The Dot

Dear Mom and Dad:

Please read the previous blog entry about bringing in rocks for our monster art activity. Thank you!

Today we did some art using felt markers to draw dots. I will be bringing this art home this week and if you would like, you can order my art onto different items such as a canvas bag, coffee mug, pillowcase etc. Watch for a notice in my folder this week.

We have a guest teacher for the next three days. Her name is Mrs. Redwood.

PM students had their very first fire drill today. We did great! Ask me to tell you what my job is when I hear the fire alarm.

Question of the day: We have learned a new big word called “subitizing”. Subitizing means that I can recognize a number of items at a glance without have to count each one individually. I can practice this with you at home. All you have to do is quickly flash me a certain amount of fingers (hold it for 2 seconds) and then close your hands. Then I have to quickly tell you how many fingers you were holding up. At school I practice this with a big blue dice. Post on the blog that you practiced this at home! This will be a good skill I need to learn.

Love,

Kindergarten

Housekeeping:

A letter was sent home about kindergarten collecting items! Please note that we are not asking you to buy any items but rather having your child collect items they might find either in your junk drawer, outside (cones, twigs) etc. We need CLEAR CONTAINERS of various sizes: jars, plastic containers, ice cream buckets. If you have some that you could donate to the class please send them with your child. Thank you very much!

‪

Dear Parents,

We have a new volunteer coordinator named Sarah Axt.  If you would like to volunteer from now on, please email her at SarahAxt46@gmail.com by the end of each month. Please include your child’s name, their color group,and if they are in the AM and PM and she will make a schedule for the kindergarten classes. Even if you can't volunteer right now, please let her know that you would like to be part of her email group for future dates, projects or field trips. Please ensure that you have a security clearance and have completed all the necessary paperwork at the office before you volunteer.

Thank you from your kindergarten team! 

Cranston Peace Ambassadors will be starting a drive for Jacket Racket beginning Monday, October 26th and running to Friday, November 6th. This is a wonderful opportunity for all students to help other children here in our city, by donating warm outerwear that they no longer need. It is a valuable experience for our students and reinforces Cranston School’s commitment to peace and citizenship education. Please take some time with your children to go through their winter items. It is that time of year when we all realize that hats, mittens, boots, snow pants and coats have been outgrown! Please give them a wash and put them in a plastic bag to be brought to school. If you could list the items and sizes on the outside of the bag, it would help the students with the sorting process! We also accept adult sizes, as many older students need help to stay warm in the winter as well!

The Dot

**We would like each child to bring one or more rocks that are relatively flat and as big as the palm of an adults hand for a monster art project starting Monday and no later than Wednesday! Here are some examples. I found these just outside on my lawn

**Don't forget to follow us on twitter! @be_KINDergarten 

Dear Mom and Dad of AM kindergarten:

We continue to learn about how we are unique and with my letter and special bag I brought home in my folder yesterday, I am learning about how objects can be unique as well. Please read the letter carefully and help me fill my brown paper bag with some "beautiful stuff!"

We read a story called “The Dot”. Ask me to tell you about this special story. I learned that everyone is an artist. Today I did some inspired by Wassily Kandinsky. I used water color pencils to create dots.

Today Mrs. Southworth and Mrs. Tuli worked with us. Ask me to tell you what we learned about being a good listener.

We had a peace assembly hosted by Room 70 and 71, they are grade ½ classes. Ask me to tell you what I saw.

Question of the day: What part did you enjoy most at the assembly?

Love,

Kindergarten

Housekeeping:

A letter was sent home about kindergarten collecting items! Please note that we are not asking you to buy any items but rather having your child collect items they might find either in your junk drawer, outside (cones, twigs) etc. We need CLEAR CONTAINERS of various sizes: jars, plastic containers, ice cream buckets. If you have some that you could donate to the class please send them with your child. Thank you very much!

If you are interested in Fun Snack Friday for your child, please check the parent weekly message for more info. Here is the link for the kindergarten Friday schedule

http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b408/pdfs/Friday%20K.pdf

Lifetouch photo orders are due by MONDAY NOVEMBER 2

Dear Parents,

We have a new volunteer coordinator named Sarah Axt.  If you would like to volunteer from now on, please email her at SarahAxt46@gmail.com by the end of each month. Please include your child’s name, their color group,and if they are in the AM and PM and she will make a schedule for the kindergarten classes. Even if you can't volunteer right now, please let her know that you would like to be part of her email group for future dates, projects or field trips. Please ensure that you have a security clearance and have completed all the necessary paperwork at the office before you volunteer.

Thank you from your kindergarten team! 

Cranston Peace Ambassadors will be starting a drive for Jacket Racket beginning Monday, October 26th and running to Friday, November 6th. This is a wonderful opportunity for all students to help other children here in our city, by donating warm outerwear that they no longer need. It is a valuable experience for our students and reinforces Cranston School’s commitment to peace and citizenship education. Please take some time with your children to go through their winter items. It is that time of year when we all realize that hats, mittens, boots, snow pants and coats have been outgrown! Please give them a wash and put them in a plastic bag to be brought to school. If you could list the items and sizes on the outside of the bag, it would help the students with the sorting process! We also accept adult sizes, as many older students need help to stay warm in the winter as well!

O'canada

Some our our kindies are featured in the photo on the CBE website when we participated in the nationwide recording of O'Canada!

http://www.cbe.ab.ca/news-centre/Pages/o-canada-cranston-school-students-participate-in-nation-wide-music-project.aspx

Housekeeping

Student Led Learning Walks offer you and your child(ren) an opportunity to glimpse a snapshot of what “writing to communicate and represent” looks like at every grade level across Cranston School with your child as the guide.

Families whose last names begin with A – L  attend on Wed. Oct. 21/15

Families whose last names begin with M – Z attend on  Thu. Oct. 22/15

*While there will be teachers from every grade level present both evenings, not every teacher will be present both evenings. All student work will be on display both evenings.

**If there are families who are getting family photos done on Thursday whose last name begins with A-L, you can choose to come whichever night works best JJ

‪Dear Parents,

We have a new volunteer coordinator named Sarah Axt.  If you would like to volunteer from now on, please email her at SarahAxt46@gmail.com by the end of each month. Please include your child’s name, their color group,and if they are in the AM and PM and she will make a schedule for the kindergarten classes. Even if you can't volunteer right now, please let her know that you would like to be part of her email group for future dates, projects or field trips. Please ensure that you have a security clearance and have completed all the necessary paperwork at the office before you volunteer.

Thank you from your kindergarten team! 

Attention All Cranston Families:

We are in need of 5 more babies, ages 6 months and younger, to participate in our Roots of Empathy program.  If you have family members, friends or neighbors who would be willing to volunteer 45 minutes/month with their babies to the school we would love to talk to them!  Please contact Mrs. Susanne Jones at the office 403-777-6267 ext. '0' for further information or if you would like the school to contact them directly.  Thanks so much!  Roots of Empathy begins in classrooms over the next two weeks and we would love to go forward with a full complement of 14 baby teachers!

Thank you!

Mrs. Kinsman (Principal)

Hello Cranston families,

This week is the start of our annual, extended Digital Citizenship week at Cranston School.  Starting this week and continuing over the next 4 weeks, Mr. McDougall and Mr. Southworth will be doing lessons with each of the classes around Internet safety, including how to protect your identity of the web, and spotting advertising, as students interact with the digital world.  Time will also be spent on using student devices at school. 

On our Digital Citizenship webpage you will find our 'Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) letter, school-wide Digital Citizenship plan and classroom Twitter guidelines.  As well, you will find activities and games for kids to play and work through at home.  This is an excellent way for parents to spend quality time with their children while helping to guide them through the digital world.

You will find a link to the Digital Citizenship page at the top of our Cranston School website.

Alternatively, you can also follow this direct link:

http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b408/VLC/digital-citizenship.html 

Thanks,

Mr. Southworth & Mr. McDougall

Cranston School Technology Leaders

Personal Space

Dear Mom and Dad:

AM class: We explored using watercolor pencils today. Ask me to tell you how they work! Also, we practiced drawing shapes and coloring in the lines. My teachers are looking at my work for the EYE (early years evaluation) on how I can draw shapes. Mrs. Joy and Mrs. Joanne came to our class this morning to talk about safety and how to cross a crosswalk! We missed the safety assembly last week so it was wonderful that they came to give us a safety presentation. I will be bringing home a safety package tomorrow.

PM class: We worked with Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Southworth today. We learned about what ‘personal space’ means. Ask me to tell you what it means. Personal space is an important concept for me to learn in kindergarten. We practiced drawing people today. Did you know that when I am drawing people, I should have a neck and body (no stickmen). I can practice this at home.

Question of the day: Post on the blog what “personal space” means.

Love,

Kindergarten

Housekeeping:

ME bags presentations tomorrow if you have the bag this week.

‪ Student Led Learning Walks offer you and your child(ren) an opportunity to glimpse a snapshot of what “writing to communicate and represent” looks like at every grade level across Cranston School with your child as the guide.

Families whose last names begin with A – L  attend on Wed. Oct. 21/15

Families whose last names begin with M – Z attend on  Thu. Oct. 22/15

*While there will be teachers from every grade level present both evenings, not every teacher will be present both evenings. All student work will be on display both evenings.

**If there are families who are getting family photos done on Thursday whose last name begins with A-L, you can choose to come whichever night works best JJ

Attention All Cranston Families:

We are in need of 5 more babies, ages 6 months and younger, to participate in our Roots of Empathy program.  If you have family members, friends or neighbors who would be willing to volunteer 45 minutes/month with their babies to the school we would love to talk to them!  Please contact Mrs. Susanne Jones at the office 403-777-6267 ext. '0' for further information or if you would like the school to contact them directly.  Thanks so much!  Roots of Empathy begins in classrooms over the next two weeks and we would love to go forward with a full complement of 14 baby teachers!

Thank you!

Mrs. Kinsman (Principal)