December 15, 2017

Dear Parents,

We are now wrapping up our second to last week before the holidays and Christmas is definitely in the air!  The concerts were a big success and I can tell it is the holiday season as there is glitter everywhere! :)

Updates/Reminders/Thank you's

*Our class party will be the last day of school and it is also pj day and bring your favourite Christmas book to school day (Friday, December 22).  Please see the previous post regarding who is bringing snacks to share for the party  Thank you to the volunteers who will be sending in the party treats that day.
*Our skating field trip is coming up on Tuesday afternoon.  Please sign your child up via the parent portal if you have not already done so.  We are short parent drivers so if you are able to assist with this that would be much appreciated.
*Fairview leadership students are collecting new/gently used warm clothing for people in need along with used blankets for the SPCA all of next week
*Thank you to Logan's family for sending in some branches for a special craft :)
*Thank you to all of the parents/grandparents who volunteered/drove to our field trip at the Burnaby Village Museum

December 8, 2017

Dear Parents,

We are having a busy and fun month in Division 8.  We are going to put our 'Canada' unit on pause until January and will be spending the next couple of weeks focusing on the holiday season and winter.  The students are very excited to begin making their crafts next week and they are wondering when our class 'Elf on the Shelf' will arrive :)

Updates/Reminders/Thank you's

*Our field trip is next Friday and there are still several people who have not signed up via the parent portal and we do not have enough driver volunteers.  Please sign your child up if you have not already done so.  Reminder:  If you are driving, you will need to have a current driver's abstract in the office.  Please email me at amanda_roberts@sd42.ca if you are unsure and I will check for you.
*We have our skating field trip the following week (Tuesday, December 19th) and we are also short drivers for this event
*Our Christmas Concerts are next week!  Please see the previous posts regarding our costume (pyjamas) and when to where them.  Tickets will come home with the oldest child (in their planner) Friday, December 8th, 2017.  THE CLASSROOM DOOR WILL BE OPEN TO STUDENTS AT 6:15 on the night of the evening performance
*Just a reminder that I have added all of the important dates in December on our classroom blog under the 'Monthly Calendar'  Thank you!
*The students will be getting new Just Right Reading books this upcoming Wednesday.  Remember that RAZ kids and the book they sign out daily can supplement their reading if they finish all of the books in their bag.  Also, please note that the book that has a post-it in it is their Reader's Workshop book so they need to practice their pages at home
*Students should continue to practice their concert songs this weekend, please.  You will also see another 'Zones' worksheet in your child's Poetry and More duotang which they can discuss with you.  Jamie, our 'Childcare Worker' is coming in each week to teach us about this self-regulation program
*Our class party will be in the afternoon on the last day of school.  Thank you in advance to the following people for sending snacks for the party:  Paityn (fruit plate), Wyatt (veggie plate), Nevaeh (sweet treat), Isabella (popcorn or chips), Cash (other).  PLEASE NOTE:  We won't be eating snacks at the party in the late afternoon so students should bring a snack/lunch as usual.  Thank you!

A big thank you once again to Collette's grandpa for cutting wood for us once again.  You will love what the kids are going to make with it!

November 29, 2017

Hi Everyone,

I look forward to seeing everyone over the next couple of days to celebrate your child's learning.  Thank you for signing up for a time to come in and give your child the opportunity to share his/her progress and set some goals for the upcoming term.

Updates/Reminders/Thank you's

*December is going to be a very busy month at Fairview.  I have added the new December activities (both class and school wide) on the December calendar on this blog
*Students are busy practicing for the school concerts, we will be wearing our pyjamas for costumes on Tuesday December 12th (for the morning dress rehearsal), Tuesday evening at 6:30pm for the evening concert and 1:00 pm on Wednesday for the afternoon concerts
*We have sent out another parent portal notice regarding our upcoming skating field trip with our big buddies-drivers will be needed for this outing.  Thank you!
*Our class party will be on the last day of school (December 22, 2017).  I will post a reminder list for people bringing snacks closer to this date
*Thank you to everyone who has signed up to drive for the Burnaby Village Museum field trip on Friday, December 15th and/or the skating field trip on Tuesday, December 19th.  Please ensure you have a current driver's abstract on file in the office.  If you are not sure, please contact Joy in the office at 604 465 9331 or write a note in your child's planner and I will send home directions on how to update this (it is very quick and easy now and can be done online or over the phone)

Thank you,

Amanda Roberts

November 24th, 2017

Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe that we are heading into our final week of November!  We have a busy (but fun) month ahead of us.

Updates/Reminders/Thank you's

•This Thursday and Friday will be having our term one conferences.  Please sign up for a time if you have not already done so.  Also, a reminder that your child is an integral part of this conference and needs to attend.  The first 15 minutes of your conference (the time you signed up for) will be with your child while the following 15 minutes will be all of us together (a total of 30 minutes for each conference)
*Due to conferences, students will be dismissed at 11:00 on Thursday, Nov. 30th and there will be no school for students on Friday, Dec. 1st
*We have sent home the portal announcement for our Burnaby Village.  Please sign up via the parent portal if you have not already done so. Drivers will be needed :)
*We will also be sending home a portal announcement some time next week regarding our buddy skate.  This will be happening Tuesday, December 19th (afternoon).  We will be including this in the portal announcement, but our secretary has asked that parents pay for skates/helmets with cash and not use the online option.  Thank you! (This is just for skating field trips)
*Please see the previous post regarding concert dates/times.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Amanda Roberts

November 17, 2017

Hi Everyone,

The time is flying by in Division 8.  We have learned so much about Canada already and everyone is  really enjoying the 'hands on' stations that support this theme.  I am seeing some excellent examples of cooperative learning and problem solving. I am pleased with how the students have really begun to grow closer and support each other's learning.  Great work, everyone!

Updates/Reminders/Thank you's

*Conferences are fast approaching, please sign up for a meeting time via the 'Conference' link on this blog.  There is a detailed explanation about how the conferences run at the top of the conference sign up as well as in previous posts on this blog.  If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to email me at : amanda_roberts@sd42.ca
*You will find some 'zones' sheets in your child's 'Poetry and More' this week.  Our childcare worker is meeting with the class 1x/week for 6 weeks to talk about the different zones and how we can help ourselves return to the green zone.  We are focusing on self-regulation and there has been great conversation around noticing that different people feel 'in the green zone' in different situations and how we can help each other stay in 'the green zone'.  Your child can explain more when you view the pages together. (Green Zone:  Happy, Calm, Feeling Okay, Focused, Ready to Learn)
*The PAC is putting on two November 'Treat Days'.  These will be on  Tuesday, November 21 and Wednesday, Nov. 22.  The treats will be Frozen Yogurt  $2 and Chips $1
*A big thank you to all the parents who drove to the Fort Langley field trip.  It was wonderful to have so many 'hands on deck'
*Please send in ear buds (in a clearly marked plastic baggie) for your child if you have not already done so.  We are now using these weekly in the computer lab as well as with our iPads in the classroom.  We are hoping this will help reduce the cases of head lice in the school.  Thank you!
*A big thank you to Eugene's family who sent in some supplies for our craft corner.  They are certainly being enjoyed!
*I am looking for a parent volunteer who would be able to repair the occasional broken book.  I would provide the tape and there would be no rush on returning them.  If this is you, please write a note in your child's planner or email me and I will send them home as needed.  Thank you!
*A few December dates to add to your home calendar include:
Christmas Concert:  Evening Performance  6:30 on Tuesday, December 12th
                                 Daytime Performance 1:00 on Wednesday, December 13th
Burnaby Village  December 15th (driver's needed)
Skating (afternoon) December 19th (driver's needed)

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Amanda Roberts

November 9, 2017

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all enjoy the long weekend ahead. I realize that the Remembrance Day holiday isn't a time of celebration but it is a great time to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in Canada and to enjoy time with our loved ones. We had a Remembrance Day assembly at the school today where we honoured the fallen soldiers and current military members for doing their best to keep peace and safeguard our freedom.   Everyone was very respectful during the presentations and had some thoughtful ideas to share when it was over.  Well done, Div. 8!

Updates/Reminders/Thank you's

*Please sign up for the conferences if you have not already done so (using the link on this blog)
*Please send in the $3 for the Fort Langley field trip
*We have a very crafty group this year!  If anyone has any left over bits/pieces of craft supplies you would like to donate to the class that would be greatly appreciated (eg. stickers, google eyes, pompoms, fun foam, felt etc.)
*Our field trip is coming up next Friday, please send in booster seats and a snack in your child's pocket for that day.  We will be outside for the majority of our visit so please ensure that your child is dressed for the weather
*Your child is bringing home his/her 'Art Card' work today.  If you would like to order something with this art on it you can select from the back of the card and send the art back with payment in the attached envelope.  If you do not want to order anything, please remove the envelope but return the art so that I can include it in their memory books.  Thank you!
*Please send in earbuds in a labeled baggie if you have not already done so
*Thank you to the following parents for volunteering for our upcoming field trip to Fort Langley:

Mrs. Hao, Mrs. Krenbrink, Mrs. Kriel, Mr. Musinovic, Mrs. Dhembi, Mrs. Koshlay, Mrs. Lazenby, Mrs. Loveridge and Mrs. McMhuirich

We are very fortunate to have so many parent drivers/helpers.  Thank you so much for volunteering!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Amanda Roberts

November 3, 2017

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!  There was definitely a lot of excitement in the building   and we really enjoyed our school wide costume parade.  Thank you to everyone who sent in the treats for our class party!

Updates/Reminders/Thank you's

*Please sign up for the upcoming Fort Langley field trip if you have not already done so.  The cost is only $3.00 being it is Canada's 150th birthday and the field trip will be on November 17th.  Drivers are needed for this field trip.  Please make sure you have a current driver's abstract in the office, I can send you the necessary form if you haven't driven previously or know you need to update yours.  Thank you!
*Please send in a pair of earbuds for your child's personal use at school.  This will allow us the opportunity to access sites that address the student's learning needs in the computer lab. These should be sent in a clearly marked baggie and do not need to be expensive (they are available at the dollar store).  We are hoping this will help students focus on their individualized programs and help reduce the outbreaks of lice in the school
*We have now begun our unit on 'Canada' and had our first 'Great Canadian' presentations.  Please refer to the calendar sent home with the paper/directions for your child's specific date.
*I have now updated everyone's reading levels on RAZ kids.  For anyone who hasn't used this site/app, it is an online reading program which includes comprehension questions at the end of each story.   Please use the link on this blog to use the site online or download the RAZ kids app.  My teacher name is aroberts47 and your child's password is his/her name (including a capital letter at the beginning-eg. Sam).  Please email me at amanda_roberts@mrpm.sd42.ca if you need any assistance.
*next week we will be setting up the online sign up for student led conferences.  These will be happening on the afternoon of Thursday, November 30th (11:00 dismissal for students) and all day Friday, December 1st.  Please note that these will be 30 minute conferences.  The first 15 minutes (the time you sign up for) you will meet in the hallway with your child where they will share their work with you so that you can celebrate their growth.  The next 15 minutes we will all meet in the classroom so that we can discuss your child's progress and cooperatively set goals for the upcoming term.  I will email you once I have the sign up site reconfigured and you will access it via the 'Conference Sign Up' link on this blog.  Please do not try to sign up now :)  Also, please note: I will only be able to book one conference per child.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Amanda Roberts