March 30 Update - Ongoing Learning

Dear Grade 1/2 Families, I hope that this communication finds your family well. On Monday, we will embark on learning in a new environment. We will work through this week to establish a connection with your family to facilitate ongoing learning according to Alberta Education guidelines. We are committed to making this process as effective as possible. What to expect in the coming days: Monday and Tuesday Contact from your child’s classroom teacher. Initial contact will be attempted via a phone call. If your child, where appropriate, is able to be part of the phone call, that would be a great opportunity for personal contact to be initiated. Your teacher will be asking for some information: Do you have access to a computer, laptop, iPad/tablet or smart phone and printer? Do you have access to the internet? Is your only option a paper-based learning package? An email from your child’s teacher as a follow-up that will introduce you to a platform through which ongoing communication and instruction will take place. This email will come to the email address(es) contained in PowerSchool. Tuesday, March 31– Friday, April 3 Ongoing communication from your child’s classroom teacher establishing common understanding of the learning platforms for the roll out of lessons Development of a plan for students requiring paper-based learning packages Ongoing updates from the CBE and from Capitol Hill via email and web site Thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we undertake this new approach to learning. Grade 1/2 Team

Spring Break 🌸

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you to have a wonderful Spring Break! Try to relax, get outside and really slow things down in the midst of this emotional and difficult time. Please take a well deserved break and focus on the little everyday things you can do together such as cooking a meal, doing a puzzle, building a fort and playing some board games! 

The hallways of Capitol Hill School are too quiet. All the teachers and support staff miss you!  💜

Ms. Adharsingh

My kids doing GoNoodle while social distancing

Interactive Mindfulness Game

Hi Parents and Guardians,

During these times, we are all really mindful about the wellbeing of our school community. This Interactive Mindfulness Game is a great resource that was shared to us by a teacher at Capitol Hill. Children may need adult support to work through it! I hope this brings some peace of mind during this unsettled time. :) 

https://storyboard.viget.com/term-4-project-17-03-20

Understanding Coronavirus For Kids

This social story was passed along to us to share with you and your students. You may print it and use it to help your child understand COVID-19 and process their emotions in this unsettled time.

A word from the author:

"Dear families and educator all over the world, 

I have created this short book to support and reassure our children, under the age of 7, regarding the COVID-19. This book is an invitation for families to discuss the full range of emotions arising from the current situation. It is important to point out that this resource does not seek to be a source of scientific information, but rather a tool based on fantasy. My recommendation is to print this material so children can draw on it. Remember that emotions are processed through repetitive play and stories read multiple times. Share COVIBOOK and help ease kiddo's anxiety all over the world."

​

With love,

Manuela Molina - the author

Math Resources

Dear Parents and Guardians,

These are unsettling times and we are uncertain of when we will return to school. In the meantime, a list below contain some great math websites that your child can use to practice some math skills. These websites are not necessarily tied to the Alberta Program of Studies and some usually
cost money to access, but for the time being, many are free and would be good for your kiddos to get some extra practice.

Brain Pop Jr. (currently not free)
https://jr.brainpop.com

Math Before Bed (free downloads at the moment)
https://mathbeforebed.com/180-math-prompts

Math Prodigy
https://www.prodigygame.com

Starfall
https://www.starfall.com/h/index.php

Math Card Games
https://mathgeekmama.com/best-math-card-games/

Math Activities
https://www.weareteachers.com/first-grade-math-games/

Classroom Update

Good Morning Parents and Guardians,

As you are all aware we are in uncertain times. We are awaiting next steps from our health minister and CBE on how to proceed moving forward. We most likely won’t be hearing information about online lessons until after spring break. We will continue to communicate through our blog as we are updated with new information but for now we would like to stress the importance of continuing with home reading, journaling about their day, and practicing basic facts through games (dice, cards). We hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy and don’t forget to enjoy the spring weather by going on a nature walk. 

 

Thank you for your patience during this unsettled time. 

We miss you!

Grade 1/2 Team 

School Closure

March 16, 2020

Parents and Guardians,

Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 all classes across Alberta have been cancelled due to COVID-19. Children are not to attend school.

A schedule will be communicated for families to pick up their child’s personal belongings in the upcoming days, the schedule will be shared via SchoolMessenger and Teachers’ classroom blogs. This schedule will be in place to ensure the health and safety of all our staff, students and their families.

Thank you for your understanding during this time of uncertainty. Parents can view information and any updates on our main webpage at cbe.ab.ca.

Capitol Hill Staff

Ice Cube Keeper Challenge

This week the students were given a challenge to create their own device that will keep an ice cube from melting. Students were asked to bring items from home that would serve as an excellent insulator for their ice cube. They have been building their prototype and then testing the capability of their insulator at home. I have heard of great success from the students! When they return to school, students make adjustments and then test again so they can see if they can make it better. The project is due on Wednesday March 17 for final testing. I can't wait to see which insulator keeps the ice cube from melting the longest!

Boiler Room Visit

Today Mr. David, our Facility Operator took us down to the Boiler Room and showed us ho

w the boiler keeps the school warm. The first thing he mentioned was the blue pipe that carries natural gas to the boiler to fuel the fire. Then the fire heats the water so it is boiling. Next the water evaporates into the white pipes as steam. The white pipes carry the steam to the all the parts of the school to warm it up. He can shut off the pipes to the boiler using the shut-off valves so when it is not working then someone can fix it safely. When we got back to class, we wrote about the process of heating the school using a boiler.

Ice Cube Keeper Project

Dear Parents and Students:

As part of our unit on Hot and Cold Temperatures, students are learning and exploring the concept of insulation and how it keeps things hot or cold. As an extension of what students have learned at school about this topic students are to create a prototype at home and at school. (Testing and adjustments can be done at home)

Your mission: Invent and build something that will keep an ice cube from melting

Purpose: To design and build a device that demonstrates how Insulation will keep an object (ice cube) cold.

 

Due Date: Wednesday March 18

Thank you for your ongoing support at home. We look forward to seeing the inventions and finding out which device holds an ice cube the longest without melting.

Thank you

Ms. Adharsingh