Happy Friday!

Dear Grade 3's and Parents,  


Today half of our class completed the Archeological Dig while the other half is scheduled to participate on Monday. A big thank you to all parents who spent the day with us - we appreciate you very much!  

If you participated in the dig, please share your favourite experience of the day with your parents.

We continue to work on our basic needs and wants project using Notebook. Thank you for using the computers responsibly.  

A reminder to share the playground space at recess. It was very crowded today and the field was not used well by students. Remember there are many things to do apart from being on the playground equipment.  

Have a great weekend.  


Ms. Toy

Park is Open!

Dear Grade 3's  & Parents,

Archeology Dig - Tomorrow half of our class will participate in the dig. The other half of the class will compete the dig on Monday. You will find out which day you will 'dig tomorrow morning.

Thank you to my parent volunteers for your willingness to help. Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated.

Playground - The park was officially open for play today. Please keep in mind how to share the playground, show respect for others and to be responsible in how you use the equipment.

Home Reading - Please spend some time reading tonight.

See you tomorrow.

Ms. Toy

Read & Write!

Dear Grade 3's & Parents,

Library Book Exchange - Thank you for remembering to bring your books back today.

Literacy MAP - There will be no homework assigned for a few days. However, please remember to use the knowledge and skills you've learned when you read and write.

Playground - Today you had another opportunity to play on the park with Mr. Spriggs. Please remember the 4 rules of how to use the playground responsibly. The playground will be open for play tomorrow.

Writing Journal - Please think more about your story plan tonight as you will be asked tomorrow to write a story about the picture I gave you today. Remember if your plan is well-written, your story will be easier to write.

Social Studies - Today we began to watch a video about Needs & Wants. Please share with your parents what you think your needs are and why.

Thanks for reading the agenda. See you tomorrow.

Ms. Toy

Please Remember!

Dear Grade 3's & Parents,

Library Books - Tomorrow is our regularly scheduled book exchange. Please remember to bring your books back!

Playground News - You went through a park tour and orientation today with Mr. Spriggs. Please share your experience with your parents. Share the park rules with your parents.

(1) Use the Equipment the Eay it was Designed to be Used
(2) Include Everyone - No One is to be Left Out
(3) Make Decisions to Play Safe
(4) Have Fun!

Also, please remember that you can only play on the park after school if you are supervised by a parent.

Archeological Dig - If you can volunteer on Monday, November 1, half my class will join half of Miss Laslo's class for the dig. The other half of the class will complete the dig on Friday, October 29, 2010.

Again, I am still looking for volunteers. Please contact me!

Have a great night!

Ms. Toy

Playground Approved!

Dear Grade 3's and Parents,

We are still looking for volunteers for our Archeology Program taking place at our school this Friday, October 29, 2010.

 

I need 4 volunteers and currently have one volunteer. If you are available to help, please email me at natoy@cbe.ab.ca

Math: Today we worked on a word problem called the 'Nut Eating Tournament.' Students have been working to apply the 5-Step Problem-Solving Process to complete their work. The steps are as follows: 

1) Find and Highlight the key, important facts in the problem
2) Highlight the question you are being asked to solve
3) Eliminate, by crossing out any confusing, unimportant information in the problem
4) Solve the problem using an effective strategy; show all the steps and work you used to arrive at your answer
5) Write your solution in a sentence; check to see that your answer is sensible

Playground - We received some exciting news today - our playground has passed the safety inspection! However, students will not be allowed to play on it until they have completed a safety and orientation session with Mr. Spriggs this week. Hopefully, the playground will open for free play later this week. 

Weather - Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear due to the change in weather this week. 

Homework: Literacy MAP work and Home Reading.

Have a wonderful night!

Ms. Toy

Great Dancing!

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

What a great day of dancing! You guys are so talented and I am proud of you!

Thank you for working hard at learning your moves with Jeremy. Your hard work paid off!

Home Reading - Please spend some time this weekend reading your chapter books.

Social Studies - Today talked about our upcoming Needs and Wants project. Can you remember and name the 8 needs? Try to tell your parents.

Playground News - Tomorrow at 12 pm Noon, parents are invited to come help landscape the area around the playground. Please bring a rake if you can help.

Play on the park will not be allowed until the landscaping and inspections are completed.

Science - Archeology Dig is scheduled for for Friday, October 29, 2010. It will be a full day event and I am still looking for volunteers to help. Please contact me.

Enjoy your weekend and the weather before it changes next week.

Ms. Toy

Thursday Homework

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

Today we read the book "How Full is your Bucket?" Tell your parents about the story and explain how each of us have invisible buckets above their heads. In journal writing students were asked to reflect upon "What empties my bucket?" and "What fills my bucket?" Please continue to work on developing these lists tonight for homework.

Hip-Hop Dance Presentation - Tomorrow afternoon we will be gathering as a school community to celebrate our dance residency with SoundKreations. The assembly will begin tomorrow at 1:30 pm. We ask that if parents attend, they bring a non-perishable food donation for the Food Bank. Students may also bring donations if they wish.

Please practice your dance moves tonight to be ready to perform tomorrow. See yesterday's agenda for the dance video to help you remember if you have forgotten the steps.

Crazy Hair & Hat Day - Tomorrow you can wear a crazy hat and/or style  your hair as crazy as you wish. However, if you do not wish to participate, you do not have to.

Parent Volunteers - I am still looking for parent volunteers to support us in our Archeological Dig next week. Please contact me as soon as possible if you can help. You must have a police clearance check completed to volunteer at our school.

Parent Council Meeting - The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 7:00 pm. All are welcome to attend.

Have a great night. See you tomorrow.

Ms. Toy

So You Think You Can Dance?

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

Today we worked on Math Word Problems in class focused on Patterns. Many of you were able to find the pattern rules for the problems and solved them because you worked hard. Thank you.

Literacy MAP - Please continue to work on reviewing graphemes 27 - 54. You were given a print out of the graphemes and examples of the words today. Also, please study your spelling words for Friday's test.

Home Reading - Please read the "Rock Clues" article that you put into your homework folder today. Circle the words that you do not understand or recognize. We will talk about the information tomorrow in Science.

Science - Next week, students will be participating in an Archeological Dig at the school. We need parent volunteers to help with this exciting event. Parents, - please e-mail me ASAP at natoy@cbe.ab.ca or call the school at (403) 777-6061 to let me know if you are free to help out!

SoundKreations - Please practice your dance moves at home by viewing the following videos. Click on the links below and show mom and/or dad your moves!





Fun Lunch Tomorrow - If you placed an order, you will have pizza tomorrow! If not, please bring your lunch.

See you tomorrow!

Ms. Toy

Agenda - Tuesday

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

A reminder that Fun Lunch is on Thursday, October 21, 2010. Pizza will be served to those who placed orders. If you did not order pizza, you are expected to bring a lunch.

Math - Please share the problem you worked on today with mom and/or dad. It was challenging but many of you managed to get through it because you tried your best. If you struggled with the problem, please reflect upon how well you spent your time in class.

Literacy MAP - Please study your graphemes and spelling words for your test on Friday morning.

Have a great night. We'll see you tomorrow.

Ms. Toy

Monday Homework

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

Today we worked on our "Me Planets." Students were asked to cut out images and/or words that represent who they are: their interests, values and anything they view as important to know about them as individuals.

Please bring in any pictures you find online or pictures of family members (including pets). Please ask mom or dad before you bring your pictures in.

We will continue to work on this tomorrow. Please continue to bring magazines and/or newspapers from home to help us with this project.

Literacy MAP - Please complete any homework assigned by your teacher today. If you are in my group, please have mom or dad review graphemes 27 - 54 with you for the next few days for homework.

Hip-Hop Dance - Today students began learning a hip-hop dance routine for their performance on Friday, October 22. The instructor - Jeremy has asked students to practice the first part of the routine to be ready to add on to it for tomorrow. Please practice at home!

Crazy Hair and/or Hat Day - This happens this Friday. You are not required to participate but if you wish, please feel free to do so. Please ensure your hair and/or hat does not interfere with your ability to work in class or dance in the performance.

PHS Hoodies Contest - All design submissions are due Thursday, October 21, 2010.

Have a great night!

Ms. Toy

Playground & Hip-Hop Dance

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

Apologies for posting the agenda late. I have not forgotten about you!

Thank you parent volunteers for your time in building the park. We are so appreciative of your time and efforts.

Students - please continue to respect the workers by staying away from the park work site until it is finished.  Thank you for showing responsibility by making wise decisions about where you played at recess on Friday.

Next week, Dance Kreations will be at our school to teach the students hip hop dance. Students will use their bodies to move creatively to learn a dance routine. A Dance Showcase Assembly will be held on on Friday, October 22 at 1:30 pm. If you plan to attend, we will be accepting Non-Perishable Food Bank Donations at the door.  Please remember to follow all assigned parking rules around the school. 

The due date for the P.H.S. Hoodie Logo Design Contest is Thursday, October 21, 2010. Please make sure you read the directions for the logo design carefully.

Winter Wonderland Fundraiser - we continue to raise funds to attend Dr. Seussical the Musical! Please return your order forms as soon as possible.

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Ms. Toy

Working Together

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

Today is the first day of the new playground building project. I know you are all very excited about having a new place to play. Please make wise decisions about keeping a safe distance away from the workers and their equipment. They have a job to do - which is to get our playground built. Your job is to make sure they can do their jobs without worrying about any of you getting hurt. Please play only in the assigned recess areas.

Literacy MAP - Please study for your spelling tests tomorrow. All learning groups have tests scheduled.

Panorama Hills School Hoodies Design Contest - Please think about creating and entering a design for our school hoodies contest. Remember your design must be respectful and appropriate for both girls and boys to wear. Your entries are due next Friday, October 22, 2010.

Art - We will continue with our pattern glasses tomorrow. Please see yesterday's agenda as we continue to need supplies. Thank you!

Please read the Morning Message everyday - as it will prepare you begin the day more focused and thoughtful about how the day will be organized.

Since the beginning of the year, most of you have shown great responsibility and enthusiasm for learning. However, a few of you continue to find the pace of work and getting work done very challenging. Remember - "If you know it, can you show it?"

We all have important jobs to do at school. Please remember yours is to learn and show your best effort at whatever you may be asked to do. My job is to provide work that is both challenging and interesting to build the 'wrinkles' in your brain.

Student Photos - Orders are due tomorrow. If you would like your picture taken again, you need to send the envelope back with the retakes box checked off.

Have a great night. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Ms. Toy

Reminders

Grade Threes & Parents,

Welcome back! I hope you had a restful weekend.

Library - Remember to read your chapter books today that you signed out from the library.

*A few of you seem to consistently forget library book exchange is on Wednesday mornings. Please remember to bring your books back to school on time so you can participate in book exchange with the class.

Fun Lunch Forms - Tomorrow is the last day to order and pay for Fun Lunch for October and November. Late forms will not be accepted.

School Picture Order Forms - Thank you to those of you who have already returned your order forms. Please remember your orders are due this Friday!

Pattern Eyeglasses - We will continue to work on our pattern glasses later this week. We continue to need used, unwanted glasses for students. If you have a pair lying around the house that you can donate, please send them to school. As well, we continue to need odds and ends to create patterns on our glasses.

Have a great night. See you tomorrow.

Ms. Toy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

Please remember to share the photo package with your parents that was sent home today. Your order for pictures is due next Friday, October 15, 2010. On the order form, you will notice a message about a late fee if you miss this important date. Please send in orders as soon as possible beginning Wednesday.

Any fundraising orders and money for Winter Wonderland can be returned to school starting next week as well.

Home Reading - Please spend time this long weekend enjoying a book inside or outside as the weather promises to be great!

Enjoy your long weekend. Set apart time to spend it with friends and family. Take a moment to be thankful for something or someone. Share with your parents why you are thankful.

Ms. N. Toy

Homework

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

Today there were a few items sent home today in the homework folder. They included: the Winter Wonderland Fundraising brochure & order form and fun lunch order forms for October and November (orange form, double-sided). Please check in your child's backpack.

Art/Math: We will be working on our pattern eyeglasses tomorrow afternoon. If you haven't already done so, please bring in a pair of glasses. Also, any items that we can use to glue onto the glasses would be greatly appreciated as have not received much yet. Please yesterday's agenda for ideas.

Home Reading: Please make sure you are reading each night and having mom or dad sign on the calendar.

Test Tomorrow: A final reminder that you will be tested on home addresses and phone number tomorrow along with your parents' names. Please study tonight! We will write this test tomorrow morning.

Days Off: Students have no school next Monday, October 11 and Tuesday, October 12. Please come back on Wednesday.

Have a great night. Tell your parents about the balloon relay we had at the end of the day.

Ms. Toy

Library Books

Dear Grade Threes & Parents,

We continue to learn how to be responsible to show good manners in class and outside during recess.  Please be ready to learn when you arrive at school each morning. A positive attitude can make the biggest difference in helping build excellence into our classroom community.

Home Reading - New library books were signed out today for those of you who returned your books. If you forgot your books today, please bring them back tomorrow and you can make a personal library visit. Please continue to read on a daily basis with a parent.

Math/Art - We continue to look for items from home to build patterns on our eyeglasses. Small items such as: beads, sequins, beans, macaroni, feathers, etc. will work well to complete this project. Please bring your eye wear in before Friday as we will be working on them in the afternoon.

Personal Data Quiz - Please remember to study up for your quiz on Friday. You need to know - your parents' names, your home address and phone number and your parents' cell phone number.

Have a fantastic night. See you tomorrow.

Ms. Toy

Wordle & Grapheme Game

Dear Grade Threes & Parents, 


Sorry for posting the Agenda so late. I was at the dentist. 


Today we created a class Wordle from our key words about "What Makes a Great Leader?" Ask your child about Wordle and try it out at www.wordle.net Choose a subject or topic and work together to create your own Wordle. 


We also looked at photographs of different children's faces. In groups of three, we began to use Thesauruses to find great adjectives to describe what we saw. We will continue our work with this tomorrow. 


At the end of the day, we introduced the idea of drawing emotions correctly on faces. I am very interested in what you were able to come up with. I can't wait to see them tomorrow! 


Homework Items:
(1) Teach your parents how to play the Grapheme game I showed you in class. It is a great way to review or learn your graphemes at home. You were given the grapheme cards yesterday in your homework folder. You will need to cut apart the cards carefully before you can play. You will need the cards and dice to play.


Try your best to explain the rules and how it is played. Here is a basic explanation:
(a) Pass all of the cards out until the deck is equally shared amongst all players
(b) Player one rolls the dice
(c) Player one chooses the number of cards shown on the dice face from his/her own hand
(d) Player one can challenge anyone playing to complete one of the following tasks: 

• (i) come up with one word that uses the grapheme shown 
• (ii) come up with the number of words shown on the dice for one grapheme 
• (iii) to make the all possible sounds the grapheme can make

**If the challenged player can complete assigned task (i), (ii) or  (iii) then they take the grapheme card from player one.
**If the challenged player cannot complete the assigned task, player one can keep the card(s) in his/her hand for further play.


(e) Players two - four,  each get a turn to complete steps b-d. 
(f) The game can be played for as little or as much time as you want; using the full grapheme deck or part of the deck.
(h) The 'winner' of the game has the most cards at the end. However, we all win as you we will all know our graphemes better!


(2) Home Reading
(3) Library Book Exchange is tomorrow - please remember to pack your books in to your backpacks tonight, so you can sign out new ones tomorrow. 
(4) Remember to bring your homework folder and class notebooks back to school everyday.
(5) October's Newsletter is available on-line on our Panorama Hills School website. A paper copy will not be sent home. The newsletter includes a fundraising update as well as more information about the playground that will be built this month.


Thanks. See you tomorrow.


Ms. Toy

Monday Homework

Dear Grade Threes & Parents: 

Today we spent time looking at the story of Gilgamesh the King. We were asked to think and write about "What Makes a Great Leader?" Students were asked to brainstorm adjectives and attributes that they would use to describe a leader. We will continue with this tomorrow. Currently, we are in the process of choosing a Student Voice Representative from our classroom to attend lunch time meetings once a month with Mrs. Unruh. 

Key Information Test: On Friday, we will be quizzing students on their parent's names, their home phone numbers and address and parent cell phone numbers. Please review or help them learn these important things before Friday. Thanks!

In the upcoming week, the Literacy M.A.P. homework will consist of students learning or reviewing the 70 graphemes. This daily review will improve their success with our Literacy M.A.P. activities throughout the remainder of the year. Below are three links that will provide support as they review/learn the 70 graphemes. Click on the links below to open:

Review graphemes 1 to 26: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiJR5UOBueY <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiJR5UOBueY

Review graphemes 27 to 54: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POhlJUlNmJg <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POhlJUlNmJg

Review graphemes 55 to 70: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J588BHd3Gn0 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J588BHd3Gn0

*We talked briefly about how to practice graphemes at home by playing games at the end of the day. We will talk about it in class tomorrow so that you will be able to teach your parents. 

Scholastic Orders: An order form was sent home today with your child. You are not at all required to buy from Scholastic as there are many options to purchase and/or view books online. However, if your child would like to order something from the Lucky order form, please enclose payment in the form of a cheque payable to Scholastic Canada and send it to school by Friday, October 8, 2010. 


Important Dates: This weekend is Thanksgiving. There will be no school for students on Monday, October 11 and Tuesday, October 12, 2010. 

Have a great night. 

Ms. Toy

Happy Weekend!

Dear Grade Threes,

We had great time creating art this afternoon. Please share with your parents, what we did today. We will continue with the 'Resist Scratch' art on Monday. Let's continue to work on taking care of each other and our place by sharing in the clean-up responsibilities in our classroom.

Character/Virtue of the Month - For the month of October, the virtue we will be focussing on is Responsibility. However, we will continue to developing ideas and strategies to show Respect for ourselves, others and this place throughout the year.

Writing Journal - Today you were asked to write 5 silly sentences using: a sentence starter, adjective, noun, verb, adverb and sentence ender. Please share your work with you parents. Those of you who did not finish in the 20 minutes given in class must finish the rest at home. Wise use of your time in class will help you learn better and get work done!

School/Classroom Handouts - The October event calendar was sent home today (yellow sheet). Also, the October and November Reading Calendar for your parents to sign off each night was also sent home (green sheet). Please remember to keep up with your reading each night and have mom or dad sign.

Art - Please see yesterday's agenda for items we need for art next week. If you do not have unwanted glasses at home, please try the dollar store to buy a very inexpensive pair.

Have a fantastic weekend. Enjoy the warmth while it waits.

Ms. Toy