Last Day of School

I began the year warning the grade 3 & 4 students that the year would fly by. Today, they were a bit stunned to realise that the year really was over and boy, did it fly by. We have covered a great amount of work and students grown together as a group, forming deep friendships. We said very sad farewells to a few students leaving us, and we hope they will stay in touch, and even possibly join our school again in the future.
Much of our last day was spent in the last convocation where many, many, many awards were handed out. Well done to Meena, Alex, and Julia for receiving the first 3 placements in the Science Fair. We also learned that Zeta won the House Cup. Well done to all houses for the efforts in trying for the House Cup!
Have a wonderful summer everyone. Keep reading, writing, and finish up the Arithmetic book.
See you in the fall.

Park Play

We had an awesome day! Students began the day playing Cops & Robbers and the girls vs. boys dodge ball. The first person out was Mrs. Haag! Students enjoyed their last gym lesson with Ms. Lopez.
Back in class, students worked on making a card for their reading buddies, encouraging them to keep reading over the summer. Students then met up with their SK reading buddies for their last reading time together this year.
Students had fun playing French Bingo with Mme. Stella.
We were off to the park next, where students played tennis, soccer, and on the play structure. It was sad to leave but on the bright side, getting back to school meant we got to enjoy all the treats students brought in to share.
Look out for report cards, class photos, SJA student newspaper, and Summer Programs at the Library Info. package all coming home today.

Reminders:

• Wear house colours tomorrow
• Early dismissal at 11:30
• After-care runs till 4:00

Portfolios

We began our day working on portfolios and got the job done. Portfolios belonging to returning students will stay at school. Students that are not returnung to SJA are bringing their portfolios home today.
We completed our last lesson on Healthy Living today. Students designed a survey to help them discover the nutrition and activity habits of our school community. They then went around the school surveying fellow students.
We took time in class to finish off our language books. We did not complete our Arithmetic books. Students are asked to do 2 pages a day over the summer to ensure that retain the skills they have worked on this year and to be ready to work at the next level in September.
We also took time for students to sign autographs in each other's class picture. The students had a lot of fun doing this activity.
Part of our day was used to prepare for graduation tonight. Remember to dress smart casual and be at the school for 7 pm.
Students are bringing home all their shoes, books, stationery, and gym clothes.
 Tomorrow is going to be a fun day. We will play games in the morning and have the last session with our reading buddies. After lunch we will head off the park. Students are asked to come dressed to spend a day outdoors with hats and sunblock, extra water and a snack to share with their friends.

Reminders:

• Meet  at 6: 45 pm in our class for tonight's graduation ceremony, dress in full uniform or smart casual
• Wear soccer jersey's tomorrow or the colours of your favourite team
• Dress for an afternoon at the park tomorrow and bring a treat/snack to share with friends
• Friday's pick up time is at 11:30 and after care ends at 4 p.m.

Spelling Bee

What a marathon this morning's spelling bee was! Despite making the bee more challenging, students still performed very well. Congratulations to all who particpated and those who cheered them on. The final positions were as follows:

Grade 3
First Place - Rachel
Second Place - Adam
Third Place - Lukas

Grade 4
First Place - Alex
Second Place - Kunsh
Third Place - Lara

Students spent the rest of the day working on their portfolios and teaching a totally fit gym lesson to younger students in our school. They quickly learned that they need to be very prepared and have eyes in the backs of their heads. ; )
Students attended French class today.

Reminders:

• Tomorrow is Casual Day
• Graduation is at 7 pm tomorrow night - dress smart casual

Designing a Total Fitness Workout

We spent much of our time on our inquiry unit today. Students finished up creating their posters promoting healthy food choices. They were then introduced to the final task for this unit. Students have been challenged to design a gym class for younger students that is fun and includes cardiovascular, flexibility, and strength activities. They spent time researching activities and planning their lesson. They then pitched their lesson to me and made changes that were suggested. Tomorrow the students will become teachers when they implement their lesson to younger grades.
Students attended a music lesson today.
In math, grade 3s completed their math assessment piece for the year. Grade 4s wrote their unit test on probability.
We ended the day working on language review. Students also used extra time to continue working on their gym lesson for tomorrow.

Homework & Reminders

• Language p. 157 - 160
• The spelling bee takes place tomorrow at 9 am. Families are welcome to attend
• Wednesday is Casual Day and Graduation. Arrive for 7 pm for graduation. Dress smart casual
• Thursday is Soccer-Shirt Day. Report cards go home on this day
• Friday is the final and half day of school. Dismissal is at 11:30. Please note that after care ends at 4 pm on this day

Being Reflective

At our convoction this morning, students were recognised for displaying learner profile attributes. Congratulations to Alex, Braeden, and Adam for being internationally-minded students.
This morning we took time to reflect on all the learning that has taken place this term.  Students wrote draft and good copies for their report cards.
Students continued working on language, reviewing concepts we learned about in the first term.
Students attended gym and French class today.
In math, grade 3s wrote an assessment piece to show what they have learned this year. Grade 4s worked on reviewing probability concepts to prepare for this Monday's unit test on probability.
We ended the day with our in-class spelling bee. The following students will be going on to the school competition next Tuesday, June 11:
Adam, Abel, Braeden, Rachel, Lukas
Kunsh, Alex, Shannon, Lara, Ghazi

Homework & Reminders:

• MMS 4 - Study for Monday's unit test
• Language p. 153 - 156

Food Commercials

We began our inquiry into healthy living by viewing breakfast and food commercials that are designed to appeal to children. After viewing the commercials we discussed the strategies used by advertisers to appeal to children and whether the cereal was a nutritious meal as claimed. We also watched a documentary discussing the links bewteen childhood obesity and the number of hours of food commercials watched. We heard about Canadian advertising regulations that are in place preventing advertisers from exploiting the vulnerability of children. We also learned that advertisers now focus on the parents of children instead when it comes to food for children. Children used class time to fill in their activity logs.
In language, we practised creative writing and correctly using words such as himself, themsleves, its and it's. Students who did not get their work done in class are bringing their language books home.
We ran through our Arts' Night performance twice. Students missed their French class because of rehearsal, but still got to attend gym class.
We ended the day working on math. Grade 3s inverstigated the fairness of games, Grade 4s used tree diagrams as a strategy to solve word problems involving probability.

Homework & Reminders:

• Language p. 141 - 144
• Prepare for Friday's Spelling Bee
• Keep working on your activity log
• MMS 3 p. 194 & 195
• Bring in your Mood Machine to display for Arts' Night 
• Tomorrow is the grade 5/6 Exhibition at 6 p.m. and Arts' Night (arrive 6: 45 for 7: 00 p.m.)

Favourite Physical Activities

Students began their week by attending music. Back in class they continued working on creative writing and on correctly using the homonyms there, their, and they're.
We continued working on our healthy living inquiry unit. Students remembered that to be totaly fit they need to do cardiovascular, flexibility, and strength activities. Students understand why each of these kinds of activities are important for their health. They generated a list of their 10 favourite activities and then analysed what kinds of activities they are. Studnets reflected on the kinds of changes they need to make in their physical activity habits and the consequences on changing or not changing their habits. Students are further going to monitor their activity levels by keeping an activity log for 3 days beginning today.
Students attended gym and French class today.
In math, grade 3s practised using working backwards as a strategy to solve problems. Grade 4s used coloured spinners to identify outcomes and predict results.
We ended the day preparing for our Arts Night Performance.


Homework & Reminders:

• MMS 3 - Study for Thursday's unit test on Probability
• MMS 4 p. 182 & 183
• Prepare for Friday's spelling bee contest
• Language p. 137 -140
• Arts' Night is at 7 p.m. this Wednesday (Arrive at 6: 45 p.m.)