September 2016
Dear Grade Four Parents,
Welcome to Division Four! I hope you enjoyed your summer. My name is Cindy Barwin and I am very pleased to be teaching again at Lynn Fripps. I come with many years of teaching experience in the Langley School District and I am looking forward to working with you and your child. I am happy to announce that I will be job sharing with Stephanie Doerksen again this year; she will be teaching on Wednesdays. Miss. Doerksen is very excited to be joining me again at Lynn Fripps.
At the intermediate grade level, teachers do not regularly schedule parent helpers in their classrooms; however, there will be many opportunities throughout the school year for parents to be involved in our activities. I encourage you to participate if your schedule allows it. Please see the volunteer sheet in this package if you are interested.
For your information, I have outlined a brief overview of the areas we will be focusing on over the next few weeks. The intermediate staff is currently exploring the possibility of platooning in certain subject areas, so there is a chance the following schedule may change slightly. Our PE and Library schedules have yet to be firmed up; I will send home this information when it is available.
Overall Themes: Getting to Know You
Classroom Routines
Behaviour Expectations
Fall
Mathematics:
Number Concepts to 10 000
Addition & Subtraction basic facts- computational fluency
Increasing and decreasing patterns
Algebraic relationships among quantities
One step equations with an unknown number
Problem solving
One to one correspondence using pictographs
& bar graphs (c/o Miss. Doerksen)
Social Studies: Early contact, trade, cooperation, and conflict between First
Peoples and European Peoples
Reading & Language Arts:
Text features
Reading Strategies
Oral Language Strategies
Paragraph Structures
Grammar and Conventions
Science: All living things sense and respond to their environment
Biomes c/o Miss Doerksen
I am sending home a parent survey today, which Miss. Doerksen and I will find very helpful in getting to know your child. I would appreciate it if you would kindly complete it and return it to school at your earliest convenience.
If throughout the year, you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact myself or Miss. Doerksen at the school. We check our E-mail regularly if that is more convenient. We can be E-mailed at [email protected].
[email protected]. Again, I look forward to a positive and successful year with you and your child. Thank you in advance for your support!
Yours truly,
Mrs. C. Barwin
Dear Grade Five Parents,
Welcome to Division Four! I hope you enjoyed your summer. My name is Cindy Barwin and I am very pleased to be teaching again at Lynn Fripps. I come with many years of teaching experience in the Langley School District and I am looking forward to working with you and your child. I am also looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces!
I am happy to announce that I will be job sharing with Stephanie Doerksen again this year; she will be teaching on Wednesdays. Miss. Doerksen is very excited to be joining me again at Lynn Fripps.
At the intermediate grade level, teachers do not regularly schedule parent helpers in their classrooms; however, there will be many opportunities throughout the school year for parents to be involved in our activities. I encourage you to participate if your schedule allows it. Please see the volunteer sheet in this package if you are interested.
For your information, I have outlined a brief overview of the areas we will be focusing on over the next few weeks. The intermediate staff is currently exploring the possibility of platooning in certain subject areas, so there is a chance the following schedule may change slightly. Our PE and Library schedules have yet to be firmed up; I will send home this information when it is available.
Overall Themes: Getting to Know You
Classroom Routines
Behaviour Expectations
Fall
Mathematics: Number Concepts to 1 000 000
Addition & Subtraction basic facts- computational fluency
Rules for increasing and decreasing patterns
One Step Equations with Variables
Problem solving
One to one correspondence and many to one correspondence
using double bar graphs (c/o Miss. Doerksen)
Social Studies: The changing nature of Canadian immigration over time
Past discriminatory government policies and actions
Reading & Language Arts:
Text features
Reading Strategies
Oral Language Strategies
Paragraphing
Grammar and convention
Science: Basic Structure and functions of Body Systems (c/o Miss. Doerksen)
French: French alphabet, common high frequency vocabulary
I am sending home a parent survey today, which Miss. Doerksen and I will find very helpful in getting to know your child. I would appreciate it if you would kindly complete it and return it to school at your earliest convenience.
If throughout the year, you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact myself or Miss. Doerksen at the school. We check our E-mail regularly if that is more convenient. We can be E-mailed at [email protected].
[email protected]. Again, I look forward to a positive and successful year with you and your child. Thank you in advance for your support!
Yours truly,
Mrs. C. Barwin
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM DIVISION FOUR
September 2016
Dear Parents,
Thank you so much for your quick responses to my parent helper requests. I appreciate your many kind offers!
All parents are encouraged to be involved if your schedule allows, even if you did not return the request form.
Here are the results to date:
Room Parents:
Heidi Hanscom (Kamryn)
Alanna Jeske ( Kaylee)
Jas Chohan (Alisha)
Extra: Nam Cavasin (Rylan) M & Th
Scholastic Book Orders:
Jenny Vogt (Nathan)
Casual Helpers:
Dave & Trina Bowes (Chloe)
Kristy Kaye (Austin)
Lisa Mykle (Tyler)
Kevin Pratt (Ruby)
Gina Saunders (Nevis)
Weigiang Zhao (Evan)
Mrs. Cristine Araujo-Alcock (Kevin)
Whitney Cantafio (Noah)
Nam Cavasin (Rylan)
Jenny Vogt (Nathan)
Class Photographers:
Kevin Pratt (Ruby)
Lisa Mykle (Tyler)
Whitney Cantafio (Noah)
Jas Chohan (Alisha)
Thank you so much! I very much appreciate your support.
Schedule Update
We now have most of our schedules in place and I would like you to please note the following:
PE:
Our regular gym classes are on Wednesday & Friday. I ask that your child be prepared for PE classes, and would appreciate it if you could send a pair of inside running shoes that do not have black soles.
MUSIC:
Tuesday 11:00 a.m. c/o Mrs. Wiebe
All children are expected to have their recorders at school for each class.
LIBRARY BOOK EXCHANGE:
Thursday 9:15 a.m.
c/o Mrs. Van Berkel
Please remind your child to have his/her books at school on that day.
ICT
Thursday 11:00 a.m.
Internet and photograph permission forms have been sent home; kindly sign and return them.
Please send earbuds for your child if you have not already done so.
AGENDA BOOKS:
Please sign the agenda books every night.
If you need to send me a note, the agenda book is a great place to do it.
Kindly send in $5.00 to pay for these books, if you haven’t already done so. Thanks!
LETTER LOGS:
Please send me $1.25 to cover the cost of this special writing book, if you haven't already done so. Thank you!
LYNN FRIPPS IS A PEANUT AWARE SCHOOL:
We have a serious nut allergy in our classroom and I urge you to please be sensitive to this issue. Please do not send nut products of any kind to school. I will try my best to create a safe and respectful environment for all of my students.
RAINY WEATHER:
I just want to send a friendly reminder that the children go out to play rain or shine at Lynn Fripps. Kindly see that your child is well prepared for the wet weather. Thank you very much
MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT:
Date: Thursday, September 22, 2015
5:00- 6:00 PAC Barbeque
6:10- 6:20 Assemble in the gym
6:20- 7:00 Visit the classroom
I hope to you see you there!
Mrs. C. Barwin
Home Reading Program
Dear Parents,
The development and enjoyment of independent reading is an important part of your child’s education.Today, I am sending a reading record sheet home for the month of September. Your child is encouraged to strive towards a reading goal of 400 minutes per month. Any stories, books, newspapers or articles read by or to your child could be recorded on the form. Please watch for a new record sheet at the beginning of each month.
I would appreciate it if you could assist your child in recording his/her minutes read. I also ask that you initial each entry, and total the minutes read, prior to sending the form back to school at the end of the month.
Your child will receive a reading certificate each month for meeting our reading goal. Thank you for your interest in this most valuable activity. Happy reading!
Sincerely,
Mrs. C. Barwin
Scholastic Book Orders
Dear Parents,
I just wanted to send a quick note regarding Scholastic book orders.
Each month I will be sending home a Scholastic book order form. You are under no obligation to purchase books for your child, but if you choose to do so, it is a way to earn extra books for our classroom library. The order forms will be dated and it is important to get the orders in on time. I am not able to send cash through the mail, so I would really appreciate it if you could please write cheques for your orders. (Scholastic Canada Ltd.)
Thanks so much!
Mrs. C. Barwin
What Homework?
Very soon the children will be bringing home their homework planner (Agenda). This little book is a very important component of our Health and Career curriculum, and will greatly help your child have a successful school year.
I will have the children record their homework in their planners daily. Once the work is completed, they are encouraged to show you their completed work if it is at home, and then I ask that you initial the page.
Some parents have inquired about the amount of homework to expect. Following guidelines from the Ministry of Education, I suggest not more than thirty minutes per night. If your child is spending a longer period of time doing homework, please come and see me.
Homework generally consists of work that is not completed in class. I seldom assign actual homework with the exception of projects, dioramas, scavenger hunts etc. When homework has not been assigned, please encourage your child to read to meet our home reading goal of 400 minutes/month, and practice basic Math facts for fluent recall.
There are numerous ways you can assist your child at home to make this year a successful one. I have listed a few:
-Encourage your child to read and write at every opportunity
-Encourage cursive handwriting
-Encourage practice for immediate recall of basic math facts
-Make the homework book a part of your daily routine
-Ensure that school comes before extra curricular activities
-Good nutrition and plenty of sleep
Thank you for your support!
Mrs. C. Barwin
October Calendar for Division Four
Please keep for your future reference
October 06-Individual Student Photos
October 07-Thanksgiving Assembly 9:00 a.m.
Parents welcome!
Please send/bring a food item to donate to
the Langley Food Bank Thank you!
October 10-Happy Thanksgiving! (No school)
October 14- Subway Lunch
Lynn Fripps’ Spirit Day- PJ day
October 17- Muriel Arnason Library Field Trip 9:45 a.m.
October 19- Popcorn Day
October 20- The Great BC Shake Out Day: Earthquake
Drill 10:20 a.m.
October 21- Provincial Pro D Day (Students do not attend)
October 24- Aboriginal Program- 9:00 a.m.
Blanket Exercises
BC School Library Day
Bring a flashlight to school for
Flashlight Reading
October 25- Aboriginal Program- Residential Schools
October 27- Assembly: Michael Mitchell
October 28- Aboriginal Program- Button Blankets
Parent Helpers Required
October 31- Halloween celebration: Further information to follow
Dear Parents,
I will start by apologizing for getting this notice off to you so late. As you may have heard by now, I will be hosting the Thanksgiving Assembly with my Division Four students. Our assembly is this Friday, October 7th at 9:00 a.m. If at all possible could you please have your child dress in fall colours and with logo free t-shirts. Please do not run out tonight and purchase new clothes! (Please note that every child in my class was invited to participate in this assembly, but not all wanted to.)
All parents are invited to this special event. If any of our class photographers plan to attend, I would sure appreciate it if you could bring your camera along and take some photos of the students for our school website.
We are collecting items for the Langley Food Bank, so I would appreciate it if you could send one item for donation with your child. My husband will be picking up the food at some point during the assembly to deliver the boxes to the food bank. If you are free to lend a hand loading up his vehicle, I know he would appreciate it, as would I. Thank you!
After the long weekend, I would like to have a quick after school meeting with our room parents so we can discuss our plans for Halloween. Time is sure zipping by!
Thank you so very much for your quick return of all of the notices that have been sent home. I very much appreciate your support. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a lovely Thanksgiving weekend.
Sincerely,
Mrs. C. Barwin
Important Dates in November for Division 04 Students
November 2nd Parent/Teacher Interviews
Dismissal at1:35 p.m.
Reading Link Challenge Presentation 11:00 a.m.
November 3rd Reconciliation Assembly 9:00 a.m.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Dismissal at1:35 p.m.
November 4th Hot Lunch Day-Boston Pizza
November 8th Bulb Planting 1:00 p.m.
November 9th Lock Down Drill
November 10th Remembrance Day Assembly 10:00 a.m.
Division 04 students will be presenting
Parents welcome
November 11th Remembrance Day
No school
November 18th Aboriginal Program: Button Blankets 9:00 a.m.
Hot Lunch Day
November 21st Report Card Prep
Early Dismissal 11:35 a.m.
November 22nd Gail’s Wildlife Shelter Presentation 1:00 p.m.
November 23rd Magic Show Preview 2:00 p.m.
Popcorn Day
November 25th Aboriginal Program: Cecilia’s Story 1:00 p.m.
November 29th Collaboration Day
Early Dismissal 1:20 p.m.
Lest We Forget
November 14, 2016
Dear Division Four Families,
I enjoyed meeting most of you during our parent/teacher conferences; thank you for coming. Please remember that you are free to make an appointment to see me at any time during the school year. It has been a very busy time in our classroom, with the new curriculum, the emphasis on the Aboriginal program, as well as platooning with other classes. My gratitude for the numerous ways parents have helped me this term is long overdue.
Please forgive any omissions in this letter. Thank you so much to the parents/grandparents of the following students who drove to our Library and/or our ice skating field trips: Kamryn, Alisha, Tyler, Nevis, Ruby, Rylan, Elliot, Nathan V., Evan Z., Chloe, Kaylee, Ayden, Tracy and Kevin. Both field trips were very successful, and the students were complimented on their fine behaviour.
I hope you’ve had a chance to see the beautiful Aboriginal artwork in our hall, as well as in the Lynn Fripps’ foyer. The students worked very hard on these projects to contribute to our Reconciliation Assembly. Many thanks go out to our wonderful room parents who assisted the students: Mrs. Cavasin, Mrs. Chohan, Ms. Hanscom, and Mrs. Jeske.
Our in-class Halloween celebration was a great success! Thank you again to our room parents for organizing our refreshments and for helping with our crafts. Mrs. Jeske donated the miniature pumpkins and some decorations, and Mrs. Chohan donated some of the decorations and the gloves for the popcorn. Such generosity of time and money! Thank you also to the following students and their families for providing the delicious refreshments: Kamryn, Chloe, Alisha, Jagnoor, Abigail, Kaylee, Austin, Ayden, Daniel, and Tyler. Thanks also to Daniel and Alisha who brought extra treats in for the class.
As I mentioned in a previous letter, I registered my class for the Bulbs4Kids program this past summer. Thank you to our custodian, Mr. Roger Gaube, Chloe’s Grandma Mrs. Lynda Stayko, Mr. Betker, Ms. Hanscom and Mrs. Jeske, we were able to plant six hundred bulbs in our front school garden. Much appreciation goes out to these people.
Finally, I hope you were able to attend our Remembrance Day Assembly last week. I was so proud of my students; your children, for the beautiful job they did hosting this important event. Thank you everyone!
Sincerely,
Mrs. C. Barwin
December Highlights for Division Four
December 01- Pancakes & Pyjamas Day
December 02- Hot Lunch Day
December 06- Christmas Party Prep
Parent helpers would be appreciated!
December 09- Report Card Day
December 13- Christmas Celebration in Division Four
More information to come
Parents Welcome!
December 15- Classroom holiday clean up
Holiday Jar Bazaar Shopping Day
December 16-Popcorn Day
-Christmas Sing Along 8:45 a.m.
-Lynn Fripps’ Spirit Day:
Dress in Red & a Santa hat if you have one
(Special Request from Mrs. Boles)
-Farewell Assembly for Mrs. Boles 1:15 p.m.
Please bring a donation for Basics for Babies
Last day of school prior to Christmas vacation
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
January 2017 Happy New Year!
Calendar of Events for Division Four
January 23rd - January 27th Family Literacy Week
January- February FSA Testing for Grade 4 Students
Tuesday, January 03rd Welcome back to School!
Friday, January 06th Cookies and Milk from the PAC
Monday, January 09th Collaboration Day
Early Dismissal for students 1:20 p.m.
Friday, January 13th Hot Lunch Day: Montanas
Wednesday, January 18th Popcorn Day
Monday, January 23rd Read or write at home with your family
Earthquake Drill
Tuesday, January 24th Buddy Reading p.m.
Wednesday, January 25th Noisy Reading p.m.
Thursday, January 26th Flashlight Reading
Bring a flashlight to school!
Friday, January 27th Dress up as your favourite book character!
This is also Lynn Fripps’ Spirit Day
Hot Lunch Day: Booster Juice & Cobs
Monday, January 30th Aboriginal Presentation- Cedar 9:00 a.m.
January 03, 2017
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year and welcome back! It is so nice to see everyone again! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and holiday. I am excited to monitor the students’ progress over this next term.
The week before our vacation was such a whirlwind of activity that I have found myself with some unfinished business…
We had a very successful Christmas celebration in our classroom. The students were busy with our gingerbread houses, Christmas crafts and carol singing. They were then treated to some delicious refreshments. It was a perfect Christmas celebration!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people who contributed to the success of our activities. Thank you to our room parents, Ms. Hanscom and Mrs. Jeske. They both organized the refreshments, as well as helped with party preparations, and our classroom cleanup. Amazing!
Thank you to the following children and their families who supplied refreshments: Ruby, Nevis, Ian, Tracy, Aveen, Kevin, Noah, Rylan, Mileah and Danny. Everything was delicious! Please forgive any omissions!
We had a few parents who assisted us with our Christmas activities: Thank you to Mr. Betker, Ms. Hanscom, Mrs. Jeske, Mrs. Mykle, Mr. Pratt and Mrs. Saunders. What a lovely show of support. Thank you! Again, please forgive any omissions.
Finally, I must tell you how much I appreciated your lovely Christmas gifts. It is my privilege to work with your children and you have my sincere thanks.
For your information, I have outlined a brief overview of the areas we will be focusing on over the next few weeks.
Overall theme: Winter
Grade 4 Math:
FSA Testing
Multiplication Facts
Estimating Sums and Differences
Addition and Subtraction with 3 and 4 digit numbers
Symmetry c/o Miss. Doerksen
Time Measurement c/o Miss.Doerksen
Grade 5 Math c/o Mr. Dorland
Reading:
Reading Power Strategies: Adrienne Gear
Non- Fiction Reading: Nelson Literacy
Read Aloud/Oral Reading
Silent Reading
Spelling, Grammar Skills, Oral Language and Handwriting
Writing:
Write Traits
Writing Power: Adrienne Gear
Creative Writing
Personal Journals
Letter Logs
Poetry c/o Miss Doerksen
Grade 4 Social Studies
First Peoples
The Fur Trade
Grade 5 Social Studies
Past Discriminatory Government Policies and actions
Grade 4/5 Science c/o Miss.Doerksen
Simple Machines
Energy
Grade 4/5 PE c/o Miss Doerksen
Basketball
Please do not hesitate to contact me at the school should you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you!
Mrs. C. Barwin
Important Dates in February for Division Four
February 1 Art Starts Theatre
Early Dismissal: Collaboration Day (1:20 p.m.)
February 2 Groundhog Day
FSA Test: Math 9:15
February 3 Aboriginal Presentation: Environment
February 6 FSA Test: Long Write
February 8 Grade 4/5 Internet presentation
February 9 Popcorn Day
February 13 Family Day
No School
February 14 Valentine’s Day Celebration
Please send a light lunch with your child, as the refreshments will be snacks only
February 17 Hot Lunch Day
February 20 Report Card Prep- Students attend morning only
February 21 Water Workshop
February 22 Wear a Pink Shirt Today!
*This will also be our Lynn Fripps’ Spirit Day
February 24 Pro D Day: Students do not attend
February 28 Intermediate Concert
February, 2017
Dear Parents,
There will be a Valentine’s Day celebration during the afternoon of February 14th, in Division 4. Our lovely room parents will be contacting the next group of parents to supply refreshments. Thank you to our room parents and thank you all in advance for your contributions!
I am sending home a list of all the names of the students in our class. In order to avoid any hurt feelings, I ask that your child prepare a valentine for each student or none at all.
Miss Doerksen will be teaching that day. The afternoon will be fairly low key, so parent helpers will not be required. The students will deliver and open their valentine cards, complete some valentine activities, as well as enjoy their special snacks.
Thank you so much for your contributions and for your continued support!
Yours truly,
Mrs. C. Barwin
March Highlights for Division Four
Wednesday, March 1st Grade 5 Math Contest
Tuesday, March 2nd CTV Weather School Field Trip Note: Early Start 8:00 a.m.
Friday, March 3rd Term Two Report Cards Issued
Wednesday, March 8th Parent-Teacher Interviews/Early Dismissal
Thursday, March 9th Parent-Teacher Interviews/Early Dismissal
Friday, March 10th Ice Skating Field Trip
Hot Lunch Day: Hotdogs
Last day before Spring Break
Friday, March 17th Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 13th- March 26th Spring Break
Monday, March 27th Welcome back to school!
Please return signed report card & envelope
Friday, March 31st Hot Lunch Day: Ming and Sing
Friday, March 6th – Thursday, March 9th
Book Fair
Happy Spring Break Everyone!
April Calendar of Events for Division 4
April 01 April Fool’s Day
April 03 Yorkson Creek Middle School’s Transition Presentation
For our Grade Five students
Virtues Assembly 11:45 a.m.
April 04 Division Four’s In-Class Public Speaking 9:00 a.m.
Parents welcome
April 05 Lynn Fripps’ Reading Link Challenge
April 07 Early Dismissal
Collaboration Day
April 11 Langley School District’s
Reading Link Challenge
April 13 Lynn Fripps’ School-wide Speech Fest
Easter Celebration
April 14 Good Friday- No School
April 16 Happy Easter!
April 17 Easter Monday- No School
April 21 Langley School District’s Regional Semi Final Speech Festival
Hot Lunch Day
April 25 Class Photos & School Panorama
April 28 Field Trip: Edible Plant Walk
Langley School District’s Final Speech Festival
May Calendar of Events
“Please keep for your future reference
Tuesday, May 2nd Grade Four Swim Program
Wednesday, May 3rd Virtues Assembly 11.45 a.m.
Thursday, May 4th Lynn Fripps’ Spirit Day
May the Fourth be With You- Star Wars
Friday, May 5th Pro D Day-Students do not attend
Monday, May 8th Langley Centennial Museum visits our class
Tuesday, May 9th Grade Four Swim Program
Wednesday, May 10th Lockdown Drill
Thursday, May 11th Collaboration Day-Early Dismissal 1:20 p.m.
Friday, May 12th Hot Lunch-Subway
Fire Drill
Sunday, May 14th Happy Mother’s Day!
Monday, May 15th Timberline Camp Grade Fives
Tuesday, May 16th Grade Four Swim Program
Monday, May 22nd Victoria Day-School is closed
Tuesday, May 23rd Grade Four Swim Program
Thursday, May 25th School Track Meet
Grade Five Parent Night at Yorkson Creek- Information to follow
Friday, May 26th Lynn Fripps’ Spring Carnival
Tuesday, May 30th Grade Four Swim Program
Wednesday May 31st Karate Presentation