Dear Families,
Can you believe we’ve already completed our second week of school after the break?!  It is zipping by!  Not surprisingly for our class though as we’re having so much fun learning and growing together!  Have I shared just how lucky I am to be your child’s teacher?  Being in this position is truly a dream come true for me :) 

Speech Presentations:
I am extremely proud of ALL my students and their hard work they've done on their speeches.  Everyone used class time wisely throughout the week!  It was a true JOY seeing and hearing students effectively collaborate (see pictures below) to time their speeches and giving one another specific feedback to improve their achievement in public speaking!  I can't wait to hear their presentations next week!  

I have reminded students to make note of their speech dates in their hippocampus (their brain helper - the memory saver) and it is their responsibility to remember it and be prepared! 
  

Mon. Jan. 20th	Tues. Jan. 21st	Thurs. Jan. 23rd	Mon. Jan. 27th
Connor	Max	Cameron	Felix
Noah	Cayden	Mia	Thomas
Joella	Raelynn	Kali	Hannah
Molly	Brayden	Coleton	Orin
Emma		Lou	Liam/Beau

During the presentations, students will be providing specific feedback to their peers based on the criteria to help each other celebrate their stars (strengths) and arrows (areas to improve).  Peer feedback will be sent home when all presentations are completed.

Math:
On Monday, I sent home a math note sharing our next unit.  Students always enjoy this strand of mathematics as it gives them the opportunity to conduct their own surveys and display their data (information) using bar graphs and pictographs.

Below, I have listed the various expectations that I will be covering in class.  I will also provide homework to support this learning so students can work on it at home too in their extra math practice duo-tangs (yellow).

Expectations:

– demonstrate an ability to organize objects into categories, by sorting and classifying objects using two or more attributes simultaneously (Sample problem: Sort a collection of buttons by size, colour, and number of holes.); 

– collect data by conducting a simple survey about themselves, their environment, issues in their school or community, or content from another subject; 

– collect and organize categorical or discrete primary data and display the data in charts, tables, and graphs (including vertical and horizontal bar graphs), with appropriate titles and labels and with labels ordered appropriately along horizontal axes, as needed, using many-to-one correspondence (e.g., in a pictograph, one car sticker represents 3 cars; on a bar graph, one square represents 2 students) 

Groove:
Each year, we are so fortunate to invite certified dance instructors from our community to help guide our students in dance.  On Monday, we had a wonderful time during period 5 groovin' and bustin' our dance moves!  

This dance program was run very well!  I reinforced with students that dance is all about embracing and celebrating our similarities and differences - be creative, be unique, BE YOU!  There's no right or wrong way to dance - express your individuality!

We considered ourselves the Nottawa Dance Hawks and we sure had a blast expressing ourselves through body and movement :-)

At the end of this session students had a mindfulness meditation as a whole group to bring our minds and bodies back to a calm and peaceful state.  It was so soothing and relaxing :)

Our next dance session will take place next week on Mon. Jan. 20th at 11:25 - 12:10 p.m.  Please have your child wear his or her comfortable clothing again so they are able to move with ease.

Scientists in the Classroom:
The grade 4's participated in a wonderful experience today learning all about LIGHT!  They had the opportunity to learn in a very engaging and meaningful manner with lots of science tools!  Thank you to Mrs. Johnson for taking these pictures of my students.  A big thank you to Mr. Bristow who organized this for grades 4-5 classes.

Below I have listed a few questions for you to ask your child to help consolidate their learning to check for their understanding from today's lesson.  See if your child can answer them correctly!

• How does light travel? (ANSWER: light travels in straight lines called rays)
• Can we bounce light?  (ANSWER: Yes, light can be reflected)
• Can we bend light?      (ANSWER: Yes, light can be refracted)
• Can we split light?       (ANSWER: Yes, light can be split into a rainbow)

Lou:
Congratulations to Lou for getting 1st place in the Remembrance Day Black and White Poster Contest!  What an achievement!  Your peers and I are so proud of YOU!!  

You've definitely inspired others to put in their personal best.  Good luck to all participants next year :)

Leah Denbok:
As a link to our Bowls for Beds initiative, I shared Leah Denbok's book "Nowhere to Call Home" and it has really peaked the interest of my students as they are learning about Homelessness and how we can better understand their perspectives and what we can do to help.  We have already began this process by actively participating in Bowls for Beds which supports Home Horizon (a safe and warm place for teens without a home).

I came across this interview below and it may give you more insight into who Leah is and the incredible work she is doing to create awareness and supporting ways to help the homeless!  She is a wonderful person who displays true character in her empathetic ways.  We are inspired by her!

Mindfulness:
Finally, I would like to thank the incredibly talented Leah Denbok for capturing these images to help us understand that being homeless doesn't mean you're not human.  All these individuals have thoughts, feelings, and emotions like everyone else.  They deserve to be acknowledged and HEARD.  Here is a touching tribute :)

Growth Mindset:

"You can be cool by just BEING YOU!" - Joella

Namaste,

Ms. Gill