The WHAT and WHY of Loose Parts Play
LOOSE PARTS PLAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF PLAY EXPERIENCES!
Loose parts play is an unstructured, free play opportunity for children, youth and adults. The play must be child-directed, freely-chosen and intrinsically motivating, which means it is 100% initiated and led by the child – they take the play where they want to. The opportunity for discovery, inventiveness, construction, creativity and enjoyment depends on the number of different parts available in the play space; the more meaningful. It involves repurposing or upcycling simple, everyday materials, often found in and around the house.
Playing with items that offer weight, length/height and overall size comparable to the child and add a bit of a challenge in order to manipulate such as pots, pans, large cardboard boxes, bed sheets and large fabric, lumber (2x4s), buckets and bins, etc. supports gross/large-motor play. Think of it as a full-body experience.
THE KEY TO LOOSE PARTS PLAY IS TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO EXPLORE THEIR IDEAS.
When they have an opportunity to freely, voluntarily, instinctively and intrinsically follow through on their thoughts and ideas this will manifest in any of the following types of play:
- Mastery: repeat an action until its mastered
- Construction: use materials in a goal-oriented / product-oriented way
- Rules-based: create, negotiate and adapt to rules
- Arts-based: using materials to draw, model, perform
- Symbolic: transform an object using imagination or fantasy
- Language: using words they make up or change
- Make-believe: imaginative role play
- Sensory: materials of different textures
- Rough & Tumble: physical; involving contact between two or more players
- Risk-taking: understand how far they can go
Excerpt from https://everactive.org/blog/loose-parts-play-at-home/
Swimming Lessons
Tuesdays: Group #1 : (1:00-1:45):
- Oct. 3rd, Oct. 10th, Oct. 17th, Oct. 24, Nov.14th, Nov. 21st, Nov.28th, Dec.5th
Class: Mrs. LaRose - 2L
Tuesdays: Group #2 (1:45-2:30):
- Oct. 3rd, Oct. 10th, Oct. 17th, Oct. 24, Nov.14th, Nov. 21st, Nov.28th, Dec.5th
Class: Miss Podoborozny - 4P
Class: Mrs. Vukovic - 3V
Thursdays: Group #1 (1:00-1:45):
- Oct. 5th, Oct.12th, Oct. 19th, Oct.26th, Nov.2nd, Nov.16th, Nov.23rd, Nov.30th
Class: Mrs. Stadnick & Ms. Wiunow - 1S/W
Class: Ms. Bourassa - 1B
Thursdays: Group #2 (1:45-2:30):
- Oct. 5th, Oct.12th, Oct. 19th, Oct.26th, Nov.2nd, Nov.16th, Nov.23rd, Nov.30th
Class: Mrs. Obiobala - 2/3O
Parents please fill out the two permission forms sent home and send back to school to your child’s homeroom teacher by Friday, September 22:
- Strathcona County: Recreation Programs - School Aquatic Lessons Registration
- Informed Consent Form: Swimming (Lifeguard)
COGITO Families: Swimming Days and School Spirit Days are uniform-free days.
In order for your child to participate in swimming, the swimming fee is to be paid prior to lessons beginning. Please contact the school is you are having difficulties.
Terry Fox Run
We will be completing the Terry Fox Run on Sept. 22nd. We will be having an assembly in the gym to learn more about Terry Fox's Heroic work. We will then be walking/running outside. If you would like to make a donation, please use the following link!
Student Pickup Arrangements
If there is a change in your child's pickup plans, please call the office to ensure your child has received the message. As your child's teacher is with children during the day, and are not available to check their email to receive the message that your child's pickup arrangements have changed.
Thank you for calling prior to 2:30 with pickup changes, except for emergencies.
Safety is our TOP Priority - Parking Lot for Staff & Visitors
To keep our children safe, the parking lot is for staff parking. It is not a student drop off zone.
Student pick up and drop off is to occur in the three green areas identified on the map below.
Last week there were several near-miss accidents in the parking lot because it is being used as a pick up/drop off location. With young children walking unattended in the parking lot, cars backing up, driving in, driving out, it is a recipe for disaster - one we want to avoid at all costs. You and your child's safety are incredibly important. Please use the drop off locations highlighted in green below and walk with your child to their doors.
If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please contact Mme Gravelle at 780-467-7972.
Can't Volunteer during the day and still want to help?
Safety Vests
Our team is growing and so is our Madonna Catholic School Family - YEAH!! This means we have more staff keeping your children safe. As a result, we are in need of yellow safety vests for when staff supervise. If you or a company you know is willing to donate yellow vests (see image above) thank you for emailing Mme Gravelle at pamgr@eics.ab.ca or calling her at the school at 780-467-7972. Thank you in advance!
Sidewalk Chalk
Kids LOVE sidewalk chalk and it's a wonderful way to bring joy and light around the school. If you would like to donate sidewalk chalk, thank you for bringing it to the office, or having your child bring it to school for delivery to the office. You will make so many children smile!!
Forks, Spoons & Cups
While it is always encouraged that students bring their own forks and spoons for lunch, as well as their own water bottles, occasionally they are forgotten. It is appreciated to have a collection of these items for those occasions. We appreciate donations of wooden or biodegradable single use spoons and forks as well as paper cups. Thank you for bringing them to the office, or having your child deliver them for you.
Thank you in advance for ALL of your support!!!
Communication Bumps
As you may be aware, Elk Island Catholic Schools changed to a new communication system over the summer with the intent to refine how schools and parents communicate with each other. You may also be aware that this transition has created some unintended complications for our schools and parents since its September 1 rollout.
Please rest assured that EICS is aware of this and are working with the software’s development team to resolve these matters.
SchoolEngage is a custom-made software, and what we have implemented so far is not fully representative of the final experience. Additional updates and features will continue to be added in the near future.
In the meantime, please visit the website of your child’s school for up-to-date information.
We apologize for any inconvenience this new rollout has caused, and are thankful for your ongoing patience and understanding.
Bus Status 4
Download the Bus Status 4 App
Bus Status has a new App, just in time for the new school year! Ensure you download the new App from the App Store or Google Play Store and select your preferences before September 29 to continue to receive notifications.
The new App has improved speed and reliability. It will look and function the same as the current Bus Status app.
The Bus Status app currently installed on your phone will not update automatically to the new version of the app. You must go to the App Store or Google Play to download the new app to receive notifications after September 29.
Don’t know how to download the app? Step-by-Step Instructions here!
Upcoming Events:
September:
20 - School Council Meeting @ 7:00pm (In Person & Virtual)
21 - Grade 4 Retreat at Camp Van Es
22 - Terry Fox Run in the afternoon @ 2pm - Wear Red & White
25 - Gotcha Assembly - Celebrating children who GLOW!
29 - Orange Shirt day & Assembly @ 1:00pm - Wear Orange
October:
2 - Monday October 2 - No School in honour of Truth & Reconciliation Day
3 - Swimming Lessons begin - see schedule
4 - Early Dismissal Day & School Spirit Day: Wear your Favourite Colour Day!
5 - Friday, October 6 - No School - EICS Professional Learning Day
9 - Happy Thanksgiving Monday - No School
10 - Grade 4 delegates attend Here Comes the Sun Retreat
10 - All T/Th Kindergarten attend field trip to library
11 - Grade 4s to Fort Heritage Center
12 - Grade 4 Drumheller Parent Information Night @ 6:30pm
