June 24

“The last post”: June 25th – 28th, 2018

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!!!

This will be my last post for the grade 7 year. I hope it has helped keep you in touch with what is going on at the school and in class.

We had a really fun, tiring day at Carleton University last Wednesday. Basketball, tchoukball, field hockey, soccer, ultimate frisbee, squash and swimming! The cafeteria was a great spot as well with many of the R7As enjoying ice cream cones. The students were really well-behaved and had lots of fun. All of our art projects are done and on display. Guided reading is finished but we will be reading and discussing what we have learned next week. Ourstory journal entries, posters etc.. have been completed by most students and they showed an interest in, and understanding of life in British North America.

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I love the last three shots as J. and Z. arrange themselves for the photo!

We had our class community potluck on Thursday. Thanks for your contributions.

This week, we will be enjoying the last four days with current event discussions, particularly given what is happening with detained children in the United States. We will be cleaning up and organizing the classroom, and telling stories about our life in room 201 this school year. We will finish watching “Loving Vincent” and maybe indulge in a funny film.

Tuesday is Grade 7 Locker Clean Up Day so please send your child to school with a garbage bag. Report cards will be handed out on Tuesday afternoon. On Tuesday afternoon, we will “clap out” the grade 8s. The whole school lines up along the first-floor hallway and cheers out the grade 8s as they leave the gym.

Wednesday is the Leaving Ceremony for the Grade 8s. I will be over at Hillcrest High School hosting the ceremony with Ms. Prokaska. The grade 7 students who are not in the orchestra will be back at school.

Thursday is our last day of school. It is often a long day and an emotional day. Students should have hats, water bottles and good snacks.

I encourage you to encourage your children to read throughout the summer. On my last blog, I put the link to the Ottawa Public Library where you can visit and also order online once you have a library card. Please, please, please be vigilant about their use of social media and the amount of time they spend on online games like Fortnite. The World Health Organization has just announced that video game addiction will now be considered a mental health disorder. I say this not to scare you, nor to prevent children from playing video games, but there must be a balance and an awareness that online games can become addictive. Here is BBC article on the recent WHO announcement. 

Ottawa is an incredible city in the summer with lots of activities. Here are some sites to visit for ideas and information:

www.ottawatourism.ca/see-and-do/family/

https://www.visitacity.com/en/ottawa?campaignid=1061546063&gclid=CjwKCAjwgr3ZBRAAEiwAGVssne_UNYDtYflBKlPu_M42RcUBIEWD7aaUmDCOtPX_11W_4FXhxnBdyxoCwdUQAvD_BwE

Have a wonderful summer. HAPPY CANADA DAY!! 

Ms. Swail

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June 17

The week of June 18th-22nd, 2018

Hello R7A Families –

The countdown is on! Only two weeks left of school and grade 7.

To all of our friends who celebrated Eid – Eid Mubarak!

Our end-of-year field trip to Carleton University Sports Camp is on Wednesday, June 20th. We leave on the school buses at 8:45 so everyone has to be at school on time at 8:30. Every student should bring a water bottle, and should be dressed in sports-like clothes. Those who are swimming, bring your suits, towel and a plastic bag for the wet stuff. Bring snacks. Lunch will be provided by Carleton University in their cafeteria. This should be a lot of fun. Thanks to Zaiyon’s and Dakota’s moms for volunteering.

On Thursday, June 21, we will be having a class potluck lunch which is being organized by a student committee. Students should bring in their contributions on Thursday morning. If any parents would like to join us, let me know.

June 21st in Canada is National Aboriginal Day, a day to celebrate the heritage and rich culture of all indigenous people in Canada.  https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/celebrate-canada-days/aboriginal-day.html

We will be embarking on a very scary enterprise sometime next week – purging lockers. All students have been asked to bring a garbage bag for some of the “filing” exercises.

 

We are still working on Ourstory and our art projects. Once we are done, we will be engaging in some more art, some read-alouds, drama games and we will view and discuss either a movie or a documentary.

This summer, please ensure all of your children are reading as much as possible. The Ottawa Public Library system has many wonderful books.  https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en

Let’s all have a great last two weeks. Students should be bringing water bottles and staying cool, whatever the weather.

Here are some photos from our ART-OURSTORY 3-D projects:

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Ms. Swail

 

 

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June 4

The week of June 4th – 8th, 2018

Dear R7A Families –

This will be a short blog for a short week. Friday, June 8th is a PD day with teachers writing their term two report cards. Lots of events happening at the school this week including track and field, our day-long stock market challenge for the grade 8s and Junior Achievement, again for the grade 8s.

A few forms are still missing for our June 20th Sports Day at Carleton.

This week, we will be learning more about British North America and how life changed for so many people as the 1700s came to a close. It was a long time ago but a very tempestuous time in Ourstory. Students are completing their New France journal entries and I will profile some of their work in the next blog. Guided reading is almost concluded and I will be recommending to the grade 8 teachers that this definitely continue for all students. I will be sending out some summer reading suggestions in the upcoming weeks. In Visual Arts, we have a lot of creative, multi-media pieces being constructed and they should be completed and ready for viewing next week.

Here is a photo from the May 15th Bake Sale. We may be presenting the cheque to Christie Lake Kids this week!

 

Here is another photo from our meeting with the WE Foundation and the presentation of the VM Leadership Group cheque for $1760.00. That amount represents access to clean water for close to 70 people

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The school was incredibly HOT last week and SEARING on Friday. I have asked all of the class to bring water bottles and a change of clothing, especially on gym days.

 

Here is to a very good week. When I am not doing report card writing (and teaching!), I will be training for the upcoming climb in Peru for CLK Climb for Kids. I have to combine ATTITUDE with ALTITUDE!

 

Ms Swail

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