 2 more sleeps to the Big Day! Although we have not been talking about Halloween in class, the children spontaneously began counting down sleeps yesterday at calendar time. Today we had a brief discussion about what they could expect on Thursday and I better share the details with you before you get a 5 year old's version (which I am sure would include tons of treats in their lunch and a new puppy). Traditionally Halloween is Orange and Black Day at BEST but this year we have added the opportunity to dress up in Halloween costumes as well. The children are welcome to wear their costumes in the morning (no weapons or masks are allowed) but they must be removed for the afternoon assembly. Please note that if your child wears their costume it might not come home in the same shape it came to school in. Please label all costume pieces with names and refrain from sending little bits and pieces/ accessories as they are difficult to keep track of.
We will be continuing our pumpkin unit this week and probably into next by completing activities and scientific investigations of our class pumpkins and then carving one. Various Halloween activities will take place throughout Thursday, including a Halloween safety discussion, rotating stations in mixed K-3 groups and the Magic Potions presentation followed by a primary dance in the afternoon. Fun fun fun!! If you would like to send a special snack in celebration of Halloween for your child to share with the class please feel free to do so. We have 17 students. Note that one of our friends can not have nuts or dairy. Please refrain from sending more than 1 Halloween treat to school each day with your child in November. Jack And The Bean was so Awesome!! We laughed, we sang, we danced, we interacted with the actors. It was so much fun! (And the bus ride wasn't too shoddy either.) This new spin on the much-loved story finds Jack, a farmer’s son, surrounded by land that just won’t grow anything. When Jack has to sell his toys for food, he trades them instead for a magic bean from which a giant stalk grows. Jack climbs the stalk, which takes him on an amazing journey of excitement and peril and he finds that compost (aka Black Gold) is the secret to growing wonderful things.  For a short week it sure seemed long. And with another field trip on Monday and Halloween on Thursday next week will be even longer.
As if colds, respiratory infections and the recent round of the flu haven't been enough, there have been some cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in School District No.73. This disease is generally more of an issue with younger children that share toys and play in close proximity, however as it is very communicable, it can occur in any age group.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is an illness that causes sores in or on the mouth and on the hands, feet, and sometimes the buttocks and legs. The blisters may be painful. The first sign of infection may be a mild fever, sometimes with a runny nose or sore throat, tiredness and loss of appetite. Children are most likely to spread the disease during the first week of the illness but the virus can stay in the stool for several months and may spread to others. The virus also spreads easily through coughing and sneezing. It usually takes 3 to 6 days for a person to get symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease after being exposed to the virus. In some cases there are no symptoms, or they are very mild. To help reduce the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease wash hands often with soap and warm water. Teach children to sneeze or cough into a tissue or their inner arm where the elbow flexes. This prevents the spread of airborne droplets. Encourage children to throw tissues directly in the garbage after use and to wash their hands again.  Don't you think that sometimes it would be nice to have that giant impossible beanstalk grow outside your bedroom window so you could climb up to the magic castle and get away from it all? Especially when you are in the bathroom and a child is banging on the door calling for you because their sibling has just thrown up all over the beige shag rug and everyone had spaghetti for lunch. Personally, I'd brave the giant. We are excited to go to the production of Jack And The Bean on Thursday but I think the children are even more thrilled with the thought of the bus ride. The play starts at 1:00 so we will be leaving here at approximately 12:30 to enable us to get settled in our seats before the curtain opens (and make last minute bathroom runs). We will be returning to the school just before the end of the day full of stories to share. Don't forget the cost is $5.00 NOT $2.00.
 Happy Friday! It was so nice to meet with all of you again and the kids were so proud to show off everything that they have been learning in class.
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