Dear Families,
I apologize for my update being a day late.  I hope everyone enjoyed their Family Day on Monday!  I'm so happy we recognize and celebrate this.  Family is of utmost importance to me as I am sure it is for you as well!  Please enjoy more family time and the beautiful sunshine weekend :)

Math:
Below, I have posted a word problem that I had students work through independently.  I was assessing their ability to multi-step problem solve and to effectively use the 4 Block Method.  Over the weekend, please go over the strategies they used and the areas to improve upon.  Sheets were sent home on Thursday :) 

Next week, I will be providing 3 additional word problems to continue building on students problem solving skills.  Stay tuned :)

Language:
This week, students learned about the great Martin Luther King Jr. (American) as well as Lincoln Alexander (the first African Canadian member of Parliament) who helped bring about positive change so we can now live with equality! 

We owe our utmost gratitude to these individuals as they helped shape our world into one that doesn't judge people by the colour of their skin.  Take a moment to watch the videos below.

Martin Luther King Jr.:

Lincoln Alexander:

Black History Enthusiasts:

Throughout the month of February, every book exchange day, I have various students excitedly come up to me about the book they signed out!  It warms my heart seeing their enthusiasm for Black History and the many amazing civil rights activists in our history!!

Thank you boys and girls for sharing in my passion!!  I will make time to share these read alouds in class!!  You're truly remarkable :-)

Social Studies:

Mrs. Johnson, Ms. West and I are co-teaching our next unit in social studies.  Students have been split into smaller groups for effective instructional purposes.  

Our focus will be on The Physical Regions of Canada.  This week, we did a mini-lesson on "Landforms."  See picture below.  

We watched an informational video to get the kids thinking about various landforms found in Canada.  Please check it out and then follow up by asking your child if he or she can name 8 types of landforms.  

Wye Marsh:

On Tuesday, we had our final in-class session with 'Moose' (instructor).  As always, the lesson provided was engaging!  We had another special visitor, this time it was Odin a snowy owl!!  Students loved learning about this and getting an opportunity to gently pet him as well.

Did you enjoy the bird feeder your child brought home as well!?  Check them out in creating action!

Finally, Moose had the kids do a sorting activity entitled:  Whose SCAT is that!?  Yes, the kids got a lil' giggly as they were sorting poop!  Don't worry, it was artificial of course (haha).  

Thank you Wye Marsh for providing my students with a fantastic program the last 3 weeks!!  

Identifying different kinds of bird calls!

Art:

On Wednesday, Ms. West did a mini-lesson on the great Andy Warhol.  You may wish to ask your child about some of the facts they learned about this artist. 

For their activity, Ms. West had the class design their very own soup can inspired by Andy Warhol.  I hope you enjoyed them when they came home.  If it didn't, no worries, that just means they're not yet complete and will be provided in-class time.

Thank you to ALL the families who provided an empty (clean) soup can for this art task!

Health:

Our next unit in health will focus on Substance Use & Addictions.  Below I have posted some of the guiding questions that we will be learning about!

- What is the difference between legal and illegal drugs?

- Why are some drugs legal and other drugs illegal?

- Is caffeine a drug? Is it a legal or an illegal drug?

- What is an addiction? How do people become addicted?

- What are the personal implications of legal and illegal drug/substance

abuse/use?

- What are the societal implications of legal and illegal drug/substance

abuse/use?

I did a mini-lesson on Wednesday about the harmful effects of Smoking. 

Honouring Pink Shirt Day:

On Wed. Feb. 26th, we will be honouring PINK SHIRT DAY!  Please have your child wear pink as we will be doing some meaningful tasks around bullying prevention.  It's an issue near and dear to my heart and I know my students will participate actively and empathetically :)

Wear PINK on Wed. Feb. 26th!!!

Swim-To-Survive Program:
On Monday, if your child is in grade 3, he or she will bring home a field trip form in their agenda bag.  My grade 3 students will partake in a swim to survive program.  This is a very meaningful experience as students get to learn and build upon their swimming skills in a fun way!

Please sign and return permission form by March 5th!  We'd really appreciate it!

Here are the dates!  Please mark them down into your calendars :)

March 25th, April 1st, April 8th

Departure from School:  12:00 p.m.
Arrival to School:  3:00 p.m.

Pizza & Nuggets:

Please be advised that the April - June orders for pizza and nuggets will go live on schoolcash online on March 1st and expire on March 29th.  Mrs. Beattie will not accept late orders.  Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

We will not be offering the purchase of nuggets or pizza the last week of school.  

Darcie:

Thank you Darcie for sharing a scrapbook filled with memories of FUN experiences spent with your family.  You have worked so hard on your reading and writing skills, you're doing so well!  I really enjoyed sitting with you and getting to share in your enthusiasm!

Mindfulness:

I've shared these heritage minute videos like the one below throughout the month of February to give students images and words of what some of the changes that have come as a result of the courage and fight by civil rights activists like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Viola Desmond, etc.  Here is one that focuses on the Underground Railroad in Canada that helped free slaves!

"Free at last!  Free at last!  Thank God Almighty, we're FREE AT LAST!" - Dr. King Jr.

Growth Mindset:

"Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care." - Hannah

Namaste,

Ms. Gill