The Good News
November 6, 2016 - St. John XXIII School
Leadership Team Message
This past Thursday and Friday, Mrs. Melnyk, along with 4 teachers: Mrs. Denton, Mrs. Selinger, Miss Moore and Miss Yanitski attended the Animated Literacy Conference - and wow - what an education we received.
The message was loud and clear - literacy starts in the crib!
The staff at St. John XXIII are committed to creating classrooms rich in language experiences so that all of our students can become successful readers and writers. However, we cannot do it alone. Your role as your child’s first and most important teacher is such an important part of this development. In order to support you in this role, we will be sharing our understanding of reading and language development as well as at-home activity ideas for you in our weekly Good News. They are quite simple to do but please do not underestimate their importance. The littlest thing can make all the difference!
A part of creating a rich language experience for all of our students is having an understanding of what skills children need in order to be successful readers. Our first series of “Building Strong and Confident Readers and Writers” will focus on phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness is the ability to “play” with the individual sounds in words. Phonemic awareness is an auditory skill, meaning it focuses on the sounds in language, not the printed letter. Phonemic awareness is a critical skill necessary for reading development. Therefore, much time should be spent on playing with sounds before introducing the phonics piece of working with printed letters and words. Just think of Phonemic Awareness Activities as something you can do in the dark! It is listening and speaking only!
So, let’s focus on listening this week and consider that many children require support in developing their ability to listen closely. It’s easy, just takes a few moments, and can be done with children of all ages! (Please include your littlest people! They will benefit greatly by participating!)
Game: Sound Spotter
Close your eyes and stay perfectly still and quiet
Listen to the sounds around you
Be a sound spotter by sharing which sounds you hear
Our lives are busy, but adding this game into your daily routines is so doable! Perhaps you are settling into bed for the night, you are at the hockey rink waiting for the game to start, or even waiting in the car while someone runs into the store to grab some milk. So easy and such little time is required!
Have fun finding out which person is the best sound spotter in your house!
Yours for literacy,
Mrs. Melnyk & Mrs. Weller and the entire St. John XXIII Staff
Catholic Education Mass November 5th
Catholic education takes its lead from Jesus Himself: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations , baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." (Mt 28.19-20) Simply, this means announcing the Good News of Jesus Christ and helping one another to become His disciples.
Thank you to everyone who gathered at Saturday's Mass. It is always a pleasure to visit the St. John XXIII families and to gather together. Thank you to ALL who were involved.
Please click here to read the letter concerning Catholic Education from our bishops.
3-Way Conferences
Mr. Berg's Counsellor's Corner
This week during Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences Mr. Berg will be speaking about the Zones of Regulation from 6:00 - 6:30 pm and again from 7:00 - 7:30 pm on both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in the Facilitator's Room (Room #137). If you would like more information about the Zones of Regulation Program that we are offering at the school this year please visit our school's website.
Scholastic "Bookaneer" Fair
A Book for Every Child
Looking Ahead . . .
November 6 Daylight Savings Time ends - clocks fall back 1 hour
November 7 - 10 Scholastic "Bookaneer" Book Fair
November 8 SLS Farm to School vegetable pickup 3:30 - 8:00 pm
November 8 & 9 3-Way Conferences 5:00 - 8:00 pm
November 9 Grade 3 T-Pet Presentation on Communities in Our World
November 10 PSC School Spirit Clothing Order deadline
November 10 Remembrance Day Celebration 11:00 am - everyone welcome
November 10 Booster Juice Hot Lunch (for students who pre-ordered)
November 10 Grade 4 Rec Swim 1:00 pm
November 11 Remembrance Day - No School
November 14 - 18 Fall Break - No School
November 21 Lifetouch School Picture Retakes
December 8 Choir, Chimes & Handbell Christmas Concert 7:00 pm
December 21 Grade 1 & 2 Christmas Concert
December 22 Grade 3 & 4 Christmas Concert
9526 - 89 St. Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: stj.eics.ab.ca
Phone: 780-998-7777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnXXIII/
Twitter: @St_JohnXXIII