Week #35: May 23rd - 26th

Dear Families,

WOWIE, it sure feels like summer doesn't it!?  The sensational sunshine all week was welcomed and certainly energized our minds, bodies, and spirits to remain actively engaged in all our meaningful learning opportunities :)

Check it all out below!

SIMCOE COUNTY MUSEUM:

We had a most wonderful field trip on Thursday, it was such an engaging and exciting experience!  Students in grade 3 learned all about Pioneer (aka Early Settlers) life.    I am sure your child came home with enthusiasm too :)  

This opportunity showed us what a gift and blessing it is to go outside our school property to think, learn, and grow together on a topic that links directly to what we've been learning in class.  

At the museum, the kids got to dress up, play pioneer games, learn about how to make butter and enjoy a scone with the butter, watch an instructor make a nail, being in a pioneer school with a strict teacher (I was even a little nervous), and each student came home with their very own beeswax candle that they got to make.  

The program was very well organized and taught the kids purposeful information about Early Settlers.   

Below, I have a collection of photos that I was able to capture to share with you so you can get a glimpse of what we were up to :)  

Enjoy admiring these and ask your child about the various photos to see if they can articulate what learning was occurring.  

The staff at the museum were really impressed with our students' behaviour saying "Wow, this has been one of the best behaved group of students we've ever had!"  

This warms my heart as I too believe Nottawa is filled with the VERY BEST!  Way to go boys and girls, you've represented the Nighthawk family with pride!  #charactermatters  #kidswithintegrity

BLUE MOUNTAIN TRIP:

Our trip to Blue is approaching quickly and boy o' boy are we excited!!  

Please note, there are 3 essential things that YOU (parents) need to complete in order for your child to participate next week (Wed. May 31st).  

Any questions regarding this, contact Mrs. Beattie in the office :)

TO DO:

1.  Payment $40.00 (via school cash online)

2.  Permission Form (via school cash online)

3.  Blue Mountain Waiver Form  (see link below) 

WAIVER

Thank you so much for taking the time to complete all these steps, it is greatly appreciated especially since I know how many responsibilities you already have on the go each and every day.

MATH ASSESSMENT:

Thank you boys and girls for all your hard work in this week's data assessment.  Students answered a variety of knowledge/understanding, thinking/application, and communication type questions.  

It took a lot of hard work and determination, but everyone did it!!  I'm very proud of students' efforts :)

I am still in the process of marking these assessments so they will be returned in the next while.  Stay tuned :)

PROBABILITY:

Now that we've wrapped up Data, over the next while, your child will be learning about probability.  Understanding probability is essential in many areas of mathematics.  

A math note was sent home this week in the agenda.  I do hope you have an opportunity to read through the expectations.

In this unit, your child will be learning to use simple probability language such as impossible, certain, unlikely, likely, and equally as likely.  

We will investigate possible outcomes of simple events, such as spinning a spinner, and making predictions about what will happen in simple probability situations.  Playing games that involve chance is one way to explore probability.

Throughout this time to help reinforce this unit, you and your child can do some activities such as:

• your child can make a list of events that might or might not happen at home one evening, and then describe the probability of each event using impossible, certain, likely, or unlikely, and explain his or her choice of probability words

• your child can look through your family's board games for any that use a spinner, and then play the game(s)

• your child can look through your family's board games for any that use a spinner, and then predict the probability of spinning each section of each spinner in 40 spins.  Your child can spin the spinner to check his or her predictions

• your child might make a spinner for doing chores around the house, use the spinner to decide which chore is to be done next, and keep a tally chart of the results for a week

Thank you as always for your ongoing support in your child's math learning!  It is really appreciated and is making a difference for many :-)

MARY POPPINS:

I have every confidence that your child came home on Wednesday and shared about our experience of watching, listening, and marveling at the great performance that our students from Mary Poppins put on!  

Wow, I was in complete awe with the talent, composure, and confidence displayed with every performer!  It was a joy to see the kids in their element who may not necessarily be sports enthusiasts, but shined their light on stage :)

Congratulations to the entire Mary Poppins Dream T.E.A.M. (Mrs. O, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Johnson, Ms. West, Mr. Morin, Mrs. Mortimer, Mrs. Beattie, and Mrs. Shaw) who showed exactly what makes our school family the very best with your collaboration and dedication to bringing this musical for us all to seize and savour.

I heard a few students buzzing afterwards saying, "Oh my goodness, that performance is better than the actual movie!!"  How sweet is this?!  AMAZING!!

DRAMA:

Please have your child visit Google Classroom over the weekend where I have posted a drama assignment.  It is an exciting opportunity to integrate The Arts and Drama!  

Students will create a puppet, write a script, make a mini-stage, and perform a video monologue to present.

I have posted examples of video monologue's for students to check out and get inspired!  They're by our very own Nottawa students from my previous classes.  

Enjoy this assignment!  Stay in character with your puppet and have FUN!

TALENT SHOW:

Please see photo below for the Talent Show details :)  If your child's interested in participating in this annual event, jot down the dates ASAP.  Thank you!

Can't wait to see and celebrate all our Nighthawk spirit and skills on display on Thurs. Jun. 29th (last day of school)!  Goooooo Nighthawks GO!

National Accessibility Week / Red Shirt Day of Action

The week of Monday, May 29 to Friday, June 2 is designated as National AccessAbility Week.  

This week provides an opportunity to celebrate the valuable contributions and leadership of persons with disabilities, with the ultimate goal of creating a more inclusive and accessible world for people of all abilities. 

Wednesday, May 31 is recognized as Red Shirt Day of Action where SCDSB students and staff are encouraged to wear red shirts.  

Doing so demonstrates solidarity and a commitment to reducing stigma and attitudinal barriers towards those with disabilities. 

SCDSB staff and students can demonstrate their support through social media including #SCDSBredshirtday and #SCDSBAccessAbility.  

MINDFULNESS:

Below is one of Johnny Reid's hit songs entitled "Today I'm Gonna Change the World." Please enjoy this songwriter's heart warming message. It's one of my favourites :-)

Its main message focuses on ... if we all just reached out to one person today and helped them, the world would be a better place. Absolutely!! We all have it in us to GIVE ...

GROWTH MINDSET:

Thank you Mae for this week's mindset message!  It links beautifully to our learning about the importance of 'LOVE.'  

"If you're on a path of HATE, start a new one of LOVE!"  - Mae

Many may think of love as being something we solely share with our family and friends, however this school year, we've emphasized the value of LOVE, what is it?  Love = ACCEPTANCE.

When we accept others for who they are, we are embracing INCLUSION which is a quality we need more and more of in this world.  

Thank you Mae for also making me a beautiful bracelet with a message of 'LOVE.'  Your time energy and thought that went into it means a lot to me :)  Love truly is the KEY TO THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS!!

Respectfully,

Ms. Gill