We're Having a Hallowe'en Party!

On Thursday afternoon, October 31, we will be having a small party in our classroom to wind down the Hallowe'en festivities at Parnall School. The celebration will follow the school costume parade which is scheduled to begin at 1:35 PM. Two classroom parents, Trish Gionet and Sharon Seinen are coordinating the food for the event. Parents are asked to make contact with either of these two ladies to arrange snack donations. Healthy options are being requested. If you wish to donate something for the party, please contact Trish or Sharon for suggestions. Thanks so much!

 Class Picture Retake

On Tuesday, October 29, a new picture will be taken of our classroom family. As all of the ELP classes have recently been reorganized, this new photograph will reflect the new make up of each classroom. So wear your best smile on Tuesday morning. Cheese!!!

A Fun-filled Day at Bry-Anne Farm Pumpkin Patch 

Last Wednesday, 74 students and a team of parents and teachers made their way to Bry-Anne Farm in Fenwick, Ontario for an afternoon of learning and fun. The weather that morning looked a bit ominous, but as our buses pulled up to the farm, the sky began to break and the sun shone down on us from above. We were welcomed to the farm by Farmer Anne who  lined us up to go into the barn to watch a play about the life cycle of a pumpkin.

Inside the barn, we met Mrs. Scarecrow.

Farmer Anne and Mrs. Scarecrow taught us about the all of the stages in the life cycle of a pumpkin. We all enjoyed the many antics of Mrs. Scarecrow and the tricks she played on Farmer Anne. 

After the play, we were led back outside where we enjoyed wandering through a corn maze and then a straw maze.

Then, it was time to climb aboard hay wagons and make our way out to the Pumpkin Patch. There, each student hand-picked his/her own pumpkin to take home and enjoy.

Finally, we made our way back to the snack area where everyone enjoyed a fresh, crisp Empire apple. They were delicious!

We said our 'goodbyes' and boarded the bus to make our way back to the school. And would you believe, not a drop of rain fell on us the entire time we were there. Thanks for a great time, Brian and Anne!

Bry-Anne Farm Trip Update

On Wednesday, please ensure that your child is dressed warmly for our Pumpkin Patch field trip. The weather forecast is looking quite promising--variable cloudiness throughout the day. The temperatures are supposed to be quite cool, with an approximate high of only 9 degrees. Layered clothing is suggested. Given all of the rain we've had over the weekend, it might not be a bad idea to have your child wear rain boots to the farm. The fields can be quite muddy. Each child is also asked to bring a plastic grocery bag from home with his/her name on it. This bag will be used to bring home a small pumpkin which your child will get to choose from one of the pumpkin fields. 

Students will have an opportunity to eat a light snack and go to the washroom before boarding the bus in the morning. While at the farm, each student will receive an apple to eat as a snack. Upon arriving back at the school around 2:00 PM, Ms. Campbell and I will have the children eat lunch. With eating schedules interrupted throughout the day, I would suggest a substantial breakfast to carry your child through until we get back to the school in the early afternoon.

We are all very excited about the upcoming trip. We've even composed a little song about our adventure entitled DOWN ON BRY-ANNE FARM. 

Parents who are chaperoning have already been notified by me by way of a note in the Zippy Bag. If you did not receive a note, please understand that you are still welcome to drive to the farm in your own vehicle and accompany us on the tour. There is no cost for adults attending the trip. 

Kingdoms and Castles are 

Popping Up Everywhere!

Various students in the classroom are enjoying the opportunity to design and create their own kingdoms and castles. Combining natural materials with blocks, glass beads and small, bendable dolls, the children use their imaginations to create both simple and intricate medieval structures. Moats, bridges, look-out towers, throne rooms and dungeons are but a few of the details our medieval designers have chosen to include in their creations.

Pumpkin Patch Permission Forms & Money are Due

Just a reminder that all Bry-Anne Farm Pumpkin Patch Field Trip permission forms are due, along with the $11.50 on Wednesday, October 16th of this week. Having all signed forms into the school will enable me to contact Bry-Anne Farms and the busing company so that I might let them know our exact numbers. Thank you in advance for taking care of this important matter.

Wishing all of our ELP families at Parnall School a blessed Thanksgiving!

Memories of Thankfulness

On Thursday, October 10th, the three ELP classes all contributed dishes toward a delicious Thanksgiving luncheon. Mrs. Penner's students prepared a delectable apple crumble. Mrs. Cornelius and Mrs. Gracey's students contributed a tasty niblet corn dish. Mr. Pickett and Ms. Campbell's students created yummy orange and cinnamon glazed carrots. Roasted chicken, rolls and milk rounded out the meal. There were smiles and happy tummies all around!

SMILE! Picture Day is Coming...

On Wednesday, October 9, wear your best smile to school as pictures will be taken throughout the day of all of the students and their classes at Parnall Public School. Kindergarten pictures are often taken early in the morning when the children are well-groomed and at their freshest. Proofs and order forms will be sent home within the next several weeks. Keep an eye out for them in your child's Zippy Bag.

ELP Thanksgiving Lunch, 
October 10

On Thursday, October 10, the ELP Kindergarden classes will be preparing foods for a Thanksgiving lunchtime feast. The cost of the meal is $5.00 per child. Print off the permission form found to the right under DOWNLOADS. Further details are available on the form. It is hoped that all the children will join in this wonderful community building event. 

Bring on the Royalty

It has been a busy week in kindergarten. As you can see, a lot of progress has been made on the castle. To date, our castle contains a throne room, a turret, a moat, a drawbridge and even a dungeon. 

There are many details that the children may wish to add to the castle structure. In order to give them some ideas, I plan on reading a book entitled 'In the Castle.' We will spend a considerable amount of time studying the pictures and searching for clues as to what the interior of a castle really looked like in the Middle Ages.

For those who wish to experience kingdom life on a smaller scale, I prepared a miniature imagination provocation where the children can build a small castle structure out of coloured blocks and use small figurines to engage in imaginary play.

At the Artist's Table, students will have the opportunity to embellish crowns with sticker 'jewels' in a pattern of their choice. Hmmm, will it be rubies, emeralds, sapphires or perhaps...all three? Decisions, decisions!

Bry-Anne Farm Pumpkin Patch Permission Form Download

The permission form for the Bry-Anne Farm Pumpkin Patch Trip can be found to the right of this post, below the 'Events of the Week' listing under Downloads. Simply click the Bry-Anne Farm... link and print off the form. Provide the information needed and send the completed form and money in to school with your child in his/her Zippy Bag. It is as simple as that. Don't forget that forms and money are due no later than October 16th. If you have difficulty printing this form, you can request a hardcopy when dropping your child off in the morning or at dismissal in the afternoon.