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Now that we are into our second term, we would like to talk about Grace and Courtesy and what a huge part it plays in the normalizing of our environment. We have 24 children all with their own unique personalities. Everyone has their own opinion and are beginning to (as they gain confidence) express their own thoughts and listen to those of others. As adults, we are the role models and it is extremely important that we give the children the opportunity and tools to be able to problem solve together. This may sound simplistic, but it is very easy as adults to solve problems for them. Now that we are well into our second term, we can think back to September and see the amazing progress between the children. We hear them talking, listening to each other, problem solving, assisting, comforting, and becoming a cohesive group. Recently, one little boy bumped into another student who burst into tears. With genuine concern, he immediately wrapped his arms around her and as he hugged her firmly, told her he was sorry. Her tears were replaced with a smile and thanks. No adult intervention needed. A very special moment!
Please remember to check that your child has appropriate outdoor clothing each day and a change of clothing in their cubby. Labels in clothing and boots is very helpful!
Thank you.
Holly and Elizabeth.
casaeast@dvms.ca |
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Hello Casa North Parents.
The children are all settled back in after the Winter break and are working hard. Our first years are making fantastic progress with their sounds and numbers, and we know they feel great about it. That is one of the amazing things about teaching -- the explosion into language is such an exciting thing to witness. They've taken off step by step, are super enthusiastic, and are making leaps and bounds with giant pride.
The second and third years are continuing to positively model for the younger students and are inspiring one another to challenge themselves and do their best. Skip counting chains, quizing each other on addition tables, making labels for everything in the class, sewing my buttons back onto my shirts, writing about Neptune and Egypt. Intriguing stuff.
A lot of French has also been happening in the class and we're all enjoying it. The first years especially love talking about the colours in French and everyone is happy to play a game of French Bingo. At circle time, we have been working on les animaux, la famille, et la maison. Ask your child to name some rooms in the house, or how to say "sister" or "mother" in French. Continuing the dialogue at home will help them retain their learning while we work on our next topics.
We have a new adult friend in the class, a student teacher that your kids may have been speaking about. Here is a note and picture to you from her:
Hello Casa North Parents,
My name is Stephanie Goruk and I am currently training to become a Montessori Casa teacher with CMTEI - Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute. I am grateful to have been welcomed into your children's classroom to complete the Teaching Practice component of my training. It means so much to me to be gaining experience with Dylan at a high quality Montessori school. One and a half years ago, I entered the world of Montessori and decided to take an Assistant course. Since then, I have worked in two Montessori schools and made the decision to take the next step in training and become a qualified Montessori teacher. To give you my very brief background: I grew up in Hamilton, and it's great to rediscover the area after living away from Ontario for about a decade. I have a B.Sc. in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of British Columbia. At the UBC Farm, I volunteered in a primary school gardening program. While living in Saskatoon, I initiated cooking classes for teens at a community centre. I have also worked as a tree-planter and head cook in tree-planting camps.
I'm looking forward to getting to know your children, and meeting all of you too!
See you soon, Stef Thanks for reading. Dylan and Laura.
casanorth@dvms.ca |
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Imagine, if you will, a beautiful warm spring day. Birds are singing, the sun is shining, a gentle breeze blows in the air, and the temperature can only be described as perfect. It is time to plant our vegetable garden. But before we do, let's review all the work that led to this exciting day. Way back in January, when the weather was soooo cold (remember that?), we sat down and decided what plants we should grow. We thought about what we had learned with our botany jobs and talked about root, vine, and bush vegetables, and the characteristics of each one. We used our math skills to plot out our garden and determine how many of each vegetable would fit into one square foot. We decided to germinate some of our plants from seed and watched them grow in our lovely sunny window. Now we have all our plants, our gardening tools, lots of enthusiasm, and we are ready to plant. First we cultivate our soil, which is fun because we dig up lots of worms and see many insects, which prompts a discussion about vertebrates and invertebrates. We talk about the importance of bees and pollination in the garden, and the necessity for sun and water. Finally, we step back and admire our work. Later, in the summer, we will eat our work!
So, as you shovel your driveways and shiver in the cold, remember that spring is indeed coming, and the children are learning the basics of botany, zoology, math, and language that will make that wonderful spring day even more meaningful.
Pat and Serena.
casasouth@dvms.ca |
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I didn't get a chance to send best wishes with last month's newsletter being the Specialist Issue, so welcome back Lower South families. I hope everyone had a great break.
This second term is a short one, but there is still a lot in the works: finishing letter writing with a trip to the post office, the timeline of life (a huge project right now, wait 'til you see at Show Me), metric measurement in math - a great discussion item in daily life, and a focus on the elements of art with a study of the abstract artists. You'll have a chance to view their artwork at our gallery opening at the Thursday, February 13, Strata Cafe.
We are looking forward to showing off some of our work at the Show Me Day this month (don't forget to sign up). This is a great time for you to sit back and let your kids run the show. The opportunity to share their work with their parents, and have nothing but positive, supportive feedback, goes a long way to building and maintaining the levels of self-confidence kids need to continue challenging themselves and learning from their mistakes. See you there!
Noeleen.
lowerelementarysouth@dvms.ca |
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I've had a great time over the past month working on skating and hockey with the children in both Lower Elementary classes. The progress they make from year-to-year, and from week-to-week, is astounding. Two boys who stepped on the ice with skates on for the first time last year, and who wouldn't let go of either an adult's hand or the boards, took about ten minutes to start skating on their own this year. This year, we had two little girls take to the ice for the first time. From being frozen, both figuratively and literally, to getting around the rink on their own took only three weeks. In the hockey group, last year we had 4 kids trying hockey for the first time, and this year there are 8. The camaraderie of the older kids stepping up to help the beginners is magnificent to see. The capacity children have to teach themselves what they want to learn is truly astounding, especially when coupled with learning from their peers. I want to say a big thank you to all of the parent (and grandparent) volunteers that come out to help with skates and equipment, and on the ice. We couldn't do it without you.
Back inside the school, Lower North is staying busy with timelines, from building trilobytes and cephalopods to independent work on various epochs from the cenozoic era. Both the kids and I are looking forward to having you all come in on Show Me Day later this month.
Rob.
lowerelementarynorth@dvms.ca |
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Upper Elementary East is committed to be our best for 2014! January has been a busy month, with students recommitting to the classroom expectations and refocusing on an effort to keep purposeful work a mainstay of our day. We have had discussions about reputation, both personal and class-wide, and how to create a reputation of a hard working, creative, and innovative classroom community. I have been proud to observe this effort result in small groups moving to abstract work in math, some acknowledging that they need to practice concepts more with the materials while others have jumped to the challenge of great work. We completed a timeline of Canadian History and several students are working on research for a play based on the events of the War of 1812. Other groups have presented on topics such as the periodic table of elements, the viking voyagers, and Japanese manga art. We have also spent a portion of each week on the ice at the curling club, skill building and playing short games. In February, we will release more information about our art exhibition which will take place during an upcoming Strata Café, so stay tuned!
BUT, the really important Upper East news is that Terrence and his wife Kate welcomed Zada Jill Millie into the world at 9:14 pm on Monday, January 27, 2014 - the Snow Day! Zada was a healthy 8lbs 1oz, and 21 inches, born under the Chinese Zodiac signs of Tail of the Snake with the Head of the Horse (Manga that UEE!). Tail is the outgoing sign, head is the incoming - this designation only counts for babies on the cusp of the the 2 week Chinese New Year which started Friday January 31, 2014 (Happy Chinese New Year everyone. Thanks for the dumplings Lenore). Zada was born at home after a short 5 hour labor. Mom and baby are doing fine, but are staying in the warmth. Sister and Casa East child Olive gave herself a giant hug when she heard the first cry and stayed up late to meet her new sister.
Terrence.
upperelementaryeast@dvms.ca |
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Although a very COLD beginning to the new term, Upper Elementary West returned from the holidays with great enthusiasm and willingness to work. Cubing materials, squaring materials, multiplying decimals, and calculating percent and simple interest has been our math focus this month. We have begun our speeches and we are looking forward to presenting them to our peers and parents at the end of the month. A note will come home with your child with their date and time listed. We are also starting our study of the Olympics and are looking forward to incorporating it into our work each day.
It is that time of year again when the sixes slowly start to make their way into the Adolescent programme. They will be shadowing the adolescents over the next month to get a sense of how the programme works and what to expect next year. An exciting, and a little scary, time of year for them!
Hopefully the temperatures will remain warmer and the students can go outside for recess from now on! If not, you might just find me huddled in the corner rocking back and forth. Two weeks inside all day is enough! That being said, please ensure that your child has the appropriate outdoor clothing for all of this snow.
If you need to contact me at any time, please do not hesitate to send me an email.
Kathleen.
upperelementarywest@dvms.ca |
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email:
dvms@golden.net
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