Vocab for the week

Vocab
We have added a few words of vocabulary for this Friday, they are: 
la journée, après, après-midi, aujourd'hui, hier.
On Friday we will have a dictée with these words.

Math
We are now at 3 x 0 to 3 x 12

"The more I work the better luck I have!"

Tomorrow is a new start. With a new start we can all choose new goals. I hope you get to join teams, work on great projects, maybe do Math Caribou. You don't even have to try to be cool, you already are.
I have a question: will the kids at Gledhill start collecting pencil leads for barter? That was unique of Howard.
Good luck, enjoy the work and make yourself proud. I am, proud of you that is!!

Only 1 week

Yikes, one week left before school starts! 
I have a new litterless lunch kit since I left last year's one on the street car one day.
I still have to select my clothes for the first day. Shorts and t-shirt of course but which one?

By Aidan

Aidan is drawing more marvellous pictures. James is doing so well at baseball. Bella and Noah will be back soon.
Claire, Liam's sister, will be starting the violin. Uma had a farewell party before the big move to the country. Owen and Calum were jumping off a boat and were having a blast. Sam also visited Calum at his cottage. Veronica went to a survival camp and is now doing a lifeguard camp. That is what I know. What about the rest of you guys?

Way to go!

Great news, our very own James has hit his first home run and it felt great. Too bad it was against Liam's team and James' team won the game. Oh well, we know Liam has his hockey!!

Thank you

This is where I write and think,
in my little house 
at the back of our garden

I was so happy to meet some of you yesterday at the Sorauren Market. There was music, organic produce, kids all over and families saying Hi. I think of all of you often.
I must admit, it is scary to start all over again in a new school. 
There are 2 ways to keep in touch if you wish.
E-mail #1: 
sylvie.deschamps-scaife@tdsb.on.ca
This e-mail I use during school.

E-mail #2:
deschamps.scaife@gmail.com
This e-mail I check often

Monday Aug. 19

In the water kitty,
kitty, kitty!

Tomorrow Monday August 19, 2013, I will be at the Sorauren Market from 3 ish to 5 ish so you can come from day camp, swimming lessons, arts and craft, piano, and all your activities. So come if and when you can, I will be happy.

Sorauren market

If you enlarge this picture
you will see that the escargots
 have climbed way up the plant.
Did you know they could do that?
Not me.

I will be at the Sorauren market this Monday, August 19. I should be there around 3 pm ish, when the market starts. You know that Rubie, who spent a year in France, wanted to see me so I will be there. But if any of you, all of you, want to say Hi and have a chat, I am there for you and I MISS you even as I set up the new classroom at Gledhill salle 17. 
I remember football practices at Sorauren after school and the Market was on. It looked so great, I'm looking forward to it and if I am lucky, seeing you again.

Good morning

Grains of sand
magnified 100 times

 This picture represents grains of sand magnified 100 times. Depending on where in the world the beach is, there will be different elements broken off and found as grains of sand!!! That is what we step on at the beach. Isn't it crazy what we can see today.







My friendship bracelet broke yesterday. I am disappointed because I always buy the same type of rope for our bracelets at Mountain Coop but this year, it appears the top layer, the colour we have, was not woven, braided in with the rest of the rope. So the top layer kept slipping off and the bracelet broke more easily. 
I usually keep my friendship bracelet until the next June and then I have to cut it to get it off. I'm sorry this last one was a flop and the next time I go to Mountain Coop I will complain about it.

End of July already!

I am ___ x 100 times.

Aha! What is this picture? If you have the week-end Globe you can find out, but I will tell you tomorrow.

It could be summer, or my head, but I could not get into my TDSB mail to see what is happening with all of you. Today I was finally able to reset my password and I found out Griffin Mc has a blog. This is great for me because I can follow what is happening with him.

Big news, Uma is moving to a country house, with horses and animals and all that. I think she is very lucky. 

I wish I knew where all of you are; back from travelling or at overnight camp or reading the rest of Narnia. I think of you often.
I will go to the Scotia Bank marathon for kids 5K. Might I see you there running with Howard? Someone needs to let me know because I sure will be looking for you if the school runs.
Soon I will find out when Ruby (back from France) is in Toronto and I will go to Sorauren Park to walk with the dogs. So if you are around I could meet with you there. Either that or meet at a Monday's farmer market.
I'll let you know.
I am thinking that there should be the technology out there where we could have some sort of a forum where we could all write every now and again, where everyone of us could write and read each other's news. I'll be looking for that.
Until then, keep well.

Thank you

I wish I had the picture of you in the tree as I arrived at the party place.
All of you were very good at keeping quiet about yesterday because I had no idea at all. You, the presents, the video, the speeches, the food, the very best. The most touching was that you invited me into your very community to say goodbye. Very touching, very awesome. Thank you forever.

Monday June 24

C'mon I'm a cute
nuisance right?

There is a change to Monday June 24's schedule. We have been invited to go to High  Park to play with Mr. Celaj's class, Mme Decaudin's, Mr. Fracheri's... in the morning from after announcements to before lunch, we will be in the big field not far from the castle. (this is the day Mr. Fracheri shows his best moves at soccer). Students are back before the lunch period and can follow their usual lunch schedule. 

High Park

What a wonderful community we all are! Who could find cooking equipment within half an hour?! We are fed, whooped from play, ladder masters, true knights, and explorers extraordinaire. Parents who could come, thank you for all you do. Parents who couldn't come, thank you for being your child's parent. Thank you for a beautiful day. On the way back I heard Henry say: "This was a great day". I love that he can just say that. 
It was a tired crowd on the way back, positive but tired. Teachers alone cannot make an event such as today's happen. Teachers and families can accomplish so much. Thank You.

Father's Day

Very Happy Father's day to all dads. Your kids often talk about when you took time for alone time with them to do projects, to talk, to walk, to read, to go on special outings. Your time is precious. You are loved. 

Last 2 weeks of school

Monday June 17 day 5: running
Tuesday June 18 day 1: tea; pot luck for families after school
Wednesday June 19 day 2: running; Weenie Wednesday; Howard idols show at 2:30
Thursday June 20 day 3: our day at High Park; story fest from 4-6 pm
Friday June 21 day 4: Grade 3 students at Pioneer Village (Griffin P.'s mother is the chaperon, thank you); Assembly perseverance at 9:15

Last week

Monday June 24 day 5: running; grade 6 graduation from 5-9 pm
Tuesday June 25 day 1: tea; sk graduation
Wednesday June 26 day 2: running; reports go home
Thursday June 27 day 3: last day for students; clap out of graduates and retiring teachers at 3:30

Wow it sounds so real!

Whatever work we do until the end of the year will be done in class and at High Park. No work at home is necessary.

Day at High Park

We are hoping to avoid this!!!
So Nika stays home!!

We are so close to our day.
Thursday June 20 

PS families members are very much invited to join us at any time of the day that is suitable for their schedule and well behaved pets are also welcome.

• attendance at school and off on a walk to Grenadier restaurant for breakfast. It would seem that about $10 will do. If not let me know.
• from there to the stretch between the flower garden and Colborne Lodge
• arrive there and practice our Knights choreography to the rhythms of drums.
• There will be judges needed
• Lunch. I provide hamburgs, meat and veggies. Andra will provide condiments and plates and utensils. We need big jug for water during the day. We need portable BBQs. I have , we need more than 1. We need salads, treats, water melon, for 25 kids and families. we need coolers to keep all above fresh. We need families to help with cooking our lunch
• pm beasts identification hunt.
• ladder building from rope and wood found there and knots
• skit contests, judges are needed
• and other activities as I find the time to prepare them.
• Back to school for 3:30 dismissal.

I will leave my stuff at school this year if it's okay with someone who could pick up and bring to our picnic place.

As usual, dress for the weather and the sun and in clothing that can get dirty.

This will be fun. I actually can't wait.

Let me know how many people in your family will be attending, what you can bring / provide etc at sylvie.deschamps-scaife@tdsb.on.ca and I will post what we have and what remains to be completed.

Thanks again so much for being there for us. Your kids and I know how much you matter in these activities. 

Week 38/40 June 10 to 14.

Ontario trillium 

Monday day 5: running
Tuesday day 1: track; tea
Wednesday day 2: running; strings and band concert at 2:30
Thursday day 3: reading buddies with area 23
Friday day 4: assembly TBD; skip for heart during gym class; library: all books must be returned.

At this time of year there are many disruptions to the school day. We will take full advantage of High Park to complete units in science and social science. Students should wear comfortable shoes or boots and rain coat when it is wet because there is so much natural activity during rainy weather at High Park that we need to discover. A hat is also recommended as well as sunscreen. If students do not wear boots during rainy days, they will need extra socks and another pair of shoes. Umbrellas are not recommended. They are cumbersome and take up one whole arm and hand! I anticipate going to High Park for school themes almost every day.

Day of celebration at High Park

It looks like we have run out of Fridays for our day at High Park, there are too many assemblies on the remaining Fridays which are only 2!! Yikes. May I suggest Thursday June, June, June 20th.( sorry) On that day we will start with breakfast at Grenadier café. At the end of the day, we will walk back to school for the regular end of day. Families are invited and encouraged to come at any time during the day. We need cooks for a BBQ lunch, stoves etc.
After morning announcements, we will leave for breakfast. Then we will proceed to the beach area on the stretch between the flower garden and Colborne Lodge for a variety of activities. Siblings are invited as well. 
That day is meant to be a fun yet educational day. We will have warriors contests of a Medieval flavour. Animal and plants search. Ladder building for those who haven't done it last year.
More info to come later but it is the date for you to set aside that is most important.

First week of June 3 to 6

Wait! Wait i'm coming with you

Monday day 1: tea; I'm pretty sure that I remember a change in gym period for today. To accommodate the students who do the English and math portions of the EQAO testing we will have gym 1st period today instead of the last
Tuesday day 2: EQAO for grade 3 students, no running but play outside
Wednesday day 3: EQAO for grade 3s
Thursday day 4: Book exchange in the morning
Friday: PD day. No school for students

We are doing a lot of vocab words and finishing off other subjects. Students have spelling to learn everyday. For some, the time I give in class is sufficient, for others, they need your help at home.
I am a happy camper. The print version of the New York Times is again available through The Globe. When the print was no longer available a few years ago, I went to a subscription on line. The print is so much better for me. And on Mondays, Tuesdays and sometimes Wednesdays we can actually complete, rightly, the cross word, yes. 

Dear Families

I have made a very difficult but important decision. I have accepted a position closer to home.
At Howard, for the coming school year 2013-2014 I  was given a grade 3 so I could not have kept any of your children next year. This helped me make that decision.
I have served you for six magical years. I kept many of your children for two years which made a great deal of difference for me and for them. I have been ever so lucky to get the best class year after year, (so says Mme Godin every single year!). I am richer for having taught your child. I watched him and her grow, seeing that split second when 'I get it' comes about, watched many laugh, some cry, loved every one of them in their unique ways. With your support, I have discovered and applied what it means to let one grow as a person and a student. Sitting down and listening is one kind of learning. There are so many more and we did let them manifest themselves thanks to you, parents and students, in area 34. 
It must be so difficult as a parent to surrender your child's learning to a teacher for a year or two. You have been so supportive and engaged; you have trusted me, you have come running with us, joined us for field trips and fun days. I thank you. There is much to miss from the families of Howard. When nobody was looking we went camping. We had beautiful runs to the most majestic of place, High Park, so unique to the west end. I have made the trek happily every day. The one hour trip in and the one hour plus trip back have taken time away form exercising, gardening and the rest of the homey stuff I enjoy doing. Gledhill, my next school, is a 19 minutes walk from my home. 
As heart wrenching as the decision has been to make, I have made it. Thank you for your engagement in 'our cabin the the wilderness'.

Week 36/40 May 27 to 31

Found it!

This is the last week of May! tempus really fugit. 
Some schools are already engaged in EQAO. Ours will take place next week, first thing in the morning on Tuesday and Wednesday till recess.
I am enjoying using 'till' these days since I learned in reading Narnia that till and until can be used interchangeably but till is considered the more formal of the two. Who knew?
Students are working on vocab words that they must learn every day. EQAO usually means that our math programme is completed for the year. We are in the process of tying up loose ends. We will go to High Park more often for short trips that will enhance our understanding of Science and other subjects.
Monday is day 1: tea
Tuesday day 2: running
Wednesday day 3: reading buddies with area 23
Thursday day 4: book exchange in the library. Please start looking everywhere for misplaced school books. We need them back.
Friday day 5: running, pizza Friday, last character assembly at 1 pm: fairness

Week of May 13 to 17

Monday day 2
Tuesday day 3: reading buddies, tea
Wednesday day 4: Library, panoramic and choir photo
Thursday day 5: running
Friday day 1: tea


Work of the week for grade 4
Grade 4 vocab words:
Monday till apple
Tuesday till because
Wednesday till born
Thursday till busy
Friday till cherries
We will have surprised vérifications often

James James till 2nd paragraph

Grade 3 math module 7