November 20 - 23, 2023

Hello EES families!

Thank you for attending our recent parent-teacher conference. We appreciate you taking the time to meet with us and hope that our conference was able to provide you with some valuable insight into your child's progress at school.

In case you couldn’t make it and you would like to set up an alternate meeting time or phone call next week, please reach out.

This week at school:

Regardless of the time of year and what part of Canada we live in, it is always important to share Indigenous perspectives in our classrooms. So, we tried to incorporate activities in Math and Science revolving around Metis week (November 12-18, 2023). In Language arts, we read the story ‘The Giving Tree’: A retelling of a traditional Metis story. This charming tale emphasizes Metis’ core values and beliefs including strength, kindness, courage, tolerance, honesty, respect, love, sharing, caring, balance, patience, and most of all, the important connection with the Creator and Mother Earth. The link is provided below:

https://youtu.be/r45Whex-0Bg?si=ixnqW_gvTEzxooQS 

Our students love to indulge in sensory play which encourages learning through exploration, curiosity, problem solving and creativity. Activities like painting, crafting and building Lego are also liked by many.

Upcoming Dates

· November 29: Fun Lunch (Subway)

· December 8: PD Day (no school for students)

· December 20: Fun Lunch (Boston Pizza)

· December 22: Last day of school

· December 23 - January 7: Winter Break

· January 8: First day back to school

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ms. Swapna, Ms. Emma and Ms. Veronika

November 17, 2023

 Hello everyone,

Even though it was a short week at school, EES has been very busy!

We have been engaging in some learning about Metis Week, which we incorporated to our morning meetings, art, and cooking lessons.  The students created Metis dot art using paint, and they also made some delicious bannock to taste!  Each class will continue learning about Metis culture next week in their lessons.  

Students continued to work hard in their math and language arts lessons, and wrapped up our learning around Diwali.  Everyone really enjoyed the stories, art and food that they had the opportunity to experience during this unit.

It continues to be cold and wet outside, so please continue to send in warm layers and extra clothing for students to change into in case they get wet.

Important Dates:

November 20 - 24 - Book Fair (Families can attend the Book Fair with their child when they come to school for Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 23 & 24 – Parent/Teacher Conferences (Please keep an eye out for online registrations. NO school for students on Friday November 24)

November 29 - Fun Lunch - Subway

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ms. Emma, Ms. Veronika & Ms. Swapna

November 9, 2023

 Hello Families,

Even though it has been a short week in EES, it has been very busy! 

The students have been learning about Diwali, the Festival of Lights.  We have been thinking about Diwali in our literacy, science and math groups, as well as in our art lessons.  EES has been exploring shadows and light to make real world connections to this learning.  Each student had the opportunity to paint a Diya, a traditional oil lamp.  They turned out beautiful, so bright and festive!  We had help from the Gr. 4 Leadership students to create these pieces of art. 

McKenzie Towne School also spent time thinking about Remembrance Day.  Many of our students went to the assembly, which was hosted by some of the Grade 4 students.  We are very proud of how respectful and calm our students were in the gym, especially during the moment of silence. 

The weather is currently very mild, but is likely to turn cold very soon.  Please continue to send warm outerwear, and a change of clothes in case your child gets wet from the snow. 

Important Dates:

November 9 - 14 - NO SCHOOL - Fall Break

November 15 - Picture Retake Day

November 20 - 24 - Book Fair (Families can attend the book fair with their child during Parent/Teacher conferences)

November 23 & 24 – Parent/Teacher Conferences (NO school for students on Friday November 24) More information to come.

November 29 - Fun Lunch - Subway

Have a fantastic fall break!

Ms. Emma, Ms. Veronika & Ms. Swapna

 Yay! We made it a full week!

Our students love reading books and listening to stories. It is our constant endeavour to expose them to more and more storybooks. And we have some exciting news for you!! The Book fair is back the week of November 20-24th!

Students will be given a chance to view the fair on Tuesday and Wednesday of that week. They also will be be able to purchase books/items from the fair on Thursday. November 23d if you choose. 

The families will have the opportunity to visit the Book fair during Parent-teacher conferences on Thursday and Friday, November 23rd and 24th.

This week, some of the students enjoyed celebrating Halloween and dressing up. Everyone was very excited to show theirs and see others costumes.

We have started to learn about Diwali and finished this exciting week with making delicious coconut ladoos in our cooking class. The recipe was quick, easy and liked by most. 

Our next Fun Lunch will be on November 29.

To register:

- Go to healthyhunger.ca

- Log into your existing account or create a new one

- Add your child's information in the "add child" box

- All Fun lunches will then populate - select the Order Now Button

 

Have a fantastic weekend!

Ms. Emma, Ms. Swapna and Ms. Veronika 

October 27, 2023

 Hello Families!

This week we started with a ‘Halloween’ theme. Students are excited to dress up in costumes and take part in trick or treating. On October 31st, they may dress up as scary or their favourite characters. No masks or toy weapons please. 

Students are enjoying Math, Language Arts and Science in different types of ability groups, with specified and tailored instructions.

Math: We focussed on addition/ shape sorting/ comparing numbers and completed a range of worksheets, puzzles, and interactive games with a Halloween theme.

LA: We reviewed 5 senses - sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. Each sense is responsible for a different type of input that we receive from the world around us. We listened to Halloween stories and indulged in messy play and sensory games.

Science: We made a Pumpkin Volcano. This was an entertaining and simple activity and a great way to extend Halloween celebrations with our leftover jack-o’-lanterns.

In case you are ready for a Pumpkin explosion at home, here are the steps:

1. Remove the top of the pumpkin and hollow it out by removing all of the seeds and loose pulp. Carve a face or other design if you like.

2. Place the pumpkin on a tray or protected surface because this is going to get messy.

3. Pour about ½ cup of baking soda inside the pumpkin.

4. Squirt some dish soap over the baking soda.

5. Add a few drops of food colouring to a cup of vinegar.

6. When you are ready, pour the coloured vinegar into the pumpkin and enjoy the show.

Important dates:

November 9 - 14 - NO SCHOOL - Fall Break

November 15 - Picture Retake Day

November 23 & 24 – Parent/Teacher Conferences (Kindergarten students do not attend on Thursday, November 23, and NO school for students on Friday, November 24)

November 29 - Fun Lunch - Subway

Have a great weekend!

Ms. Swapna, Ms. Veronika & Ms. Emma

October 20, 2023

 Hello families,

In our learning groups this week we were exploring pumpkins! The students had the opportunity to use their 5 senses and look at, feel, smell, listen to, and taste a real pumpkin.  Some vocabulary words were focused on to help students think about the pumpkins, such as seed, pulp, jack-o-lantern, nose, mouth, etc. 

Writing, math and science were included to allow the students to explore their pumpkins and engage with them in a variety of ways.  The groups also worked with their teacher to carve a pumpkin, which will be used for an exciting experiment next week!  Students also got to season, roast and taste some delicious pumpkin seeds.

The weather is expected to turn cold next week.  Please ensure that your child is properly dressed for the winter (boots, coats, gloves, hats, snow pants) as we will be going outside each day.  Please also be sure to send in extra clothes, in case your child gets wet when on the snowy playground.

Fun Lunch

Fun Lunch will start on Wednesday October 25. 

Fun Lunch is only for grades 1-4 and our EES students.

To get started;

• Go to healthyhunger.ca
• Log into you existing account or create a new one.
• Add your child’s information in the “add child” box – name, province, city, school, grade and class.
• All Fun Lunches will then populate – select the order now button!

Upcoming Dates

October 25 - Fun Lunch - Boston Pizza

November 9 - 14 - NO SCHOOL - Fall Break

November 15 - Picture Retake Day

November 23 & 24 – Parent/Teacher Conferences 

Have a great weekend!

Ms. Emma, Ms. Veronika & Ms. Swapna

 Wow, what a busy week!

This week the EES classes have started an exciting new learning timetable.  All students have been placed into three ability groups.  In these groups, students will do their academic learning with peers that are working at the same level, to allow for more targeted and purposeful learning.  It also gives the students the opportunity to work with each teacher in the program, and to build connections with other students from the other classes.  Although it is a big change, the students are beginning to adapt to the new schedule and have done some fantastic learning!

Each class is following the '5 Senses' theme and building cross-curricular learning through science, language arts, math, cooking, and art.  The students are learning to use their senses to help explore the world around them, and make connections to new ideas.  This week the classes use apples to guide their learning through sight, touch, smell, sound and taste, and create some beautiful art.  Cooking classes also let the students explore using their senses to make some tasty treats!

The students also took part in Picture Day, it was great to see so many smiling faces! Stay tuned for picture order packages.

Reminders:

If you have not already done so, please return the signed IPP signature page to the school

Fun Lunch will start on Wednesday October 25. You will have until October 18 to register for October's lunch.

Fun Lunch is only for grades 1-4 and our EES students.

To get started;

• Go to healthyhunger.ca
• Log into you existing account or create a new one.
• Add your child’s information in the “add child” box – name, province, city, school, grade and class.
• All Fun Lunches will then populate – select the order now button!

Important dates:

October 20 - NO SCHOOL - PD Day

October 23 - November 3 - Alien In-Line for Grades 3 & 4

October 23 - 31 - Alien In-Line for all Grade 3 & 4 students

October 24 - Storybook Theatre Field Trip for ALL Grade 1 students

October 24 - Telus Sparks Field Trip (Penford & Klasen)

October 25 - Fun Lunch - Boston Pizza

October 26 - Telus Sparks Field Trip (Holt & Pynn)

November 9 - 14 - NO SCHOOL - Fall Break

November 15 - Picture Retake Day

November 23 & 24 – Parent/Teacher Conferences (Kindergarten students do not attend on Thursday November 23, NO school for students on Friday November 24) More information to come.

November 29 - Fun Lunch - Subway

December 4 - Field Trip to Fort Calgary (Coleman/Penner)

December 6 - Field Trip to Fort Calgary (Kruger/Bossenberry/Thomson)

December 8 - NO SCHOOL - PD Day

December 25 - January 5 - NO SCHOOL Winter Break

Have a great weekend!

Ms. Emma, Ms. Swapna & Ms. Veronika