Update

Bonjour!

Welcome back from Spring Break and Easter.  I hope you are all well-rested and had a break filled with fun adventures.

Next week:
We will have a funny week due to interviews & a pro-d day.
Monday:  No school as teachers are going back to school to study the new curriculum.
Wednesday:  Early dismissal at 11:50, parent interviews in the afternoon
Thursday:  Early dismissal at 11:50, parent interviews in the afternoon
More details about interviews in the email.

Swimming:
Our swimming lessons will be starting this Thursday.  Thank you to those of you who are able to accompany us.  Please see the email for the chaperone schedule.  Remember that we will be walking to & from the pool so your child should be dressed appropriately.

Climbing:
On Thursday May 12th, we have been invited to attend a climbing activity in Central Saanich.  More information to come.  We will be requiring parent drivers for this outing.

Homework:
Spring is typically a time where children become more involved with after-school sports and activities, all of which contribute to make them the special little people they are.  I recognize it can be difficult to juggle school demands when the weather brightens up.  Before Spring Break I noticed that marks on Spelling and Dictées were starting to slide, so I have decided to stop our weekly quizzes for this year.

That being said, there are still 3 full months of school left and we have lots left to learn!  I know your time is valuable at home so would like students to focus on the most important stuff at home.  If my mind this is what it is:

• Reading:  Please continue to give your child the gift of reading by reading at least 10 minutes a day in French.  Continue with English reading at home also.  If you would like me to connect your child with either French or English books, from the classroom or library, please write me a note in your child's agenda.  Just so you know, at this age students are usually better readers in English than in French.  Ask your child to read a bit out loud and make it sound expressive.  Model what it should sound like, it's fun!

• Math:  Jump Math practice.  Also - the good old addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts.  Students who know how to add/subtract numbers to 20 (without a ruler or counting on their fingers) are able to apply these skills to all numbers above 20.  They are more confident and attentive in Math lessons.  Playing games involving counting (dice, cards) are a good way to practice these skills.

As for words, we will continue our word studies in class.  In French we will study thematic words to do with the plant world, and continue with the Spelling units in English.

Math:
We will be diving into multiplication next week.  Students will be making multiplication flashcards for numbers to 10 x 10.  We will be using them in class and I encourage students to also practice them at home, in the car, ...  Knowing multiplication facts is a skill they can keep forever.  I know from past experience that I will not be able to proofread all flashcards, so please take a quick look at them at home to make sure they are correct.