September is flying by! We have been busy setting the stage for success this year in many ways. We have had many opportunities to share about ourselves and learn about each other which has helped to strengthen our classroom community. We are getting into routines and learning classroom and school expectations to help us be role models. We have been focusing on having a positive attitude and a growth mindset. With all these important foundational skills in place, we are sure to have a wonderful year together! 😊
🍎 Learning Updates
Here are some quick updates about what we have been focusing on in class lately:
📊 Math - Graphing
We have started our year off with our data and graphing unit in math. We have been busy collecting data (information), building various types of graphs (bar graphs and line plots), and interpreting the data to form observations and conclusions about our graphs. We have completed many class surveys and created graphs together that organize our data about some of our favourite things!
📚 Language Arts - Reading & Writing Skills
We have been working on many different skills during our literacy time! We are engaging in daily reading time with our classroom library books and have been signing out home reading books from our school library each week. We have explored various reading options on our class website, including RAZ Kids, Epic Books, and Teach Your Monster To Read! Copies of your child's login cards have been sent home this week. All of the website links and class codes can be found on our class website as well.
We have also been reviewing important writing habits, such as proper printing, capitals, and punctuation. Our daily writing practice has included journal writing and how-to writing skills. We are focusing on the importance of writing steps and instructions in a logical order with clear details. We are using words like “first, next, then, last” to provide order to our writing. Challenge your child to write instructions for an activity at home, such as a chore, recipe, craft, or game.
🌏 Social - Map Skills
We have been learning about where we belong in the world by exploring our school, neighbourhood, city, province, country, and so on! We have been comparing maps and globes, learning about continents and oceans, as well as using the compass rose to determine directions! Google Maps is a great way to explore our world and see how neighbourhoods, cities, provinces, and so on are related! We have been enjoying virtual field trips while we practice our mapping skills and learn more about our world. Try helping your child explore and explain where they live on Google Maps, and maybe even go for a trip somewhere special!
🔎 Science - Rocks & Minerals Coming Soon!
In Grade 3, we alternate months learning about Social and Science. In September, we start with Social Studies and then move onto Science in October, and then back and forth each month from there. We really find this helps students manage and retain all of the concepts and vocabulary for each unit of study. Our first Science unit will be all about Rocks & Minerals! Stay tuned!
🎨 Art - Check out our fabulous fall paintings that we created today!
📸 More class photos can be found here:
https://grade3ferguson.weebly.com/photos.html
📋 School Engage Form Updates
A friendly reminder from the School Office - registration update forms are now available online. Please take a few minutes to fill out this form for your students. These forms are extremely important, as this is how you update your contact information with the school. This form also includes our FOIP and Use of Technology forms. Please log in to your Parent PowerSchool account. From PowerSchool, you must click the link to School Engage to access forms for your students. Please note that this program works much better on a laptop or desktop computer. If you are having issues with your log in, please contact the school office at 780-532-1321 or email at [email protected].
💻 Quick Links
Sign Up For Monthly Riverstone School Newsletters Here:
https://www.gppsd.ab.ca/school/riverstone/Pages/default.aspx#/=
October School Newsletter Link:
https://mailchi.mp/c23239dc9a65/riverstone-october-newsletter?e=52ea1c054c
Riverstone School Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/RiverstoneGPPSD/
Riverstone Parents Society Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/Riverstoneparentssociety/
Riverstone School Parents Society Podcast
"So Your Kid Goes To School"
https://www.buzzsprout.com/253990
📚 Library Reminder
School library books are due on Monday or Tuesday mornings so new books can be selected during our library block on Tuesday afternoon. Please return the library books in their large labeled library bag. Thank you in advance!
📅 Important Upcoming Dates
🍂 September
Monday 28th - Munchalunch - Pizza Hut
-Order Link: munchalunch.com/schools/riverstone
Wednesday 30th - Orange Shirt Day
🎃 October
Monday 5th & Tuesday 6th - Picture Day - More Information Coming Soon
Friday 9th - School Spirit Day - Wear School Colours & Ravens Gear
Monday 12th - Thanksgiving - No School
Friday 23rd - PL Friday - No School for Students
Monday 26th - Munchalunch - McDonalds
-Order Link: munchalunch.com/schools/riverstone
Saturday 31st - Happy Halloween!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 😊