La première année

 Edition # 16, le 29 janvier 2021

Valentines Update: Some important information was sent out from Administration last week regarding Valentines Day expectations this year.  I have copied and pasted Ms. White's email from last week below.  Due to COVID, the way we recognize Valentines this year must look very different than years past.  

We have been receiving questions about Valentine’s Day. To make it absolutely Covid friendly teachers are designing ways for children to share their kind words and wishes internally. We will create displays of appreciation for each other within our school using materials already present. Our messages will be spread throughout the school but no paper valentines will be exchanged. Our messages will remain visible for a lengthy period of time for students to see each day. This will help them be surrounded by a caring community of peers throughout February into March. We ask that no paper valentines be sent from home during this February.  Ms. White - Principal

The nuts and bolts of this message are clear: Please do not send paper Valentines, any food or small gifts to school to be distributed to classmates.  We realize this may be disappointing to some, but we will find fun ways to mark this occasion in class together, while keeping everyone safe!

Le coin français

Students have been having a fun time learning about complex sounds in French. It is so exciting to see them making connections throughout the day, whether it is in daily speaking or listening to stories, where the suddenly yell, "Mme, voilà le son!". 

Here are some the complex sounds we have been learning and using to make sentences using our new sentence starters.  Ask your child to share a few words they now know for each sound pictured below. 

 

                          

Les mathématiques

This week we continued to build our math vocabulary by looking at all the elements used to talk about addition.  We used the FRAYER MODEL to brainstorm definitions, characteristics, examples and non-examples. 

                                                                    

Education Physique

C'est temps pour le hockey!  Students started a hockey unit at the beginning of the month in  Phys. Ed and have certainly been having a lot of fun.  Each "practice" starts with a warm up, safety review followed by skills and drills.  We've really learned the importance of "sticks on the ice" - les bâtons sûr la glace!  Ask you child to tell you what "une position athlétique" looks like and why is is important. Get them to show you how to properly hold a stick and if they are 

"un droitier ou un gauchier"? 

Students got to play some fun games to build their skills such as Red Light, Green Light and Pass, Pass, Shoot, partner passing and more. Next week we begin game play and Mme Ireland will set up three "rinks" for different levels of play. Action shots to follow! 

 

          

Potpourri

We are getting ready for Carnaval de Tuscany and it's time to start freezing those ice blocks. The weather is supposed to go above zero this weekend, so maybe put those blocks in the freezer.  More details to follow next week about Carnaval events, but we will be constructing our class "palais de glace" on Tuesday, February 9th.  Mme Ireland has provided a few examples of what types of containers to use. Please do not freeze 4L milk jugs, they just don't work as well as rectangular shapes or round. Merci!

Les bouleux d'hiver

Today's art project was enjoyed by all. Students use watercolours and painter's tape to create this lovely "birch trees at alpenglow" scene. 

 

Edition # 15, le 22 janvier 2021 - la première année 1D

Le coin français

Oral language presentations begin on Monday, January 25th.  Please bring your presentation sheet and any artefacts you would like to share on Monday.  We will do a random draw everyday to see who will present.  Soyez-prêts les amis! 

Library School

We concluded our week of Library School today and want to thank Leanne Hooper for her enthusiasm in guiding us through virtual Library School.  That's a first! Thanks to Cenovus Energy for supporting this program and of course all the guest speakers, facilitators, librarians, artists and authors we got to "meet" this week. Mme Suzanne (a.k.a Mme Franco-Fun) taught us a lot about the Francophone History of Alberta and Calgary and students really enjoyed their tour of Rouleauville Square in Downtown Calgary and learning about the pioneers of French Language in our province. There were also a few "furry" mascots that we were introduced to, like "Hello and Bonjour" and Brise-bois! Our virtual tours of the Central Library and Memorial Park Library were super cool and we can't wait to visit these places in person when it is safe to do so. Ask your child to tell you about one interesting feature they remember from either of these iconic Libraries. 

Throughout the week, students explored the BIG question "What is my story?" Qu'est ce que c'est mon histoire? and there were many opportunities to explore this question through stories, walking field trips, journalling, songs, games and loose parts play. Here are a few photo highlights.

   

Journalling our "community story".

 

Meeting Mme Suzanne (Mme Franco-fun) and how we are now part of Calgary's French History, As French Immersion students, we are now part of this story. How cool is that? 

 

Touring the Central Library and the amazing spaces, art and books.                  

We loved the bookscalator and the behind the scenes tour!
 

Recreating our Library School highlights using loose parts.

 

Potpourri

Community Quilt - Nous sommes tous uniques!

As promised, the community quilt is ready for viewing.  Check out our process and final product in the video below.  Bravo tout le monde! It is a true masterpiece! 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17-0LiEBSvLTUEIA6qnttnaZ31gXhbFoE/view

Valentines Update: There is some important information coming from Administration regarding Valentines Day. Please check your school messenger email for this update around expectations for a COVID safe celebration. See Ms. White's message below

We have been receiving questions about Valentine’s Day. To make it absolutely Covid friendly teachers are designing ways for children to share their kind words and wishes internally. We will create displays of appreciation for each other within our school using materials already present. Our messages will be spread throughout the school but no paper valentines will be exchanged. Our messages will remain visible for a lengthy period of time for students to see each day. This will help them be surrounded by a caring community of peers throughout February into March. We ask that no paper valentines be sent from home during this February.

 

Just a reminder about physical distancing after school; please note that while some may be unmasked while picking up their children from outside, we need to remember to honor the 6’ distance when unmasked. This will help us all respect each other during our ongoing challenge with keeping numbers low. I appreciate your attention and thoughtfulness around this request.

 

Stay safe, stay warm and enjoy the sunshine.

 

Cindy White

Principal, Tuscany School

Parking Lot Snowbank and Playgrounds: Just a few reminders on safety in and around the school. Please remember that the snowbank at the far end of the staff parking lot is not a safe place to play.  Please discourage your children from playing in the parking lot. Try a safer space on the other side of the fence. 

The two school playgrounds are not accessible before and after school, as per CBE COVID protocols. Please make your way to the far community playground south of our two main playgrounds if you feel the need to exercise your body. 

Edition # 14 - La première année 1D

Edition # 14, le 15 janvier 2021

Le coin français

This week was spent celebrating the wonderful "livrets" C'est l'hiver that students created during the first week back online.   It has been wonderful to see students express their ideas orally and through written work, that blends science and FLA. 

                                                                                                   Mme Ireland has been busy "testing" students on their syllable knowledge and mots globaux and Mme gave students new games for their book boxes to help reinforce skills. Keep up the good work everyone. The January Oral Language presentations will begin January 25th, so please keep sheets at home and practice leading up to Jan 25th. All students will return sheets on this date and we will do a random draw of students to share daily throughout the week. 

Les mathématiques

We reviewed our homework from our week of on-line learning and talked about our different strategies for solving the addition problems. We discovered that there are many ways to count and arrive at the same answer.  

Education Physique/Santé 

What fun we had outdoors today avec les "raquettes".  Students enjoyed testing out our school snowshoes and exploring the school yard like a snowshoe hare.  We saw lots of evidence today, like diggings and scat, but no hares! Where could they be?  

 

Students also learned about the "Panneau de résolution" and how it can be used in three simple steps to problem solve at school and home.  We did some fun "skits" to act out scenarios and practice the skills. Try acting out a skit at home and have some fun.  

              

Potpourri

CENOVUS LIBRARY SCHOOL 

We are pretty excited about CENOVUS Library School next week and meeting Mme Leanne from the Central Library. She will be working with us all week (virtually) as well as a number of community experts, storytellers and francophone historians to explore our BIG question " What is my story"?

Qu'est ce que c'est mon histoire 

La première année - 1D

 Edition # 14, le 8 janvier 2021. 

BRAVO!   

Well done everyone for a successful week of online learning.  I am however looking forward to your return to in person learning as soon as possible.  I had to work from home the last two days because the classroom was very cold without my 22 little friends in the room! 

Please bring back ALL learning materials/completed assignments with your name written on each sheet as we will be spending some time correcting and reviewing the work in class next week. 

Please also remember to return your library books so Mrs. Mansey can get those back into circulation.

Finally, please send a set of headphones or earbuds, clearly marked in a ziploc bag with your name on it to school on Monday.  We will be starting our new literacy/listening center activities and a set of headphones/earbuds are required.  If you can not provide a set, please contact Mme Ireland so arrangements can be made. Merci!

Le coin français 

Students were introduced to a new oral language project for the month of January.  The focus is on "Mon école".  Information is posted in the Google Classroom along with an instructional video for students to consult and help guide their learning. 

Students are also finishing up a writing assignment on the five senses in winter.  We look forward to sharing everyones "C'est l'hiver" livrets in class next week. 

Potpourri

Our dear Mr. Jorgensen is leaving us today for his new post as Assistant Principal as Wildwood School.  We will miss his friendly smile and kindness very much.  As a way of showing our thanks to Mr. J, I would like students to start thinking about some "Words of advice" that they can pass along to Mr. Jorgensen as he starts his job at a new school.  Think about what you might need to tell Mr. Jorgensen to remember at his new job? What might he need to do to be successful?  What might he need to know about kids?  What does he need to know to be good at his job? We will gather up these words of advice from grade one and present it to him during our virtual assembly on January 22, where he will be our guest of honour.