The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Monday, June 3rd, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We have a very full and exciting month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
P.A. Day
There will be a P.A. Day on June 7th for reporting. I hope you have a lovely extended weekend with your family.
Keele Fun Fair
On Thursday, June 13th from 5:30-8:30pm Keele P.S. will be hosting its annual Fun Fair. This will be a very exciting event so be sure to attend!
Mountview Celebrations
Friday, June 14th will be a very exciting day for Mountview! On this day, the Mountview Picnic, Graduation & Friendship Assembly will all take place.
Schedule of Events
11:30 - Pizza at Lithuania Park
12:30 - Graduation
1:30 - Refreshments Served
2:00 - Friendship Assembly in Park
3:00 - End of Day Routine
On this day please ensure your child is sent to school with the appropriate attire for the weather as they will be spending much of the day outside. Please stay tuned for more information on this event.
Our Reader’s Cafe
On Thursday, June 20th, at 12:35pm, we will be having a Reader’s Cafe in room 101. At this event students will present research projects, dances and art work they have created. We hope all parents can attend so we can celebrate a wonderful year of learning together.
Last Day of School
Thursday, June 27th, will be the last day of the school year. Leading up to this celebration, students will complete a series of educational activities. They will create surveys on the type of activities we will play, and treats we will consume. They will compare this data and record the results. On this day the students will put what they have learned in our money unit to use. We will walk to a store and purchase our treats. Before doing so, students will be given the opportunity to calculate how we will pay and the change we will receive. As a class we will then head over to Lithuania Park to play our activities and enjoy our purchased treats. If you would like to join us on this excursion please let me know.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Mathematics
*Read primary data presented in charts, tables, and graphs (including vertical and horizontal bar graphs), then describe the data using comparative language, and describe the shape of the data (e.g.,“Most of the data are at the high end.”; “All of the data values are different.”)
Social Studies
*Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of sustainability in people’s interrelationship with their natural environment and of some of the consequences of sustainable and/or non-sustainable actions
*Describe some major connections between features of the natural environment and the type of employment that is available in a region, with reference to two or more municipal regions in Ontario
Dance
*Identify, using dance vocabulary, the elements of dance used in their own and others’ dance phrases and explain their purpose (e.g., the use of body, space, time, and energy to create variety and interest; the use of direction, grouping contrast, and repetition to explore pattern)
Let’s have another great month together,
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Wednesday, May 1st, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
The Spring Concert
The students in room 101 have been working hard to prepare for The Mountview Spring Concert. On Wednesday, May 1st, we will be meeting in room 101 at 6pm before the concert starts at 6:30pm. The students will be singing one song called Memories and another called Photograph. As we will be affixing pictures to their tops we ask that the students wear all black so that this picture pops out.
Auction
Mountview's Annual Auction and Children's Art Show will close the night of our Spring Concert. The live auction will take place the night of the concert. Be on the lookout for our wonderful creation. It is sure to be a hot ticket item.
Concert Admission
An admission ticket must be purchased for every adult ($10) & youth ($5) for the Mountview Concert. There is no cost for Mountview students & children 4 & under.
Dessert Table
For the concert you are encouraged to bring in a donation for our dessert table. Some of the suggested (nut-free) dessert items include - cheese plates, fruit plates, cookies, cake, lemon bars, brownies, or rice krispie squares.
Fundraiser for Animals
In April, the students in room 101 found out that our classroom character Dex had gone missing. The students used clues to uncover where in the world he went. When the students learned that he was in Ontario researching animals at risk or endangered they decided to help him. Each student has been working on a research project on an animal at risk in Ontario. On Thursday, May 16th and Friday, May 17th room 101 students will be holding a bake sale for the school. The money will go towards helping the animals they have been studying. Please stay tuned for a treat sign-up sheet.
Victoria Day Weekend
School will be closed on Monday, May 20th for Victoria Day. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your family.
Blue Jay Day Fundraiser
On Thursday, May 23rd all Mountview students have been invited to attend a Blue Jays game as a school fundraiser. Students who do not wish to participate are able to attend an outing to The Humber River in order to plant native trees and shrubs.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Social Studies
*Evaluate evidence and draw conclusions about some of the short- and long-term effects on the environment of different types of land use in municipal regions of Ontario and about key measures to reduce the negative impact of that use
Mathematics
*Identify flips, slides, and turns, through investigation using concrete materials and physical motion, and name flips, slides, and turns as reflections, translations, and rotations (e.g., a slide to the right is a translation; a turn is a rotation); *Add and subtract money amounts, using a variety of tools (e.g., currency manipula- tives, drawings), to make simulated pur- chases and change for amounts up to $10
*Divide whole objects and sets of objects into equal parts, and identify the parts using fractional names (e.g., one half; three thirds; two fourths or two quarters), without using numbers in standard fractional notation;
Let’s have another great month together,
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Monday, April 1st, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Millennium Kids Workshop
On the morning of Wednesday, April 3rd, Millennium Kids will be presenting a workshop based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This workshop will focus primarily on affordable and renewable energy. If you would like to volunteer to help with this workshop, please let me know.
Pink Day
On Wednesday, April 10th we will be celebrating Pink Day at Mountview. On this day students are asked to promote anti-bullying day by wearing pink.
Comic Book Workshop
On Thursday, April 11th from 10:40-11:30am we will be participating in a comic book workshop. Check out our classroom blog to see the wonderful work the students produce.
Eco Poetry Café
The annual Eco Poetry Café will be held on Thursday, April 18th. Students wishing to participate will have a chance to create poems about the earth in class.
Long Weekend
On Friday, April 19th and Monday, April 22nd, school will be closed for Easter. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your families.
Grade 3 Homework
This week I will be sending home homework booklets for the grade 3 students. These booklets should be completed and returned to class by May 1st.
Earth Day Clean-Up
Our Earth Day Clean-Up will take place April 23rd, from 2-2:45pm. If you would like to come and help during this time, please let me know.
Math Night
Math night this year will take place on Thursday, April 25th, from 6-7:30pm. Come and learn fun games and strategies to engage your child in mathematics!
The Spring Concert
The Spring Concert will take place on Wednesday, May 1st. Rehearsals will take place on Monday, April 29th and Tuesday, April 30th. Please stay tuned on more information on costumes and the schedule of events.
Scientist in the School
Thanks to your generous support at our Reader’s Café, the students raised enough money to pay for a Scientist in the School Presentation. This presentation will take place, Wednesday, May 1st from 12:30-3:30pm. We need 4 parent volunteers to help run this presentation. Please let me know as soon as possible if you can volunteer.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Mathematics
*Identify and describe various three-dimensional figures (i.e., cubes, prisms, pyramids) and sort and classify them by their geometric properties using concrete materials
*Estimate, measure, and record the capacity of containers (e.g., juice can, milk bag), using the standard unit of the litre or parts of a litre (e.g., half, quarter).
Social Studies
*Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of sustainability in people’s interrelationship with their natural environment and of some of the consequences of sustainable and/or non-sustainable actions
Science
Let’s have another great month together,
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Friday, March 1st, 2019.
Dear Parents/Guardians:
We have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time.
Classroom Musical
For the past month the students in room 101 have been working hard on a musical called, Follow the Drinking Gourd. This play has taught the students about the Underground Railroad and how to how to solve mysteries using their inferring skills. The students have worked hard to memorize their lines, design costumes and the set. On Friday, March 8th at 12:35pm we would like to invite you to attend this musical performance. All parents and siblings are welcome. Please let me or our class representatives know if you are able to bring a treat on this day!
Homework
This month the students will continue to work on their times tables in class. If you could continue to work on the following times tables at home this would be helpful:
Grade 2: 2x, 5x, 10x & 11x,
Grade 3: 8x, 9x, 11x & 12x.
In addition to this homework, I will start sending home EQAO tests for the grade 3 students to work on as bonus homework.
Upcoming BreakSchool will be closed from Monday, March 11th and reopen Monday, March 18th for March Break. I hope you enjoy this time with your family. Over this time please have your child collect one souvenir from their vacation. This could be a napkin from a restaurant, a brochure from a museum or pamphlet from an event attended. This will help them with their first writing assignment when they return.
A Message from Bree
Hello, parents and caregivers! Over the past few weeks, I have been fortunate to work in Amy’s classroom as a part of my student teaching requirement for OISE’s Master of Teaching program. I moved to Toronto from the U.S in July, and prior to coming to OISE, I worked as an instructional aide for four years in an elementary school and as an outdoor educator at a summer camp in Connecticut. I have enjoyed getting to know all of your children, and will be sad to leave at the beginning of March. I hope that I have managed to teach your children almost as much as they have taught me in this short amount of time!
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Media Literacy
*Identify the topic, purpose, and audience for media texts they plan to create
Produce some short media text for specific purposes and audiences suing a few short simple media forms and appropriate conventions and techniques
Mathematics
*describe movement from one location to another using a grid map (e.g., to get from the swings to the sandbox, move three squares to the right and two squares down)
*identify flips, slides, and turns, through investigation using concrete materials and physical motion, and name flips, slides, and turns as reflections, translations, and rotations (e.g., a slide to the right is a translation; a turn is a rotation);
Science
*Investigate forces that cause an object to start moving, stop moving, or change direction *Use technological problem-solving skills and knowledge acquired from previous investigations, to design and build devices that use forces to create controlled movement
Let’s have a great month together!
Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Friday, February 1st, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time.
Report CardsTerm 1 Report cards will be sent home on Wednesday, February 13th. Interviews are not mandatory this term but I am happy to meet if you would like to discuss your child’s progress. I will be available after school Tuesday February 12th, and Thursday, February 14th for appointments. Please stay tuned for an online signup sheet. If none of these times work for you I am happy to meet at a later date as well.
Valentine’s Day
On Thursday, February 14th, we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day in Room 101. We will be exchanging Valentines and enjoying healthy treats. If you would like to send in a white, pink, or red healthy snack to our party (i.e., strawberries, raspberries, apples, watermelon, or popcorn) please let me know in advance. To tie into the healthy heart theme we will also be participating in Jump Rope for Heart in support of The Heart and Stroke Foundation on this day. Students will be bringing home pledge forms soon so please be on the lookout as to how you can help with this initiative.
Long Weekend
On Friday, February 15th, school will be closed due to a P.A. Day. It will also be closed Monday, February 18th for Family Day. I hope you enjoy this long weekend with your family.
Homework
Each day during our Daily News Routine, the students in room 101 have been practicing our times tables. At the end of this month the students in grade 3 (and the grade 2s who wish to participate) will be tested on our trickiest times tables (6x, 7x and 8x). As their homework this month I request that you help your child to work on this at home.
Classroom Musical
This month, the students will be starting to work on a musical in class called “Follow the Drinking Gourd.” This script will highlight some of the topics we will be covering in class such as The Underground Railroad and reading strategies such as making inferences. Be on the lookout for the script in your child’s blue folder and please help them to memorize their lines. We will be performing this play at our Reader’s Café in early March and for various classes within this school at the end of the month.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Language Arts
*Writer’s Workshop with a focus on persuasive writing
*Shared Reading: This includes the group reading of morning messages, big books, songs of the day and songs of the week
*Guided Reading with a focus on making inferences
*Spelling & Literacy Centres
Mathematics
* Identify and compare various polygons (i.e., triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons) and sort them by their geometric properties
*Add and subtract money amounts, using a variety of tools (e.g., currency manipulatives, drawings), to make simulated purchases and change for amounts up to $1 (gr.2) or $10 (gr.3)
Drama
engage in dramatic play and role play, with a focus on exploring themes, ideas, characters, and issues from imagination or in stories from diverse communities, times, and places
Social Studies
*Recognizing and using pictorial symbols, legends, and cardinal directions (i.e.,N,S,E,W) on maps of Canada and other countries
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Monday, January 7th, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful break! We have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Thank You!
I would like to say thank you so much fo the generous gift you gave to me before the holidays. It was so kind of you and so very appreciated!
Research Symposium
On Thursday, January 17th, from 12:40-1:20pm the students in room 101 will be presenting a series of research projects that they have been working hard on this term. These projects are on the Annishinabe and Haudensaune First Nations people who inhabited High Park until the early 1800s. We hope you are able to join us at this time.
Fresh Grade
This month we will start using a new program called Fresh Grade to share student work and presentations. This secure site will require you to login to access these videos and pictures. Please be on the lookout for login information which will be sent home soon.
P.A. Day
Friday, January 18th will be a P.A. Day. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your family.
Field Trip
On Thursday, January 24th we will be joining the other grade 3 classes at Keele on an excursion to Crawford Lake. This trip will help to solidify the concepts that we learned in our First Nations Research on the Annishinabe and Haudensaune people of Ontario in the 1600s-1880s. There is room on the bus for 3 parent volunteers. If you would like to volunteer on this trip, please let me know as soon as possible.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Mathematics
*Read time using analogue clocks, to the nearest five minutes, and using digital clocks and represent time in 12-hour notation;
*Solve problems involving the relationships between minutes and hours, hours and
days, days and weeks, and weeks and years, using a variety of tools
*Create a number pattern involving addition or subtraction, given a pattern represented on a number line or a pattern rule expressed in words
Social Studies
*Identify various First Nations and some Métis communities in Upper and Lower Canada from 1780 to 1850, including those living in traditional territory and those who moved or were forced to relocate to new areas in response to European settlement, and locate the areas where they lived, using print, digital, and/or interactive maps or a mapping program (e.g., the traditional territories of the Anishnawbe around Thunder Bay; Chippewa land in southern Ontario; new Mohawk settlements in the Bay of Quinte area; the tract of land that the Six Nations gave the Mississauga; Métis communities around Lake Huron)
Language Arts
*Writer’s Workshop with a focus on procedural and narrative writing
*Shared Reading: This includes the group reading of morning messages, big books, songs of the day and songs of the week
*Independent & Buddy Reading:
*Reader of the Day
*Guided Reading with a focus on making inferences
*Spelling & Literacy Centres
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Monday, December 3rd, 2018.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Thank You!
The students in room 101 wanted to thank you all for your generous donations at our Reader’s Café. With the $140 that we raised, we were able to purchase over 65 warm items, such as hats, mitts, socks, scarves and blankets for families in need in our local community.
P.A.Day
On Friday, December 7th we will be having a P.A. Day for Federation Day. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your family.
The Winter Concert
We will be holding a school-wide rehearsal at R.C.I. on Monday, December 10th. On this day, the students will transported to this location in shuttle buses. If you would like to help with the rehearsal please let me know. The Mountview Holiday Concert will take place at R.C.I. on the evening of Tuesday, December 11th. For the concert we are asking that the students wear a brightly coloured top and black pants or bottoms. Please stay tuned for more information regarding what time we should arrive at this location and where we will be meeting.
Field Trip
On Wednesday, December 19th, will be going to Young People’s Theatre to see a production of Mary Poppins. We will be leaving the school at 9am sharp and taking the subway for the first time as a class. On this day, the students will be asked to bring a lunch as we will be eating downtown. As we have limited theatre tickets for the entire school, I will be permitted to take a maximum of 4 volunteers. Thank you for all the parents who have offered to volunteer on this trip. I will let you know as soon as possible which parent volunteers will be joining us.
Friendship Assembly
On December 20th, from 12:35-3:00pm the students will be participating in our Mountview Friendship Assembly. At this event, the students will work on team building exercises in mixed-grade group. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please contact Dianne Hadad: dianne.hadad@gmail.com
The Winter Break
Friday, December 21st will be the last day of school before The Winter Break. School will start again on Monday, January 7th. I hope you have a wonderful break with your family.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Mathematics
*Identify, extend, and create a repeating pattern involving two attributes (e.g., size, colour, orientation, number), using a variety of tools (e.g., pattern blocks, attribute blocks, drawings) (Sample problem: Create a repeating pattern using three colours and two shapes.)
*Extend repeating, growing, and shrinking number patterns (Sample problem: Write the next three terms in the pattern 4, 8, 12, 16, ....)
Social Studies
*Learn to identify various First Nations and communities in Upper and Lower Canada from 1780 to 1850, including those living in traditional territory and those who moved or were forced to relocate to new areas in response to European settlement.
*Gather and organize information on some of the past and present traditions and celebrations within their family and the community to which they belong, using primary and/or secondary sources that they have gathered themselves or that have been provided to them.
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Thursday, November 1st, 2018.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Photo Retake Day
On Friday, November 11th we will be having photo retake day at school. If you would like your child to have their photo redone, please send me a note in their red folder or an email.
Remembrance Day Assembly
On Friday, November 9th, we will be having a Remembrance Day Assembly at 11am in the morning. Please feel free to come.
School Spirit Day
On Thursday, November 15th it will be Neptune Day at school. On this day your child can dress up like a creature from the sea such as a fish, a mermaid, a sailor or a crab. By bringing in their toonies and loonies they will be able to help school initiatives.
Parent & Teacher Interviews & P.A. Day
I will be holding parent/teacher interviews the week of November 12th. There will be a P.A. Day on Friday, November 16th for these meetings to take place. Please stay tuned for the interview schedule options.
Progress Reports
On Friday, November 16th, the Elementary Progress Report Cards will be sent home. The progress report card in combination with the parent & teacher interview will give you insight into the development of your child’s learning skills and work habits. It will also fill you in on their general progress in how they are achieving curriculum expectations.
Field Trip
On the morning of Wednesday, November 13th, we will be taking a trip to Colborne Lodge in High Park. As an introduction to our social studies unit in December we will be learning about the First Nations people who once inhabited High Park. On this day please send your child to school wearing weather appropriate clothing as we will be spending a good amount of time outdoors. We are also in need of another parent volunteer for this trip so if you are available please send me a note in your child’s special blue folder or email me at jessicaamy.craze@tdsb.on.ca
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Visual Arts
*Create two- and three-dimensional works of art that express personal feelings and ideas inspired by the environment or that have the community as their subject (e.g., make a symmetrical sculpture or picture of an insect or a flower)
Mathematics
*Compose and decompose three-digit numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones in a variety of ways, using concrete materials (e.g., use base ten materials to decompose 327 into 3 hundreds, 2 tens, and 7 ones, or into 2 hundreds, 12 tens, and 7 ones);
*Complete and describe designs and pictures of images that have a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line of symmetry
*Identify and describe the two-dimensional shapes that can be found in a three- dimensional figure
Social Studies
*formulate questions to guide investigations into some of the major challenges facing different groups and communities in Canada from around 1780 to 1850 (e.g., isolation; climate; lack of access to doctors, law enforcement, or manufactured goods in isolated communities; encroachment of European settlers on traditional First Nations territory; racism facing First Nations peoples and Black Loyalists) and measures taken to address these challenges
Drama
*Express thoughts, feelings, and ideas about a variety of drama experiences and performances (e.g., in a journal response, in a think-pair-share activity, in class discussion, by writing in role, in a four corners activity, in a small group improvisation or drawing)
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Monday, October 1st, 2018.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Curriculum Night
I look forward to meeting you all at Curriculum Night on Wednesday, October 3rd at 6:30pm. On this night I will be presenting the structure and content of my classroom program. If you cannot attend, a full overview of my program is posted on our classroom website homepage:
www.amycraze.com
Long Weekend
School will be closed on Friday, October 5th for a P.A. Day and Monday, October 8th, for Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your family.
Picture Day
Picture day will be held on Friday, October 12th this year. On this day, be sure to send your child to school wearing their brightest smile!
FarmTrip
On Wednesday, October 24th, we will be going on a trip with the grade 1/2 class to Brook’s Farm. This trip will help to reinforce the concepts taught in our science units on soil and plants. On this day, please pack a lunch with your child and send them to school in weather appropriate clothing. If you would like to volunteer on this trip, please let me know as soon as possible.
Halloween Celebration
On Wednesday, October 31st, we will be celebrating Halloween in room 101. On this day we will have a small party filled with educational and fun Halloween games! In the afternoon and be going on a school-wide costume parade around the neighbourhood. If you would not like your child to participate in the Halloween celebration, please let me know and alternative activities will be provided.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Writing
*Generate ideas about a potential topic, using a variety of strategies and resources (e.g., formulate and ask questions to identify personal experiences, prior knowledge, and information needs and to guide searches for information)
Mathematics
*Solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of two or three-digit numbers, with and without regrouping, using concrete materials, student-generated algorithms, and standard algorithms;
*Compose and decompose two and three-digit numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones in a variety of ways, using concrete materials
*Complete and describe designs and pictures of images that have a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line of symmetry
Science
* Investigate the components of soil, the condition of soil (e.g., wet, dry), and additives found in soil, using a variety of soil samples (e.g., sand, clay, loam) from different local environments, and explain how the different amounts of these components in a soil sample
*Identify the major parts of plants, including root, stem, flower, stamen, pistil, leaf, seed, and fruit, and describe how each contributes to the plant’s survival within the plant’s environment
Media Literacy
*Produce some short media text for specific purposes and audiences suing a few short simple media forms and appropriate conventions and techniques
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Tuesday, September 4th, 2018.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
My name is Amy Craze and I am delighted to be your child’s teacher for this school year! I have been teaching within the Toronto District School Board for 13 years. In this time, I have also had the opportunity to teach workshops at the faculty of Education at the University of Toronto on how to foster leadership in the primary classroom. As the mother of three I recognize the importance of how beneficial it is for each child when parents and teachers work together as a team. I look forward to working with you all this year!
Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Special Blue Folders
Each night, all room 101 students will bring home their "Special Blue Folders". These folders will hold important letters from school, many of which must be completed and returned to school as soon as possible. Please be on the lookout for all of the student information forms that will be sent home this week in the Special Folders. The more information I have about each child, the better able I will be to program for students’ specific needs.
Communication
Over the next few weeks I will be sending home information about our class and the school in your child’s special blue folder. This folder along with our classroom website (www.amycraze.com), will contain all you need to keep up to date with all happenings in our classroom. Here you will find our monthly newsletters, a link to our classroom blog, and my classroom program routines and updates. There is also a special section on our classroom website called The Happy Monday Messages, where I thank each student for something they have done each week to make the classroom a better place. If ever you need to get in touch with me, you can also send me an email through the link on our classroom website or by leaving me a note in your child’s special blue folder.
Arrival & Dismissal
The first six weeks of school, is a huge transitional period. To help ease your child into this transition, please ensure that you and your child are on time every day. In doing so, your child will become familiar with the daily rituals and routines of the classroom which in turn will help them to feel in control of their environment.
Gym & Indoor Shoes
As the children will be having gym twice a week, please send a pair of running shoes to leave at school as “indoor shoes.” This will help keep our carpeted classroom floor clean and ensure that your child has appropriate footwear for gym. Since we change into our indoor shoes three times a day, please send shoes your child can put on independently (i.e. velcro/slip on).
Pool
In room 101 the students will be attending a swimming class on Day 5 of the classroom schedule. As the day that these classes will land on will fluctuate each week, please send your child to school with their bathing suits each Monday so they may keep it in their cubbies until our swimming class.
Nutrition Policy
Learning and skill building is hard work for body and brain! To support student success, I ask that parents pack a healthy lunch, two nutritious snacks and water every day. Also please note that due to life-threatening allergies, peanuts and nut products are not permitted in our school. In room 101 in order to keep all students safe we also have a “No Sharing Snacks” rule at lunch and recess time.
Here’s to a wonderful year!
Warmest Wishes,
Amy Craze
News from Room 101: Monday, June 3rd, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We have a very full and exciting month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
P.A. Day
There will be a P.A. Day on June 7th for reporting. I hope you have a lovely extended weekend with your family.
Keele Fun Fair
On Thursday, June 13th from 5:30-8:30pm Keele P.S. will be hosting its annual Fun Fair. This will be a very exciting event so be sure to attend!
Mountview Celebrations
Friday, June 14th will be a very exciting day for Mountview! On this day, the Mountview Picnic, Graduation & Friendship Assembly will all take place.
Schedule of Events
11:30 - Pizza at Lithuania Park
12:30 - Graduation
1:30 - Refreshments Served
2:00 - Friendship Assembly in Park
3:00 - End of Day Routine
On this day please ensure your child is sent to school with the appropriate attire for the weather as they will be spending much of the day outside. Please stay tuned for more information on this event.
Our Reader’s Cafe
On Thursday, June 20th, at 12:35pm, we will be having a Reader’s Cafe in room 101. At this event students will present research projects, dances and art work they have created. We hope all parents can attend so we can celebrate a wonderful year of learning together.
Last Day of School
Thursday, June 27th, will be the last day of the school year. Leading up to this celebration, students will complete a series of educational activities. They will create surveys on the type of activities we will play, and treats we will consume. They will compare this data and record the results. On this day the students will put what they have learned in our money unit to use. We will walk to a store and purchase our treats. Before doing so, students will be given the opportunity to calculate how we will pay and the change we will receive. As a class we will then head over to Lithuania Park to play our activities and enjoy our purchased treats. If you would like to join us on this excursion please let me know.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Mathematics
*Read primary data presented in charts, tables, and graphs (including vertical and horizontal bar graphs), then describe the data using comparative language, and describe the shape of the data (e.g.,“Most of the data are at the high end.”; “All of the data values are different.”)
Social Studies
*Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of sustainability in people’s interrelationship with their natural environment and of some of the consequences of sustainable and/or non-sustainable actions
*Describe some major connections between features of the natural environment and the type of employment that is available in a region, with reference to two or more municipal regions in Ontario
Dance
*Identify, using dance vocabulary, the elements of dance used in their own and others’ dance phrases and explain their purpose (e.g., the use of body, space, time, and energy to create variety and interest; the use of direction, grouping contrast, and repetition to explore pattern)
Let’s have another great month together,
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Wednesday, May 1st, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
The Spring Concert
The students in room 101 have been working hard to prepare for The Mountview Spring Concert. On Wednesday, May 1st, we will be meeting in room 101 at 6pm before the concert starts at 6:30pm. The students will be singing one song called Memories and another called Photograph. As we will be affixing pictures to their tops we ask that the students wear all black so that this picture pops out.
Auction
Mountview's Annual Auction and Children's Art Show will close the night of our Spring Concert. The live auction will take place the night of the concert. Be on the lookout for our wonderful creation. It is sure to be a hot ticket item.
Concert Admission
An admission ticket must be purchased for every adult ($10) & youth ($5) for the Mountview Concert. There is no cost for Mountview students & children 4 & under.
Dessert Table
For the concert you are encouraged to bring in a donation for our dessert table. Some of the suggested (nut-free) dessert items include - cheese plates, fruit plates, cookies, cake, lemon bars, brownies, or rice krispie squares.
Fundraiser for Animals
In April, the students in room 101 found out that our classroom character Dex had gone missing. The students used clues to uncover where in the world he went. When the students learned that he was in Ontario researching animals at risk or endangered they decided to help him. Each student has been working on a research project on an animal at risk in Ontario. On Thursday, May 16th and Friday, May 17th room 101 students will be holding a bake sale for the school. The money will go towards helping the animals they have been studying. Please stay tuned for a treat sign-up sheet.
Victoria Day Weekend
School will be closed on Monday, May 20th for Victoria Day. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your family.
Blue Jay Day Fundraiser
On Thursday, May 23rd all Mountview students have been invited to attend a Blue Jays game as a school fundraiser. Students who do not wish to participate are able to attend an outing to The Humber River in order to plant native trees and shrubs.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Social Studies
*Evaluate evidence and draw conclusions about some of the short- and long-term effects on the environment of different types of land use in municipal regions of Ontario and about key measures to reduce the negative impact of that use
Mathematics
*Identify flips, slides, and turns, through investigation using concrete materials and physical motion, and name flips, slides, and turns as reflections, translations, and rotations (e.g., a slide to the right is a translation; a turn is a rotation); *Add and subtract money amounts, using a variety of tools (e.g., currency manipula- tives, drawings), to make simulated pur- chases and change for amounts up to $10
*Divide whole objects and sets of objects into equal parts, and identify the parts using fractional names (e.g., one half; three thirds; two fourths or two quarters), without using numbers in standard fractional notation;
Let’s have another great month together,
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Monday, April 1st, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Millennium Kids Workshop
On the morning of Wednesday, April 3rd, Millennium Kids will be presenting a workshop based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This workshop will focus primarily on affordable and renewable energy. If you would like to volunteer to help with this workshop, please let me know.
Pink Day
On Wednesday, April 10th we will be celebrating Pink Day at Mountview. On this day students are asked to promote anti-bullying day by wearing pink.
Comic Book Workshop
On Thursday, April 11th from 10:40-11:30am we will be participating in a comic book workshop. Check out our classroom blog to see the wonderful work the students produce.
Eco Poetry Café
The annual Eco Poetry Café will be held on Thursday, April 18th. Students wishing to participate will have a chance to create poems about the earth in class.
Long Weekend
On Friday, April 19th and Monday, April 22nd, school will be closed for Easter. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your families.
Grade 3 Homework
This week I will be sending home homework booklets for the grade 3 students. These booklets should be completed and returned to class by May 1st.
Earth Day Clean-Up
Our Earth Day Clean-Up will take place April 23rd, from 2-2:45pm. If you would like to come and help during this time, please let me know.
Math Night
Math night this year will take place on Thursday, April 25th, from 6-7:30pm. Come and learn fun games and strategies to engage your child in mathematics!
The Spring Concert
The Spring Concert will take place on Wednesday, May 1st. Rehearsals will take place on Monday, April 29th and Tuesday, April 30th. Please stay tuned on more information on costumes and the schedule of events.
Scientist in the School
Thanks to your generous support at our Reader’s Café, the students raised enough money to pay for a Scientist in the School Presentation. This presentation will take place, Wednesday, May 1st from 12:30-3:30pm. We need 4 parent volunteers to help run this presentation. Please let me know as soon as possible if you can volunteer.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Mathematics
*Identify and describe various three-dimensional figures (i.e., cubes, prisms, pyramids) and sort and classify them by their geometric properties using concrete materials
*Estimate, measure, and record the capacity of containers (e.g., juice can, milk bag), using the standard unit of the litre or parts of a litre (e.g., half, quarter).
Social Studies
*Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of sustainability in people’s interrelationship with their natural environment and of some of the consequences of sustainable and/or non-sustainable actions
Science
- Assess the impact of human activities on air and water in the environment, taking different points of view into consideration and plan a course of action to help keep the air and water in the local community clean
Let’s have another great month together,
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Friday, March 1st, 2019.
Dear Parents/Guardians:
We have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time.
Classroom Musical
For the past month the students in room 101 have been working hard on a musical called, Follow the Drinking Gourd. This play has taught the students about the Underground Railroad and how to how to solve mysteries using their inferring skills. The students have worked hard to memorize their lines, design costumes and the set. On Friday, March 8th at 12:35pm we would like to invite you to attend this musical performance. All parents and siblings are welcome. Please let me or our class representatives know if you are able to bring a treat on this day!
Homework
This month the students will continue to work on their times tables in class. If you could continue to work on the following times tables at home this would be helpful:
Grade 2: 2x, 5x, 10x & 11x,
Grade 3: 8x, 9x, 11x & 12x.
In addition to this homework, I will start sending home EQAO tests for the grade 3 students to work on as bonus homework.
Upcoming BreakSchool will be closed from Monday, March 11th and reopen Monday, March 18th for March Break. I hope you enjoy this time with your family. Over this time please have your child collect one souvenir from their vacation. This could be a napkin from a restaurant, a brochure from a museum or pamphlet from an event attended. This will help them with their first writing assignment when they return.
A Message from Bree
Hello, parents and caregivers! Over the past few weeks, I have been fortunate to work in Amy’s classroom as a part of my student teaching requirement for OISE’s Master of Teaching program. I moved to Toronto from the U.S in July, and prior to coming to OISE, I worked as an instructional aide for four years in an elementary school and as an outdoor educator at a summer camp in Connecticut. I have enjoyed getting to know all of your children, and will be sad to leave at the beginning of March. I hope that I have managed to teach your children almost as much as they have taught me in this short amount of time!
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Media Literacy
*Identify the topic, purpose, and audience for media texts they plan to create
Produce some short media text for specific purposes and audiences suing a few short simple media forms and appropriate conventions and techniques
Mathematics
*describe movement from one location to another using a grid map (e.g., to get from the swings to the sandbox, move three squares to the right and two squares down)
*identify flips, slides, and turns, through investigation using concrete materials and physical motion, and name flips, slides, and turns as reflections, translations, and rotations (e.g., a slide to the right is a translation; a turn is a rotation);
Science
*Investigate forces that cause an object to start moving, stop moving, or change direction *Use technological problem-solving skills and knowledge acquired from previous investigations, to design and build devices that use forces to create controlled movement
Let’s have a great month together!
Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Friday, February 1st, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time.
Report CardsTerm 1 Report cards will be sent home on Wednesday, February 13th. Interviews are not mandatory this term but I am happy to meet if you would like to discuss your child’s progress. I will be available after school Tuesday February 12th, and Thursday, February 14th for appointments. Please stay tuned for an online signup sheet. If none of these times work for you I am happy to meet at a later date as well.
Valentine’s Day
On Thursday, February 14th, we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day in Room 101. We will be exchanging Valentines and enjoying healthy treats. If you would like to send in a white, pink, or red healthy snack to our party (i.e., strawberries, raspberries, apples, watermelon, or popcorn) please let me know in advance. To tie into the healthy heart theme we will also be participating in Jump Rope for Heart in support of The Heart and Stroke Foundation on this day. Students will be bringing home pledge forms soon so please be on the lookout as to how you can help with this initiative.
Long Weekend
On Friday, February 15th, school will be closed due to a P.A. Day. It will also be closed Monday, February 18th for Family Day. I hope you enjoy this long weekend with your family.
Homework
Each day during our Daily News Routine, the students in room 101 have been practicing our times tables. At the end of this month the students in grade 3 (and the grade 2s who wish to participate) will be tested on our trickiest times tables (6x, 7x and 8x). As their homework this month I request that you help your child to work on this at home.
Classroom Musical
This month, the students will be starting to work on a musical in class called “Follow the Drinking Gourd.” This script will highlight some of the topics we will be covering in class such as The Underground Railroad and reading strategies such as making inferences. Be on the lookout for the script in your child’s blue folder and please help them to memorize their lines. We will be performing this play at our Reader’s Café in early March and for various classes within this school at the end of the month.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Language Arts
*Writer’s Workshop with a focus on persuasive writing
*Shared Reading: This includes the group reading of morning messages, big books, songs of the day and songs of the week
*Guided Reading with a focus on making inferences
*Spelling & Literacy Centres
Mathematics
* Identify and compare various polygons (i.e., triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons) and sort them by their geometric properties
*Add and subtract money amounts, using a variety of tools (e.g., currency manipulatives, drawings), to make simulated purchases and change for amounts up to $1 (gr.2) or $10 (gr.3)
Drama
engage in dramatic play and role play, with a focus on exploring themes, ideas, characters, and issues from imagination or in stories from diverse communities, times, and places
Social Studies
*Recognizing and using pictorial symbols, legends, and cardinal directions (i.e.,N,S,E,W) on maps of Canada and other countries
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Monday, January 7th, 2019.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful break! We have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Thank You!
I would like to say thank you so much fo the generous gift you gave to me before the holidays. It was so kind of you and so very appreciated!
Research Symposium
On Thursday, January 17th, from 12:40-1:20pm the students in room 101 will be presenting a series of research projects that they have been working hard on this term. These projects are on the Annishinabe and Haudensaune First Nations people who inhabited High Park until the early 1800s. We hope you are able to join us at this time.
Fresh Grade
This month we will start using a new program called Fresh Grade to share student work and presentations. This secure site will require you to login to access these videos and pictures. Please be on the lookout for login information which will be sent home soon.
P.A. Day
Friday, January 18th will be a P.A. Day. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your family.
Field Trip
On Thursday, January 24th we will be joining the other grade 3 classes at Keele on an excursion to Crawford Lake. This trip will help to solidify the concepts that we learned in our First Nations Research on the Annishinabe and Haudensaune people of Ontario in the 1600s-1880s. There is room on the bus for 3 parent volunteers. If you would like to volunteer on this trip, please let me know as soon as possible.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Mathematics
*Read time using analogue clocks, to the nearest five minutes, and using digital clocks and represent time in 12-hour notation;
*Solve problems involving the relationships between minutes and hours, hours and
days, days and weeks, and weeks and years, using a variety of tools
*Create a number pattern involving addition or subtraction, given a pattern represented on a number line or a pattern rule expressed in words
Social Studies
*Identify various First Nations and some Métis communities in Upper and Lower Canada from 1780 to 1850, including those living in traditional territory and those who moved or were forced to relocate to new areas in response to European settlement, and locate the areas where they lived, using print, digital, and/or interactive maps or a mapping program (e.g., the traditional territories of the Anishnawbe around Thunder Bay; Chippewa land in southern Ontario; new Mohawk settlements in the Bay of Quinte area; the tract of land that the Six Nations gave the Mississauga; Métis communities around Lake Huron)
Language Arts
*Writer’s Workshop with a focus on procedural and narrative writing
*Shared Reading: This includes the group reading of morning messages, big books, songs of the day and songs of the week
*Independent & Buddy Reading:
*Reader of the Day
*Guided Reading with a focus on making inferences
*Spelling & Literacy Centres
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Monday, December 3rd, 2018.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Thank You!
The students in room 101 wanted to thank you all for your generous donations at our Reader’s Café. With the $140 that we raised, we were able to purchase over 65 warm items, such as hats, mitts, socks, scarves and blankets for families in need in our local community.
P.A.Day
On Friday, December 7th we will be having a P.A. Day for Federation Day. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your family.
The Winter Concert
We will be holding a school-wide rehearsal at R.C.I. on Monday, December 10th. On this day, the students will transported to this location in shuttle buses. If you would like to help with the rehearsal please let me know. The Mountview Holiday Concert will take place at R.C.I. on the evening of Tuesday, December 11th. For the concert we are asking that the students wear a brightly coloured top and black pants or bottoms. Please stay tuned for more information regarding what time we should arrive at this location and where we will be meeting.
Field Trip
On Wednesday, December 19th, will be going to Young People’s Theatre to see a production of Mary Poppins. We will be leaving the school at 9am sharp and taking the subway for the first time as a class. On this day, the students will be asked to bring a lunch as we will be eating downtown. As we have limited theatre tickets for the entire school, I will be permitted to take a maximum of 4 volunteers. Thank you for all the parents who have offered to volunteer on this trip. I will let you know as soon as possible which parent volunteers will be joining us.
Friendship Assembly
On December 20th, from 12:35-3:00pm the students will be participating in our Mountview Friendship Assembly. At this event, the students will work on team building exercises in mixed-grade group. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please contact Dianne Hadad: dianne.hadad@gmail.com
The Winter Break
Friday, December 21st will be the last day of school before The Winter Break. School will start again on Monday, January 7th. I hope you have a wonderful break with your family.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Mathematics
*Identify, extend, and create a repeating pattern involving two attributes (e.g., size, colour, orientation, number), using a variety of tools (e.g., pattern blocks, attribute blocks, drawings) (Sample problem: Create a repeating pattern using three colours and two shapes.)
*Extend repeating, growing, and shrinking number patterns (Sample problem: Write the next three terms in the pattern 4, 8, 12, 16, ....)
Social Studies
*Learn to identify various First Nations and communities in Upper and Lower Canada from 1780 to 1850, including those living in traditional territory and those who moved or were forced to relocate to new areas in response to European settlement.
*Gather and organize information on some of the past and present traditions and celebrations within their family and the community to which they belong, using primary and/or secondary sources that they have gathered themselves or that have been provided to them.
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Thursday, November 1st, 2018.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Photo Retake Day
On Friday, November 11th we will be having photo retake day at school. If you would like your child to have their photo redone, please send me a note in their red folder or an email.
Remembrance Day Assembly
On Friday, November 9th, we will be having a Remembrance Day Assembly at 11am in the morning. Please feel free to come.
School Spirit Day
On Thursday, November 15th it will be Neptune Day at school. On this day your child can dress up like a creature from the sea such as a fish, a mermaid, a sailor or a crab. By bringing in their toonies and loonies they will be able to help school initiatives.
Parent & Teacher Interviews & P.A. Day
I will be holding parent/teacher interviews the week of November 12th. There will be a P.A. Day on Friday, November 16th for these meetings to take place. Please stay tuned for the interview schedule options.
Progress Reports
On Friday, November 16th, the Elementary Progress Report Cards will be sent home. The progress report card in combination with the parent & teacher interview will give you insight into the development of your child’s learning skills and work habits. It will also fill you in on their general progress in how they are achieving curriculum expectations.
Field Trip
On the morning of Wednesday, November 13th, we will be taking a trip to Colborne Lodge in High Park. As an introduction to our social studies unit in December we will be learning about the First Nations people who once inhabited High Park. On this day please send your child to school wearing weather appropriate clothing as we will be spending a good amount of time outdoors. We are also in need of another parent volunteer for this trip so if you are available please send me a note in your child’s special blue folder or email me at jessicaamy.craze@tdsb.on.ca
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Visual Arts
*Create two- and three-dimensional works of art that express personal feelings and ideas inspired by the environment or that have the community as their subject (e.g., make a symmetrical sculpture or picture of an insect or a flower)
Mathematics
*Compose and decompose three-digit numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones in a variety of ways, using concrete materials (e.g., use base ten materials to decompose 327 into 3 hundreds, 2 tens, and 7 ones, or into 2 hundreds, 12 tens, and 7 ones);
*Complete and describe designs and pictures of images that have a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line of symmetry
*Identify and describe the two-dimensional shapes that can be found in a three- dimensional figure
Social Studies
*formulate questions to guide investigations into some of the major challenges facing different groups and communities in Canada from around 1780 to 1850 (e.g., isolation; climate; lack of access to doctors, law enforcement, or manufactured goods in isolated communities; encroachment of European settlers on traditional First Nations territory; racism facing First Nations peoples and Black Loyalists) and measures taken to address these challenges
Drama
*Express thoughts, feelings, and ideas about a variety of drama experiences and performances (e.g., in a journal response, in a think-pair-share activity, in class discussion, by writing in role, in a four corners activity, in a small group improvisation or drawing)
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Monday, October 1st, 2018.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
We certainly have a full month ahead of us! Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Curriculum Night
I look forward to meeting you all at Curriculum Night on Wednesday, October 3rd at 6:30pm. On this night I will be presenting the structure and content of my classroom program. If you cannot attend, a full overview of my program is posted on our classroom website homepage:
www.amycraze.com
Long Weekend
School will be closed on Friday, October 5th for a P.A. Day and Monday, October 8th, for Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy this extra time with your family.
Picture Day
Picture day will be held on Friday, October 12th this year. On this day, be sure to send your child to school wearing their brightest smile!
FarmTrip
On Wednesday, October 24th, we will be going on a trip with the grade 1/2 class to Brook’s Farm. This trip will help to reinforce the concepts taught in our science units on soil and plants. On this day, please pack a lunch with your child and send them to school in weather appropriate clothing. If you would like to volunteer on this trip, please let me know as soon as possible.
Halloween Celebration
On Wednesday, October 31st, we will be celebrating Halloween in room 101. On this day we will have a small party filled with educational and fun Halloween games! In the afternoon and be going on a school-wide costume parade around the neighbourhood. If you would not like your child to participate in the Halloween celebration, please let me know and alternative activities will be provided.
In our studies this month we will be working on:
Writing
*Generate ideas about a potential topic, using a variety of strategies and resources (e.g., formulate and ask questions to identify personal experiences, prior knowledge, and information needs and to guide searches for information)
Mathematics
*Solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of two or three-digit numbers, with and without regrouping, using concrete materials, student-generated algorithms, and standard algorithms;
*Compose and decompose two and three-digit numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones in a variety of ways, using concrete materials
*Complete and describe designs and pictures of images that have a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line of symmetry
Science
* Investigate the components of soil, the condition of soil (e.g., wet, dry), and additives found in soil, using a variety of soil samples (e.g., sand, clay, loam) from different local environments, and explain how the different amounts of these components in a soil sample
*Identify the major parts of plants, including root, stem, flower, stamen, pistil, leaf, seed, and fruit, and describe how each contributes to the plant’s survival within the plant’s environment
Media Literacy
*Produce some short media text for specific purposes and audiences suing a few short simple media forms and appropriate conventions and techniques
Let’s have a great month together!
~Amy
The Primary Times
News from Room 101: Tuesday, September 4th, 2018.
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
My name is Amy Craze and I am delighted to be your child’s teacher for this school year! I have been teaching within the Toronto District School Board for 13 years. In this time, I have also had the opportunity to teach workshops at the faculty of Education at the University of Toronto on how to foster leadership in the primary classroom. As the mother of three I recognize the importance of how beneficial it is for each child when parents and teachers work together as a team. I look forward to working with you all this year!
Here are a few items I would like to share with you at this time:
Special Blue Folders
Each night, all room 101 students will bring home their "Special Blue Folders". These folders will hold important letters from school, many of which must be completed and returned to school as soon as possible. Please be on the lookout for all of the student information forms that will be sent home this week in the Special Folders. The more information I have about each child, the better able I will be to program for students’ specific needs.
Communication
Over the next few weeks I will be sending home information about our class and the school in your child’s special blue folder. This folder along with our classroom website (www.amycraze.com), will contain all you need to keep up to date with all happenings in our classroom. Here you will find our monthly newsletters, a link to our classroom blog, and my classroom program routines and updates. There is also a special section on our classroom website called The Happy Monday Messages, where I thank each student for something they have done each week to make the classroom a better place. If ever you need to get in touch with me, you can also send me an email through the link on our classroom website or by leaving me a note in your child’s special blue folder.
Arrival & Dismissal
The first six weeks of school, is a huge transitional period. To help ease your child into this transition, please ensure that you and your child are on time every day. In doing so, your child will become familiar with the daily rituals and routines of the classroom which in turn will help them to feel in control of their environment.
Gym & Indoor Shoes
As the children will be having gym twice a week, please send a pair of running shoes to leave at school as “indoor shoes.” This will help keep our carpeted classroom floor clean and ensure that your child has appropriate footwear for gym. Since we change into our indoor shoes three times a day, please send shoes your child can put on independently (i.e. velcro/slip on).
Pool
In room 101 the students will be attending a swimming class on Day 5 of the classroom schedule. As the day that these classes will land on will fluctuate each week, please send your child to school with their bathing suits each Monday so they may keep it in their cubbies until our swimming class.
Nutrition Policy
Learning and skill building is hard work for body and brain! To support student success, I ask that parents pack a healthy lunch, two nutritious snacks and water every day. Also please note that due to life-threatening allergies, peanuts and nut products are not permitted in our school. In room 101 in order to keep all students safe we also have a “No Sharing Snacks” rule at lunch and recess time.
Here’s to a wonderful year!
Warmest Wishes,
Amy Craze
