Dear Families,

We’re soon into the month of December if you can believe that!  It’s been a winter wonderland this week and I’m happy students are dressed warmly and cozily to enjoy playing out in the snow!  They're really enjoying building snow forts and giant snowballs!  The intermediates have built a gigantic one!

As always, staff and students showed excellent spirit for the courage assembly today dressing up in their GREEN attire to help promote and keep our planet green and clean!  Our school's green team did an excellent job delivering their message to reduce, reuse, and recycle EVERYDAY! Together, we can help KEEP our planet healthy!

Character Recognition Assembly:

Today, we had our third character recognition assembly to celebrate November’s character trait of Courage – “We do the right thing, even when it’s difficult.”  Congratulations to our recipients Karson and Allison.  I am so proud of you both for striving to be the best you can BE in and out of the classroom.  Continue on this path, and you’ll succeed in all that you set out to do!

 “There is within each one of us a potential for goodness beyond our imagination for giving which seeks no reward, for listening without judgement, for loving unconditionally.”

December’s Character Trait is EMPATHY – “We think about the feelings of others!”

Math:

Earlier this week, I sent home a review sheet on patterning.  Students are asked to work on the practice questions to help prepare for next week’s assessment which will take place on Tuesday.

Language:

This week’s reading comprehension task was entitled: A Plant that Eats Insects

We are working hard on using the  A.P.E. strategy to help us with answering, proving, and extending our reading responses.  As we continue to practice this method, I am optimistic students will improve their writing.  

I have sent home your child’s completed answers for you to look at and discuss with them.  Ask your child what some of their key learnings were from this reading.  

Science:

Our focus in science this week was on exploring electrostatic force!  Did your child share the neat experiment we tried in class?!  If not, I've posted a short video below and some pictures for you to have a little discussion and ask what some of the key learnings were from this :)

Electrostatic force is the push or pull that happens with charged objects. Rubbing some materials, like a balloon against your hair or on a cloth will cause a charge to build up.  Electrostatic force can sometimes push and sometimes pull.  

Objects with different charges will pull towards each other (ATTRACT).  Objects with the same charge will push away from each other (REPEL).

Primary Holiday Concert:

Please read and review the note that was sent home today in the agenda!  Our holiday concert will be taking place on Tues. Dec. 12th.  Parents are welcome to attend our day or evening performance. Students are asked to dress in their favourite holiday outfit on this day emphasizing the colours red, white, and green.

Morning Show:  @ 11:30 a.m.

Evening Show:  @ 6:30 p.m. 

Students have been working hard in music classes to prepare for this performance!  Please remind your child to practice singing "It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas" and playing their recorder to the song "Jingle Bells."  

It is very important that they are familiar with the lyrics and the notes on their recorder as they will be performing these songs with Mr. Morin on the 12th for the concert.

Empathy Assembly:

EXCITING NEWS!!  Our class will be leading next month’s character recognition assembly which will be taking place on Thursday December 20^th at 9:15 a.m.  All families are welcome to attend!  Mark it down into your calendars, you won’t want to miss this exciting event!  We are working hard in class to prepare for this and are having so much fun being performers!

Business Fair:

The grade 8's have already begun marketing for their upcoming business fair!  There are some very interesting and unique ideas coming OUR WAY!  It will take place on Tuesday December 18th! 

 

The Giving Tree:

In the spirit of giving, we are encouraging everyone to please donate by helping make Christmas for people in need better by bringing in unwrapped toys and/or non-perishable food items to place under our giving tree starting next week!  Let's show our community that Nottawa Elementary thinks about the feelings of others!

Mindfulness:

Watch!  Listen!  Learn!  Mindfulness is something we can all strive towards incorporating into our daily lives!  Give it a try :)  We do mindfulness exercises every day in our class and it helps set a positive and peaceful tone to our learning!  We sure love it :)

Growth Mindset:

“If you’re KIND, don’t STAND BY!” - Becca

Namaste,

Ms. Gill