Updated important dates

Check out the updated important dates in the side bar. As we near the end of the year, things are getting busy!

May 10th - Walk for Water

WE Walk For Water 

Hello everyone! ME to WE is hosting the fundraiser; We Walk For Water on May 10th. This campaign is about raising money for those communities without fresh and clean water sources.  Some people have to walk miles to be able to get to a water source and some of these sources are contaminated. This causes many young children, majority of them being young girls, to be unable to attend school and get a proper education. We are asking everyone at CJP to bring a loonie or a toonie for donations for the We Walk for Water campaign. Just $25 will allow one individual to be able to access clean water for life. Everyone deserves access to clean water, but not everyone can afford it.  

 
 

The Water Walk will take place on Friday May 10^th on the outside field rain or shine.  Instead of using actual jugs of water or pebbles, students will bring their backpacks outside.  Students will hold their backpack over their head and walk around the field to complete laps. This symbolizes the long walk to water that many young children face in other countries.   

 
 

Some facts to inspire you to participate in the We Walk for Water fundraiser: 

·       42% of health care facilities including hospitals and local clinics in Africa do not have access to a clean and non-contaminated water sources. 

·       Nearly 900 children die per day due to diseases caused by contaminated water. 

·       By 2050, 1 in 4 people will live where there is no fresh water 

·       Young children are unable to have a good education due to them having to fetch water that isn’t even clean, so that their families can cook and have water. 

Some questions to ask your children: 
 

·       How would your routine change if you didn’t have any access to clean water? 

·       How would you feel if you couldn’t go to school, and instead you had to go retrieve water for your family? 

·       What are some ways you can help save water? 

Hats on for Mental Health

 .                  

Remember to wear your hat to school tomorrow for Hats On! For Mental Health Day. 

http://canwetalk.ca/

Critical Thinking Challenge

We're beginning our exploration of the prairie provinces. We started by critically looking at various pictures of the prairie landscape; asking ourselves what we saw, thought, and wondered. Students share their ideas with a friend and then with the class (something we call think, pair, share). After looking through many pictures and discuss the landscape of the prairies, students created their own version of the prairie landscape. Over the next couple weeks we'll continue to explore the prairie climate, culture, heritage, and daily life.

Neighbourhood Safety

Constable Rich talked to Room 2 and 3 about being safe in our community. He had a lot of very good ideas for safety after school, getting off the bus or just walking in our community. 

It is important that families talk to their children and have a small list of the safe adults who can pick the child up. If you want to add a code word, that can add an extra level of safety. If someone your child is familiar with comes, your child can ask for the code word.

Whether your child is meeting you after school, walking home, or getting off a bus, you need to have a meeting spot. If you are not there, it is very important that you have discussed what to do. Children can ask a safe adult (like a parent with kids) to call you. It is important that they know your number well enough that they can recall it even when a bit worried or upset.

Walking in the community

• Cross at crosswalks, lights or corners.
• Look both ways and lock eyes with the driver so you know they see you.
• Keep looking as you cross the street.
• Use the sidewalks and paths

Many thanks to Constable Rich for helping the children and their families keep our communities safe!

Spring is here....at least until the weekend!

Today we went outside to observe evidence of Spring changes in our school environment.  We thought about our different senses we could use to explore like: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste (though we decided we shouldn't taste anything in our school yard....and instead imagined that the bees were enjoying sweet nectar.)
We worked on adding details to our writing.  Instead of just writing: I saw buds, we discussed the importance of describing where, how many/how much and other details, creating sentences like:  I noticed buds beginning to open on some of the trees.   Just like not ALL of the lawn is green.  Some areas have more new growth than others.  Words like all, most, some, only a few, none, are important to use and understand when making accurate observations.

We also talked about the differences between a picture and a scientific diagram.  Ask your child to tell you a few of their differences.

Building spatial awareness with Constructive Triangles, during Montessori Work Period.












Reminders: 

 Tomorrow is our CJP Dance Celebration of learning!  Hope to see many of you!

From the Learning Commons...

Please remember to gather and bring your boat building supplies for tomorrow!

Thank you!

Ms. Hoogers

Happy Long Weekend!

There is no school for students tomorrow or Monday, April 22. Have a great long weekend! 

We've had a busy day so here's a brief synopsis of some of our activities:

Phys. Ed. - Skipping - Students have been working on hopping on one foot, two feet, forwards and backwards. This is an essential gross motor skill that is necessary for most sports later in life so it's important that grade 1 and 2 students are successful. Skipping is a more developed skill and students in Room 2 and 3 are doing an excellent job. Today they worked in a group to practice turning the rope and skipping between two people. It's a hard skill but many persevered and are improving.

Writing - Storytelling - a big part of our language curriculum is oral storytelling. We're going to start working on writing stories but it starts with being able to cohesively tell a story. Today we read a familiar Robert Munsch book, retold the story, and talked about the characters.

Dance - Next week we have our performance and we can't wait to share our awesome moves!

Math - Mental math strategies - doubles and making ten - It is so important that students develop a solid math foundation in grade one and two. Today we talked more about doubles and making ten. If you're noticing that your child is struggling with his/her basic facts, it's a good idea to make some flash cards with doubles and making ten.

Doubles:
1+1=2
2+2=4
3+3=6
...
9+9=18

Making ten
1+9=10
2+8=10
3+7=10
...
9+1=10

Performance poster

CJP DANCE
PERFORMANCE
April 24, 2019 from 5:15 - 7:15pm

This month, students have had the opportunity to learn from Zam, a Sound Kreations instructor. Each class has created a dance routine. We invite families to come see their children’s AMAZING dance performances. It will be located in the gymnasium.

5:15 - 6:00pm
Ms. Anderson’s Rm 4 AM Kindergarten
Mrs. Patel’s Rm 5 AM Kindergarten
Ms. Pretty’s Rm 16 Grade 5 & 6s
Mrs. Halsall and Mrs. Wacker’s, Rm 2 Grade 1 & 2s Mrs. Harvey’s Rm 6 Grade 1 & 2s
Mr. Gustafson’s Rm 24 Grade 5 & 6s Ms. Tang’s Rm 11 Grade 3 & 4s
Mrs. Wilpert’s Rm 25 Grade 5 & 6s Ms. Howard’s Rm 21 Grade 1 & 2s
Ms. Anderson’s Rm 4 PM Kindergarten Mrs. Patel’s Rm 5 PM Kindergarten

6:30 - 7:15pm
Ms. Rohrbacher’s Rm 18 Grade 5 & 6s Mrs. Ma’s Rm 8 Grade 3 & 4s
Ms. Betty’s Rm 13 Grade 1 & 2s
Mrs. Warkentin’s Rm 9 Grade 3s
Mrs. Taylor & Mrs. McCullough’s Rm 3 Grade 1 & 2s Ms Youngblood’s Rm 10 Grade 3 & 4s
Mrs. Ross’ Rm 19 Grade 4 & 5s
Mrs. Pawliw’s Rm 15 Grade 5 & 6s
Mrs. Holman’s Rm 20 Grade 1 & 2s
Ms. Yong’s Rm 7 Grade 3 & 4s
Ms. Humphrey’s Rm 17 Grade 5 & 6s

Old MacDonald is in the class!

Creating small environments, like setting out a farm set, is a way for children to explore elements of sentence structure in the Montessori classroom.  During the Montessori work period, the children can arrange the farm scene then use different parts of speech to describe the relationship between the parts of the farm. 

We are focusing on describing the position of the different elements, using positional words or prepositions (behind, in, on, beside). 

The children are also doing a lot of thinking about using appropriate verbs and articles.  For example we use is for singular objects and are for plural objects.  (The calves are in the paddock.  A calf is beside a scrub.)

The farm set will also help us think more about prairie life, which the class is exploring during social studies. 

Boats and Buoyancy

The grade 1/2 classes have been learning about boats and buoyancy in the Learning Commons! We have classified and ordered materials based on their buoyancy, tested floating materials and sinking materials and introduced the term, “density.”

Our students are now ready to apply their understanding of buoyancy, waterproofing, and parts of a watercraft to design their very own. In the Learning Commons over the next few weeks, students will be given an opportunity to design and build a watercraft and modify it to increase stability and carry a load.

Your child will be building their boat at school but they have been asked to gather materials at home. Please support your child in finding recyclable/household supplies that they can bring to school on Wednesday. Possible material ideas include: craft supplies, household items (tools, kitchen items, etc.) tin foil, wax paper, wood pieces, styrofoam trays. When selecting materials, you will want to consider:

1. Is it waterproof?
2. Is it stiff enough to hold a load (marbles)?
3. How buoyant is it?

Thank you for your support with this project!

Ms. Hoogers

What is groove?

We had Sound Kreations again today. The students started learning the roots of hip hop and discussed what groove is.  Nathaniel explained it as how we can feel the beat of the music in our bodies and how we respond to it.  Today we worked not only on the steps to our dance but also worked on putting expression into our moves to feel the music. 

Today we did peer evaluations of the scientific insect drawings we did last Friday.  We learned about giving positive and constructive feedback.  This drawing project helps us with two goals:

1.  I can identify the structures (parts) of an insect.
2. I can use feedback to improve my work.

The children reviewed their feedback and looked carefully at their drawings.  This is a difficult process! We then did a second drawing of their insect specimen, working hard to implement suggestions from their review.  Through all this deep looking children will also solidify their understanding of an insect's structure. 

Sound Kreations

Today was our first day of dance with Sound Kreations. Students are learning a dance and will put on an evening performance on April 24. Keep an eye on our blog and your email for further information in the near future.

Please remember to book online for our student led conferences this week!

drawing like a scientist

Armed with magnifying glasses and our scientist perspectives, the children in the class worked on creating realistic drawing of insects.

We explored a powerpoint on insect to help us understand some of the criteria that makes an insect, an insect.

We learned that they all have three body parts: head, thorax and abdomen.
Insects have 6 legs
Insects have eyes
Most insects have antennae to help them sense their environment

Next week will will do a peer evaluation and use that information to help use improve our pictures.