In Math, we are starting a unit on 2-D shapes. The goals of this unit are for your child to use shapes to make other shapes, to identify shapes that are congruent (the same size and shape), to identify and compare various polygons (i.e., triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons) and sort them by their geometric properties (i.e., number of sides, side lengths, number of interior angles, number of right angles), and to recognize symmetry in shapes, designs and pictures of images. Your child should begin to notice interesting geometric designs in his or her world. You might talk to your child about how these designs have been created. Throughout the unit, you and your child may engage in activities at home such as:

• Your child can look for shape puzzles at home. Look in resources such as newspapers and puzzle books. Your child could bring a puzzle to school to display on a class bulletin board or puzzle table.

• Your child can find and list things around the house that have more than one line of symmetry, and sketch at least 4 of these items and show the lines of symmetry.

• Your child could plan a symmetrical design for one wall of a bedroom or some other room in the house. This might include the placement of pictures or posters on the wall. Your child can draw a sketch of the symmetrical design, draw the line of symmetry, and describe how the design was created.

• Your child can find something at home, such as a rug, a vase, or a bedspread, that has an interesting geometric pattern. Have your child draw the pattern and describe attributes such as congruent shapes, lines of symmetry (e.g., vertical, horizontal, diagonal), and colour. Your child should then describe how the pattern was made. This is called the pattern rule. Your child might take the real object or a drawing of the object to class to share with others.

• Your child can explore some of the online interactive math games listed under Math – Geometry links on this blog

Due to freezing rain this morning, all student transportation is cancelled today, Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016. This means that buses will not run in the morning or the afternoon. The school remains open. There is not regular programming.

Please note: If your child normally takes a bus, you may drop him or her off, starting at 9:00 am. If you do so, you must make arrangements to pick him or her up at the end of the day — 3:45 pm (coming a bit earlier will be helpful, so that you are not stuck in a traffic jam in the parking lot) — at the back of the school near the portables. We appreciate your assistance in keeping the front of the school and the office clear for urgent matters.

Also, if your child normally takes the school bus and he or she will not be attending, you do not need to notify the office. We only require notification for those students who normally walk to school.

You may check school bus cancellations and delays here.

If you must be on the roads today, please drive safely. It is extremely slippery out there!