Well here we are nearing the end of April!  The year is flying by!  This week for homework we will continue to focus on reading.  It is so important that your child reads between 15 and 20 minutes each evening.  I also ask that you review the 100 Chart and do some of the activities in the green duotang.  It would also be very beneficial for your child to play some of the math games that I have included below.  The spelling words for this week are also in your child's homework duotang.  They should review them each evening and orally tell you a sentence with that word in it! A reminder that next week will be a three day week for the students as teachers have meeting Thursday and Friday!

Monday, April 2 is World Autism Day.  Students are encouraged to wear a hat for $1.  All proceeds will go to the Autism Resource Miramichi!

Just a reminder that Wednesday, February 29 will be Pink Shirt Day at Harkins Elementary.  We ask that all students try and wear something pink in honor of Bullying Awareness Week.  Mr. Murphy has been working with the students on this topic and will have a school wide event Wednesday afternoon. 

Well, what a week we had last week!  Valentine's Day was a lot of fun, sharing cards and treats with our friends, all the while learning and creating!  Friday was our 100th day of school and we had a fantastic day!!  The students brought in some awesome collections of 100 and Mrs. Underhill and I surprised the students with our very own collection of 100 candles on a special cake to mark the day!  Check our the pictures in the image gallery below.  Thanks to all the parents for the help and support they gave their children preparing for these activities! Another great week is upon us and we will continue with the next set of spelling words in the homework duotangs.  Our Daily 5 routine will be back in full force each day.  During our Writers Workshop we will be concentrating on the word choice trait, choosing "WOW" words and making our stories more interesting.  In Math, we will continue to focus on Numbers to 100, getting all students more comfortable with the hundred chart. A reminder that there is no school for the students this Friday, February 24 as there is professional development for teachers. I want to congratulate Owen and Patrick for the fantastic job they did in the So You Think You Can Dance competition at Harkins.  They will be representing the K-2 classes from our school at the District 16 competition this week!!!!!  Way to go boys, I know you will do us proud!!

  This will be another busy week in grade one.  We are now more than half way through the school year and continue to make great accomplishments!  A new spelling sheet with words for the next four weeks will be sent home Monday in the homework duotangs.  Any time that there is a sheet of looseleaf in with the homework without other instructions, it is  meant for the students to write one sentence for each spelling word.  This week we are focusing on words with double consonants.  We have a great routine set up with our Daily 5 Literacy Block and the students are really enjoying it and working well!  In Math, subtraction has been introduced to the students and we will continue to work with addition facts and strategies.  We have the 100th day of school tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 17.  As previously mentioned, we are asking each student to bring in a "Collection of 100".  This is meant to be a simple activity such as 100 cheerios/beads on a necklace, 100 pennies, buttons etc.  Feel free to be as creative as possible of course! During the afternoon of March 3 Harkins will be hosting a variety show.  Auditions will be held within the next couple of weeks and practices will take place after that.  If your child has a special talent like singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument etc... please make sure they are prepared and ready to go!  Harkins is full of talented children!! If anyone could send in a box of kleenex it would be greatly appreciated as we have nearly used up our supply.  The cold season has hit our classroom!  Thanks :)

Well, the last week of school before our Christmas break has arrived, and what a busy, fun filled one it will be!  Monday and Tuesday we will continue to practice our Christmas songs for the concert.  Everyone has worked very hard on learning the words and actions for our two songs and I know that all the parents will be very pleased and proud!  The concert will take place Wednesday morning at 9:30am.  Throughout the week we will continue to learn about Christmas in other parts of the world.  The students have been really enjoying hearing about the different tradtions and customs.  One of our favorites was in Australia where families often go to the beach and have a BBQ for Christmas dinner.  The also thought it was very funny that "Six White Boomers" pull Santa's sleigh instead of reindeer because it is too hot! I will be sending home a note, asking for you to verify how your child will be going home on Friday.  It is a half day and to avoid any confusion I prefer to have it on paper.  I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and to thank you for allowing me to teach your wonderful children!  May you take every moment this Christmas to make beautiful memories with your families!  Enjoy the love and peace this season brings! 

Our class picture has arrived, and boy are we a good looking bunch!!  If you would like to purchase one please send in $2 and I will send it home with your child. Thanks :)