September 28th

Thank-you to everyone who made it out to the Back to School Barbecue. It was wonderful to meet so many of you!

Weekly update:
 It has been a spectacular week. The students have been settling into classroom routines, and are working very hard. I am very impressed!

Social Studies:

• Students are working on their Egyptian Group Presentations. These presentations are to be completed and polished by Tuesday, October 2nd. 

English Language Arts:

• I am still missing many of our "Perspective" writing pieces. These should be finished by Monday.

• We have started our new novel study: "The Giver." The students have three reflection questions that need to be completed by Monday.

Mathematics (grade six):

• On Friday, the students wrote their "multiplication strategies open book quiz." 
• We will be commencing a new unit on Monday!

PE:

• We are continuing to explore volleyball

Upcoming Dates:

• Monday October 8th: Thanksgiving, NO SCHOOL
• Thursday October 18th: Half day - PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
• Schedule TBA

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Looking forward to another fantastic week!

Morgan Kolasa

Important September Update

Hello all,

I would like to apologize for the late update, however I have been out of the classroom all week with a nasty cold.

Here is some important information/upcoming events:

• Permission Forms/fees: I am still missing a few permission form packages and fees from some students, if you have not yet signed the rainbow package, please do so as soon as possible.
• Lockdown Practice with the RCMP: Wednesday, September 26th.
• PICTURE DAY: Thursday, September 27th.
• Welcome back BBQ: Thursday, September 27th
• Orange Shirt day: Friday, September 28th 

Here is what we have been up to in the classroom:

September is a time to get to know each other, and become familiar with new faces, new routines, and new regiments. We have been spending a lot of time with "getting to know you" activities, as well as "team bonding" games.

In Social Studies, we have started an Ancient Egypt unit. The students have asked some very insightful questions about this ancient civilization!

In English Language Arts, we are doing a variety of writing activities so I can become familiar with each students unique abilities. We will be starting one of my favourite novel studies next week!

In Math, the grade sevens are working with Mrs. Mangell, and the grade sixes have been practicing multiplication strategies (specifically for 2-digit by 2-digit equations).

For Career and Health Education, we are focusing on the theme of kindness, particularly kindness to our selves. Students all completed a beautiful written piece titled "The Best Part of Me." I was so happy to see students able to celebrate themselves in so many ways!

For Physical Education, we are starting to explore volleyball as the season is fast approaching!

Looking forward to what the next few weeks bring!

Welcome Back! - September 2018

Hello everyone!

As hopefully everyone read in the letter that was sent home, I am Miss Kolasa. I am the teacher currently covering for Ms. Saemerow in her grade 6/7 class. I spent the spring in her grade 5/6 classroom, and am very excited to be back at Dallas Elementary.

I wanted to give everyone a heads up as to what I will be using this blog for.

1. I will be posting important information (field trips, P.D. days, permission forms, etc.)

2. I will be posting photos and updates on what we have done and what we are doing in the classroom.

3. I will be posting any homework that needs to be completed at home*

*The only time students will have a significant amount of homework is when they do not complete an assignment in class, or were absent from school.

I will also be utilizing the students agendas as a line of communication, so please take a look at those when you get a chance. Students will be filling out their agendas daily.

This week, we will be spending plenty of time getting to know each other through various activities.

As a teacher, I will be doing some minor pre assessment to get to know each one of the students.

Looking forward to a great week, and an even better year!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Morgan Kolasa
mkolasa@sd73.bc.ca

Some Important Things...

I hope everyone had a fantastic and eventful long weekend!

With June fast approaching, there is a lot of important information to be shared:

1. PERMISSION FORMS! - We have a lot of fun field trips planned for June. All permission forms have been sent home. Please get these back ASAP. If there are any issues, please let me know.
• Money is not needed for the Pine Ridge trip as we are fundraising for it.
2. FUNDRAISER - The students are currently in the process of planning a fundraiser to pay for our trip to Pine Ridge Golf Course in June. This is working hand-in-hand with our financial literacy unit. We will need parent volunteers for this event, so I will send out an email as soon as we complete this unit.
3. Rock Painting - As a part of "beautifying" Dallas Elementary, we ask that every student brings in a rock to paint for an art piece we are building as a school. Painting will take place FRIDAY, May 25th.
4. No Vocabulary this week.

Looking forward to everything that June will bring!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me.

-Miss Kolasa

mkolasa@sd73.bc.ca

May 14th - Better Late Than Never Update

Sorry for the late update, we have been very busy!

Here is some important information:

Field Trips:
Grade Sixes - Fishing on Wednesday, May 16th.
Grade Sixes - Sunnybrae Camp Wednesday, June 4th.
Grade Sixes - Aboriginal Day @ Marion Schilling Tuesday June 26th

Grade Fives - Swimming @ TCC Tuesday June 26th

Fives and Sixes - Golfing June 22nd
Five and Sixes - Kayaking June 11th

*Permission Forms to go home this week :)

What We Are Doing:
Math - We are wrapping up area and perimeter by building a giant three dimensional city, students have been working very hard. I can't wait to see the end result! I will be sure to take photos.
         - This week we are starting a unit on financial literacy.
Social Studies - We just finished our unit on Canada's Natural Resources.  All the students did a presentation and did an EXCELLENT job! I thoroughly enjoyed their work.
Science - Environmental impacts, and sustainable practices in BC (starting this week)
ELA - We are finally wrapping up the novel "refugee," and will be starting a new novel study next. week. The students are still expected to be reading on their own for 20 minutes every evening.
PE - We are going to be starting slo-pitch this week.


Every single student surprises me every day. They are such a wonderful group who consistently demonstrate perseverance and hard work. I cannot wait to see what the next month brings!

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me.

Warm regards,

Miss Kolasa
mkolasa@sd73.bc.ca

April 20th, 2018

Another fabulous week has come and gone!

Here is an update on what we have been working on this week:

Socials/Science: We have been examining some of the challenges Canada's natural resource industries are currently facing, as well as the implications surrounding the natural resource industry as a whole.

Language Arts: We are still reading and analyzing Alan Gratz' "Refugee." The students have also come up with a fantastic list of vocabulary words to study. 

Math: Our measurement unit is slowly coming to an end! The students have almost mastered area and perimeter. Students should still keep practicing their math facts every day. They have learned a couple fun new math games they can play to practice, and prodigy is another great activity to play at home.

French: Seasons

 PE: Track Day is closing in on us --> April 26th is track day.

REMINDER: NO SCHOOL THIS MONDAY (APRIL 23rd)

If there are any questions or concerns, I can always be reached via email, phone, or appointment.

Looking forward to what next week brings!

Miss Kolasa

An Update

Happy Friday! I hope everyone's week was as fabulous as mine was.

I am slowly, but surely getting into some of the same routines with the students.

I am aware Ms. Saemerow enjoyed keeping a weekly blog to keep everyone up to date on what is going on, what we are working on, and what work needs to be done at home.  This is a routine that I am planning on maintaining over the course of the next couple of months. I am also "re-starting" up Friday books starting next week.

Below is what we have been working on over the past couple of weeks.

Social Studies/Science: Canada's Natural Resources 

• All work was completed in class, some activities are graded and located in students "Friday Books."

Mathematics: Area and Perimeter

• Most work was completed in class, corrections will be sent home next week in Friday Books.
• Practice Math Facts (5 minutes)

L.A.: "Refugee"

• Students have been working on a character analysis from the novel "Refugee." Most students have finished, and the work is on their google drives.
• We have also begun compiling weekly vocabulary lists. Some of the words come from topics we are covering, and other words come right from the students! Kahoot Quizzes are on Thursday, and the vocabulary words are in their agendas.
• Dictation, Journaling,Grammar, and Penmanship --> Activities we complete in class weekly.

Art: Textures Landscapes

• To be continued next week

P.E.: We have started working on different track and field events, as well as proper movement techniques.

French: Seasons

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

mkolasa@sd73.bc.ca

Looking forward to next week!

-Miss Kolasa