Nov. 21st
Hello Grade 4 families,
This week's blog post will be a little different than usual, as our two grade four classes have had very different weeks. Please scroll to find Mrs. Saunders' recap, and Ms. Toews' recap.
Important Dates
- Library school field trip
- Ms. Toews December 1-5, 2025
- Parent-Teacher Conferences Nov. 27th (4:30pm-7:30pm) and Nov. 28th (8:00am-1:00pm)
- Booking available online. If you are experiencing difficulty booking, feel free to email us a preferred time frame and we will set up an appointment manually.
Announcements
TA time: Thursday's at lunch
- For students hoping to catch up on work with direct teacher support, Ms. Toews and Mrs. Saunders host TA time (teacher assistance) in room 3 during the lunch hour on Thursdays.
MS. TOEWS' Learning Update
Math: Students showed off their place value knowledge by representing decimal numbers in expanded, written, and standard form. They also practiced rounding whole numbers and decimal numbers.
ELAL: This week, we explored parts of speech including nouns (proper and common), pronouns, and verbs. Please ask your learner to share with you examples of each!
Science: As part of our Computer Science and Design Thinking unit, students continued working with Ozobots. They embarked on a design project to create a "roller coaster track" for Ozobot to meet the needs of the assignment. They created their own algorithms using colour codes. They will continue working on this next week.
Social Studies: Students began a new research project on computers. They were each tasked with gathering information about a European explorer, with the intention of understanding their motivations, challenges, and impact on Canada. They will share this information in the form of a "web page," "trading card," or "letter home."
Art: Students were introduced the artwork of Norval Morriseau, a famous Indigenous artist. They created their own "Turtle Island" art work inspired by his Woodland art style.
Music: Students listened and responded critically to a famous musical composer, Lloyd Webber.
Wellness: Our current unit in wellness is "Healthy Relationships." This week, students learned about conflict resolution, empathy, compromise, and negotiation.
Bonus: We got a visit from a working police dog!
Mrs Saunders' Class Goes to Library School!
Wow! What a week. We have had the most amazing experience at Library School and I am going to attempt to share it in a concise yet thorough manner.
Monday
We met Janice Parker, the coordinator of Library School through Campus Calgary Open Minds. Our introduction included a thorough tour of the library where students exercised their journalling skills and created an Event Map of the space. Through this we explored what services and resources the library has available, who the library serves, and reflected on how we feel in this space. In the afternoon we were lucky enough to meet with the Children's Illustrator in Residence, Meneka Repka. She shared her work, her process, and even gave us a mini character creation lesson to inspire us on our own artistic journeys.
Tuesday
After enjoying the library play structure to ourselves before the library opened, students examined a series of symbols that tell the story of Calgary through art. Art as Language created by Adrian Stimson taught us the multitude of ways that information can be shared and the importance of looking at the big picture when examining a story. We were so grateful to Jasmine Macgregor for sharing this installation with us and sharing her work with Indigenous Placemaking. Following a quick snack, we walked through the rotating doors of City Hall and along Stephen Ave to the Core Shopping Centre. Along the way, we examined the historic architecture and posed questions about the story of this place. Taking a glass elevator ride, we had our lunch in the warmth of Devonian Gardens. Students explored the idea of feeling welcomed in a space and reflected through sketches and sentences how Devonian Gardens creates a welcoming space to the public. Then, we hopped on the C-Train and returned to the Library.
Wednesday
Students had been so intrigued by the "Book-scalator" and how it worked to return books at the library, that we were able to have a behind the scenes tour of it in action! We learned about RFID chips, how inter-library loans work, and how we can return our borrowed books anywhere. As we walked through East Village, towards The Confluence, we looked for Public Art. We pondered the differences between art and graffiti, and discussed how public art helps tell the story of a place. Our picnic lunch at the playground was snowy, but delightful. We then attended a Pro-Arts Concert where we saw incredible performances by Mount Royal University Music students. Through this experience, we applied our understanding of music and reflected on how the pieces made us feel and how we visualized the music. This time, as we passed through City Hall, we discussed the purpose of the building and how welcoming, or in this case, unwelcoming, it felt.
Thursday
Our morning started by travelling back in time exploring the history of Ogden through the Calgary Story collection. Students engaged in exploring maps from before Ogden was built to present day. On each map, they used their map reading skills to find Sherwood School or where Sherwood School would one day be built. Additionally, students explored historical news articles, city planning documents, and books relating to Beaver Dam Flats comparing their experiences with the documented stories of that place. We met with Elder Clarence Wolfleg Sr. from the Siksika Nation. He shared with us stories that highlighted the importance of responsibility, kindness, taking care of one another, listening, and growing. He showed the power of storytelling as a way to connect and share with others and a way to pass on knowledge from one generation to the next. Our day ended with many of our students using their brand new library cards to check out books! These will be due Dec 11, but not to worry, there are no late fees! Also, books can be returned at any branch.
Friday
We spent our entire morning exploring the East Village and being curious about the Public Art and design choices. As we walked along the Bow River, we stopped and discussed what we were seeing above, below, and all around us. At the Wheel of Women, we investigated who was being honoured and for what reason. Our last stop was at The Confluence. Here, we learned about the significance of the site where the Bow and Elbow Rivers meet to Indigenous Peoples. We also explored the art installation that shows where Fort Calgary once stood. After a play in our favourite playground, we boarded our bus for the last time, and returned to Sherwood.
A big thank you to the parent volunteers who joined us, we couldn't have done this without you! This trip was such an amazing experience and I am so grateful that I got to experience it with this wonderful group of students.
Warmly,
Ms. Toews and Mrs. Saunders
Nov. 14th
Hello Grade 4 families,
Just like that, we're halfway into November, and so grateful to have been able to enjoy such beautiful fall weather. We hope you're doing well and were able to take time to connect and remember this past weekend/week.
Important Dates
- Library school field trips
- Mrs. Saunders November 17-21, 2025
- Ms. Toews December 1-5, 2025
- Parent-Teacher Conferences Nov. 27th (4:30pm-7:30pm) and Nov. 28th (8:00am-1:00pm)
- Booking details to follow soon
Announcements
Library School:
- Mrs. Saunders' class is off to library school next week! Friendly reminder that buses will load at 8:05, leave promptly at 8:15 and it is therefore extremely important that students arrive on time, or they will be unable to join their classmates on the field trip. Please remember warm clothes, lunch and snacks, and comfortable walking shoes!
- For Ms. Toews' class, keep an eye out for field trip letters to be sent home next week.
IMPORTANT: Work sent home to be signed and returned
- Transparency in assessment is very important to us. Both Ms. Toews and Mrs. Saunders sent home marked student work this week (Whole Number Place Value assessment and a Best Sentences writing assessment). Please review these with your learner, sign, and return them as soon as possible. Please note that we intend for students to review/learn from their current feedback and set goals to enhance their writing before the new year. For students hoping to improve and practice their skills with direct teacher support, Ms. Toews and Mrs. Saunders host TA time (teacher assistance) in room 3 during the lunch hour on Thursdays.
Learning Update
Math: In our very short week, we began to expand our place value exploration to include decimals up to the hundredths place.
ELAL: Students planned and drafted their School Wide Write, a whole-school writing task in the form of a narrative story, to assess content management when writing. Next, we'll investigate parts of speech.
Science: As part of our Computer Science and Design Thinking unit, students were introduced to OZOBOTS! Our grade 4 students are feeling grateful to be the very first students to use Sherwood's brand new Ozobots. So far, they are beginning to learn the basics of how Ozobots work using coding.
Social Studies: Students look forward to our next unit of Time and Place, beginning with how Canada came to be a country. Ms. Toews' class will get started next week, while Mrs. Saunders' class will pick up again after library school.
Place-based learning: Today we walked to the ridge at Beaver Dam Flats to sketch the downtown skyline. Students look forward to revisiting their skyline sketches and spotting those same buildings up close when they are actually downtown at Library school.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Warmly,
Ms. Toews and Mrs. Saunders
Nov. 7th
Hello Grade 4 families,
Students were so respectful during today's Remembrance Day assembly.
Important Dates
- Fall Break: No school Nov. 10-12th
- Library school field trips
- Mrs. Saunders November 17-21, 2025
- Ms. Toews December 1-5, 2025
Announcements
Library School: Ms. Toews class still requires one more volunteer for our week at Library School. You can volunteer for one day or for the entire week. Please contact Ms. Toews immediately if you are able to volunteer December 1-5.
Learning Update
Math: Students worked this week to practice expressing numbers in standard, written, and expanded form through games and word problems. On Thursday, students wrote a practice quiz with opportunities for feedback and teacher support. Today (Friday) students wrote their whole-number place-value quiz. Next week we will extend our place value learning to include decimals to the tenths place.
ELAL: This week, we focused on correct use of Capitalization and Punctuation through workshop-style guided practice in the mornings, followed by independent writing time to practice their skills in the afternoon. Students used daily writing checklists to monitor and self-edit their work.
Science: Students learned to identify whether or not an item is an artifact, practiced writing basic algorithms about everyday tasks, and practiced giving and receiving feedback with their peers.
Social Studies: Students used the Tales of Animals In War newspaper to gather information about Remembrance Day.
Art: Students applied a chosen watercolour wash technique using a limited colour palette to create a background for their tissue paper poppies as displayed in the photo below.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Warmly,
Ms. Toews and Mrs. Saunders
Oct. 31st
Hello Grade 4 families,
It has been a short but meaningful week of reconnecting and remembering routines and expectations in our classrooms.
Important Dates
Library school field trips
- Mrs. Saunders November 17-21, 2025
- Ms. Toews December 1-5, 2025
Announcements
Scholastic: Scholastic orders can be placed here: https://bookclubs.scholastic.ca/en/home
- Don't forget to use your teacher's class code Ms. Toews: RC796806 Mrs. Saunders RC758343
Library School –VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED: We will require multiple volunteers for each day of our week at Library School. You can volunteer for one day or for the entire week. Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher immediately if you are able to volunteer. If we do not have enough volunteers we may not be able to attend.
Mrs. Saunders November 17-21, 2025
Ms. Toews December 1-5, 2025
Learning Update
Math: Students continued exploring concepts of place value to the Millions place. We practiced writing numbers in expanded form and standard form. Our next steps for place value include: written form, rounding, and comparing large numbers.
ELAL: Students used conjunctions such as and, for, but, so, while, and because to enhance their sentences.
Science: Students are excited for our next unit in science which will be quite hands-on, Computer Science! This week, we begun to lay the foundation for this exploration by learning about new computer science vocabulary!
Place-Based Learning: Students practiced their journalling skills while enjoying a walking trip around the neighbourhood today to sketch the Ogden Hotel.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend.
Warmly,
Ms. Toews and Mrs. Saunders
Oct. 28th
A message from our Principal:
Dear Sherwood Families,
We are so happy to see familiar faces today, considering the circumstances. Thank you to those families that have reached out with kind words of welcome and support. This means the world.
I know that there are many questions about classes and extra curriculum and what these will look like moving forward. CBE principals are scheduled to meet tomorrow and will receive more information then. We will then pass along the same information to Sherwood families. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please consult the CBE Labour Action Page.
As we move forward together, our focus is to reconnect, reassure and refocus on supporting learning and wellbeing for all.
A quick update for Halloween this Friday-we welcome costumes so long as the following expectations are met:
· No masks covering the face
· No weapons or toy weapons
· No mocking of other cultures
· Costumes should be in good taste
Thank you,
Brenna Fraser, Principal
Oct. 3rd
Hello Grade 4 families,
Job Action
We understand this is a challenging time for students, families, and staff alike, and our focus remains on minimizing disruption, safeguarding the student experience, and keeping open lines of communication with our school community. Please continue to monitor local media and official board channels for the latest announcements. As the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) membership recently voted to reject a tentative agreement, a full strike is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 6, 2025, unless a negotiated settlement is reached beforehand. As a result, Sherwood School will be closed to learning while teachers are on strike. If programming or services are disrupted, families may need to make alternate childcare or supervision arrangements.
Important Dates
Oct. 5th - Deadline to order Sherwood Swag (linked in announcements)
Announcements
Scholastic: Scholastic magazines were sent home with students in their black home-folders. Put in your order here: https://bookclubs.scholastic.ca/en/home
Don't forget to use your teacher's class code Ms. Toews: RC796806 Mrs. Saunders RC758343
Library School –VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED: We will require multiple volunteers for each day of our week at Library School. You can volunteer for one day or for the entire week. Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher immediately if you are able to volunteer.
Mrs. Saunders November 17-21, 2025
Ms. Toews December 1-5, 2025
Sherwood Swag: Get your Sherwood Swag!!! When selecting each product you will be able to select a different logo, in the drop down menu and there is also photos of each product with each logo on it! Link: https://sherwoodschoolstore2025.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Homework: This week homework was sent home with your student. While homework is not mandatory, it is a great way to solidify concepts that we have been practicing and share what they have learned with their families. We also hope that students are reading at home at least 20 minutes a day. This will greatly help their fluency, vocabulary, and general love of reading.
Learning Update
We had a short but jam-packed week!
Math: Students began exploring concepts of place value to the Millions place. We practiced writing numbers in expanded form and standard form. Our next steps for place value include: written form, rounding, and comparing large numbers.
ELAL: Students enjoyed quiet reading time, trips to the school library, and class read-alouds. They also put their sentence-writing skills to practice while writing about their social studies and science topics. Our next steps in writing will be continuing to use correct punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and conjunctions in our sentences and working towards writing cohesive paragraphs.
Social Studies: Students used small-group and large-group discussions to brainstorm for their citizenship assessment. On Thursday, they completed an individual citizenship assessment about rights and responsibilities.
Science: This week in Science, students created digital Waste Reduction Plans on the Google Classroom. They also worked in pairs or small groups to review (open-book style) all of the concepts related to Waste Matter that we've discussed this year including hazardous materials, waste disposal, and waste reduction plans/impact on the environment. On Friday, they wrote individual assessments to wrap up our unit about Waste Matter. Students are excited for our next unit in science which will be quite hands-on, Computer Science!
Wellness: Students discussed the zones of regulation, considering how they might feel in each zone. Next we'll discuss strategies to support ourselves in each of these zones! We also continue to learn and talk about safety at school, at home, and in the community.
Place-Based Learning: We enjoyed a walking trip around the neighborhood today to notice and enjoy fall! See the picture below.
Warmly,
Ms. Toews and Mrs. Saunders
Week 4
Sept. 26th
Hello Grade 4 families,
Important Dates
September 29&30 – No School
Oct. 5th - Deadline to order Sherwood Swag (linked in announcements)
Oct. 23rd - Math and Literacy Night
Announcements
Scholastic: Scholastic magazines were sent home with students in their black home-folders. Put in your order here: https://bookclubs.scholastic.ca/en/home
Don't forget to use your teacher's class code Ms. Toews: RC796806 Mrs. Saunders RC758343
Library School –Volunteers Needed: We will require multiple volunteers for each day of our week at Library School. You can volunteer for one day or for the entire week. Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher immediately if you are able to volunteer.
Mrs. Saunders November 17-21, 2025
Ms. Toews December 1-5, 2025
Sherwood Swag: Get your Sherwood Swag!!! When selecting each product you will be able to select a different logo, in the drop down menu and there is also photos of each product with each logo on it! Link: https://sherwoodschoolstore2025.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Homework: This week homework was sent home with your student. While homework is not mandatory, it is a great way to solidify concepts that we have been practicing and share what they have learned with their families. We also hope that students are reading at home at least 20 minutes a day. This will greatly help their fluency, vocabulary, and general love of reading.
Learning Update
Math: Students compared time on an analog clock to fractions of a circle by creating physical models and through guided practice and problem-solving. They also completed their Time Concept Check. We look forward to diving into place-value next week.
ELAL: Students used the conjunctions because, but, and so, to enhance their sentences. They practiced this skill when responding to articles about Orange Shirt Day. We also wrapped up our novel study, As Long As the Rivers Flow, with a book report.
Social Studies: Students participated in meaningful discussions about rights and responsibilities as citizens and how this connects to Canada's history of residential schools.
Science: This week in Science, students used the City of Calgary website to research "What Goes Where?", they responded to a variety of non-fiction articles about different ways to reduce waste, and drew diagrams/explored the recycling process in Calgary. Students will complete a Waste assessment next week to wrap up our first unit!
Wellness: Students worked together to agree on internet safety rules to keep us safe and protected online. They let their creativity shine by designing safe and kind "internet posts" as examples for themselves and others!
Place-Based Learning: We enjoyed a trip to Beaver Dam Flats where students journalled about their appreciation/uses for the land, and wrote their own personalized thank you letters to the land.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kindly,
Ms. Toews and Mrs. Saunders
Week 3
Sept. 19th
Hello Grade 4 families,
Congratulations to all of our runners and walkers today, you did such a great job at the Terry Fox Run!
Important Dates
September 23 – Picture day
September 25 – Orange Shirt Day
September 25 – Sher-Burger Open House (further details in the announcements section below)
September 29&30 – No School
Learning Updates
Math: Students continue to learn and review measurement concepts involving Time by reading analog clocks, displaying time using an analog clock when provided a given time, and solving problems involving duration of time or elapsed time. Students played some time matching games too that encouraged teamwork, mathematical conversation, and application of these skills. Invite your student to tell you the time using an analog clock!
ELAL: Students applied their understanding of "what makes a sentence?" In context by analyzing phrases from academic text, unscrambling familiar sentences, and writing sentences using academic vocabulary. Students have started to explore our first class novel study, As Long as the Rivers Flow by Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden. A short, but impactful story of a boy's last summer at home before being taken to residential school. We are practicing comprehension skills by building connections to text, analyzing symbolism in texts, and exploring the importance of reading stories by authors who have different experiences to us.
Social Studies: We have continued our exploration of the Indigenous Atlas of Canada Map. We are looking at what gives a place value and how can we demonstrate responsibility for a place. This ties in nicely with our Citizenship unit, where students have begun to define what makes a responsible citizen of Canada by using Terry Fox as a role model. Additionally, students learned how rights and responsibilities are connected and demonstrated their understanding through a poster.
Science: This week in Science, students explored the importance of proper waste disposal methods and looked at the pros and cons for a variety of different solutions. Ask your student which one they think is the best! Students also read and responded to an article about the difference between oil in the ground and an oil spill analyzing the difference and building an understanding of why one is considered safe and the other a hazard.
Wellness: Students worked on building a connection to the land through their Learning Lab groups by selecting and studying a natural object. In class, we started talking about safety in our homes, communities, and school and conducted a mini research task involving safety and transportation.
Place-Based Learning: In learning labs, students focused on connecting with our environment through sketching artifacts in nature and making observations.
Announcements
Hygiene: We kindly request your support in reinforcing to students that we should not be sharing hats, headwear or clothing items, as well as giving personal space to others.
Homework: This week homework was sent home with your student. While homework is not mandatory, it is a great way to solidify concepts that we have been practicing and share what they have learned with their families. We also hope that students are reading at home at least 20 minutes a day. This will greatly help their fluency, vocabulary, and general love of reading.
Sher-Burger & Meet the Teacher Open House:
On Thursday Sept. 25th from 5:00–8:00 PM, we warmly welcome all parents and guardians to join us for our combined Sher-Burger and Meet the Teacher event! This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with teachers and become more familiar with our school community.
Grade 4-6 teachers will be in our classrooms for one hour from 5:30pm-6:30pm and can be found outside saying hello to families and enjoying the BBQ for the remainder of the evening.
Please note that, due to the drop-in format, we will not be able to hold in-depth discussions at this time. Parent/Teacher Interviews in November will provide space for more detailed conversations.
Event Details:
· Parking: Limited. If weather permits, we encourage families to walk.
· Entrance: 4/5 Doors by the playground to visit classrooms & BBQ near staff lot
· Food: Alliance Church will be serving Sher-Burger (halal hot dogs, chips, and a drink), with ice cream available in the West Foyer.
Upcoming Parent/Teacher Interviews:
On Monday, September 29, 2025, we will host invitation-only Parent/Teacher Interviews. Please watch for your email invitation. If you do not receive one but would like to arrange a one-on-one meeting with your child’s teacher, please reach out to them directly.
Kindly,
Ms. Toews & Mrs. Saunders
Week 2
September 12th
Hello Grade 4 families,
Please carefully read through to the end of this blog post as there are many important upcoming events!
Learning Update
Math: Students learned and reviewed measurement concepts involving Time by reading analog clocks, displaying time using an analog clock when provided a given time, and beginning to solve problems involving duration of time or elapsed time.
ELAL: Students reviewed "what makes a sentence?" by analyzing subjects and predicates, followed by guided practice writing good sentences of their own. They enjoyed many opportunities to read, discuss read-aloud books, and exercised their reading comprehension skills through read and response articles about our Science topic: Waste. Students also used an article discussed in Science to explore non-fiction text features (headlines vs titles). Ask your learner to share which surprising headline we read involving a snail!
Social Studies: We are incredibly lucky to have a special feature in our school over the next few weeks, a GIANT Indigenous Atlas of Canada Map. They began by completing a scavenger hunt to find geographical features and landmarks within Canada. Students also read, discussed, and shared opinions on current events articles connected to Science.
Science: Our first unit in Science this year is Matter. This week, students began to explore waste matter. Students journalled types of waste (liquid, solid, and gas), types of pollution (noise, air, water, light, soil/land), and dangerous materials including their hazard symbols. During ELAL time, students read two very interesting articles involving waste. Please invite them to share about what they learned!
Wellness: Students created a collaborative poster to represent the 7 sacred teachings, created personalized feathers to represent their response to the question "In school, every child deserves to feel...", and read short stories involving character traits.
Place-Based Learning: On Friday, students took learning out into the community where students practiced "Object Journalling", asking good questions, and reflecting on their observations. Ask your learner which awesome community landmark we visited!
Announcements
Hygiene: We kindly request your support in reinforcing to students that we should not be sharing hats, headwear or clothing items, as well as giving personal space to others.
Homework: This week homework was sent home with your student. While homework is not mandatory, it is a great way to solidify concepts that we have been practicing and share what they have learned with their families. We also hope that students are reading at home at least 20 minutes a day. This will greatly help their fluency, vocabulary, and general love of reading.
Sher-Burger & Meet the Teacher Open House: On Thursday Sept. 25th from 5:00–8:00 PM, we warmly welcome all parents and guardians to join us for our combined Sher-Burger and Meet the Teacher event! This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with teachers and become more familiar with our school community.
Grade 4-6 teachers will be in our classrooms for one hour from 5:30pm-6:30pm and can be found outside saying hello to families and enjoying the BBQ for the remainder of the evening.
Please note that, due to the drop-in format, we will not be able to hold in-depth discussions at this time. Parent/Teacher Interviews in November will provide space for more detailed conversations.
Event Details:
· Parking: Limited. If weather permits, we encourage families to walk.
· Entrance: West Foyer (staff parking lot).
· Food: Alliance Church will be serving Sher-Burger (halal hot dogs, chips, and a drink), with ice cream available in the West Foyer.
Upcoming Parent/Teacher Interviews: On Monday, September 29, 2025, we will host invitation-only Parent/Teacher Interviews. Please watch for your email invitation. If you do not receive one but would like to arrange a one-on-one meeting with your child’s teacher, please reach out to them directly.
Communication: At Sherwood School, we value efficient, effective, and timely communication with all members of our community. Answers to most general questions can be found on the Sherwood School webpage. If, however, you have a specific question or concern that you require support with, please refer to this chart when determining who to connect with.
TA Time: At our school, we want to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed and feel confident in their learning. One way we support this is through TA (Teacher Access) time, when students can meet with their teachers outside of regular class to ask questions, review material, or get extra help.
Students who need support with their learning are welcome to visit their teachers in their classrooms during the times listed below. This is a great opportunity to advocate for themselves, catch up on missed work, or receive small group support.
TA Times by Grade:
· Grade 4: Thursday
· Grade 5: Wednesday
· Grade 6: Thursday
· Grade 7: Tuesday
· Grade 8: Tuesday
· Grade 9: Tuesday
Terry Fox: On Friday, September 19, students at Sherwood School will be participating in the 45th Annual Terry Fox Run in support of cancer research. As a school, we are aiming to raise $700 for this important cause. Students are encouraged to bring a “Twoonie for Terry” on the day of the event. Alternatively, if families would like to donate online, they can do so using our school link: https://schools.terryfox.ca/97137.
On the day of the run, please ensure that your child comes prepared with proper outdoor clothing and comfortable shoes for running.
Important Dates
September 19 – Terry Fox Run
September 25 – Orange Shirt Day
September 25 – Sher-Burger Open House
September 29&30 – No School
Kindly,
Ms. Toews & Mrs. Saunders
Week 1
Hello Grade 4 Families,
Congratulations! We made it through our first week back of packing lunches and early wake-ups, despite the smoky weather!
Learning Update
This week has been packed full of learning new names, new routines, and a brand new school. The grade 4s have done a marvellous job of braving the bigger school and taking on new challenges. They have learned how to open combination locks, advocated for what they need from their classroom by making their own classroom expectations, and set goals for the year ahead. They even found their Learning Lab classrooms independently!
Announcements
We are so excited to let you know about an exciting field trip that we will be taking part in later this year. Sherwood school has been accepted for two sessions of Library School through the Calgary Campus Open Minds program! This amazing opportunity takes us outside of the classroom into the community to learn, explore, and make connections between curriculum and the real world. This is a 5-day program that will take place at the Central Library.
During our residence at the library, we will meet with an Elder, explore the Calgary Story materials, and learn from the manmade and natural spaces of the downtown area. We will be investigating how we can discover, amplify, and protect the stories of our land which ties into our Social Studies and English Language Arts curriculums. Additionally, we will be exercising our skills of questioning, analyzing, and reasoning which will further develop our scientific inquiry skills and our collaborative teamwork skills which are key in our Science and Physical Education and Wellness curriculums.
For more information see here.
Mrs. Saunders November 17-21, 2025
Ms. Toews December 1-5, 2025
How can you help?
There are two key aspects of this adventure where we will need your support to be successful.
1 - We will require multiple volunteers for each day of our week. You can volunteer for one day or for the entire week. Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher immediately if you are able to volunteer.
2 - Great adventures require a lot of walking. Students will be taking part in weekly walks in our community to build their stamina. These walks will build our physical stamina and offer opportunities to learn in our community. These will regularly take place on Fridays, and we will send out School Messengers if these will take place on other days. See the attached letter for further information about walking field trips. If you are interested in joining us on a community walk please let your student’s teacher know, we would love to include you! We encourage families to engage in walks at home to support their student’s readiness for our adventure.
Here is a letter detailing more about the walking field trips. G4 Walking Field Trip letter
Important Dates
September 19 – Terry Fox Run
September 25 – Orange Shirt Day
September 25 – Sher-Burger Open House
September 29&30 – No School
Kindly,
Ms. Toews & Mrs. Saunders
August 28th 2025
Welcome to Grade 4 at Sherwood School!
Hello Grade 4 Students and Families,
We are so excited to welcome you to a brand-new school year at Sherwood School! This year will be filled with learning, growth, and new opportunities, and we can’t wait to get started with each of you.
Tuesday September 2nd
All students are starting back on Tuesday, September 2nd. When you arrive at school, please come to the south east doors by the playground. This will be your designated entry and exit point for the year. Please meet your teachers outside starting at 7:45am to welcome you to Sherwood. If you are unsure who your teacher is, please speak to any teacher outside and they will help you find your class.
Don't forget your lunch, waterbottle, weather appropriate clothing, and an open mind for the year ahead.
We can't wait to see you!
Key Reminders
-For safety reasons, Crocs and slippers are not permitted during PE. Students must wear safe, closed-toe footwear to prevent accidents and injuries. Indoor shoes are recommended for muddy/wet/snowy seasons and can be kept in your locker.
-Each day, please ensure your student has a water bottle, lunch, snack, and appropriate clothing for the weather.
-All school supplies are provided by the school for K-6 students. If your student has personal supplies, we ask that they stay home to ensure they are not stolen or misplaced throughout their day.
-Communication will primarily be through School messenger, Teacher Pages & the School Website, and Google Classroom please ensure you are checking these platforms regularly and that you have signed up for school messenger.
School Hours
Monday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Supervision starts at 7:45 AM, doors open at 7:58, and students are expected to be in class and ready to learn by the bell at 8:00am.
Cell Phone Policy
Please remember that cell phones are not allowed between 8:00 AM and 2:30 PM. Cell phones must be kept in student's lockers and are unable to be used throughout the school day. This helps ensure that our classrooms stay focused and distraction-free. For more information please see the school website.
Note from your Phys Ed Teachers – Mr. Exner and Ms. Eweka
My name is Jared Exner and I am one of the Phys Ed Teachers at Sherwood School. In addition, I will also be teaching Sports Performance, Leadership and some Health classes. This is my tenth year of teaching. I taught Gr. 5 and Phys Ed previously.
My name is Sarah Eweka and I will be one of the Phys Ed Teachers at Sherwood this year. This is my third year teaching at Sherwood with additional experience at other schools. I have experience coaching and refereeing sports and coach our junior high sports teams.
We are very excited to make a positive impact on your child’s learning this year. In Phys Ed, students have the opportunity to move, exercise, develop skills, collaborate, work as a team, and develop confidence in a variety of physical activities. Our goal for students is that they try their best and come to the gym with a positive attitude. Our expectations are that we respect ourselves, respect each other and respect the equipment and space that we use. Students are not required to change into a gym strip, but may do so if they choose. We do require proper footwear (no crocs, sandals or slippers) as this is a safety priority for your child. Over the course of the school year, we will participate in a variety of sports and physical activities such as cross country, soccer, football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, track and field, cooperative games, etc. While not everyone may consider themselves an athlete or an expert in a particular sport, we always just encourage students to approach each activity with an open mind and a willingness to try. We look forward to meeting your child and assisting them in their learning journey this year.
Enjoy your last weekend of summer, we can't wait to meet you on September 2nd!
Ms. Desiree Toews & Mrs. Stephanie Saunders