Returning to school is like receiving a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils

...the title of this blog post is paraphrased from one of my favourite movies "You've Got Mail" 

Every fall (late summer) as I re-enter the school and see the shiny floors and dusted shelves, thanks to our great custodian Dave, I envision bouquets of sharpened pencils, fresh erasers and clean white boards.....soon to be followed by excited children, tanned, rested and smiling ready to share their  summer adventures.

I was excited to walk into school today and see the book shelves packed full of books waiting to get into the hands of our kids.  I'm eager to chat about my summer reads and learn about your summer reads.  I could feel the energy in the school today as teachers worked in their classrooms, caught up with colleagues and shared experiences.

We are looking forward to seeing all our fabulous Randerson kids and parents next week.  Remember school begins Tuesday September 4th from 10:30-11:30. 

Here are some pictures of our staff professional development day of learning and sharing technology. 

More Get Caught Reading Shots :)

Where were you caught reading this summer? 

Long car rides are more fun when reading!

  West Coast Reading

   

Ah, I feel relaxed just looking at this picture.

I'm loving the photos of students Getting Caught Reading this Summer.  I look forward to setting up the bulletin board with pictures from all your summer travels and summer reading at home.  Be sure to bring pictures in September. 

Plane to San Diego...

Waiting in the ferry line...part of living on the island

                                                                                                 

Get Caught Reading

Hi Randerson students and staff:

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer in the warm sunshine.  I've read some great books over the holidays.  Today I finished Mr. Pettigrew's Last Stand.  It was a lovely story with delightful characters and set in the English countryside.

I have also read some great books from our Randerson collection including Al Capone Does My Shirts.   It was funny, clever and poignant.  My daughter says the sequel Al Capone Shines my Shoes is even better. Both books are in the library.

I look forward to hearing about all the great books you've read this summer.  I hope you have been taking pictures "getting caught reading".   Thanks to those who have sent pictures to me.  

Get Caught Reading this summer...

Be sure to send me your pictures ...... vmartineau@sd68.bc.ca or bring them into the library in September. We will be creating a Get Caught Reading wall in the library.

Happy Reading

Mrs. Martineau

Book Review by guest blogger Brooke ~ Gr. 6

Life on the Refrigerator Door

Author Alice Kuipers

                15 year old Claire and her mom almost never talk in person.  Claire’s mom is a doctor, and is called into work a lot.  Claire is busy with school, friends and shopping, and when she is at home, she is doing homework.  They communicate using notes to each other, left on the refrigerator door.  The whole book is told in the story of these notes.  One day, Claire gets a note that doesn’t seem important at first, but leads into a whole new life for her and her mother.  Claire’s mom has cancer.  Along with school, babysitting, friends and her new boyfriend, Claire has many troubles in her life.  But her mom keeps getting sicker and sicker.  They go through thick and thin together, as they try to fight the battle of cancer. 

                Life on the Refrigerator Door is one of the only books able to make me cry.  It is so full of emotion and detail.  It is a very quick read, but still I would recommend it for mature readers, only because it may be hard to take for some people.  It is told in such a unique way, which makes it even more intriguing. 

Gr. 6 students Paige and Sophie ~ Guest Bloggers

Randerson Ridge Elementary Library Review

By Sophie and Paige

About Our Library

            Randerson Ridge Elementary school’s library is bright, fun and friendly.  There are five tables, where you and classmates can sit down to do work to discuss subjects with the librarian Mrs. Martineau.   During our library classes, we learn to use tools such as iPods, iPads and web cat.  We also learn how to make a bibliography.  On the iPods and iPads, we use programs such as imovie, puppet pals and book creator.  We use these apps to make educational videos.  The library has thousand of great books.  There are four computers at the side of the library which students can use to go on web cat or search for information for projects.  Web cat is a program that was only introduced to the library this year.  Web cat is a program where you can search for books in the library or see if you have any books taken out.  

About Our Librarian

            Our Librarian’s name is Mrs. Martineau.  Instead of coming in finding a book and leaving, she engages us in activities, such as using iPods and iPads.  With the younger students (primary) she reads to them, and then let’s them search for books.  She is a fabulous librarian. 

Art Trading Cards @ Randerson

Randerson students and staff enjoying a great afternoon at the

Art Trading Cards Convention

A huge thank you to Mrs. Tretick who organized the event, gave the teachers a pro-d on art card making and trading and ran the event. :)

Students have been creating Art Cards for the past month.  Students worked on conversation skills, curricular themed cards and building community.  Each class came for 15 min of trading with other grades.  A fun time was had by all. 

Congratulations Randerson students. Your cards are beautiful, your conversations were lovely and caring and your sense of community for our school ~ simply superb!!!

Ms Burnham's Gr. 3 and Ms. Lycan's Gr. 2 classes explore with iPods

Why I like this app:

Flip movie – You use a video or pictures then cut it out and make it into a movie. 

Mrs. Martineau asked :  What is a flip movie?

A movie that flips when move your finger on the screen.  You can make it fast or slow.  I like it.  Mackenzie

Puppet pals and talking Tom are fun and creative.  Puppet pals is good for school and Talking Tom is more of a game. With puppet pals you learn how to create something that might come true one day, you learn to use your imagination. In puppet pals you make your own story and in Talking Tom you make him say words. Ryann

Jesica - GeoWalk

I like looking at pictures of things around the world. I liked the picture of Mount Rushmore National Memorial best.  I like that it shows a whole bunch of faces carved out of rock.  It is in South Dakota.  I looked it up in an atlas.  I learned that their carved out of rock to represent the four presidents of the United States. 


Emily - I thought that reading skill #2 was a good learning app. I also think doodlecast and math bingo was awesome. 
They are good because you are learning new things and new math questions.  Reading skill #2 hunt (shows a picture of someone hunting) you choose a level match the picture with the word. 

Nyah - I like math bingo because you learn math questions.  In word bingo you learn words.  It was fun because you can play bingo.  I like basic math because you do math questions and it let you have choices.  It was fun.  I like reading skill #2.  If you try to sound out the words and if you can't do it you press the top and it gives you the sound.  I think kindergarten kids would like reading skill #1.