First Week of School - SUPERB START-UP!

Dear Families,

Today was a fun-filled day with everyone dressed in their cozy comfy PJ's!  We felt so relaxed and enjoyed completing the day's activities with our stuffy buddies!  

You'll even find that some students placed a mask on their teddies.  HOW ADORABLE IS THAT?!  #safetyfirst

As we soon enter the final week of school before the holiday break, I recognize it can be a hustle bustle time of year, my wish for you all are opportunities to rest, relax, and rejuvenate as a family.  You deserve it!

FitGo Friday:

Thank you to Mrs. Kutcy for organizing yet another fantastic FitGo experience for our whole school!  Everyone from Kindergarten to grade 8 gets into the spirit!  Check us out below as our adrenaline and hearts' are pumping with excitement by doing the various exercises :-)  

Congratulations to Mrs. Shaw and Mrs. Enwistle's class for winning week 2 of FitGo BINGO again!

I am very proud to share that our class always displays sportspersonship because we know that FitGo isn't about the PRIZES, but putting our energy into developing our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.  

Thank you to Elliott who has taught us the importance of - "Sometimes we WIN, sometimes we LEARN!"  Absolutely, love this mindset!  

We look forward to FitGo Friday next week!

Holiday Happy Mail & Google Meet with Sunset Manor Residents:

Again I am SO PROUD of my students, this time for their hard work and all the LOVE that went into their handmade holiday cards and letters for some elders at Sunset Manor.  Your child is truly demonstrating EMPATHY in his or her thoughts, words, and actions.    

Our cards were very well received and we all now know how much the elders appreciated them!!  The kids enjoyed seeing the smiles on the seniors faces as they opened and read them :)  Check it out below!

It truly brightened the seniors spirits this holiday season especially since many of them have been in some form of lockdown since March 2020 due to COVID-19.  This act of kindness has truly filled their cup :) 

Ms. Hollingsbee a PSW helped beautifully facilitate this Meet and it went so well!!  I received a positive reply from her saying how much seeing and hearing the kids sing made the elders day!!  The kids loved singing the two songs for them - "Just One Candle" and "Try Everything."    

Please know, I will do my best to record the class singing and post it on Google Classroom so you get a glimpse of your child performing too :-)  I bet you're eager to see this also!  This class is filled with fabulous performers!!

Below, you will find a collection of photos from our Meet and how touched the elders were to read and receive their holiday happy mail!!  

Each child below is posing with the elder that received his or her card :)  It was such a memorable moment and one that brought tears to my eyes as I sat back and watched my students gently and lovingly greet the elders.    

Since our kindness touched the elders' hearts so much, they've requested that my class do another virtual Meet in the New Year :)  The seniors LOVED SEEING THE KIDS SO MUCH!!  My immediate answer was YES!  If we can make a difference in the hearts and minds of others especially those in need of our energy and time, we're happy to participate!!  I will organize something in the New Year.

Fundraising Campaigns:

An immense gratitude goes out to ALL the Nottawa families who have supported the following campaigns - "Backpacks in our Backyards," "Tabs for Wheelchairs," and the "Food Drive."  

I am almost at a loss of words here to express the depth of gratitude I have for you all!!  Our classroom backpack is overflowing with personal care items, the ziplock baggy holding tabs is so full it can no longer be held by a magnet, and the giving tree in the rotunda has boxes and boxes filled with non-perishable foods!! 

This is why I am so, SO proud to be a Nighthawk!  We as a school family continue to think about the feelings of others and we do it with such care and compassion.  Your (parents) selfless ways and generosity is inspiring to me!!  Thank you for being YOU :-) 

As you can see from the photos, leading by example, seamlessly transfers to our children which is heart soaring!!  They are learning first hand what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to be a genuine giver for those who need it the most.  This my families ... is the essence of humanity. 

Language:

This week in writing, we worked on thinking about peace and what it means to each of us.  During the holidays, my wish for everyone is to have peace in our thoughts, words, and actions.  Peace is truly the answer to the world's problems.  

To get in the mindset, I provided students with a handmade dove to write a heartfelt poem or message about peace.  Doves are a symbol of love and a messenger of peace.  

We are still working on this task, but what we have completed so far is absolutely wonderful!

These peace doves will be turned into a holiday ornament which your child will bring home as a gift to share next week to be placed on your home's Christmas tree :-)

Math:

This week, we continued working hard on using the 4-Block Problem Solving Method to answer some challenging patterning word problems.  I sent one home earlier this week  Thank you to the families who are taking the time to go over these math tasks that come home to help reinforce learned concepts and using the provided examples to help your child extend upon his or her knowledge/understanding, thinking/application, and communication skills.  It is making a difference!!

On Wednesday next week, we will write an assessment for patterns.  I sent home a review sheet along with the expectations so please have your child work on these questions over the weekend to help prepare.

As always, my assessments are an opportunity for students to celebrate WHAT THEY KNOW (stars/strengths) and WHAT THEY CAN WORK TOWARDS (arrows/next steps).  

Grammar:

This week's grammar rule focused on PRONOUNS!  Ask your child about the various pronouns used to replace one or more nouns :-)  By utilizing this rule, students writing will improve so they do not sound repetitive.

We continue to work diligently on our weekly grammar tasks.  Everyone's effectively working in their THINK, PAIR, SHARE groupings to solidify their skills :-)  I love SEEING THIS!!  "Together Everybody Achieves MORE!"

Music:

For music class on Wed. Dec. 15th, please have your child dress up in his or her festive attire as we will be recording a special song using the boomwhackers for this year's virtual Holiday Concert.  

Mr. Morin and the students have been working hard in preparation for this experience and I can't wait to see them in action!  

We are really going to miss not having you (families) come in to watch as we traditionally have in the past with hosting a Holiday Concert in the gym.  But as always, we are going to make the most of this experience and have a virtual concert and enjoy watching it in class similarly to what we did for the Remembrance Day virtual assembly.

Making Edible Christmas Trees:

A note was sent home about this sweet activity earlier this week, I hope you had an opportunity to go over it :)  But, I'll also write about it here as a friendly reminder.

As part of our Procedural writing, we will be making edible Christmas trees in class and we will be writing about it!  I will be providing most of the materials for this process, but if you would like, you may wish to have your child bring in some delicious toppings such as sprinkles, gummies, and other tiny sweets to put on their trees.  

I am excited for the kids as I think they're going to LOVE this special activity!  Please send in toppings in a zip lock baggy with your child on Wed. Dec. 15th.

Types of Lines:

On Wednesday's daily math, we learned about different types of lines.  To help consolidate this learning, we listened to a very catchy and upbeat song to help us remember (click link below).  Evie shared with me, "Ms. Gill, that song keeps playing over and over in my hippocampus!"  Awww, so sweet!  Some students certainly had it stuck in their heads for the remainder of the day, HAHA!

Please ask your child to draw the following lines - parallel, intersecting, and perpendicular!  

Types of Lines Song

Pizza & Pasta Program:

In January, we will be expanding our hot lunch program to include pizza and pasta!  We will offer Pizza on Wednesdays and Pasta on Fridays; Nuggets will continue on Mondays.

Mindfulness:

Please watch the John Lewis Christmas advert 2020 inspired by random acts of kindness in lockdown. John Lewis is encouraging everyone to do something nice for others. The Give A Little Love ad was inspired by random acts of kindness during lockdown after the pandemic first hit in March 2020.

Help give a little love, together we can make a big difference!

Growth Mindset:

Meegwich,

Ms. Gill