December 16

Hello Parents,

We think Milton, our Elf on the Shelf, has been talking to the naughty elf, because he is starting to play some tricks on us!  Your child can tell you what Milton was doing today...


This week in Room 1 we are talking about words that begin with the letter 'Bb'.  We have found A LOT of things that start with the /b/ sound!


Last day for PM Kindergarten is Wednesday, December 18.  We will be having our movie and popcorn day that afternoon for some fun.  Last day for AM is Thursday, December 19, where we will join the school for the movie and popcorn day.  On behalf of the staff, we wish you a safe and wonderful holiday.  Remember, classes resume on January 6, 2014.


I hope all are staying warm and safe in all the snow.  Just a reminder to walk carefully around the school grounds as the snow melts and freezes.  Mr. Anthony and the administration have been working hard to put salt and gravel on the ice, but sometimes we miss some.  If you find a particularly icy patch, Kindly let us know and we will do our best to deal with it.

Mr. Trechka

December 11, 2013

Hello Parents,

First off, thank you to the parents that I was able to see on Thursday for Student Involved Conferences. My apologies to the parents who were booked on Friday.  I came down with a sinus infection that has hindered my abilities the past few days.  I will be contacting you all individually in the next couple of days to rebook as soon as week can.  Thank you for your patience.  If you are unable to take the time to come into the classroom, we can work to have a phone conference.

Another reminder about the Jingle Mingle, tomorrow December 12, 2013.  Door open at 6:00 pm.  There are a selection of fun holiday themed activities throughout the school to do as a family.  There will also be a chance at 6:15 for the Kindergarten children to sing their Christmas songs from music class for you in the gym.

I hope everyone is staying warm and healthy in this winter weather.

Mr. Trechka

November 29

Hello Parents!

Student Involved Conferences
Just incase you haven't heard, 'Student Involved Conferences' are coming up next week! There are no classes for Kindergarten students on Thursday December 5th, as Conferences will take place from 8:10 am until 7:50 pm, and December 6th from 8:00 am until 12:40 pm.  If you are not able to make it during these times, please contact me and we can arrange an alternate time.

Please visit the Pickatime website to book an appointment, or contact the school office (403-777-6610) for assistance.


Calendar Count

Our Doodlebug
Picture by River

We have been counting the calendar each day to build a variety of skills.  Each day we have been adding to our 'Doodlebug' and "He is getting huge!" (Seth).  Each day we add a ones block to our count.  When we have 10 we "cash them in" for a rod (pictured below), and then we can skip count.  Today we reached the number 50! Can you believe we have been in Kindergarten for over 50 days!!!

Hundreds Block are a 'math manipulative'
that can be used to visually represent numbers

November 26

Hello Parents!

Assembly
Our Pillars of Care assembly has been changed to Thursday, November 28th @ 9:30 a.m. instead of Wednesday, November 27th.

The next school assembly will be scheduled in the afternoon to provide the afternoon Kindergarten students an opportunity to participate in a school assembly.   


Early Literacy
This week our class is focusing on the letter 'Aa'.  Today we brainstormed an array of words that begin with the letter 'Aa'.  Can you find more words at home to bring back to our list?  The children agreed that the vowel 'Aa' is a fun letter because it has two different sounds (long and short) so there are twice as many words! 
Here is a link to the Storybots, one of our favourite videos about the letter 'Aa'


Fundraising Efforts
Haania Zafar, a former Beddington Heights Student (who volunteers in our classroom  some Friday's) would like our Kindergarten Families to support a food drive Fundraiser that her school Sir John A MacDonald (SJAM) is supporting.  Students are competing against teachers in this food drive! Let's help Haania win.  Please send in non-parishable food donations by Dec 4th.  Many Calgary families will be very appreciative especially as we near the Holiday season.


Have a great Tuesday!
Mr. Trechka

November 25

Hello Parents

Book Orders
December book orders went home today.  If you wish to give the gift of reading to your child this Christmas and want to order their favourite books from Scholastic, let me know with a written note, and I will keep their book order a surprise when it comes in, and we can arrange a pick up time to get it home discretely, and it can go under the tree, or in their stocking.

Thank you again for your continued support of the Scholastic book orders.  With every order, I received a percentage of money that I can spend for classroom items.  I have been able to buy building toys, manipulatives, puppets and a variety of books for the children to enjoy in our classroom.


Learning Through Play
It has been documented that young children learn best through play.  Today we were working on subatizing which is the recognition of a number of objects without counting (ie: seeing 3 dots on a dice and knowing that it is three).  We played a game of "Name that Number" with a partner and a dice.  We also played a game of "Roll and Write" as our work job.  We rolled a dice and wrote the number down.  We built towers of numbers on our paper to see which number would reach the top first!  Children compared to see if their friends had the same number or not.   "Its a joke" one girl in the afternoon commented, "One won!"  We had lots of fun rolling the dice and recording our numbers.

If you wish to play at home all you need is a pencil (or something to record your numbers) and a dice!  Here is a link if you wish to use a virtual dice.  Have fun!

Mr. Trechka

November 21

Hello Parents,


Just a reminder that there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, November 22, 2013 as staff will be getting together for some Professional Development.


On Wednesday, November 27, Beddington Heights will be having a Pillars of Care Assembly at 9:30.  Each grade will be presenting something based on our 4 Pillars of Care.  Can you and your child name all four pillars?  Come check out our song.  PM Kindergarten families are welcome to join the assembly and sing along, but must be accompanied by an adult that morning.


Finally, as a movie day has been called during the morning of our final early dismissal day in December in conjunction with the popcorn fundraiser, PM Kindergarten will be holding our own movie day on Thursday December 18.  I have been told that the popcorn should be in and sorted by the Maverick's by that time so we should have it to enjoy with our movie.  Anytime there is an assembly, or school event that happens at the school, Mrs. Hassam and I do everything we can to recreate it fairly for the class that misses out.


Mr. Trechka

Home Reading Program

Dear Parents,

 

Thank you for your patience with getting Raz-Kids set up, and I'm happy to inform you that our Kindergarten Home Reading Program has begun!  Our Kindergarten students are able to access many leveled books using the school's subscription to www.raz-kids.com. Children can read and listen to books on Raz-Kids and even record themselves reading.

To access your child's Home Reading Program , log in at www.raz-kids.com/login/jmtrechka.  Please help your child  find their name on the class list (click on it) and then click on bookroom. 

 

Your child needs to first listen to the book then read it.  As your child gets into reading A level books comprehension quizzes will also be available.    

 

It would be fantastic if parents could help children access these books on Raz-Kids, and encourage children to read one or two books a week.

 

Enjoy Raz-Kids and thanks for your support at home!

Mr. Trechka

November 18, 2013

Hello Parents,

IMPORTANT CALENDAR NOTE
As we prepare for Parent Teacher Conferences in December, please be advised that Kindergarten classes are cancelled during the day for December 5 & 6.  This is to accommodate the number of interviews needed.  Alternate childcare will need to be made for those dates.  More information about booking interviews and what to expect will be posted sooner to the date.


Patters Are Everywhere
We have been working hard to recognize, extend, and build patterns in the classroom.  We are finding patterns in our clothes, on the wall, building with blocks and other things, and even creating pattern music and dances!  Can you find any patterns at home?  See if you can 'read' the pattern...

Mr. Trechka

November 13, 2013

Hello Parents,

This morning we were excited to invite some representatives from the Earth Rangers into our school for an assembly.  They brought some animals to show.  We were really impressed with the owl's quiet flight, she was much quieter than the peregrine falcon, but much chattier.  She sounded very different than the birds we have heard.  The Earth Rangers also told us about some animals that are experiencing some dangers in the wild, that we can help with.  We have sent home some information, or you can click here for a link to the website.  Children can become Earth Rangers themselves with a free membership card, and accept missions to help 'take care of this place'.

Have a great day!
Mr. Trechka

Hello,

This is my first attempt at blogger.com (originally was on D2L) Please be patient as I learn this new program.



As we approach Remembrance Day, we have been discussion peace in the classroom.  What does peace feel like to you in your lives?  We have seen that peace can feel and look like different things to different people.  A poppy is a symbol for peace.  AM children will receive a poppy on Friday morning, Thursday afternoon for PM class, in honour of Remembrance Day.  The school is asking for a small donation for the poppy fund.

The school will be observing a Remembrance Day service at 10:20 on Friday morning.  Because of our scheduling we will not be a part of this assembly, but will do our own observance of Remembrance Day in the classroom.


Mr. Trechka