December in a Review

Dear K-PM Parents,

Wow! What a busy month we've had! It went by so quickly, it's hard to believe me managed to complete so many things!

On Wed. Dec. 20th, we had the "Circle of Love" and Santa read our class a story. Then, we have a wonderful time reading with parents and grandparents! Thank you for sharing the treats with our class and a big tanks to Mme Chantal Rochon for organizing this special event!

We had time to create several special crafts for our family to enjoy!

 We had several practices during our Music classes to prepare us for the concert, on Mon. Dec. 18th!

We also took time to play in our new learning centres!

     Bravo la Maternelle!  Way to go K-PM!!

Best wishes to all the Kindergarten families this Holiday Season:) 

Enjoy relaxing and pleasant moments with your wonderful children!

🎉🎈🎉🎈🎉 See you all in the New Year on Jan. 8th, 2018 🎉🎈🎉🎈🎉

Much love,

Muriel

💖💖 Mme Nielsen 💖💖

Dec. 18th - 22nd Reminders and Events

Dear K-PM Parents,

This is our last week before our Winter Holiday Break!  I have planned some fun activities for the week and look forward to the kindergarten's performance on Monday evening's concert.  They have been practicing for a while and our class presented their piece during our dress rehearsal on Friday, Dec. 15th!

Here they are in action: 

 

 

Thank you to our parent volunteers last week!  Your help did not go unnoticed: Claire and Daniel's mom, as well as Lucas's mom and Isandra's grandmother.

Now, here are the planned events during our last week of 2017!  

Spirit Week is happen at École VW and here are the special days:

Monday, Dec. 18th - Sports Jersey Day! + Craft Day 4: Snow Covered Pine Cones 🌲🌲🌲

Tuesday , Dec. 19th - Pyjama Day! + Craft Day 5: Orange Scented Pomanders 🍊🍊🍊

Wednesday, Dec. 20th - Twin/Duo Day! + Craft Day 6: Cane Deers 👯. 👯. 

Thursday, Dec. 21st- Crazy Hair Day! + Crafts go home:)) + Class Party! 🎈🎉🎈🎉

Friday, Dec. 22nd - Holiday Colors Day! + Class Movie & Popcorn Day! 🍿🍿🍿 

During the break I will be sending home some "Fun" homework activities your child can do to continue working on fine motor skills, printing, counting, alphabet recognition skills, and some fun dice games! 

I will also be posting some Apps related to the above.

Take care and have a wonderful Winter Break!

Craft Day 3 - Cinnamon Stick Christmas Trees

Dear K-PM Parents,

On Wednesday, December 13th, we focused on learning to tie knots!  First, we practiced with a long piece of yarn and a popcycle stick.  Then, we tied 6-7 alternateing red/green ribbons to a cinnamon. And...Voilà!

Our beautiful little Christmas tree ornaments!

Bravo la Maternelle!!

Craft Day 2 - Snow Globes

Dear K-PM Parents,

We were successful in completing our beautiful snow globes, even after running and playing in physical education class and centre time! 

Bravo la Maternelle!

Merci,

Muriel

Mme Nielsen

Craft Day 1 - Snowflakes

Dear K-PM Parents,

Here are our beautiful snowflakes! We learned to fold, to cut small shapes with thick layers of papers. 

Just as each snowflake is unique, so were the end products of our creations!

Bravo a Maternelle!

Merci,

Muriel

Mme Nielsen 💖

December Activities...

Dear K-PM Parents,

As we observe another change of season, we will talk about the importance of getting dressed warmly! 

In Français, we will learn about «les vêtements d'hiver» or winter clothing. We started our Alphabet mini book. We will add a few pages a day, until we have the whole mini book completed!

During the week of December 11-15th, we will be creating some arts and crafts for the holidays!

On Monday, Dec. 11th - Snow Flake craft - 1 Volunteer needed :)

On Tuesday, Dec. 12th - Paper Snow Globes - 2 Volunteers needed :)

 

On Wednesday, Dec. 13th - Cinnamon Stick Tree - 1 Volunteer needed :)

On Thursday, Dec. 14th - Not a Craft Day - Day 6 - we have Music and Phys. Ed.

On Friday, Dec. 15th - Practice for the concert - 1 Volunteers needed :)

Therefore, On Tuesday , Dec. 19th - Orange Scented Pomanders - 2 Volunteers needed :)

Please email me to schedule a volunteer day. 🙂

Merci,

Muriel 

Mme Nielsen

November In Review...Concepts to practice ❤️

Dear K-PM Parents, 

Throughout the month, we studied «l'automne» which included the study of colors, numbers, and created our ”Family Trees".  The words for mom, dad, brother and sister:«maman, papa, frère et soeur» respectively. In doing so, we identified initial sounds of these words and practiced printing them, identifying them, and counting them in our letter studies!

We also worked on playing nicely by cooperating with one another, by sharing materials in a centre and by encouraging our friends to try new centres. 

We worked on «le Calendrier », counting from 1-30, identifying the days of the week in French, the number of syllables in each word, the months at school, so far!

We are excited about learning new things in December...please see our next blog entry for more information!

Merci,

Mme Nielsen

December Reminders!

Dear K-PM Parents,

Here are a few important dates to remember in December:

Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 - No Classes - Evaluation Day

Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 - K-5 Winter Concert ( 6:30-8:30 pm )

Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 - Friday, Jan. 5, 2017 - Winter Break - No Classes!

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Merci,

Mme Nielsen

Weekly Updates Nov. 20-24th

Dear K-PM Parents,

Another week has past so quickly! In Français, we learned about «Les couleurs» and started our first mini book! This is the beginning of a collection of Français mini books we will be using to practice our reading skills!  Once we have made a few, I will send them home in a Ziplock bag so that the children can show you what they know!

We also concentrated on letter identification and studied «les lettres» /m/, /p/, /f/, & /s/ for «maman, papa, frère et soeur».  We started /b/, /j/, /r/, for the primary color words: «Bleu, jaune, et rouge». I may send home some practice sheets, if needed.

In Math, we have worked on number recognition: 1-8 and placing "apples and seeds" in increasing order - Counting the number of seeds in each Apple, cut and glue each picture from smallest to biggest!

In Science, we are continuing our study on seasonal changes: "What happens to the trees between Fall and Winter?" / «Quels sont les changements d'un arbre entre l'automne et l'hiver?»

And we continue to have our play time in the learning centres!

Another fun and busy week filled with much learning!

Bravo la Maternelle!

❤️ 💖

Merci,

Mme Nielsen 

Caring and Sharing

 

Good Day Van Walleghem Community,

 

First and foremost we would like to take this early opportunity to wish you and your family all the best for the holiday season!

 

As the year will soon be coming to an end, we would further like to thank you for the generosity that you have again shown this year.  We have been able to do some incredible things in 2017 due to the incredible generosity shown through our various fundraising efforts.  Even more importantly, however, has been your generosity where programs involving our city community are concerned.  Over the course of 2017, we have been able to help many people in the city attain and maintain the ability to fulfill some basic care needs that they may not be able to otherwise.  Thanks to your efforts, Van Walleghem families, our children are learning that even a small donation can go a long way to help others.

 

As the holiday season approaches, Van Walleghem classes will again be helping our community.  We have been able to connect with families through Child and Family Services to provide food and resources to some families who have come upon some unfortunate times.  In your children’s classes, the teachers will discuss this program and ask that students bring in some specific non-perishable food items, and, when possible, a monetary donation for perishables/grocery gift card and small gifts for the children.  

 

Every year we do this, our families that deliver often talk about how powerful an experience this is.  If you are available to help with the shopping or the delivery of the hampers, please speak directly to your classroom teacher.  

 

Below you will find a list of the non-perishable items which are suggested for contributions.  

We thank you, again, and in advance, for the contributions that you will make to this program.  While we, the teachers, may be the ones directly in contact with the families, we know that this program is not a success without the generosity of our school community.

 

Sincerely,

 

Van Walleghem Staff

 

 

 

 

 

Soup

Canned meats

Canned Fruits

Pasta

Pasta sauce

Canned vegetables

Canned beans, chilli, stew

Rice

Cereal

Peanut butter

Sugar

Coffee/Tea

Juice

Oatmeal

Cookies

Cake Mix

Jam/Honey

 

 

 

VW's School Calendar - Nov. 2017 to Jan. 2018

Dear K-PM Parents,

Here is a copy of our VW's Nov to January calendars, in case your family is planning a winter trip!

Have a great weekend!

Happy planning...your Winter Break!

Merci,

Muriel 

Mme Nielsen

Week of November 13-17th

Dear K-PM Parents,

This week in Français and Sciences Humaines, we read about different family sizes, and how each one is important, because of the love we share! We learned new Français words: «une maman», «un papa», «une soeur», «un frère», «une grand-maman», et «un grand-papa», «une tante» et "un oncle»!

We also learned a pre-reading/writing strategy to "listen" and "feel" the different sounds in words. First we learn about beginning sounds, the ending sounds and finally middle sounds. So , if your child wishes to "write" words by themselves, then this is the easiest way for child to learn to write words!

An activity we have started in class, is to use the Elkonan boxes, named after a Russian researcher on language development, we start with small words, say it three times, and "push" the first sound into the first sound-box, using a bingo chip. Then, we repeat for the next/last sound. We have learned to "listen", "feel", "write" the sounds associated to: «la, ma, ta, Sa».  Then, we will move onto words with 3 sound-boxes! Note: all of this is done with our Français vocabulary! But this can also be a fun game to play at home. On Pintrest there are several free downloads for "Elkonan Box Games"!

Such as these:

In Science, we continue our study of «Les couleurs» in combination with our study of bulbs/plants.

What a great way to explore different parts of a plant!  Mme Mousseau's class has started and the bulbs have already started to sprout! 

In Math, we continue to do calendar activities counting, from 1-20, by 2's, by 5's, by 10's and backwards!

As well we love the play centres, where the content changes often!  Here we are in action: 

Beau travail Maternelle! Beautiful work Kinders!

Bonne fin de semaine!!

 💝. ❤️. Mme Muriel Nielsen. ❤️. 💞.