Today is the start of the second week of classes. It looks like everyone survived the first one, and is ready to keep going. I had lots of students who wanted to tell you what we were up to during our school day today - here is what they had to say:

So far we've had lots of math and gym. - Kayleigh
Today we had our first Science class and Choir. - Maegehn
We had our first Health class. We did a running relay. - Easton
I've sat beside Riley twice. - Austin
We got new spots where we sit in class. - Kaylynne
For Science we watched a Bill Nye The Science Guy video about Plants. - Nolan
We got a new piano in the Music room, and it can record. - Taryn
We did Number of the Day in Math. - Jaida
This class has lots of posters in here - Jets posters, Bombers posters, and space posters. - Brady
Today we did Daily 5 and I wrote about camping. - Faith
In Health we've been learning about safety in the gym. - Kaelyn
Our class has an electric fan that really cools it down. - Braedon

Welcome back!

Today is one of the most exciting days of the school year - it's the first day of classes for the students, AND it's the first day I get to meet my new students! We had a lot of fun getting to know each other today, and I'm looking forward to doing more of that this week and beyond. Today is the first time that all of the students in my class have had the chance to take part in a classroom blog, so I gave them a chance to tell you some thoughts from their first school day of the year - here they are:

We're in a new class, and we're happy. - Kayleigh
This is an awesome classroom. - Taryn
First day of school: awesome classroom. This rocks! - Jaida
This class is fun. - Easton
I wish that school would never end. - Kaylynne
This is probably Mr. Hoeppner's best class ever. - Maegehn
This classroom is cool and awesome. - Zoey
There are Magic Treehouse books, and number one of the series is the dinosaur one. - Austin
Right now we are reading the 'On The Run' series. - Josh
This class has two iPod Touches. - Brady
Our classroom is rockin' the Jets carpet! - Emily
I like how much sports stuff is in the classroom. - Braedon

(For those of you who have never been to Room 18, here are a few pictures of it, so you know what it looks like.)

It's time for summer!

I can't believe another year has come and gone. It's eerily quiet in the building as I write this last post of the school year, and it still hasn't really hit me that the last day has come and gone (that usually takes a few days). I would like to thank all of my students this year for all of their hard work, dedication, caring nature, and humour - you are an amazing group of kids, and it is hard to think of 'giving you up' to Mrs. Steinhoff and Mrs. Hoskins (or to another school, in one case). This was one of the best years of my teaching career, largely because of you, and I will miss you next year, as you all go on to Grade 5. However, after meeting 'next year's crop' this morning, I am looking forward to September, and to starting over with another group of eager students!

I wish you all a wonderful summer - be safe, happy, and active... and have fun!

Mark Guiboche art has been posted

The amazing artworks that the students created with the help of Mark Guiboche have been uploaded to our Artsonia page, and are now available for viewing! I think you'll agree that the students really outdid themselves this time - bravo, Room 18!

Mark Guiboche

We were lucky enough to have artist Mark Guiboche work with us this afternoon - he shared some of his own art with us, and told us about himself and where he grew up, how he got started as an artist, and where he gets some of his inspiration from. After that, the students got the chance to create their own images in the style of Mark's work, with some helpful pointers from him. There was some amazing art created today - look for it to be uploaded to our Artsonia page later this week (we'll keep you posted!)...

 

Presenting... Les trois petits cochons!

As you may have read last week, the students recorded their 'Les trois petits cochons' videos in French class. Well, they are finally 'ready for primetime' - enjoy!

Les trois petits cochons - Evan, Mikayla, Jenna, Hailey K., et Erika from Jeff Hoeppner on Vimeo.

Les trois petits cochons - Evan, Emma, Mikayla, Jenna, Hailey K., et Erika from Jeff Hoeppner on Vimeo.

'Les trois petits cochons' - Cameron, Dylan, Ava, Kyra, et Lexi from Jeff Hoeppner on Vimeo.

Les trois petits cochons - Logan, Denisse, Gal, Marie, Jacell, et Jade from Jeff Hoeppner on Vimeo.

Our erosion field trip day!

Today we went to Red River Valley Flood Interpretive Centre and we learned about rocks and minerals, and how the great flood became. They used more 30 lb sandbags to help stop the flooding, and it almost flooded in the city. We made something to block water in groups - my group put Lego and wood in front of the sand, but it went. - Joey

The bus came this morning, and I was very excited. Cameron and me were bus partners, and Cameron wanted me to be at the window seat. We were driving for 45 minutes, and on the way back, Cameron and I were bus partners on the way back, and I got sick, and when we stopped for the train, Mr. H. asked me if I wanted to take a drink. We were making little projects with groups trying to protect the sand riverbank from getting erosion, and my group used rocks and wood. Roxanne was putting water in there, and none of the water came to the sand, only under the sand, even though we were making waves. - Gal

For most of the day, we were on a field trip, and the ride was very bumpy. We did a race to see who could pile up sandbags the fastest. The sandbags just had cotton balls in them, and then after we got to carry a real sandbag, and it was VERY heavy! - Jenna

For our field trip today, which connected to the Grade 4 Science cluster of rocks, minerals, and erosion, we went to the Red River Valley Floods Interpretive Centre, which offers both hands-on experiences where students learn about the types of soil, erosion and flooding, as well as getting to view a Flood of the Century exhibit, video, and slide show. The students worked in groups to design and build protection to shore up their own mini riverbanks from erosion, which was a lot of fun. There was also time after lunch to enjoy the beautiful weather, and play around outside. To top it off, the students were extremely polite and well-behaved... as usual - what a great day!