November 2021 archive
I hope your family stayed dry and had a wonderful weekend. Thank you for meeting with me on Friday to talk about your child. I always look forward to talking with you and discussing all the great learning that is happening this year. If you were unable to meet but would still like to, please send me an email and we can set something up over the next week.
We have a busy couple of weeks before Christmas. Here are a few things for you to note:
Classroom Christmas Decorating on Tuesday: On Tuesday afternoon we will be decorating our class for Christmas. We would love any extra decorations you aren’t using this year! We will happily return them once we are finished with them.
BYO Mug on Tuesday: We will be enjoying hot chocolate and cookies once we are done decorating. Please have your child bring a mug to school.
Christmas Party & White Elephant Gift Exchange: On Wednesday, December 15th we will have a $5 White Elephant gift exchange. Students will bring a $5 wrapped present to school on that day.
Rube Goldberg Machines: On Tuesday students will be partnered up to start planning a science project – building a Rube Goldberg Machine. The following week we will head into our ‘building phase’ and work hard to have our machines ready for the final week of school before the break. Students will likely be needing to bring some materials from home to help build their machines and I will make sure there is time to compile and bring their materials to school. Please start saving up cardboard as this is a very popular item! This is a VERY engaging project and I look forward to see the students design, problem solve and build these machines.
November & December:
Tuesday, Nov 30 – Classroom decorating party & BYO Mug
Friday, Dec 3 – BMV & Knight’s Day
Friday, Dec 10 – BMV
Wednesday, Dec 15 – Class Party, Christmas Sweater Day
Friday, December 17th – Last Day of School & early dismissal 11:30
To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/xnp-kaee-jsu
Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 530-639-0565 and enter this PIN: 765 798 739#
Good morning. Below is the Google Meet link. I look forward to meeting with you today!
https://meet.google.com/krs-znsn-vpr
I hope your families are doing well during these crazy times! There are lots of things going on to make you aware of:
Jersey Day Tomorrow – students can wear any jersey or Knight’s wear tomorrow.
Parent Teacher Interviews: If you have not had a chance to sign up for a parent teacher interview time please click the link below to grab a spot. Due to circumstances that now include floods with the covid restrictions, we have made the decision to make all the interviews online. I will be posting a link to the Google Meet room on the blog Friday morning for you to access. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qe8DaSUqlsYt4UafD5AeH_97C9Ll3K2uM1naEvUaukw/edit
Salvation Food Drive: is happening once again and this year with all the evacuation efforts, the Salvation Army is in need of food supplies to replenish their stocks for the busy Christmas season.
The Salvation Army Food Drive begins Wednesday, December 1. We are running it like last year – – but I know that may feel like about 27 years ago, so here’s the recap:
- We are setting a $ amount goal as a school of $6000.00
- Students/families are invited to DONATE money to the food drive as the Salvation Army has more buying power than we do. All donations go to the SCHOOL OFFICE. Students and families can also e-transfer and debit. If we make our goal by Wednesday, December 15, we will celebrate by having an ANIMAL DRESS UP DAY the first Wednesday we are back in January. There were some comments about animals coming 2 by 2, but it may be too soon yet for that . . .
- Students can wear animal onesies, or other animal items. Our usual guideline is that 3 items means you are dressed up.
Right now, the Salvation Army can use all the money they can get as they are taking the lead on meal efforts for flood relief, providing extra supplies for those affected by this current situation, and then have the list of those already on the list for hampers and other needs this holiday.
Library Fundraising Update:
Guess How Many Candies in the Jar
We have approximately 250 entries to date. Students can continue to guess up to November 25th during their Library times. High School students are welcome to drop by Tuesday and Wednesday at their lunch time or Thursday. All students are welcome to come guess Wednesday and Thursday this week before school!
SinAmen Bun Co. Fundraiser
Thank you very much for the approximately 35 cinnamon buns orders received. So far, this has raised $175.00 for new library books! You can continue to bring your orders for some yummy cinnamon buns to the school office up to November 30th. Order forms can be picked up at the School Office or at the library.
Book Donations
A very big “THANK YOU” to the families who have given cash donations and donated new books and books from their home libraries. The newly donated books will be added to the library with a picture of the family placed at the front as a thank you!
Your support of our school library is greatly appreciated! Please email questions to – sbritz@highroadacademy.com.
Thank you!
Good morning! Just sending out a couple of reminders for this week:
- Jersey Day is this coming Wednesday.
- Parent Teacher interviews are this Friday. Please use the attached link to make an appointment with us. Thank you! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qe8DaSUqlsYt4UafD5AeH_97C9Ll3K2uM1naEvUaukw/edit
- We will be doing our Bible Memory Verse on Thursday this week. It is Psalm 118:29. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.
Have a great week!
Hello families
We are hoping that you are staying safe and dry. When we left on Wednesday, no one could have imagined that we would be in this position now. However, we know that God is in control. As Joshua 1:9 says, “….Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
You should have received an email last night from the Highroad Admin with some details regarding today. If you have not received it, please let the office know or check your email folders as it contains some important information about what is happening at Highroad Academy.
As many of our families, including staff members, are facing challenges, we are not focusing on academics right now. Rather, we are looking at ways we can perhaps serve others even in small ways. However, if you are looking for things for your children to do while at home, we have put together some activities focusing on kindness and ways to be thoughtful at this time. The pictures below have lots of activities attached that can be done at any age level. Clicking on the pictures below will bring up a larger image.
Students can also spend some time writing down their reflections on what is happening around them like a diary. Their writing can focus on what they are seeing, hearing and feeling.
These activities are entirely optional. We understand that there may be other priorities or even ways your family can be of service in your community that are more important.
Above, we are praying for you, and we hope that we get to be together again soon.
Ms, Miller and I hope that your family is staying safe and dry during this time.
Parent/Teacher Interviews:
Due to COVID, this year’s parent teacher interviews will continue to look a little different. This year we are continuing to offer the ability to do your conferences remotely using Google Meet. Below you will find two choices for meeting with your child’s teachers as well as a chart to sign up for a time slot.
Option 1: Face to Face
You may choose this option if you would like to meet your child’s teacher face to face. As we are trying to limit the number of people in the class, please do not choose this option if you will need to bring children who are not students in your child’s class and can not be independent outside while waiting. You will need to wait outside until it is your time. Chairs (and table areas if used) will be wiped between meetings and the meeting will be conducted with appropriate spaces between teacher and parents
Option 2: Remote Model
This choice allows you to conduct your interviews remotely using Google Meets. This option is for parents and/or teachers who do not feel comfortable conducting interviews in person and for parents who would have to bring children not in that particular class to school with them ordinarily. You will be sent a link for the meeting just prior to your meeting.
Here is the link to sign up for a time to meet with us:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qe8DaSUqlsYt4UafD5AeH_97C9Ll3K2uM1naEvUaukw/edit
Praying for your safety during this rain!
I wanted to send out a few reminders for this upcoming week. I will be sending a separate blog post about parent teacher interviews in the next couple of days.
Jersey Day – Wednesday, November 17th. Students can wear any type of sports team jersey or shirt. If they do not wish to wear a jersey then students are welcome to wear their uniform.
Christmas Classroom Decorating Party: On Tuesday, November 30th we will be decorating the classroom for Christmas! You are welcome to bring items from home for us to borrow for a couple of weeks – lights, decor, etc. We would even take a Christmas tree!
Upcoming Dates:
Nov. 17 – Jersey Day
Nov. 19 – Knight’s Day
Nov. 26 – Parent/Teacher Interviews
Nov 30 – Christmas Decorating Party
Dec. 3 – Knight’s Day
Dec.10 – Knight’s Day
Dec. 15 – Christmas Sweaters Day
Dec. 18 – Christmas Break (last day of school)
Good morning!
On Wednesday we will be handing out poppies for our Remembrance Day assembly. If your child would like to bring in a donation, I have an envelope in the classroom.
Hello families! We had a great week here in the Grade 5 classroom! Things are moving along and we are well on our way with multiplication in Math, finishing our narrative story writing and almost done our first Science unit!
Here are a few items for you…
Remembrance Day Long Weekend: November 11th & 12th
Genius Hour: This week we had our Genius Hour kickoff assembly and today we started talking about what Genius Hour will look like in our classroom. Our Genius Hour time will be on Friday afternoons. We will have a ‘slow start’ with both a pro d day and Parent Teacher interviews both in November, and we will take a break from individual projects in December as we will combine our Science and Genius hour time to work on a group project. Please let me know if you have any questions at all! This is a fun time for students as they have the opportunity to explore things they are passionate about!
French Quiz: Your child will be bringing home their French quiz today. ***Please sign the quiz and return it next week**. I will be doing a retest on Tuesday if they would like some time to study and retake the quiz.
A Note from the Library…
Hello families! We have started our library fundraising initiatives and have been so thrilled with the response from our Highroad Families! Below is a quick summary of the efforts to date.
Guess How Many Candies in the Jar : We have approximately 200 entries to date. Students can continue to guess up to November 25th during their Library times. High School students are welcome to drop by Tuesday and Wednesday at their lunch time or Thursday and Friday to drop off entries. All students are welcome to come guess before school!
SinAmen Bun Co. Fundraiser : Thank you very much for the approximately 20 cinnamon buns orders received so far. So far, this has raised $100.00 for new library books! You can continue to bring your orders for some yummy cinnamon buns to the school office up to November 30th. Order forms can be picked up at the School Office or at the Library.
Book Donations : A very big “THANK YOU” to the families who have given cash donations and donated books from their home libraries. The Library has gratefully received the following books: Carson Crosses Canada and The Imagination Station – Refugees on the Run. These books will be added to the library with a picture of the family placed at the front as a thank you! We are still looking for the following books to add to our collection.
Current books we are looking to acquire:
National Geographic Kids – Cost $5 – $25 (Scholastics/Amazon)
Sport Illustrated for Kids – Cost $15 – $35 (Scholastics/Amazon)
Rocks and Minerals for Kids – Cost $5 – $25 (Scholastics/Amazon)
Mighty Machines, Planes, Trains, Automobiles – Cost $10 – $35
(Scholastics/Amazon/Bookman/Nuggets)
I Survived by Lauren Tarshis – Any title – Cost $5 – $15
(Scholastics/Amazon/Bookman/Nuggets)
The Gift of the Inuksuk $27.01 Hardcover Amazon
Mr. Hiroshi’s Garden $23.67 Hardcover Amazon
The Blackgaard Chronicles Book 5 Knight’s Scheme $11.54 – Focus on the Family
These Are My Words $17.84 Hardcover Chapters
Dariens Rise, Arin’s Judgement, Annison’s Risk and Glennall’s Betrayal, Daven’s Defiance, Fendars’ Legacy – $20.99 Softcover Book Set -Focus on the Family
Ms. Shirley Britz
Upcoming Dates:
November
Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day – School Closed
Nov. 12 – PD Day – School Closed
Nov. 17 – Jersey Day
Nov 19 – Knight’s Day
Nov. 26 – Parent/Teacher Interviews
Have a great weekend!
