April 29

The week of April 30th – May 4th, 2018

Good morning everyone,

This week we say goodbye to April and, frankly, that is a relief.

Tuesday, May 1st promises to be much warmer than this weekend. This would not take much! May and June are incredibly busy months at V.M. with lots of sports (e.g., track and field), school activities, field trips and academic projects. The wonderful V.M. Multi-cultural Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 10th at the school from 4:30 – 6:30. Notices were sent home with youngest or only children. The dinner is a great deal of fun. Families bring a favourite dish to share with all. Art is displayed everywhere and you get to meet the teachers and many families.

The second round of immunizations will take place this week on May 3rd and 4th. If your child does not have the immunization, you must make arrangements with Public Health or your family doctor for the vaccination outside of school.

Due to excessive amounts of water, our Water Walk (ironically) was postponed from last week to Wednesday, May 16th. Please send in a recyclable plastic container in with your child. All students are being asked to wear blue for Water Day.

Some of the students in R7A have organized a Bake Sale for Tuesday, May 15th to raise money for Christie Lake Kids (CLK). You may or not know that Ms Prokaska and I are on a trekking/fundraising team that will be climbing in the Rainbow Mountains/Ausungate region of Peru this summer to raise money for CLK and to challenge ourselves with long treks at a very high altitude. As a team, we have raised over $13,000.00 so far. Here is a link to the CLK page in case you are interested in learning more.

http://www.christielakekids.com/climb-for-kids

In Literacy this week, we continue to learn about water issues through reading, answering comprehension questions and discussions. We are starting a new read-aloud and will be continuing Guided Reading. All students have now been assessed on their reading for the second time this year. As you know, many of our students are not yet reading at grade level. For many students, we are seeing solid progress in fluency and comprehension skills. This week, we will be discussing their progress with the students and making recommendations on how they can make more progress. The assessment form will be sent home for your review and signature. Here is what it will look like:

At the beginning of Term One, in February, you were assessed on your reading and placed in a reading group. You have been assessed for a second time and here are your results and suggested strategies and actions to continue to improve.

LEVEL AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY:

LEVEL ACQUIRED BY THE END OF APRIL:

STRENGTHS: FLUENCY, COMPREHENSION

AREAS TO WORK ON:

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS

In Ourstory, we will be learning about how colonization and many related issues/events in early Canada affected indigenous and non-indigenous people. We will be learning about daily life in New France and be understanding the incredible physical challenges for individuals and families.

Geography project assessments are bring sent home tomorrow for your signature as are the creation story art assessments.

Friday is a special day. MAY THE 4th be with you! (groan)

 

Ms Swail

spring hope

April 22

The week of April 23 – 27th, 2018

Good morning R7A Families,

I hope you are all getting a chance to get outside this weekend under blue skies and sunshine. I think winter ended at about 3 pm on Friday after a very long six months.

On Thursday, April 26th, the Leadership Group is running a Water Walk Activity Day for all students in grades 1 – 8. We are raising awareness of water scarcity and sanitation issues across the globe, including in Canada’s northern communities. Students will be learning more about water scarcity and what people do to survive. There will be water games and a water walk around the field to simulate what so many have to every day just to get water. THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN! If you could send in with your child an empty, plastic container that they could fill with water and carry, you really would be helping us out. Here is a link to a WE Foundation video that profiles a mother in Kenya who walked for 30 years, every day, to gather water for her family.

https://www.trackyourimpact.com/blog/2017/03/24/watch-nepapa-walk-new-path-clean-water-kenya/

In Language Arts, we will continue reading and responding to articles about water. Vocabulary Assignment #8 is due tomorrow. We have almost completed our reading assessments and will be debriefing with the students about their results and strategies for continued progress. Reading at home, outside of school, is essential to their progress and success.

All Geography projects are completed and students will receive their assessments early this week. They will be bringing them home for your signature. Last week, in Ourstory, we convened a Gallery Walk looking at images of indigenous people as painted by European settlers. Students are learning how to discern how a painting or photograph can show what the artist is thinking. They are also learning about the lifestyles and experiences of indigenous and non-indigenous people in early Canada.

Summer School programs will be available for students in grade 7 and 8 this summer. I am just getting information about these programs now and will be consulting with Ms Austin and Ms Kadoura about whom we might be recommending for summer school in math or literacy. These are voluntary programs and are designed for students who are struggling in these important subjects.

This past week, there was a guest teacher in for me for Language and Visual Arts. One class did not go well at all. Many students were rude and disrespectful, carried away by the group and not mindful of their responsibilities. We are dealing with this at school. All year, we have talked a lot about community and how we should be treating others according to the universal Golden Rule. In our read-aloud, “Beetles and Angels”, the author, Mawi Asgedom, speaks of the need to treat all guests and strangers as angels, not beetles. You can ask your child about that.

There is no school for students on Friday, April 27th as it is a PD Day.

With spring FINALLY here, there is much to do in the Capital. Here is a link to some current events.  https://www.ottawatourism.ca/ottawa-insider/fun-events-spring-ottawa/#april

Take good care,

Ms Swail

April 15

Week of April 16th – 20th, 2018

Good morning R7A Families –

For those of you who are new to Canada and are experiencing your first Canadian spring, I apologize on behalf of Mother Nature. Warmth and green and the brilliant glow of first flowers will come. I just don’t know when. In the meantime, keep warm and upright. Sounds like the really bad weather for our region is coming for Sunday and Monday.

Last week, we had the opportunity to meet and hear from Chris Nihmey, an Ottawa teacher, author and advocate for better understanding of mental health. He mesmerized and blew away many of our Intermediate students with his energetic, compelling and intelligent workshop on mental health “Two Sides to the Story”. If your children did not tell you about Chris, please ask. As someone who has survived serious episodes of a mental health illness, he offers incredible insight and advice to children and adults: be compassionate and try to understand others and VERY IMPORTANTLY, if you feel down, not like yourself and unhappy, do not keep it inside. Talk to someone. This is his website and here is a photo of the class with Chris.

In Language Arts, we will be submerged in water issues this week to better understand global shortages and the effects on humans. Next Thursday, April 26th, the Leadership Group will be hosting a whole day on Water Walk activities for the whole school. More on that in the next blog. There will be another vocabulary assignment this week. Geography presentations on natural resources are almost completed and we will start on learning about first contacts between indigenous and non-indigenous settlers in Canada. In Guided Reading, Jonathan, Annie, Dakota, and Lucas will present a piece on their book, “Al Capone Does My Shirts”. All students will be assessed this week for fluency and comprehension. Ms. Austin and I are hoping we will some increases in reading levels giving our focused, small group approach.

Lastly, how students use and understand social media continues to create problems and grief for the students and their relationships with others. Petty conflicts involving two or three students at school that could be settled by a brief discussion with a knowing adult, often quickly flare up into much bigger, convoluted issues involving many students – when put out in social media. The conflict then comes back to school with more serious consequences and high emotions. All with the flick of thumbs and impulsive writing and responses. Please, please talk to your children about their use of social media. Below is a brief article with information and advice from Paul Davis who spoke to parents in Ottawa last week.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/why-this-expert-says-parents-need-to-protect-kids-from-social-media-1.4618372

Take care of yourselves,

Ms. Swail

April 7

The week of April 9th – 13th, 2018

Hello R7A Families –

We actually have five days of school this week and we will use them well.

On Tuesday, R7A will participate in a workshop on Mental Health given by Ottawa teacher, author and mental health advocate, Chris Nihmey. Please ask your children what they heard and understood on Tuesday. Please also ask our students what they learned from the Wabano Centre presentation on indigenous issues and Reconciliation. It was a powerful presentation.

In Language Arts, we have finished our creation story summaries and they are quite beautiful. Aside from a few spills and splashing of water on peers, the water- colour activity went well. We will display the literacy/artwork in our class. Below are some samples from Dakota, Laura and Nava. This week, we will be focusing on water issues and comprehension, guided reading, book and film reviews and our final read-aloud of “Beetles and Angels”.

   

 


Geography Projects will be submitted by Tuesday by all students in their groups and we will have presentation and a discussion of their findings. Our firstOurstory” activity will be to discuss what we learned or wonder about from the presentation on Reconciliation.

Special Education Awareness Evening at Hillcrest High School, April 11th

On April 11th from 7-9 pm Hillcrest High School will be holding a Special Education awareness evening with guest speaker, Linda Barbetta from the Learning Disabilities Association of Ottawa. She will be speaking about supporting students and families. Open to feeder school parents, students and current students and their parents and community members.

Please join us as we look at the many types of learners we support at Hillcrest High School.  Through the Individual Education Plan (IEP), supports are in place for students who have specific learning needs which entitle them to specific accommodations, making learning equitable.

We are fortunate to have a strong teaching and support staff who are able to help you understand learning in our classrooms in the 21st century.

Topics that we’ll be covering will be:

-It’s your Education: Self advocacy starting in Grade 9

-Assistive technology: What tools can you use to show your learning

-What does an IEP look like at College, the trades or University?

Have a very good week. Please ensure your children are reading after school.

Ms Swail

April 2

Week of April 2nd – April 6th, 2018

 

Welcome to April, R7A Families,

Order your Flowers and support our students

The Intermediate Student Council is raising money for the grade 8 trip through the sale of Vesey’s flower bulbs. Fifty percent of the proceeds go to the school and the students. Your children from V.M. brought home catalogues and a fundraising letter. Orders are due on Wednesday, April 4th, 2018. Just think – beautiful coneflowers, lilies, dahlias, even strawberries for the upcoming summer and fall.

 A New Decade for Water and an incredible Canadian indigenous  young woman

In Language Arts, we will be starting a brief unit on water issues to learn more about this precious resource and to sharpen our comprehension and reading skills. We will start by watching a CBC story on Autumn Peltier, the 13-year-old who spoke to the U.N. General Assembly at the beginning of the UN Decade on water. I have included links to the piece and highlights of Autumn’s speech. The Intermediate Leadership Group is organizing a school-wide WATER WALK for the end of the month. We will also be working on guided reading and concluding our creation stories. The seventh vocabulary assignment is due tomorrow.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/autumn-peltier-un-water-activist-united-nations-1.4584871

http://www.unwater.org/new-decade-water/

Access to water and sanitation are recognized by the United Nations as human rights, reflecting the fundamental nature of these basics in every person’s life. Lack of access to safe, sufficient and affordable water, sanitation and hygiene facilities has a devastating effect on the health, dignity and prosperity of billions of people, and has significant consequences for the realization of other human rights.

In Geography, we are working on our natural resource projects and I am hoping all will be close to completion by the end of the week. On Wednesday, we will be having a special workshop on Indigenous Issues convened by the OCDSB/Wabano Centre liason teacher, Sharon Lipichuk.

Special Education Awareness Evening at Hillcrest High School, April 11th

On April 11th from 7-9 pm Hillcrest High School will be holding a Special Education awareness evening with guest speaker, Linda Barbetta from the Learning Disabilities Association of Ottawa. She will be speaking about supporting students and families. Open to feeder school parents, students and current students and their parents and community members.

Please join us as we look at the many types of learners we support at Hillcrest High School.  Through the Individual Education Plan (IEP), supports are in place for students who have specific learning needs which entitle them to specific accommodations, making learning equitable.

We are fortunate to have a strong teaching and support staff who are able to help you understand learning in our classrooms in the 21st century.

Topics that we’ll be covering will be:

-It’s your Education: Self advocacy starting in Grade 9

-Assistive technology: What tools can you use to show your learning

-What does an IEP look like at College, the trades or University?

Have a very good week,

Ms Swail