If your child had their photo taken on the second photography session in November (Retake Day) , please check your child's backpack for a copy of the proofs.  

Deadline for ordering  December 3rd.


 Parent-Teacher Conferences 

We are using the CBE Conference Program for booking Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday p.m.  and Friday a.m.. Parent may book their time starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, November 30th.   

Conference Manager Site :   https://webapps.cbe.ab.ca/MyAccount/Account/LogOn
or find on Vista Heights School web site

Reminder: Pita Lunch Tomorrow

Our young students were very excited to see the University of Calgary solar car. They asked the Engineering students lots of questions. Salah found out that the car could go very fast at 130 kph. 



 CP Holiday Train

Don’t miss Grammy award winning singer Sarah McLachlan performing at the annual CP Holiday Train at Anderson Station on Saturday December 7, 2013. 

This free concert will also feature The Tenors and Matt Dusk.n support of the Calgary Food Bank and hosted by Peter Mansbridge, the event begins with the opening of the North Pole Station at 4:00 p.m. followed by the concert, which begins at 5:00 p.m.Explore the North Pole Station and its family-oriented activities including Santa, ice carving and hot chocolate before the show begins.

Attendees are encouraged to take Calgary Transit to this event as parking is limited. The event is free, however attendees are asked to make a donation or bring non-perishable food items for the Calgary Food Bank.

For more information visit Canadian Pacific's Facebook Page. 

Our class read a beautiful book called 'First Snow in Winter'. It shows how the animals, that lived deep in the autumn woods, were getting ready for the year's first winter storm. The photographs were very helpful in leading our discussion on how wildlife creatures prepare for the change of fall into winter. As well , children were introduced to some of the local animals such as: fawn, doe, chickadee, chipmunks, mice, raccoon and the Owl.

If you had ordered student pictures from the first photography session in October, please check your child's backpack for the photos.

Monday November 25, 2013

Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences will be held next week, Thursday evening, December 5 and Friday morning , December 6.  Please use the information coming home today to book an interview time On-Line.

Pita Lunch Friday
Last Day to order a lunch for your child is Wednesday November 27
To order, please find 'Healthy Hunger' web link on the Vista Heights School site.


University of Calgary Solar Car Team Visit

We are excited to welcome the University of Calgary Solar Car Team to Vista Heights on Thursday November 28! Kindergarten students will have the opportunity to view the  Schulich Axiom solar car and ask the engineering students their questions 

A Media Release and Consent Agreement is being sent home. By signing these forms, parents are giving permission for their child to have their picture taken during this presentation. Pictures would only be used by the University of Calgary Solar Car Team for their website or future presentations. All students will participate in the learning opportunity; the consent for photos is optional. 

Please visit the University of Calgary Solar Car Team website, www.calgarysolarcar.ca, or contact Ms. Makowski at (403)777-6000 if you have any questions or require further information. 

We have reciting the verses from the book We're Going on a Bear Hunt. This is an imaginative story about a family on a hunt for a bear. Our young students have been reciting the predictable and repetitive patterns from the text.

We're going on a bear hunt.
We're going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day! We're not scared.

Oh-oh!   (obstacle)  
We can't go over it.
We can;t go under it.
We've got go through it!


 Professional Development Day on Friday November 22 
 No school for students

Reminder: Healthy Hunger 

Pita Lunch

In our effort to decrease our environmental footprint, we will be using an online ordering process for our next "special lunch" day. Information was sent home today with your child on how to order from www.healthyhunger.ca

Please visit this website for more information and to create a new account for your child.  https://www.healthyhunger.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=27

On our next "special lunch" day we will be having a Pita lunch - November 29 

The Kindergarten students had s very successful first lockdown. They listened attentively to the directions and were very quiet during the practice.  They even had a chance to play tag with Constable Dan before the drill.

Professional Development Day on Friday November 22 - No school for students

Extreme Pita Special Lunch for November 29, 2013 - Information going home today. Please read the notice explaining how to access the online ordering process.  To support families who may not have access to a computer or internet at home, we have secured a laptop computer located in the staff room at our school. You are welcome to visit the school during 8:00 am to  3:30 pm to order a "Special Lunch" for your child. 



Reminder  Lockdown
Our school will be practicing a "lockdown" tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. 

We will be practicing when signaled students go directly to our safe spot
:  (our safe place is in our Block area)

Then we will sit quietly  until we are signaled by Mrs. Tracquair & Constable Dan
   

With this stretch of cold weather, we are wondering how do animals survive? Some animals 'hibernate' and some animals migrate. 

Can your child share the names of animals which hibernate / migrate? 

Please make sure that your child is dressed for these cold days.

Class Photo & Student Retakes tomorrow morning
All students will be in the class photo and receive a free class picture.

We have saved the pumpkin which we had carved into a jack o'lantern last month. A number of days ago  we had asked our students to think about 'What do you think will happen to the Pumpkin?' (Please have your child share their ideas from the following chart)

We will continue our observation of the decomposing pumpkin and share our findings with you in a future blog.

School Photos

Retakes on Tuesday November 19^th

Class pictures will also be taken on 

Tuesday, November 19^th

-All students will be in the class photo and each student receives a FREE class picture

Thank you for all of your well wishes. It's such a pleasure to be back at school and working wiht this wonderful group of young students.    M. Beattie

The Remembrance Day 

service is a very somber and respectful service. Throughout the week, we have been practicing for the national anthem and standing for the minute of silence. Today was only our second 
assembly and our Kindergarten students were simply superb! They listened attentively to all of the speakers 
and respectfully followed the directions. 




Thank you again for the donations of food and poppy money.



Remembrance Day Holiday  -  Monday, November 11th
Purdy chocolate orders due November 12th
Photo Retakes on November 19th

 As part of our author study and Remembrance Day, we read the Todd Parr book 'The Peace Book'.

Peace is helping your neighbour.
Peace is offering a hug to a friend.
Peace is having enough pizza for everyone in the world.
Peace is everyone having a home.




Thank you to all families for sending in non-perishable food items for the Veteran's Food Bank. Tomorrow will be the last day of collection.

Just a reminder that tomorrow will be our Remembrance Day Assembly at 10:45. Everyone is welcome to attend. We will be collecting donations for poppies in the morning - all students will receive a poppy to wear for the assembly.

Remembrance Day Holiday  -  Monday, November 11th
Purdy chocolate orders due November 12th
Photo Retakes on November 19th

Our Kindergarten students are studying books by the author and illustrator Todd Parr. His books are based on empowering children to feel good about themselves while learning about differences. We have encouraged students to identify his or her own unique physical characteristics. Then we used a template for the students to add colour to the face, a nose, mouth, hair, and accessories to create a self-portrait.

 

As well, we have using his illustration techniques to create our own art.  

Your family can visit him online at   www.toddparr.com

Today we practiced singing our national anthem and discussed the upcoming Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) assembly on Friday, November 8th at 10:45. In the morning of the assembly, the older students will come to our room to collect a donation of coins for the poppies which the students will wear during the service.All parents are welcome to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony on Friday morning. 

As well, every day this week, Vista Heights School will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Veteran's Food Bank.