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