Royal Oak Kindergarten

January 20th - 24th

This Week:

Monday, January 20th - Artist in Residence Lesson (Dixon PM & Sticksl PM), Book Exchange & Kindergarten Registration Begins for 2020-2021

Tuesday, January 21st - Artist in Residence Lesson (Sticksl AM & Dixon AM)

Wednesday, January 22nd - Artist in Residence Lesson (Dixon AM & Sticksl AM)

Thursday, January 23rd - Artist in Residence Lesson (Sticksl PM & Dixon PM), Scholastic Orders Due

Friday, January 24th - AM Students Attend & Fun Snack (Pre-ordered through Healthy Hunger https://healthyhunger.ca/)

For Artist in Residence, please consider wearing clothes you don't mind a little paint on.

This Past Week:

This past week we began the story writing process by generating ideas to create our own stories. We started by looking at the story element of setting (where the story takes place). Students designed their setting by first painting an icy blue background to represent the snow. Then, students drew their location on top. Students created many creative snowy settings including forests, fields, farmland, cities, and playgrounds!

As part of our story writing inquiry, we also welcomed our Artist in Residence, Sharon Fortowsky, to our school! She will be involved in helping students make their settings come alive by creating large artistic pieces on fabric.

During Centre time, students have been exploring a variety of literacy activities that continue to deepen their understanding of the elements essential to a good story. By engaging in puppetry, students are working with characters, a problem, and setting in order to tell a playful story for their peers.

Students have also been deeply engaged in the creation of mini-books as they write their very own snow stories.

In Physical Education students are excited about Gymnastics! Climbing on the equipment is a highlight for many as they develop balance, strength and coordination.

Important Dates Coming Up:

January - Gymnastics during Gym Time with Ms. Hennick
January 23rd - Scholastic Book Orders Due

January 27th - Family Literacy Day – Cuddle Up and Read (wear pajamas, bring a stuffy and a favourite book to share with a friend

January 31st - Non-Instructional Day (No School)

February 6th - Kindergarten Celebration of Learning, 6 PM - Save the date (More information coming soon!)

February 7th - PM Students Attend

February 7th - Fun Snack (Pre-ordered through Healthy Hunger https://healthyhunger.ca/)

February 10th - School Council/ Fundraising Meeting 6:30 PM

February 13th -Teachers' Conventions (No School)

February 14th -Teachers' Conventions (No School)

February 17th - Family Day (No School)

February 21st - AM Students Attend

February 28th - PM Students Attend

January 13 - 17

This Week:

Monday, January 13th - Artist in Residence Lesson (Sticksl PM & Dixon PM), Book Exchange, & School Council / Fundraising Meeting 6:30 PM

Tuesday, January 14th - Artist in Residence Lesson (Sticksl AM & Dixon AM)

Wednesday, January 15th - Artist in Residence Lesson (Sirup PM)

Thursday, January 16th - Artist in Residence Lesson (Sirup PM)

Friday, January 17th - PM Students Attend

This Past Week:

It was great to welcome students back to the classroom this week to connect with friends and share stories of how we spent the Winter Break. On our first day back, students had an opportunity to represent one of their favourite moments from the break in their Visual Journals. We are working on being more descriptive in our written work by including information such as who we were with and where we were, in order to extend our ideas. In addition, we are challenging ourselves to add detail to our drawings to help tell the story.

"I enjoyed building a snowman with
my family and watching the Frozen II
movie with Ayla."

"I enjoyed skating at the Y with my Auntie."

"I enjoyed spending Christmas at Grandma
Darla's house."

"I enjoyed opening presents with my Mom and

Dad and sister."

This week we starting exploring Patterns. We have discussed what makes a pattern and we are finding patterns in our everyday lives. During the next few weeks, we will take up the work of learning how to recognize and create patterns using objects, sounds and actions.

"Learning to work with patterns helps children develop mathematical reasoning, which is foundational for later success in mathematics. "

-Kindergarten Program of Statement

While continuing to build community in our classroom and school, we have been discussing how we can be kind to each other. In our journal this week, we practiced forming the upper and lower case letters in the word "Kind" and then drew pictures representing kindness. As part of our learning, we also read the story, "Be Kind" by Pat Zietlow Miller.

As a part of our literacy learning, students have been engaged in listening to stories during class read aloud. While reading, students were asked to pay attention to different story elements including characters (Who?), setting (Where?), and the problem (What?). We read three different stories together, and made connections and comparisons between them. Analyzing and comparing stories are strong comprehension strategies that help Kindergarten students build important reading skills. This strategy is known as making "text to text connections."

As students listened to these stories, they found many different stories elements that were similar! In all of the stories, an animal was lost in the snow. Later this month, we will work on creating our own 'lost in the snow' stories!

Important Dates Coming Up:

January - Gymnastics during Gym Time with Ms. Hennick
January 20th - Kindergarten Registration Begins for 2020-2021
January 24th - AM Students Attend
January 24th - Fun Snack (Pre-ordered through Healthy Hunger https://healthyhunger.ca/)
January 27th - Family Literacy Day – Cuddle Up and Read
January 31st - Non-Instructional Day (NO School)
February 6th - Kindergarten Celebration of Learning, 6 pm - Save the date (More information coming soon!)
February 7th - PM Students Attend
February 7th - Fun Snack (Pre-ordered through Healthy Hunger https://healthyhunger.ca/)

Family Literacy Day

“Family literacy activities strengthen the relationship between family members which, in turn, encourages lifelong learning.”

Royal Oak School will be recognizing Family Literacy Day on Monday, January 27th. Students are invited to wear pajamas, bring a stuffy and a favourite book to share with a friend. Regular curricular activities will continue on this day so please make sure your child wears pajamas that allow them to participate in recess, gym, etc (no footed pajamas or nightgowns)

Further information and ideas for home can be found at www.familyliteracyday.ca

Gymnastic Unit In PE

Dear Parents and Guardians

We have started our gymnastics unit in our regularly scheduled Physical Education classes. This unit will run until the end of January. Safety procedures are being carefully covered with each class. While students in elementary school are not expected to change their clothing for gym, I do talk to them about being dressed in preparation to participate. Please consider the following when sending your child to school:

• Clothing that allows freedom of movement (no special uniforms or outfits are required – sweats and a t-shirt work best).

• Loose-fitting/baggy clothing may get caught on equipment when climbing.

• Tucking shirts in may help to prevent an accident.

• All jewelry that could get caught on equipment should be removed (left in classrooms or left at home). e.g. watches, rings, necklaces, etc...

• Students with long hair should have their hair tied back. Tying hair back with elastics is recommended.

• Students may wear shorts under clothing if they wish.

• Students will participate in bare feet unless there is a medical reason (warts).

Please be aware that students have Physical Education class each day. Students will be reminded that they must remain very quiet while participating on the climbing equipment. Sudden noises could startle a student using the equipment and result in a fall.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Thank you in advance for your understanding in helping to ensure the safety of our students.

Sincerely,

Helen Hennick

January 6 - 10

This Week:

Monday, January 6th - Book Exchange at the Learning Commons (First Day Back)

Tuesday, January 7th -

Wednesday, January 8th -

Thursday, January 9th -

Friday, January 10th - AM Students Attend & Fun Snack (if pre-ordered through Healthy Hunger https://healthyhunger.ca/)

Important Dates Coming Up:

January - Gymnastics during Gym Time with Ms. Hennick
January 13th - School Council/ Fundraising Meeting 6:30 PM
January 17th - PM Students Attend
January 20th - Kindergarten Registration Begins for 2020-2021
January 24th - AM Students Attend
January 24th - Fun Snack (Pre-ordered through Healthy Hunger https://healthyhunger.ca/)
January 27th - Family Literacy Day – Cuddle Up and Read
January 31st - Non-Instructional Day (NO School)
February 7th - PM Students Attend
February 7th - Fun Snack (Pre-ordered through Healthy Hunger https://healthyhunger.ca/)