The School Year is Over!

Summer's Here! Summer's here!

Another year of school is at an end.

We've learned a lot and grown a lot and made a lot of friends.

We read books, wrote cards, and counted all year long.

We even put on a show or two with lots of catchy songs!

Now it's time for the final goodbye; it's time for us to part.

But we'll remember our experiences and keep each other in our hearts.

I hope everyone enjoys the summer. Please send me any other photos you wish to share and I'll post them on the blog.

I miss you all.

Love Mrs. App

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers reading this. Yes, I mean my mom too! The kindies enjoyed making special gifts for their moms this week. I hope everyone has a joyful weekend. Perhaps some of you will even have a rest!
Love Mrs. App

There Is So Much Going On!

The Walkathon was a great success! Both classes made the long treck to Almond Park. Thank you to the parents who sent me some wonderful pictures. Stay tuned...I will will add other photos from our adventure soon.
Here's what's been going on this week:

1) Goodbye Calendars. Hello Morning Activities.
Now that the children have learned the skill of using a morning calendar, next year's grade one teachers are thrilled. Now it's time for us to have some Spring Fun. We will start the morning with desk activities that develop finger strength, but are more engaging. It's our last two months in kindergarten and we want the start of the day to be inviting and welcoming.

2) THE BIG ONE AT TWO.
The entire school is having an Earthquake drill at 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 8.
We will be sitting outside for up to an hour during the drill. Please make sure your child brings appropriate clothing for the weather, a sun hat, and sun screen. At nice big snack and a bottle of water or drink is essential. We will not be able to access a drinking fountain during the drill.

3) Friday Jazz Performance.
On Friday, the morning class will go to the 11:00 am music performance in the gymnasium. If we are a little tardy getting back to class, you know where we are!

4) Are you mother picking up your kindergarten child on Friday? Be prepared to close your eyes while helping your child bring home their Mother's day project for you. It could be tricky!

Don't stop reading yet.
Next week is a BIG ANOTHER ONE!

1) Wednesday, May 14 is a regular Kindergarten day. As usual, there is NO class in the afternoon. Families with older siblings will know that this is different for the older grades. Our change will be on Friday. So, Wednesday the same as always for us.

2) SPORTS DAY!
Believe it or not it is almost here! The Day of Sport is on Friday, May 16.
BOTH CLASSES will attend the morning session. There is NOT school in the afternoon. Division 14 will make up their extra minutes for the week by attending the morning class.

Division 14 and 15 will arrive at school 8:45 am. Come to class and read posted information. The classes will be divided into teams and one class will meet in the carpeted area to avoid chaos in Rm 002. PLEASE do not roll in late on sports day since the day gets going quickly.

We aim to finish at 11:15 am. We will return to the class and carpeted area for pick up.

WE NEED AS MANY PARENT VOLUNTEERS AS POSSIBLE!!!

Please let me know if you can help out. It is great fun. The children love to share the day with parents.
Let's all hope for good weather!
Love Mrs. App

VERY IMPORTANT!

A couple times this year, I've seen products with peanuts slip into lunches in the classroom. It's been a long time since September when parents were told about allergies in the class. We also have four new students who joined Kindergarten since January. I've noticed the children share food more than they did in the past. It nice to see them genuinely wanting to share, but it does raise the danger for an allergic child. With that in mind, I believe it's my responsibility to post the following.

This is an important reminder that one of our students has a severe allergy to peanuts and other nuts that could result in a life-threatening situation. Any contact with even a small trace of nuts, tasting, touching or smelling, could be life threatening to this child. Because of the seriousness of this allergy, PLEASE DO NOT SEND PEANUTS, PEANUT BUTTER, NUT PRODUCTS OR FOODS WHICH MAY CONTAIN NUTS in your child's snacks or lunches or party foods. In addition, if your child has eaten peanut butter (or other nut or nut product) prior to coming to school, please assure that they have brushed their teeth and washed their hands and faces. Thank you for keeping all of our kids safe!

In hindsight, I realize I was less worried when Michelle was in the classroom. Since we no longer have our own paramedic, I will have to be more alert!

Thank you,
Caroline

Principal Days

My three days as principal were busy, yet delightful. It was a wonderful chance to move around and see the entire school in action. All the children we kind and welcoming whenever I passed them outside, in the halls, or in their classes. Make sure to take a peek below at the serenade by the intermediate students. Enjoy the clip above and view the school through my eyes. It's no secret what a special group of students we have.
Love Mrs. App

Class News - April 28

Hello everyone! I'm excited to be back in the class this week. I'm sure Ms. Hardie explained the Walk-A-Thon to everyone. Still, I need to point out that the PLEDGE FORMS ARE DUE ON MONDAY APRIL 28. That's now! Please pledge a flat amount rather than a per km amount.
Our walk-a-thon will be done as a class on Friday, 2. We will do two big walks separately with each class. We will not be able to do the HUGE walk that the rest of the school is doing for two reasons.
1) The morning class would miss it all together.
2) It is FAR too long for our kindergarten children. Even the walk to the starting point at Jericho is too far for us!

Here is the present walk-a-thon plan. We hope to have the school cheer the both the morning and afternoon class cheer us on as we leave. The morning class will aim to depart at 9:00 am. The afternoon class will aim to leave at 1:00 pm. We will walk with volunteers mostly along side streets all the way up to Almond Park. We will stay about 20 minutes at the playground. Children who are exhausted can rest up before we return for the second leg of the walk. Children will have a chance to eat their snack at the park. Any children with lots of energy, can take full advantage of the playground. We will then return to school taking the same route.

REMEMBER: We need as many volunteers as possible to walk with the class for safety reasons. Please send a snack with your child on Friday. Thank you.
Love Mrs. App

An Afternoon Performance

On Thursday, April 24, the afternoon class had a chance to see a musical performance called Honk! The Arts Umbrella Musical Theatre Troop performed it for us in the gymnasium. It was an variation of the The Ugly Duckling story.
It was a little long for our little ones, but they seemed to enjoy the music and dancing. Ask them about it? I think my favourite part was the frog dance.
Love Mrs. App

Parent Matters

Thank you to Deborah MacNamara who donated her time last week to speak to a group of our parents. Deb is wealth of knowledge with anecdotes that ring true for all parents and teachers. I always find her words help me see the world through the eyes of a child, and in turn increase my patience and understanding.

During the workshop, I suspect most parents found that learning about counterwill was like finding a secret map to children's behaviour. Once we understand a child's instinctive and developmentally healthy need to refuse to do what adults ask when they are not collected, our frustration dissolves. (Well, at least a little.) Yet, at the same time, when a child begins to rebuke a no and the adult changes circumstances to avoid a struggle or disappointment, the child is then placed in the lead. Research shows that children who are placed in the lead have increasing anxieties which leads to more challenging behaviour. There is a message of safety and being taken care of when parents take the lead and assure the child that they know what they are doing - they are the child's best bet. So as parents and teachers we act as a double agent, being both the wall of futility and the angel of comfort. Through this support and guidance, our children may have tears around not getting what they want, yet the comfort gives birth to acceptance and resilience.
How do we avoid soliciting counterwill?
By coming along side a child, collecting them, and guiding them, our children are eager to do our bidding. (I can best explain this in person.) As Deb mentioned, chapter seven in Hold on to Your Kids goes over strategies that don't divide or damage relationships with parents. (I could elaborate here, but it's not wise to let children read about the "magic.") Do check her blog for workshop dates for Neufeld's Relationship Matters Presentation and Deb's The Trouble with Time Outs presentation. www.deborahmacnamara.blogspot.com


I am continually amazed at all the parents of the kindergarten students. Every day I see how you strive to do the best for your children and reach into your hearts for caring and warmth to address inquiries or quivering lips, help with calendar activities, read books, and even tend to stuck shoes and zippers. You send your children off with great hugs and I love yous. Then you open your arms wide at the end of the day for them to rush in. (This is indeed the case, for parents picking their children up in K class or next door at JKC.) I must also add, that you have all been wonderful matchmakers for me and your children. You take the time to make sure they have a chance for my eye contact, hand, or voice, before you ever leave. Since they know you like and trust me, they instinctively feel the same way and turn to me for answers in your absence. It is your graciousness and wisdom to do this that gives me the power to teach.
Thank you.
Love Mrs. App
(I'd be lying if I didn't admit I'm a little teary after printing that. I truly do love my job and teaching these two classes.)

Serenade

I had the wonderful chance to hear the intermediate grades in Ms. Bailey's class sing today. When When I arrived they sang, "You're Beautiful to Me." Play the clip above and enjoy what I heard.
It's heart-warming song with a message close to my heart. Hopefully, our children will develop this sense of self-worth independent of peer actions. Indeed, it is what leads to strength in adulthood. I will soon be teaching my sons and kindergarten students the same song.
Thank you boys and girls for sharing it with me!
Love Mrs. App

Here's the words.

You're Beautiful to Me
You don't have to dress a certain way. Change your hair, your style, your face.
Or play the games some people play.
You're beautiful to me.

When it seems that life just knocks you down. And you don't measure up somehow.
Remember what I tell you now.
You're beautiful to me.

Oh, you're a shining star.
Oh, just the way you are.

You don't have to wear your mask today. Just be yourself in every way.
No matter what this world may .
You're beautiful to me.

Oh, you're a shining star.
Oh, just the way you are.

Don't you know you're worthy to be loved. Not for what, but who you are.
A pure and precious child of ____.
You're beautiful to me.
You're beautiful to me.

International Day was GREAT!

Our International Day was a great success. Thank you to all the families for bringing food to share with the rest of the class. We enjoyed looking at each other's pictures, listening to musics, seeing favourite clothes, and of course tasting new food! In the slide show above, you will see the Kokomo African group performing Somalia music for the school. Look closely, can you see some of our classmates dancing? Wait a minute.... Is that Mrs. App? Yes. See how many teachers and children you recognize dancing. There was also a Kids Write performance in the afternoon. We enjoyed it, but I do not have pictures in our slide show.

Thank you to all the parents who helped make this event possible.
Love Mrs. App

Spring Fever!

The sun came out today and it finally started to feel like Spring! The children are getting excited about the change in weather.

After 8 months of routines, I need to point out that some are starting to forget a few. Guess what? I'm referring to the parents, not the children! Please remember the following class start and pick-up times.

Morning Class:

8:45 am. start (9:00 am on Wed.)

11:25 am dismissal

(This means the last 10 minutes of class the children are putting on their clothes and waiting to be picked up. JKC kids go next door at 11:25 am.)

Afternoon Class:

12:30 pm. start

3:00 dismissal (JKC students go next door at 3:00 pm. The other students have the last 10 minutes to gather their belongings and leave.)

It's fine to be late every now and then, but I have noticed that people are drizzling in later and many children are missing the start of the day. The end of class is a difficult transition time for many children and some start regressing if they have too much wait time. I noticed the trend is leaning towards coming or leaving at the last minute, and it is changing the class times. Stephanie and I then struggle to meet our other school, job, and family obligations.

Thanks for your support.

Love Mrs. App

Telugu New Year

This week one of our students is performing a dance at UBC for a Telugu New Year Party. We were fortunate to watch M practice his performance in our class. The song and the dance has lots of jumping and kicking to illustrate that a child at this age has great promise and energy to work towards achieving something. Thank you for sharing this dance with us. Good luck at your UBC performance!


Remember: We are valuing various cultural foods and traditions on Thursday. Bring a family food and explanation to class.
Love Mrs. App

Class News - April 14

This is going to be a busy week! This morning we had 4 students from Ms. Quinlan's class come in to talk to us about bears. They also read us the Bear Hunt story with the felt board. Click above to see this class activity.
Here's important reminders for this week.

1) Gymnastics is over. Children need proper shoes for the gym again.

2) Class International Day. On Thursday, the children will wear their favourite clothes or culturally traditional clothes to school. Children may also bring an object that has a significant meaning to their family or culture. This does not mean stuffed animals. It is meant to give children a chance to share a part of their culture with the class if they wish to. Many children may not know what to bring and that is fine. HERE'S THE BIG PART. We will be having food tasting stations during class time. Please send some food with your child to share with the rest of the class. Some families may easily think of something that reflects their cultural background. An other option is to bring something to share that is a favourite food for your family. Please have the food labeled with a title and explanation of why it is important to your family. If there is a tradition around the food or special time of the year you eat it, please explain that information too. Remember to have enough food for all students to try a sample. The left over food will go into the fridge to be served at the evening parent social.

3) Two performances. On Thursday, we will also have a performance for each class. The morning class will watch an African Dance by Kokomo. I'm very pleased that this falls on our International Day. The afternoon class will watch the Vancouver Youth Theatre performance.

4) Parent Night. Yes, our social with Deb MacNamara speaking is on the same day as International Day. Come to the library at 6:15 pm. It is over at 8:30 pm. I hope to see as many people as possible. We are so fortunate to have Deb donate her time for us. She will talk to us about "counterwill" - Why Children Say No. It's a fascinating (and life-changing) topic. You are welcome to bring any friends that you would like. The more the merrier. I would like you to let me know so we have enough hand-outs. Child-care will be provided by donation in the carpeted area. Our adult function will be in the library. Remember to check out the links on the right for more information about Deb MacNamara or Gordon Neufeld. As always, you can ask me any questions. See you there.

5) No School on Friday. Remember, it is a professional development day for teachers. Teachers have workshops. Children do not come to school. Regular classes will resume on the Monday.

See you soon.
Love Mrs. App

Class News Update - April 7

Wacky Hair and Pajama day was a blast last week. Here's some upcoming information for this week.
1) COINS FOR CARING will begin Monday, April 7th and run through Friday, April 11th. As a part of their Social Studies Action projects, the Grade 6 students in Ms. Quinlan’s class are collecting money to support an orphanage in Africa. Coins for Caring will be a one week coin drive: on Monday, they are collecting nickels; Tuesday is dimes; Wednesday is quarters; Thursday is loonies; and Friday is toonies. We will set up collection jars. I strongly encourage the children to participate in this great show of social responsibility. The class with the most money raised gets a Pizza Party. Of course, this is not the reason to give, but it would be fun!

2) Gymnastics. This week is our last week of gymnastics. The children need to be able to take their socks off to go on the equipment. Ms. Veda would like to remind parents to avoid sending your child in stocking or a skirt on gym day. They need appropriate clothing for climbing and rolling etc. We had two parent volunteers help the morning class last week. The afternoon class struggled without any parent volunteers. Due to all the equipment, please let me know or just show up if you can volunteer to help with the afternoon gym class on Friday. It starts at 12:55 pm.

3) April 17 Parent Social. Information went home to the afternoon class on Friday. The morning class will take home the reminder on Monday. I am still tracking down the PAC chair for confirmation on child care. We are VERY fortunate to have Deb come to share her wisdom with us. I can't tell you how amazing she is. Of course, it's all based on the Neufeld paradigm. Please check the Deb blog in right column for her background and to read recent comments on parent matters. Our night is included in her public speaking schedule.

Must run,
See you tomorrow!
Love Mrs. App

Class News - April 1

Division 15 enjoyed a performance today about water conservation. Look closely at the actors. Do you recognize the "sizzle" sun?

Here's more NEWS.

1) Division 14 welcomes our new student to the class! B is a delightful boy from sunny California. I'm sure his family was scratching their heads as it hailed three days in a row last week!

2) Tomorrow is April Fools Day! Just for Fun the whole school will be coming to school in Pajamas and Wacky Hair. This is not a joke. I'm sure the morning class will enjoy not having to bother getting dressed. The afternoon class may or may not find it convenient. We still need coats to go outside!

3) It turns out I will not be away for Tuesday or Wednesday this week. I was able to reschedule appointments. However, the school is giving me 3 missed prep periods on Tuesday afternoon. This means I am around, but there will be a TOC teaching most of the afternoon class.

4) Gymanastics starts tomorrow (Tues.)
Both classes will have their gym classes on Tuesday this week. Ms. Veda would like to invite as many extra parents as possible to help the kindergartens on the equipment. The morning class by period is at 10:35 am. The afternoon class period is at 2:20 pm.

5) We are not going to the public library this week for a field trip. You don't know what I'm talking about? Well, apparently our May trip to the public library was booked for April 3rd. The presenter is on sick leave. I called today to say the date doesn't work for us and we will postpone the trip. Stay tuned for the final date.

6) The Bare Necessities. While my sons have watched the DVD of the play over and over, there are many students in the class who haven't seen it. Div. 15 will watch the DVD performance on Tuesday. Division 14 will watch the DVD performance on Friday. If you want your own copy, they are available in the office for $3.

7) Wish List. Wow! Thank to Shannon and Paul who donated a tv and dvd player to the classroom just days after I mentioned the need. I'll say it again and again... I don't think any other teacher has class parents as fabulous as mine!

8) April 17. The kids will have an international day during class. The parents will have a Parent Social from 6:15 - 8:30 pm. We will bring extra food from international day as well as additional yummies. Dr. Deb MacNamara will be speaking on "Why Children Say NO." Some parents from other classes who want a chance to hear Deb speak (for free!) will also join us. All are welcome. I will post a sign up outside the class soon. Just keep the day set aside for the event.

Must run,
Love Mrs. App

Term 3 Begins!

Welcome back, everyone! It's great to see all my little bears again. I hope you all had a restful and relaxing Spring Break. It sure went by fast despite the cold and rainy weather. Some families are still on vacation soaking up the sun and haven't returned yet!



Here's some news updates.

1) Please sign and return report card envelopes. You may keep all attachments and files for your own records.

2) We will be doing gymnastics in P.E for the next 2 weeks. Please send your child dressed in appropriate clothes for climbing, jumping, and tumbling. Also, the children will be required to take off their socks and work in bare feet. My regular volunteers can help with safety supervision while the children are working on the equipment.

2) BARE NECESSITIES DVDs are available for purchase ($3 each) from the office. It's really well done with both performances on the menu. The audio is strong and there is lots of close ups. My sons and I watched it tonight and loved it. James was dancing along and Ryan cheers for the wolves whenever they come on stage! Of course, they both love our singing bears. Who wouldn't!

3) It’s going to be Pajamas and Crazy Hair day on Tuesday, April 1 (no, this is not an April Fool’s joke!). I won't be here on that day, so I suspect the TOC will be in for a surprise!

4) Keep your eyes (and ears) opened for "Coins for Caring" which will be happening every day during the week of April 7th - this will be introduced and explained at our assembly this Friday.

5) Library. Many parents have been asking about additional times when the children can visit the library for book exchange, other than their scheduled Monday time with Ms. Leung. The library is opened a bit earlier on Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Friday’s at 8:35. It is also opened after school from Monday to Thursday from 3:10 to 3:30. I strongly encourage you to encourage your children to exchange their books for new ones as soon as they have finished with them, instead of waiting for each Monday. We have an awesome book collection in our school library--one of the best in the district--and I hope the children take full advantage of it!

6) Wish List. I'll try to add an ongoing wish list in the right column. Until I do that, does anyone have an extra tv or dvd player to donate to the classroom. The ground floor no longer has working televisions. I want to show our class the Bare Necessities DVD, but our little tv only has VHS. The colour is hilarious too. I'll tell you that story another time! Also, our staplers are mostly out of order too. Just in case anyone has an extra one?

7) Parent Social and International Food Day. Stay tuned for more information about this combo on Thursday April 17. April 18 is a pro-D, but please don't leave town on Thursday evening. Our evening will be great. It looks like we will have child care so both parents can attend. Remember Dr. MacNamara will be doing the workshop, "Why Children Say No." It's amazing.

8) More about Dr. MacNamara. Go to her link in right column. Her recent blog updates are really good.

See you soon,
Love Mrs. App

Happy Easter

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter holiday. I'm sure the Easter Bunny made lots of visits. Here's a little song for you all to enjoy. Want more computer activities for the break? Don't forget the podcasts in the right column. See you soon!
Love Mrs. App

Mrs. Riedl Visits

The last week of term 2 was very busy with the play and report cards. Some children may not have told their parents that we also had a very special visitor on Wed. March 12. My mother, Mrs. Riedl, came to volunteer for the whole day. Besides many prep. tasks, she also enjoyed reading The Three Pigs in Alaska to both classes. The children were delighted! Thank you Mom. We hope to see you again soon.

Stay tuned for an Easter Message and and more play visuals.

Love Mrs. App

We did it!

The Bare Necessities was a hit! Our little bear cubs were fantastic. Click here to go to the slide show.
(You can also get there by clicking the link to the school play in the right column.)

Thanks for a wonderful Term 2.

I'll see you all after the break.

Love Mrs. App

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!

Tomorrow is the Big Day!

Division 15 children arrive at the usual time in dark pants or skirts. Division 14 arrives at 10:45 (or 11:00 if you are not watching the show.)

At 11:00 both classes will put their costumes on and then sit to listen to a story with Ms. Miller until it is our turn to line up.

I will be here in the afternoon for kids who need care. It will not be an official class, since we all need some down time before the evening show.

Children need to be AT SCHOOL by 5:45 pm to get ready for the evening show. If you want to get good seats leave someone in line at the gym while you take your child to the class.

Let's all practise the Bear song tonight at home. Encourage them to sing loudly, but not yelling.
See you at the show! Tickets are still available at the same price as the first week.
Report cards will be ready to go home on Thursday for families that won't be at school on Friday.
It's also C.W.'s birthday tomorrow!
Love Mrs. App

Class News Update (Last week of Term 2)

1) Next week is our last week before Spring Break! I can't believe it's here already. We will be busy with the play and wrapping up term 2. The last day of school is Friday, March 14. This is a half day only. That means that Division 14 will not have school on Friday. Instead, Wednesday March 12 is a FULL DAY. In other words, Division 14 will have class on Wednesday afternoon rather than Friday afternoon.

2) Report Cards. Report cards will go home on Friday, March 14. Division 14 can take theirs home early on Thursday, March 13.

3) The Dress Rehearsal. Friday's big practice was hectic, but it went well. As I was directing, I didn't have a chance to take any pictures. If you have some to share, please email them to me.

4) The Big Performances. On Thursday, March 13, both classes need to be at both performances. DRESS YOU CHILD IN DARK PANTS OR A DARK SKIRT. Division 14 students need to be at school by 11:00 am. (JKC will bring their kids over.) Please help your child into his/her costume before you leave. A Teacher-On-Call will be there with other staff members to keep the children organized before our debut. If you have tickets to the morning show, you can leave your child a little earlier.

After the morning show, the children will be in our classroom, ready to be picked up. If at all possible, please take your kids home for the afternoon. I'll be going all morning, afternoon, and into the evening without a break. All the children will be back for the evening too, so it would also be nice for Division 14 students to have a break from Bayview in the afternoon.

The evening performance starts at 6:00 pm. The doors open at 5:45 pm. Please bring your children to the classroom between 5:45 and 6:15 (if you are not watching the show - can you imagine?) Stephanie and Mrs. Smith will be helping the students. I will be seeing them when they reach the backstage area. The play is 45 minutes to one hour long. The children will be waiting for you in our room for pick up. Please let a staff member know when you take them home.

5) Learning at home on the blog. I do my best to have lots of updates for parents to see what's going on in our classroom. I also aim to have the blog as a learning tool for kids at home. I've had great plans of doing more teaching screen casts. Since I haven't had time to put many on, I've added clips that others have already created. Be sure to check out the video bars on the right with your children. I also added some Bare Necessities songs for fun. BEWARE: the lyrics are different than our stage version. So PLEASE don't have our kids sing along with these ones until after our performances!

6) The Bayview Song. If you didn't see it last week, you MUST check it out now. Scroll down to the bottom of the blog and play the Bayview Song Show. A parent put it together for us all to enjoy. We DO have great parents and children. It's no secret.

7) Clock Change. I expect some grumpy families on Monday. It's unfortunate timing. Oh well, we'll pull through.

8) Teacher On Call. I'll be in the school making the program and running damage control for last minute problems with the play. There will a much less stressed (I hope!) TOC in the room to care for our children.

9) Michelle. Michelle is coming to see our morning performance!

10) Parent Social. I'll be posting more information about April 17 soon. Thank you for all the positive feedback and early confirmations.

Caroline/ Mrs. App

What Makes Parenting/ Teaching Easier?

This post is for PARENTS ONLY! (Please do not let your child watch this clip.)
Often I talk about trying to create the "Right Relationship" in our classroom. Here is Dr. Gordon Neufeld explaining this concept. He is the author of Hold On To Your Kids.

Not many of the K parents made it to the Gala event. Now's our chance to get together. I'm organizing a Division 14, 15, and 11 parent social at the school for Thursday, April 17 at 6:15 pm. We can have a chance to socialize, eat, and listen to a speaker. I am scheduling Dr. MacNamara (see right link.) I mentioned her a few weeks ago. Deb. is a master at the Neufeld paradigm that I do my best to use in the class. Rather than do the caring children workshop, I asked for a more meaty (and the source of frustration for us all) topic - COUNTERWILL. Deb. will explain why our kids instictively say no to us. Get your questions ready! Stay tuned for more information. I'm already looking forward to it!
Caroline

Class News Update

1. This week we read Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski.
This is a story of a sheep that bleats to his own beat. Everyone has trouble with Woolbur from the shearer to the spinner to the weaver. Woolbur has his own ideas about being a sheep, will his family survive?
Spunky, funky, and refreshingly distinct, Woolbur will strike a chord with anyone who's ever felt different. And that's all of us!

While we still believe in the importance of taking cues from the teacher, we also embrace the differences among us all. If you here the children saying, "I know! Isn't it great!" That's Woolbur's mantra. It's a refreshingly positive way of looking at life.
Division 15 has already finished wooly sheep art. Division 14 will do their sheep art next week. Here is the author's website: Leslie Helakoski

2: Both Classes will have 30 minute presentation from the Kitsilano Public Librarian. They will learn more about the library and how to get a library card. We will also plan to visit the Kits. Libray in term 3.

3. We will continue to develop the children's awareness of shapes and patterns in our environment.

4. THE BARE NECESSITIES! Yikes! It's almost here! If you have misplaced your ticket form, the link to print your own is on the right. Both classes will be performing together at the 11:00 show and the 6:00 show on Thursday, March 13. If you are unable to attend the evening performance and your child is not coming please let me know. The big dress rehearsal is on Friday, March 7. I'll be having as many Division 14 students joining us for this rehearsal as possible.

5. The risers for the performance should arrive on Monday. (I'm crossing my fingers they show up.) We will practise standing on the stage this week in our rows.

6. Friday March 7 - The dress rehearsal is at 9:00 am. This means I will be opening the classroom to all 35 students in the morning. The rehearsal will go until recess time. I would REALLY APPRECIATE parents to pick up Division 14 students after rehearsal. JKC kids will simply go next door until class starts at 12:30. I will plan a casual afternoon class, in case some Division 14 children found the morning was enough and miss the afternoon.

7. Ever wonder how I manage to do this school-wide play for 5 years? I am SO FORTUNATE to have FABULOUS parent volunteers who step in and help me out. Class volunteers will be collecting ticket orders this week and delivering tickets to classes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Love Mrs. App

The Bare Necessities Song

We are getting ready for our big performance on March 13. Order forms for tickets to the play went home in the Take Home Folders today. Please check the School Play link for more information about the play. Both classes will be performing together for the 11:00 and 6:00 performances. Stay tuned for information about extra school time for rehearsals.
Right now our job is to PRACTISE! Click above for the music for our song. One is the full accompaniment and the other is just the melody. Here's the words for home practise.

Look for the Bear Necessities
The simple bear necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bear necessities
Oh Mother Nature's recipes
That bring the bare necessities to life.

Whenever I wander
Wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzing in the trees
To make some honey just for me
The bear necessities of life will come to you.

(Repeat)

Love Mrs. App

Puppet Show - Wolf and Pig

We added the pig and wolf puppets to one of the puppet centres today. These two students did a creative improvisation. Enjoy the show!
Note: Thank you to the student who brought a big bag of puppets to share with the class. We love them!
Love Mrs. App

Welcome, Stephanie!

We welcome Stephanie Digiacoma into our classroom. Stephanie is our new full time Student and School Support Worker (SSSW.) We are fortunate to have her all to ourselves with the exception on supervision at lunch time.
Stephanie is a wonderful addition to our classroom. She is warm, caring, and making connections with the children already. Stephanie has her Early Childhood Education and also runs a Day Care for 3 -5 year old children. If you haven't had a chance to meet Stephanie yet, drop by the classroom.

Wednesday is Pink Day at the school in support of a boy who was bullied at his school for wearing pink. I am choosing to shield the Kindergarten class from this story and not discuss the event at length together. I'm working on lowering anxieties. Some families my be discussing it due to siblings and that's fine. On Wednesday, pink is a welcome colour along with the others.
Stay tune for a Play Update soon!
Love Mrs. App

Here's the final performance we've been waiting for! Division 15 wowed the entire school with their posh outfits and fancy dance moves. I was especially impressed with our kindies committment to their performance even when one of our little sibblings ran up and started dancing between our two rows. (It's quite hilarious when you watch it!) Never fear, our class didn't miss a beat even when knocked over. Bravo, everyone! It was FABULOUS, dar-ling!
Love Mrs. App
Note: If you're wondering what all this fancy stuff is about, scroll down and keep reading.

Fancy Dress Day!

Today we were all decked out in our fancy clothes! Here's a mix of our classes having fun dressing up and singing our DISCO BINGO song. It was a very FANCY DAY!

Why are we being fancy? These activities were a literacy extension of the Fancy Nancy stories by Jane O'Connor. We have been embracing fancy and talking about how to make activities and even word choices more exciting. It is a heart-warming series that I hope our library will carry soon. (Hint Hint, Ms. Leung!)

Of course, there were some tears today, too. It was Michelle's last day. (See below) We expect our first visit from Michelle on Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Love Mrs. App
Note: I will try to upload the Div. 15 performance on my home computer. Keep checking!

Bonjour, Butterfly

We read the third Fancy Nancy Story today. Mr. Hooper read FANCY NANCY BONJOUR, BUTTERFLY by Jane O'Connor to Division 15. Mr. Hooper came to congratulate Division 15 on their exquisite performance in the gym. (Exquisite is a fancy word for very good!) Division 14 heard my version of the story in the afternoon.
Note: I'm presently working on uploading Division 15's performance. It was on a video camera rather than the computer so there are some complications. Not to worry, I'll figure it out. I'll make a movie of the photos to keep our fans happy in the meantime!
Love Mrs. App

Division 14 Performance

Here's Division 14 performing DISCO BINGO! Today was the end of our Fancy Dress theme. We explored ways to make ordinary things extraordinary by adding some sparkle and fun. We made the Bingo song much more fancy by making it Disco and adding accessories. Enjoy!

We wish you all the best, Michelle!

It's true. Michelle has been offered her dream job. She will finally be a full time paramedic in Chemainus! Her new job will start on Monday, Feb. 25. Yes, it is quick and sudden. Yes, we will miss her. Michelle is a ray of sunshine in our classroom. All the children have benefited from her warmth and caring nature. Michelle will be back to visit. Her first scheduled visit will be at our school production. I suspect she will be in the front row cheering for our little bear cubs.

As you know, our DISCO BINGO performance is on Friday, Feb. 22. Division 15 (morning class) will perform in the Gym. Division 14 (afternoon class) will be recorded in the classroom. We are calling the day our FANCY DAY. So check around the house and send in any fancy accessories that your child can wear or share. I suggest hats, ties, scarves, or necklaces. We will make fancy feather glasses in the class, so all children will have something to wear. This will be an extra-special day. What a way to say good bye to Michelle in style!

Michelle's job will be filled by Stephanie Digacomo. Stephanie has worked at Bayview previously. Mr. Hooper assures me that Stephanie is familiar with attatchment theory and has a style that will be a great fit for our classroom. That's good news. We know our kids deserve the best. I'll update you with more information when we welcome Stephanie on Monday.

Love Mrs. App

Happy Valentine's Day

Here's our two classes delivering Valentines in the classroom.
Love Mrs. App

The Gala! An Evening of Talent

What a wonderful evening! On Friday evening, Bayview was transformed into a posh venue for a silent auction and musical talent. Those of you who were there will enjoy a few memories. Those of you who couldn't make it, can have a sneak peek at a few moments I managed to catch.

Feb. 11 - 14 Photos

This was a busy week. Here's a peek at our children being creative during centre time and having their eye exams while wearing the "testing glasses." Stay tuned for the next post which will have our classes delivering Valentines to each other.

More Puppet Shows

One set of the puppets have been returned to the VSB. My Little Red Hen set still remains well used by our little actors. Indeed, they are experts at improvising! Here are some little shows with bloopers included.

Making Movies

Here's a little movie that we made today in class. Division 15 was ecstatic to be a part of the process and see the final product.

The Bare Necessities

Remember our school play is coming up on Thursday March 13.  Here's a little clip of the main characters trying out their costumes.  Click play and wait for the bear and wolves to appear.  There is always more information on the right side link.  Don't worry about our Kindergarten costumes.  I have shirts, ears, and paws for our little bear cubs.  

Love Mrs. App

Alert!

Mr. Hooper announced that the assembly on Friday is cancelled.  There will be a great instrumental performance called Swarm at 9:00 am.   This means that our FANCY DAY will be postponed until Friday Feb. 22.  We will dress up with posh accessories such as hats, ties, necklaces, sunglasses etc.  Children can bring things from home if they wish.  We will also have extravagant things here to wear for finishing touches.  Division 15 will do a performance for the school at the assembly.  Division 14 may not have an audience, but I will film them so parents can enjoy the show on our blog.

Valentines Day is tomorrow!  Remember there is also the vision screening for the morning class.  It should be a busy and grand day!

Love Mrs. App

Class News Update

Here's this week's news!

1) We are finishing Folk Tales and moving into a week of Fancy Nancy and Dress Up! This week will include the Fancy Nancy Books, getting dressed up, and singing a groovy song called Disco Bingo! It should all come together for a little peformance on Friday, Feb. 15 at the assembly. If the assembly is canceled it may be postponed. Division 14 will do a presentation in the office or in the library for the buddy class. I'll update the blog for more information.

2) Valentines Day. Yes, there will be a Valentines Theme on Thursday. The school has a spirit day of Valentine Colours. So, wear red or pink if possible. We will have some Valentine activities and goodies in the class. Thank you to the parents who have already volunteered to bake. All unannouced addtional treats are welcome. Remember there are peanut allergies in Division 15.

3) The Vision Clinic is visiting our class on Thursday at 9:30. They haven't said it there will be a Division 14 visit.

4) The Gala! The great annual Gala is on Friday. Be sure to go to the Gala link on the right to find out more information. Pictures of our gorgeous platters are on the link. Remember to scroll down. Wouldn't it be wonderful to own the platter from your child's kindergarten class? Show up and bid! There is only one for each class.

5) Michelle. Michelle should return on Tuesday. (Audience applause)

6) The Bare Necessities. I am working on a little clip with audio for the children to practice the our class song for the play. It will be posted soon.

7) Volunteers! Help. We lost our volunteers with the switch. Please let me know if you can help out. There is lots of jobs in the classroom. Plus, there will be upcoming ways to help out with little jobs for preparing for the play - making tickets, programs, etc.

8) Screencasts/ podcasts. Help your child explore the podcasts/ screencasts in the right column. I'm trying to build the blog as a resource for the children's learning at home. Stay tuned for more educational learning.

9) Swarm! There's a great performance (that's not our class) at 9:00 on Friday in the gym. Division 15 will see it. This is also the reason why I won't be surprised it Mr. Hooper cancels our assembly. At the moment, our Disco Bingo Class performance is still scheduled for Friday too. I'll update with more information about the time when Mr. Hooper confirms assembly time.

Love Mrs. App

Story Time with Mrs. App

Watch out! Mrs. App is becoming a proud computer geek!
I loved the technological conference today. Rather than simply putting computers in our class and keeping the status quo, I see the need for classrooms to change and prepare our children for the ever-changing world of technology that surrounds us. Indeed, we are preparing students for jobs that haven't even been created yet.


I'm working towards having a story time corner on our blog. For now, I'll present this one as a post. Sometimes it's nice to watch a movie of a book, because the children can rewind or watch it over and over as they wish. I expect our little smarty pants will be reading the book along with me in not time! When they need a challenge, pause it and ask them to find a word on the page. I chose the fairy tales book today because it highlights some of the folk tales we read. Be sure to view it as a full screen movie. Show your child how to click replay. Enjoy!

Wait there's MORE!
I'm exploring how podcasting can help our children learn and teach each other. In addition to the puppet shows, stay tuned for other information from the children on our page. I've also added some educational podcasts by Sesame Street. More puppets - Yay! Plus, there is also the famous shadow puppet presentation. It's all in the right coloumn. Check them out.

Love Mrs. App

Alert! There is no school on Friday!

It suddenly hit me that I did not mention the professional development day on Feb. 8 in my newsletter below! On Friday, the Vancouver teaching staff are attending a variety of conferences for educational updates to improve classrooms. I will be attending a Techonlogical Workshop. I have to admit I'm starting to feel like quite the computer geek myself with all I've learned about blogging and creating a paperless line of communication with parents. I hope to learn more about making class movies. I want to create an informative clip about kindergarten and what we do in our classroom. This is one of my plans for improving the Kindergarten Orientation this year.

We fell behind with the Lunches with the teacher due to illnesses. I have a schedule that will also include Thursdays. Even with two days a week, we will go all the way into June with lunches. I'll post the schedule soon. If you are extra eager, ask me it class to take a peek!

I'm going to try to put a new slide show in with all the puppeteers! The children are loving the two puppet centres. Their improvisations are quite charming and hilarious!

Here's a great idea! Make your computer's home page our class page. I did it and I love it! Now instead of seeing Google when I open the internet, I see the Kindergarten page. I have to admit their little faces always make me smile. You'll also see updates before the emails go out! Go into your control panel and give it a try!

Love Mrs. App

Parent Volunteers

Dear Parents:

Now that the switch has happened, it may change people's availablity for volunteering in the class. If you can volunteer on a regular basis in the class, please indicate your first, second, and third choice for the date and time desired and return the form to school by next Wednesday. I will then contact you. If you are unable to volunteer on a regular basis, but would like to volunteer occasionally (eg. every 1st and 4th week), this can be arranged. Also, if you have a friend in the class and would like to alternate weeks, please arrange it and let me know.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Caroline

Click here to get a printable version of the sign up table.

Cultivating Caring Children

This post is for the parents. Remember, our children should NEVER think that we have questions about parenting!

Many of you may know that I've done some very LONG intensive workshops around attachment theory and cultivating caring children. (It's in the right column.) I found all the workshops extremely insightful and they had a positive effect on my teaching and parenting. However, I am also aware the 8 week courses may not be realistic for everyone. I may have found a solution. On Feb. 6, Dr. Deborah MacNamara is prestenting a short 2 hour evening workshop that will try to address the key issues in parenting and teaching today. I plan to ask Dr. MacNamara if she would consider doing a workshop at Bayview for interested parents. Let me know what you think!
Cheers,
Caroline

Here's the workshop description:

We all want caring and considerate children but there is much confusion about how to get there. Dr. Neufeld unravels the mystery by uncovering the developmental roots of these esteemed virtues. What may come as a surprise is the negative effect that some of our prevailing practices in parenting and education have on caring. Included in this presentation are suggestions for how parents and teachers can best cultivate these characteristics in children.

Puppet Centre #2

Click here for a quick view of some new puppets.

Unfortunately, all the recordings are not here, yet. It's taking a VERY long time to load them. Of course, I'm also proud that my students needed more time to show off their creative ideas! Enjoy this show today. Thanks again to C.W. for lending us his puppet set.
Love Mrs. App

Class News Update

We just returned from the Winter break and it's already February! There's some exciting events coming up. Here's some important information.

1) It all changes on Monday. Yes, February 4 is the next day I see you. Division 15 will now come in the mornings and Division 14 will come in the afternoons. Here's a reminder of class hours if you are wondering when to show up and pick up your child.

Morning Class: 8:45 -11:30 (M, T, Th and F) 9:00 - 11:30 (Wednesdays)

Afternoon Class: 12:30 - 3:10 (M, T, Th, and F) No School on Wednesdays

2) Mark March 13 on your calendars. It is the school play. Our kindergarteners will be bear cubs. I already have the costumes organized so you will not be sewing. (Hooray!) Both classes are needed for the 11:00 am performance and the 6:00 performance. I'll give you more information about when to come to school closer to the date. The 11:00 show will have lots of room for young children in the audience to sit at the front. All floor space is used for seats during the evening show. It is always sold out. Tickets are $10 each. Many people buy tickets for both shows. Julie Smith and Michelle will be helping our class get ready before our scene.
As the director, I'll be pulled in many directions, but I will be leading the children during their performance. Ticket sales will be at the end of February. Stay tuned for more information. There is also a link in the right column.

3) The Bayview GALA is just around the corner on Feb. 15. This will be a fantastic and glamorous event featuring local talent and entertainment. Child care will be available. There will also be a silent auction to raise money for the school. Each kindergarten class has made a stunning platter that will be auctioned off at the Gala. Take a look at the display case on the main floor to get a preview of our platter. The children are very proud. I'm sure EVERYONE wants to take it home to remember their child's precious year in kindergarten. Start planning your bidding strategy! Check the link in the right column for more information.

4) Thank you for all your kind and supportive words to me about our classes this year. Apparently, you've been spreading the good news about our learning environment. More people are realizing what a special school Bayview is. Kindergarten registration is overflowing with applicants. If we have more registrations in the next month or so we will be able to confirm THREE kindergarten classes!

6) Valentines day. On Thursday, Feb, 14 both classes will have little theme-based parties with activities.

7) I'll be looking for more volunteers now that your schedules will look different. Stay tuned for a blog update, email me, or talk to me in person about your slot request. Remember, it's a regular weekly time to help out with preparing materials and assisting children at their desks. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you are willing, we WELCOME you. Plus, you get to see the magic during Roses at the end of the day.

I'll see you all on Monday. I can't wait to see how it goes. Any bets that some families will show up at the wrong time? (Hee hee)

Love Mrs. App

Home Reading in Action!

Click here to see our student reading!

Class News Update

1) Well, it's official. The puppet shows are a hit! Next week, all the children will have had a chance to be puppeteers in the puppet area. Last week, we had the Little Red Hen story characters. This week we will also have the Wolf and the Three Little Pigs. Some parents may be wondering where the puppet centre is. Aha! You can't see it in the classroom. The puppet area is set up during centre time in the little hallway at the back of the coat area. Feel free to ask me and I can show you the little stage etc. We always welcome puppet donations or puppet loans. Thank you to Kelsey and her son (C) for lending us the Three Little Pigs set.

2) Health. There's another yucky cold going around. If your child feels sluggish, watch for signs of a cold or flu virus. It's wonderful to hear that your Kindergartener doesn't want to miss any school. However, assure your child that I support your decision to keep him/her home to recover from illness.

3) Buddies. Since this is Division 14's last week of mornings, we will have another chance to work with our Buddies in Mr. Bartlett's class on Friday.

4) The Switch. Yes, this is the last week of Division 14 in the mornings 5 days a week and Division 15 in the afternoons 4 days a week. Remember, that there is not any school on Wednesday afternoons. The first day of the switch is Monday, February 4.

5) Home Reading. All the children have started taking home reading books in their folder. Before your child brings home more difficult books, you can make these easy ones more challenging. The second time or third time reading through the book try these reading development activities:
i) Ask you child to try "finger-tracking" while reading. Even when the child has quickly memorized the book, tracking the words with the finger develops the concept of matching the oral words with the text.
ii) Ask your child to find a word on the page. For example, if the sentence is "A is for apple," you may ask your child to find the word for. Your child will probably reread while finger tracking or look at the words that start with the letter f. These are both reading strategies.
iii) Pick any letter and play a game of how many times it appears in the book. When you find a word with the letter say the word together and see if you can hear the letter sound in the word.

6) Kindergarten Registration. If you know of anyone who has a Kindergarten- aged child in the community, please let them know to register for Kindergarten by going to the office. We have LOTS of children already registered for next year. However, the more the merrier. Plus, if people register now rather than at the last minute, it can help with school planning. In other words, we won't turn people away if they register on time. Then we can adjust our school planning to accommodate everyone. It's very possible to have 3 Kindergarten classes next year as long as registrations are in the next month or so.

7) Word of Mouth. If you love our school like I do, let people know. It's unfortunate how many children hop in cars to go to other schools when their community school is such a magical place. Until Public Schools start advertising like private school, it's up to you to spread the good news.

Stay tuned for a student reading on You Tube!
Hope you had a great healthy weekend!
Love Mrs. App

Division 14 Puppet show

The Puppet Centre is open! Check it out! Love Mrs. App.

Puppet Show #1

We have been doing various literacy activities based on Folk Tales in the class. The class is taking turns at this drama/ literacy activity. Here is two Division 15 students acting out The Little Red Hen during Centre Time. It was tricky trying to shorten the show for the computer. Still, they were very entertaining!
Love Mrs. App

Puppet Show #2 - Division 15

Here's two puppeteers putting on their own creative show. The background activity of the class is louder than the performers at times. You may have to watch it a few times to hear them. Turn up the volume and enjoy!

Journal Writing - Division 14

Here's a peek at the morning class working on their Journals. You'll also also see our platter project at the end.

First Steps

I've tried emailing this little clip to family members, but it doesn't work. So, I'm posting it here for anyone to enjoy. Of course if I knew the moment to record James walking was coming, James would be in a cute outfit, the room would be clean, and my husband wouldn't be in his pj's! Ah, well! I was incredibly lucky to be standing near a camera when I saw Jamesie standing upright! Enjoy!

What a Great Night!

I'm now home after a great night of seeing a series of wonderful parents. Thank you for all your kind words and concern for you children. Teaching the kids is a pleasure for both Michelle and me.

Here's a couple notes about what is going on in the class. We are fully into our Folk Tale Theme. We have been reading and comparing versions of The Little Red Hen, The Three Pigs, and other tales. We made Red Hen puppets today. We will make the three other characters tomorrow. When the children bring home their puppets, ask them to act out the story for you!
I hope to bring the puppet stage into school tomorrow.
In Math, we are developing calendar awareness, patterns, shapes, and of course numbers.

Home Reading will start on Monday. (See below)
Love Mrs. App
P.S. I hope there is not any typos! I'm up after bedtime and must go!

Scholastic Book Orders are Due

Scholastic Book orders are due on Friday (Jan. 18.) Thank you to the families that order through our classroom. When there is a large order, schloastic donates some books to the class.

Check your emails. I'll be asking your input regarding the switch and a possible change for next year.

Thanks.

Love Mrs. App

Here Comes Home Reading!

Of course, we all read to our children every night.... So what's this Home Reading thing? This program means that your child will be bringing home a book that is at his/her reading level. Yes, these books are boring so please supplement your reading time with some other rich literature. Meanwhile, these little books will give your child a chance to try reading on his/ her own. It's remarkable to see how quickly our little readers catch on!

The children will also keep track of their home reading. This is what the Reading Record will look like.

____________ 's Home Reading Record

Every night your child will bring home a book in his/her Take Home Folder. The first books will develop awareness of letter sounds (phonics.) Then your child will move to pattern books where only a word or so changes per page. Please spend time reading this book with your child. Help your child use reading strategies such as looking at the picture , looking at the first letter or a word, or asking the question, “Does that make sense?” This is meant to be an educational and ENJOYABLE experience. So, if your child is reluctant, avoid any struggles or tears. Instead, take the lead and read the book to your child. Your child may then try reading it for round two or help you with some words. You'll probably find your child is very proud of his/her reading skills. (And, yes.... even figuring out what's going on by looking at the picture is “reading.”)

Important notes:

Signing a book out: Choose a book from basket with child's name on it. Remove the card from the book and put it in child's name pocket on the wall.

Returning a book: Take card out of wall pocket and return to the book. Return the book to the basket with same letter.

New Records: After reading 10 books, your child will get a ten strip to put on the reading wall. We will use the wall to learn how to count by 10's. (This is not necessary in Kindergarten, but some are ready and eager.)

Thank you! Enjoy your literacy experience. Love Mrs. App

(There is a little chart for printing the name of the book and writing a parent signature. I took it off the blog example since it took up too much space.)

Get Ready for Change!

You may have noticed that we have a new student in each class! Division 14 welcomes our sweet new girl. Division 15 welcomes our darling new boy. I'm sure our new families will quickly find out what a magical group of children and parents we are lucky to have here at Bayview Kindergarten.

Here's the big change with our morning routine that starts on Monday, Jan. 14. (Yes, that's our next school day!) We will not be starting with Book Time anymore. Not to worry, it's not completely gone. It's just more advanced to keep up with the growing needs of our children. The classes have practiced the new routine already. I'll outline the new plan here so parents won't be mixed up on Monday!

1) The coat/shoes/name in school house/Take Home Folder routine is the same.
2) Next, the children (and any present parents) go to their desk. Of course, staff will also be circulating to help students. Each child will have their calendar folder waiting for them. Children update their calendars using the pattern. Children then fill in the blanks in their booklets. The daily information they fill in is name, date, weather, number of days at school in 2008, and how they feel. An example sheet will be hanging by the sink for children to use for reference. Feel free to assist your child as much as needed. This is a "no tears" exercise.
3) Hand in the folders into Bin on Round Table. Get name books and do two pages. Their are pink dots to remind children where to start their letters. I believe the many extra sets of eyes in the classroom will help the children develop good printing habits when writing their names. Children are understandably reluctant to let go of random capitals in their names. The daily practice with an adult present will help many children adapt to the "school way" of printing their name. At the same time, they will learn how to correctly print lower case letters for other words.
4) Hand in Name Books in to Bin on long table. Get a book to read for Good Old Book Time.
5) Once everyone is at Book Time, I will know all children have finished their morning exercises. As usual, the Harmonica will signal the beginning of carpet time.

This new start may take a little time to get used to. And yes... for some of you, it may mean getting to school on time. (LOL!) These morning exercises will allow each child to be fully engaged in calendar activities and will shorten the wait time at the carpet.

Thank you to Hilary who has been helping me get some books ready for Home Reading. We hope to get the program up and running for Monday, January 28.

Remember, the SWITCH DAY is Monday, Feb. 4.

I look forward to seeing many of you next week at the conferences. Thursday is the run-away hit for popularity!

Are you still reading? Good. This is the exciting part. Michelle is engaged! She plans on marrying her lucky fellow next year.

Love Mrs. App

Kid's Activity

Try this puzzle together!

January Intake Conferences

Happy New Year, everyone and welcome back! This is a very important posting, so please read carefully and take note of the details and deadline.
Parent / Teacher conferences for Division 14 and 15 will be held on (1) Tuesday, Jan. 15 from 2:00 to 5:00 (2) Wednesday, Jan. 16 from 1:00 to 3:00 and (3) Thursday, Jan. 17 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 4:00 to 7:00. Unlike the family meetings in September, these meetings are for adults only.
Please print and fill out the form called January Intake Form in the Right Column. ( You may simply email your request if you prefer.) If you would like to make an appointment, please indicate on the form (or in your email) the two times that are convenient for you. Each appointment will be for 15 minutes. If possible, please try to choose one of the afternoon times so that the evening times can be reserved for those parents / guardians who absolutely can’t make it during the day. If you have any other children who attend Bayview, please indicate this and I will try my best to coordinate the appointments. It might not be possible to accommodate your choice of appointment time if you return this form after the Thursday, January 10th deadline. I will send home confirmation slips by the end of this week.

Thank you,
Mrs. App
P.S. This was a very formal notice. See the following post for a more fun notice.

Happy New Year!

I trust everybody had a lovely time with family members over the break. I'm happy to report that my family and I are finally all better. We had a lovely vacation in Mexico. I was better after a few days of sun, but unfortuately the boys took a longer time. Finally, on the 5th day in Mexico my oldest son started eating again and we had a stressfree time for the last 3 days!

I've put pictures up just for fun. A couple of the Kindergarteners have asked me, "When are you bring in your kids for us to see?" Rather than bring in the clan, I hope the kids enjoy this photo. Here's Mrs. App (Caroline), Mr. App (Peter), Ryan, and James.

Thank you for all the generous Christmas gifts. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful group of children and parents at Bayview. Tell you children to stay tuned for personal thank yous via email.

Here's a head's up of January and February.

1) We will start Home Reading. Look for more information on the blog and for reading records to come home in the Take Home Folders. Note: The program will start using Home Books, or Library books, not classroom books.

2) Our next literacy unit will be Folk Tales. This will integrate nicely into math and art.

3) Puppets. Once we know some Folk Tales, I'll be bringing in a puppet theatre for us to use to extend our knowledge. We will also make puppets.

4) Patterns. In addition to number concepts, we will develop AB and ABC pattern identification, reproduction, and creation.

5) And as always.... so much more.... including printing, journals, reading, music and a new personal calendars!

See you soon,

Love Mrs. App