Hello R7A Families – hope you are staying upright on the lovely ice we have everywhere,

The highlight of this week is the Intermediate Ski Trip to Edelweiss on Wednesday, February 28th. Students MUST BE AT SCHOOL by 7:45 at the latest as the buses leave at 8:00 a.m.. We will be back around 4 p.m.. All students have been asked to ensure they have a ride waiting at school or have made arrangements to get home on their own. For the ski trip we are asking that students bring: warm, appropriate clothing including snow pants and boots; a change of socks and mitts; water; good snacks and their very best behaviour and appetite for fun!

On Friday, March 2nd, the Intermediates will be participating in a Wellness Day organized by Ms Prokaska. In groups with peers from other classes, the students will be going to different activities that promote mental, emotional and physical wellness, such as music, cooking, board games, yoga, and mindfulness. All of the teachers are participating as well as some invited guests. I will be offering 5 hours of yoga – gulp – and will probably have to be airlifted out of the building after school!!!

 this would NOT be me

Please ensure that all report card home comments and IEP page fives are returned as soon as possible.

Thanks very much,

Ms Swail

HAPPY ONTARIO FAMILY DAY ONE AND ALL –

I hope you are enjoying some time with family on this gift of a lovely weekend in the deep middle of February. I was able to visit many relatives in Montreal and trade stories and memories. It was especially heart-warming to spend time with my mom-in-law who just broke her arm but managed to eat chocolate, and to see my own wonderful mother and my two brothers from Montreal and Vancouver. They still like to tease me, by the way, very effectively, just like when I was in grade 7 and they were in grades 4 and 2. the road from Montreal to Ottawa taken by passenger

The highlight of this week is our trip to Edelweiss for our annual VM Intermediate Ski Trip on Wednesday, February 21st. The forecast is looking rather interesting with high temperatures and possibly, rain. We will keep you updated should plans change. Please ensure your children: get to school by 7:45 for an 8 am departure; bring lots of water and food; carry a change of clothes and wear boots and snow pants; get picked up on time at school if they are not getting home on their own.

Our shortened week continues with creation stories, guided reading, learning about Canada’s natural resources and their pivotal role in Canadian “ourstory”, creating an Ottawa-Gatineau cityscape in Visual Arts, reading buddies etc.. Below is a photo of Sirak holding his created silhouette of Parliament Hill.

 Sirak and Parliament Hill

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SMART PHONES – learning how to balance quick technology with balance and respect

Our class has had a number of discussions about how to respect each other, in school, in the hallways and yard and outside of school when on social media.  I found an article on social media and mental health which you may like to read. Social media is not bad. Social media, however,  must be managed with balance and monitoring. This Huffington post piece focuses on the potentially negative effects of social media, if unchecked and not monitored and discussed. Please take a look.

What can be done to mitigate the harmful effect of social media usage? First, more should be done to raise awareness of its potentially damaging effects so people can make informed choices regarding online behaviour. Second, adults can start positive discussions with youth about self-acceptance, noting the dangers of social comparison and approval-seeking. Thirdly, a literal unplugging might be necessary, with modems or devices switched off during certain periods of time, either self-imposed o

Please ensure you and your children review the term one report cards and fill in and return the comment sections.

Take very good care.

Ms Swail

 

Well hello, R7A Families –

Mid-February is here. The new Wiarton Willie groundhog reportedly saw his shadow and this predicts six more weeks of winter.  I do not know how a groundhog relates their weather predictions but they have a large following. This is good as we have our Winter Ski Trip on Wednesday, February 21st and you do need winter for a ski trip. Please remind your children that they have to dress warmly, have a change of clothing AND get to school by 7:45, straight up to room 201. Thanks to Dakota’s mom for coming as our parent volunteer.

Friday is a PA Day for all of our students so this will be another busy, productive week. Please ensure that your children get to school on time for 8:30. Missing the first 15-20 minutes of Math or Literacy puts students at a disadvantage. Thursday is another Spirit Day – PJ Day, and this week will mark the 100th day of school. This is when teachers look about 100 years old!

 

We are proceeding on all projects as posted on last week’s blog. The Geography project assessment sheets are going home with most students for your review and signature.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all on February 14th, the day when students receive their report cards. Please review the reports carefully with your children, particularly the Learning Skills. As well, please do write any comments you have and also have your children fill out the student portion where they indicate what they would like to focus on in Term 2, or what they are proud of. Please return only your signed portions and keep the report card. Term Two IEPs are coming soon.If you would like to meet with me or any of your child’s teachers, just send an e-mail, if I have not already contacted you.

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Have a very good week, keep safe. The photo below is me after a strenuous session of snowshoeing on the shores of Opinicon Lake. Lots of fun but a few hills!

Ms Swail

 

Good afternoon R7A Families –

The weekend brought a snowy start to our first full week in February. I had the opportunity to get to Gatineau Park and had a wonderful cross-country ski in lots of fresh, powdery snow.

In Geography, we are starting our jigsaw working groups on natural resources, specifically, trees, fish and fossil fuels. In jigsaw groups,  a home team will learn and work together to understand a large subject such as natural resources. They are all assigned a specific “expert” group (such as fossil fuels) and they go off and work with this group to learn and bring back summarized information for their home group. As a class, we will decide how we want to develop and present our information. The study of natural resources will touch on environmental, economic and political issues and tie in very nicely with our next area of social studies, History, or “Ourstory” as I call it. Your children will be bringing home their geography project assessments by the end of the week for discussion with you and for your signature. I would like the forms back, please.

     

The cooperative learning strategy known as the “jigsaw” technique helps students create their own learning. Teachers arrange students in groups. Each group member is assigned a different piece of information. Group members then join with members of other groups assigned the same piece of information, and research and/or share ideas about the information. Eventually, students return to their original groups to try to “piece together” a clear picture of the topic at hand. http://www.educationworld.com/

In Literacy, we will be in our guided reading groups, sharpening and strengthening fluency, comprehension and discussion skills. We will be doing some independent reading and preparing for our next unit, which will be based on Canadian indigenous creation stories. Students will be working on key skills such as identifying main ideas, summarizing information and re-telling the story through an 8-frame art project. Given their love of stories and art, this should be fun.

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In Art, we are starting a brand new project, creating an Ottawa-Gatineau silhouette-streetscape composed of the most significant landmarks such as the Peace Tower. This will increase students’ understanding of what is out there in our region and also give them a great opportunity to work together to create a large piece of art.

 

SKI TRIP: Thursday, February 21. Remember, all tubers must have a hockey helmet. We have some at school but I have been told they are not in great repair. If your child can bring or borrow a helmet, that would be very good. We will be leaving at 8 AM on February 21, so everyone has to be at school by 7:45. 

That’s all for now. Winterlude started on February 2nd and there is a lot going on for families. Check out the link.

Have a very good week.

Ms Swail