Last Day of School Before our Holiday

We didn't have snow today, but we did have some fog. Staff and students alike enjoyed building their gingerbread houses. It was a busy day filled with a lot of joy and laughter.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Happy Hannuka and Seasons Greetings. May you take advantage of the time to spend quality time with your family and friends.

All the best to you and your families,

Mr. H

Mrs. Kranenburg's Class Play

After I visited with our Superintendent, Deborah Palmer, and brought her around to visit all of our classes I attended Mrs. Kranenburg's class play. The students did a great job and the play was well attended by parents, as well as their buddy class Mrs. Hoechstetter's class.

I hope to visit Mrs. Knecht's class later, as they are volunteering with the Elve's Club today.

Until later.

Mr. H

GES Intermediate Band & Choir Fantastic

The GES Choir sang beautifully, the band played really well and Miss Kailyn & Miss Zoe danced up a storm! It was a great performance overall and it was great to see all of the parents and special friends here for the performance. Thanks Mr. Angelus and our excellent musicians and choir. Thanks also to Emily W. for accompanying the choir.

I will try to post one of the songs to my blog, but please be patient..... it is a challenging task for me.

Have a great evening everyone.

Mr. H

Santa Claus Skates with GES Students

Santa Claus was skating with our students when I went to the Gibsons Arena today. I was able to get a quick skate in after my PE class and before my playground supervision.

Everyone was having a great time at the rink and when I got back to school the primary students were thrilled to be able to play on the upper field, blacktop and asventure playground, as this is usually where the intermediate students play.

The energy at school is very positive and I look forward to a great finish to the 2009 school year!

Until later.

Mr. H

Snowstorm misses Sunshine Coast

The snowstorm missed the Sunshine Coast and we are back to our wet December. For your information our Intermediate students will be skating at the Gibsons Arena after recess-- I hope to get there for a quick skate.

For your information the Intermediate Choir & Band performance has been rescheduled until tomorrow at 1:15 pm. I used our new autodialer system yesterday to spread the word. The new system will allow me to contact all GES homes remotely. We will use it if there are any delayed starts. It will also be utilized to send information out regarding school events.

Until later.

Mr. H

Mrs. Servos-Sept's Class getting into the Spirit

Several students in Mrs. Servos-Sept's class were wearing Santa Claus hats today--- there is a challenge going on regarding wearing Christmas items to raise school spirit.

There are a lot of other exciting things going on as well, including Ms. Kraneburg's class going Christmas caroling this evening. There is Intermediate skating scheduled for tomorrow, and the Intermediate Choir & Band Christmas performance is on Wednesday afternoon at 1:15 pm (This has changed from Tuesday, Dec. 15th). Friday is Gingerbread House Day-- most classes will be building [graham cracker] gingerbread houses in the gym.

Hopefully you can join your child's class for one or more of these activities.

Have a good evening.

Mr. H

Gingerbread Houses, Red Rover & B-Ball

The kindergarten classes were busy working with their parents and Mrs. Griffiths making gingerbread houses today.

Intermediate students were enjoying Red Rover at lunch, while some primary and intermediate students played basketball.

Students are starting to act a little more goofy than usual..... I am sure that the parents are not surprised.

I am hopeful that everyone has a great weekend. Hopefully we won't get too much snow. Our Superintendent, Deborah Palmer, has posted a letter that I have put on our website-- it pertains to our protocol when we have a significant amount of snow.

To all a good night,

Mr. H

Getting ready for Basketball

Our students are looking forward to basketball season, which will start after the Christmas Break. The Boys' Team will practice after school Tuesdays & Thursdays (3-4:15 pm), while the Girls' Team will practice after school on Wednesday (3-4 pm) and Tuesday at lunch (12:20-12:50 pm). We will have a development clinic on Mondays from 3-4 pm-- this will be for students (boys & girls) from grades 3-5)

We may have one open practice next week after school on Wednesday (3-4:15 pm).

Until later.

Mr. H

Little Toy Trains and so much more

Our Primary Christmas Concert last evening was fantastic. The students were enthusiastic and displayed a lot of creativity, joy and talent. I tried to included the entire group singing, Little Toy Trains, accompanied by Mrs. Klan on the piano, but the upload did not work. I will try to upload it to my Flickr Photostream later.

As I mentioned last night, it may be the last Christmas concert for some of our teachers at GES-- Mrs. Griffiths, Mrs. Hoechstetter and Miss Owen may all be retiring at the end of th school year, while Mrs. Servos-Sept will be heading for Australia as part of a teacher exchange.

It was a great night and the children felt very good about their performance!

We had some tired students this morning but they seemed to have picked up the pace as the day went on. I enjoyed teaching Mrs. Hoechstetter's class PE this afternoon; we did a variety of ball activities which the students really enjoyed.

We are having a small staff gathering this evening-- it will be nice to relax, as it has been busy lately.

Have a good evening.

Mr. H

Meeting Day....then our Christmas Concert

I was at a Principals' Meeting at the School Board Office all day-- thanks for taking care of the administrative duties at GES Mr. Sullivan!

We have our Primary Christmas Concert this evening at 7:00 pm. The students have worked really hard and will put on a good show. There are some really good acts and the choir sounds great. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Enjoy.

Mr. H

Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal a Success

The Primary Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal went very well today. The students performed with a lot of confidence and we only had a few technical difficulties.

You will enjoy the show tomorrow evening. Hope to see you there.

Mr. H

Dress Rehearsal Today

Mrs. Servos-Sept's class was doing a final run through before this afternoon's dress rehearsal.

The Primary Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal is happening this afternoon starting at 1:00 pm. If parents, grandparents or friends are unable to attend the concert tomorrow evening at 7:00 pm you are welcome to join us this afternoon.

Until later,

Mr. H

Davis Bay in the am

I pass Davis Bay every morning on my way to school and have been amazed at the awesome colours that I see as the sun says hello to our Sunshine Coast.

It looks like it will be another great day.

Until later.

Mr. H

Boys' B Volleyball Champs

Our two boys' teams played each other in today's final for the SD46 Boys' B Championship. It was a spirited event, with most intermediate students attending. Thanks to Mr. Jim Gray for coming to GES to referee the game. Congratulations to Mr. Detwiller and all the boys.

Until later.

Mr. H

Sounding good!!!!

Listen and I am sure that you will be impressed too!

Writing

When I visited Mrs. Klan's class this morning they were writing stories based on what they saw looking at Christmas cards. The students were doing a wonderful job.

When I went to Ms. Kranenburg's class they were also writing. Their journal entries were very interesting, with al ot of detail.

Until later.

Mr. H

Practicing for the Christmas concert

I heard some beautiful singing and I went to the gym to see that there was only one class in the gym--Mrs. Servos Sept's class. They sang really well and volume was fantastic.

The Christmas Concert (Wednesday, Dec, 9th @ 7:00 pm) should be great. I look forward to seeing many of you there. If you are unable to make the evening performance you are welcome to come to the dress rehearsal on Tuesday, December 8th @ 1:00 pm.

Until later,
Mr. H

Davis Bay Sunset

I was amazed at the sunset as I was going home after work yesterday. We sure live in a beautiful place!

I know that the sunrises have been spectacular in the mornings. I encourage you to take some time to enjoy our surroundings with your family.

Have a great day.

Mr. H

Enjoying the nice weather

It seems as if we've got a reprieve with the weather and our students took full advantage of it at lunch time today. Rumour has it that there is snow in the forecast in the next few days. It would be nice if it would hold off for a couple of weeks!

Mental Math. Manipulatives & Chistmas Trees

Mental Math-- in Ms. Kranenburg's class; students were loving their new small white boards. Manipulatives-- in Mr. Sullivan's Math class were finding out that it is challenging using manipulatives when dividing decimals. Chistmas Trees-- they were being drawn in Mrs. Kopek's computer class. It is amazing what some of the children were able to draw.

Until later.

Mr. H

Primary Choir preparing for Christmas Concert

As we get closer to our Christmas break the singing takes on its own life and the gymnasium becomes a music hall. I listened to the Primary Choir practicing a couple of numbers that they will be performing on Wednesday, December 9th at 7:00 pm. I have included a teaser for you.

Enjoy,

Mr. H

Another great day to learn

I was impressed with the ambiance of Ms. Kraneburg's when I stopped by today-- the winter theme, Christmas and Hannuka images make it very comfortable. The students were really engaged in their novel study.

Mrs. Hourigan's Guided Reading students were enjoying their reading when I stopped by.

Until later.

Mr H

Another great day to learn

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

When I visited classes this morning most classes were working on reading. Mrs. Servos-Sept's class was reading along with her as she read from the novel, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

For your information Mrs. Servos-Sept will be heading to Queensland, Australia, as part of an international teacher exchange program starting in January. I will be posting more information about our exchange teacher in the coming weeks.

Until later.

Mr. H

Appreciate our surroundings

On my way to work this morning I was compelled to stop for a minute. During the fall and winter months we often have rain and my view on my way to school is that of rain pelting down on my windshield. I really appreciate the beauty we have on the Sunshine Coast and I wanted to share the view I had this morning. It should be a great day today.

Enjoy.

Mr. H

Adrienne Gear on Non-Fiction Reading Power

We had several staff members attend Adrienne Gear's workshop on Non-Fiction Reading Power in Sechelt today. She brought with her many great ideas about engaging our students in non-fiction reading.

Something that you will here your children talking about more is, "Paying attention to your thinking voice....," also known as metacognition.

Many of our teachers have been using some of the strategies presented in her book Reading Power. Her newest book, Non-Fiction Reading Power, presents some great ideas for getting students to go beyond just retelling what one has read , but to getting them to a point of transforming, synthesizing and critical thinking.

Until tomorrow.

Mr. H