Today we watched a video and talked about Terry Fox. We will be running tomorrow in memory of Terry and others who have been affected by cancer. Tonight talk with your child about Terry and people who like him who are making a difference and make the world a better place.

FYI 
- Field trip forms and fees invoices were sent home today.
- Photo day is October 17th. We are at Ralph Klein Park that day, but will have our photos taken before our departure.
- Terry Fox run is tomorrow morning. Assembly starts at 8:30. Families are welcome to join us!

Today we read a book that helped us learn about Orange Shirt Day. Our school will be acknowledging this special day next Monday, October 1st. Ask us to tell you what we learned about Orange Shirt Day and why it is important.

This afternoon we watched a short video and created a Visual Journal page showing how nature recycles. We learned about decomposers, producers and consumers. Which one do you think we are? Which one is the most important?

Reminders: 

- Fun Lunch Thursday

- Terry Fox run Friday morning. Assembly starts at 8:30

We are still looking for volunteers for our 4 day field trip to Ralph Klein Park. We are going October 15, 16, 17, and 18. If you're able to help out one or a combination of these days please email Mrs Cose at amcose@cbe.ab.ca  Your help is very much appreciated!

Thank you again to all of the families who came in for conferences last week. If you were not able to come in, but would like to, please contact Mrs. Cose to arrange a time.

Today we started doing some group research about Waste in our world. We are investigating how people and nature recycle, and what we should be doing with our waste. We watched a video about how Calgary recycles - you can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhv-Dv9h3J4

In math we made a birthday graph, and later this week we will create graphs using the data collected from last week's homework. We compared two characters from the novel we have been reading, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

Reminders:
- Fun Lunch Thursday
- Terry Fox Run Friday - Families are welcome to join us!
- Volunteers are needed for our upcoming trip to Ralph Klein Park. If you are able to help out the week of October 15th please email Mrs. Cose.

amcose@cbe.ab.ca

Happy Thursday!

We are looking forward to conferences today and tomorrow. Students have been working hard getting to know each other and getting off to a great start in Grade 4. Please plan to visit our Usbourne Book fair and take a walk by the lost and found while you are here.

If you have a chance over the weekend check out the Doors Open YYC event, https://www.doorsopenyyc.org/ You can visit a wastewater plant, compost facility, and many other interesting places in Calgary. If you go, take some photos to share with us next week!

Reminders:
- Fun /Lunch next Thursday
- Terry Fox run next Friday

Today we read the book, Flight School, by Lita Judge. We discussed how the penguin character took chances because he wanted to fly, and even though it didn't work out how he had planned, he was glad he had tried. This reminds us that we all need to take chances and try  new things.

Reminders:

- Conferences this week

- Early dismissal Thursday and No school Friday

- We are looking for volunteers for an upcoming Field trip, October 15-18. If you are be able to help please let Mrs.Cose know at conferences. If you do not have a current police check there is still time to get this done before the trip (they are good for 5 years). Contact Mrs. Kulba in the office and she will help you. 

Happy Monday!

Today we worked on descriptive writing about Autumn. We were focusing on starting our sentences in interesting ways, adding descriptive details, and grouping like ideas.

In math we worked with increasing patterns and began using t-charts to represent them. In Science we kicked off our focus on Waste in our World by investigating the garbage, recycling and compost bins from a few of the classrooms in our school. We were surprised what we found in them. Ask us to tell you what we noticed!

Reminders:

- Fun Lunch next week

- Terry Fox run date has changed to Friday, September 26

- Run club starts today and is held Monday and Wednesdays

- Choir starts tomorrow and is on Tuesdays and Thursday
- Conferences Thursday and Friday
- Early dismissal Thursday, no school on Friday

Today we spent time sketching plants and some artifacts collected on our walk around the school grounds earlier this week. We started with timed sketches that made us realize how much more detail we could add when given more time, and when we take the time to stop and look closely at things. In the coming weeks we will be developing nature journaling skills and techniques to prepare us for an upcoming multi-day off-site experience at Ralph Klein Park. 

**PARENTS-we will be looking for 5 volunteers to join our class each day October 15, 16,17, and 18. If you could please check your calendars and let me know your availability at conferences next week that would be greatly appreciated.**

Reminders:

- Blue forms and choir forms need to be returned

- Book orders due Friday

- Please send appropriate indoor shoes for PE that can stay at school

Today we worked on identifying the difference between two numbers, and extending a pattern rule. We played an independent game called, "Roll a Rule" where we rolled two dice and used one for the "rule" and one for the starting number. This is a game you can play at home! You could also try playing it with cards by drawing 2 cards.  

Most of us finished our "All about me" poems and they look great! Families this is one of the things you can look forward to seeing when you come in for conferences next week. Bookings open on Thursday for conferences on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

Reminders:
- Conferences and book fair next week
- Early dismissal NEXT Thursday and no school NEXT Friday.
- Book orders are due Friday.
- Choir forms due by Monday

Homework:
If you can find any interesting leaves for us to study bring them to school tomorrow :)

 Today we further explored what it means to be a photojournalist. We studied the photos we took yesterday and brainstormed more ideas and  words that could be used to describe what we had seen. Then we worked collaboratively with our groups to select 6 images that best answered the question: How does nature change through the seasons?

We had both music and PE today. Choir forms will be sent home tomorrow and need to be returned by Monday. Choir will start on September 18th and be every Tuesday and Thursday at lunch.

In math today we talked about increasing patterns and skip counting. It is always a good idea to practice skip counting and basic facts at home. This will really help your child work with numbers as concepts and number values become more complex.

Remember: 
- Book orders are due Friday
- The weather in Calgary is always changing. Please send appropriate clothing for whatever mother nature may send our way (snow in the forecast this week!).

Happy Monday!

Today we discussed what Photojournalists do and brainstormed things that they would have to consider in their work. Our initial thoughts were that they needed to think about:

What is important in this moment?

What is appropriate to tell?

What should I document?

How would I best document this moment?

What is a good subject?

What should be added or in and what is not important?

And to always remember: Timing, preparedness, patience

After our discussion we took a walk around our school grounds, taking photos to document answers to question: WHERE DO YOU SEE SIGNS OF SEASONS CHANGING? This was a kick off to our inquiry work this term as we consider how photos tell stories and how they can be used to learn about people and places.

Reminders/FYI:

- Book orders are due by Friday

- Terry Fox and Fun Lunch (pizza) is on September 27

- Orange Shirt day on October 1st

- All forms need to be returned ASAP "If it's blue bring it back!"

Today we did a See, Think, Wonder study of this picture. Activities such as this are an integral part of learning to look critically at images and the world around us. Do you have any photos that could inspire us or lead to a conversation? We'd love to see them!

Reminders:
- all information sheets need to be returned ASAP
- book orders are due next Friday. Orders can be placed online by accessing the parent section or scholastic.ca
- Our first Fun Lunch is scheduled for September 27. Fun Lunch orders can be placed on Healthyhunger.ca 

Today we had a wonderful visit to New Brighton Pond observing the birds, listening to the insects and noticing all of the plants that grow there.

In Math we worked on representing ourselves in numbers and later we created self portraits using loose parts. Can you guess who these guys are?

Ms. Nanavaty taught us a new game in PE called "The West Wind Blows".


FYI -

A package of forms were sent home today. Please return ASAP. 

Also book order forms and an offer from Chickadee magazine (even if you are not interested please sign and return so we can get a prize from them). These should be returned by next Friday.

Today we were challenged to find reasons why each of the numbers did not belong in the chart. Activities such as this help to develop number sense, mental math and mathematical reasoning. Can you find another reason why one of the numbers might not belong in the chart?

We also worked on creating optical illusion art, creating loose parts pictures, getting along in PE and we had music!

Reminders:
We are planning to walk to New Brighton Pond tomorrow morning. Please send appropriate outdoor clothing.

We had a fantastic first day in Grade 4!

We were excited to explore our new classroom and meet new friends. We spent our day doing some get to know you activities, playing math games, sketching and exploring loose parts.

Our whole school is reading the book, What do you do with a chance? Today we read the book and discussed what we would like to take a chance with in Grade 4. Tonight try having a conversation about chances you have taken and how they turned out. We will be asking students to share examples of chances they have taken over the next few weeks. Think about what you are going to take a chance on tomorrow :)

Reminders:
- All students need indoor shoes for in school that should be appropriate for PE.
- Fun lunch orders can be placed through Healthy Hunger 

NOTICE:
We are planning to walk to New Brighton Pond on Thursday morning. If you would prefer your child not participate in this activity please contact me at amcose@cbe.ab.ca