Happy New Year!

We've had a busy couple of days, getting into the groove of school again! It was so nice to hear about everyone's adventures over the Christmas break!

We worked on some awesome art to celebrate the start of 2016. Be sure to check it out on Artsonia!

Today we got to make New Year’s firework art. We made the art by making 2016 tracers and chalk pastel. First we made tracers with hard paper and then taped it onto our paper. After that we made lines with chalk pastels (short lines). Third some of us did extra fireworks because they felt like it. Fourth we peeled off the numbers and then some people outlined it with sharpie. And then we were done. WE REALLY LIKE IT WE RATED IT FIVE STARZZZZ!!!!

• BY CARTER-B AND Dylan-H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go to the zoo for FREE!

If you're looking for something to do over the next few weeks . . . kids 12 and under can go to the Assiniboine Park Zoo for FREE until January 3!

This is an awesome opportunity to check out the "Journey to Churchill" exhibit; which is amazing!

Gift Tag Sales = a success!

This week, the SPIN Club sold holiday gift tags at the Christmas Concerts. Once again, the sales did not disappoint! We raised $565; which will go towards building a school in Nicaragua with "Free the Children".

We also collected 55 items for local hampers. I dropped off the food and toys at Abundant Life Lutheran Church (just down the street from BHS) yesterday. They have received 63 requests for hampers from families in our community!

It's so nice to help out others at this time of the year!

Thanks for your support!

Secret Santa in Room 31

One thing that is fun about teaching an older grade is that I can do really neat things with the students! Between all the concert practices, we made gorgeous cards for our families and a super adorable snowman mug this week!

The last few years, we've held Secret Santa in Room 31 during the last week of school. I wasn't quite sure how the idea would go over with the students this year . . . but they loved it! I was impressed with all the awesome clues! It sure was fun to see everyone's enthusiasm each morning as things were delivered!

Here's Kaitlyn's review . . .

Things to share:

#3. I love the gifts that my Secret Santa gets me because it is nice to know that my Secret Santa does not forget me.

#2. I do not know who my Secret Santa is but they get me good gifts.

#1. I wonder who my Secret Santa is.

Things that surprised me:

#2. The gifts my Secret Santa gets me.

#1. That my Secret Santa knows me well.

What I hope for:

#1. That I will find out who is my Secret Santa.

By Kaitlyn J 

Christmas Concert Review!

The other day in the lab, students had a choice of reviewing the Christmas Concert or Secret Santa. It's always fun to read what their thoughts are!

Here's Jace's review of the Christmas Concert . . .

3 things to share:

One thing about the Christmas concert is that I think we did a great job singing.

I also think that it was really good how everyone was using really good loud and clear voices.

One more thing about the Christmas concert is that I think we did a really good job watching Mrs. Knoll with the actions.

2 surprising things:

One thing I was REALLY surprised with is when I had to fill in for Mackadie as a nes gadol dancer.

And one more thing is that when I went on stage I didn’t forget the steps.

1 hope:

One thing that I will hope for next time is that we can do another acting Christmas concert.   

By: Jace

Holiday Gift Tags!

Once again, the SPIN Club has been busy making holiday gift tags to sell at the Christmas concerts next week. Packs of 10 tags (2 of each style) will be sold for $3 with all proceeds going towards our global initiative with Free the Children. We are continuing to raise money to build a school in Nicaragua.

Several Grade 5 SPIN Club members came to before and after school sessions to work on the tags this week. As well, many students attended drop-in sessions during lunch to complete the tags. You can't beat handmade for the holidays!

We were rewarded with some beautiful sunrises on Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

Thanks for all your help! Looking forward to SELLING OUT! Ha!  :)

We will also be collecting non-perishable food items for Holiday Hampers. Look for the bins by the library on the days of the concerts! Thank you for thinking of others at this time of year!

A "Practice makes Perfect" TWAS!

We've been super busy with Christmas Concert practices all week! I'm so proud of all of the students that are part of the drama . . . they totally know their lines! Yay! It's always so fun to see the bits and pieces come together for the big show!

Thanks to Gina for sharing her TWAS on the blog this week . . .

On Monday we had a morning meeting and I shared about the three Gerbils I was getting and when I was getting them I got them on Wednesday and they were born on October 7^th and they are so cute and they are also sisters. We also talked about Secret Santa and who was going to be doing Secret Santa and it was fun!

            On Tuesday we had art we made ornaments and they look really cool. We used oil pastels and it was awesome and they turned out great. We also had choir practice for the Christmas Concert and it is fun I am also in the drama part for the Christmas Concert and that is fun!!

            On Wednesday we did word work and I did not do it because I was making a card for my auntie because it is her birthday. We also made cards for Jack because he is in the hospital with double pneumonia and we are trying make him feel better.

Pictograph for math on Friday!

            On Thursday we had a choir practice and it was fun and after that we had a full concert run-through with all of the drama people and we did the whole play.

            On Friday we are going to finish the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and it is an awesome movie. We also did twas in the computer lab and like it I am now done my twas. Thank you and ttyl.       

By: Gina   

Ornaments on Pine Trees . . . colourful Christmas art!

Okay, who ever made up this art should get a standing ovation. We used oil pastels to create the whole art. First in pencil we would draw some branches and trace ornaments. Then we would go over the branches with brown pastel. Then we would draw pine needles on the branches going down. Finally we get to the fun part, making the ornaments! How we would make them is we took some oil pastels and made patterns on the ornaments. We then filled in the rest of the ornament, we had a choice of making one, two or three ornaments on your paper.

By: Katrina and Rebecca

Charlie and the Chocolate . . . TWAS!

We've had a busy week . . . concert practices are well underway! A special thank you to Katrina and Rebecca who have started the "Candy Cane Club" in our classroom. These girls are planning fun activities for anyone interested. So far, we've met on quite a few recesses to create winter crafts! 

Today, we had our "R Chart Celebration"! The students voted for pj day and a movie afternoon which made for a pretty awesome Friday! Thanks to so many families for sending in movies for us to choose from. We voted on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which we will need to finish next week!

Thanks to Brogan for sharing his TWAS on the blog this week . . .

On Monday we had morning meeting that means we talk about our weekend. I talked about when I had to go to the hospital a lot because my cousin was sick. We had our Book Buddies come and they showed us their portfolio I liked it. After we played math games. It was fun.

On Tuesday we had new spots and new nametags. I am sitting with Max and Matthew. It’s ok. We also had French I am getting really good at it.

On Wednesday we had word work but I chose to do my thumbprint it’s where you guess people’s thumbprint that they made. Also we did read to self I read World of the War for half of the time and wrote a story called Lone Moon.

On Thursday we had library I took out Timberwolf and Battle. Both books are really good.

Today we have PJ day! it is really fun we got to bring a stuffy too. I am almost finished my T.W.A.S.

By Brogan

Giving Tuesday

Today is "Giving Tuesday" . . . a day that often sees online charitable donations skyrocket! In Room 31, we decided to write out notes to brighten the day of someone else. It could be for someone at home or at school. I was so touched by the thoughtfulness of the students, as well as their eagerness in this simple activity. It was just awesome seeing the smiles on the faces of students that received a warm and fuzzy note.

Thanks for being you.