Classroom Notes - April 2017

Bake Sale Was a Success! - Thank you to all parents who donated baked items for our class bake sale. Our grade 2/3's and 3's raised over $200 for our O.K. Clean Water Lenten Project. Our class worked very hard to organize and run this event. We wish to thank all JK/SK students and teachers who generously purchased our treats. Way to go!

National School of Tennis Program - I am excited to announce that our class will participate in two tennis lessons in the beginning of May at St. Gregory's. The lessons will run between May 8-10. This will be fun!

St. Gregory Year Book 2016-2017 Drawing Contest - Some of our students are interested in submitting their drawings for the cover of the year book. All submissions will be due to the office on Wednesday, April 26, 2017.

Easter Mass at St. Gregory's - On Tuesday, April 18th, our school celebrated Easter Mass with Father John presiding. We hope that everyone enjoyed their Easter weekend with family to celebrate this important time in our Catholic calendar.

Canada's 150th! - In anticipation of this historical event, students have been participating in daily Canadian trivia and bringing in facts about Canada to place on our map at the front entrance to our school. All classes have been designated a Canadian province to focus on. Our grade three class is learning about the province of Quebec. During Education Week, we will be decorating our door by highlighting Quebec's uniqueness and hopefully, our door will will the door decorating contest.

Always Learning in Grade 3....

In Math, we have been learning about fractions and division. We have been continuing to practice addition and subtraction with regrouping through word problems and math games. We will begin a unit on measuring capacity (litres, millilitres, etc.) shortly. Please remember that there are many ways that you can support your child in mathematics at home. Counting, adding and subtracting coins and bills to $10 at home will reinforce learning at school. There are many websites in which you can print addition and subtraction algorithms for extra practice. Also, the math websites listed on this blog are very good. There are many curriculum related practice books that you can purchase that are usually inexpensive. If you have a Costco card, you will find several different types of practice books for a cheaper price. It is recommended that you print a hundreds charts, or a number line for students to use at home. If you do a Google search for these items, you will find a variety of options.

In Language, we have been looking at a variety of poems and learning about the characteristics of poetry (e.x. the speaker, lines, stanzas, etc.). Many students are completing their final copy of their adventure stories and I can't wait to post them on our bulletin board. We will continue to read a variety of texts and answer reading comprehension questions in anticipation of EQAO.

In Science, we are continuing our unit on Soils. We have learned about the different layers/types of soil. As well, we have started to learn about erosion. Now that the weather has been getting warmer, we will be able to investigate the soil in our school yard.

In Health, students have been learning about healthy eating habits. We have looked at a variety of foods from the four food groups, as well as healthy snacks.

In Religion, all students observed the Stations of the Cross as a school prior to the Easter weekend. Our Rosary Apostalate last week focused on the resurrection of Christ.

In the Arts, we will begin Music shortly. Students have created "stained-glass" crosses using different coloured tissue paper which will be displayed in our classroom window.

With Education Week approaching quickly, the next few weeks will be very busy in the school, so please expect a lot of notices from the school.

Thank you for your continued support!

Mr. Blais