April 30, 2009

We finished our swimming lessons this afternoon. Everyone shows improvement! And everyone had fun!

I'm sorry that I forgot to bring my camera today, but you can see how well your child swims the next time you swim together. Tomorrow I'll send home the certificates from the instructors.

I was also very impressed today at how well the children did in putting pieces of pasta into groups that would make it easier to count. We've decided that groups of 2, 5, and 10 work much better than groups of 13 or 7. We wrote riddles for each other about numbers and put them into little books. During free time, we can do the riddles our friends made.

April 27, 2009

When Dylan's team reached 100 points, Dylan asked that his prize be a day teaching the class. We negotiated one lesson. Today with his Mom as a helper, Dylan showed us how water combined with the dye in washable felt and traveled up a strip of coffee filter paper.

Dylan said the hardest part was to get people to listen. Part of that was his lack of experience in managing a classroom. But not all. Our whole class has been slipping in this area lately. Here's how you can help. Watch your child. Does he or she wait until someone else has finished talking before talking? Does he or she actually look at your when you are speaking? Being a good listener is a vital skill both in the classroom and in life. Any help you can give your child in learning to listen well will be a lifelong gift.

Look at our beautiful art work.

We read The New Baby Calf, a book that Barbara Reid illustrated.

Then we used her style to make animal artwork. You can see the originals in the hallway, but until then, you can enjoy them right here.

April 23, 2009

Retro Day!

Some of us came with attitude as well as retro clothes.

Can you tell which decade each of us dressed for?

April 22, 2009

Hurray for Canada Day!

Mr. Heidebrecht got all dressed up.





We went to the gym to listen to our choir.

April 21, 2009

Aren't we amazing!

We had some very crazy hair in our classroom today. Riley took this photo for us. Thank you, Riley.

Remember that tomorrow is Canada Day in our Spirit Week. It will be interesting to see how each person decides to celebrate being Canadian.

April 20, 2009

This week is Spirit Week at Gibsons Elementary. We started it off in fine form today with Books, Bathrobes, and Slippers Day. Thanks to Celyna who took this photo for us.

Stay tuned. Tomorrow is Crazy Hair Day!

April 16, 2009

Swimming is so much fun when you wear your clothes in the water. It's even more fun when you learn how to rescue your friends in distress.

The children learned not only how to rescue someone in the water, but how to save themselves if they fall through the ice. Powerful and useful lessons.

April 9, 2009

Wow! What a day we had!

We started with a visit from two Easter bunnies, Fluffy and Spotty.

Christopher helped Katherine share the story about her pets.


Later, the Easter bunny -- we don't know which one -- left some yummy treats for us. But first we had to go on a big treasure hunt all over the playground.

Then, after lunch, we went for our second swimming lesson. This time, we have some video to show you. We are all become better swimmers.

Next week we have to wear clothes in the pool over our swimsuits. That means we have to bring extra clothes because we will need dry clothes to go home in.

April 7, 2009

Au Revoir, Madame Marshall!

Today we had our last French class with Madame Marshall. We sang our French songs and did our puppet play for the last time. Then we filled in a paper for Madame Marshall so she knows what we liked to do.

Hello Jade!

We lost Madame Marshall, but Jade joined our class today. Welcome Jade.

April 2, 2009

Today we had our first swim lesson.

We are divided into three groups, according to our swimming levels.

Everyone came home happy, having learned something new.

Thanks to the parents who came to help.

And big congratulations to the children for their excellent behaviour in the change rooms and their respect for the swimming teachers.

We also said happy birthday to Chelsea today.