Hanukkah

Wednesday Hanukkah begins and we will light our paper candles on the hanukkiah, one for each of the eight days. We will also have a Hanukkah story and of course play dreidel. We will learn some Hanukkah  and Christmas songs from Mrs. Bricker, the morning kindergarten / afternoon music teacher here. She will be teaching the afternooners directly and then I will pass on the songs to the morning class.There will be a final sing song for the primary classes on the last morning, December 17th. It will be great to have even more music in our days.

Advent

Advent has begun, so we are counting down the days to Christmas. We will make a paper chain advent calendar where there is a link for every day until Christmas. Each day we will take off one link from the chain and so we will know exactly how many more days we have to wait. We will also begin to "light" our paper advent candles with tissue paper flames to count the four weeks of the season. On December 1st we will light the first candle of the Hannukiah and begin to count the eight days of Hannukah. The last week of school we will also light the Kwanzaa kinara candles. There will be more and more lights in room 23!

                                                       Our paper chain advent calendar.

The whole morning and afternoon chain. Making paper chains has really caught on with the children and we are making kilometres of chains to decorate the classroom for the holidays.

The Wish List

People have very kindly asked how they can help in the class and because you asked, there are a few things that would be lovely to have in the classroom. Please do not feel obliged in any way! If you have things at home that you are not using, we are happy to have them. This is just a way to organize and re-use.

  1. Dolls of different heritages
   2.  Play food - cloth or plastic- different cultures.
   3.  Play dishes  that reflect different cultures.

   4.  A few large cushions with removable covers in cheerful fabrics for the reading corner

   5.  Large zip lock bags for the borrow the book program and library
   6.  A few large plastic trays with a lip to them for planting and doing messy crafts.
   7. Leftover wool, felt, buttons and other craft materials
   8. Clean glass jars with lids. (Please none that have come in contact with nuts.) eg. Soup or sauce or mayonaisse jars.
   9. Wallpaper sample books or paint colour chips.
  10. Frozen juice containers for the paint centre
  11. Good on one side paper. (We go through lots of paper, so let's reuse those that have only been used on one side.)

That's it for now. Thanks again for all the help you give our class. It makes a huge difference! 
  

 

Loi Krathong Festival, Thailand

At this festival people put lotus flower shaped boats with lights, incense, flowers and coins in the river, sending away the bad luck and giving thanks for water. We will make a paper lotus flower tomorrow and put a wish in the middle of it. Then we will see if it floats at our water table. We will also do a little experimenting to see what else floats and sinks. Since the flowers will be delicate we will decorate the class with them and wait until your visit before sending them home.

Eid al Adha

The other day one of the children was so excited to tell us that he had put up his Eid lights at home. To honour him and all the other children at the school who celebrate this Eid,  today we will learn a little about Eid al Adha. It is one of the two main festivals in the Islamic year. It is the Festival of Sacrifice and happens at the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. People who have gone to Mecca celebrate there, while others celebrate at home. The festival recalls the time when Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his son. When he proved his obedience by tying his son to the altar God allowed him to sacrifice a sheep instead. The focus of this festival is faith and mercy, and people celebrate with their family and with acts of compassion, so today we will make a list of kind things that we can do for others.

Pyjama Day Thursday, PD day Friday

Cozy jammies and stuffies welcome on Thursday for our school wide Pyjama Day. Then please remember that the next day is a PD day.

Wish List

Thank you very much to all of you who have offered help for our class. One way you can add to our program is by helping with our wish list. Liz Burgess, a mother from the morning class, has kindly offered to coordinate getting the things on this list. I will post a full copy of the list soon. If you are interested in this project please send me a note with your child or through the moderated comments link on this blog. (I won't publish them, just use the information.) I will also publish some playdough recipes and a list of some crafts you can help with if you are interested. Thank you SO much to the Burgess family who has donated this beautiful rocking chair to the class already. Can't you just picture your child playing teacher or curled up reading a book here? It adds so much to our day. Thank you!

Songs

The helper of the day holds the sun up and we are learning to dance around her or him in a circle. This is a song for birthdays sung at Montessori schools and the children really like it.

We are preparing this song to sing for your visit at our Holiday Party. It is the Raffi song, One Light, One Sun. In case the pictures aren't clear, the words are below.

 One light, one sun, One sun lighting everyone. One world turning, One world turning everyone.

One world, one home. One world home for everyone. One dream, one song, One song heard by everyone.

One love, one heart. One heart warming everyone. One hope, one joy, one love filling everyone. It will be lovely.

Donation Box

There is still time to send in donations of warm clothes for men, women and children for our Mission Drive. The class cut out all these hats, mitts and scarves to decorate the box and we hope to fill it many times over.Please send in what you can. Thank you!

Around the Classroom

Here are a few pictures of some things the children have made recently.


Papel picada for the Mexican Day of the Dead:

Our Remembrance Day wreath:

Raven boxes (on the piano) to go with the story of how Raven brought the light to the people:

We will send the Raven boxes home with the parents after our Holiday Party (date to be announced soon) as they are very fragile.

Kindness Bracelets

For Anti-Bullying Day the children made kindness bracelets. They made beads by wrapping pink pipe cleaner pieces around a pencil, sliding them off and threading them onto a white bracelet. As we made them we talked about kind words and the children said a kind word for each bead on their bracelet. Most of the children have made theirs, but there was a lot going on at the school Thursday and Friday, so we will finish them up tomorrow. They can wear them anytime to remind themselves and others of the importance of those words in making the school a safe and comfortable place for everyone.

Anti-Bullying Day

Thursday is Anti-Bullying Day at the school, so we will be reading a few stories about the subject and having a short discussion. If the children have anything pink they would like to wear that is another way to participate in the day. Apologies for the short notice. Somehow I seem to have missed that memo. Anything pink will do! We will also make a pink craft so that everyone can have some pink to wear in case some don't get this note in time.
P.S. Pink Day has been extended to Friday as well, so there's one more chance to wear your pinks. We will also finish making our pink kindness bracelets tomorrow.

New Dismissal Plan

Starting tomorrow, Monday the 15th of November, we will be dismissing the class from the south porch. Parents, please meet us there at 11:35 for the morning class and 3:35 for the afternoon class. I will have a checklist of the students and will dismiss them one at a time to you. If they go on the bus, Bonnie will pick them up there and take them down and put them on the bus and I will check off their names. If they go to Dovercourt, they will be met on the porch as well and then also checked off the list. As I am responsible for their safety I appreciate your patience and help with this new system. Please be prompt at pick up time. If for some reason you cannot avoid being late, I will have the children wait for you in the office after 11:40 or after 3:40. Thank you for your help in making all go smoothly.

Happy Divali!

Divali is a Hindu festival of lights that celebrates good conquering evil. This year Divali was on November 5th. We read about Divali this past week and made some rangoli which are patterns made from brightly coloured powders. The children chose the pattern on paper that they liked best and put dots of glue on it, then sprinkled coloured sand over. They repeated this to add different colours. Their rangolis turned out very well! They can be hung up to bring a good new year and to welcome guests to your house. The children will be bringing their art home soon.

Remembrance Day Assembly

Our morning class will attend the primary assembly for Remembrance Day tomorrow at 9:45 am. All afternoon students are welcome to come with their parents if they would like. I have poppy stickers from the Veterans for each child to wear. If you would like to send in a small contribution for these poppies I will add this to their collection box. We are making a wreath with the hand tracings of both morning and afternoon children to lay at the assembly. We will have a special storytime for the afternoon class in the classroom to make sure they also learn about this important day. Also, Paul Hope, a parent of an afternoon student and a Tai Chi teacher, will lead the children in a short movement lesson. This will be wonderful as our focus for Remembrance Day is on peace.

Interview Times

Wow! When I ask for letters returned the next day you do really well. I got all but two. Thank you! Your interviews have been scheduled and the letters confirming your times are coming home today. I tried to give you as close to your requested time as possible. See you soon.

Picture Retake Day!

Wednesday, November 10th is Retake Day. Please send a note with your child if you would like a retake.

School Project

Broadview school is having its second collection of warm clothing for those in need. Please send in new or gently used hats, mitts, scarves and socks. We have a box to collect them in the classroom. Let's fill it up many times over! All the clothing collected will be strung on a long line all the way down Broadview Avenue, connecting all the schools. Then it will be donated. Please send in your contributions soon. Thank you!

Parent Teacher Interviews this week and next

We are having interviews soon to discuss how your child is adapting to Junior Kindergarten. They will be held Thursday from 4:00 to 7:30, Friday morning from 8:30 to 11:30 and Monday morning from 9:15 to 11:30.  There is a letter in your child's backpack today with all the details as well. Please choose your preferred time and send the form back TOMORROW with your child so I can coordinate all the requests and send you a confirmation letter. We will try to coordinate interviews for families with more than one child in the school as much as possible. Thanks for your help! 

Festivals of Light, Celebrations of the Human Spirit

Dear Everyone;

   Monday we begin learning about why it is getting so dark outside so early. We will talk about the seasons and how the sun makes the seasons. Then we will learn about different celebrations around the world that use light at this time of year. Of course, there is a connection! If you have any books or decorations from your family's celebrations they are very welcome. The children can show the class what they bring in as a little informal Show and Tell. Please make sure their names are on everything that comes in so we can return them! Our unit will include Divali, Yalda, Chanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa as well as the native story of how Raven brought the light. It should be a special unit with lots of wonderful stories and some extra spiffy crafts. 

Dance-A-Thon Tomorrow!!!

As you  know, the Dance-A-Thon is tomorrow. In the morning the class dances from 10:30 to 11. In the afternoon we have the 1:10 to 1:35 time slot. This is right at the beginning of our day, so if you can have the children here a few minutes early that will help. We will take them right into the gym and try to get the full use of our time. If you can come and help at that time you would be very welcome.
I also want to thank Marnie Johnstone who is a parent of one of the children in room 23. She bravely took on the challenge of organizing this major fundraiser with no previous experience of Broadview Dance-a-Thons and has worked incredibly hard with her team to put this all together. Thank you so much, Marnie!!!
Thank you also to all the kindergarten parents. We have raised a significant part of the funds for the school with our youngest students. That is impressive, so thank you for your help.   

Books and Patterns

During our study of patterns we have celebrated a few famous authors and their work. We had a Bill Martin Jr. /Eric Carle week (Brown Bear, Brown Bear and the sequels) and then we had a Dr. Seuss week. I'm sure your children would love to read them with you at home too, or to find rhymes in other children's books. They are pretty great at spotting them.

p.s. If they wiggle their thumb at you that means they hear a rhyme. That's the signal we use at circle time.

Dot Party and Dance-A-Thon

We are finishing up our unit on Patterns with a Dot Party on Friday. We will read the book, The Dot, wear our very spiffy dot crowns and maybe even make some three dimensional dots. If you have some dotted clothes in your wardrobe, Friday is the day to wear them! Other patterns are also welcome if dots are not available.The more the merrier!!! We will be going to the Dance-a-Thon also on Friday. There will be a special time for only the kinders to go, with children's music and a special visit from Mr. Davies and his Teddy Bear. It should be a very fun day. Have a look at  Happy People Dancing on the Earth on YouTube to help you get ready for the dancing.