Thursday, April 28th

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the lack of updates. This is just such a busy time of year. Track and field is in full swing and students should know when the various practices are by now. I'm coaching the grade 4/5 shot put on Mondays after school, and the grade five discus on Wednesdays after school. Students much come to all practices and make a standard achievement in order to be selected for the district track meet on Friday, May 27th.

That's it for this week. We haven't had much homework recently, but students should still be writing in their planners every day. And don't let them forget about the home reading. They should be doing 15-20 minutes of home reading (at least!) each day.

Monday, April 18th

Hi all,

Busy, busy week this week. Thursday is a Prod D Day for most schools in Coquitlam. So school will not be in session. And of course Good Friday and Easter Monday are coming up as well.

Class pictures are on Wednesday this week.

Track and Field also starts this week. Students all got a schedule on Friday but here are the highlights:

Monday - lunch time = grade four long jump
              - after school = grade four and five shot put
Tuesday - before school = grade three and four high jump
              - lunch time = grade three, four, and five 100 meters
              - after school = running at Maple Creek track, events and ages TBA
Wednesday - before school = grade five high jump
              - after school = grade five discus
Thursday - before school = grade five long jump
              - lunch time = grade three long jump, grade three, four, and five 400 and 800 meters
              - after school = running at Maple Creek track, events and ages TBA

The Coquitlam District track meet will be help on Friday, May 27th for Westwood students. Remember, though, only students who meet or exceed the district standards will be eligible to attend the track meet.

Wednesday, April 13th

Student-led conference day! Hopefully everyone will be able to come. One student has asked if she could do her conference tomorrow (Thursday) after school. That's fine, except I'll be outside running with some students. But a conference or two could go on in the classroom.

Notes:

 Friday this week - last day for hot lunch orders for April 29th.
Wednesday, April 20th - class picture day, remember to dress nicely!
Thursday, April 21st - Pro D Day at Westwood. Teachers will be working but school in not in session for students.
Friday, April 22nd - Good Friday
Monday, April 25th - Easter Monday

Monday, April 11th

Hi everyone,

Nice to see the sun two days in a row! Things to remember this week include:

Student-led conferences: Wednesday - 2:15 until 6:00, no apppointment necessary, but if you come and the room is full, you might want to see you other child's conference first and come back. Also, please don't arrive after 5:45 because conferences are supposed to be finished by 6:00. If you absolutely can't come in during that time period, please contact me by phone at the school or by email to arrange another time.

Scholastic orders due in by Wednesday, please.

Hot lunch orders in by Friday at the latest.

Thursday, April 7th

Hi all,

April's flying by already. Next week, we have student-led conferences at Westwood. On Wednesday, April 13th, students will be dismissed at 2:00. Classrooms will be available from 2:15 until 6:00 for parents to come in and participate in their child's conference. Please remember that this is an opportunity for your child to share their work and learning with you. It's not a time for a parent/teacher conference. On the same subject, it would be best is siblings not attend, as the focus tends to be distracted from the student giving the conference.

I discussed SLCs with the class today and they seem excited.

PJ day tomorrow (Friday), for all kids who want to participate.

Monday, April 4th

Welcome to the last three months of the year! Or the beginning of the third  term. Or the season of track and field. Actually, there's so much planned for the next three months, it's hard to narrow it down. I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable spring break. I did and I'm looking forward to the next three months.

This week is Melanie Watt Literacy Week at Westwood. Our own Ms Fraser has organized this week which includes many class and school-wide activities to do with literacy in general and Melanie Watt in particular. For those of you not familiar with her work, Melanie Watt the children's author responsible for the "Chester" and "Scaredy Squirrel" books.

Our first activity was "read with your child" this morning. Thanks very much to the parents who came in to read with us in division one today.

On Wednesday, there will be a special teacher presentation during our afternoon assembly. Look for some costumes . . . .

Thursday is "Dress as a Melanie Watt character" Day. Choices might include Chester, Scaredy Squirrel, Rabbit, Augustine, Buddy the Dog, or any other character from one of Melanie Watt's stories.

Friday is Camp Read. Miss Corazza will be organizing that but it's not anything the kids have to prepare for.

As I told the kids, we won't be doing spelling tests anymore this year. Many of the kids have worked hard on them for the past seven months and now we're going to give them a rest. So there won't be any more spelling lists coming home on Mondays. Please feel free, however, to make up spelling lists of your own for your child to work on at home.

The other major change in our classroom this term will be happening on Thursdays. Up until this point, Ms Corazza has been teaching on Thursdays and Fridays. Starting this week, however, I'm going to be taking over Thursdays and Ms Corazza will just be here on Fridays.

I'm going to try to update this blog more regularly and I do appreciate emails from parents will suggestions, reminders, and even corrections! <dweir@sd43.bc.ca>