Week #38: Jun. 12th - 16th

Dear Families,

Wowie, we're nearing the end of the school year, and I can't believe that next week will be our final full week in the classroom.    

I have thoroughly enjoyed communicating our news and learning with you all (my students’ families).  I thank you for being a regular follower and supporting your child’s learning (E.g., by asking them questions about their week) and reading my thoughts.  

It has been a true pleasure writing these posts each week as I get to reflect upon all the meaningful activities we're doing as a class family, this brings me so much JOY! 

FATHER'S DAY:

Happy Father’s Day on Sunday to all the wonderful Dads out there!  I have immense respect for all my students father's as each of them is unconditionally loving and supporting their child(ren) in all their endeavours!  

Listening to your child speak and write about all the ways Dad cares for the family brings me happiness :)  Your role is vital and I thank you for raising your child(ren) with such love and care.

I hope you enjoy quality time together as a family.  Your child is so excited to give Dad the personalized card and letter that they created.  

Each student worked so hard on this during the past week (see photos below).  I am so proud of their final products and I am confident you will be too :)

So kick back and relax Dads, you deserve it!

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH:

As part of National Indigenous Awareness Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), today we will learn about and watch another short video to highlight the history and strength of our First Nations People.  

#nottawahonoursyou 

Heather McIntyre is an Indigenous woman who has lived in Collingwood with her grown family for over 35 years. Heather's grandmother Bertha was an Annishenabe woman originating from Georgian Island near Sutton and set out to build family life in rural Ontario.

As a proud member now of The Chippewa's of Georgina Island, Heather has dedicated her life's mission to support individuals who are in crisis or who find themselves stuck in wounded fragments of their life without a voice, the purpose or direction to fully embrace a positive Wellness Story.

Thank you Heather McIntyre for sharing your personal message of self-reflection and resiliency. 

Here at Nottawa, we continue to demonstrate our dedication to learning about our history and the present lives of our extraordinary Indigenous peoples in Canada.

It is important to us to show that we are in the spirit of RECONCILIATION AND RESPECT.

FUN FAIR:

A big thank you to our dedicated staff, students, community volunteers, and parent council for planning, organizing, promoting, and facilitating our annual fun fair!  

Despite the calling of rain, it turned out to be pretty great outside!  The fair was a huge success because of our amazing team!  

Some of the events that the kids and parents enjoyed was the Bootcamp Inflatable, Giant Maze Ball, Fire Truck, Giant Connect 4, Ring Toss, Frog Flinger, Lane Horse Derby, and an Obstacle Course!

A big thank you to our very own Logan's Mom (Mrs. Kennedy) who provided yummy eats with her company's food truck called Men With Knives.  The line up was steady and the food looked delicious as always!!

Mrs. Kennedy & MWK Team, thank you for volunteering your time, energy, and services for our Nottawa School Family.  We love and honour YOU!

On behalf of the staff at Nottawa, a final thank you to all our families for supporting our Fun Fair!  Sorry I don't have photos to share for this event, I was too busy connecting and talking away with the parents and children ;)    

SPORTS THEMED BASKET:

I would like to extend another thank you to all the parents who selected and purchased a sports themed item for our silent auction basket.  

When I went into the gym last evening to check out the baskets, I was in awe of how ours turned out!!  I overheard some families buzzing about how amazing it was!!  

Thank you parents for your continued generosity and efforts in all your child(ren)'s school endeavours :)

PRIMARY PLAY DAY:

Speaking of fun events, the Leadership Team has come through yet again to provide another wonderful opportunity for our primary classes, a PLAY DAY!  

It will be taking place on Tues. Jun. 20th for the school day :)  Please ensure your child's dressed for the weather and has a hat, sunscreen, comfortable footwear for play, and lots of fluids.  

Thank you as always for helping prepare your child for our special events throughout the school year!

DRAMA:

I am so pleased with students who created, prepared, and shared their puppet monologue.  They turned out so well and we enjoyed watching many of them in class.

Thank you parents for all your support in this task with helping your child with recording, staging, and puppet making.  I truly appreciate it :)

MATH:

Students have completed their final Block Assessment to demonstrate their knowledge/understanding, thinking/application, and communication skills in the areas of multiplication/division, addition/subtraction, fractions, money, measurement, and data.

Check out the images below of the types of questions that were asked.  I encourage your child to share with you how he or she solved these.  

Throughout the school year, there has been a focus on using the 4-Block Method to effectively understand, plan, solve, and explain our solutions with multi-step word problems.  

As your child moves forward to the junior division in the fall, I encourage him or her to continue using this method as it will help enhance their mathematical thinking.  It will also show their new teacher how detailed and thorough they are when solving math questions.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

For the past while, we have been learning about 'Living & Working in Ontario' and have discussed the land regions of Ontario (e.g., Hudson Bay Lowlands, Canadian Shield, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Lowlands) and the types of land use.

Our land in Ontario is used in many ways such as homes (residential), farming (agriculture), space for sports, play (recreation), providing services like stores (commercial), factories (industry), and conservation to keep wildlife and nature safe and clean.  

Your child has brought home a sheet which shares all this information.  Please have them share it with you to increase their knowledge and talk about our bright, beautiful province and all it has to offer :)

ART:

To help honour Indigenous History month, we worked on an Indigenous inspired art project.  We learned all about an Indigenous artist named Norval Morrisseau.  

I did a mini lesson about the life and legacy of Morrisseau and then we took the time to make our very own Copper Thunderbird.  

Please ask your child what the Thunderbird represents (HINT:  power and strength).  It is believed this good energy can be transferred into your home once hung up :)

Our completed Thunderbird's are turning out amazingly well!  Check out the photos below of some students completed creations.  Aren't they gorgeous!?  I love them ALL :-)

Stay tuned, these pieces will come home soon.  I'm positive they'll be a keeper for you and your family ;)

POETRY CAFE:

Lots of buzz being sent out about this (we’re just so excited), but once again a friendly reminder, our Poetry Cafe will take place on Thursday June 22nd at 9:30 - 11:00AM.  

We are inviting families, friends, and special guests into our learning community for this very special celebration.

We will have a sign in system organized outside of the library, so please ensure you sign in and then make your way into our library. Your child will be eager to see you!  

We appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to join and celebrate with us.  Please have your child dress up in a black shirt and bottoms (or dark colours).  Thank you for your support in this.

Last call, if you haven't already done so, please ensure you return your R.S.V.P. back to school so I know approximate numbers to set up enough chairs and tables for this special event :)  Thank you!

CHARACTER RECOGNITION ASSEMBLY:

Our final Character Recognition Assembly will be Friday June 23rd at 11:45 a.m.  Please join us if you can! 

It will also be our final spirit dress up day.  Students are encouraged to dress up for Canada Day to celebrate our country's upcoming birthday!!  Show your pride, and please wear your red and white everyone :)

MINDFULNESS:

Speaking of our great country, what makes Canada so great?  That's right - DIVERSITY!  

We are a country that proudly welcomes and celebrates all cultures, faiths, and ethnicities!  In my mind and heart, that's what makes US so special :)  

I am a proud Sikh Canadian and am deeply grateful for our government who openly welcomed my parents who immigrated from India in the 1979.  

In class, we regularly talk about the similarities & differences we see in others and to always embrace and acknowledge these with open minds and hearts.  ACCEPT OTHERS AS THEY ARE.  

We are ALL DIFFERENT and that's OK :)  

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this video honouring our GREAT COUNTRY!  

GROWTH MINDSET:

Thank you Kieran for this week's mindset message!

"You can forget the negative and find the positive in everything if YOU TRY!" - Kieran

Did you know positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health?  Positive thinking doesn't mean that you ignore life's less pleasant situations, it just means that you approach the challenges in a more positive and productive way.  When you do, you'll soon realize your life will be filled with utmost JOY! 

Respectfully Yours,

Ms. Gill