Come dressed in costume!

Tomorrow, please come dressed in your costume. Check the post dated December 9th, if you've forgotten what you need to wear.

Friday Envelopes

Friday envelopes went home today. Please keep them at home and return them on January 5th.

Tomorrow, I will be sending home water bottles. Please keep them at home and return them on January 5th.

Thursday evening, I will be sending home your child's black shoes. Please keep them at home and return them on January 5th.

Thursday Pick-up

Next Thursday afternoon, we will be going to Heritage Glen. Please pick-up your child from Heritage Glen at 3:15 pm sharp. We won't be able to care for your children beyond 3:15 pm. If you do require care, please enrol your child in after-school care for that day. Children needing after-school care will be taken back to St. Jude's at 3:15 pm.

If you have any questions, please contact me: kwheeler@stjudesacademy.com

Thank you,
Mrs. Wheeler

Christmas Play

We are busy practicing for our Christmas play. Students are asked to be at Heritage Glen by 6:45 pm on December 18th.

For that evening, please dress your child in the following:

Aiden - in green
Alex - in red
Carolina - bunny (in white or brown)
Clara - in green
Ephraim - bunny (in white or brown)
Erick - in green
Julia - dress
Julian - oversized (adult's) white shirt and tie
Larissa - dress
Mateo - star (silver, gold or yellow)
Olivia - dress
Shannon - dress
Temi - red
Tomiwa - oversized (adult's) white shirt and tie

If you have any questions, please let me know by Friday, December 12.

I am also looking for red feathers or feather boas, fake red berries and stars.

Thanks!

Long-vowels

We've begun to learn long-vowel sounds. Here's a little video to help reinforce what we're learning:

Christmas Play

We have begun preparing for our Christmas play. Please let me know if you would like to help with the following:

• Props
• Costumes
• Face painting

Please email me at kwheeler@stjudesacademy.com

Mrs. Wheeler

Parent-Teacher Conference

Don’t forget! Parent-teacher conferences are tonight. There will be no child care available at the school. Please make alternate arrangements.

Also, because of the conferences tonight, there is no homework. Homework will resume tomorrow.

See you tonight!
Mrs. Wheeler

Questionnaire

Please look in your child's agenda for a questionnaire. Please take a few moments to fill it out and return it on Tuesday. We will be using the information in our next unit of inquiry.
Thanks!

Calendar

8:30!

Please arrive at school by 8:30 am, tomorrow morning. We will be travelling to the ROM. Please pack your child a bag lunch. There is no need to bring your agenda.

There is no reading or writing homework tonight. Homework will resume next week.

Have a great night,
Mrs. Wheeler

Snow!

The snow has arrived! Please label all of your child's hats, mittens, scarfs, coats, snow pants and boots. Several of the children have the same items and without labels, it is difficult to determine to whom the items belong.

Please also consider sending in an extra pair of mitts as the mitts become wet and don't get a chance to dry before it is time for your child to go outside again.

Thank you.

Forms

The following forms are due November 19th:

• ROM trip permission form
• Term 2 lunch order forms
• Picture orders

If you haven't already scheduled a parent-teacher conference, please inform me as soon as possible if you would like to schedule a time.

Boxes, boxes, boxes!

Over the next few weeks we will be building things with 3-D objects. Please send in boxes (cereal boxes or smaller) and containers. We will be using the boxes to build a city.

Fall Poems

Over the past couple of weeks, your child has been busy writing a poem about fall. Each child will have the opportunity to bring home the collection of poems starting next week.

Friday Envelopes

This week, the Friday envelopes are packed with information. Included are:

• Lunch order forms for Term 2 (Due Nov. 19)
• Scholastic Orders (Due Nov. 12)
• School Photos (Due Nov. 19)
• The Knight's United Times

Have a great long weekend. I'll see you on Wednesday.

Mrs. Wheeler

Polar Expressions Publishing Writing Contest

Please fill out and return the Polar Expressons form. Your child has written a poem in class that we will be submitting. All that you need to do is fill out the student information section and write a couple of sentences in the "About the Author" section.
Thanks!

November Calendar

Water Bottles

Please send in any empty water bottles that you may have on Monday. Each child will receive 100 house points for each bottle brought in. Go ZBP!

Halloween Fun

I would like to thank all the parents who sent in goodies and treats. The children had a fun day and really enjoyed eating all the yummy things.

Poetry Contest

Dear Parents,

Your child will be submitting a poem in a poetry contest. In your child's Friday envelope, you will find a letter explaining the contest. Please fill out the STUDENT INFORMATION portion of the form and return the form on Monday, November 3rd.

If you have any questions, please email me at kwheeler@stjudesacademy.com

Thanks,
Mrs. Wheeler

Readers

Dear Parents,

Please return the reader with your child every day. Currently we are missing a few readers. Please check your home and return any readers.
Thanks,
Mrs. Wheeler

No Reading Homework Tonight!

Please note that there is no reading homework tonight. There is still writing homework. Please write one sentence in your notebook.
Mrs. Wheeler

Costume Party!

We are having a costume party! On Friday, your child may come dressed in a fun costume.

We will be having a party towards the end of the day. If you wish, your child may bring in a treat to share with the class. There are 16 children in the class. Please make sure that any item brought in is nut-free. Please check all food labels and remember to avoid products that may contain nuts.

If you have any questions, please email me at kwheeler@stjudesacademy.com

Scratch Cards

Don't forget to bring your scratch cards on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Smile!

Picture day is this Friday. Please check your child's agenda for information.

Math At Home

We have begun a new math unit called Number Sense. In your child's Friday Envelope you'll find a new Math At Home sheet. After you have completed an activity, colour in the pumpkin. Return the sheets by November 25th to receive a prize.

Reading tips for JK

Dear JK parents,

At St. Jude's we use both the bottom-up and the top-down methods to teach reading. Our reading programme is heavily phonics based. In JK, the students first learn the short-vowel sounds, then the sounds of the consonants. As each new consonant is introduced, the students learn the consonant short-vowel blend as well. A blend is when two or more letters are grouped together, but each phoneme retains its original sound.

In the reader going home tonight, you'll see a consonant on one page and then a blend on the next page. For example Mm, then mi. Students are to say the sound of the consonant. They may give the phrase if they wish. In this case, it would be "m says mmmmm for milk". And on the next page, you will see the consonant short-vowel blend. It is "mi for mitten". All blends or words being introduced at this time have a short-vowel sound.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Mrs. Wheeler

Uniform

Please remember that students are now required to wear the full uniform. The full uniform consists of grey dress pants or tunic, white mock neck with SJA embroidered on the neck, crested navy sweater or vest and navy socks.

Scholastic Orders

Don't forget those Scholastic orders! Last chance to order books is this Friday. This is a great opportunity to encourage a love of reading at home.

Reading Groups

Since the beginning of the year, we have been reading together as a class. Today, we started reading groups. This time provides students with the opportunity to read individually in small groups. We will still continue to read together as a class.


In your child's agenda, please look for a letter, a reading chart, a reader and the assigned pages. Reading homework will be every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Since the page numbers will vary depending on which group a student is a part of, the pages to be read will be written in the agenda and not on the blog.


For parents with children in JK, please have your child repeat the following phrases when reading their books:

Ii says ĭ for igloo.
Oo says ŏ for ostrich.
Aa says ă for apple.
Uu says ŭ for umbrella.
Ee says ĕ for elephant.


Happy Reading!

Mrs. Wheeler

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy your weekend! We'll see you on Tuesday!

Gingerbread Fun!

We have been inquiring into "who we are". We have learned about our five senses, our likes and dislikes and our roles in our families. To celebrate the end of our unit of inquiry, we made gingerbread men. Oh, what fun!

Newspaper

Look for your copy of The Knights United Times in your Friday Envelope. Two copies were included - one for you and one to share. Enjoy!

Delighted!

C is for...

October Calendar

Double click on the calendar to see a larger image.

Congratulations!

The following students completed their "Math At Home" sheet and received a prize:

• Aiden
• Carolina
• Carter
• Larissa
• Erick
• Mateo
• Robert
• Julian
• Ephraim
• Shannon

Well done everyone!

Grab that Stash!

Turn that Canadian Tire money into house points! Bring in your Canadian Tire money on Monday and Tuesday to earn points for your house. Go ZBP! All the "money" will be used to purchase new sports equipment for St. Jude's.

Monkeys, lions and tigers! Oh my!

Tomorrow, bring in an animal that starts wiht one of the following letters:
t l b n m h
We will be reviewing the sounds learned so far in a wild way!

Sweatshirts

Several students have misplaced their sweatshirts. Please check at home to see if your child mistakenly brought home a sweatshirt that belongs to someone else.
Thanks for checking,
Mrs. Wheeler

It`s Casual Day Tomorrow!

Don`t forget that tomorrow is casual day.

Terry Fox Run

Congrats to all the JK and SK students who participated in the Terry Fox Run. You gave it your all!

Lollipop Fun!

This Friday, we read a book, Little Lemon Lollipops, to help us learn all about `l`. At the end of the day, we enjoyed a lemon lollipop! Oh, what fun! Keep an eye out for a class book that will be circulating to see all the `l`fun.

Agendas

Today, your child received an agenda book. Please send the agenda to school with your child every day. I will be writing in the agenda if there is something that pertains only to your child. You may also write me a note in the agenda as I will check it daily. For all other information, including homework and class news, please continue to check the blog.
Have a great evening,
Mrs. Wheeler

Cookies!

We have been busy learning about our five senses. Each day we have been singing the following song:

Five Senses
(sung to the tune of Bingo)
We use five senses every day
To help us learn and play.
See, hear, smell, touch, taste.
See, hear, smell, touch, taste.
See, hear, smell, touch, taste.
We do these every day.

Today we made chocolate chip cookies. We listened to the mixer, we smelled the ingredients, we saw the ingredients, we touched and tasted the cookies. Yummy!

French

Madame Sylvie has been busy teaching the parts of the body to the JK/SK class. To see a video they watched in class, please go to her blog: http://www.stjudesfrench.blogspot.com/ and click on the You Tube link.

Don't forget your pledges!

Please bring in all pledges for the Terry Fox Run tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Mateo!

Happy Birthday Mateo!

Mateo is five! Wow!

I hope you have a

wonderful day.

Mrs. Wheeler

Terry Fox Run

A few of you have expressed an interest in the Terry Fox Run. If you wish to help out with this event, please contact me. The walk will be getting under way at 1pm this Friday.

Scholastic Orders

All orders for Scholastic books are due Wednesday.

House Spirit

Show your spirit by wearing your house colours tomorrow. Uniform is not required.

Daily Writing Homework

Don't forget to write a sentence every night and to bring the notebook with you to school everyday.
Mrs. Wheeler

Smelly Fruit

As a part of our first unit of inquiry, we are learning about our five senses. Today we learned that we use our noses to smell. We had fun glueing and smelling as we made a book about smelly fruit.

A says ă for apple!

Today we made apple pie
to help us remember that
A says ă for apple! Yummy!

E says ĕ!

We made ourselves into E's!

Where's my child's work?

Friday Envelopes are here once again, but there is still no work being sent home. Don't panic! We have been busy learning many things: short-vowel sounds, data management and all about our five senses, likes and dislikes. Once we have finished a unit, I will be sending home your child's work. Look for a short-vowel booklet in the Friday Envelope next week.
Mrs. Wheeler

Scholastic Flyers

Help foster the love of learning at home by surrounding your child with great books. Spending quality time reading with your child builds confidence and helps make the connection between learning and fun.

Each month you will have the opportunity to purchase books from the Scholastic Book Club.
It is easy to order. Please look at the flyer with your child. Indicate your choices on the order form and return it to me. You may pay by cash or a cheque payable to Shcolastic Canada Ltd.

Our classroom receives FREE Books and Learning Materials every time you place an order. Check your Friday Envelope for the latest flyer. All orders are due September 17.

Happy Reading,
Mrs. Wheeler

Phys. Ed. Uniforms

Dear Parents,
This is just a reminder that students should come dressed in their Phys. Ed. uninforms every Monday and Thursday. The Phys. Ed. uniform consists of:

• Grey t-shirt with St. Jude's crested on the front
• Plain navy shorts or track pants - no stripes please
• White socks
• Grey sweatshirt with St. Jude's crested on the front
• Running shoes

If your child is cold, please dress them in a St. Jude's sweatshirt and not a St. Jude's navy sweater.

Thank you ,

Mrs. Wheeler

Apple Pie!

This Friday we will be baking apple pie to help us remember that "a says ă for apple". To help cover the cost, please send in a toonie tomorrow (Thursday).

Thanks,
Mrs. Wheeler

Calling All Elephants!

"E says ĕ for elephant!" Tomorrow, please bring in an elephant. You may bring in a toy, book or picture.

Short e fun!

We watched a short video today in class to help us remember the short e sound. Have fun watching it at home: http://pbskids.org/lions/videos/svensaid.html

Our First Class Book

Each night a student will take home the first book that our class has made together. The book will be placed in your child's backpack. Please take a look at the book and return it the next day to give each family a chance to see the book. Enjoy!

JK/SK Daily Schedule

Click on the image to see a larger version.

Big Pig on a Dig Day!

Dear Parents,
I thought you might like to see some pictures from our "Big Pig on a Dig Day". Students listened to the story "Big Pig on a Dig" which is a fun story that uses very simple synthetic phonic-based text with the focus on the short-vowel "i". After listening to the story, students dug for "i" words. They had lots of fun!

Math At Home

Dear Parents,
Inside your child's Friday Envelope, you will find a sheet entitled "Math at Home". Please help your child complete the four activities. When your child returns the completed sheet, he/she will receive a prize. All sheets must be in by September 30 to receive a prize.

Thank you for your support,
Mrs. Wheeler

Friday Envelopes

Every Friday, your child will be coming home with a large white envelope. Inside the envelope you will find your child's work along with any applicable forms, etc. Please empty the contents, sign the form and return the envelope on Monday.

Thanks,
Mrs. Wheeler

Phys. Ed. Tomorrow

Don't forget to come dressed in your phys. ed. uniform tomorrow. Please wear your grey St. Jude's t-shirt, navy shorts or track pants, white socks and running shoes. When you come dressed in proper uniform, you earn points for your house.

Birthdays

We love to celebrate birthdays! Please email me (kwheeler@stjudesacademy.com) stating your child's name and birth date. Please include the day, month and year. We will be talking about birthdays in our unit called "Five Alive!" as we explore "Who we are" in our first of six transdisciplinary themes. We will be developing an awareness of our physical and personal characteristics and abilities to gain an understanding of ourselves and other people in our lives.

On your child's birthday, you may send in a class treat if you so desire. Please make sure that the item is nut-free and was made in a nut-free place. If you are planning on sending in any items for your child's birthday, please email me one week ahead of time.

Thanks,
Mrs. Wheeler

The First Day

We had a great first day of Kindergarten at St. Jude's Academy! Today we learned the short-vowel sound for i. I says "i" for igloo! Neophyte week got off to a great start with a couple of fun games. Thank you to all the parents who sent in supplies. Please check your child's backpack for a letter that was sent home today. Remember to check out the blog daily to keep up-to-date.
Mrs. Wheeler

Calendar

To see the general St. Jude's 2008-2009 calendar, go to: http://www.stjudesacademy.com/calendar.pdf

St. Jude's is a nut-free zone!

When purchasing items for your child's lunch, please read the packages carefully. If the label says, "may contain nuts", please refrain from sending that item. Look for products with the nut-free label. Hot lunches begin on September 8. For more information, click on the following link: http://www.stjudesacademy.com/menu.html