Week #3: Sept. 15th - 19th

Dear Families,

Another mindful and meaningful week for us! 🌱 I am very pleased with how my students have smoothly transitioned from summer to school mode ☀️➡️📚

I am also VERY PROUD and DELIGHTED with the students’ efforts and hard work 🌟👏. It is truly a JOY being back in the classroom 💖 and I think I can say for us all, what a gift it is to learn and grow from and with each other 🤝😊

I consider your child a great inspiration to be MY BEST SELF as an educator and human being 💃🏾✨

Many of the kids look up to me 🧒👧, and I take this very seriously. So I promise to continue putting my best effort to provide the highest standard of education (within and beyond the curriculum) for your child 🙏🏾📖

Thank you Rylee for your sweet sentiment 🥰
I think you’re FANTASTIC too 🌟

As you’ve probably gathered from my blog updates thus far, we have been go, Go, GO 🚀 with our learning in class! You’ll soon read and see how much we’ve accomplished in a mere 3 weeks! ⏳💡

I am looking forward to our continued teaching, learning, and growing as a class family 🌈🌟😊

MEET THE TEACHER:

I am really excited to connect with families next week on Thurs. Sept. 25th from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.   😊

By visiting our classroom, I am confident it will provide you with a clearer vision of what it LOOKS LIKE, SOUNDS LIKE, and FEELS LIKE in our class community.  It is your child's "home away from home."

Showing & Sharing our SEL Journals 💜

Together Everybody Achieves More 🌟

Pizza may be ordered using school cash online.  Families may order a whole large cheese or pepperoni pizza for $15.00.  It will be available for pick up in the rotunda at 5:15pm 🍕 

Please note, all orders need to be on Sept. 21st by midnight on school cash online.

Any further questions about this process, please direct them to our principal Mrs. Mortimer mmortimer@scdsb.on.ca 

When you’re done dinner, please come join me in our portable!

Your child will have many things to share with you such as their desk, mindfulness, and the other various charts around our classroom that help us be our best selves!  

I will also have some student work placed on desks so you can celebrate some of your child's  achievements in their language, math, and art activities.

Please note, there will be an opportunity provided for you to write a personalized parent message of HOPE for your child. See image below 👇🏾 

I am encouraging you to think about a wish you would like to make for your child's school year.

You will be provided with paper to write your message of hope and leave it on your child's desk so they may refer to it throughout the year to provide them with your care & comfort.

I'm so excited to share our classroom community with you oh so soon!

APPLE PICKING FUNDRAISER:

In partnership with Kennedy Orchards, we are excited to invite our school community to a special Pick Your Own Apples Night at 38 Townley Street, Nottawa.

📅 When: Monday, September 22nd
⏰ Time: 4:00 – 6:00 PM

This event is the perfect way to enjoy some fresh fall fun before Meet the Teacher Night! Families are welcome to stop by the Kennedy family orchard to pick their own nutritious and delicious apples. 🍏🍎

💰 How it works: Bring your own bag and a cash donation. All funds raised will go directly back into our school to support new play items for our yard, a space our students are fortunate to enjoy every day.

The Kennedy family continues to model the spirit of “Living is Giving”, always finding meaningful ways to support and give back to our school family and community. 

Thank you Kennedy family for your generosity year after year to provide apples for classes and giving by back to our school community!  

We are so grateful for their generosity and for YOU, our wonderful families, who make events like this possible. 💚

INTERNATIONAL DOT DAY:

This week, we celebrated International Dot Day!  This day is a global celebration of creativity, courage, and collaboration, which began when a teacher introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds' book The Dot on September 15, 2009.  

The Dot is the story of a caring teacher who dares a doubting student (Vashti) to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to "make her mark."   

As a class family, we're ready to MAKE OUR MARK (aka making the world a better place for ourselves, family, friends, and community) in grade 3 & 4.

Thank you to all the students who wore polka dots for our friendly spirit day!

Check out Boden below who went above and beyond last weekend and made a personalized dot t-shirt!

Boden M. working hard on his dot t-shirt creation!
I appreciate and love the effort, buddy :)

🥰 Polka Dot Socks 🧦 

What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe!

Many students and parents are familiar with the story which is great, its' message helps inspire self-expression and remembering to always BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

Click on the video below to listen to the author Peter Reynolds explain the inspiration behind why he wrote this impactful book and how it originated :-)  

We used the book as inspiration to set our own goal(s) and think about the following question:  'HOW WILL YOU MAKE YOUR MARK (a difference in grade 3 & 4)?'

As I observed the children start their writing, read through some entries and provided feedback to students' work, my heart soared with JOY because many wrote about ways to help end bullying, accepting people as they are, using resilience when faced with a challenge, never giving up even when it's difficult, using the character traits every day, etc ...

Check us out working hard on marking our mark :) 

I also gave students the opportunity to show & share their writing pieces with a partner to encourage them to offer peer feedback and inspire each other with their goals  (making their mark). Check us out 👇🏾 

When these writing pieces come home, please take a moment to celebrate and honour your child's International Dot Day writing.  

Your child received a certificate today for making their mark on International Dot Day!

Thank you to all my students for bravely joining in celebrating your CREATIVITY, COURAGE, and COLLABORATION :)

Many children are so proud of their goal setting to make a difference and help others and our planet be a better place to live, work, and play in.  As their teacher, I couldn't be more proud :)

DOT DAY ART PROJECT:

This week, we also worked on a Dot Art Project as a wonderful way to celebrate and unleash our  creativity! 

By focusing on simple dots, we can explore endless possibilities and express ourselves in unique ways. Whether using watercolor, markers, or crayons, each dot adds to a vibrant and personal masterpiece. 

This project encouraged us to think outside the box, experiment with different techniques, and appreciate the beauty in every individual contribution. 

As we came together to create and share our dot art, we not only celebrate our own creativity, but also build a sense of community and collaboration.  We love this :-) 

For a sneak peak, below are some photos of our Dot Day Inspired Art :)  The kids enjoyed letting their CREATIVITY, COURAGE, and COLLABORATION shine, Shine, SHINE!

Let’s embrace the POWER OF THE DOT and shine brightly!

You will have the opportunity to admire your child's artwork in the coming days, stay tuned!

THE DOT ART ACTIVITY - TRY THIS AT HOME:

Now it's your turn parents to MAKE YOUR MARK with your child!  Before doing so, please check out this great video below and meet Peter Reynolds.  

Watch and see him help inspire kids and adults to MAKE THEIR MARK!  

At the conclusion of the video or perhaps even during it, please get out a piece of paper, drawing tools, and create your one of a kind DOT alongside your son or daughter.  

You may wish to get other family members involved too :)  After all, this can be a very MINDFUL (and quiet, haha) activity for a Sunday afternoon as a family ;)

Ready?  Set.  Draw-ish!

If you wish, please take a photo and share your DOT creations with me via email!  I can then show and celebrate it in class to reinforce that creativity, courage, and collaboration happens at all ages!!  

Thank you in advance for your participation in this :)

LANGUAGE:

We have been learning about what 'Good Writers' do in their writing.  Together, we came up with some effective ideas that we will use when we WRITE!  

Students will be provided with and encouraged to using an editing checklist to proof-read their work prior to handing it in and asking themselves:

Please click the image to enlarge it to see the criteria

This school year, we will be focusing on the 4 Writing Forms (see image below) to help build our skills and purpose in writing.  

Over the next several weeks, your child will be learning about writing a Recount.  This style will help build our skills To Describe an event using details and descriptions.  

Below, I have posted the expectations for this (see anchor chart photo).

RYLEE:

Thank you to Rylee for bringing in the book I Am Enough. 🌟 It was such a wonderful addition to our learning about Positive Affirmations and how we can carry them into our everyday lives. 

When I shared the book with the class, I could see how happy and proud she was, it truly lit up the room!

I love when children take what they’ve learned at school, share it at home, and then bring it back to school to strengthen those connections. 

Rylee's thoughtful contribution shows the power of learning together and reminds us how important communication between school and home can be. It helps deepen the bond between teacher, child, and family, and for that, I am very grateful.

4 BLOCK PROBLEM SOLVING:

Throughout the school year, there will be an emphasis on "multi-step word problems" where students will be required to use the 4-Block Problem Solving Method.  See below!  

Remember boys and girls, it's always important when beginning to solve a word problem to ...

🤓 UNDERSTAND (what I know, what needs to be solved)

🧠 MAKE A PLAN (strategies to use) 

✍️ SOLVE (use pictures & number sentences) 

🗣️ EXPLAIN (answer the question in words)

I introduced this math tool today during morning math and the children got to see HOW I used it to solve the Brain Stretch problem. 

We’ll be using this problem solving method throughout the school year 🤓 

As the year goes on, the kids will become more comfortable and confident using it I promise 😃  After all, Practice Makes PROGRESS!”

MATH:

In math, we continue to focus not only on understanding important concepts and strategies in Number Sense, but also on building the positive and healthy relationships that help us collaborate effectively when solving math problems.

Strong math learning happens when students feel comfortable sharing their thinking, listening to others, and working as a team.

✨ SEL Skills Focus ✨
🤝 Build relationships
💬 Communicate effectively

We are learning to work together so that we are better able to understand math ideas.

I will be successful when:
✅ I share my ideas and listen to others respectfully.
✅ I work productively with different partners and groups to solve math problems.
✅ I listen to the ideas of my partners so that we can solve challenging problems together.

Click the link below for the tips for working together in a group effectively.

Strategies for Learning Math

Thank you for supporting these important skills at home as we continue to grow as mathematicians and as kind, respectful learners.

MATH GAME:

Students have been loving and learning the math games I’ve introduced thus far 😃 

We are using collaborative skills to work together in a fun and engaging way! 

This week I taught the kids a new math game called PIG 🎲🙌🏾. 

Ask your child about it, you might even want to play a few rounds together as a family this weekend! It’s a great way to practice probability, strategy, and mental math (addition). 

Take a look at us in action during math!

TEAM BUILDING CHALLENGE - CUP PYRAMID:

Speaking of working as a team again 😉, this week students got into groups of seven to take on a special cup-stacking challenge 🥤✨. Using an elastic band with four strings attached, their task was to build a pyramid of 7 cups.

Before the building began, each group had 2 minutes to plan and strategize. Once the 3 minutes of building started, the rule was that they could not talk aloud, they had to rely on the strategies they discussed beforehand and communicate in creative, non-verbal ways.

The room was filled with focus and determination 😄🙌.

What made this activity so powerful was how much it highlighted the importance of a growth mindset. Each student had to:

• Believe in themselves 💪

• Trust their team members 🤝

• Persevere through challenges 🧠

We did it! Highest score of the 2 rounds 🤗

We had an absolute blast, and the teamwork, resilience, and joy in the room was inspiring! 🌟

TERRY FOX SCHOOL RUN & FUNDRAISING:

Our school's Terry Fox Run will be taking place on Thurs. Sept. 25th during periods 5 & 6 from 2:15PM - 3:15PM.

Each year, I am so touched by all the generous contributions that our families and children provide to our fundraising page.  

If you are willing and able to do so, Mrs. Johnson has set that up yet again (thank you) and I have provided the link below :)  

Our school's goal is to raise $6, 000. I have every confidence we can DO IT!

Click the link below to make your donation :)

Donate Here

Please know we deeply appreciate everyone who has and will donate.  Your contributions are being put forward to helping find a CURE FOR CANCER.

On September 25th, we encourage the children and staff of Nottawa to wear their Terry Fox t-shirts and/or Canada inspired attire proudly to honour our Canadian Hero!  See images below for inspiration :-)

Blessed to have taught ALL 3 Bolton kids :-)

Mr. Bridson & I (Oct. 2022)
We are inspired by Terry Fox each and every day!

PICTURE DAY:

Next week on Thursday, September 25th, we will be having our school Picture Day. This is also the day of our Terry Fox Run in the afternoon.

Students are encouraged to wear their Terry Fox t-shirts (if they have one, if not, that’s perfectly okay!) and/or Canada-themed gear such as red, white, or maple leafs. 

At the same time, families may wish for their child to “dress up” for their school photo. If that’s the case, you may consider sending along a change of clothes so your child feels comfortable during the run/walk later on. For this portion, shorts/comfortable pants and running shoes are recommended.

I understand that this may take a bit of extra planning, so please know this is simply a suggestion, not an expectation. The goal is for students to enjoy both of these special experiences in a way that works best for your family.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support in helping your child(ren) prepare for school events.

LOST & FOUND:

As the school year is underway, we want to remind you of an important step that can help minimize lost belongings and keep track of your child's items more effectively:  labeling their clothing.

Labeling your child’s clothing can significantly reduce the chances of items going missing.  Whether it's a favourite jacket, lunchbox, or a pair of shoes, putting a label on these items helps us return them to the rightful owner swiftly if they get misplaced.  It also helps us identify and manage clothing that may be left in common areas.

For this purpose, we recommend using either a permanent marker like a Sharpie or pre-made labels such as those from Mabel’s Labels. 

Labeling is a small, but effective step that can save you and your child a lot of time and stress.  It ensures that their items make it back to them if they get misplaced and helps us as teachers to keep track of everything more efficiently.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  Your support in keeping things organized is greatly appreciated and helps us provide a smoother school experience for everyone.

MINDFULNESS:

In class, there is a daily emphasis on having an 'ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.'  What does this mean?  

Gratitude is the feeling of being thankful and appreciating the people and world around you.  It's an EMOTION or FEELING, just like happiness, sadness, and anger.  

You feel gratitude when you're thankful for things like your family, friends, your health, and everything else that makes you happy.  

In fact, when you feel grateful for anything - no matter how big or small --> THAT'S GRATITUDE!

I’ve taught the students a catchy saying, it goes like this … “Have an attitude of gratitude and your life will be filled with JOY!” 

Please watch the video link below with your child and learn more about this way of living your life :)

My hope is that it will inspire you and your family to continue noticing and appreciating all the things in your life!  

You may wish to discuss it aloud to each other or write it down in your very own gratitude journal :-)  Give it a try!

Gratitude Video

RYLEE & HYLA:

Speaking of gratefulness, thank you to Hyla and grandmother and Rylee for donating tabs this week for our initiative to support children with accessibility needs (e.g., wheelchairs).

Thank you for making YOUR MARK with your contributions! It’s helping us reach our goal of filling our 5 gallon bottle!

GROWTH MINDSET:

I really like this one!  This quote means that all people are created equal and we must not discriminate towards anyone.  After all, we're all part of the same species, HUMAN. 

We should all be treated with equality and nobody should be treated otherwise.

If someone's 'below' you (like in the photo), please reach down and give them a helping hand :-)

We all have it in us to give, Give, GIVE.

With love, grace, and gratitude,

Ms. Gill