Friday, May 27, 2011

May 31, 2011

May 31, 2011

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Another great week at General Lake, ending with one of the most popular of the spirit days... Pyjama Day. Students in most Core English classes cozied up for a read aloud by Dr. Seuss called "Hooray For Diffendoofer Day". I chose this book in honour of our Grade 3's who began their EQAO testing on Monday. All students have been reminded to be on their best behaviour keeping the noise down for the week showing respect to our grade 3's who will be working hard at completing the assessment. Grade 6's will begin their testing next Tuesday.

Many students have signed up for the Talent show. Wednesday will be the last day to sign up and a note will go home with all students who have signed up informing them about the dates of the audition, as well as the criteria the panel of judges will use to select the successful candidates. Unfortunately we will not be able to take all acts because of time constraints, but we do hope to get a good variety of acts included. I do hope to videotape all the auditions, so even if your child is not selected for the show, we can show a short part of their peformance during another assembly.


Finally the following links were forwarded to me from a colleague about how families can deal with the stress of military life.
http://www.circleofmoms.com/blogger/tips-military-families
http://blog.whileyouwereaway.org/. I thought I would pass them along as they seem quite useful and informative.

Coming Events
June 3 Character assembly: Mme Bernardin's class cheer
June 6 PA Day
May 30 -June 10 EQAO Primary and Junior Assessment
June 15 Spring Fling
June 13,14,15 Auditions for talent show
June 21 Talent Show: 12:00 -2:00
June 24 Grade 8 Graduation

Homework

Grade 1 Reading
Grade 2 Reading
Grade 3 No homework
Grade 4 Bell No homework
Grade 4 Independent Reading
Grade 5 Independent Reading
Grade 6 Independent Reading

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

May 24, 2011

May 24, 2011
Dear Parents,
It was a great end to the week with an anti-bullying show presented by the Blues Lady Maria Hawkins, as well as our school-wide Hawaiian Day. Students in Core English learned an Hawaiian song called The Hukilau. I have enclosed the words for the younger students to practice at home.

In the Core English classes students have been participating in lessons on parts of speech including several lessons from the Ontario Resource Bank. You can access these video lessons at http://resources.elearningontario.ca/.

I am still working on assessing all reading levels and sight word recognition for the Grade 1's and 2's. As soon as I assess your child I will send home some feedback for you to see how your child is doing.

Finally the Parent Council would like to invite you on May 30 from 4:45 pm to 6:00 pm for an introduction to the School Food and Beverage Policy that will be in force September 1, 2011 in all Public School in Ontario. The purpose of this meeting is to inform you on how this School Food and Beverage Policy will affect our hot lunches as well as our fund raising activities and more. Ms Carolyn Froats-Emond, community dietitian from the Renfrew County District Health unit, will be our guest speaker for this hour. She will provide valuable information and will be happy to answer all of your questions or concerns regarding this new Policy. The regular Parent Council meeting will follow from 6:00 until 7:00.

Up and Coming Events:

May 30 Parent Council Meeting with special guest speaker on new Food and Beverage Policy (5:00 -6:00 )
May 27 Pyjama Day
End of the month Character assembly: Mme Bernardin's class cheer
May 30-June 10 EQAO Primary and Junior Assessment
June 15 Spring Fling
June 13,14,15 Auditions for talent show
June 21 Talent Show: 12:00 -2:00
June 24 Grade 8 Graduation

Homework:
Grade 1 and 2 Reading Printing worksheet
Grade 3, 4, 5, 6 EQAO assessment prep
Ms. Legault

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Hawaiian song

Hukilau - by Jack Owens

Oh we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki huki hukilau
Everybody loves the hukilau
Where the laulau is the kaukau at the luau
We throw our nets out into the sea
And all the amaama come a swimming to me
Oh, we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki hukilau

A huki huki huki huki hukilau
Everybody loves the hukilau
Where the laulau is the kaukau at the luau
We throw our nets out into the sea
And all the amaama come a swimming to me
Oh, we're going to a hukilau
A huki huki huki hukilau

Monday, May 16, 2011

May 17, 2011

May 17, 2011
Dear Parents,
Lots of Superstars showed up for Core English on Friday. Among the celebrities we had Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Princess Kate, Michael Cammalleri, Justin Beiber, Corey Hart and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Even Michael Jackson made an appearance. It was a pretty exciting day which ended a pretty busy week. Don't forget Hawaiian Day on Friday.

We have been continuing our work with the EQAO type assessments, preparing the grade threes and sixes for their assessment at the end of May. The other grades (2, 4 and 5) have benefited by learning what will come. I have marked many of the assessments and I was quite pleased how well all the students are doing. Even the students who are not participating in the assessment this year are achieving level 3's and 4's. Thanks to all students for working so hard. Don't forget to return all EQAO prep duotangs.

I am currently working on assessing all reading levels and sight word recognition for the Grade 1's and 2's. As soon as I assess your child I will send home some feedback for you to see how your child is doing.


Up and Coming Events:
May 20 Hawaiian Day and Maria Hawkins Performance (Anti-bullying theme)
May 23 Victoria day Holiday
May 27 Pyjama Day
End of the month Character assembly 'Compassion' (date to be announced): Several students in Mme Bernardin's class have been working on a cheer to present to the school during the assembly.
May 30-June 10 EQAO Primary and Junior Assessment
June 15 Spring Fling: More information to follow. But mark this date on your calendar. It's sure to be a fun filled event for the whole family.
June 13,14,15 Auditions for talent show to be held in the gym during first nutrition break. We will have a sign-up sheet. We hope to accept about 20 acts represented by a range of grades and varying talents.
June 21 Talent Show: Time to be announced
June 24 Grade 8 Graduation

Homework:
Grade 1 Reading Printing worksheet
Grade 2 Reading Printing worksheet
Grade 3 EQAO assessment prep
Grade 4 EQAO assessment prep
Grade 5 EQAO assessment prep
Grade 6 EQAO assessment prep
Enjoy the long weekend!
Ms. Legault

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Spring Fling

UPDATE: Spring Fling is being held June 15, 2011. Mark your calendars with this date. Sorry for any confusion with dates ( I had posted the incorrect date previously on this blog. Luckily the mistake was caught and the hard copy of the newsletter is correct). It's sure to be a fun-filled family event at General Lake. Thanks to the Parent Council for all their hard work putting this amazing event together.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

May 9, 2011

May 9, 2011

Dear Parents/Guardians
I am away May 10, so the homework packages and the hard copy of newsletter will be delayed one day.

Thanks to everyone for supporting our Fundraiser for Technology. The final numbers are not in yet, but we estimate we raised about $700.00. Special thanks to Claudia and Erin for volunteering to process the orders and count the money. If anyone has any ideas for fundraising we would love to hear from you. The next Parent Council Meeting is at the end of the month.

Another great week in Core English as the students are working hard preparing for the EQAO. Students in all grades are being introduced to sample questions. For the next couple of weeks we will be working on both persuasive and descriptive writing. Primary students have been working on Persuasive Writing (Writing designed to persuade or convince) I introduced the lesson by having the kids decide whether Chippy (the Rat) would make a good Yard Patrol(Peer Mediator) and then they developed their argument either for or against. Lots of creative ideas were put forward and we enjoyed a laugh or two as we worked. Junior students have been working on descriptive writing by describing their favourite memory from this year. We spent a couple of days substituting some 'SALSA' words to enhance our writing. Instead of 'laughed' we discovered 'heehawed' and instead of 'funny' we added 'jocularity'. Again lots of fun was had with the new super vocabulary.

This week the Primary will be working on descriptive words (adjectives). Here's a copy of the funny old camp song we sang together with descriptive adjectives:
Great green gobs of greasy grimey gopher guts
Mutilated monkey meat
Little birdies dirty feet
Great green gobs of greasy grimey gopher guts
Shucks I forgot my spoon

Up and Coming events
May 3 New 'Yard Patrol' schedule has been established. Students should check outside Mme Legault's room or listen for announcements for their duties.
May 13 Dress like your favourite Superstar
May 20 Hawaiian Day and Maria Hawkins Performance (Anti-bullying theme)
May 23 Victoria day Holiday
May 27 Pyjama Day
End of the month Character assembly 'Compassion' (date to be announced): Several students in Mme Bernardin's class have been working on a cheer to present to the school during the assembly.
May 30-June 10 EQAO Primary and Junior Assessment
June 15 Spring Fling: More information to follow. But mark this date on your calendar. It's sure to be a fun filled event for the whole family.
June 21 Talent Show: More details to follow. I will probably hold auditions the week before.
June 24 Grade 8 Graduation

Homework
Grade 1 Reading/ Sight Word Worksheet
Grade 2 Reading/ Spelling Word Worksheet
Grade 3 EQAO Package/Reading Incentive Program
Grade 4 EQAO Package/Reading Incentive Program
Grade 5 EQAO Package/Reading Incentive Program
Grade 6 EQAO Package/Reading Incentive Program

Thanks for your continued support
Ms Legault

Monday, May 2, 2011

May 3, 2011

May 3, 2011

Dear Parents,

Just one last appeal to everyone to get those orders into the school for our Technology Fundraiser. The date has been extended until Friday, May 6 . Every little bit counts. Thanks to all those who have already returned their orders.

Monday was Music Monday, a day designated to promote awareness of the importance of music in the schools. Students in schools all over Canada sang the song written by Luke Doucet entitled "Tomorrow is Coming". In Core English many of the classes examined the lyrics looking for the main idea. Some students on Friday had the opportunity to create a media text (poster) to inform students, staff, and parents about Music Monday. I gave copies of the lyrics to those students who wanted. You can access the song at Itunes for 99 cents. All proceeds go back to support Music Monday. For more information see http://musicmakesus.ca/musicmonday/

Homework

Grade 1 Independent Sight words (Chosen by student) Reading Program

Grade 2 Independent Spelling words Chosen by student) Reading program

Grade 3 -6 EQAO Prep package/ Reading Incentive Program

Mme Malette's class completed their non-fiction brochure. Students are reminded to hand those in by Wednesday, if they have not yet done so. We will not be using any more class time for completion.

Thanks and have a wonderful week
Ms. Legault