St. Luke Weekly Memo
October 19-26, 2017
School News
Reading Session
We were very fortunate to have Mrs. Debbie Quick, a Literacy Consultant, come and share reading strategies with families on October 12. Debbie shared a lot of useful, practical strategies for families to use when reading with their children at home. Below are some of the strategies shared:
- Start with a picture walk: look at all the pictures in the book and talk about them
- Introduce the author and illustrator
- Share new/difficult words that are in the book; relate the words to words they know in real life
- As your child is reading have them stop and check for understanding before going too far
- Have children make predictions through out the book (ex. what will happen at the end of the book)
- Make personal connections related to the story
- Most importantly find ways to engage your child in reading and develop the love of books!
Evidence of Learning
Evidence of Learning binders will be sent home on Thursday, October 26. Teachers and students work together to build the, “evidence of learning” that can be used as a springboard for meaningful conversations at home and then at 3-Way Conferences on November 1. The student work samples in the binders are to help initiate conversations about their child's learning. Please ask your children to explain what they have learned, what they need to learn, and how they can work towards a learning goal. Research shows that "involving parents in talking about their (child's) learning-increases their(child's) level of achievement" (Anne Davies, Making Classroom Assessment Work, 2007).
3-Way Conferences
On November 1 families are invited with their children to meet with their teachers to discuss the child's learning. On October 26, the booking of 3-Way conferences will open around 4 pm when the Weekly Memo is sent out. This is an important time for all stakeholders to meet and share what the children have learned, areas of challenges, and plan for next steps.
Halloween
Halloween is approaching and is a very fun time of year for children. A couple of reminders as you begin preparing for Halloween.
- The junior high students are busy preparing Halloween activities for students during the afternoon on Tuesday, October 31. If any parent volunteers are interested in helping supervise stations, please contact Miss. Shindell at carianne.shindell@eics.ab.ca.
- WE Team members are organizing a pizza lunch on October 31.
- As part of our healthy school focus we ask families to refrain from sending "choose least often" food treats to school for students to share.
- Students who are dressing up are asked to keep costumes school appropriate (not too gory) and leave weapons at home.
- There will be a candy exchange after Halloween to provide students the opportunity to exchange their "choose least often" treats for a healthier treat at school. Stay tuned for more information.
WE Team News
The St. Luke WE Team has nominated students in grades 6-8 to attend WE Day in Calgary on November 1 (more information about WE Day can be found here https://www.we.org/we-day/we-day-events/alberta/). The WE team has been working hard to raise funds to attend WE Day; the following fundraisers have been planned and organized by the WE team:
1. We will continue to host indoor gym activities during lunch recess on Tuesday and Thursday next weeks. There is a $2 entrance fee to attend these activities, all grades are welcome.
2. On Friday, October 20, the WE team will be selling healthy chocolate chip cookies for $2 during lunch hour.
3. The WE Team will be hosting a pizza lunch for Halloween. Information and orders forms have been sent home with students. These forms are due back to the school by Thursday, October 26.
Parent Council
Halloween Howler
We have a lot of families who have purchased tickets for the Halloween Dance. Please send in your ticket order and money for the dance before Friday, October 27.
Church News
Sister Helena Burns "Theology of the Body and Media"
Sister Helena Burns is a movie reviewer and is also a writer/producer. On October 23 at 7:30 pm she will be presenting on the topic "Theology of the Body" and applied to media content, as well as our media use, media choices and those of our youth.
Children's Choir
Grade 2-6 students are invited to be part of the OLPH Church Children's Choir conducted by Mrs. Elizabeth Driedger. Please find more information below.
Looking Ahead...
October 23 - Sister Helena OLPH Church 7:30 pm (information above)
October 23 & 24 - Grade 5&6 Volleyball
October 24 - Picture retakes
October 24 & 26 - WE team gym games at lunchtime in the gym - bring $2
October 26 - Evidence of Learning sent home
October 26 - Hot lunch - Chicken Fingers/Garlic Toast/Carrots
October 26 - Halloween pizza lunch orders due
October 27 - Halloween Dance 5:30-8:30 pm
November 1 - 3-Way Conferences 2:30-8:30 pm
Email: Stl@eics.ab.ca
Website: Stl.eics.ab.ca
Location: 22139 S Cooking Lake Rd, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Phone: 7809225920
Facebook: facebook.com/StLukeCatholicSchool
Twitter: @stlcs_EICS