May Newsletter in pdf format
April was “egg”-citing in our room! We have been busy studying rabbits, skunks and turkeys. We have been doing Easter activities and many Earth Day activities. The school ground clean- up on April 20th was most exciting. We enjoyed sharing our learning with your parents on Portfolio Night. It was great to see you all here. Singing at the festival was exciting this month. We are also having a presentation from Manitoba Forestry that celebrated trees. We are learning a tree song, reading tree books and making “tree cookies” the Lorax speaks for the trees but now so do the Kindergarten/Grade 1 students. We do care about our earth!
The grade 2/3 classes are wrapping up their Japan unit. They participated in a tea ceremony and enjoyed a Judo presentation. However, we still need to create a class book and write a haiku. The class also enjoyed their Bruce the Spruce presentation. They really liked when Abby dressed up as a lumberjack, when they were able to touch the different items, and when they got to see what was inside Bruce the Spruce. In Science, we got the chance to work with the grade 8 classroom to build a newspaper structure that was free standing and was over 1 meter tall.
The grade 4/5 class has started an author study of Roald Dahl this month. We have chosen a variety of his novels to read in groups, learned about the author’s life, and began writing our own Roald Dahl-like stories. It will be a “glumptious” time!
May will be a busy month in the grade 6/7 room. The grade 7 students are especially looking forward to their divisional ELA assessment this month. They will be taking place during the week of May 14th - 18th, 2012.
It was nice to see the parents at
student’s portfolio evening. Thank you for coming to celebrate your
child’s school experience.
In ELA, we’ve been viewing and responding to techniques used in the
world of advertising. Furthermore, we’ve been learning to respond
according to a rubric. Recently, students have selected a novel to study
and will be responding to it. A reminder that the ELA exam will be held
in the mornings of May 14-17.
Math is perimeter, area, volume and Pythagorean Theorem . The Roman Empire is the unit of study in Social and Science is all about density and buoyancy.
Badminton is done and track and field is next. Hey, there’s only two months left of Grade 8 at Balmoral School!!
Our team of 22 students from grade 4-8 has started training for our big run in June. On Wednesday, April 25 we went to Assiniboine Park for a kick off run which got everyone excited for the Marathon. Thank you to Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Fines, Mrs. Loewen and Mrs. Wheddon for driving us there! Thank you to Mrs. Willey for driving and for being the captain and pushing us hard!
Balmoral’s Annual Duck Race - May 6th
The annual duck race is fast
approaching. Do you have your duck??? If not contact any Hall Board
member for tickets.
We are publishing a new edition of the Duck Book again this year and the
students of Balmoral Elementary have again drawn pictures to illustrate
this book. We always get so many wonderful pictures and it is so hard to
pick the ones that will be in the book. It was a tough decision but the
students selected this year are:
Selected for the individual pages: Caleb F., Jacob F., Grace H., Chris F., Shaelynn W., Tiana T., Alexis F., Natasha B., Robyn T., Dallas B.
Selected for the cover: Emma M.
Selected for the inside cover: Michael C.
Selected for the acknowledgment page: Natalie T.
Selected for the back cover: Aaron L.
Our thanks to all the students who submitted pictures - you are all winners in our eyes! Make sure you come out and enjoy the duck race, the barbecue, duck cookies, Duck Dump, crafts, and brown bag auction on Sunday, May 6th - first race starts at 1 pm.
See you there!
On April 26th Balmoral School had a presentation from The Manitoba Forestry Association . They brought the forest and hands-on activities to the classroom. Students met “Bruce the Spruce” and explored the characteristics and needs of trees. Students also learned the different ways humans use trees. This presentation was part of our Earth Day celebrations. At the conclusion of the day we will all Think Trees!
Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre is offering weeklong camps for children ages 5 – 13 in July and August. Camp is filled with fun indoor and outdoor themed activities that could include scavenger hunts, canoe adventures, outdoor cooking and nature crafts. For more information on weekly themes or to register a camper please visit: http://www.oakhammockmarsh.ca , or call (204) 467-3300.
If parents are looking for summer camp information please check in at the office. We receive information and brochures from different camps and you are more than welcome to have a copy.
May and June are very busy months with many field trips planned. We will be sending home permission forms that require parent signatures and sometimes fees to be paid. Please fill out forms ASAP and return to the school. Post this calendar on your fridge as a handy reminder of the important dates. Also the weather will be warming up so please send hats for your children and sun screen if necessary.
Around the world, millions of children go to bed hungry every night. But it doesn't have to be that way. Last year, over 100,000 teens across the country did the World Vision 30 Hour Famine. They raised over $4.1 million to help children and communities in need around the world.
This year, Balmoral School will be joining them. The grades 6, 7 and 8 will be taking part in the Famine. Students will fast for 30 hours and spend the night at Balmoral School. By taking part in the 30 Hour Famine, Balmoral School will raise funds to help provide things like nutritious food, health care and education for children in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, India, Cambodia, and Pakistan.
During the Famine, students and
staff will fast for 30 hours, which lets everyone get a taste of what
millions of others go through every day. Students will have the
opportunity to have clear liquids and a bowl of white rice if needed.
The grade 7 & 8 classes will take a field trip to volunteer at Winnipeg
Harvest during the famine. This will be a great opportunity for service
learning.
In the month of May you may be ask if you would consider donating to support Balmoral School in the Famine. The good news is; a little money goes a long way: just $35 can purchase textbooks for a school in Haiti, $70 can provide school uniforms and learning materials to girls in N. Sudan, and $150 can build and furnish primary schools in N.Sudan.
This year, Balmoral School hopes to raise $500 to help children and families around the world. Any help you could provide us would be greatly appreciated. To donate now, click the following link: https://myfamine.worldvision.ca/Famine/Forms/PublicGroup.aspx?id=20896 If you need more information about the Famine and how it helps children around the world, please visit www.famine.ca or contact the school.
The Low Cost Bicycle Helmet Initiative is sorry to announce that because the helmets come from overseas there was a delay in shipping. They will be delivered to schools during the week of May 21-25. The Healthy Schools Team would like to thank you for your understanding.
8 TCI Students Aboriginal Presentation K-8
10 - Grade 8’s First Aid Course - Bookmobile
13 - Mother’s Day
15 - Grade 4 & 6 Immunizations
14 -17 - Gr. 7 & 8’s ELA Assessment
21 - Victoria Day-NO SCHOOL
30 -31 - 30 Hour Famine
31 - PICK UP ONLY FOR ALL BOOKMOBILE BOOKS
31 - Grade 7 & 8’s Winnipeg Harvest Tour
31 - Kindergarten Information Meeting 7 p.m. for 2012 students
June 1 - Track and Field
4 - Track and Field Rain date
6 - Clean Air Day
14&15 - Math Assessment
20 - Tabloid Day
22 - Last day for Grades 7 & 8’s
26 - Last day for Grades K-6
26 - Awards Day @ 9:30 a.m. in the Gym
27-29 - Admin. Days
Fresh approaches keep new ideas flowing.