October 3 - 7, 2022

WOW, what a wonderful week we had! We took full advantage of the beautiful weather to spend some extra time learning outdoors. Students had the opportunity to engage in some classic sensory play with the fallen leaves. Working together we gathered leaves into a big pile and jumped, put leaves on top of each other, rolled around in them and tossed them into the air. While the students were playing in the leaves the adults supported communication by describing what they were doing, and introduced lots of rich vocabulary like light, smooth, soft, crunchy, dry and wet. Our students also spent time working those big gross motor movements like climbing, hanging, sliding, running and balancing on the schools big playground. Spending time on the playground also teaches students about scientific concepts such as force of gravity when hanging and spatial awareness. Building confidence, body awareness and learning to evaluate and take risks are also benefits of playground play. Sometimes play is so much more than just play!

Everyday students participate in targeted task time. Our morning table work is there to greet students as they arrive at school and complete their morning routine of hanging up their backpacks, jackets and changing shoes.  At each table are a series of different tasks that students complete both independently and with support. Our tasks are purposefully chosen to help students develop academic skills such as academic readiness, preprinting skills, communication skills, and literacy and numeracy skills. These tasks change as students start to demonstrate greater understandings and task mastery. When students are supported by an adult they are guided to tasks that help to develop personalized goals. Our tasks also change with our seasons, celebrated holidays, and link to our Inquiry theme. Students work through three or four different tasks and then are given time with high interest activities such as Playdoh, Lego, cause and effect toys, blocks, cars, sensory activities or movement activities like our mini trampoline or our spin chairs before starting our morning shared learning circle.  

Visuals are such an important part of our day. Not only do they help students understand expectations or demonstrate comprehension, they are also a great way for our students to express their feelings.  For those families that will be celebrating Thanksgiving and sharing what they are thankful for, I encourage you to model language by using the visual below. Ask your child what they are thankful and support them as they point to each picture in the sentence prompt and them allow them to choose what they are thankful for. 

Upcoming Dates:

October 10 - Thanksgiving Day - no school

October 11 - School Council and Parent Society Meeting at 6:00pm 

                     *please see important note from Parent Council below*

October 13-14 and October 17-21 - Inline Skating 

October 14 - Individual Program Plans (IPP's) go home

October 27 - Halloween Dance

October 28 - Non-Instructional Day - no classes for students

A message from Parent Council

 

Volunteers Needed to make possible the October 27 Halloween Dance (6:00 to 8:00 pm)

 

This October marks the return of the Parent Council hosted Halloween Dance and Homeroom Pumpkin Carving Contest!  The dance is an event run entirely by families for families of EMJ students. 

 

Tuesday October 11 5:30 pm at the school: Halloween Dance Planning Meeting – parents are welcome to attend

Have a wonderful