Thank you grade 5/6 students for an amazing school year! Mrs. Calvert and Ms. Makowski appreciate your hard work, perseverance and positive attitude toward learning this year! It was a pleasure to teach and learn with you, and we wish you the best of luck in your future studies!

Enjoy your summer!

Reminders:
- Report cards are being sent home today!
- Today is the last day of classes - classes resume Tuesday September 1st
- Appeals Day is Tuesday June 30th

Thank you for joining us for the Stampede Breakfast this morning! We enjoyed celebrating the school year with family, friends and a delicious breakfast!

Great job demonstrating the virtues during our classroom challenges this morning! Share with a family member the different classroom activities you worked on. Which virtues did you demonstrate in these activities?

Reminders:

- Tomorrow (Friday June 26) is the last day of classes! Please invite your families to join us for the Farewell Assembly tomorrow morning at 9:15. 

- The grade 5/6 classes will be having a lunch picnic celebration Friday June 26 after the Farewell Assembly. We will be walking to the Baby Park (across from the school field) to enjoy eating our lunch outside! Please remember to pack a lunch and bring a blanket to sit on if you wish. Please ask your parents to contact Mrs. Calvert or Ms. Makowski if they have any questions or concerns.

Important Information regarding upcoming events:

 

-Community News

-Basketball program for youth (grades 6-9) 11:00 am July 6-17th. Free!  Register by emailing Juanita Waugh juanita@cyccalgary.com

-held at Crossroads Community

 

-Farewell Assembly featuring Grade 6 Students Friday, June 26th

            -program begins @ 9:15

            -family members are welcome

            -doors open @ 9:00 to claim seats

Thank you for your excellent work on our Best Novel Projects this week! Share with a family member the advertisement you created for a great novel. Why did you choose this novel? Why do you think other students should read it?

Reminders:
- Tomorrow (Thursday June 25) is our Stampede Breakfast! Please bring your families for a delicious Stampede breakfast at the school! Breakfast will start at 9:00.
- Friday June 26 is our last day of classes! We will be having our farewell assembly at 9:00. Please invite your family to join us in saying farewell to students and staff

Calgary Stampede Pancake Breakfast   –   9:00 am Thursday, June 25^th @ Vista Heights School

Please join us for a breakfast of pancakes, chicken sausages and syrup.  All members of our families are Welcome!

-Students will enter the school as usual at the 8:50 am bell and go to their classes for attendance.

-Family members can line-up outside on the compound and students will join their families in the line @ 9:00 am

-Weather permitting we will eat breakfast outdoors, so bring a blanket to sit on, if you wish.

-If you observe Ramadan we will provide Ziploc bags for you to take the breakfast home.

*NO breakfast program at the school on Thursday, June 25^th.

                       

Good job working on your Best Novel Project! We will be sharing our projects tomorrow!

Thank you Little Green Thumbs for a delicious pita snack and shirts! Excellent work showing thankfulness today!

Calgary Stampede Pancake Breakfast   –   9:00 am Thursday, June 25^th @ Vista Heights School

 

Please join us for a breakfast of pancakes, chicken sausages and syrup.  All members of our families are welcome!

 

-Students will enter the school as usual at the 8:50 am bell and go to their classes for attendance.

-Family members can line-up outside on the compound and students will join their families in the line @ 9:00 am

-Weather permitting we will eat breakfast outdoors, so bring a blanket to sit on, if you wish.

-If you observe Ramadan we will provide Ziploc bags for you to take the breakfast home.

 

*NO breakfast program at the school on Thursday, June 25^th.

 

                       

June-23-15 1:02 PM

Calgary Stampede Pancake Breakfast   –   9:00 am Thursday, June 25^th @ Vista Heights School

Please join us for a breakfast of pancakes, chicken sausages and syrup.  All members of our families are Welcome!

-Students will enter the school as usual at the 8:50 am bell and go to their classes for attendance.

-Family members can line-up outside on the compound and students will join their families in the line @ 9:00 am

-Weather permitting we will eat breakfast outdoors, so bring a blanket to sit on, if you wish.

-If you observe Ramadan we will provide Ziploc bags for you to take the breakfast home.

*NO breakfast program at the school on Thursday, June 25^th.

                       

Congratulations grade 6 students for completing the Provincial Achievement Tests! Be proud of your hard work and achievement. Your raw scores will be sent home with the report cards on Friday June 26th.

We have a busy and exciting final week of school! Please remind your families of the following events:
- Tuesday June 23 - Little Green Thumbs Pita Snack
- Thursday June 25 - Stampede Breakfast - bring your families!
- Friday June 26 - Farewell Assembly, last day of classes, report cards are sent home

Celebrate your week of rigor!  Grade 5's, for your excellent achievement on your Wetlands presentations.  Grade 6's, you have demonstrated perseverance and mindfulness on your Provincial Achievement Tests.  We have one test left, social studies is on Monday, June 22 at 9:00.
Have a fabulous summer weekend!

Classroom Gardens are ready to Harvest

- Tuesday, June 23 @ 10 am we will offer each student the opportunity to choose from a variety of vegetables to make their own pita

-students will eat their pita with their classmates and their teachers just before recess

-this is a snack; it will not replace a lunch

-we will harvest our tomatoes, lettuce, basil and beans from the classroom gardens

-the following is a list of other food choices that will be offered:

Pita

Cucumbers

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Mustard

Mayo

Hummus

Cheese – shredded marble

-if there ingredients you do NOT want you child to eat please contact the teacher

-if you observe Ramadan we can put the pita in a bag for your child to bring home, please let the teacher know

                                                

Grade 6's will be writing their Science Provincial Test tomorrow morning from 9:00-11:00.  Please ensure that you are on time for school, as we read the instructions for the exam together.

Reminder:
Grade 6's please bring a baby picture for our year end celebration slide show.  The picture will be scanned and then returned.

We have started our last project for this learning year.  It a celebration of the amazing books we have been reading as a class.  Share with a family member your favorite read this year and why.  How are you going to advertise your book to convince your peers that it is the best?

Books have been generously donated to the library this year.  They are not part of our collection, so they will be sent home with children.  Please share your new book with your family.

Reminder:

-Grade 6's will be writing their Math Provincial Test tomorrow morning from 9:00-11:00.  Please ensure that you are on time for school, as we read the instructions for the exam together.

-Grade 6's please bring a baby picture for our year end celebration slide show.  The picture will be scanned and then returned.

Grade 6's will be writing their Language Arts Reading Provincial Test tomorrow morning from 9:00-11:00.  Please ensure that you are on time for school, as we read the instructions for the exam together.

Reminder:
-Grade 6 students transitioning to grade 7 who will be taking a bus to their new school -please register online for bussing (transportation) –you do not have to pay until September –if you register then your child will have a seat on a bus  -routes will be shared the end of August.

-Grade 6's please bring a baby picture for our year end celebration slide show.  The picture will be scanned and then returned.

We have been busy preparing for the Grade 6 Provincial Achievement Tests!

Great job collaborating with a partner to answer reading comprehension questions today! Share with a family member the passages you read. What reading strategies did you use? Explain how these can help you on the Language Arts Part B Provincial Achievement Test scheduled for Wednesday June 17.

We had a presentation today from the Calgary Public Library all about their summer reading program.  Please let a family member know about this engaging reading program.  Be sure to get a library card so you can read all summer.  It's free!

Reminder:
Grade 6's please bring a baby picture for our year end celebration slide show.  The picture will be scanned and then returned.

Thank you for another engaging week of learning! You demonstrated perseverance and determination reviewing for the PATs and in your Wetlands Inquiry Project.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Reminder:
- All borrowed books need to be returned to the Learning Commons by Monday June 15!

We have been busy reviewing for the Grade 6 Provincial Achievement tests this week! Reflect on a goal you have for the PATs. What are strategies you can use to help you achieve this goal? Be prepared to share your ideas in class tomorrow.

The grade 5 students began their Wetlands Inquiry Project today! Excellent job beginning to gather your research for this project. Share with a family member the project criteria and assessment posted into D2L. What is a goal you have for this project?

Grade 6 students, please continue to review for the Provincial Achievement Tests! Our first exam is Language Arts Part B (reading comprehension) on Wednesday June 15.

Lunch Supervision & Bussing for 2015-2016 School Year

-Please register for lunch supervision for the 2015-2016 school year

-follow the steps to register online

-go to our webpage and click on My CBE Account to access the link

-you do NOT need to pay the fees until September

-students moving to grade 7 can also register for bussing online

-if you need assistance to register online please call our office 403-777-6000

Excellent work recording your Creative Composers song project into Garage Band! Share with a family member the lyrics you wrote for this project. How did you use literary devices, such as onomatopoeia, similes, metaphors, alliteration and triple scoop words in your verses and chorus?

The Grade 6's will be writing their provincial exams next week beginning on Wednesday, June 17 Language Arts - Reading.  We write exams everyday after that beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 18-Math
Friday, June 19 - Science
Monday, June 22-Social Studies.

There are many places to practice including the links posted below:
D2L: Content Science Review

http://www.education.alberta.ca/admin/testing/achievement/answerkeys/

https://questaplus.alberta.ca/PracticeMain.html#

Please see Mrs. Calvert or Ms. Makowski if you would like to borrow a math or social studies textbook to review.

Thank you for another wonderful week of learning and thoughtful song compositions!

Today is our final Sports Club session! Mrs. Calvert and Ms. Makowski would like to thank everyone who participated in Sports Club this year for your excellent commitment and demonstration of the virtues.

Have a terrific weekend!

Reminders:
No school tomorrow (June 5) - it is a Professional Development Day for teachers.

Important notice coming home today

-Please register for lunch supervision for the 2015-2016 school year

-follow the steps to register online

-you do NOT need to pay the fees until September

-students moving to grade 7 can also register for bussing online

-if you need assistance to register online please call our office 403-777-6000

City of Calgary Survey

-Monday, June 8^th from 12:00-12:45 Brenda from Community Partnerships with the City of Calgary

Will be at the school to survey students

She will be asking students the following questions:

-What do you like about your neighbourhood?

-What don’t you like about your neighbourhood?

-What would you like to see in your neighbourhood?

-Spend some time discussing these questions as a family so you can make a difference in your community.

-This is voluntary.  Students will share their opinions only if they choose.

Excellent work applying literary devices to your Creative Composers Projects! Share with a family member the criteria and assessment for this project posted in D2L and the topic you chose to write about. What is a goal you have for composing songs next class?

Reminder:
- The Volunteer Celebration is tomorrow afternoon (Thursday June 4) at 1:30! Please remind any volunteers to join us for an afternoon of celebration!

-Last Sports Club is tomorrow from 3:15-3:45.

Excellent job examining lyrics of contemporary and classic songs for literary devices! Share with a family member how songs include personification, similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia and triple scoop words. What topic did you select for your Creative Composers project? Why did you choose to write a song on this topic?

Today we had a guest presenter, Derek Pulliam, share his knowledge, experience and passion for creating music! Share with a family member your Knew/New connections to this presentation. Begin to think of a topic you would be interested in writing a song about for our upcoming Creative Composers project.

Reminder:

- Last day for Sports Club is Thursday June 4 - please see Ms. Makowski or Mrs. Calvert if there is an activity you would recommend for our last session!
- Bike to School Day is tomorrow (Tuesday June 2). Please remember to lock your bike and wear a helmet! 

Another fabulous week of learning to complete our journey for May!  Celebrate your diligence and expertise with your 'Why Fly?' presentations.

June Calendar coming home today.

Have an amazing weekend!

Another fabulous day of Why Fly presentations.  Please share with a family member what is an aerodynamic engineer.  What did you learn today about air movement, air pressure and air compression?

We are reading a new novel, I am David. Share with a family member what virtues David is demonstrating.  Be sure to back up your opinion with proof from the novel.  What  connections can you make to other novels we have read?

Reminder:
- Sports Club tomorrow, May 28, 3:15-3:45. Our final Sports Club will be on June 4! Thank you to all the students who participated this year! Please see Mrs. Calvert or Ms. Makowski if there is an activity you would like to request.

Our Why Fly projects are complete.  Be proud of your new learning and diligent efforts.  We will be presenting our learning this week from the perspective of an Ornithologist, an Aerodynamic Engineer and an Aeronautical Engineer.  Share with a family member the assessment rubric and how you responded to peer feedback to bring your project to excellence.

Reminder:
- Room 5 will be practicing our 'off site evacuation' safety procedures tomorrow morning with kindergarten! Please remember to arrive to school on time for our walk to Renfrew Education Center.

We are working on an art project by Chuck Close.  Please share with a family member the style of this artist.  How is math connected to this artist? What did you learn about the value of colors?

Reminder:
- Important notice coming home today regarding our 'off site evacuation' safety procedures.
- Room 9 will be practicing our 'off site evacuation' safety procedures tomorrow morning with kindergarten! Please remember to arrive to school on time for our walk to Renfrew Education Center.

Calgary Bike to School Day 2015 on June 2^nd  

This event is promoting healthy choices.  Any students who bike to school on Tuesday, June 2^nd will have their names entered in a draw to win prizes!

For more information visit:  calgarybiketoschool.weebly.com

*Also, remember to keep your bikes safe at school; lock them up with a proper lock.

Thank you for another terrific week of learning! We are looking forward to your Why Fly? inquiry presentations and experiments next week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Reminder:
- Child Safe Canada Summer Program Guide is being sent home today.

The grade 5/6 Sports Club is today from 3:15 to 3:45! Thank you to all the members of the Sports Club for their participation and demonstration of the virtues this year. Please talk to Mrs. Calvert or Ms. Makowski is there is an activity you would like to do in Sports Club next Thursday! 

Excellent work collaborating with a partner on your Why Fly? flight and aerodynamics inquiry project! Share with a family member the criteria for your project posted in D2L and how you are being assessed. Begin to reflect on the questions you have for an expert for your research. Please see Mrs. Calvert and Ms. Makowski when you are ready to email an expert!

Great job working on your Cross Conservation School Step-Inside project today! Share with a family member the perspective you are writing from for this assignment. How did you connect facts from Cross Conservation School in your writing?

Terrific work this week swimming, narrative writing and beginning our Why Fly Science inquiry project!

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Reminders:
- No school tomorrow (May 15) - it is a Professional Development Day for teachers.
- No school Monday May 18 - Victoria Day
- We have Sports Club today! Please remind your parents our last day of Sports Club is Thursday June 4.

Excellent job grade 6 students writing Part A of the Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test! Be proud of your hard work, creative stories and newspaper articles. Share with a family member your story idea, characters and setting. Explain how you included the 5W's (who, what, when, where and why) in your newspaper article.

The grade 6 students will write the Math, Social Studies, Science and Language Arts Part B Provincial Achievement Tests in June!

Excellent job today swimming at the Talisman Centre! Share with a family member the amazing skills you learned today in our Aquatic Literacy Program!

Reminder:
- Tomorrow (May 13) the grade 6 students write Part A of the Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test! Share with a family member your strengths as a writer, and a goal you have for the narrative and newspaper article. Please remember to get a good sleep and arrive to school on time!
- School Council is today at 6:30 - all parents are welcome to attend!

Our classes began our inquiry project on Flight and Aerodynamics today where students will become a Junior Ornithologist, Aerodynamics Engineer or Aeronautical Engineer!

Share with a family member the project proposal you wrote today, which expert you are interested in researching and why. Please share the Why Fly project criteria and assessment posted into D2L with your families. Why is it important for us to ask experts when researching for this project?

Reminder:
- The grade 4, 5, and 6 students are going on a field trip to the Talisman Centre tomorrow morning for our aquatic literacy program! Our bus will be leaving at 8:50, please remember to arrive at school on time! We recommend students wear their swim suits under their clothes, and remember to bring a towel, change of clothes and extra snack.

Thank you for your hard work this week preparing for the Grade 6 Language Arts Provincial Achievement test on Wednesday May 13. Be proud of the excellent stories you wrote this week!

We were excited to begin our new read aloud, I Am David, by Anne Holm this week! Share with a family member the characters, setting, and plot so far in the novel. What connections can you make to other class read alouds? Make a prediction for what will happen next!

Have a wonderful weekend and take care of your mom!

The Kindergarten classes did an excellent job sharing their learning with the school in an assembly this morning. Share with a family member what the kindergarten students shared! What connections can you make to this assembly? How was it similar and different to our assembly in April?

Thank you for your meaningful feedback about our school in the Tell Them From Me Survey you completed with Mrs. Traquair today! Your ideas will be used to help improve our school!

Reminder:
- Sports Club today from 3:15 to 3:45! We will be using the shale diamond beside the soccer field today. Parents, please contact Mrs. Calvert or Ms. Makowski if you have any concerns.

Great job applying your narrative writing skills this week writing stories as we prepare for the Grade 6 Language Arts Part A Provincial Achievement Test on Wednesday May 13! Share with a family member what makes an excellent story and how you will be assessed for this piece of writing by the province.

Reflect on a narrative writing goal you have for the Provincial Achievement Test. How can you achieve this goal? What strategies can you use? Be prepared to share your ideas in class tomorrow. 

Thank you for participating in our Student Vote Election today! Share with your family members what you learned during our tour of the polling station at Vista Heights School, and who you voted for in our class election. Discuss with your family which political party they support and who they will be voting for today in the Provincial Election!

Reminder:
- We have our scheduled book exchange tomorrow with Mrs. Reimer! Please remember to bring your library books to school to renew or exchange.

Welcome back to Vista Heights after our amazing week of learning at Cross Conservation School! Excellent work today self-assessing your Special Spot journal entries from Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area. We will be applying your narrative writing skills as we prepare for the Part A of the Language Arts Provincial Achievement Test on May 13.

Our classes began to research the upcoming Provincial Election! Share with a family member what you learned about the different political parties in Alberta. We will be holding a class election tomorrow, May 5! Think about the political party you will vote for tomorrow and why.

Reminder:
- If you have not yet returned your Talisman Swimming Consent form return it to school as soon as possible!

What an AMAZING learning journey we have had this week at the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area!  We would like to thank our School Council for financially supporting our experience!  We would also like to thank the parents who volunteered their time to contribute to the success of our learning.

 

  

Today we were on our day long hike. Our inquiry learning led us to the history of the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area.  Please share the stories you heard today about our First Nation people and the first settlers to the area.  What did you learn today about the adaptations of people?


Important Cross Conservation School Information:
- please arrive to school on time - our bus leaves at 8:50
- remember to dress for the weather - bring layers, comfortable shoes/boots, hat, backpack. We are outside most of the day!
- pack a lunch with extra snacks (we get hungry on the trails!)

Our focus today at Sandy Cross was all about land use. What does conservation mean? What did you learn about urban planning?  Be sure to share with a family member your response to our daily Cross Chalktalk about the importance of Sandy Cross.


Important Cross Conservation School Information:
-please arrive to school on time - our bus leaves at 8:50
-Tomorrow is our day long hike.  Remember to dress for the weather - bring layers, comfortable shoes/boots, hat, backpack.
- pack a lunch with extra snacks (we get hungry on the trails!)

-Forms for Talismen Aquatic Literacy field trip are due on Friday, May 1.

-NO SPORTS Club tomorrow.

Our learning journey continued today at Sandy Cross by focusing on wildlife.  Be sure to explain to a family member what is the purpose of a wildlife corridor and how wildlife adapts to utilize the corridor. Share your journaling technique that you completed at your special spot.  What is the purpose of journaling?  How does this learning tool move our learning forward?


Important Cross Conservation School Information:
- please arrive to school on time - our bus leaves at 8:50
- remember to dress for the weather - bring layers, comfortable shoes/boots, hat, backpack. We are outside most of the day!
- pack a lunch with extra snacks (we get hungry on the trails!)

We are very excited to be at Cross Conservation School everyday this week.  Share with a family member our learning today about plants. What is the difference between native/non - native species?  Which plant are medicinal? What evidence did you notice about adaptations of plants?

Important Cross Conservation School Information:
- please arrive to school on time - our bus leaves at 8:50
- remember to dress for the weather - bring layers, comfortable shoes/boots, hat, backpack. We are outside most of the day!
- pack a lunch with extra snacks (we get hungry on the trails!)

Reminder from your School Council:

-the Fundraiser is due tomorrow, April 28^th

-please send your orders to school tomorrow if you are participating

Excellent work this week preparing for our upcoming week at Cross Conservation School! Thank you parents and School Council for making this wonderful learning experience possible for our classes.

Important Cross Conservation School Information:
- please arrive to school on time - our bus leaves at 8:50
- remember to dress for the weather - bring layers, comfortable shoes/boots, hat, backpack
- pack a lunch with extra snacks (we get hungry on the trails!)

Reminders:
- Tonight is our Family Learning Celebration from 6:30 to 7:30! Please bring your families to celebrate and learn together!
- No Sports Club today
- No school tomorrow for students - it is a Professional Development day for teachers

Today is Earth Day! Share with a family member how our school acknowledged Earth Day. What can you do to minimize your environmental footprint? Why is Earth Day important? Be prepared to share your ideas in class tomorrow.

Reminder:
- Tomorrow is Pizza Lunch for students who ordered it!
- No Sports Club tomorrow because of our Family Learning Celebration Evening!
-No school Friday - Professional Development Day
- 2015-16 Budget notice is being sent home with the youngest student today.

-HELP!  We still need volunteers for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week to join us at Sandy Cross! Please ask your parents, and contact Ms. Makowski or Mrs. Calvert if they are available.

Great job collaborating with a group to prepare for your Social Studies debate! Explain to a family member which debate question you signed up for, and evidence from your research into Ancient Athens and the Iroquois Confederacy. Our debate will begin in class tomorrow!

Reminder:

- Today was the last day for hot soup. Thank you to Meals on Wheels for the delicious soups you provided our school this year! 

We are busy preparing for our week at Cross Conservation School April 27 to May 1! Excellent work today practicing our first Special Spot Journaling task: Amazing Story Hooks. Share with a family member how you can engage your reader by using a creative hook at the beginning of your narrative stories!

Reminder:
- Please return your signed Cross Conservation School consent forms as soon as possible!

- We need volunteers! Please ask your parents if they can join us for any of our field trip days to Cross Conservation School next week, and contact Ms. Makowski or Mrs. Calvert if they are available. We require 2 volunteers each day for this amazing learning opportunity!

- Talisman Centre Aquatic Literacy Consent forms are being sent home today! Please return signed forms as soon as possible!

Believe & Achieve – Celebrating Families Learning Together

Who:      Vista Heights School students and their families.  Please bring at least one adult and remain with your family.

When:   Thursday, April 23 6:30-7:30 pm

Where:  Vista Heights School (see the map of the rooms you will visit when you enter)

What:  Each teacher has prepared engaging thinking tasks that families will complete together.  Families will visit as many rooms and complete as many tasks as they choose.  The thinking tasks include such skills as solving puzzles, speed stacking, building and more.  You will have the opportunity to practice such virtues as perseverance, creativity and courage.   It is not a race.  The prize is spending time together as a family and learning together.  

Why:  A great opportunity to build community in Vista Heights!  We love learning!

Thank you Jaclyn from Little Green Thumbs for working with the grade 5/6 classes this afternoon! Share with a family member the connections you made to this presentation, and new learning. Why is it important for us to have experts come to work with our classes?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Reminder:
- Pizza orders are due on Monday.
- Please return your signed Cross Conservation School consent forms as soon as possible!

The grade 5/6 classes are continuing our literacy study of The Cay! Share with a family member how the characters in the novel have demonstrated the virtues we have been studying this year. What connections can you make to previous read aloud novels? Would you recommend this novel to others? Why or why not?

Reminders:
- Sports Club is today from 3:15 to 3:45! We will be going to the shale baseball diamond beside our school soccer field.  Parents, please contact Ms. Calvert or Ms. Makowski if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your hard work and creativity working on new artwork to display in our school! Share with a family member how you created a wash then splattered paint to create an impressionist art piece. Why is it important for us to display student art in our school? How does this make our school a great place to learn?

Our classes are continuing to study and write newspaper articles! Share with a family member the newspaper article you have been writing in class. Explain how to write an excellent newspaper article, and how you are being assessed for this writing.

Reminder:
- School Council Coco Brooks Fundraiser information is being sent home today!
- Please return your signed Cross Conservation School consent forms to school as soon as possible.

Excellent work beginning our new Social Studies inquiry into Ancient Greece and the Iroquois! Share with a family member the topics you will be researching for this project, and the rubric for how your research will be assessed. Which debate question are you interested in signing up for?

Reminder:
- Lockdown notice and Pizza Lunch notice are being sent home today.
- Our classes our returning to Anne and Sandy Cross Conservation Area! Field trip notices are being sent home. Please have your parents sign the consent and return it to school.
- We need volunteers for ASCCA! Please have your parents let Mrs. Calvert or Ms. Makowski know if they can join us any day from April 27 to May 1.

Thank you for another fabulous week of learning!  Enjoy your weekend.

Amazing work today on your learning assembly!  Be proud of your accomplishments.  Thank you to all the parents who were able to join us.  Please share with a family member which virtues you demonstrated with your role(s) in our assembly.

We have been practicing O Canada in French and English for our assembly.  Please sing to a family member the French and the English version.   What do the words of this anthem mean about our country?

Reminder:
Gr. 5/6 Learning Celebration Assembly tomorrow 11:00
Sports Club tomorrow 3:15-3:45

Welcome back to another rigorous week of learning!  We have our assembly this week on Thursday, April 9 at 11:00.  We will be sharing a snapshot of some of our recent learning.  Please invite your family members to come and celebrate with us.

Reminder:
Read!

Thank you for another rigorous week of learning! You have been working hard writing excellent newspaper articles to inform and engage your reader. Share with a family member your nursery rhyme inspired article and the criteria for an excellent article.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Reminder:
- No school for students Friday April 3 and Monday April 6. Classes resume on Tuesday April 7.

Our school will be studying a new virtue for the month of April! Make a prediction for which virtue we will be focussing on this month. Reflect on a goal for how you can demonstrate this virtue at school and in the community. Why are studying the virtues important? How does this improve our learning community?

Reminder:

- Sports Club is tomorrow after school!

We have been learning our national anthem in French and English, and are looking forward to sharing during the April Assembly! Try singing O Canada in French and English for your family members. Why do we learn both French and English?

Welcome back to school! We hope you enjoyed a restful Spring Break with your families!

We began our study of newspaper articles today. Share with a family member our investigation of newspaper articles in class and components of an excellent article. What connections to previous learning did you make? Look at an article on one of our current event websites. Did this article answer the 5W's (who, what, when, where, why)?

Reminder:
- No school on Friday April 3
- VHS to be Painted notice is being sent home today

Thank you for another engaging week of learning!

We are looking forward to meeting with you and your families during Parent Teacher Conferences today and tomorrow morning to celebrate your achievements this year!

Please visit the Book Fair with your families during Parent Teacher Conferences to be entered in a draw to win $25 of books from the Book Fair!

Have a wonderful Spring Break!

Reminder:
- No Sports Club Today

- No School tomorrow - classes resume Monday March 30

We have been studying human sexuality in Health and Life Skills this week. Explain how our classrooms have regrouped for these lessons. Share with a family member what you have learned, and any questions you have.

Reminder:
- Parent Teacher Conferences are tomorrow after school and Friday morning! Please remind your families to book a conference!
- No Sports Club tomorrow.
- No school on Friday March 20, Spring Break is March 23 - 27. Classes resume Monday March 30.

Thank you Jaclyn from Little Green Thumb for your expertise with our photosynthesis experiment this afternoon! We are looking forward to creating a classroom garden in room 5 for the grade 5/6 classes. Share with a family member the experiment we did today, and ideas you have for what our classes should grow in the garden.

Grade 5/6 classes will be visiting the Book Fair Tomorrow!

Reminder:
- Parent Teacher Conferences are Thursday March 19 and Friday March 20. Thank you to the families who have scheduled a conference. Please remind your families to book a conference to celebrate your achievement and learning goals!
- Sports Club is cancelled on Thursday March 19 for Parent Teacher Conferences.

Today our school had an engaging presentation, Planet Earth Hummingbirds, from Kananaskis in the Classroom! Share with a family member the main ideas and what you learned during this presentation. How did it connect to your previous knowledge? What new information did you learn?

Reminder:
- Please remind your families to book a Parent Teacher Conference for Thursday March 19 or the Friday March 20!
- Sports Club is cancelled on Thursday March 19 for Parent Teacher Conferences.

Celebrate another fabulous week of learning!  We are very excited to share your achievements with your parents at Parent-Teacher Interviews next week.

Our studies on Democracy this week have focused on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  Please explain to a family member why we have this document. Why is it important to Canadian citizens?

Reminder:
Thursday, March 19 is the last school day before spring break.

In our continued study of the historical fiction novel, Underground to Canada, to enhance our comprehension we have been responding to critical thinking questions on a daily basis. Explain to a family member your understanding of the Underground Railroad.  Be sure to include some facts to support your thinking. Why do you think we are reading this novel? Be prepared to share in class tomorrow.

Reminder:
Return all health notices, signed by your parents, if you will not be participating in our lessons.

Sports Club is tomorrow from 3:15-3:45

Parent Teacher Conferences notice is being sent home today! Conferences are Thursday March 19 from 4:15 - 8:00, and Friday March 20 from 8:00 - 12:30.

We have been discussing the Pillars of Democracy: Justice, Freedom, Equity, Representation.  Explain to a family member what each of the four pillars means to you.  Share how your group utilized drama to represent each pillar.

Reminder:
Journey Through Literature Projects due March 19.
Return all health notices if you are NOT participating in our health lessons.

We have been working on our Journey Through Literature Projects.  Please share with a family member which critical thinking response you have chosen and why.  Be sure to share the task criteria and assessment posted in the dropbox in D2L.

Reminder:
We will be in-line skating everyday this week.  Remember to wear comfortable clothes and socks.

Thank you for another wonderful week of learning!

Excellent job using lines and textures in our Zentangle Art project this afternoon. Share with a family member this art assignment, something you are proud of, and an art goal you have.

Have a terrific weekend!

Reminder:
- Alien Inline Skating next week - please remember to bring a helmet if you have one and to wear socks!

Excellent job continuing our Social Studies inquiry on democracy this week! Share with a family member what democracy means, democratic values, and the principles that support democracy. How do citizens participate in democracy?

Reminder:
- If you have not done so, please return Alien Inline Skating permission forms!

- We are fortunate to receive a no cost Alberta Made Pancake Breakfast on Friday, TOMORROW March 6th!  Students will be served a breakfast and they have an option to choose from; pancakes, syrup, eggs, pork sausage and white milk. Students who have a pork free diet will not be offered sausages. There will be no breakfast club on March 6th. Breakfast will be served at 9:00 am and then all students will meet in the gym for a presentation about nutrition. 

Excellent work collaborating with a group to design your Zumba routine in Phys. Ed. this week! Share with a family member this task and the rubric our class designed on how you will be assessed. Please remember to let Mrs. Calvert and Ms. Makowski know which music you would like to include in your Zumba routine!

Reminder:
- Journey Through Literature Projects are due March 19

The grade 5/6 classes are continuing our literacy study of the novel Underground to Canada. Think about the characters in this novel. How have they demonstrated (or not demonstrated) the virtues in their actions and choices? We will be discussing your ideas in class tomorrow.

Reminder:
- Please continue to work on your Journey Through Literature Projects. Your next project is due on March 19th! Please check D2L for the project criteria and rubric.

Thank you for sharing your ideas and questions during our Democracy Chalk Talk today! Share with a family member what you think you know about democracy and the questions you have about this topic.

Reminder:

- Please return Alien Inline permission forms! 

Thank you for another amazing week of learning! We hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Reminder:

- Please continue to work on your next Journey Through Literature Projects. Your next project is due March 19.
-March Newsletter coming home today!

In the month of February, our school focussed on the virtue of understanding. Think about your choices and actions this month. How did you demonstrate the virtue of understanding in our school? At home? In the community?

Make a prediction for March's virtue. Why is the study of the virtues important for our school?

Reminder:
- Pizza Lunch and Hat Day is tomorrow!
- Important Health and Life Skills notice is being sent home today. Please share this information with your parents. 

We continued our inquiry into sky science by learning about the constellations and the phases of the moon this week! Share with a family member the phases of the moon, and why constellations move through the night sky. Take a look for the moon and constellations in the sky this evening. What observations can you make about the moon and constellations? We will be discussing your observations in class tomorrow!

Reminder:

- Please continue to work on your next Journey Through Literature Projects. Your next project is due March 19.
- Alien In-Line Skating forms are being sent home.

Thank you to our student Readarama volunteers who have already shared a piece of literature with our class this week! Share with a family member the new Readarama project we began, and the criteria for this project. Which piece of literature are you planning on presenting to the class? Brainstorm deep thinking questions will you ask the class to create a discussion on your piece of literature. Please remember to check the schedule for when you are responsible to present!

Reminder:
- Pink Shirt Day is tomorrow!

Today we began our literacy study of the novel Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker. Share with a family member our class discussion, the inferences you made from the book cover and the critical thinking response you completed today. What predictions do you have for the characters and plot of the novel? What connections did you make to your previous knowledge?

Reminder:
- Pizza Orders are due tomorrow!
- Hat Day is on Friday!

Thank you for another wonderful week of learning!

Share with a family member the important information that was shared in our assembly this morning.

Have a terrific weekend!

Excellent job working on your skipping routines this week! Share with a family member how you collaborated with a partner to design a skipping routine. How have your skills improved this week? What is a skipping goal you would like to work on?

Reminder:
- Please check the current events schedule for when you are responsible to present. Remember to check the updated current events rubric in D2L for how you are assessed for this project.

We have been working hard to finish our Alien Adaptation writing. Share with a family member how you used the non-fiction descriptive writing text structure to organize your information. How did you use our project criteria self-assessment to improve your writing?

Reminder:
- Sports Club is tomorrow after school!

Today we began our art project based on the work of Vincent van Gogh.  Please share your ideas with a family member about Impressionist art.  What did you learn about this famous artist? What is distinctive about his style?

Reminder:
Pizza notices coming home today!
Please give the Alberta Health notice to your parents.

Amazing work presenting your alien sculptures to other classes in our school!  Be proud of your learning on this project.

Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy your long weekend.

In math, Grade 6's have been working on reading and writing decimals smaller than one thousandth. Teach a family member how to play Face Off using playing cards. Share your strategies for reading decimals numbers, as well as reading numbers up to one million (Grade 5).

Reminder:

NO SCHOOL on Thursday, February 12, Friday, February 13 - Teacher's Convention and Monday, February 16 -Family Day.

We have been writing our descriptive paragraphs about how our alien adaptation to their planet.  Please  share with a family member the criteria for descriptive writing and which adaptation topics you have chosen for your report. The assessment rubric is posted in D2L for the entire alien project.

Reminder:
NO SCHOOL on Thursday, February 12, Friday, February 13 and Monday, February 16.

We have a new virtue for the month of February: understanding. Reflect on the past week. How did you show the virtue of understanding in our classroom and the community? Share with a family member ways you can show understanding at home and school.

Amazing job this week working on our Alien Adaptation writing and sculptures! Be proud of your hard word and creativity on these assignments.


Have a wonderful weekend!

Reminder:
- Calgary Public Library cards are being sent home today!

Our classes have been busy creating our Alien Sculptures today! How did your planet research help you decide the adaptations your alien needed to survive? Share with a family member your creation, and interesting adaptations and facts about your alien and planet. We are looking forward to sharing our art with other students in the school!

We have been working hard on building our skills writing descriptive non-fiction paragraphs! Our classes have examined how voice, interesting hooks, and triple scoop words can make our writing interesting for the reader.

Share with a family member some strategies you learned for how you to include voice, interesting hooks, and triple scoop words in your alien paragraphs.

Reminder:
- We are building our Alien Sculptures tomorrow afternoon! Please remember to bring all recycled material you will need for this project to school tomorrow.

- Sports Club is tomorrow from 3:15 to 3:45.

- School Council Casino notice is being sent home today.

Well done reflecting on our class writing goals today. Share with a family member the two writing goals our classes will be focussing on this year. Reflect on the writing we have done across subject areas this term. What do you think are your strengths as a writer? What goals would you like to improve on? How can we include voice in our writing? Be prepared to share your ideas in class tomorrow.

Reminders:

- We are building our alien sculptures on Thursday Feb. 5! Please remember to bring recycled materials to school for your art project.
- Swimming assessments are being sent home today!

Excellent job brainstorming examples of fiction and non-fiction writing today! Look for more examples of fiction and non-fiction writing at home and in our community. Be prepared to share your ideas with the class tomorrow.

We began our Alien Adaptation projects today! Share with a family member your critical thinking writing task, and begin to reflect on how you should be assessed for this project. What adaptations does your alien have to survive on your planet?

Please remember to bring recycled materials to school for your Alien Sculpture. We will be building our sculptures on Thursday Feb. 5!

Reminder:
- February Newsletter is being sent home today

Thank you for another rigorous week of learning! Our report cards are being sent home today. Please share with a family member how the report card has changed, as well as your achievement and successes this term. What are you proud of in your report card? What is a goal you have for the upcoming term?

Reminder:
- No school tomorrow
- Please return your report card envelop to school next week

Have a wonderful weekend!

Our classes visited the Learning Commons today! Share with a family member the novel chapter Mrs. Reimer read to our class and the new books you selected to read. Reflect on our 100 Books To Read Before Leaving Vista Heights wall. Which books have you read or are interested in reading? Do you have any recommended books to add to the list?

Reminder:
- No school on Friday January 30 - it is a Professional Development Day
- Journey Through Literature Projects are due tomorrow
- Report Cards are being sent home tomorrow