Tomorrow the class has earned hot chocolate and a cookie.  Please send along a mug so we aren’t using single use cups…thanks Planet Protectors for teaching us about caring for our world!

We had a great week at school this week!  Students have been working hard and we have been getting a lot of things accomplished.  Here is a quick snapshot of what we have been doing in class this week:

Math – We are working on various problem solving strategies.

Language Arts – We are working on a novel study on the book, “The City of Ember”, are working on our grammar booklets, and are learning how to pull information from non-fiction books, take jot notes and turn these notes into paragraphs.

Social Studies – we are learning about the different regions of Canada.  Students are working in pairs and using the research skills they’ve learned in LA to read and take jot notes on their specific region.

Science – we completed Week 5 of planet protectors, focusing on buying smart.  Next week we will finish up this fantastic unit and plan our assembly for Feb 7th.

Health – we are working through the different core competencies and next week we will be making goals for ourselves based on the competencies.

Here are a few things coming up…

Bake Sale:  Thank you SO MUCH for helping us with our bake sale by bringing in lots of yummy treats!  This was the first year EVER that we have sold out of baking.  I am excited to announce that we raised $520 for compost bins and the Guatemala Missions Team.  Well done!!

Pajama Day on Tuesday:  Wear your comfy pj’s to school on Tuesday!  If you do not want to wear pajamas then please wear your regular uniform.

SWEET TREAT:  Students worked hard these last few weeks of school and the mystery prize has been revealed.  On Tuesday students will be getting cookies and hot chocolate as a reward for working hard to get back into routine after Christmas break (and our snow days)!

Report Cards Coming Home:  These will be handed out at the end of the day next Friday.  Please email or stop by if you have any questions.

Upcoming Events:

Jan 28 – Pajama Day

Jan. 31 – Report Cards Go Home

Feb 4th – Class Leads Assembly on Composting

Feb 7th – Ski Trip

Feb 11th – Skating

Feb 14th – Red, White & Pink Dress Up Day

Feb 17th – Family Day (no school)

Feb 21st – Pro D Day

Feb 25th – Math Mayhem at 6:30 pm

It seems kind of funny sending a weekly update when we have only had one day of school!  We do have some things coming up over the next several weeks so please keep reading…

BMV – we have a new Bible Memory Verse for next week.  It is updated on the Bible Memory tab of this blog and has been handed out today.

No Half Day on Monday – just a reminder that we have a full day of school on Monday.

Bake Sale on Tuesday – please bring 20 sweets to sell on Monday.  If you are picking up donuts then please bring them to the foyer on Tuesday morning.

Hot Lunch on Friday – today is the last day to order hot lunch from Munch A Lunch

Gym Strips – we still have a few students without gym strips.  Please send for Tuesday.

Daily Homework – students should be going onto XtraMath each day as well as reading for 20 minutes.

Upcoming Events:

Jan. 24 – Knight Day/Hot Lunch

Jan 28 – Pajama Day

Jan. 31 – Report Cards Go Home

Feb 4th – Class Leads Assembly on Composting

Feb 7th – Ski Trip

Feb 14th – Red, White & Pink Dress Up Day

Feb 17th – Family Day (no school)

Feb 21st – Pro D Day

Feb 25th – Math Mayhem at 6:30pm

Good morning!  I wanted to get this out to you right away, before you start decorating cupcakes!  As we have had snow days all week and there is more snow in the forecast today, I thought it would be wise to change the date of the bake sale.

We will now have the bake sale on Tuesday, January 21st. My cupcakes have gone into the freezer – they do freeze very well!  You can bring your baking to school on Monday and we will set up Tuesday morning.

Thank you!

The weather is SNOWY this week!  I am hopeful we will be able to have our bake sale on Thursday!  As I am unsure what tomorrow will look like – school or snow day – I am wondering if it’s easiest to bring our baking on THURSDAY MORNING before school.  That way you can have it ready Wednesday evening instead of tonight.

If it’s possible to bring it by 8:30 that would be great!  If not then no worries, we will put it out when you get here!

Thanks!

Mrs. Goosen

We have survived our first week back at school!  I am proud of how the class gotten back into the swing of things!  We had several new things starting this week.  The first was the Tower of Books challenge!  Wow, the class has certainly exceeded my expectations on how much they are reading!  I am very proud of them!

We also have a “Can You Unlock the Mystery” activity happening in our room.  This is something the students are working to earn, good behaviour gets them closer to a class prize!  The picture below shows you what the activity looks like!  They have five remaining pieces to take off of the mystery picture…then they will earn their prize!

Bake Sale:  Please send baking to school on Wednesday (unless you are purchasing donuts – then Thursday morning).  Students will sign up for a slot to come and sell items at the bake sale.  Thank you in advance for helping us with this sale.  It is very SWEET of you!

Hot Lunch:  The next hot lunch is coming up.  Go onto munchalunch.com to order your lunch!

Half Day Reminder:  We have a half day on Monday, January 20th.  It is not in the calendar so I wanted to make sure to highlight it.

Upcoming Events:

Jan 20 – Half Day

Jan. 24 – Knight Day/Hot Lunch

Jan. 31 – Report Cards Go Home

Bake Sale on Thursday, January 16th

The grades 5 class is hosting a bake sale next Thursday, January 16th to help us purchase compost bins for our Green Games project.  We are starting up a composting program in the intermediate department and would like to raise money to get our program started.  We will likely raise more than we need and will be making a donation to the high school missions team as well.   We need each student in our class to bring in 20 pieces/items on Wednesday, January 15th – that way we have everything and can set up before school on Thursday.  Please make sure the baking is tightly sealed to maintain its freshness. Baking may be from home or purchased; please make everything NUT-FREE.  Each ‘piece’ should be about the size of a large square or cupcake.  If making little items like small cookies, please make 40.   Donuts are always a huge hit.  If you choose to purchase those then please bring a dozen on Thursday morning.  Thanks so much for your support.  If you have any questions, please direct them to Mrs. Goosen.  (pgoosen@highroadacademy.com)

Waste Free Lunch on Friday

In Science we have been learning ways to reduce the amount of garbage we produce.  This week we took a look at our lunches and brainstormed ways we could bring a lunch that contains less waste.  We came up with things like using containers instead of ziploc bags, bringing a water bottle instead of pre-packaged juice, and bringing less things that come already packaged.  On Friday we are going to do our best to bring a waste free lunch!  We have invited other classes to join us.

Cozy Casual Day on Thursday

Students raised enough points from the food drive in December to earn a cozy casual day.  This is a day to wear comfy clothes to school (not pj’s).

Ski Trip Payment Reminder

Ski trip payment is Wednesday and Thursday after school.  Forms also need to be returned this week (to the classroom).

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break!  It’s hard to believe that we go back to school tomorrow!  We have a lot of things happening in January as well as some changes to our weekly routine so please read on!

Ski Trip Payment & Form Return – on Wednesday and Thursday of this week we will be taking payment for the ski trip in the lobby after school.  You will be able to pay cash, cheque or debit. These are the only two days available to pay for the trip.  We also need the ski trip forms signed and returned this week.

PE Strip Returned – Please return PE strips by Tuesday as we have gym in the morning.

Planet Protector Booklets Returned – if your child’s booklet is still at home, please return tomorrow.

Spelling – in January we will be transitioning from weekly spelling lists to weekly grammar assignments.  Each week students will have a series of grammar assignments to work on at school and home (if need be).  They will be assigned on Monday and due on Friday.  These assignments work through a wide variety of grammar related activities and will help strengthen their writing skills.  Marks will be put under ‘spelling’ in Myed.

Tower of Books Reading Challenge – We are starting a group reading challenge this week.  Students are in groups of 5 and will be challenged to read 40 books collectively as a team.  They have a variety of options, spanning different genres of text.  There will be prizes awarded to the teams that reach their goal and smaller incentives to keep them reading. Students are able to use books they read at school and at home to go towards their ‘tower of books’.  I am asking that students read 20 minutes per day at home, as the benefits of reading are numerous!

Math Facts – Multiplication facts are foundational to so much of what we do in Math and it is important that students know their basic facts.  On the blog I have a link to Xtra Math and I would like students to practice their Math daily at home, like they did their spelling words.

Upcoming Dates:

January

Jan. 6 – School Resumes

Jan. 8/9 – Ski Trip Registration Payment

Jan. 10 – Knight Day

Jan 20 – Half Day

Jan. 24 – Knight Day/Hot Lunch

Jan. 31 – Report Cards Go Home