White Elephant Sale Tomorrow!

Tomorrow (December 16) is our school's annual White Elephant Sale. Kindergarten students will have an opportunity to visit the sale and purchase treasures with the help of a Grade 6 personal shopper. 

If you wish for your kindergartener to be able to do a little Christmas shopping please send them with their shopping money in a sandwich sized ziploc style bag with their name and class (i.e.,Team Hummingbird) clearly printed on the bag. (Quarters, loonies and toonies are appreciated  **Please do not send $10 and $20 bills)

For parents who are new to our White Elephant Sale there are always items at all price points.  They start at 0.25 and sometimes range up to about $5.00.  Most kindergarten age students do very well at the sale with $5.00 in change but even as little as 0.25  or 0.50 lets them come home with a treasure.

It is a good idea to send a reusable shopping bag labelled with your child's name and class to help your shopper carry home his/her treasures.

If you would like your son or daughter to shop for specific family members ( ie: mom, dad, baby sister) please send a "I want to buy for" list in the bag with your child's money in order to help the teacher and grade 6 shopping helpers.   **Please make sure the shopping list and ziploc bag with their money is inside their note tote (so that we can see it in the morning)!**

Baby Jesus' Birthday Party

A reminder that our Birthday Party for Baby Jesus will be held tomorrow afternoon, at 2:00 in the school gym. The students have been preparing to celebrate with all of you, and have some very special songs to share. In the spirit of giving and sharing at Christmas time, you are invited to bring a jar of baby food, diaper wipes, or any other baby item to be deposited in the "birthday present box" during tomorrow's celebration. All items collected will be donated to St. Mary's Home.

Parents and grandparents are welcome to attend, celebrate and participate with students - please consider arriving early at 1:45 so that we can begin our celebration promptly at 2:00. Younger siblings are invited to attend, however we ask that older siblings remain in their classrooms with their classmates and teachers. 

We hope to see you there!

The Hummingbird Teachers

White Elephant Sale

Friday, December 16 will be our school's annual White Elephant sale. All of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to families in need and other special charities, as chosen by our grade 6 students who help organize and run the sale. Students will have an opportunity to shop for items for their family members on that day. The school is looking for donations of gently used items that can be sold in the sale. Some suggestions include: knick knacks, books, household items, small toys, and Christmas wrapping items (i.e. gift bags, wrapping paper, tape). If you have any items that you would like to donate to the sale, they can be dropped off at the front office. Thanks for your support!

Pyjama Day and Movie Night!

To help celebrate our Family Movie Night tomorrow, students are invited to wear their coziest pyjamas to school tomorrow!

A reminder that our Family Movie Night is tomorrow, November 17. Families are invited to join us in the gym for our showing of "Finding Dory". Since Friday is a PD Day, feel free to wear your jammies, bring a blanket to sit on, and have a fun time with your family and friends. Doors open at 5:30 and the movie will start at 6:15. There will be drinks and popcorn for sale, as well as a bake sale put on by our Social Justice Club. Admission is free, however please consider donating a winter clothing item (such as a hat or pair of mittens your family has outgrown) to our Winter Clothing Drive.

For our classroom...
As the cold weather begins to settle in, we've noticed lots of runny noses in our class. To help keep germs at bay, we kindly ask each student to please provide a box of kleenex to be shared with the class. As you can imagine, we go through lots of kleenex during the year, so donations are gladly accepted! We're also looking for boxes of small (sandwich size) and large ziploc bags. If you have any of these items you would like to donate to our class, we appreciate it.

Jolly Phonics Songs

Thank you to all of the parents and family members who took the time last evening to meet with myself and Mrs. S. We enjoyed sharing our observations of your child's first few months in Team Hummingbird and along with Mme Brooking, we are looking forward to a fun year ahead!

Thank you also to the families who took the time today to join us at our Remembrance Day ceremony today, and a special thank you to Major Ouelette who collected our Postcards for Peace and will deliver them to members of the Forces currently serving within Canada and overseas.

Below are some links to some Jolly Phonics videos we like to enjoy. Each letter sound corresponds with an action that the students enjoy making as we sing the song together.

Jolly Phonics Song

Ms. Quinn's Favourite Letter

Have a wonderful weekend!

Family Math Bags

Thanks for all of the interest in our Family Math Bag program! The bags are ready, and will be sent home today. If you will be coming this evening for an interview with Ms. Quinn or Mme Brooking, we will have your child's bag ready to give to you; if you will not be attending this evening, your child will have his/her bag in their note tote.

Some reminders about the math bags:

• All of the materials you should need, including instructions, will be inside the bag. Please make sure that all of the items are returned with the bag so the next student will be able to enjoy!
• Take your time with the math bag - return it when you are finished with it, and we'll send another one for you to explore and enjoy. 
• Most of all - HAVE FUN! All of the math bags are simple math games to be played with small groups of people. Take the time to play the games with your child and have fun learning math! There is no right or wrong way to play the games :)

Remembrance Day

Our Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held this Friday in our school gym, beginning at 10:45 a.m. Families are welcome to attend. Kindergarten students will be able to purchase a poppy sticker to wear to the ceremony on Friday morning. If you would like to make a donation to the Royal Canadian Legion's Poppy Campaign, please send it in your child's note tote on Friday.

Do you have a family member or friend who is or was a member of the Forces? Please send in a photo of them for our class "Thank You Wall". Please do not send in precious photos that you want returned - photocopies or colour printouts are a great idea. Please label any photos that you send in.

Fall Weather Information

Just some information: 

• As the cooler weather begins, we kindly ask parents to check your child's extra clothes bag at school, and if necessary please send in warmer clothes for the season. If you would like us to send it home so it can be replenished, please leave us a note in your child's note tote. 
• Blankets will be sent home tomorrow afternoon to be washed for the weekend. Please send your child with a reusable or plastic bag so they can easily carry their blanket home. 

The Hummingbird Team

Book Fair Information

This week, the Learning Commons has been transformed into a Monster Book Fair! Today students had the chance to visit the book fair, and look at all of the amazing books and activities available to purchase. In your child's note tote this evening was a book item "wish list". Please note that participation in the book fair is completely voluntary! If you would like to purchase anything from the book fair, we will be visiting on Thursday morning. If you choose to send money for your child to make a purchase, please put it in a small ziploc baggie, labelled with your child's name, and inside their note tote so that we can find it easily! 

Thanks for your support!

Picture Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow (September 27) is picture day at Georges Vanier. Students will have both a class photo and individual photos taken. Kindergarten classes are usually called down in the morning to have their photos taken. All photo ordering will be offered through Edge Imaging once proofs are sent home. Photo retakes will take place on October 26th.

Meet and Greet Tomorrow

Tomorrow is our school meet and greet evening.  Tickets for the pre-ordered food went home yesterday.  If did not get your tickets please send us a note in the note tote. There will be a limited number of items for sale tomorrow - please make sure you have purchased your BBQ items using our Cash Online program. 

The meet and greet begins at 5pm in the school yard for dinner.  The classroom will be open from 6:00pm-7:00pm to give students the opportunity to tour their guest(s) around the classroom.

Please help keep our classroom clean by not bringing food from the dinner portion of the evening into the classroom.  Please finish consuming all food and drink before entering our learning environment.  Thank you!

Please remember that the Meet and Greet evening is not an interview evening.  Teachers will not be able to discuss individual student progress on this evening.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

If you have not yet paid your $30/student activity fee, please log into the School Cash Online payment system in order to pay.

If you have a student in grades 1-6 please remember to pay the $10.00 agenda fee by using the Cash Online payment system or by sending the money in with your child.  Kindergarten students do NOT have agendas.  Agendas are for grade 1-6 students only.

Thank you to all the parents who have been sending in items from our classroom wish list.  We appreciate your generosity.

See you tomorrow evening!

A note about notes...

Welcome to Team Hummingbird! We are so excited to have you in our class and are looking forward to a year full of wonders, learning and excitement!

If your child attended school today (SK students), they will be coming home with the following important notes in their Note Tote (the large plastic baggie):

• Welcome to Team Hummingbird newsletter - this highlights any important information about our classroom this year, including how to stay in touch with us (via blog, Twitter and school number). This is yours to keep and refer to as the year goes on. 
• Student End of Day information sheet - to help us make sure our information is correct, please fill out this form about your child's pickup at the end of day (i.e., is he/she a buser, or do they go to the extended day program). Please return this form ASAP. 
• Student Information Verification Sheet - please make any necessary corrections to this form, sign and date it and return to the school no later than September 12. 
• Use of Technology Agreement - this form is required by the school board, and must be completed on behalf of each student in grades K-6. Please return ASAP. 
• Consent for the Use and Disclosure of Student Information - please sign the form and return ASAP. 

These forms will also be sent home with our junior Kindergarten students when they attend their first day (with the exception of the End of Day information sheet, as it is filled out during your intake meeting). 

If you have any questions or concerns about these forms, please do not hesitate to ask!

Team Hummingbird Teachers

Welcome Back!

Welcome to the Hummingbird Kindergarten class at Georges Vanier! We are so happy to have you here in our class, and are looking forward to a fun-filled year. We hope you enjoyed your summer and can't wait to hear all about your adventures.

Just like last year, your teachers will be Ms.Quinn on English days and Mme Brooking on French days. Mrs. S will be in our class every day. For the first week of school, both Mrs. S and Ms. Quinn will be in the class every day. After that, Ms. Quinn and Mme Brooking will alternate days.

On the first day of school,  Mrs. S, Mrs. Gogo and Mrs. Moulton will be out in the schoolyard by the big tree at 8:50 to help you figure out what classroom you will be in and who your teachers will be (hint: if you were a Team Hummingbird JK last year, you will be a Team Hummingbird SK this year). At 8:50, teachers will post lists outside the big windows by the tree so everyone can see who is in each class. We have lots of new friends joining our class this year, so you will meet some new faces in the schoolyard. If you are lost and not sure what to do, please find a teacher in an orange vest and ask them for help.

If you are moving on to Grade 1 this year, your teachers will also be meeting you in the yard on Tuesday morning. At 8:50 the teachers will post chart paper along the back wall of the school with teacher names and student names on them. This will help you figure out which grade 1 class you will be in - all you need to do is look for your name. If you need help, you can always ask any teacher wearing an orange vest, or come back to the big tree and ask one of us to help you.

We are so excited to see all of you tomorrow!
Love,
The Team Hummingbird Teachers

Toy Sale Tomorrow!

Tomorrow (June 28), the grade 2 students in Mrs. Howell and Mrs. LaBerge's class will be hosting a gently used toy sale for the kindergarten students. All of the money raised will be going towards food and water for those in need. Students will have a chance to purchase a toy - all items will cost 5, 10, or 25 cents.

Water Play Day!

On Monday, June 27, all three kindergarten classes will be participating in a variety of water play activities in the morning outside. This event will happen rain or shine (unless there is thunder and lightning)!

Your child will need the following:

1. Your child should wear their bathing suit, hat, and sunscreen to school in the morning. Please note - sunscreen must be applied at home, as teachers are unable to apply sunscreen on students.
2. Pack a change of clothes and towel (labelled, if possible) in your child’s backpack for after the water play is over, along with a plastic bag to bring wet items home.
3. All children must wear shoes during the water activities, so please ensure they are wearing shoes that can get wet (i.e. crocs, sandals, water shoes). Old running shoes that you don’t mind getting wet work fine too!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher.

Thank You!

The Kindergarten Team

New Information

As we head into the end of May (already - where has the time gone?), we have some information regarding some upcoming events.

• Tomorrow (Friday, May 27) the grade 6 students will be selling freezies to help offset the cost of their Leaving Ceremony at the end of the year. Students in kindergarten are invited to purchase a small freezie for 25 cents. If you have siblings in grades 1-6, they will be able to purchase a large freezie for $1. Freezie Friday will continue until the end of the year!
• Information was also sent home today regarding some upcoming hot dog days. On June 8 and 22, students can purchase a special lunch combo which will include a BBQ hot dog, a bag of chips and an ice cream sandwich. Orders can be placed online using the Cash Online program by Thursday, June 2. If you have any questions about using the Cash Online program, please let us know. 
• Thank you for the overwhelming response for volunteers for our field trip to the Museum of Nature next Wednesday, June 1! An information sheet was sent home to all parent volunteers today regarding some important info. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let us know. 

Now that the warm weather seems like it is here to stay, we often try to take advantage of the beautiful weather by moving our learning to outdoor play centres. Students are often tempted to wear sandals, crocs, and flip flops during the warmer weather, but due to safety concerns, we cannot permit students to play on the play structure with any footwear other than running shoes. A reminder that sunscreen should be applied to students in the morning - teachers are not permitted to apply sunscreen to students. 

Muffin Breakfast and Open House

As we celebrate the end of another successful Catholic Education Week, parents and family members are invited to join us tomorrow morning for our annual Muffin Breakfast and Open House. Please join us in the gym at 8:30 a.m. for refreshments and time to socialize with the members of the Georges Vanier School community. Following a student-led News Show highlighting our school's acts of mercy, parents will be invited to visit their child's classrooms. We hope to see you there!

Discovering Me e-Portfolio Information
This year, OCSB students in all grades (JK through grade 12) were given e-portfolios, which would be used to highlight their success throughout the school year. Our students have been working with their reading buddies to gather evidence of their learning journeys and to create a snapshot of their school year.

To access your child's e-portfolio, you can follow these steps:

• Go to geo.ocsb.ca and click on the "Student Portal" tab at the top of the page
• You will be prompted to sign in - the format for the login is firstname . lastname @ocsbstudent.ca (your child's password information will be provided to you)
• Once you have signed in, and have access to the Student Portal, click on the box at the top of the page labelled "Sites"
• You will see a link labelled "Discovering Me e-portfolio"; once you open the portfolio, you will see different tabs along the top of the page. Click on any of the tabs to see samples of student work. 

Please note: while the portfolios are updated and added to on a regular basis, it merely provides a small snapshot of the students' learning. If you have any questions or concerns about the e-portfolios, please do not hesitate to ask! 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

On Monday, April 4 in the morning we will be participating in a Scientists in the Schools workshop. The workshop will begin at 9:00 and lasts approximately 2 hours.  

This workshop requires a minimum 5 parent volunteers on this day.

If you are interested in being a volunteer for the workshop please send us a message in the note tote.  On rare occasions we get more volunteers than our classroom can accommodate.  If this situation were to arise we will use the lottery system to choose the volunteers and will notify parents once we have the volunteers in place.

Message to volunteers from Scientists in the School:
Adult volunteers will participate by supervising a centre. 
Please arrive 20 min. early so I can explain the activities.  
A strong command of the English language is helpful.

What's happening this week!

What a winter! We hope everyone has finally dug themselves out of the massive amount of snow that was accumulated during last week's storm. The students have really enjoyed playing in the snow and on the huge hill that has been made in the yard, as well as making predictions and estimating how much snow actually fell.

Please note: the new Term 2 milk orders began last week. Some students who had previously been receiving milk are no longer getting it this term. If your child is no longer receiving milk, please have a conversation with them at home. Also, it may be a good idea to send in an extra drink they can have at lunch time.

The new pizza order will begin on March 1 - this week (Feb. 23) is the last pizza day for Term 1. Pizza orders are only being accepted through our Cash Online system. The deadline for orders for Term 2 has been extended to Wednesday, February 24. Please visit geo.ocsb.ca for information on how to use the Cash Online system.

As we head into this week, we have some important information to share. This week, Junglesport will be visiting Georges Vanier. This is a climbing and adventure program that allows students the opportunity to participate in climbing and rope course activities while under the supervision of trained instructors. All students will be provided with all of the safety equipment they need - helmets and, where appropriate, harnesses. Consent forms are available on the school website (geo.ocsb.ca) - parents are asked to print off the forms, sign and return to your child's teacher on Monday. More information about Junglesport can also be found on the website, but if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school, or write a brief note in your child's note tote.

Also happening this week will be a bake sale put on by our school's Social Justice Club. On Wednesday, students will have the opportunity to purchase a treat for $1, with all proceeds going to support Free the Children initiatives supported by our school. If you would like your child to purchase something, please send in a loonie in a small ziploc style bag with your child's name on it.

Winter Carnival and Spirit Week

Hope everyone is enjoying the long Family Day weekend!

Next week is Winter Carnival and Spirit Week at Georges Vanier. There are lots of fun activities and things happening each day at school, but there are some slight changes to the schedule for kindergarten students.

Monday - Family Day (no school)

Tuesday - Mustache Day! Get creative and make a mustache out of paint or paper!

Wednesday - Pyjama Day. Students are invited to wear their coziest pyjamas and slippers to school. If they wish, they can also bring a small stuffed animal to snuggle with during quiet time.

Thursday - Crazy Hair Day

Friday - Sport Jersey Day**

**This will also be Winter Carnival Day for students in grades 1-6, but kindergarten students will not be participating in those activities. We also ask that kindergarten students NOT bring in a board game that day - we have many games and activities here at the school that students are welcome to enjoy, and we would hate for pieces from favourite games to go missing. We are planning a special activity for this day - more details will be posted soon.

Valentine's Day Information

Valentine's Day is fast approaching! If students wish to bring in valentines for their classmates, we ask that they bring in enough cards for each student, and that cards ONLY be signed and NOT addressed to individual students. Students can choose to leave the "To:" portion of the card blank, or they can write "my friend" and then just sign their own name.

We have 27 students in our class, and 4 teachers (Ms. Quinn, Mme Brooking, Mrs. S and Mrs. B).

**Due to severe life-threatening allergies in our class, we ask that treats and candy NOT be sent in with the valentines. If your valentines come with a treat attached, please look for the nut free symbol or safe to share symbol before sending them into the school.

Thanks for your cooperation and understanding!

January happenings

It's been a busy month in Team Hummingbird! We returned from the Christmas break to a much welcomed sight - snow in the school yard! This led into some creative outdoor play, with many students playing Arctic animal games. We decided as a class to make a list of the facts we knew about the Arctic - I started by asking the students the question, what does arctic mean? We have helped the students expand what they already know by reading books and watching films about arctic animals, and learning the difference between the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the world. We're excited to see where this inquiry will take us!

Watching videos about arctic animals on Learn360

Since the return back to school, we have also begun our Journal Club. Students are invited to write in their journals - each student decides what he/she wants to write about. Sometimes it's simple phrases using our popcorn words, just popcorn words on their own, or pictures and stories to go along with them. The students are excited about their writing, and love sharing what they have written with their classmates during community sharing time.

We have recently begun exploring shapes in our class! Students have been going on "shape hunts" around the classroom, and have been exploring shapes in different contexts (i.e., using pattern blocks to create a picture, building with blocks of different shapes, etc.). The students have discovered that some shapes can be made up of other shapes (for example, a square can be made up of two triangles), and this led into a larger exploration of how different shapes connect together. We have started to look at how shapes are similar and different (some shapes have straight sides, some don't; number of sides, etc.). It's amazing to see the connections students have made between 2D and 3D shapes! We watched this video (Shape Song) and one JK student even commented about how a cone looked like a party hat, a cube looked like a rubik's cube, and a rectangular prism looked like a building! We will continue to explore 2D and 3D shapes all around us in the coming weeks.