Christmas Letter

  

December 6, 2011

Dear Parents:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your families!! I hope your preparations for the upcoming holiday are going well and that you are able to relax and enjoy this part of the year with your loved ones.

We are preparing our Christmas play and the students are eagerly awaiting their performance. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is sure to be a success! I have set the date of the performance to Wednesday, December 14^th in the morning for classes and parents are invited to come either at 9:30 or 11:30 am.

We will make, bake and decorate gingerbread men/women as part of a literature sequence on Monday, December 12^th. Any parents who would like to join us that morning and help out with baking or decorating are welcome. Please write a note in your child’s agenda and let me know what you would like to do.

Donations of the following would be appreciated:

Multi-colored sprinkles

White icing (pre-made)

Smarites or M&M’s

Next, we have discussed participating in a “Secret Elf” activity. I will arrange for students who are interested to select another student at random. “Secret Santa’s Elves” provide encouraging words, thoughtful remarks, and genuine support towards their chosen person. Gifts are acceptable but I’ve asked students to limit money spent ($5 max) and provide “token” gestures of good will.

Lastly, we will have our Christmas celebration on Friday, Dec. 16^th in the morning (skating in the afternoon) and anyone who would like to contribute goodies they would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes to you all in the New Year! See you in 2012!!

Ms. Carla Sumarlidson.

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I plan to join you on December 12^th  to help with the Christmas gingerbread cookies.

Name ______________________________                          Phone # _______________________

Welcome to Whoville - We'll see you Wednesday!

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas Production

Gingerbread Cookies - A Christmas to Remember

Building Bridges - in more than one way

Progress Reports Coming Home Today

Dear Parents,

This is your child’s progress report. Your child has worked very hard to reflect on their progress and evaluate themselves then develop goals for next term. Research tells us that when students are able to analyze and articulate their progress there is a better understanding of their learning processes. This is called Metacognition.

Metacognition means becoming increasingly aware of one’s actions and the effect of those actions on others and on the environment; forming internal questions as one searches for information and meaning, developing mental maps or plans of actions, mentally rehearsing prior to performance, monitoring those plans as they are employed-being conscious of the need for midcourse correction if the plan is not meeting expectations, reflecting on the plan upon completion of the implementation for the purpose of self-evaluation, and editing mental pictures improved performance.

                                                Dr. Milton McClaren

The students completed several self evaluations and have reflected on their abilities in some basic areas. I have conferenced and commented on these evaluations. I think you will agree that our evaluations are close to being the same in most cases. Please take some time with your child to go through their books and celebrate their triumphs this term. I am very proud of each student’s journey in my class. Keep up the good work everyone!!

Parents please return all work to the school after you have had a good chance to look at everything. Duotangs must come back to school immediately so students can continue to work:))

Thank you,
Carla Sumarlidson.

Building Community One Map at a Time

"The Talking Cloth"

A Service to Remember - Well Done Div. 6

Super Fun Halloween Celebration!! Thanks to all who helped:))

Spooky Treats made our Halloween Menu memorable!!

Mayor Wright Reads his Book to us for Literacy Week

Thank you, Mayor! We really enjoyed your Tall Tale. 

Math About Me

It's Time for Some Halloween Fun!

October 18^th, 2011.

 

Dear Parents:

Halloween is fast approaching and plans are coming together for our classroom celebration. We will work on Halloween activities all day on Monday, October 31^st ! In the morning, students will be working on a variety of language and math Halloween activities and I have organized a Halloween party with games in the afternoon. The students will be participating in station games I have created and if there are any parents who would be interested in volunteering to help out that day I would really appreciate any “extra hands”. I will put this on the Blog and Nerissa will email parents as well. I will need 5-6 parents to help out with the afternoon events.

I am encouraging everyone to dress in costume. Students who are interested in bringing snacks are requested to think of nutritious alternatives (use your imagination together and give it a “creepy” name but DO NOT tell anyone!! Celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins – could be ants on a log). Again, it’s a secret!! Please write a note in your child’s agenda if you are able to provide the snack and give me the “creepy” name you and your child have chosen for it. Remember, have fun with this.

                NO Excuses words for October/November

                again

could

excited

favorite       

into

really

to

too

two

was

                NO Excuses words for November/December                             No Excuses words for December/January

                beautiful                                                                                   are

                before                                                                                      can’t

                enough                                                                                     don’t

                first                                                                                          won’t

                school                                                                                      everybody

                their                                                                                         everyone 

                there                                                                                        everything

                they’re                                                                                     our

                went                                                                                         right

                when                                                                                        write

                                                                                                                               

Have a great Halloween!!

Yours truly,

Ms. Carla Sumarlidson.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Child’s name _______________________________

I am willing to help out at the Halloween Party on Monday. _____________________________

                                                                                                                Parent name

My child will be bringing ______________________________ for the party Monday. The “creepy” name we have given it is ________________________________________________ Remember-don’t tell anyone!! TOP SECRET!!

"Pirateering" and Adventure

We've talked like pirates, acted like pirates, dressed like pirates, ransomed treasure for pirate "booty" and created treasure maps. All for the sake of adventure, m'hearty's!!

Welcome Letter

We are Blasting Off Into another Great School Year!!

September 8, 2011

Dear Parents,

Welcome to my class! I am sending home a token “welcome” package with your child for you to share. My goal is for you to discuss with your child the connections between literal vs. symbolic or metaphoric representation but … keep it simple. As your children enters grade three or four, they are entering a new world. They are moving from the literal world to making deeper connections to the world around them. Connections to self, literature and media, and current world events. Relating to more than what is factually written or stated is the next big step in their intellectual development. Try to come up with three symbols together that you could add to the package that would help make your child’s year the best one ever!! Cheers and Enjoy this little assignment.

Yours truly,

Carla Sumarlidson.

September 14th Letter to Parents

September 14, 2011

Dear Parents,

Firstly, I am very excited to tell you that this coming year is my 20^th year at Herbert Spencer School! I cannot believe that I have been teaching that many years here. As the saying goes, “time flies when you’re having fun!” I am looking forward to this year because it will offer a wide range of topics and subject areas to explore. As I have always said, “I teach children NOT grades.”

In light of recent contract negotiations that teachers are currently under, there are some events that will be cancelled. For instance there will be NO Meet the Teacher Event or Terry Fox Run and probably NO Intake Interviews this year. That being said, I want to assure you that our “lines of communication” are wide open. I am viewing this year as an opportunity to try some “new” alternatives to the way we interact with one another-parent, teacher and student.

I want to meet all of you as soon as possible. I am going to host a parent/student informational meeting on Tuesday, September 20^th at 6:30 pm. I want to invite parents to bring their child to the school that evening and I will discuss, briefly, the “shape of the year”. What your role is, be it either student or parent, this year with things such as homework tasks/agenda, etc. I will also talk about my expectations are of your child. I will address concerns around “split” classes and share my philosophies on this topic. Lastly, for the intermediate parents, I will go through letter grades and what they mean.

I will also need some parents to help me out in a variety of ways this year.

I will require the following volunteers:

1.        a liaison parent/s in charge of helping getting information to other parents – developing a phone and email tree and help organize parents for a variety of events e.g. Field trips, special celebrations like Halloween!

2.        someone in charge of collecting money for field trips/book orders

3.        someone in charge of taking in recycling juice boxes and collecting money 

4.        someone to come in on “hot lunch” days to help hand out lunches

I have started to set up a BLOG for the class and this should also help with “knowing what is going on at school” and to keep you updated with information. I will give you the website when it is ready.

I fully expect that I will need to meet with some parents, one on one, and we will discuss that, as well.

My goal for your child this year is that they have the BEST SCHOOL YEAR EVER!! Parents be assured that I do NOT hesitate to contact you if I feel there is an issue. I like to develop and maintain good relations with my parents and students. Keeping a positive, open line of communication is key.

I will be attending the meeting on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 @ 6:30 pm.

                                                _____________________________

                                                _____________________________

                                                _____________________________  NAMES ATTENDING

 I will not be able to attend the meeting on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 @ 6:30 pm.