December Updates

Grinch Day

Grinch Day was successful.  It was amazing to see our pod working together and having fun.  The hair do's were incredible!

We also have a Grinch on our door.  We need to help him grow his heart.  Each time a student does a random act of kindness  or good deed they put a heart on him.  Soon he will be covered in hearts.

Check out the facebook page "All things KSA" for photos and information

Oh Christmas Tree & Secret Santa

We are learning about the significance of the tree this time of year.  We have decorated our own tree, making decorations.  We will be discussing the history of the Christmas tree and making our own personal tree.  We are also exchanging gifts on the last day of school by a "SECRET SANTA".  Each student pulled a name out of a box and now will give that student a gift on the last day of school.  The gift can be something the child already owns but is willing to depart with (a book or toy), something made or something bought (max $10).  Please ask your child who's name they have so they can start planning.

Report Cards

Coming home Friday Dec. 15th
Please sign and return envelope only

Field Trip

We are heading to the Big Little Science Centre on Thursday, Dec. 14th in the morning.  The students will be wrapping up their energy unit with a electrical energy lab and exploring the hands on room.  Please sign the form and return asap.

Santa Pictures

Santa Pictures are almost ready to be delivered.  Thank you to those who participated in the fundraiser.

Dec. 18th- 22nd

Christmas Spirit week - details to come
Christmas Concert- Dec. 21st 1pm and 6pm

Spelling Unit 8

Spelling Unit 8 - O vowel blends

Test: Friday, December 15th

tomorrow
follow
also
plot
hold
long
only
alone
suppose
goal
whole
shown
Bonus/challenge: explode, ocean, Olympic, moment

Parent Volunteers Needed

Poinsettia Fundraiser was successful!

We have 99 plants arriving Monday, December 4th to KSA. 
Please pickup your order between 2:30pm-4:00pm by the entrance off the parking lot. 
It is also a Pro-D Day.
I need parents to please volunteer some of their time between 2:00pm- 4:00pm to help with sorting orders and helping with parents coming to pick up.  Please let me know if you are able to help ASAP.

Thank you:)

Spelling unit 7

Spelling
Unit 7 - Long and short i vowel
Test: Friday, December 1st

mind
child
idea
bright
while
life
island
goodbye
live
type
finish
decide
Bonus: alive, favourite, finger, exciting

November updates

November...

Term Reports
- term reports went home last week.  Please review, sign and return to me asap

November 22nd - Field Trip to TCC for Olympic Day - forms need to be in asap

November 24th - Flannel day - wear flannel/plaid
                          - Hot lunch forms due
                          - Santa Pictures forms due
                          - poinsettia forms due
                          - Scholastic orders due

November 25th - PAC CRAFT FAIR - We are in need of baked items for the bake sale.  If interested in baking please drop off items to the classroom this week.

November 30th - Santa pictures

* Science project on wind energy *

Last week of November students will be taking a day and designing a model that will produce renewable wind energy.  We are in need of the following items:

• cardboard tubes (eg. toilet paper roles, paper towel rolls)
• dowel sticks and wooden scewers (eg. shish-ka-bobs)
• pool noodles
• cardboard (eg. cereal boxes)
• round objects with center holes (eg. big beads)

Donations of these items are greatly appreciated asap.

Math project
- we will be looking at Christmas Flyers and creating a wish list (including cost).  Students will be manipulating the numbers by rounding, estimating, adding, and subtracting.  Please collect and donate any flyers that would be appropriate for this activity (toys, games, electronics, etc.)

Spelling Review

Spelling Review

We have completed 6 units and students have picked 2 words from each list they think are used the most in everyday writing (sight words).  Here are the 20 words that most picked.  Students have two weeks to study.

Nov. 14th - Nov. 24th

Here is the list:
problem
spend
month
scream
straight
thrilling
kitchen
switch
huge
change
since
practice
once
yesterday
animal
afraid
asleep
money
remember

Novemeber Reminders

A few reminders...

Monday, Nov. 13th - no school (Remembrance day holiday)

Thursday, Nov. 16th - POD 2 Showcase 3pm-4pm Gym
                         - Students wear all black

Wednesday, Nov. 22 - Field trip to TCC for Olympic Day- please return forms

Thursday, Nov. 23rd - hot lunch forms due for December

Friday, Nov. 24th - scholastic orders due - I only participate in Scholastic twice a year.  Think about Christmas gifts, etc.  This does support our class in receiving books and materials.

Friday, Nov. 30th - Santa Pictures Fundraiser

* Term 1 Reports went home*  Please review with your child, sign the bottom and return to me.  If you have questions or concerns please contact me.

* Spelling words will be posted next week and students will have two weeks to study*

Spelling Unit 6

Unit 6 Spelling List
Test: Friday, Nov. 10th *1 week to study words
Theme: Vowel e (long and short sounds)

mean
money
reached
asleep
ready
spread
easy
least
remember
empty
forest
agree
BONUS: athlete, electricity, evening, elephant, repeat

Updates for November:

• Friday, November 10th - Remembrance Day Assembly - Pod 2 will be performing a choral piece.  Please have students wear all black.
• November 13th - no school- Remembrance Day Holiday
• Thursday, November 16th - POD 2 Showcase 3:15pm- 4:00pm in the KSA Gym.  Students will be showcasing their learning through the arts. Please have students wear all black.
• Fundraisers for Field Trips will be coming up.  Poinsettia sales and Santa Picture at KSA. Look out for information coming home shortly.
• Wednesday, November 22nd - Field Trip to TCC for Olympic Day...more information to come.

Term 1 Progress

Students goals and a Term 1 progress Report will be coming home in the next couple days.  Please review with student, sign the report and return ASAP.

* Popcorn Day every Thursday

* Focus on Learning this month: Money concepts, paragraph writing, non- fiction reading and writing strategies, Energy, "What is Culture?", vowel sounds, and Goals

* Please have students prepared for winter weather

A few Reminders...

- Bannock for sale Friday, October 27th for $2

- Candy Grams for sale for friends - 50 cents each or 3 for a $1.  For sale tomorrow and Monday, handed out on Halloween.
- Photo retakes on October 30th - no forms or payment needed

Halloween festivities on October 31st 

- Students may come in costume but no weapons, gore, or masks.  We will still be active this day with outside play, dance, drama and a dodge ball game at lunch.  Please wear costumes at own risk.

- We will have a party in the afternoon with treats.  I will be providing oranges and popcorn.  If students wish to bring a treat/snack to share that would be great.

Book Fair

October 30th- Nov. 2 - lunch and after school in the library

 

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Just a reminder that P/T interviews are this week for those who signed up.  If you are still wanting to meet with me I have a few times open.  The sign up sheet is outside the classroom.

Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00pm - 4:15pm.

Thank you.

FSA's

Foundation Skills Assessment

I hope all of you received your letter informing you of the FSA's that are now in progress.  We had a couple of practice runs on the chrome books and now tomorrow we will be starting our booklets with a collaboration activity and reading comprehension.  This is an important time for students to get rest, drink lots of water, and feel focused and alert.  I am including as much movement and fun activities throughout the day so they are not sitting too long.  We will continue with our arts rotations, spelling, math, science and some Halloween activities.

Spelling Unit 5

Spelling words for October 23-Nov. 3rd

Two weeks to study due to FSA's and Halloween
Test date: Nov. 3rd
Theme: Short and Long vowel A

Words: fact, break, danger, animal, add, afraid, paid, half, safe, yesterday, main, holiday
Bonus: chocolate, escape, remain, amazing

Spelling Unit 4

Spelling Unit 4
Test: Thursday, October 19th (2 weeks to study)
Theme: Hard and Soft c and g

Words:                        Challenge words:
chance                         recognize
once                              decorate
courage                        language
control                          recently
giant
garbage
since
science
practice
guide
magnet
charge

spelling unit 3

Spelling Words Unit 3 (Vowels with ch, tch, ge, dge)
Test: Friday, October 6th

switch
edge
bridge
coach
stage
touch
stretch
kitchen
huge
change
fetch
porch

Challenge words: stranger, message, stomach, damage

4th Grade Open House

2 Day Open House 

Tuesday, October 10th and Wednesday, October 11th from 2:30pm-3:30pm.  

Please choose one of the days that works best for you and your family schedule, to come into the classroom and explore your child's learning.  This open house will also be led by your child.  

If these times do not work for you I am also making myself available for parent/teacher interviews on Wednesday, October 25th and Thursday, October 26th from 3:00pm - 4:15pm.  
You may sign up for 15 minute time slots. 

Bake Sale Success!

Wow!!!   😲 I am amazed with how the bake sale went this week!

Thank you all for bringing in your amazing treats and iced tea.  Your children demonstrated maturity, independence and hard work.  They all showed enthusiasm and worked together to make it successful.  Way to go grade 4's!!!  We will be counting the money made on Monday morning with Mrs. CJ's class, but I can say it was very profitable.  I hope all of you received your containers, etc. If not, we will sort it out on Monday.

Thank you again.

Last Week of September:

September 26th 

- Raise a Reader Day
-  Picture Day 😁  Please have picture form filled out with payment.

September 27th

- Bake Sale - please bring in baked items and Iced tea/cups

September 29th

- Orange Shirt Day - Please wear an orange shirt in honour of this day.

Terry Fox Run

Updates:

KSA Terry Fox Run will be Wednesday, September 20th at 1:00pm.  Please wear appropriate shoes and clothing.

Family Movie Night at KSA Thursday, September 21st at 6:30pm.  More information coming home.

Friday, September 22nd Pro-d Day. No school.

Wednesday, September 27th - Bake Sale by Mrs. CJ and Mrs. Piroddi's Classes.  Please bring in a baked item (no nuts) or Iced Tea. Sign Up forms going home asap.

Friday, September 29th - Orange Shirt Day.  Wear an orange shirt please. 

Digital Skillz Unit

Mr. Staginnus, our librarian is starting a Digital Skillz Unit with the Grade 4's.  It will be covering basic skills on the chrome book as well as internet safety practices.  He asks that each student bring a pair of headphones in for the program.  We ask that your child keeps the headphones here for duration of the program. Thank you.

Spelling List Unit 2

Spelling List Unit 2

Consonant Clusters

struggle
crumble
month
sample
scream
straight
strange
thrilling
splash
throat
branch
spring

BONUS words: scribble, mumble, splendid, strength

Clubs and Teams offered in Grade 4:

Volleyball team - September

Basketball Team - December/January

Track and Field - April

Battle of the Books

Strings Program

Spelling List - Unit 1
Quiz on Friday, September 15th

clock
front
against
spend
track
grandfather
complete
stood
across
flight
problem
standing

Welcome to the 2017/2018 school year

This blog site will be used as a communication tool to keep you updated on our exciting Grade 4 year.  I will be posting our spelling lists on Fridays and updating weekly.
I will be setting up a mass email list to keep you updated as well.

A couple reminders:

• Forms are due (Student information sheets, purple package and student fees).  I will be handing out agendas starting tomorrow.
• Pro-d day - September 22.  No school.
• Our class and Mrs. CJ's class will having our first fundraiser -  A BAKE SALE.  Please contribute something sweet (with no nuts).  It will be on Wednesday, September 27
• Orange Shirt Day September 29th.  We will be participating in some activities that day.  For more information on this day please visit this website: www.orangeshirtday.org

I think countdown has finally begun and we have some fun filled weeks coming up.

Wednesday, June 14th

-  last day to order DVD of POD 2 sharing
- Instrument making day
- Kangaroo farm for aboriginal students

Thursday, June 15th -

 CLEAN UP BEGINS... 

- Starting to clean out class and lockers.  
- Be prepared to take some duotangs, clothes,  & papers home today.  
                     
- Bring a bag!

       **ALL EXERCISE BALLS NEED TO START MAKING THEIR WAY HOME. **

                                     When convenient please take them home.

Friday, June 16th 

- Bannock for sale $1

** ALL library books due this week** Overdues and fines will apply!**

Wednesday, June 21

 Fieldtrip to Riverside to partake in Aboriginal Day.
Lunch will be provided.
$2 and fieldtrip forms DUE.

Thursday, June 22 

- Elementary Fun Day.  Students will be put into groups according to colour.  Stay tuned for what colour your child will have to wear that day.

May 29th-June 1st

Wednesday, May 31st - Jump Rope Forms Due, Bake Sale by Ms. CJ's class, Field Trip to Kamloops Museum

Thursday, June 1st- Bannock for sale $1

Preparing for a Math test next Tuesday...on Shapes, Angles and mm,cm,m conversions.  A package will be sent home for review and to help study.  We have been working on the unit for over a month in class with group projects, drawing pictures, writing comic strips, etc.

Recyclable materials...we are still in need of a few more tubes (paper towel roles to poster tubes) ASAP.  On June 12th we will be spending the day making musical instruments.  Any recyclable materials are needed (tin cans, shoe boxes, cartons, bottles, etc)

May Updates 

May 10th

CLASS PHOTOS- please be present this day so we can capture this year 4th grade year

May 11th

Disney Day - dress up in your favourite Disney character

May 15th

Pro-d day - no school

May 22nd

May long weekend - no school

ELECTION

- please discuss and share all aspects of the election and/or government this weekend.  We will be having a student vote on Monday as a school and results will be posted.  We will be having a discussions during our class meeting Monday morning.  

School Spirit Wear & POD share DVD's

For sale 

go to: ksa.hotlunches.net (you need to register and add students to your profile)

POD 2 SHARE DATE

We are working so hard in preparing to share all of our learning with you about Canada.  We have a date... Thursday, June 8th at 6:30pm in the gym of KSA.  We will be sending invitations home soon.

Jump Rope for Heart Program

- Due back to school by the end of May.

Term 3

- Health and Career- manners and leadership skills

- Math - shapes, measurement and fractions

- Social Studies- History of Canada, local history of Kamloops and Culture of Canada

- Science- Biomes and motions of the earth and moon and how it affects living and non-living things

- LA - Biographies, Novel study and grammar/spelling/punctuation

End of April updates...

- Tomorrow is field trip day to the art gallery.  We leave around 11:45am and back for the end of the day.  Some students still need to get permission forms in or they cannot go.  Parents are welcome to come and be a part of our trip but are not needed.

- Friday - Bannock Sale for a $1
             - Twins day...dress the same as a friend and be twins

- Pod 1 share is tommorow night at 6pm.  All are welcome to attend.  There has been lots of talk of when our sharing is (Pod 2).  We are still working out the details but it will be the first week of June.  Just letting you know for planning purposes.

Field Trip to Art Gallery

We will be heading to the Art Gallery by bus with Ms. Richmond's class on

April 27th 12:00pm-2:25pm

Please return Green permission form with $4.00 ASAP

Happy Easter

 Reminder: No school on Friday, April 14th and Monday, April 17th.

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

Evalee' s grandma is promoting a pottery class this Friday. Check it out...

HI!
I have this fundraising clay class this friday for parent/child, but it really didn't get advertised where we hoped. If you know of someone who might be keen, please mention it?

All fees go towards completing a community pottery space in the Kamloops Makerspace Building.
Enchanted Clay - Makerspace
Friday April 7 6-8 pm Adult and Child Fee $ 40
Janet has a history of being inundated with faeries and other enchanted beings in her pottery studio - to the point of now having a published memoir ‘Beyond All Imaginings’ that tells that crazy, but true, story. Adults are invited to bring a child and each sculpt their own personal magical character. Your artwork will then go through the drying and kiln firing process, ready for you to pick up and finish with paints, stains, or leave as is.

Contact Janet if interested at janetwhitehead12@gmail.com

April Dates to remember:

April 7th Sucwentwecw day 

- students will be participating in an assembly and pod activities throughout the day on Rules and Responsibilities.

April 11th Tie-Dye day

Wear your tie-dye clothes to school for our school wide spirit day

April 13th Parent Teacher Interviews

Early dismissal at 12:30pm
PT interviews start at 1:15pm- 4:00pm

April 14th & 17th Good Friday and Easter

School is closed
Happy Easter

April 24th Pro-D Day

No SchoolTeachers in Session

Reminders and information before the break:

Weather

- it is warming up but it is still very wet and muddy out there.  Please make sure students are still bringing boots/outdoor footwear and even a change of clothes.

Thursday

- cleaning out lockers/bins
- homework coming home for Spring Break (Read non-fiction booklet "Ships of Discovery" and write a review AND read a fiction book from library or classroom)
- Hot lunch forms due

Friday

- St. Patrick's Day- wear green 
- pom-pom party (bring a snack to share and games to play) 

REPORT CARDS

- coming home First week of April (after Spring Break)
- 2nd week of April- parent/teacher interviews 

That's a wrap!  Happy Spring Break!

Term 2 checklist

We have spent the past week catching up on work that was not completed.  Students have worked hard but some have still not completed everything.  Binders were sent home today with the checklist(bright PINK sheet) and sheets that need to be completed.  Please spend some time this weekend to complete them so your child can move on with the activities planned next week.

Thank you.

POM POMS EARNED!

The class has filled our pom pom jar for following classroom expectations and working together. 
We will celebrate on Friday, March 17th (St. Patrick's Day).
-Wear green
-bring a snack to share
-game to play (board games or class activity)

Bake Sale for Hospice Society 

Put on by Lukas Woods

Bring a $1 on Tuesday

Science Projects on Biomes (Canadian Physical Regions)

On Friday students were grouped together to start their research projects on a specific physical regions of Canada.  They will be gathering facts by taking notes on a variety of resources and creating a pamphlet or booklet on their facts.  They will also create a 3D dioramas

- Our class is in need of some materials for creating 3D dioramas.  Please make a donation.
Here are some ideas:

- craft grass, turf, moss, etc.
- sticks
- variety of rocks
- plastic figurines of animals, trees, etc.
-  different textured paper
- cardboard
- medium and large boxes

Thank you for your support!

Our KSA Rainbow Picture from Anti-bully Week!  

"We are all unique colours but together we form a rainbow"

Young Artists Information- Due Before Spring Break

Young Authors Information- Due March 17th

Anti-bully week next week.  We will be participating in many activities throughout the week, including pink shirt day on Wednesday.  This is our decorated door.

Pro-d day on Friday Feb. 24th- no school

Math quiz on Monday on 5x and 6x tables- study and review your x tables!!!

Valentines Day

Valentine's Day, Feb. 14th

*Candy Grams- Send a note to a friend or someone you care about.
.50c for 1 
$1- for 3
Sale- Feb 8th-10th
Delivery- Feb. 14th 

* Wear an excess amount of red and pink and you get free PIZZA.

*We will be exchanging Valentines and having a dance party in the afternoon.  If anyone would like to contribute a snack or treat, it is welcome.

Here is a list of names for Valentines (29 total):
Markus
Harri
Norah
Jaylah
Evalee
Damian
Josie
Evangelina
Eva-Marie
River Wind
Nevaeh
Dayton
Cheyenne
Alexa
Erin
Maya
Amelia
Spencer
Jasmin M.
Jes
Andy
Findlay
Sierra
Peter
Matthew
Braelyn
Adora
Jasmine T.
Charli

Reminders

- PAC hot lunch and booster juice forms went home yesterday.

- Pink Shirt Day (anti- bully day) - Feb. 22.  Forms went home yesterday to purchase a shirt for $10.

- Monday, Feb. 13th- family day- no school

- Homework- study multiplication tables (1x-12x)

Today this form will be coming home with your child.  Please review it with them as it is a self assessment with some feedback from me. I would also like some feedback from you as we are all a team in helping your child reach their goals as a student.  Please return the form on Monday/Tuesday. 

FSA's are almost done! 

The Grade 4's have been working super hard and focusing on the task at hand.  We have our numeracy left to do and will be wrapping this up on Friday.  I am looking forward to moving onto the curriculum and I have some exciting activities coming up.

Math
We are well on our way reviewing our multiplication times tables up to 12x.  A booklet was sent home for you to review each night and practice with your child.  Shortly, we will be moving onto multiplication word problems, double and triple digit multiplication and division.

Science
Biomes is our main topic for the term.  Students have been watching videos and taking some simple notes on each biome.  We will be each choosing a biome in partners or groups of three and researching using many resources (the internet, books, notes for the videos, etc.).  We will then be putting together a pamphlet and 3D diorama.  During this process students will be using non-fiction reading strategies,  organizing facts into sentences and paragraphs and presenting information orally, concretely and in document form.

English Language Arts
Students are going to be engaging in a writer's workshop where they will be focusing on writing processes (peer and self editing), sentence and paragraph structure and word choices (spelling).

We will also be completing a novel study together.

GOALS
We have also set some goals for the rest of Grade 4.  I will be informing you of your child's progress and how they are achieving these goals.

January Reminders

Jan. 13th 

Spirit Day-Bring a Rubber Duckie to school

Jan. 26th 

-Dismissal at 12:30pm for Parent/Teacher Interviews.  

I will be sending an email to those I would like to see.  If you wish to meet with me, send me an email.

Spirit Day-Jersey Day- wear a jersey to school

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It was a great week back with all the students.  We welcomed a new student and this gave us opportunity to review our beliefs, expectations and routines.  Next week we will be welcoming another new student.  All the students are excited to have some new faces in Grade 4.  

Reminders

- please prepare your child for the cold weather.  As it is warming up a little most days are outside days.  I sometimes have meetings at lunch, am outside at recess on duty and am involved in the Gr. 4/5 basketball team so I will not be able to always accommodate students having to stay in due to illness.  However, if you request having your child stay in please write me a note or send an email.  If they are not able to stay in the classroom they will be sent to the office for recess and lunch.  I hope though all are well enough to get some fresh air.

- Report Card Covers- please sign and return the report card covers as we use them throughout the year to hand out the next terms report cards.

FSA's

In the next coming weeks your child will be partaking in the Foundation Skills Assessment for Grade 4.  It is an assessment that will not be for marks or reported on their report card.  The assessment assesses the foundations: Reading, Writing and Numeracy.  Students will be asked to read a passage or two and answer multiple choice questions and written responses.  They will also be asked to write a story.  In numeracy, students will be answering multiple choice questions along with two problem solving questions.  The assessment is divided into written and online.  We will be practicing in the next two weeks and then the third week taking the actual assessment.  I will be sending more information home on Monday along with access to a sample test online.  If you have questions or concerns please contact me.

Term 2 Curriculum

Here is our overview for the next term:

Math

- review on rounding,  expanded and written form, addition, subtraction, decimals, and money.  A review package will be sent home on Monday.  Quiz on Thursday, Jan. 12.  

- Multiplication and Division- please practice basic multiplication facts at home.

Science

- Biomes- around the world and in Canada

- our final project in the unit will a diarama.  If you could provide some materials to make these, much would be appreciated.  We are looking for: small figured animals and plants/trees, fake moss and grass materials, sticks, small rocks and small boxes/shoe boxes.

Social Studies

- Major unit on the history of Canada (focusing on exploration)

Language Arts

- One more week of Spelling tests 

- This term we will be focusing on past spelling lists, grammar and spelling strategies (no spelling tests)

- Novel Study- we will be reading a book together in class and completing a booklet/study.  This will cover many curricular areas (math, relationships, grammar, writing and reading strategies)

Its going to be an exciting and amazing term, especially to see how the students grow, persevere, take on challenges and strive to achieving their goals.