This past Sunday marked the beginning of Advent, a time of preparing our hearts and minds for the birth of Jesus!  We are learning about the Christmas story in Religion and celebrating each week with our own classroom paraliturgy.  If you are able, please make every effort to bring your child to mass so that your child has the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful celebration during this advent season.

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What does the first candle of advent represent?  Joy, Peace, Hope or Love?

Dear Parents and Players,

Happy Monday!

HOMEWORK:   THRoW - this week, the homework will be focused on supporting our Writer's Workshop on  writing paragraphs. Students will be given a topic sentence and they will have to add 3-4 detail sentences and a closing sentence to complete the paragraph.

All students must first brainstorm ideas using a web. Then, they select their strongest 3-4 details and write a paragraph.  They can use half the page for the brainstorming web and the bottom half to write their paragraph.

Here is an example of a Stoplight Paragraph.  The green represents the topic sentence.  The yellow highlights 3-4 detail sentences that each support the topic sentence.  And finally, the red represents the closing sentence that wraps up or closes the paragraph.

      This weekend has been one of the busiest weekends in a long time!  First, Friday night I hockey practice right after school, so I didn't really get a chance to relax.  We didn't return home until late because we ended up going out for dinner afterwards.  Then, on Saturday, I helped my dad rake all the leaves in our front and back yard! Finally, on Sunday we celebrated my Grandma's 82nd birthday with cake and ice cream. Even though this weekend was super packed, I still enjoyed it, especially the ice cream part!

Each students is asked to use a ruler and underline the three parts of their paragraph using the appropriate colours. 

Green - topic sentence

Yellow - detail sentences

Red - closing sentence

All THRoWs will be due Friday.  Please refer to the modeled paragraph that will be glued into your child's THRoW.  Follow that format exactly.  Encourage your child to use specific word choice and edit AND revise their writing using the checklists glued at the back of their THRoW book.  Sequencing words are also helpful; First, Then, Next, Last.  Happy Writing!

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What character trait best describes someone who doesn't give up until they reach their goals?  Or someone who keeps trying until they are successful?

Our Language quiz tomorrow will be based on what we have practised in class.  I did not send home duo tangs.  It will be on selecting appropriate topic sentences for paragraphs.  Very easy....if your child was a good listener today and yesterday, they will do very well!


Coach Wilson

Hello Parents and Players!  

Just FYI our field trip to John R. Park has been rescheduled to Tuesday, December 6th.  We will keep things status quo in regards to chaperones.  Sadly, we missed out on AMAZING weather the other day!  We will really have to bundle up for this visit in December!

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What character trait best describes person who can be trusted to do what they say they will do or be where they say they will be?

This week...

Homework will be MATH every night.  Check your child's agenda to see which pages are to be completed and returned for the next day.

MATH: We began a new unit on Measurement: 

1. Part One:  Time / Temperature
2. Part Two:  Mass and Capacity.  

These two parts will be combined to make one grade for the strand overall.  

The expectations according to the Gr. 2 Ontario Math Curriculum for Part One are students will...

• determine, through investigation, the relationship between days and weeks and between months and years
• tell and write time to the quarter-hour, using demonstration digital and analogue clocks (e.g.,“My clock shows the time recess will start [10:00], and my friend’s clock shows the time recess will end [10:15].”)
• describe how changes in temperature affect everyday experiences (e.g., the choice of clothing to wear)
• use a standard thermometer to determine whether temperature is rising or falling (e.g., the temperature of water, air)

The expectations according to the Gr. 3 Ontario Math Curriculum for Part One are students will...

• solve problems involving the relationships between minutes and hours, hours and days, days and weeks, and weeks and years, using a variety of tools (e.g., clocks, calendars, calculators)
• read time using analogue clocks, to the nearest five minutes, and using digital clocks (e.g., 1:23 means twenty-three minutes after one o’clock), and represent time in 12-hour notation
• estimate, read (i.e., using a thermometer), and record positive temperatures to the nearest degree Celsius (i.e., using a number line; using appropriate notation) (Sample problem: Record the temperature outside each day using a thermometer, and compare your measurements with those reported in the daily news.)
• identify benchmarks for freezing, cold, cool, warm, hot, and boiling temperatures as they relate to water and for cold, cool, warm, and hot temperatures as they relate to air (e.g., water freezes at 0°C; the air temperature on a warm day is about 20°C, but water at 20°C feels cool)

LANGUAGE:  We are now turning our writing focus to paragraphs.  We are learning how to generate 1 topic sentence, 3-4 detail sentences and 1 closing sentence.  Altogether that makes for a 5-6 sentence paragraph.  This will be sent home as part of THRoW occasionally, so be on the look out!





SOCIAL STUDIES:

Gr. 2 - Mapping

• demonstrate an understanding that there are a variety of countries, continents, physical features, and bodies of water around the world and that their locations can be represented in different ways (e.g., using globes; print, digital, and/or interactive maps; mapping programs; electronic images)
• identify and label the 7 continents, 5 oceans, the equator, poles, and hemispheres, using a globe, print, digital, or interactive maps, and/or a mapping program
• 3 identify cardinal directions on a map (i.e., N, S, E, W), and use these directions when locating selected communities, countries, and/or continents
•  identify the location of selected countries, cities, and/or towns around the world, and describe how their location and climate are related (e.g., Mexico is warm year-round because it is close to the equator; Canada has four seasons because it is far from the equator; Winnipeg is usually colder than Toronto in the winter because it is farther north)
• identify and locate each of Canada's 10 provinces and 3 territories on a map

Gr. 3 - Early Settlers of the 1800s

• formulate questions to guide investigations into some of the major challenges facing different groups and communities in Canada from around 1780 to 1850 
• identify some of the main factors that helped shape the development of settlements in Canada during this period and describe how the physical features of the land (e.g., topography, proximity to water, fertility of the soil) and the availability of goods and services (e.g., mills, churches, roads) can facilitate settlement and enhance community life
• identify various First Nations and some Métis communities in Upper and Lower Canada from 1780 to 1850, including those living in traditional territory and those who moved or were forced to relocate to new areas in response to European settlement, and locate the areas where they lived, using print, digital, and/or interactive maps or a mapping program 
• describe how some different communities in Canada related to each other during this period, with a focus on whether the relationships were characterized by conflict or cooperation 
• compare some of the roles of and challenges facing people in Canada around the beginning of the nineteenth century with those in the present day 

Ok, that's all for now. I'll post more subject content later!

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What are Canada's two official languages?

Field Trip Cancelled Due to Fog

Attention all Chaperones:  Field trip today has been cancelled on account of the fog.  No transportation services are being provided.  We will need to reschedule!

Coach Wilson

And the lucky winners of the FREE chaperone draw are...

Mrs. Palko
Mrs. Ranola
Mrs. Moro
Ms. Strong

Congratulations, you will be our 4 free chaperones on our field trip to John R. Park this Thursday.  Please sign in at the office and meet in our classroom for 9:00 am.

Any other parents wishing to attend, MAY DO SO, however, you will have to pay $8.50 at the door upon arriving at John R. Park Homestead.

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  Which of the six learning skills on the front page of your progress report has to do with cooperating with peers, contributing your fair share of the work to the group and listening without interrupting to the ideas and thoughts of others?

Happy Monday Parents and Players!

This SHORT week here is what is going on...

MONDAY - Please look over and sign your child's PROGRESS REPORT.  Pay particular attention to the learning skills, as these are the most important areas in developing successful life-long learners with excellent work habits.  Any parent wishing to come in this week on Wednesday evening for Parent - Teacher Interviews, please feel free to show up anytime between 4:00 pm until 6:45 pm.  Interviews, as we are told, will be done on a first come, first serve basis.  A sign up sheet will be located on a desk outside my door.

HOMEWORK:  As this is another short week, there will be no THROW.  However, there is a math test on Wednesday, and students are expected to review for 20 minutes a night on Monday and Tuesday.  Also, keep in mind there is always reading books from their book pouches. Please check your child's agenda daily to see what is assigned for that night.  Thank you to those parents who diligently sign their child's agenda on a daily basis!  This makes for excellent communication between home and school!

FIELD TRIP:  Thursday, this week, we will be spending the day at John R. Park.  PLEASE DRESS YOUR CHILD WARMLY!  We will be outside for the majority of the day.  I had a handful of students who did not come to school properly dressed on our first field trip to the Apple Orchard, so please, overdressing is better than under dressing.

Reminder:  Send your child to school that day with a disposable lunch clearly marked with your child's name and class (ex. 2/3W).

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What is the name of our S.O.W.?

NOTICE:

 For those parents who ordered Harvest Fresh for next Thursday, November 17rh, please call them today at (519) 776-6659 to ask them to reschedule.  We will be away at John R. Park that day so you will need to pack your child a brown-bagged disposable lunch.  Sorry for this inconvenience!  

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What two words come to mind when you hear the term MULTIPLICATION?

Dear Parents,

Progress Report Parent/Teacher Interviews:  Wednesday, November 16th, 2016  - 4:00 pm - 7:00pm

• The board will be sending out a mass voice mail to all parents explaining that it will be structured as a first come, first serve sign up the night of interviews.  So, once you arrive, sign up on the sheet posted outside my classroom door and take a seat and wait until it is your turn to have a 10 minute interview.  I apologize for the inconvenience and I will do my best to stay on track with 10 minutes per interview.  Please have your questions and concerns ready for each brief session.

Language Quiz - Friday we will have a very short quiz on the use of conjunctions; and, or, because, but and so.  I will send the yellow language duo tangs home on Thursday night for review.

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What is the name of the line dance step called that we did to the song Celebration today?  Hint:  it's what grapes grow on...

Hello Parents and Players!

Coming home tonight...

• Your child's Science test - please look over, sign and return
• Field trip permission form for our upcoming trip to John R. Park Homestead on November 17th.  The cost will be $8.00 / student and up to 4 parents are welcome to attend as a chaperone for each class.  We will hold a lottery and pull 4 lucky names!  Those selected will be chaperoning at no charge.  Any parents still wishing to attend will have to pay $8.50 at the door.  Curriculum connection:  Social Studies Traditions and Celebrations / Early Settlers of 1800s

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What was Mrs. Wilson's job on Boblo Island for three years?

Thank you to Mrs. Morin who came into our classroom today to teach us about the Saints and what makes each of them so special.  Students enjoyed games, prizes, becoming honorary saints and make their very own Saint pendant necklaces!  Thank you so much for all of your enthusiasm and hard work you put into making this morning such a wonderful learning experience!  The necklaces turned out beautifully!  What a wonderful keepsake!  Ask your child to show you tonight!

Reminder:  Pajama Day for any student who brings in $2.00!  Happy Friday, everyone!

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION: From today's presentation:  Everyone in Heaven is a _______!

Happy All Saints Day!

Today we enjoyed learning about some very special saints; St. Therese, St. Francis, St. Joachim, St. Isadore, and St. Elizabeth. 

Also, Pajama Day on Friday for students who bring a toonie ($2.00)! All proceeds are supporting our grade 7s on their visit to Oak Park Terrace on Monday, November 7th, to help assist veterans with The Great Canadian Flag Project!  Thank you for all of your support!

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION: Which Saint loved all animals and all of God's created world?

Halloween Day Fun!

ENJOY the pictures from yesterday!  We had a great time scaring all of the other grades as they walked through our spooky event!  We EVEN scared some seniors!!

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  Who brought in a Werewolf mask?

WHAT WAS REALLY IN THERE?!