New classmates...and week 2

I just got home from the school, where I was helping a few of our newest classmates settle into their accommodations in Room 211.  I have had a set of class firebellied toads with me ever since I started at Churchill in 2003 (I used to blame it on Shannon, who I took over for during her Mat leave, as she had promised her class a pet...and then left to have a baby!).  The first two lived on the third floor of Churchill for over 12 years, travelling home with families to spend breaks, and summer vacations, but always coming back.  More were added to the tank, and some left us.  Right now we have three in our tank.  They are fun to watch, and great to listen to during quiet times when they sing.  
Check out some pictures below.  The class will be very excited when the arrive in the morning, as there have been constant questions about when they will be coming in.  They are quite well known in the school I guess.
On a related note, I am looking for a volunteer, or two, who are willing to make a commitment to bringing in 2 dozen crickets each week.  As long as it is consistent, it doesn't matter which day, or what time of the day.  If there is anyone picking up crickets for a pet at home, would you mind getting an extra dozen for us?  I have a cricket cage that could travel home once a week to bring them in if needed.
Let me know if you can help us out with this.

We are settling into a routine now that we are on Week 2, and our first real Monday has come and gone.  In junior there is much more focus on independence and initiative in learning, so I am trying to set up some consistent activities to help develop these skills in the class.  So far they are responding well to the use of the agenda board, and this is getting most of them pointed in the right direction during transition times.  I have given each student a light grey agenda notebook.  They divide it into three columns where they record the date, the day's activites/agenda (to give you a list of talking points which can be used to engage in the conversation at home about school) and a list of notes for keeping up to date on events and messages from the school.  Please look for this in your child's backpack each afternoon when they come home.

This is a reminder that we are walking to Dovercourt on Thursday, at 10:40, for a Phys Ed session in the park, on the grass, where we can run, and fall, if we need.  I am hoping that we get at least three volunteers for the walk over and back (we will return before 12:40 nutrition break).  Everyone is being reminded daily that they will need running footwear, a water bottle, and weather appropriate clothing.

We are looking for the main idea in stories, fables, videos and songs right now.  Our latest video is one that we viewed last week, and we will view it again to help collect information and develop some statements of the main idea.  The students are really getting the hang of it.  We are trying to ensure that evidence is also something noted when stating the idea (what made you think this is the main idea?).  Here is the most recent video we shared...