Mrs. Kathy Gurr K/1 Div. 6 Room 202 June 2017 June will be our busiest month yet, so hold on tight and prepare for a wonderful ride. Program Information We’ve had some very interesting talks over the course of the last month about life cycles and we are eagerly watching the development of our tadpoles and now the snails too (they mated and had babies in our tank)! We continue visiting with Gizmo at the pond. We’ve started to look at plants, habitats and environmental impacts with a focus on aboriginal history and culture on Gabriola. Theme Digest In June we are going to turn our attention to larger mammals found in our area, specifically whales. We’ll continue and complete our science/environmental studies and we will be creating our own Gizmo stories to help us begin developing our story writing skills. Keeping our learning place based has been inspiring for me this year and now I can’t image teaching any other way! Gabriola is an amazing place to teach and learn. Bike or walk to School week This week, May 28th to June 2nd encourages everyone to try to walk, ride and use human power to get safely to school. Mrs. Gurr and Ms. Svensson will be leading bike convoys to school on Friday, June second. See notice sent home last week for details. Getting Enough Sleep? I know with baseball and other summer activities starting, combined with longer daylight hours, it is challenging to get children to bed and encourage best sleep practices. I am noticing some very tired children at school these days…yawn. I recently heard an interview on CBC about this. Here are some recommendations: The Canadian Pediatric Society advises:
Field Trip Quarter We will be having two fieldtrips in June; Newcastle Island with Mrs. Tufnail’s class on Friday, June 9th and on Wednesday, June 28, all students and parents in Mrs. Gurr’s class are invited to a picnic potluck lunch at Mr. and Mrs. Gurr’s house. We will need parent volunteers to help make these important special events a success. Please see attached picnic notice and watch for the Newcastle note coming home as well. Summer Birthday Celebrations We have one June birthday and two summer birthdays that we will be celebrating in June. LID showcase We have been working hard on our LID projects at school. On Thursday, June 1st, parents and community members are invited to the school to view our learning in depth projects from 1:45 to 2:30. Children will have their projects set up and on display in their classrooms. Please come have a look at these works in progress. My students will be taking home their education boards and clay creations at the end of the showcase. Your child will need help transporting this home. Children may continue with their LID research this summer. Celebration of Learning Thanks parents and family members for attending the student-lead conferences at the end of April. We had 100% attendance and the children were thrilled to display their learning to you. Permaculture DaysOn three Monday mornings in June (June 5, 12 and 19) all students in the school will be participating in Permaculture days in multi age groups. We will be studying the 13 principles of permaculture with a place based approach and mostly outdoors. Fun Day Friday, June 23 will be fun day for the whole school. The children will be taking part in a variety of fun outdoor fitness geared activities. Be sure your child is wearing a hat, sunscreen and sturdy shoes. Summer Reading Please consider ordering some summer reading books at your child’s just right reading level or plan trips to the library in order to continue your child’s reading practice over the summer. This way their skills will continue to develop. This home practice, leads the way to a smoother transition into the next grade. The scholastic book order will be due back on June 5th. Year-End assembly, BBQ and Reports On Thursday, June 29th (our last day of school), the year-end assembly will begin at 10:45 am. and will be followed by a PAC sponsored BBQ. Children will receive their report cards on this day as well. If your child will not be at school on this day, please leave mailing instructions at our school office and the report will be sent to you over the summer. Reports will not be released early. Learning support at Home Please continue with the daily reading and spelling at home and record each time your child reads with you on the reading calendar. Send the calendar back on Tuesday, June 27 th . Sabbatical I have shared with the children that next school year; I will be away on a sabbatical (one year leave of absence) travelling around the world with my husband. I will return to teach at Gabriola School in September of 2018. Summer Thoughts We have two daughters aged 21 and 23 and I dearly miss those precious times when they were little. Here is a poem for parents to ponder and keep in mind over the summer. To My Grown-Up Son or Daughter My hands were busy through the day I didn’t have much time to play, The little game you ask me to, I didn’t have much time for you. I’d wash your clothes; I’d sew and cook, But when you’d bring your picture book And ask me to share your fun, I’d say “A little later hon!” I’d tuck you in all safe at night, And hear your prayers, turn out the light. Then tip toe softly to the door… I wish I’d stayed a minute more. For life is short, the years rush past… A little child grows up so fast. No longer is she at your side, With precious secrets to confide. The picture books are put away, There are no longer games to play, No good-night kiss, no prayer to hear… That all belongs to yesteryear. My hands, once busy, now are still, The days are long and hard to fill. I wish I could go back and do The little things you asked me to… Author unknown Year-End Picnic I would like to have a year-end picnic for our class on Wednesday, June 28. In the past, I have found this to be a very important and much loved event and such a nice way to end our year together. My husband and I would like to invite all parents and children from my class to a picnic in our yard. Children would come to school as usual Wednesday morning then the school bus will take us to the corner of South Road and Stokes where we will walk up 1km to our house on Oyster Way. We will be asking that parents contribute to our picnic snacks (enough to be shared by all 19 children, parents and a few extras for younger siblings). Please fill out the attached form and return it ASAP, Thanks. I enjoy working with you and your child. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or leave me a note in the planner or back and forth folder. Sincerely yours, Mrs. Kathy L. Gurr
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AuthorI am a teacher with over 25 years of teaching experience including all grades from kindergarten to grade seven. I am a Primary Specialist with a diverse educational background in Individualization, Learning Support, Behaviour Support and Home-Learning Support. Archives
May 2017
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