This first week of 2020 in Division 3

Dates to note in January and February:

Jan. 6, Monday                             School is back (remember to bring your rain gear)

Jan. 17, Friday                              Fire Drill

Feb. 3-7                                       Book Fair here

Feb. 14, Friday                             Professional Development Day -No school for students

Feb. 17, Monday                          Family Day -No School

Funwork this week:

Math: We will be doing some review in the first week revisiting adding and subtracting larger numbers. Then, we will be looking at repeated addition, the precursor to multiplication.

Language Arts: We will review basic sentence structure. Then, we will be focusing on how to use punctuation to vary sentences and to feature dialogue in writing. Students will continue reading The Breadwinner. 

Science: We will be concluding our unit on solutions and solubility.

French: Christmas may be over, but Quebecers celebrate Carnaval du Quebec. We will be learning about this tradition and the language around it.

Art: We will look at Emily Carr and use her technique as inspiration to create a forest of trees for the classroom.

Here's to a great week back,

Your teachers, 

Ms Bridal and Ms Powers

Happy Holidays Division 3 Families and Students!

This last week of 2019 in Division 3

Div 3 families and students, here is your weekly update.

Dates to note:

December 17th Jingle Way Sing-a-long in the Gym from 10:50 to 11:30 (Families welcome)
December 20th Mug Exchange (Students exchange mugs and share in hot-chocolate holiday cheer)
WINTER BREAK December 21st to January 5th (Back to school on Monday, January 6th)

Funwork:

Science 
Students have investigated and will present individual and group experiments around the topic of solutions and solubility. This will happen Tuesday morning and Wednesday; the work will reinforce scientific inquiry skills that the students are developing.

Language Arts 
Reading: Students will finish "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" this week. They will be comparing the novel with the 1971 musical screenplay on Thursday and Friday. Students are also using CAFE strategies to read "The Breadwinner" which they will continue reading after the break.
Writing: Students are working on using adverbs in sentences to describe actions. This practice will include rearranging sentences so that they start with an adverb (eg. Suddenly, the students understood why they could start a sentence with suddenly).

Math
The hour of code is over, but our experiences with code will continue in the new year and extend to robotics. For those of you who have asked, the link to coding activities can be found here.
This week we will be doing consumer math using addition and subtraction of dollar amounts with cents (decimal fractions) as well as some festive figuring.

And so much more fun is happening this last week of 2019 because that is what learning is.

Yours

Ms Bridal and Ms Powers

This week in Div 3, December 9th to 13th

Div 3 Families, this is your weekly update.

Reminder:

Don’t forget to download our Poirier app! The school uses this for quick for reminders. https://poirier.appazur.com/help/flyer 

Students brought home a notice about Div 3's mug exchange. We are collecting mugs for the exchange now.

Dates to note:

December 11th - LAST DAY for FOOD BANK ITEMS (wear a hat day)

December 17th - Jingle Way's Festive Sing-a-long 0:50 to 11:30 am

December 20th - Last day before Winter Break

January 6th - Back to school and 2020

A glimpse into learning this week:

Math: We continue to work with budgets and spending money which involves subtraction and, at times, multiplicative thinking. We are also participating in hour of code which your child can explore with you at home through this website: https://hourofcode.com/ca

Language Arts 

Reading: We are on Chapter 13 of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. If students are away, an audio version of the book can be found on this site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqqJXZ139Sc Students are practicing summarizing information and analyzing story elements.

Writing: We are developing and stretching our sentences using vibrant verbs and descriptive adverbs. 

Science: Students will review key terms associated with solutions and solubility. They will plan an investigation of their own into the solubility of solids and liquids.

Here's to a great week of learning and fun.

Ms Bridal and Ms Powers

This week, December 2nd to 6th

Reminders:
Students head outside for breaks and so it is really important to come dressed for the weather. We have extra mittens for students in the office, if they forget them. Coming with a set of dry socks and pants as a back up is also helpful for students who get wet enjoying the outdoors.

A Time for Giving: SHOEBOX Project, a Toy Store for Ronald McDonald House, and 10 000 Tonight

We are collecting items for the Shoebox Project for Shelter. Here is a video explaining the project:

There will be a "Toy Store" on Thursday December 5th. Students can do their holiday shopping; items will be on sale for $1 and $2 and money raised will go to Ronald McDonald House

Please send in non-perishable food items for 10000 tonight. Our class determined that 500 would be a SMART goal.

Dates to Note in December:

December 6th Last Day for Shoebox Items

December 17th Neighbourhood Sing-a-long
December 20th Mug Exchange (More information to come)

A glimpse into learning this week:

Language Arts: We are really diving into books in Div 3. Students are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a fantasy novel, as well as The Breadwinner, a historical fiction novel, to explore how books can take you away from the everyday and let you live other lives. Students are continuing to work on sentence fluency by exploring how to stretch sentences using descriptive language.

Math: This week is "Hour of Code" week. Here is a link to the event. The future of work is computer code and your kids will be learning the basics this week.

Social Studies: Students will be investigating how people in British Columbia have used its resources across time.

Science: Students will experiment with solutions and solubility.

And we will be brightening up the darkness of December with songs and crafts.

Here is to a great week of learning.

This last week of November, November 25th to 29th

Div 3 Families, here is your weekly update:

Thanks to those of you who were able to make it in for your student's learning tour. We are always keen and available to discuss your child's progress. It is continually happening so we are continually here to talk about it.

Calendar Dates to Note:

November 25th PAC Meeting in the Library 3:15 (all parents are invited)
November 27th Norman Foote Concert at 6:30 (students perform in this concert in place of a holiday concert in December)
November 28th Mime Show at 1:15
November 29th Blowing Bubbles for Kids in Trouble ($1 for Children's Hospital)
November 30th PAC Christmas Craft Fair at Poirier
December 9th to 15th The Hour of Code Week ( https://hourofcode.com/ca )
December 13th PAC Hot Lunch
December 20th Last day of 2019 in school

Learning highlights this week:

Math: We will continue to explore working with dollar amounts as well as working out solving for unknown amounts (algebra beginnings). We will be working with subtraction as students are given a budget to buy groceries.

Language Arts: Students chose Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as their Fantasy genre novel, a delicious book written by Roald Dahl. Students will also continue to work on increasing their sentence writing fluency, one of the six traits of good writing that we are targeting.

Science: Students will be exploring solutions and solubility using the scientific method.

Social Studies: We will be begin an investigation into resources and resource management both past and present to later feature in a museum exhibit.

Here's to a great week of learning

Yours,
Ms Powers and Ms Bridal

This week, November 18th to 22nd

Div 3 Families, here is your weekly update.


Dates to note:

Nov 20th - Spirit Wear Order DEADLINE (cheques payable to Poirier PAC)
Nov 21st - Early Dismissal 11:45 for Student Led Conferences
Nov 22nd - Pro D Day Ms Bridal and Ms Powers get schooled/ students have a day off
Nov 27th - Norman Foote Concert at EMCS (get your tickets for this awesome event)
Nov 28th - Mime Presentation 1:15
Nov 30th - PAC Sponsored Craft Fair in the Gym, a great way to buy local for the holidays

A look into learning this week:

Math: We are continuing to work with whole number dollar amounts and we will begin looking at cents as a decimal fraction of dollars.

Language Arts: We will be voting on a novel study for the Fantasy genre, a great genre to escape the dark days of winter. Students will be working on sentence writing; while most students can write a basic sentence, we are working toward writing more complex sentences to add variety to our writing. We continue to explore CAFE strategies during guided reading times and in our course work.

The students are looking forward to showing their families what they know this Thursday. If that is not possible, students are learning how to show their families through their digital portfolios on Freshgrade.

Yours,
Ms Powers and Ms Bridal

This week, November 12th to 15th

Dates to note in November:

Nov. 12 Tuesday- Field Trip to the Victoria Legislature and Museum

Nov. 15 Friday- PAC Christmas Fundraiser Order Deadline for: Paradise Isle                                        Cheeses, Clara Clarke Sheets (Cheques made out to Poirier PAC)

Nov. 20 Wednesday- PAC Spirit Wear Order Deadline (Cheques made out to Poirier                            PAC)

Nov. 21st - Early dismissal for Student Led Conferences (details to follow)

Nov. 22, Friday- Professional Development Day -No School

Nov. 27, Wednesday- PAC Christmas Fundraiser Order Deadline for: Purdy's (Cheques                      made out to Poirier PAC)

Nov. 27, Wednesday 6:30- Panther Concert with Norman Foote EMCS 

Nov. 28, Thursday 1:15- Mime Show assembly

Nov. 30, Saturday- PAC sponsored Craft Fair at Poirier (Do your Christmas shopping                        close to home and support your school at the same time :-)

This week in learning:

The museum and the legislature will provide a jump off point for a unit and inquiry project looking into BC's natural resources as well as an investigation into the levels of government. 

Math: We are continuing to work on developing number sense through using different strategies to add and subtract larger numbers. 

Language Arts: Students will be asked to look for the stories that are told through the displays at the museum and in the legislature. Students will be viewing stories to identify key story elements. 

Here's to a great week.

Ms Bridal and Ms Powers

This week, November 4th to 8th

Calendar dates to note in November:

Nov. 8, Friday- Remembrance Day Ceremony 10:45

Nov. 11 Monday- Remembrance Day -No School

Nov. 12 Tuesday- Field Trip to the Victoria Legislature and Museum (Permission                          forms due now and we are looking for parent volunteers)

Nov. 15 Friday- PAC Christmas Fundraiser Order Deadline for: Paradise Isle                                        Cheeses, Clara Clarke Sheets (Cheques made out to Poirier PAC)

Nov. 20 Wednesday- PAC Spirit Wear Order Deadline (Cheques made out to Poirier                            PAC)

Nov. 21, Thursday- Early Dismissal -Student Led Sharing Afternoon/Evening

Nov. 22, Friday- Professional Development Day -No School

Nov. 27, Wednesday- PAC Christmas Fundraiser Order Deadline for: Purdy's (Cheques                      made out to Poirier PAC)

Nov. 27, Wednesday 6:30- Panther Concert with Norman Foote EMCS 

Nov. 28, Thursday 1:15- Mime Show assembly

Nov. 30, Saturday- PAC sponsored Craft Fair at Poirier (Do your Christmas shopping                        close to home and support your school at the same time :-) 

Funwork this week:

Freshgrade: You should have had an invitation to view Freshgrade by now; if you haven't received that invitation, please email us. By Tuesday, most students will have posted their "Biography Lap Book" projects to view along with their own reflections on how they did with the tasks.

Math: We are working on adding and subtracting whole numbers to 10 000 for Grade 4 and 1 000 000 for Grade 5. Our goal is to work on developing different strategies to add and subtract whole numbers. Students can use the algorithm (the step by step rules to solve operations), but they also have to prove that they know the inner workings of that algorithm. We are going to begin working of solving equations with unknown amounts which is algebra.

Language Arts: We are moving into a new unit on story telling. This unit will include the oral tradition of story telling of the First People as well as written stories. This week will focus on stories of peace and remembrance. 

Art: We will be creating poppies inspired by artist Georgia O'Keefe to decorate the gym for the Remembrance Day Ceremony which we will be MCing.

And lots of other fun will be going on in Div 3 this week.

Feel free to email us with questions, ideas, or concerns. We are here for you and your kids.

Ms Bridal and Ms Powers.

This week, October 28th to November 1st

Here is your weekly update Div 3 students and families,

Calendar Notes:

October 31st - Pumpkin Contest, Assembly and Sock Hop (Dance) in the gym
November 1st - Broomhill Park Field Trip
November 8th - Remembrance Day Ceremony (Div 3 is MC'ing)
November 12th - Victoria Field Trip - permission forms coming home this week

Funwork this week:

Math: We will continue to work on operating with numbers with a focus on subtraction this week. Students will be working through stations that feature game play, time with the teacher, pencil and paper practice and IXL tech practice.

Writing: We are continuing to construct biographies with a goal to finish by November 1st. There will be a Point of Progress posted to Freshgrade on this multi-faceted project.

Reading: Students will be reading and responding to some Halloween themed stories as well as doing CAFE. Here is a link to what CAFE entails.

Science: Speaking of scary, we will be observing the results of our Science experiment and completing our lab write ups.

Halloween themed French and Art lessons will be run this week.

Here's to a spooktacular week.

Yours, Ms Powers and Ms Bridal

This week in Division 3, October 21st to Oct 25th

Calendar Notes this week:

October 21st Federal Election (Take your kid with you to see how it works in "real life"; student's conducted their vote on Friday and results are TOP SECRET until all the election results are in on Monday)
October 24th Halloween Dance at Poirier (Tickets are $2 at the door; food and drink plus glow sticks will be on sale; students must be with a parent as this is a PAC event and run by other parents)
October 25th Pro D and In-servicing for Staff (Students get the day off)
October 25th The last day to express an interest and put down a deposit for the Vancouver trip June 18 to 19th

Funwork this week:

Math: Students will complete assessments and reflections for our first Point of Progress that will be posted to Freshgrade on Tuesday, October 22nd. We are continuing to work with number concepts as we practice with addition and subtraction. Students in the class are still developing their understanding of the value of numbers which is quite abstract when you move into bigger values.

Language Arts: Students wrote a rough draft of their "Introducing X" biography paragraph. This week they will write the neat copy for their bio lap book and start to assemble the other parts of the project. We are hoping to have this project completed by Tuesday, October 29th and posted to Freshgrade by October 30th. Students continue to develop their CAFE strategies for reading. We encourage students to practice these strategies at home while reading.

Wonder Hour: We will be launching wonder hour this week. This inquiry block falls under Science and Social Studies; it is a project based approach that gets kids to get curious about the things that interest them (which is a lot at this age!).

And we will be doing a lot more funwork this week.

If you have any questions, ideas, suggestions, or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Here's to another great week with your terrific kids.

October 15th to 18th

Calendar Notes this week:

• October 18th STUDENT Vote 
• October 18th $40 VANCOUVER DEPOSIT DUE along with signed notices of intent and preferred payment method 

Funwork this week:

Math: We are working on increasing and decreasing number values through addition and subtraction. Grade 4 targets numbers up to 10 000 and Grade 5 numbers up to 1 000 000, but students are expected to work to a level that stretches their capabilities. You can expect a Math Point of Progress on place value, adding and subtracting to be posted to your child's Freshgrade account by October 21st.

Language Arts: Students will begin working with stretchy sentences to explore parts of speech and language. Those sentence writing skills will be put to work as we put together the biography projects. Students are reading Raven Tales to practice CAFE strategies that are being modeled in class and conferencing with Ms Powers and Ms Bridal. Remember, reading, any kind of reading, helps to reinforce and build those reading skills as well as thinking skills that are useful across all areas.

Social Studies: Students will learn about Canada's main political parties, their leaders and their logos. We will learn about the vote, one of the rights we have as Canadian citizens.

Science: Students will learn about the scientific method. We will conduct a simple experiment to explore how it works.

And much more will be going on in Division 3 this short week, October 15th to 18th.

October 7th to 11th

October 7th to 11th, 2019

Calendar notes this week:

Tuesday is photo day (comb your hair day)

Wednesday we are having a WITS assembly

NEXT Monday is a holiday, Happy Thanksgiving!

Funwork:

Math: We are working on number sense including place value. Students will be using their understanding of numbers to add and subtract numbers mentally. If students want to exercise their math skills further, they can access IXL or Khan Academy.

Social Studies: We are ramping up to hold a STUDENT VOTE on October 18th. Students will be learning about democracy and the federal government in preparation. 

Language Arts: Students have been reading and viewing information on their chosen person. This week we will begin to assemble the lap books. Students who want to "extend" the project to include slideshows, skits, or other creative additions are welcome to exercise that creativity. Students are also doing CAFE lessons to develop a set of strategies to use to understand non-fiction or fiction at school and at home.

Here's to a great week.

Grania and Samantha