Week #13: Nov. 24th - 28th

Dear Families,

Happy ALMOST December!  It's the "most wonderful time of the year" and I'm sure some of the kids are enthusiastically buzzing about their Elf on a shelf, creating their Christmas lists, preparing to write letters to Santa, and all the other joys that this season brings! 

Although it is a magical time for many, we must not lose sight of those who may be struggling mentally, emotionally, and financially during this time of year.  It looks differently for everyone. 

We regularly talk about the importance of ‘LIVING IS GIVING’ and we want to support those who may need some help this holiday season to make it a little lighter and brighter. 

Our class family is truly thinking about the feelings of others because we will be participating in a variety of activities and initiatives that will support important organizations such as Sick Kids, the elders at Sunset Manor, and My Friends House.

Please read on to find out the specifics on how we are going to graciously give back to those that need our time, attention, and donations the most.  Thank you in advance for your care, compassion, and contributions :)

CHARACTER RECOGNITION:

A big congratulations to Cali & Ryder for being celebrated for their Courage and Perseverance at today's assembly! 🎉

Your strength to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s challenging, is appreciated. Thank you for showing courage not just in your actions, but in your thoughts and words as well.

Your classmates and I couldn’t be prouder of you, keep shining as role models for us all! 🌟

MISMATCH DAY:

Thank you to all the staff and students who dressed up for our Mismatch Spirit Day! 🎉 

You helped light up the school with your energy and styles!

As always, thank you parents for your efforts in helping your child prepare for our various spirit days, it truly brings our school community together and we appreciate it :-)

🎄 DECEMBER'S CHARACTER FOCUS: EMPATHY & COMPASSION 🎄

The month of December, our class will be focusing on two very special character attributes: Empathy and Compassion, values that are close to my heart and ones I’m passionate about nurturing in all my students.

When we show empathy and compassion, we consider the feelings of others, shifting our perspective from “ME” to “WE.” 

Helping others not only makes a difference in their lives, but also fills us with a sense of joy and connection!

I’ve shared a video below that highlights the importance of empathy in a relatable way for both children and adults. 

Please take a moment to watch it with your child, and enjoy a meaningful conversation about its message afterward. Let’s work together to grow these beautiful qualities in our kids! 💕

WRITING ASSIGNMENT:

In the spirit of Empathy and Gratitude, our class will be taking a moment to think about the feelings of our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

The brave men and women of the CAF consistently rise to every challenge to protect and serve our country, and it’s our mission to show them how much we appreciate their dedication. 

This holiday season, we will send them messages of love, peace, and hope to express our gratitude for their service.

Many CAF members will be away from their families during the holidays, and we hope that our letters will bring them comfort and joy while they continue their important work. 

I have posted this assignment on Google Classroom, I encourage your child to log in and begin working on their letter, class time will be provided as well.

A printed and decorated copy (see example below for inspiration) will be due by Dec. 12th. I will mail these heartfelt letters of appreciation before the holidays so the Armed Forces Members will receive them for Christmas. Thank you so much for supporting this meaningful writing activity! 

DECEMBER KINDNESS CALENDAR:

We’re truly on a roll when it comes to showing our empathy. Now more than ever, we need each other to help lift our spirits during this special holiday season. 

A big thank you to the students who have already been engaging in the acts of kindness suggested in the calendars I have sent home from September to November. I’ve loved hearing about some of the kind gestures you've shared, thank you for making a difference!

For me, and many others, the holiday season is a perfect time to stop, reflect, and consider all the wonderful ways we can spread joy, peace, and kindness. 

Not just to our loved ones, but also to those who may be struggling, who don’t have a warm meal or a safe place to sleep at night.

Together, we can make a real, positive difference in the lives of others. Let's keep spreading those acts of kindness! 💖

HOLIDAY HAPPY MAIL PROGRAM:

Here's another meaningful initiative which I can't wait to participate in with my students!  

Our class will be joining in on the 'Holiday Happy Mail' Program.  What is it?  The mission is to bring joy to the elderly by distributing handmade cards and written letters. 

There is an epidemic of loneliness among our elderly.  Every day, many seniors are spending what are supposed to be their golden years in long-term care homes with little or no connection to the outside world.  

Many leave their rooms for only meals and medical appointments.  Many have little family left, or have families who live hours away and don’t visit often. 

The seniors who move into long-term care facilities have to leave their homes, beloved pets and close friends.  We often forget that seniors are a vibrant, valuable part of our communities with so much knowledge that can be shared with others.  We’re here to remind seniors of that, one kind act at a time.

In this age of screens and instant communication, we often forget the power of a handwritten note. Who wouldn’t love to receive a kind, personalized card complete with original artwork and a handwritten message out of the blue?  

You have the power to brighten a senior’s day with just a few minutes of your time by creating a handmade card that will be hand delivered to a senior in a long-term care facility.

I have every confidence students will be buzzing with excitement to begin their letter and card writing for a senior at Sunset Manor (see photo below) which is located in Collingwood. 

This a very meaningful writing activity as students are yet again, demonstrating December's character attributes of:  EMPATHY & COMPASSION!  We are thinking about the feelings of the elderly :)

Here's something else that's exciting that we will be doing!  I will be contacting Sunset Manor and our class is planning/coordinating to set up a very special Zoom call with the elders who will receive our handmade cards. It will be an opportunity for us to also interact and share some songs with them!  

Yes, you read that correctly :-)  I've done this with my classes over the years, and they always enjoy this heartfelt experience!  

Elders LOVE listening to children perform.  I just had to get my class this year to participate as well!

I will be sure to post all about this experience before our winter holidays so you too can get a glimpse of this special event.  Stay tuned everyone :-)

MATH:

This week, our class did a deeper dive into exploring perimeter. Students worked in partners to create their own polygons with specific perimeters, such as 16 cm and 24 cm. 

They took the time experimenting with different side lengths to see how many unique shapes they could design while still meeting the required total perimeter.

To help consolidate their learning, I provided students with a worksheet set of perimeter questions. These sheets will be coming home over the next while for you to review together.

When you have a moment, please ask your child to explain what perimeter is and how to calculate it. You might also like to give them a couple of examples to solve, such as:

• Example 1: A rectangle has a length of 5 cm and a width of 3 cm. What is its perimeter?

• Example 2: A triangle has sides measuring 4 cm, 6 cm, and 5 cm. What is its perimeter?

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning at home!

GRAMMAR:

This week, we focused on forming plural nouns! 

Here are the rules:

1. Add -s to most nouns (e.g., cat → cats).
2. Add -es to nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z (e.g., box → boxes).
3. Change -y to -ies for nouns ending in a consonant + y (e.g., baby → babies).

Please ask your child to explain these rules and give examples.  I'm sure they’ll love celebrating their skills! 😊

WYE MARSH:

Did your child share about his or her experience with our Wye Marsh visitor this week?  If not, no worries, I'll explain below :)

Each year, Wye Marsh offers a science program for students in grade 4 (split classes get this opportunity too ;)  

In our outdoor classroom, the Wye Marsh instructor taught the students about habitats and communities in the natural world.  

The children learned how different animals and plants work together to form ecosystems, with a special focus on decomposers and consumers. 

Through hands-on activities and engaging discussions, they explored the important roles these organisms play in maintaining balance in nature. 

Please ask your child what they learned about how animals and plants depend on each other, and how decomposers help break down materials to keep the environment healthy! 

Mrs. O (my supply teacher for the day) shared that it was a fun experience for the kids especially when they got to play some science based games together :)

Check out the smiles below of the children enjoying their afternoon of outdoor learning!

MINDFULNESS:

Here’s a beautiful example of giving to inspire us all as we think about how we can make this holiday season brighter for everyone! 🎁 

Please take a moment to watch the video below, it’s sure to spark some inspiration. We all have the power to give, and together, we can make a difference! 😊

GROWTH MINDSET:

Thank you Freddy for this week's mindset message!

"Always try your best even in difficult situations, don't give up!" - Freddy

What does this mean?

Even when something feels hard or doesn’t work right away, you should keep trying. It’s okay to make mistakes, what matters is that you don’t quit. Every time you try again, you get stronger and learn more.

How we can use this at home:
If you’re learning to tie your shoes and it keeps getting tangled, don’t stop trying. Take a deep breath, try again, and ask for help if you need it. Little by little, you’ll get it! 

How we can use this at school:
If a math problem feels tricky or a reading passage is tough, keep working at it. Try a different strategy, ask a question, or give yourself a moment to think. Staying persistent helps you grow and shows that you’re giving your best effort :)

Freddy's quote reminds us that challenges help us learn and sticking with them makes us proud of what we can do! Thanks Freddy 🤗

With appreciation & respect,

Ms. P. Gill