Time is flying!

Time seems to be flying by right now!  I was considering the calendar and realized that we are a month away form our second term portfolios!  Wow!  The second portfolio is officially due on Feb. 19 and you are welcome to submit for it before and up to the week after it.  A number of you have continued to send me samples, or post samples, for me to see regularly, so I only have a few students that I'm unsure of exactly where they are at.  Please get back into sending those weekly reports!  Thanks everyone!

It is almost FSA time!  The grade 4s and 7s across the province write provincial assessments at this time and ours do a wonderful job representing our school.  A big thank you to all of you who have kids doing them this year!  What a great opportunity for your child to practice writing a standardized test and to serve our school community.  The results of the assessments provide information for us to provide to the province about things like the learning outcomes, creating flexibility for students in our province, and levels of service that we at HCOS would like to see valued or even funded.  The data is valuable to us as a school and so I'm thankful for all of you who get to write them.  Sorry to the rest of you - you'll have to wait until grade four or seven!!  :)

For those of you doing FSAs, can you please let me know if you received your package from HCOS when you send me your next update?  Also, after you read through the parent information sheet, let me know if you have any questions as I would love to help however I can.  Bruce did a tutorial that you can find at this youtube site if you would like to watch it.  Once you feel confident about the process, please let me know roughly when you are planning to have your child complete the assessments.  This is just stuff for the paperwork that I need to do.  :)

It sounds like it was a bit tough for many of you to get going again after the Christmas holidays and I completely understand!  I didn't really feel like jumping in  with both feet, rather more like slowing edging in one toe at a time!  However, I feel good now being back in the swing of things and I'm praying that all of you are feeling somewhat that way as well.  Over the years, I've always been amazing and inspired by what kids can learn during January and February.  Please let me encourage you - this is a great learning time!  For anyone who needs a little more time for prepping, or more time for the kids to work independently on reading, remember that Raz Kids is open to you and that can strongly support/supplement any K-3 reading program.

Winter Art Fun

Looking for a fun craft?  Try mixing equal parts shaving cream and liquid white school glue until the two liquids mix together, then spread or paint something!  The concoction dries 3D and is a pretty cool texture (although a bit fragile to multiple touchings!) and looks great!!  I love doing this one.  :)

Find great ideas for this puffy glue paint at Oopsey Daisy

This Polar bear is found at C.R.A.F.T.

                                             How about clouds for weather? at Allfreekidscrafts

Learning Commons News for You

Here is the link to our January  Learning Commons Newsletter, with curriculum articles, upcoming events and an Overdrive webinar invite for this Thursday for your training interest, and to share with your families.  This webinar is related to technical issues downloading materials.  Learning Commons Newsletter    Overdrive webinar

LC Webinar Update

 The Learning Commons digital citizenship webinar for this Friday the 12th  has been postponed.

DimensionU for Students

Dear Student and Parents,

 Have you read the book “Enders Game” or seen the movie? There is a program called DimensionU that is a lot like that. In this Academy, students take a kind of paintball approach to learning how to learn. This multiplayer game is all about fun, skill, strategy, and collaboration.  But, hey, should you benefit from the 400+ Math and Literacy skills, that’s OK too. J

Here’s an introduction to DimensionU -http://safeshare.tv/w/IGHXbzSISe

There are four very different scenarios in which to play, but the skills covered can be both targeted and comprehensive.

        Math Skills Overview:           http://www.dimensionu.com/assets/resources/DimensionU%20Math%20Skills-overview.pdf

      Literacy Skills Overview:       http://www.dimensionu.com/assets/resources/DimensionU%20Literacy%20Skills-overview.pdf

Here’s an example of what the game looks like; this is an intro to “Meltdown.”

       http://www.dimensionu.com/dimu/home/uvideos.aspx?ref=top%20menu%20dimu

You’ll see the introductions to a number of other DimensionU games as well, next to the Meltdown one. Have a look, and imagine playing this against 10 other students. Then imagine that 4 of them were on your team. Starting to get the picture? J 

The really cool thing is that two of these games can now be accessed on your MAC, your iphone, android phone, PC, etc., etc. http://www.dimensionu.com/dimu/home/games.aspx?ref=top%20menu%20dimu  The rest will be soon. On this page you also see some super games that will challenge your gaming skills, while making you an expert in Cartesian Planes.

To sign up for this subscription please click on this Fluidsurvey link.

https://fluidsurveys.com/s/Dimension-U-Registration-2014-15/  

Training will follow in January care of Gord Holden:)

God Bless,

Pippa Davies

Chair HCS Blended Learning Commons

Learning Commons : www.hcslearningcommons.org

Twitter:  @PippaDavies

Skype:  philippajanedavies

OverdriveELibrary (e and audio books)

L4U Catalogue  (books and kits)

HCS Learning Commons

Creating Christian Community

Through Discipleship, Literacy and Innovation

Devotional Site to Use with Your Kids

Have you been looking for something different to use as a devotional with your kids? One parent suggested this site as one you can use as is, or you can join and use the fuller version.  Check it out and see if it fits you and your family.  :)

Keys For Kids

Remembrance Day Art

Are you looking for something that is a beautiful piece of art that creates a sharing point about Remembrance Day?  Click the link for That Artist Woman then scroll to the bottom of the page and look at her Remembrance Day art projects.  The Mixed Media Poppies, Remembrance Day Painting and Van Gogh are my favourite projects.  Yesterday, I had a parent tell me that she still has a piece her daughter did with me (as a 7 year old) and it is hanging up, framed in their house.  That was four years ago!!  The art ideas and instructions are very good and I would encourage you to check it out.  :)

Remembrance Day Painting from that artist woman (link above)