Dear Parents/Guardians,
Well, the first couple of weeks of our new school year is behind us now and our routines and schedules are beginning to take shape! We have an AMAZING class and I am so excited about working with them in order to maximize their full potential! Students have completed a number of diagnostics so that I can get to know them better and see where they're at so I can best serve their individual needs. We will be completing one more this week, our CASI reading and writing diagnostic. As we say goodbye to summer and welcome all the splendor of fall, we are beginning to focus on developing our skills on more specific areas of the curriculum.
Communication
School and classroom events, themes, current learning, special days etc., will be posted regularly on this blog as well as students' agendas. Your child's agenda continues to be the most important means of communication between us. Please review it daily for notes or homework and be sure to check the plastic sleeve inside the front cover for permission forms etc. It would be appreciated if you could also use it to communicate any upcoming appointments or absences.
Homework
Unless students have a specific task to complete or a project that they are working to finish up, most classwork should be completed during the school day. However, should any classwork not be completed during the appropriate time given, it will go home to be completed and returned the following morning. If it still remains incomplete, a "Keeping You Informed About Homework" note will go home to be signed and returned. A recess (or two) may also be sacrificed to ensure completion. Should a special circumstance arise at home preventing your child from finishing, please write a note in their agenda.
Volunteers
I would welcome any parent helpers that would be interested in coming in to read with students or to help out with special occasions, field trips or events "as needed." If you are able and interested, feel free to let me know. Please remember that you must have a valid police background check to do so.
Literacy
Reading:
Reading regularly both at school and at home is extremely important in order to further develop a love of reading in the junior grades. Students can bring "just right" books from home and will also have opportunities to sign out books from our library. We continue to work on decoding strategies along with our ability to think while we're reading. I have also begun my first class "read-aloud" where students are making connections, sequencing, visualizing, predicting, and writing reading responses as we read it.
Scholastic Orders:
Give your child the gift of reading! Students have received their September flyers of the latest offers from Scholastic Books. Should you wish to place an order for any books, you may now use the "Parent Pay" feature on their website to pay directly. Full details can be found on their website (see flyers). Alternatively, you may still send payment with your child. I would ask that you send cash as I use my credit card to pay for class orders which greatly speeds up the process and prevents having to mail anything in to them. September orders are due: Mon.Sept. 23rd
Writing:
Over the next few weeks, we will be working on our Recount Writing unit. A recount is writing that tells us about an event that has happened in the past, in the correct sequence. It includes information about the 5 W's: who, what, when, where and why. Throughout all writing form units this year, there will be considerable focus on the writing process including revising and editing, along with sentence structure, grammar and punctuation.
Cursive:
We have started our weekly routine of reading and writing in cursive.
Word Study:
Every Monday, students will be given their weekly word study package. Groups have been set up based on their current spelling levels. A copy of the words will go home in their agendas to review at home. I encourage parents practicing the words with their child. During free time throughout the week, students will complete activity pages focusing on these words. On Thursday, they will take home any unfinished activities to complete as well as practice their words for the spelling quiz that will take place on Fridays.
Mathematics
We begin each day with Daily Math Practice, five questions covering all the strands in the SCDSB Course of Study. The remainder of our morning block is spent focusing on math. We are currently working on our first Number Sense unit where students are representing, comparing, ordering and rounding numbers. Grade 4s are responsible for 4-digit numbers while the 5s are responsible for 5-digit numbers. After lessons are taught, students work through questions and play games that reinforce the concepts taught.
Science
We have started our first units. The Grade 4s will be examining "Rocks and Minerals" while the Grade 5s will be looking at "Properties of and Changes in Matter" (solids, liquids, gases).
Social Studies
We have also just begun our two Social Studies units for Term 1. Grade 4s will be focusing on the "Physical Regions of Canada" (with an emphasis on the 10 provinces and 3 Territories). The Grade 5s will be learning about "Government and Responsible Citizenship" (what better time than during our upcoming federal election, where they will participate in a mock-vote, choosing the party that best reflects their own personal values!).
The Arts
Students will be learning to play the recorder and Ukulele with Mr. Morin this year. They will also be creating visual artistic masterpieces throughout the year. During Term #1, we will focus on Drama while Dance will be covered during Term #2.
Health and Phys. Ed.
In Health, we focus on the importance of being healthy and well-being. Our first unit will cover Healthy Eating. In gym, we focus on fitness and further developing our gross motor skills. We have begun our Cooperative Games unit where students learn the importance of safety, being in control of their own bodies and movements at all times, and working together to achieve a common goal. We will also be completing units that coincide with our school sports teams schedule so that students can learn the basics and begin to develop their skills should they wish to represent the Nottawa Nighthawks (i.e. basketball, volleyball, track & field). Students are to have proper phys. ed. attire each class in order to participate fully.
Important Dates:
Day 1 - Music w/ Mr. Morin
Day 2,3,4,5 - French with Mme. Wylie
Day 2,4 - Phys. Ed.
Mon. Sept. 23rd - Scholastic Book orders due.
Tues. Sept. 24th - Bruce Trail Hike Field Trip
Tues. Sept. 24th - Nottawa X-Cty Fun Run (after school)
Thurs. Sept. 26th - Terry Fox Run (Periods 5 & 6)
Thurs. Sept. 26th - Welcome Back Meet the Teacher (5:30-6:30 pizza outside, 6:30-7:00 visit class)
Fri. Sept. 27th - Picture Day (Smile!)
Tues. Oct. 1st - X-Cty Klondike Park Fun Run (all day - rain date Oct. 3rd)
Thurs. Oct. 3rd -Character Ed. Assembly (Caring)
Fri. Oct. 4th - PA Day (No School!)
Tues. Oct. 8th - X-Cty Blueberry Trails Area Meet (all day - rain date Oct. 10th
Mon. Oct. 14th - Thanksgiving Monday (No School!)
Tues. Oct. 22nd - X-Cty County Meet at Mt. St. Louis (all day, only for those who qualify, rain -date Oct. 24th)
As always, if you have questions, concerns or urgent needs, please contact me at the school. The best time to reach me is between 8:15 and 8:45 am or after school from 3:30 and 4:30 pm. Thank you for your continued support.
Kindest Regards,
Mr. Bristow
Grade 4/5
Nottawa Elementary
