Fine Arts Night Tonight

6:30 Gallery Walk of students work begins.  

7:05 meet in the pod before performance.  

Scientists in School $6.65

Jazz Concert

Monday was such a busy and fun day! We started off the day with a performance from our jazz band and the Williams High school jazz band. They were fantastic. Once they finished performing the Kindergarteners got a chance to practice their songs for Arts Night in front of the school. They did a great job. 

Making Lightning

Mrs. Wright did another science experiment in which the children created lightning.  Ask them to tell you how it worked.  I'm still trying to figure it out.  

Spring is Here-Finally!

We went for a walk in our forest to look for signs of spring.  The students noticed the trilliums had sprouted and the pond was no longer frozen over.  The students saw a Canada goose resting (maybe nesting) in the middle of the pond and a mallard duck fly overhead.  

Scientists in School

We were so fortunate to have the Buzz About Bees workshop last week.  What an amazing program.   The Highview School Council funded our first visit from scientists in school back in the fall but not our second (my mistake).  Please send in $6.65 to cover the cost of our visit from 'The Bee Lady'.  Thank you!

I would also like to thank the 4 amazing moms who came to help.  It's very much appreciated.  

Library Tuesday

Fine Arts Night Thursday

The evening begins at 6:30.  The Kindergarteners will be performing at 7:15.  Wear spring colours if you can.

Jump Rope For Heart Forms

Jump Rope For Heart

Highview PS is raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  The students will take part in Jump Rope For Heart in May.  So far, Highview has raised over $250 000 since it opened.

Please return the Jump Rope envelope regardless of whether there are pledges in it or not.

Thanks!

Change of Number?

If you have changed jobs or phone numbers, please let the school know.  We need to be able to reach you.

Brrrr

It's still cold outside.  Please make sure your child has mittens and a hat on these cool days.

Fine Arts Night

The email from the school about Fine Arts Night says that the Kindergarten students should meet in the pod at 6:45.  We will meet in the pod at 7:05 and then walk across the hall to the gym.  Teachers will not be supervising students.  Parents must stay with their child.  Please arrive early (6:30) so that you have time to enjoy the artwork around the whole school, then come to the pod for 7:05.

Buzz About Bees

Scientist Karen visited our classroom yesterday and set up 5 really cool Bee activity centres to help the students learn about 'the Bee' and how important they are to the environment.  The students looked through microscopes at the bee and learned about the queen bee, worker bees and drones.  The job of the queen is to lay eggs (1000 a day), the drones (male bees) mate with the queen and the worker bees protect the hive, feed the baby bees, fan the hive, repair the hive, clean the hive and gather nectar.  Worker bees are female.  Hmmm.

 Bees make honey.  The flavour depends on the region and time of year (which flowers are in bloom).  The students smelled and tasted 4 different kinds:  clover, alfalfa, buckwheat and wildflower.

 Bees have a special dance they do to tell other bees where the pollen and nectar is and how far away it is.

The bee has 2 antennae, 3 body parts, 4 wings, 5 eyes, 6 legs.  The children made puppets using all the correct number of body parts.  Then, they sorted a sack full of animals into insects and not insects.

The life cycle of the bee has 4 steps:  egg, larvae, pupa and adult.

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Bees drink nectar from flowers.  The pollen gets stuck in their pollen sacs and on their feet.  When the bee flies to the next flower, some of the pollen that is stuck to their bodies, transfers to the new flower which is how we get fruit.

The Bee Smoker

Beekeeper Outfit

Parenting - Are we on track?

Here are 6 things highly effective parents do.  I like #6.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/182888434843722145/

Special Assignment

The grade 7 Highview students were given a school assignment, '5 Things in 5 Days'.  Sam MacLeod decided that one of his 5 things would be to take up a collection for Grace Bowen, a young girl in grade 4, who just passed away from the same type of cancer as Terry Fox.  He has asked Highview students to send in a Loonie or Toonie which he will pass on to the Terry Fox Foundation, Children's Wish or the Hospital for Sick Children.

https://www.hayleywickenheiser.com/news/ww-episode-7-in-memory-of-grace-bowen/#more-5331

If you wish to send in a donation, I will make sure that Sam receives it so he can send it off to one of Grace's charities.

Fine Arts Night

Thursday April 30 at 6:30.
The students are performing a few songs, including 'Happy'.
Please play it at home if you have it.

Library Tomorrow

Sunny Days

We are enjoying the sunny days, but we must take some precautions.

Please make sure your child has a sun hat with their name on the inside.  LABEL, LABEL, LABEL!!

With the warmer weather here, the students need water to rehydrate.  Please make sure they have a refillable bottle in their backpack.

I discourage juice boxes for a couple of reasons:  they spill and leave behind a sticky mess (it's almost ant season), we have to throw out unfinished boxes, juice has lots of sugar and refillable containers are better for the environment than recyclable boxes or bottles.

Water will quench their thirst and is healthy for growing bodies.

If required, please put sunscreen on your child before they come to school.  If students bring sunscreen, a few problems could arise:
1.  Our hallway becomes a slip and slide.
2.  They like to share with friends.
3.  The bottle may leak in their backpack.
4.  They use too much (that happened today) and there's a big mess to clean and clothing to change.

So, to recap-put sunscreen on at home.  Do not send it to school.  Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this matter and we can discuss it.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Important Dates

Wednesday April 22-Scientists in School, Earth Day
Thursday April 30-Fine Arts Night-Kindergarten students will be performing

Water Cycle Experiment

Mrs. Wright and Mr. Richardson (her student teacher) are teaching the kids about the water cycle.  Each student made their own and is able to observe evaporation as the sun warms the water as it shines through the window.  They will also notice 'rain' inside their bag as beads of water stick to the side.

Kindergarten Kids are Performing Soon

Highview PS is hosting a Fine Arts Night on Thursday April 30 from 6:30-8:30pm.  Families are invited to wander through the ALL the hallways and library (classrooms will be closed) and look at the amazing artwork that students have made.  Every student will be showcasing at least one piece.  Our artwork will be outside Kindergarten Pod, in the main hallway.  Upstairs, you will find artwork completed the older students and in the library the 3D pieces will be displayed as well as some artwork from the teachers. There will also be musical and drama presentations.  A schedule will be sent home shortly.

The Kindergarten students will be performing (singing) with the jazz band and Mrs. Halinaty's class in the gym.  Currently, they are slated to perform at 7:15.  Please stay tuned.

It is an amazing evening.  The school looks phenomenal with all the artwork on the walls.  Come and wander through the gallery with family, neighbours and friends.

New Bell Centres

We are trying to incorporate more writing into our daily activities. Here are five of our new centres that the students do when they first walk in. They rotate through the centres on a daily basis.

More Springtime Fun in the Sun!

Exploring with our 'explovery sticks'. 

Springtime Fun

Science fun

Mrs. Wright has been doing science experiments about water and rain in the class.  Today's experiment involved shaving cream, water and food colouring.   The students noticed how the food colouring went down to the bottom of the glass.  A follow up sheet went home.