Wednesday, Sept. 30

Highlights:

• Today was Orange Shirt Day. We read different books about Orange Shirt Day and talked about the importance of how kids should feel at school. 

• We learned about next Lively Letters sound. Ask me some words that start with the 'qu' sound.
• We continued to practice our growing patterns and looking at the rules for them.
• In Art, we finished the projects we started yesterday. Ask me what the art was about!

Reminders:

• Terry Fox Run is on Friday. We are still collecting Toonies for Terry.

Tuesday, Sept. 29

Highlights:

• Today we painted pictures that have backgrounds that have warm and cool colours. 
• In Math, we have started to learn about increasing patterns. Ask me to show you one example of an increasing pattern.
• In Language Arts, we talked about why writers write and created an expert list to help us come with ideas for our writing.
• We learned about vertebrates and invertebrates. I can explain the different between the two of them.

Reminders:

• Tomorrow is Orange Shirt Day. Please wear an orange shirt to recognize this day.

                                          

• Our Terry Fox Run is this Friday!  Still wanting to donate to the Terry Fox Foundation for our school goal of $1000 for 1000 km?  Please visit our NLS Twitter account or our school website for more information and to find the link to donate online. 

Monday, Sept. 28

Highlights:

• In P.E. we played a brand new game called Mother May I? Ask me to tell you what the game is all about!
• We learned the difference between urban and rural communities. I can tell you at least one way they are different.
• In Music, we listened to Music about the First Nations people. 
• For Math, we continued our work with patterns. We learned how to translate patterns using their rules. 

Reminders:

• On September 30, students are encouraged to wear an orange shirt to recognize Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for everyone to come together in the spirit or reconciliation to show their support of a safe, respectful and caring school community. Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 when residential school survivor, Phyllis Webstad, shared how her orange shirt was taken away on her first day at residential school. For more information about Orange Shirt Day please visit https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/what-is-orange-shirt-day
• Please return the Media consent forms sent out last week ASAP. 
  
  

Thursday, Sept. 24

Highlights:

• In P.E. we did relay races and played a game called Number Dots.
• Today we read a book called Iggy Peck, Architect. We designed out perfect playgrounds. Ask me to tell you some of the things I had in mine. Below are some of the great playgrounds designed by our class!

• In Language Arts, we talked about how to make sentences more interesting. I can show you how to turn the sentence "The dog barked." into a more fun sentence! 
• We also had a birthday in our class. Happy Birthday Leo! 

Reminders:

• Tonight and tomorrow morning we are having Parent Teacher Conferences. I will be calling all families signed up for a time. Please note that the call might be coming from a blocked number.
• There is no school tomorrow.
• Please return the consent forms that were sent out yesterday by Monday. 

Wednesday, Sept. 23

 Highlights:

• We learned the Lively Letters sounds for 'k' and 'g'. Ask me to show you the action that goes with each one. 
• In P.E. we played shadow tag because it was so sunny! It made the game easier to play.
• Today we read a book called the Invisible Boy. Ask me to tell you what the important message is in the book. 

• In Math we learned what the core and rule of a pattern is. 

Reminders:

• Parent Teacher Conferences are tomorrow evening and Friday morning. If you have not booked a time, please do so through your PowerSchool Account. There is no school on Friday due to conferences.
• Please assist your child in accepting their Google Classroom invitation. An email was sent out on Monday with their username and password.

Message from Mrs. Brinson

Northern Lights Families:

On Thursday, October 1, the Media Production Team from the CBE is coming to our school to document the opening of our new building. Their team will be taking pictures of the exterior building prior to student arrival, as well as video of students arriving at school that morning and entering the building.  

Once the day has begun, the team will also be inside to take pictures or video of classroom spaces with students at work. These pictures and this video footage may be used for CBE publications as well as for the news media outside of the CBE.  

Today, we have sent home a 'Consent for Use of Student Information by News Media and Outside Groups (Third Party)" form for you to sign. We ask that parents or guardians fill in the 'Consent for Release' portion of the form and return to the school by Monday, September 27.  

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Brinson at mlbrinson@cbe.ab.ca.  

Tuesday, Sept. 22

Highlights:

• Today is Math we learned about patterns. We read a book called Pattern Fish and created different patterns. Ask me how many times a pattern has to repeat to be a true pattern. Check out some of our patterns we created. 

• We talked about what communities are and the different things we find in our own communities. 
• In P.E. we played a game called Shadow. Ask me some of the moves we came up with!

Reminders:

• We are collecting Toonies for Terry to support the Terry Fox Foundation.
• If you have not signed up for a phone conference please do so online. If you are having difficulties please email me at joelago@cbe.ab.ca
• Please complete the blue questionnaire forms and send them back by Thursday. 

Monday, Sept. 21

Highlights:

• We did our next Lively Letters sounds (d and v). Ask me what sounds they make and words that begin with that sound!

• In Math we continued working on how to show numbers in different ways. I can tell you three different ways to show a number.
• We read a book called "We Don't Eat Our Classmates". Ask me what the story is about! We really liked reading it together.

Reminders:

• Pleasure return the questionnaire forms that were sent out last week.
• By the end of the day, all parents will receive an email with your child's Google email account and password. Please use that information to access our Google Classroom. 
• On Thursday and Friday we will be having Parent Teacher Conferences via phone. If you have not signed up, please pick a 10 minute time slot on the online booking system.
• There is no school on Friday.

Friday, Sept. 18

Highlights:

• Today for Art we did a guided drawing on how to draw people. We looked at the different shapes that make up a person.
• We had our very first fire drill this morning. Our class did an excellent job! 
• We celebrated Culture Day. Many students brought in items or pictures that represented their cultures and families.

Reminders:

• Monday, Sept. 21 is the KICKOFF to our Northern Lights Toonies for Terry Campaign. We will be collecting Toonies for Terry from Sept. 21 - Oct. 2. Students can bring a Toonie (or more) for Terry or NLS families can donate online at http://www.terryfox.ca/NorthernLights

• Students will be receive an email invitation to our Google Classroom next week. The invitation will be sent to their CBE Gmail accounts. Technical support can be found on the "Technical Support for Students & Parents" page at https://www.cbe.ab.ca/suppport/Pages/Home.aspx
  
  
  
  

Thursday, Sept. 17

Highlights:

• In Science we read a book called "What is Science?" We talked about all the different kinds of scientists we can find in the world!
• During P.E. we played Secret Leader.
• In Health, we read a book called "I'm Happy-Sad Today". The book talked about how we can have more than one feeling at a time and that it is okay! For example, we can be Hapsad, which is happy and sad at the same time.
• In Math, we have been doing Number Talks which helps us warm up our brains for learning. 

Reminders:

• We will be celebrating Culture Day tomorrow! Everyone is welcome to bring an item/picture that is related to their culture or something important to your family. We will be sharing these items/pictures with one another!
• A Parent Questionnaire was sent home in students mail folders. Please complete and send the form back to school.

Wednesday, Sept. 16

Highlights:

• In Phys. Ed we got to play Captain's Ship again. We also got to play secret leader. We really like this game!
• We did the next sounds in our Lively Letters. It was the sounds for 'f' and 't'.
• We read a book called "I Wonder". We created mind maps about all the things we wonder about in the world!

Reminders:

• Culture Day is Friday.
• Please send a water bottle with your child to school if you can.

Tuesday, Sept. 15

 Highlights:

• Today in Phys. Ed we played a game called Favourites.
• We also celebrate Dot Day that connects with the books The Dot. The book taught us the important less that we should never stop trying! We created beautiful dot paintings. 
• We learned that sentences need to be complete thoughts and that only certain words get a capital letter. We practiced this by writing about things we do with our families.

Reminders: 

• Friday is Culture Day. Please see the poster attached to Monday's agenda message for more information. 

Monday, Sept. 14

 Highlights:

• We started learning about the Lively Letters. Today we did the sounds for 'p' and 'b'. These sounds are both quiet and noisy lip puffing sounds.
• We wrote about our weekends and practiced how to make our letters properly.
• In Phys. Ed. we learned a new game called Captain's Ship. It was super fun!
• We also played Bingo which our class has loved doing.

Reminders: 

• Culture Day is on Friday. Please refer to the poster below for details.

Friday, Sept. 11

Highlights:

• We read a book called "Enemy Pie".  It talked about how we can make friends and be a friend.
• With Miss. Hansen's grade 2 class we played some games outsides. We play 3 corners, red light/green light, and some other fun games!
• We have been learning about the different zones that we can feel when we are at school. Ask me what the zones are! 

We had a great first week at school! Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

Thursday, Sept. 10

 Highlights:

• We did an art activity where we practiced using a ruler and shared the different things we can't live without. 
• Today we talked about what to do when we have a fire drill. We practiced our route to get safely outside.
• We read a story called "The Magical Yet". It talked about how we are learning to do things and even if we can't do it, it means we just can't do it YET!

Reminders:

• Students are invited to wear our grade colour tomorrow (Yellow)
• Early dismissal tomorrow. School dismisses at 1:05pm and there is no lunch tomorrow. 

Wednesday, Sept. 9

 Highlights:

• We had PE today outside where we exercised and played games.
• We had Music and had a goodbye song where we used different voices and danced!
• We did a figure me out Math activity. We created equations about ourselves such as our age and how many family members we have. 
• We did a "I wish my teacher knew..." writing activity where we told our teacher things about us.

Reminders:

• Please return the blue forms sent home yesterday.
• Students are invited to wear our classroom colour yellow on Friday.

Tuesday, Sept. 8 - First Day of School!

Today was our first day of Grade 2!

Highlights:

• We did an art activity where we drew an outline of our face with a mask and with no mask. We wrote words on it that describe who we are. For example, kind, cool, helpful, smart, brave, etc.
• We had our snack and played outside at recess 
• We did a building challenge about our summer. 

We are all very happy about our new classroom!

Reminders:

• Please return and complete the blue forms that were sent home in the mail folders.
• Friday is Spirit Day - Wear Your Grade Colour. Grade 2's grade colour is Yellow. Students are invited to wear yellow shirts.