September 30

The week of October 1st – 5th, 2018

Hello Everyone –

We have now passed through the month of September and are entering the 5th week of school. At this point, teachers and students are getting to know each other, and understand needs, challenges, fun times and expectations. Our R7A class has already shown itself to be a caring and empathetic group of young people.  On Thursday, October 11th, the class will be holding a school bake sale to raise funds for the Ottawa Food Bank, so badly affected by the September 21st tornadoes. The students understand that a great deal of perishable food was lost in the storms, leaving the food bank centres and families in a tough situation. If you are interested in donating to the Food Bank which does support Vincent Massey families, please check out their website, www.ottawafoodbank.ca. I will let you know again next week about the bake sale, but the students and I have discussed how they should be making the effort to bake items and should not be surprising/shocking their parents with a request the night before the sale. Bake sale items should include a list of ingredients. No nuts or nut products, please and thanks.

October 11th and 12th are also Immunization Clinic days for Intermediate students. I will send out more details once I have the information.

This week and next week are 4-day weeks for our students. There is no school on Friday, October 5th, a PA Day for teachers, and no school on Thanksgiving Monday, October 8th, not a favourite day for Canadian turkeys and other fowl.

Thank you to all of you who donated to the Terry Fox Run on Friday. It was a beautiful fall day and our back field was full of running, jumping and walking children.

In Language Arts this week, R7A students will be: working on their writing styles and grammar (idioms and capitalization); putting the finishing touches on their “Personal Hero” piece; learning more about residential schools through shared reading and individual comprehension activities; participating in guided reading and also being assessed for their current reading level. We will continue to read from “Of Beetles and Angels” and visit with our beautiful, kindergarten reading buddies. PLEASE ensure your children are reading every day, on average, 30 minutes. Learning about residential schools and reconciliation also serves as an introduction to “Ourstory: which will start after Thanksgiving.

In Health, we will be compiling our survey results and see just how much time we spend eating, sleeping, exercising and screening, and make some plans and goals for the rest of the year. Students must remember to bring in an extra set of gym clothes in a bag they can carry.

That is what our week looks like right now. There is never a boring, energy-less moment in grade 7, so we will have lots of news for next week! Enjoy the first days of October. I hope you can take advantage of some of Ottawa’s beautiful parks and museums. You can visit the following museums free of charge: Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum on Thursdays from 4PM to 8PM, Canadian Museum of Nature and the National Gallery of Canada from 5PM to 8PM, and the Aviation and Space Museum daily from 4PM to 5PM. (https://www.tourismeoutaouais.com/en/blogue/top-10-free-summer-activities-in-gatineau-ottawa/).

Ms Swail

September 23

The Week of September 24 – 28, 2018


Hello everyone –

Hope you and your families are all safe and sound after such a dramatic and damaging storm on Friday night. Many homes in west and south Ottawa are still without power. I am sure the community will rise to the occasion in supporting those who were hurt and those who lost homes in Dunrobin, just west of the city and in the Gatineau neighbourhood of Mont Bleu.

It was very good to meet many of you at the “Meet the Staff” get-together on Thursday. Thank you for dropping by the crowded room 201!

This week in R7A, we will conclude our writing of the “My Personal History” piece, focusing on the process of revising and also in choosing three personal goals for the grade 7 year, based on what they know about their personal hero and what they want for themselves. Also in Language Arts, we will be working in Writers’ Workshop and in Guided Reading. Ms Trivedi and I will soon begin assessing the students for reading levels so we can create leveled reading groups and work on comprehension. I will continue reading aloud from Mawi Asgedom’s memoir, “Of Beetles and Angels”, a book and story which generate a lot of rich discussions.  In Health Education, we will be creating our baseline survey that I referred to in last week’s blog.

Some issues have come up already (predictably in grade 7) about student safety and behaviour. Please remind your children to listen carefully to Mr. McLeod in the science lab when he gives instructions for hands-on activities. This will ensure Mr. M. can engage the students in interesting but careful projects. As well, some R7A students are not showing as much respect and self-control as they are capable of keeping in certain classes. I have spoken to the class a few times about always showing self-respect, and kindness to teachers and others through their behaviour.  And, one more thing – some students are getting themselves into conflict through interactions on the social media site, Instagram. Many teens now use this medium for messaging and group chats. However, Instagram requires users to be thirteen years or older to have an Instagram account. Facebook, not used as much by this age, has the same requirement. R7A students should not be using Instagram as well as other types of social media. They can quickly get embroiled and caught up in hurtful situations. Ms Davies and I will be talking to the children about keeping safe, emotionally and socially, on social media. Please monitor your children’s activities on social media.

School supply fees are still being accepted. We have an order in for more agendas as all students must have an agenda or some type of planner.

This week is the Terry Fox school run. PLEASE donate to cancer research by sending in a toonie or some change to our class collection.

Teachers are beginning the process of creating IEPs this week for the 2018-2019 school year. Please ensure you have submitted your consultation forms. Thank you.

Have a wonderful week, the first full week of fall.

Ms Swail

 

September 16

The week of September 17th – 21st

Hello R7A families –

Hope you all kept cool during the heat and humidity of the weekend. The Ottawa Valley loves its humidity! Please make sure your children have water bottles and hats for the next coming days. School will be… a bit warm and recesses will be sunny for most of the week. I am looking forward to meeting many of you at our “Meet the VM Staff” event on Thursday, September 20th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.. For the first hour, teachers will be in their rooms to meet with you and your family. From 5:00 to 6:00 there will be delicious shawarma eating and talking in the Junior playground. We have asked you all to order your shawarmas beforehand. I hope to meet many of you and I promise not to talk with my mouthful!

This past week we accomplished a lot in Language Arts class. Most of the students are finished or almost finished their personal timelines. This activity is a good way for a new grade 7 student to tell their story and a means for me to see their writing, work habits and learn about their life so far. I will make sure I do not laminate any of the timeline posters that include original family photos. A few samples are shown below. We did a few read-alouds from Roald Dahl’s memoir, “Boy” and we started to explore the world of prefixes, suffixes and roots. This week, we will start our Writers’ Workshop sessions, continue Guided Reading and begin to look into and describe personal heroes, in honour of Terry Fox (see below), and to reflect on and express those character traits we would like to develop in ourselves, so we can set some simple goals and begin to be heroes to others.

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In Health Education, we will be taking a look at eating, sleeping and computer screening habits. We will also start to look at Canada’s Food Guide. Speaking of health education (both your children’s and their teachers’), PLEASE make sure your children are bringing extra clothes for gym and are bringing deodorant. Thank you. Gym clothes should be in a separate bag.

I have most of the school forms in – thanks – but am missing student fees. As a reminder, the voluntary student fee is $20.00 ($40.00 for families of 3 or more). Many students are now bringing in their own planners or $5.00 to purchase a school agenda. It is absolutely necessary for each grade 7 student to carry and use some kind of planner.

This week, the writers’ club begins on Wednesday (first recess) and the highly enthusiastic Leadership Group reconvenes on Tuesday. Football practices are already starting. Ms Prokaska’s music room is full of aspiring string players, percussionists and pianists at the first recess. There are some very ardent, energetic electric guitar players who like to play in the hall right outside room 201!

PIZZA will be beginning soon at V.M.. Please read below.

The Vincent Massey PS pizza lunch program is being offered every Thursday during the 2nd nutrition break starting on October 4 , 2018. Profits raised by this program all go towards supporting students and programs at the school. This term orders go from October 4, 2018 to January 31, 2019 (16 weeks) We are offering both Cheese and Pepperoni pizza at the cost of $2.00 per slice. Cost for 1 slice is $28    Cost for 2 slices is $56. There is also an option for gluten free, please only order this if your child has an allergy. It is preferable if orders are made using the new online ordering system. If you have not yet used it, you will first create an account for each of your children. You need to create the account online at: https://ocdsb.schoolcashonline.com/If you are unable to use the online system, return any forms and money to the school. Refund Policy: No refunds or replacement lunches will be given for missed days due to sickness, vacations, or snow days. Pizza is still provided on snow days.

Please complete orders by Tuesday, September 25, 2018. After this date, you will no longer be able to order pizza online.

FLOWER BULB FUNDRAISER! Please see the following link that describes the Student Council first fundraising initiative. Support VM and grow beautiful flowers!  https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1?

And lastly, and very importantly, VM students and staff will be participating in the Terry Fox Cancer Research Fundraiser and Marathon of Hope run on Friday, September 28th. We are strongly encouraging VM students to bring in a toonie or more to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation and cancer research. Terry Fox, a Canadian hero, ran the Marathon of Hope in 1980. He remains an inspiration to us all. You may want to look at this brief and talk about Terry Fox with your families.

Have a very good week,

Ms Swail

September 10

The week of September 10th, 2018

Image result for vincent massey public school ottawa

Good day, R7A Families –

First of all, congratulations to all of your children for completing the first week of school. It was extremely warm in the building, and it is a BIG adjustment to come back to school, possibly a new school, and adjust to a rotary schedule, new teachers and peers. They did pretty well as a class and have already had advice and reminders from both Mme Deschenes and me about respecting themselves, each other and being kind.

 

The students brought home many forms for you to review and sign. The school has a voluntary $20.00 supplies fee so please make sure that gets to school as soon as possible, if you will be paying the fee. It is explained on one of the white forms.

All of the R7A students must have some kind of planner and calendar to help them manage and plan their work and activities. The school is selling agendas for $5.00 each. Your child should have an agenda or planner by this week. As well, all students must have a combination lock by Friday, September 14th, please.

In Language Arts, we are getting to know each other in discussions and in the development of a personal history timeline. The children are brainstorming 12 incidents or events that have marked their lives so far and including photos and illustrations. We will be starting a read-aloud this week, and also looking at how language develops and the use of prefixes in English words.

Ms Trivedi will be our resource teacher.

In Health Education, we will start by discussing and learning about healthy eating. I am very happy that the 3 grade 7 students from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program will be joining us for our health sessions, as will their interpreter. A great opportunity for the class to learn sign language.

Ms Smith will be holding Art Club on Thursdays (first recess). Leadership Group will start in a couple of weeks as will many more clubs such as Writers’ Group, Glee Club and sports inter-murals. Please encourage your children to participate in these extra-curricular activities.

Ms Davies, our Student Success Teacher, wants to know if anyone is looking for an in-school mentor for their child through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. Please let me know as soon as possible and we will prepare an application with you. They have mentors ready to start next week. See this Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Information flyer if you would like more information. This is the “Meet Me At School” program and would involve screened and trained college co-op students.

As always, please contact me via e-mail if you have any questions. Please ensure your children are getting to school on time, get lots of sleep and bring water bottles.

Thank you,

Ms. Swail

September 3

Welcome to Grade 7 and the first week of school, 2018

Hello all parents and guardians of students in R7A,

I am Heather Swail, your children’s homeroom teacher. This is my weekly blog which typically I will be sending out at the beginning of the week. The purpose of the blog is to help you keep informed about what is going on at school, show you some photos of what is going on in the classroom/school, and help me keep a record of what promises to be a great year.

This week we will be focusing on getting everyone settled into a new school year and the Intermediate Division.  Lockers, schedules, agendas and classes will get organized. We will be getting to know each other through different activities and conversations. There will be a lot of forms and paperwork coming your way.

I will be teaching R7A Language Arts, Social Studies and Health Education. As their homeroom teacher, I serve as the main liaison between home and school. If you have any questions or concerns, please do contact me. If you would like to drop by to visit the class or just have a chat, just let me know. I will be arranging meetings with families for students who have individual education plans in the next two weeks.

A little about me. I have been teaching grade 7 and 8 for seventeen years. Teaching is my third and BEST career. There is something very special and challenging about middle-schoolers that I just love and am energized by. I think it is important to keep focused and have high expectations of oneself and others, but also have fun and feel part of the class and school community. I tell very bad puns which, despite their groans, students seem to enjoy. With Ms Eichel, I facilitate the Leadership Group, and will be running a writers’ group again this year. Outside of school, I am involved in sports and fitness, love to read and write, and have a wonderful family in Ottawa and Montreal. This August I took on a very big challenge – climbing at very high altitudes in the Ausungate region of Peru to have an adventure and raise money for the Christie Lake Kids Foundation. I did this with 16 other trekkers, including our music teacher, Ms Prokaska. It was a physical and mental challenge that taught us a lot about perseverance, strength and staying upright (with the llamas) on narrow, snowy mountain ledges. I will be sharing my stories, photos and adventures with the students.

Here is to a very good year!

Ms Swail

Ms Prokaska and I at the Palomani mountain pass, Ausungate, 5200 metres up!