Have a Fantastic Summer!

Just one quick final note to wish everyone a fantastic summer break!

It has been a great year, and like I told the kids yesterday, one that I will not soon forget.  Thank you to everyone for the lovely gifts and for the opportunity to teach your children - they were a great crew, and I'm sure their shining personalities and talents will only enhance their new schools next year!

The Countdown is on...eeek!

And so it is that we find ourselves racing into the final full week of grade four....wow has the time flown by, seems like only yesterday I was learning names and handing our school supplies and now I find myself collecting supplies and completing final report cards!  To say this year was great would be an understatement.  To use an analogy from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this year was my Golden Ticket, in that we could cruise through curriculum and tackle new content without much fuss at all.  Behaviour concerns were almost nonexistent, and friendship and respect for others was held in high esteem which made me ecstatic as it opened up so many opportunities for collaboration and cooperative learning in class.  It has been a great year and our goal is to finish strong and run straight through the finish line on June 28th!

A quick reminder to get your permission forms and fees in for the upcoming Fort Edmonton year end field trip on June 28th.  At present we still have eleven students with paperwork and fees outstanding.

In terms of upcoming news and events, here's what is on the plate this week:

In Math we will be continuing with measurement and working further with the concept of telling time.  A prep booklet for this week's unit exam will be coming home to allow for further at-home practice.  The unit exam on Thursday will look at concepts related to finding perimeter, area and time.

In Language Arts we will be having our final year end review spelling test comprised of 51 words on Friday.  The list is available online at https://www.spellingcity.com/MrTHenderson4H/.  This week we will also be completing our final STAR reading assessment related to measuring reading fluency and comprehension on Wednesday morning (June 22).  Lastly we will be wrapping up our final novel study, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and then hopefully having an opportunity to compare the novel to the movie during the morning on June 27th.

In Science we will be wrapping up our final Plant Life Cycle activities and prepping for the unit exam on Thursday.

In Social Studies we have wrapped up all our activities and will be reviewing throughout the week in preparation for the Unit Test on Wednesday.

In Phys. Ed we will continue to attend the Red Cross @ School swimming lessons every day this week.  In watching last week's classes the kids are all doing very well and have all had the opportunity to make progress and refine their skills.

Lastly as this is the final week we will completing our final classroom clean up on Friday, June 24th.  Please send your child with a couple plastic bags to help them bring home all their various supplies and books - everything goes home on Friday.

Upcoming Dates
June 20 - Safety Smarts Presentation
June 22 - Social Studies Unit Exam
June 23 - Math Unit Exam: Measurement
June 23 - Science Unit Exam: Plant Life Cycles
June 24 - Year End Review Spelling Test
June 24 - Grade 4 Farewell Assembly: Afternoon assembly @ 12:45PM.  Our students will be performing during the assembly.
June 27 - RBES FUN Day (we're swimming in the morning so send swimsuits/towels)
June 28 - Fort Edmonton Park field trip
June 28 - Final Report Cards sent home today
June 29 - Summer Vacation starts today!

Fort Edmonton Park

Just a quick reminder that the online permission form and trip fee payment are currently "live" and available to be completed.  Ideally we would like everyone to have their permission forms and fees submitted no later than June 23rd, as this gives us June 24th to get organized with the sorting and arranging of groups.

Come Tuesday, June 28th we are on the bus and headed to the Fort by 8:40 AM.  Students WILL NEED TO PACK A LUNCH for the trip and ensure that they dress for the weather conditions as we will be outdoors a good portion of the day.

Week in Review: June 10th edition

It's now been a couple days for everyone to recover from the fun and excitement that was our Drumheller Adventure 2016 edition.  The various experiences that the students all got to take part in at the museum, and the coal mine, worked to do far more than simply reinforce our Social Studies themes; the experience of the day's and evening's activities worked to develop self-independence, friendship skills, teamwork and the ability to cooperate to solve challenges - and in some cases served as the catalyst to overcoming personal fears and "obstacles" that had been in place for years!  Our class remained outstanding role models and represented Robina Baker Elementary with their best foot forward.  It was another great adventure and definitely one that will stay with me long after my Robina Baker day's are through.

In breaking news...Mrs. Kloschinsky's weekly update from last week was a tough one to read as it marked the official "release" of the news of my departure from Robina Baker Elementary at the conclusion of this school year.  I have accepted a transfer to the new West Haven Public School in Leduc for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year as it will allow me to continue moving forward in my career and also permit me to be closer to my own family who reside in Leduc.  I have absolutely enjoyed my time in Devon and working the students of Robina Baker, the transition to a new school will undoubtedly feel different as this has been my "home" for 12 years!  Wow time flies when you're having fun!!

In terms of curriculum this last week...

In Math we continue to work with our measurement unit.  A homework package involving perimeter and the calculating of area will be coming home.  We will be looking at the measuring of liquids and also comparing units of measurement this coming week.

In Language Arts we continue to work through our study of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. We are using the story to help us further develop comprehension strategies; improve our reading fluency; practice our reading with expression and attention to punctuation; and also using the story to identify different writing traits and parts of language.

In Social Studies our field trip really helped the students see how Alberta's history from a loooooooog time ago (i.e. millions of years ago) and the role the dinosaurs played in Alberta's economy.  It was fun watching the kids as they learnt more about how the physical environment of Alberta has changed from once a giant prehistoric ocean to a lush, green jungle to the type of physical environment you see today.

Here is a link to some pictures from the various activities we experienced on our Drumheller field trip:  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B74so_lUq5PedzRiWVZabzN4XzA

* Copy and paste URL into your browser

Upcoming Dates:

June 13 - 24: Red Cross Swim @ School lessons 

• We will be swimming every day.  Please remember to send swimsuits and towels.  
• We swim daily at 11:00AM in case anyone wants to come and watch their "little fish" taking part in their lessons.

June 15 - Volunteer Appreciation Tea: 8:15AM - 9:15AM  Anyone and everyone who volunteered is welcome to attend.

June 17 - Spelling Test #38
June 20 - Safety Smarts Presentation
June 21 - Social Studies Unit Exam
June 22 - Math Unit Exam: Measurement
June 22 - Science Unit Exam: Plant Life Cycles
June 24 - Grade 4 Farewell Assembly: Afternoon assembly @ 12:45PM.  Our students will be performing during the assembly.
June 27 - RBES FUN Day (we're swimming in the morning so send swimsuits/towels)
June 28 - Fort Edmonton Park field trip
June 28 - Final Report Cards sent home today
June 29 - Summer Vacation starts today!

Craft Material Request

Our industrious class is working hard on a building craft that requires them to bring a CLEAR PLASTIC 2L POP BOTTLE with them to class on Tuesday, June 7th.  Please rinse the bottles and then send them with your child to class that morning.

The Busy Month of June

Well here are at just weeks away from the conclusion of what has been a great year with a great crew of kids!  As I sit and type I can not help but reflect on the many laughs and achievements that have occurred throughout the year...I have always believed that linking emotion (hopefully humour) to our many classroom concepts helps the students to better connect with the information and hopefully internalize it for later use beyond the unit test.  With the few weeks we have left we will undoubtedly remain busy wrapping up units in all subjects, getting in the final grade assessments, visiting some dinosaurs, taking the plunge at pool for some awesome PE classes, and of course enjoying the fun of...summer fun day!  So hold for a busy month!

In our course work we are currently studying the following topics/completing these activities:

In Math we have wrapped up our unit on Data Analysis and are now transitioning into our final topic, Measurement.  Our the next few weeks we will be looking at linear measurement, capacity, weight and time as it relates to measurement.  Everyone is eager to jump right into it so I imagine time will be well spent.

In Language Arts we will be completing our monthly STAR reading assessments and using the collected data to reassess, in collaboration with the students, individual reading goals.  Creative writing will remain a focus with writing assessments being taken over the next couple weeks in terms of idea formation, story planning, writing conventions, sentence variety and word choice.

In Science we will continue to study the Life Cycles of Plants and will be continuing to look at the development of plants and how they grow and develop.  Our Tower Garden Project is growing like crazy and based on appearance from our last visit, it will soon be harvest time - and then soup making time!

In Social Studies our study of cultural celebrations and traditions continues.  It is neat seeing the kids making the connections between past cultural traditions and celebrations, and traditions/celebrations that their families currently continue to practice.  

In Phys. Ed. we have been working through our track and field unit and all the students have been able to take part in shuttle events, ball throws, and running long jump practice.  Everyone had a great time and it provided some extra practice for the twelve students from our class who were taking part in the division track and field meet.  For the next few days we will be working through baseball and trying to get outside as much as possible to develop and practice our throwing and batting skills, as well as refine our understanding of the formal rules of baseball and how the game is played.

Come June 13th we will be heading over to the Devon swimming pool to take part in the Red Cross Swimming @ School program whereby the students will be actively participating in formal lessons.  

The introduction of lessons is something new and one which the staff feels will be of benefit to kids; it also more accurately aligns with the Alberta PE curriculum which mandates formal instruction take place in alternate learning environments, i.e. the swimming pool or arena, in our case.

With the swimming program all parents wishing for their child to participate will need to do the following two items:
1) COMPLETE THE REQUIRED PERMISSION FORM ON POWERSCHOOL.  Currently have seven students without consent forms.

2) COMPLETE THE SWIMMING LEVEL SURVEY to identify their child's level of swimming ability.  This information is used to ensure your child is placed into the correct swimming lesson. The registration link for parents is 

https://docs.google.com/a/gshare.blackgold.ca/forms/d/1aNwoOscXDlW4KOuuwS15p3a_R11jlmpdirOpotpfkpw/viewform  

If you are unsure what lesson level your child is at, here is a comparison chart to help identify where your child is lesson-wise.

Beginner = Swim Kids 1-3

Intermediate = Swim Kids 4-6

Advanced =  Swim Kids 7-10

If you have not completed both parts of the registration process please do so as soon as possible to ensure you child is able to participate and in the correct level of lessons.  

Thank you!

Important Dates

June 2 - Division Track and Field Meet @ RMS

June 3 - Spelling Test #36
June 7 - RMS Transition Event #2 at Riverview Middle School

June 9/10 - Drumheller-Royal Tyrrell Field Trip

June 13-24 - Red Cross Swimming @ School Lessons at Devon Pool

June 20 - Safety Smarts Presentation at RBES

June 21 - Social Studies Unit Exam

June 22 - Math Unit Exam

June 22 - Science Unit Exam

June 27 - School Fun Day

June 28 - Last Day of School: Final Report Cards sent home today

Bike Safety "Rodeo" Information

On Friday, May 26th all the students at Robina Baker will be taking part in a "Bike Rodeo" over at the Dale Fisher Arena during their regular phys.ed classes.  With the rodeo taking place at the arena students will need to have a permission form submitted prior to their being able to participate.  

The permission form is currently available on Powerschool if you have not yet submitted a form for your child.

During the rodeo the students will be competing in a variety of different events that will test their riding skills and ability to navigate different riding challenges.  With this year's rodeo the students will be taking part in the following events:

• a "slow race"
• a zig-zag course
• Figure 8 riding
• Long Roll challenge
• "Stop on a dime" event
• Paperboy Relay

The day's events should make for a great day.  If you are interested in volunteering to help marshal a station during our classes rodeo slot, our crew will be headed over to the arena at 2:25PM until 3:06.  All are more than welcome to come and cheer on our riders!