Dear Families,

I am really looking forward to sitting with you next week at the student-led conferences where we will get to celebrate your child's strengths and areas of improvement!

It’s been another productive week of learning here in our class!  Below, you will see just how amazing it was :) Thank you for taking the time each week to read and support your child's learning!

This BLOG serves as a communication tool between school and home.  Its purpose is to reinforce all that we're learning and what we're doing in class so you can help guide your child at home too!  It's making a significant difference :)

Progress Reports:
This evening, you will have received your child's progress report card.  It was a joy writing these as it gives me the opportunity to think and reflect upon all the wonderful things your child is contributing in our learning community thus far.  It’s been a remarkable start to the year!  I truly feel blessed to teach and learn from your child each and every day!

I have encouraged my students to carefully go over the Learning Skills portion of this report card with you and to not focus solely on the letter grade (E, G, S, N), but to read the star (areas of strength) and arrow (areas for improvement) comments.  It is these comments that provide valuable insight into what will guide your child into continuing and instilling important work habits which will ultimately help them be successful in their academic, social, and behavioural journey in school.  

"How Am I Doing?"
Along with each progress report card, I had students think and reflect upon the following skills:

• Completing my work 
• Using my time wisely 
• Following directions
• Keeping organized

Students did a self-assessment (see photo above) in these areas as a means to set goals for themselves moving forward into term 1.  I will be regularly reinforcing these work habits throughout the year to help each child achieve their personal best!  Please feel free to do so at home as well using the criteria provided.  

Student-Led Conferences:
As mentioned briefly above, I look forward to connecting with my students' families next week!  A reminder, if you haven't already done so, please ensure you sign up for a day and time from our online tool.  We are promoting online booking.  

If you have difficulty with this, please don't hesitate to contact our office.  I know Mrs. Beattie will be happy to help you with this!

Book Fair:
Our Nottawa Book Fair will be held the week of:  Nov. 19th - Nov. 22nd in our school library.  Come on out to show your support and love of reading!

Tues. Nov. 19 - after school

Wed. Nov. 20 - after school

Thurs. Nov. 21 - after school

Fri. Nov. 22 - morning (9:00 - 12:00 p.m.)

Mon. Nov. 25 - morning

Remembrance Day Assembly:

On Monday morning, all staff and students attended our Remembrance Day assembly to honour and express our gratitude to all those who have, are, and will continue to serve our country.  Thank you to all the staff and students who wore red, white, and black for this ceremony.  Your pride for our veterans shined brightly! 

We are blessed to live in a safe, free, and remarkable country!

Each day, we sing O' Canada, and during this time, I ensure that my students and I demonstrate our utmost respect and take time in our own way to say 'thank you' for being part of a wonderful community, country, and world. 

I am so proud of my students who participate in choir with Mrs. O and Ms. Stewart.  Once a week, they meet in the rotunda or library and practice their skills in singing and performing.  

At this assembly, the choir members sang their rehearsed songs with such love and compassion.  They did a marvelous job!  Way to go!!  You represented our class family beautifully!

Parents who were able to attend, thank you for joining us and sharing your energy and time.  To all the staff members involved in organizing this Remembrance Day assembly, thank you for all your hard work, it was a moving experience!

John & Connor:
Thank you John for sharing about your family member who served for our country!  You were so proud and enthusiastic.  It's so great that you were named after John Joseph Dineen.  Your peers and I enjoyed listening to you present. 

Thank you Connor for also sharing about your family.  In the assembly, Connor was very solemn and paid tribute to his loved ones.

Writing:

This week, I had the students think, brainstorm, and write about “How We Can Bring Peace to Our Classroom.”  The goal of this exercise is to promote love, kindness, and respect towards ourselves and peers, and in doing so, it will help create an environment that is peaceful and enjoyable for all!

Many students’ responses were excellent and I am confident they will implement these words into their daily actions.  That is the goal :)  You will have an opportunity to see these messages next week at your child's conference!

The Wall - by Eve Bunting:
I shared the book "The Wall" by Eve Bunting.  This story helps in understanding what it means to honour those who have given their lives for our freedom. Take a moment and enjoy listening to this heartfelt read aloud.

A Pittance of Time:

Math Review Sheet:
I sent home a measurement review sheet with your child earlier in the week.  Have your child spend some time over the weekend going over it and trying out the practice questions.  Assessment will take place on Monday.

Math:

Our next unit will focus on Patterning & Algebra.  Please go over the math note that came home in your child's agenda! 

The Expectations Are:

·        identify, extend, and create a repeating pattern involving two attributes (e.g., size, colour, orientation, number), using a variety of tools (e.g., pattern blocks, attribute blocks, drawings) (Sample problem: Create a repeating pattern using three colours and two shapes.)

·        identify and describe, through investigation, number patterns involving addition, subtraction, and multiplication, represented on a number line, on a calendar, and on a hundreds chart (e.g., the multiples of 9 appear diagonally in a hundreds chart)

·   extend repeating, growing, and shrinking number patterns (Sample problem: Write the next three terms in the pattern 4, 8, 12, 16, ….)

·        create a number pattern involving addition or subtraction, given a pattern represented on a number line or a pattern rule expressed in words (Sample problem: Make a number pattern that starts at 0 and grows by adding 7 each time.)

·        represent simple geometric patterns using a number sequence, a number line, or a bar graph (e.g., the given growing pattern of toothpick squares can be represented numerically by the sequence 4, 7, 10, …, which represents the number of toothpicks used to make each figure)

·   demonstrate, through investigation, an understanding that a pattern results from repeating an action (e.g., clapping, taking a step forward every second), repeating an operation (e.g., addition, subtraction), using a transformation (e.g., slide, flip, turn), or making some other repeated change to an attribute (e.g., colour, orientation)

Health:
This week, we discussed the importance of being mindful when we choose what we drink each and every day.  "Rethink your drink!"  We must try to reduce sugary drinks in our diets.  Take a minute and think about what you drink in a typical day. Unless you are a true water lover, you may be getting some extra, unneeded calories through sweetened soft drinks, sodas, iced tea, coffee, juice, and energy and sports drinks. In fact, sugary drinks are the number one source of added sugars in our diet.

I showed students the photo below.  Many gasped upon seeing this!  Can you believe how much sugar is in one 20 ounce soft drink!!  WOW!

Here are some tips on how to switch to healthier drinks that will quench your thirst and still taste good!

1.  Read nutrition labels and ingredients – Beverages like energy drinks can be deceiving because they advertise that they are healthy but usually are loaded with calories and added sugars. Common forms of added sugars are sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, syrups, concentrated fruit juice, agave and honey. Look at the label carefully because one container may be more than one serving, which can double or triple the added sugars you’re getting.

2.  Cut back slowly – If you have sugary drinks like sodas and sweetened teas on a regular basis, start cutting back now. Mix half sweetened and half unsweetened while you get used to less sugar, and gradually reduce the sweetness.

3.  Choose water – Replace sugary drinks with water. That can seem like a challenge if you aren’t a big fan. Here’s how to drink more water:
-  Carry a refillable water bottle or keep a cup at your desk to make water the easy choice.
-  Add slices of your favorite fruits for a boost of flavor.
-  Try seltzer or sparking water if you prefer fizzy carbonated drinks.

4.  Sip a smoothie – When you’re in the mood for something sweet or need an afternoon energy boost, skip the coffee and soda and try a budget-friendly homemade smoothie! Blend frozen fruits and veggies with plain, low-fat yogurt, milk or water.

After this lesson, students chose to either work in a group or individually to create a health poster promoting WATER FIRST as a drink of choice!  They were asked to come up with a catchy slogan and images to get their audiences' attention.  Ask your child what his or her slogan was :)

The completed posters will be posted around the school to help others remember the importance of drinking water.

Gym:
In gym, students are learning about the value and importance of collaboration and sportspersonship.  I emphasize these qualities because in sport these are what I believe help teams achieve their best.

So far this school year, we have played a variety of cooperative gym games which helps reinforce COLLABORATION and SPORTSPERSONSHIP!

This week, we played a cooperative game called "Hula-Hut."

Here we are in hula hut action!!!  They had a blast with this :)  Can you tell?!

Yearbook Cover Contest:
If your child wishes to participate in this fun and friendly contest, please see photo below for entry criteria.  They are due to Mr. Durance (grade 7 teacher) by Nov. 22nd!

MacLaren Art Workshop:

Please visit school cash online to consent and make payment for this awesome in-class workshop!  Ms. West, the students art teacher has arranged for instructors from the MacLaren Art Centre to come teach the kids about print making.  It should be a neat experience as many may not have tried this before!

Date:  Mon. Dec. 2nd 2019 

Time:  12:10 - 3:15 p.m. (periods 4-6)

Cost:  $10.00

Mindfulness:

View the video below to watch a heartfelt and powerful video titled: “We Remember.”  It brought tears to my eyes.

After listening to the song with your child, discuss the images that you saw and think of ways we can create a more peaceful world.  Use evidence from the video (be specific!).  

Growth Mindset:

"Do what is RIGHT, not what is easy!" - Liam

Namaste,

Ms. Gill