What is a female chicken called?  (hen)
What is a male chicken called?  (rooster)
What is a growing chick callled?  (embryo)
Where does the embryo get its food/nutrients from?  (egg yolk)
How does it travel to the embryo?/  (blood vessels)
How long does it take for a baby chick to hatch?  (21 days)
How many degrees must the incubator be to keep the eggs warm?  (39 degrees)
What does the baby chick use to peck its way out of the egg shell?  (egg tooth)

Thank you Mrs. Roth for our incubator and fiction/non-fiction texts!!

Math Learning Goal:
We are learning to describe, sort and compare three-dimensional figures by their attributes when building structures.  We had a very productive week in math.  Students worked in small groups to create a "Space Structure."  Everyone was engaged, enthusiastic, and excited by this process.  I would like to extend a warm thank you to the families/students who brought in everyday 3-D objects.  They came in purposeful use for all learners to sort, classify, and describe 3-D figures while building to their heart's content.  Your love and support in our learning is deeply appreciated!  Here are a few pictures from our lesson, enjoy :)

Thank you Brody for making 3-D figures at home and consolidating your thinking :)

Emma, Layla, Alexander, Nolan - planning their 'Outer Space Gas Station'

Conrad, Daniel, Kyran, Karrington - planning their 'Outerspace Home'

Kurtis, Cassius, Brody, Ava - planning their 'Rocket Ship'

Building their rocket ship

Karina, Carissa, Jacob, Miika successfully built their Rocket Ship!

Emma, Nolan, Layla's space gas station

"Miss Gill, we did it too!"  A Space home.

Check out the wishing well that Kyran built :)

Gallery Walk to share their thinking and learning

Ava proud of her group's work!

Gallery Walk at Miika's table

Gallery walk at Karrington's table

Daniel ready to share his star/arrow feedback to his peers

Quote:
"Be kind.  Help others.  Be truthful.  Be responsible.  Be a good friend.  Work together.  Play fair.  Share.  Have respect.  Believe in yourself."

Namaste, Miss Gill

PS:  I apologize for not posting or capturing pictures of the Mad Science visit or P.J. Day on Thursday.  I had a family emergency and was absent from school.   

Dear Families,

I hope you've had a wonderful work week!  Can you believe snow in April!?  I'm so happy I kept my snow tires on, phewy!  Today's drive to school was snow covered.  Although, it's supposed to continue being cooler temperatures leading into Saturday, I think we have SUNSHINE on the horizon which is a treat!  Enjoy soaking them in :)  Have a great weekend with your family.

Sarah Westbrooke;
On Monday afternoon, Mrs. Bell invited Sara Westbrooke a motivational singer, songwriter, and speaker joined our school community to do a special presentation on Respect & Resilience for students in K-8.  Sara left such a positive impression on the hearts and minds of ALL staff and students.  You could feel her energy continue to radiate throughout our school even long after she left Monday afternoon.  Her chant of "UPower, RE-SPECT" can be heard throughout our halls, classrooms, and the school yard.  Thank you Ms. Westbrooke for providing us with purposeful strategies (UPower Map, UPower Journal, and UPower Asking) to help bring out in the best qualities in us all ... love, compassion, unity, and RESPECT for our selves and others.  I am so very proud that my students had the opportunity to think, learn, and GROW with YOU (Sara).
Here is a link to visit Sarah's website and check out her songs about character ...
http://www.sarawestbrooke.com/music/  

Thank you Mrs. Knowler (Carissa's Mom) to have made this suggestion to have the amazing Ms. Westbrooke visit our school to help inspire us all!!  Mrs. Bell, school staff, and students appreciate it!

Express yourself :)  Way to go Mrs. Bell

Keeping a tune creatively and mindfully

Sarah's passion shines through!

Alexander and Conrad had the opportunity to share their thinking up close and personal :)

Choosing to be superheroes for RESPECT!!

Earth Day Celebration:
On Wed. we celebrated Earth Day as a class and school family.  In the morning, we had the pleasure of having Mrs. Roth join us and do a variety of engaging, purposeful, and FUN Earth related activities!  I am sure your child came home last evening beaming to share their Earth treasures with you!  Students made Earth cookies, bird feeders, decorated stones, sang songs, and listened to stories. Everyone participated with positive energy, enthusiasm, and engagement!  Mrs. Roth is a cherished member of our Learning Community.  She continues to contribute her time, efforts, love with us all.  Her passion for helping children grow into their best selves is most admirable and valued.  I know it meant a lot to the students to spend quality time with her again and honour the compassionate, caring, and thoughtful person she is.  Thank you Mrs. Roth for consistently supporting, loving and caring about our learning!  We respect and cherish you!  xo.
Here are a few pictures that I captured during Mrs. Roth's visit.

Mrs. Roth's treasures!

Doing Brain Gym with Mrs. Roth to begin the day's lesson

Decorating Earth Bags

Mrs. Roth listening attentively to Conrad's thinking about Mother Earth

Alexander

Layla

Ava

Kurtis

Working together to get the job done!

Sharing is CARING!

Way to go boys and girls!

Ava's Earth cookie

Nolan

Emma

Brody

Kyran

Jacob

Making bird feeders

Brody's completed bird feeder

Look Miss Gill, I did it!

Working diligently and carefully

I love Mother Earth!!

Conrad's feeder

Nolan & Carissa:

Way to go Nolan for putting in your personal best in your writing (Recount).  Mrs. Bell and I are so proud of your efforts!  Your hard work is paying off and it has been a pleasure watching you grow as a wonderful thinker and writer.  Keep it up, kiddo!

On Thursday morning, Carissa arrived to school with a bright smile and had a beautifully illustrated note for me.  Thank you Carissa for filling my heart with your thoughtful gesture, you amaze and delight me everyday!!  I appreciate you taking the time and effort to think of me.  I will cherish your note, always!!

Way to WRITE, Nolan!

Thank you Carissa!  You're such a thoughtful person inside & OUT!

Quote:
"The Earth is what we all have in common."  -- Wendell Berry

Namaste,

Miss Gill