May 29, 2015

We enjoyed a very nice assembly put on by rooms 3 and 4, and 71,72,70, 75.  Some great messages where given about remembering to not litter and to take care of our environment.  The grade 3/4 team also gave us some valuable information about safety and reminded us of the importance of using the cross walk and to never jaywalk.

We did both Daily 5 and math this morning.  Mrs. Cooper's math class will be doing a math assessment on Monday to show what they now know about multiplication and division.  Miss Jackson's math class have been working on a very challenging problem over the last few days and today they shared some of their strategies that have use to some it.

Have a great weekend!

May 27, 2015

BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY

Hi boys and girls Cranston is participating in “Ride your bike to school day.” 

Bike to School Day 2015 is coming up, and is taking place on June 2, 2015! Over 8,000 kids are expected to be riding their bikes to school year with a growing number of schools joining the initiative. 

On June 2nd, over 50 school and an estimated 8000 students, if not more will be biking to their schools, participating in Calgary Bike to School Day. The mission of this event is to promote healthy active lifestyles in youth and that it can also be fun!  So get on your bikes

 and ride to school!

_____________________________________________________

Tomorrow is the Gregg Le Rock concert and we will be leaving the school to take the bus at 12:05pm.  All students will eat their lunch at school and we will then meet back in the classroom at 12:00 for attendance and then line up for the bus. 

Please remember to be doing your home reading every night for at least 20 minutes.  Also take some time every week to use Mathletics!  

Upcoming Dates 

• May 28 - Gregg Le Rock concert
• June 6 - Scholastic Book orders due
• June 8-11 - Swimming
• June 17 - Zoo field Trip
• June 18 - Celebration of Learning
• June 23 - Sports Day
• June 25 - Report Cards go home
• June 26 - Last day/Farewell Peace Assembly

May 25, 2015

SANDWICH MAKING

For those families who were at Cranston last year, you will remember our Sandwich Making Community Project (donations went to the Mustard Seed) that we were involved in and what a HUGE success it was!  For those new to us, throughout the year, we have been working very hard with our students to recognize the importance of giving back to their community.  We would like to participate in this project again this year.  If we could have each student bring in $2 for this project, it will be used to purchase the sandwich items (bread, ham, mustard, butter, cheese slices, Ziploc bags).  Thank you for your support, it is greatly appreciated. 

Just a reminder to please return swim forms and yearbook forms if you are interested in ordering one. 

We met with our grade 1/2 buddies to begin our projects for Bees.  Ask your child what project group they are in and what they started with today.

Upcoming Dates 

• May 28 - Gregg Le Rock concert
• June 6 - Scholastic Book orders due
• June 8-11 - Swimming
• June 17 - Zoo field Trip
• June 18 - Celebration of Learning
• June 23 - Sports Day
• June 25 - Report Cards go home
• June 26 - Last day/Farewell Peace Assembly

May 22 , 2015

Students are bringing home their plant today because even though we have been watering them and they have great light in the green house, several of the plants are not doing well.  We decided that their plants need more soil and fertilizer to be healthier plants.  Some students were hoping to plant them at home in a bigger pot or outside.  Hopefully the plants can be nursed back to health!

Please remember to return the swimming consent forms. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

We are needing parent volunteers for our field trip coming up.  If you can help out on those days, please email your child's teacher.
****May 28 - Gregg Le Rock - 2 volunteers per class
****June 8-11- Swimming - 2 parent volunteers per class - We have enough volunteers for swimming - thank you
****June 17 - Zoo field trip - 4-5 volunteers per class

Upcoming Dates

• May 22 - Trout Release in the afternoon at Grotto Pond 
• May 28 - Gregg Le Rock concert
• June 6 - Scholastic Book orders due
• June 8-11 - Swimming
• June 17 - Zoo field Trip
• June 18 - Celebration of Learning
• June 23 - Sports Day
• June 25 - Report Cards go home
• June 26 - Last day/Farewell Peace Assembly

May 21, 2015

Swimming: Acknowledgement of Risk forms for swimming were sent home in your child's folder.  The photocopier stapled them upside down! Please return these forms by May 29th. 

The students had over an hour this morning to work on their projects and they are progressing with these. Ask your child where they are at with their project and what their next step will be.  We will  have a good block of time with the computers again tomorrow.

Students met with a naturalization specialist this afternoon to discuss and plan ideas for improving our school playground by adding a nature area.  They had an opportunity to build an example using plasticine.  This fits in nicely with the work we have done with plants and bees.  

With our grade 1/2 buddies we reviewed the facts that we have learned already and reviewed the questions we had asked on the first day we got together.  Ask your child what two picks they made for their project that starts next week. 

REMINDER:  PLEASE SEND IN A CLEAN TIN CAN AND NEWSPAPERS

Tonight is the presentation at CHRIST THE KING School for: STUDENT STRESS AND ANXIETY at 6:30 pm.  This is an excellent presentation for any parent that would like further information about stress and anxiety in children. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

We are needing parent volunteers for our field trip coming up.  If you can help out on those days, please email your child's teacher.
****May 28 - Gregg Le Rock - 2 volunteers per class
****June 8-11 - 2 parent volunteers per class
****June 17 - Zoo field trip - 4-5 volunteers per class

Upcoming Dates:

• May 21 - Community Meeting at Christ the King: Student Stress and Anxiety @ 6:30pm
• May 22 - Trout Release in the afternoon at Grotto Pond 
• May 28 - Gregg Le Rock concert
• June 6 - Scholastic Book orders due
• June 8-11 - Swimming
• June 17 - Zoo field Trip
• June 18 - Celebration of Learning
• June 23 - Sports Day
• June 25 - Report Cards go home
• June 26 - Last day/Farewell Peace Assembly

May 20, 2015

Rooms 77-80 Inquiry Project - We have been meeting everyday for the last hour with our grade 1/2 buddies to work on our inquiry about bees.  We have been rotating through 4 different activities to answer some of our questions that we had.  Today was our last rotation so our students will have a basic understanding of bees.  Tomorrow we will meet to see what questions we still need to have answered.  We will also be choosing our group project that each student wants to work on .

IMPORTANT:

We are asking all student to bring a washed tin can and some recycled newspapers to use for making a mason bee house starting June 1.

ZOO FIELD TRIP - Please let Mrs. Cooper or Miss Jackson know if you are able to volunteer for our zoo field trip on June 17.  So far we only have one per class and we will need 4-5 for each class to be able to go.  Thank you

Upcoming Dates:

• May 21 - Community Meeting at Christ the King: Student Stress and Anxiety @ 6:30pm
• May 22 - Trout Release in the afternoon at Grotto Pond 
• May 28 - Gregg Le Rock concert
• June 6 - Scholastic Book orders due
• June 8-11 - Swimming
• June 17 - Zoo field Trip
• June 18 - Celebration of Learning
• June 23 - Sports Day
• June 25 - Report Cards go home
• June 26 - Last day/Farewell Peace Assembly

May 19, 2015

FISH RELEASE

You are cordially invited to our 2015 Fish Release!

Where:  Grotto Mountain Pond, Bow Valley Provincial Park (Map Follows)

When:  Friday May 22^nd , 2015 at 1:30PM

The day for our Trout release is fast approaching and we finally have the details for the release.   

The actual release will take only about an hour, but all families are invited.  Feel free to bring your fishing rods and a picnic lunch.  The release will go ahead as scheduled rain or shine, so if you choose to come, please dress for all kinds of mountain weather.  

People over 16 will require a fishing license if they are going to fish, however children do not.  

Staff from the Bow Habitat Station will be on site to answer any questions you may have.  They will also be bringing a few additional fish so that as many children as possible will have a fish to release.  We would like to request that Cranston Students ONLY have the opportunity to release fish first as they have been watching them grow for months; and should there be any left over, younger siblings are welcome to release one as well.

Please note that this is NOT a school or CBE sanctioned event, so parents will be fully responsible for their own children.

We hope to see you there,

Ms. Low & Mr. Southworth

REMINDERS:

• Book orders are due June 6
• Please return yearbook forms and field trip forms for the Gregg Le Rock concert

May 14, 2015

FIELD TRIP NEWS!!!

We have an exciting field trip planned for June 17 at the Calgary Zoo.  We are doing our own program for the day that will require parent volunteers to work with small groups.  Our focus for this field trip is to further explore endangered animals which fits in nicely with the work we have been doing throughout the year with our inquiry work.  Forms for this field trip will be sent home in a few weeks but we wanted parents to know in advance if they need to make arrangements for volunteering.  We will be needing 4-5 volunteers for each class.  There will be a fee for the zoo for students ($11) but if your child has a zoo pass, they will not have to pay for entry into the zoo.  Please let Miss Jackson or Mrs. Cooper know if your child has a zoo pass that they can use for that day.

Mrs. Cooper's class received Scholastic book orders.  If your child is interested in ordering books, please return the form with a cheque for payment by May 29, 2015.

Yesterday and today, we met with our grade 1/2 buddies to explore bees.  Students were divided into 4 groups and throughout the next week they will rotate to the 4 different classrooms.  Each teacher has prepared an activity to explore different topics about bees.  We are looking at bee life cycles, bee body parts, types of bees, roles of bees, bee habitat, and why bees are important.  It is exciting to work with our buddies while we explore bees.

Forms for the Gregg Le Rock concert that will take place on May 28th at the Mount Royal Theatre were sent home today.  Please complete the forms and return to school by May 20.  There will be no cost for the students thanks to Parent council.

SPRING DANCE IS TONIGHT!  Tickets can be purchased at the door for any families who have not yet purchased tickets.  Reminder that children must have adult with them to attend the dance.

NO SCHOOL tomorrow - PD day and NO SCHOOL on Monday.  Enjoy your May long weekend:)

May 12, 2015

The grade 4 students had a great visit to RT Alderman today and they seemed very excited to begin grade 5 in September!

Miss Jackson and the grade three students were busy all day doing a variety of actives.  They read some great picture books followed by art and writing activities.  They also had gym and worked on a math problem.   

Spring Dance tickets that were preordered will be sent home with students tomorrow.

Spring Dance tickets will be available at the door on Thursday, May 14. Tickets are $5 and exact change would be appreciated. Just a reminder that the dance is open to students of Cranston School and their parents.

 

Parents of Cranston School we will be hosting a bake sale at the Spring Dance on Thursday, May 14. If you are able to donate individually wrapped goodies (sweet and savoury) please email Heather Johnson and Paula Borrowman at cranstoncares@gmail.com and let us know what you can bring. Please ensure that every item has an ingredient list attached. 

 

May 11, 2015

We had an exciting start to our week meeting with our grade 1/2 buddies.  We watched a small part of the Bee Movie to introduce the topic to our students.  We followed up with a scientific video that told us facts about bees and how important they are.  We found out that without bees we would not have fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants, trees, cotton and so many other things that are important to us.  We brainstormed for what we think we already know about bees, what we want to know and then we came up with a big question to explore.  Our question is: "HOW CAN WE HELP BEES?"

Tomorrow our grade 4 students are going to RT Alderman for a school visit and a play put on by the school. Please return your child's form of you have not done so already.  The grade 3 students will stay with Miss Jackson and Mrs. Cooper will take the grade 4 students.

In our read aloud today we had the discussion question, "What would it feel like if you didn't have a special person that you could talk to?"  

REMINDER: Swimming forms are now past due if you have not sent those in please send them tomorrow.  Thank you

May 7, 2015

Our novel we are reading is giving us many great topics to discuss for character building.  Ask your child about what they are learning to help them remember to be a good friend and to be kind to others.  Miss Jackson's class has been very busy finding many dollar words and adding it to our class list of dollar words.  It's a very big list already!

Both classes had music and dance.

In math both classes are working on division.  Remember to take time to use Mathletics at home to continue to practice and develop math skills.

Our inquiry projects are beginning to come together as the students started the first few steps of the plan.  Some students still require a few materials for their projects.  Today was our last time to finish the rough copy of the report.  Students will be expected to have the rough copy completed by Monday.  We would also greatly appreciate it if parents could help edit their rough copy with their child so that we can begin using these reports to do the good copy for their projects.

UPCOMING EVENTS
May 12th- grade 4 trip to RT Alderman

May 15th- NO SCHOOL PD

May 18th- NO SCHOOL Victoria Day
May 19th- Spring Photos
May 20th- Fun Lunch
May 28th- Greg LeRock Concert (Field trip)
June 8-June 12 Swimming lessons!!(volunteers needed)

May 6, 2015

Many of us wore hats today to honor Mental Health Awareness Day.  We took some time today to reflect on thinking about what mental health means.  We also explored how positive and negative thoughts impact our actions and how we feel about ourselves.

We spent some time working on our inquiry reports and tomorrow will be our last day to work on completing the rough copy.  The rough copy will be due on Monday so that we are prepared to go onto the next step. In the afternoon, we began working on our projects.  It is exciting to begin this step of the process and we look forward to having the opportunity to share all our projects during our Celebration of Learning in June.

Next week we are beginning a project with our grade 1/2 buddies to explore mason bees further.  As part of our work with the mason bees we will be creating really cool mason bee houses.  Each student will require a tin can(e.g.soup can) that is clean, label off and no sharp edges as well as recycled newspapers.  We will be collecting the tin cans and newspapers over the next 2 weeks.

A very big thank you to all our parent volunteers.  The school had the volunteer tea this morning as one way to express our gratitude for our parent volunteers.  We greatly value all the parents that help in so many different ways!

May 5, 2015

Miss Jackson read a story, Virginia Wolf,  with our classes to begin our discussion about Hats On for Mental Health Day.  Students are invited to wear a hat to school tomorrow to honor this day.  We will continue a lesson tomorrow to help students recognize the importance of wearing a hat tomorrow.

We had gym outside because our gym was being used for the elections today.  The students had fun playing either frisbee golf or bocci ball.

We had a very short time to work on our reports and projects today but we will continue with these tomorrow.

Reminder to return:
1. Swim forms
2. R.T. Alderman forms
3. Spring dance money for tickets if you are planning to attend

May 4, 2015

Music Monday was celebrated at our school today when the whole school stopped to sing the music Monday song at 11 am.  The song we sang was We are One by Connor Ross who was only 16 years old when he wrote  the song.  The students sang it beautifully.  We also had an assembly this afternoon.  All the students that have been in the different music clubs performed for our school.  It was amazing to hear their performances that they have been practicing during lunch hours to prepare for this celebration.

We are continuing to work on our paragraphs for our reports.  Some students are still needing to take some extra time to make sure that they have enough information to be an expert writing the report.  We will begin working on our projects tomorrow so students need to have their plans completed and supplies ready for tomorrow.

Mrs.Cooper's math class is encouraged to continue to do extra practice with remembering the basic multiplication facts.  The students know several strategies that they can use to practice at home.  We will start with division later this week so knowing the multiplication facts will help make it easier to learn division.  Miss Jackson's class is continuing to work on division using problem solving to practice these skills.  Remember that Mathletics is a great tool that all students should be using at least three times a week at home to practice math skills.

Swimming forms for all students and R.T. Alderman forms for grade 4 students need to be returned to the school completed.

On Wednesday, students are invited to wear a hat at school for the day to honor Mental Health Awareness Day.

May 1, 2015

We worked on our inquiry report this morning.  Students should now have the introduction and three paragraphs completed for the body.  Some students will have to work on this for homework over the weekend.  We will also be sharing our procedures on Monday so please have this completed to share.  Remember to include all the details in the procedure.

In choir, the students sang some French songs and practiced the song for music Monday.

The students did a wonderful job in their art journals today.  We created a page to demonstrate what we know about the parts of a flower.

We ended our day with Miss Jackson reading our novel - Because of Mr. Terupt

Have a great weekend!