Library Visits and Reading Buddies

Our library day is Friday for both classes. The children will be carrying their books home in their note totes, if they fit. Please send the books in by Friday so the children can return them and take out a new book. There is a library basket in the classroom, so the books can come in another day if you wish.
We have also begun reading buddies. An older child is paired with your child and reads with her or him. Sometimes they will also write down your child's stories or do a special craft with them as well. It is a very lovely part of the week to see the children together. The morning class is paired with Mrs. Hill's class and the afternoon class with Mr. Brown's class. We are very glad to have this time each week.

What comes after Zed?

 We have finished our Letter A Day and now have begun our next unit, which is Fairytales!

We will be reading stories about castles,

                                                 enchanted animals,

and all your favourite characters.

So there's a lot that happens after the Zed!   

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year, Year of the Snake!

 

 

Here are some dragons from last year. The dragon symbolizes the coming spring.



The Chinese zodiac has 12 different animals. This year is the Year of the Snake. Since the date for New Year can be in January or February, if your child was born before February 7th, he or she is a Golden Pig.  In the Chinese culture, it is believed that the Golden Year comes once every 600 years. Pig individuals are patient, sometimes shy, but fun to be around. People born during the Year of the Pig know how to enjoy life when things are going good, but also know how to roll with the punches when life gets a bit rocky. Most of the class were born after the month of February, and so were born in the year of the Rat. They are ambitious, clever and devoted to their family, hard-working and imaginative. They are not always sure of themselves and do not always plan for the future. They will always stand by their friends. No wonder we have such nice classes!


Here is a sample of a Chinese New Year card that people would send to each other. You can see the lanterns, the fireworks and the lucky red colour everywhere. The children are wearing the new clothes they receive as part of the celebrations. They might also have had a haircut!

These are dumplings which would be part of the big family dinner that everyone would eat together. They come in many shapes. These look a little like purses full of money. One of the wishes for the new year is prosperity. We had some dumplings to sample today at school.

 Here is a dragon for the Dragon Dance. On New Year's Day there will be many dragon dances for people to see. We are having a little one here, with lots of noise- makers to scare away any bad luck.

Here is another great Chinese dragon, this one on the top of  a beautiful building. Happy New Year!

Valentine's Day Parties

Valentine's Day Parties

Dear Parents;

   For fun on Valentine's day we decided to wear Valentine colours if we have them. So check your closets and bring out all the red, white, pink and purple you can find. The more the merrier. We will deliver the Valentine cards to the children's mailboxes and send them home to be opened there so none get lost or mixed up. It will be lots of fun to see what the cards look like. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Valentine's Day is coming! If your child would like to bring in cards for their class they are welcome to do so. Since they are young and they are many, the easiest way to arrange things is for you or your child to just sign each card with their own name. There is no need to write their friends's names on too. If everyone does address the cards that's 1600 Valentines to sort! Whew!! We will make special bags for their mailboxes and do some lovely heart crafts to celebrate. It will be another great February day.

Thank you so much

Thank you, parents and children, for such a lovely welcome back to school. I am so glad that I am back and able to work with the children again. As you know, we are finishing up our unit on the Alphabet. We are also adding in a study of Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day. Monday was the letter S for Spring Festival and for the year of the Snake. Tuesday was T for tea and Wednesday was U for umbrella, the folding version of which the Chinese invented. We painted parasols. Friday will be V for Valentines. So they combine well!