Thank you for your donations for poppies. They are still available if you wish to get one for your child. Please have your child wear his or her poppy - I suggest they put a small piece of tape on the sharp end of the pin to prevent accidental pokes or poppies coming out and being lost.

In Religion the Grade 3s are discussing managing feelings through reflection of Catjholic values and consideration of others' needs. The Grade 4s are discussing those they need for comfort or assistance. Both grades are relating learning how the Catholic community they live in is like a family whose members help one another. Reinforce this idea when giving advice, help, or comforting your child. Try to catch your child helping others too! Grade 4s also continue to explore their bibles through scavenger hunts. Try asking your child to look up a book, chapter and verse (example: John 2:4). In Math the Grade 3s will be tested on skills at using number patterns to add and subtract in their heads. Give your son or daughter problems like those on the practice sheets to solve with tree diagrams or number lines using the make ten strategy, add tens then ones strategy, or other strategies that help solve problems mentally. They begin studying two-dimensional figures and their features (angles, side lengths...). The grade 3s are studying in Science how animals such as moles, ants and worms aerate soils. Erosion and weathering is being reviewed with the grade 4s along with strategies to limit it (windbreaks, landscape fabric...). Have your child bring home Science notes to review with you on an evening that you are not too busy (I know, I know!). Since units are long in Science, reviewing notes is worth doing once a week. In our Magical Land of Staff Music audio story, the "note" people (whole, half, quarter and eighth note kids) are creating noise in place of music, now that their king and queen are missing. Mr.Bass Clef and Mrs. Treble Clef arrive to save the day. Through this part of the story, students practice reading conventional musical notes, define terms used (staccato, decrescendo...), and reflect on the role of music in shaping our ideas and feelings. The Grade 3s Healthy Living study continues with tooth health care. The key nutrients (fats, carbohydrates, proteins...) and how we make choices are being discussed through diet goals and chllenge questions in Grade 4 . Ask why your Grade 3 child the names of the teeth and what each is used for, and the parts of a tooth and how a cavity is formed. Ask why your Grade 4 child the names of the major nutrients, such as protein, and the most important role of each. For example, carbohydrates provide energy; simple ones give fast energy, while complex ones give longer-lasting energy). This week our Language Poetry study begins! Students have already created poems focusing on a word (theme) such as tiredness. Help your child to brainstrom ideas for a topic (all the reasons you could be tired, silly things you might do if tired) and think of a funny one for a last one (being so tired you can't remember why you're so tired, or being so tired of being tired!) Our Media projects should wrap up this week followed by presentations of  student iPad Pic Collage works.