December 18-22

 Hello Families!

Wow! Can you believe it's Winter Break?! We had a magical last week of school before the holiday that included two breath-taking sunrises, lots of Christmas carolling, Sweater day, Pyjama day, a Special Story with Dr. Slater and lots and lots of learning and exploring with our friends.

This week we learned about the letter C.  We can identify lots of different things that start with the letter C, and can make the /c/ sound.  We also became very skilled at writing the letter C, as well as practicing printing all of our other letters we know now.  The letter C went very well with our Tasting Experiment this week as we tried  a cookie.  A gingerbread cookie!  We were able to use our 5 senses to describe what our cookie looked like, smelled like, felt like, tasted like and even the sound it made when we chomped into it!

As we celebrated Winter Solstice this week and discussed the changing of the seasons we were all able to go outside, lay down, look up and watch the sunrise as it happened overhead.  We saw brilliant colours like oranges, purples, pinks and blues.  We loved how the clouds changed and moved as the sunrise happened.  We noticed how the colours moved across the sky and we marvelled at just how beautiful it is to stop and watch nature unfold.  

This week we read different versions of "The Gingerbread Man", including "Gingerbread Cowboy", "Gingerbread Girl", "Ninjabread Boy" and "Gingerbread Baby".  We noticed the ways these books were all similar, and how they were different.  We also voted on our favourite version.  You can ask your child which one they liked best.  We even did a directed drawing of a Gingerbread Man and made it unique!

During centre times, we built the worlds longest train track, explored how coloured blocks in the window frame can reflect beautiful colours on our classroom walls and floor, how we can make shadows with our bodies when the light comes in, and we crafted and crafted and crafted some more!  We made cards, paper chains, ornaments, and paintings.  We also built marble runs, read stories in our cozy cube and made special cinnamon-cocoa playdoh that had the most delicious smell and was so warm and squishy.

This week, Parent Council brought a delicious treat to our classroom (oranges and candy canes) for all of the students to enjoy with our Special Story.  They also blessed the staff with an amazing lunch on the last day of school.  It was fabulous and very appreciated.  I want to send a big "Thank you" to all of the families who shared a little extra love this week through cards, words, or surprises.  It was all so kind and thoughtful. I am so grateful to have such wonderful and supportive families and such wonderful students. 

 I wish you all a wonderful and joyful holiday with your families, and I look forward to seeing all of the Kindergarteners again in the New Year.  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Joyful Everything to you and yours!