Hello R7A Families –

Yup, it was a really long week: record-breaking cold and snow; freezing temperatures; two snow days.

We will get back on track this week. We did have fun on Thursday, though, playing in the snow.

  .               .   .   .   .   the lovely view from 201

 

On Monday last week, we had the opportunity to listen to the NAC Orchestra at Hillcrest High School. It was wonderful. Thanks to Zachery’s dad and Rua’s mom for coming with us in the cold and snow.

 R7A at the NAC Orchestra performance

This week, we will be working on our OURSTORY project, learning new research skills and how people were changed by the formation of British North America, how the coming of people to the new “territory” changed life and history.

In Language Arts, we will continue studying (and living) the teenage brain.

In Health, we will be learning about and discussing the pros and cons of gaming. We will also be coming up with some good personal safety tips for Intermediate students.

By Monday, you will all have copies of the HUGE ski trip form package put together by M. Prud’homme. There are many forms. Do not panic. I will go over the package with the students tomorrow. The ski trip is at the end of February.

SNOW, COLD and CLOTHING

I am pretty sure this cold weather will be continuing. In fact, tomorrow promises to be another very frigid day. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get your children to dress properly with hats, mitts, coats and boots. SNOW PANTS make the difference between having great fun outside for two recesses OR sitting in thick soggy pants for hours. Wearing shoes outside right now is not good. It is extremely icy.

Please remind your children to read for at least one-half hour every day. If they are tired of reading, they can listen to an audio book from the Ottawa Library or a podcast.

Looking for things to do with the family? The Rideau Canal is completely open, from Carleton University all the way to the Rideau Centre. The Rink of Dreams is open at Ottawa City Hall. Parking is free on the weekends under City Hall. The National Ballet of Canada is performing at the NAC. The Ottawa 67’s Hockey team is playing at TD Place next weekend.

Take care. Keep warm. Enjoy winter.

Ms Swail

A warm winter light at the end of the day

 

 

Hello R7A Families –

Here is one of the frostiest headlines of the week!

Ottawa freezes its way to coldest capital city in the world

Temperature slipped below those of capitals in Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia

Field Trip to Hillcrest High School to hear NAC Orchestra

The field trip is tomorrow, Monday, January 21st. All students must return their permission forms by tomorrow at the start of school or they will have to stay back. Thank you to Rua’s mom who has volunteered to come with us. It should be wonderful.

“Hana’s Suitcase”. Last week, we finished reading the book “Hana’s Suitcase”. The students were very touched and affected by the story of Hana and George Brady and the Holocaust. We learned last week that George Brady died in Toronto on January 11th at the age of 90 years. You may want to listen to the CBC radio piece on the story. I include some photos of Hana and George with their mother, George in later years with his daughter, Lara Hana, and of George with children in Japan learning about the Holocaust.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/the-sunday-edition-for-january-20-2019-1.4983465/children-learned-about-the-holocaust-from-george-brady-and-hana-s-suitcase-1.4983496

 

 

 . 

 

Last week we started our unit on the teenage brain which will include viewing and analysis of the film, “Inside Out”.

We will be reading articles about the brain, watching documentaries and writing reflections. If you are interested, here are two links to an Edutopia article on the brain written by a middle-grade teacher, and the CBC Nature of Things documentary, “Surviving the Teenage Brain” that we are watching in class.

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/middle-schooler-mind-how-brains-learn-heather-wolpert-gawron

https://vimeopro.com/user13599767/docs/video/154086074

Pita pit and pizza orders are due. Pizza – Wednesday, January 23rd (see last week’s post).

Pita Pit! Important note:  there will be no Pita Pit next week, Jan. 23rd.

Starting January 30th and for every Wednesday until March 27th, the delicious and nutritious school lunch option is back! Get choices like tender chicken, juicy ham, and even options for dietary restrictions/allergies! And it’s only $5.50! Delicious, nutritious, and affordable! But it gets better! Proceeds go to the Grade 8 end of year field trip! Get your full lunch ordered now! Pay for your delicious lunch selection using a SchoolCashOnline.com account or by cash or cheque. Get your order forms online here, or pick up a paper form at the office! But this great lunch option is only available for order until January 24. Don’t delay, order Pita Pit today!       – Student Council

NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY.   Friday, January 25th is a PD Day for teachers to confer on and create report cards. There will be no school on that day.

Keep warm and have fun in the snow!

Ms Swail

Welcome to another cold week in the capital –

I hope you all got through the cold and wind of last week and this weekend. It was good to feel the sun on Saturday and to see so many skaters out on the Rideau Canal. If you have a chance, try to get out on the canal for a skate or a walk along the snowy sides. It is quite wonderful.

January is typically an intense month at school as classes are concluding units and teachers are compiling marks and preparing report cards.

In Language Arts, we are concluding our group read-alouds of Hana’s Suitcase; students are very wrapped up in the incredible story of Hana and George Brady. We have also started a read-aloud of the very amusing, Gordon Korman book, Ungifted, the story of a highly impulsive, creative middle-schooler who finds himself placed in a gifted program. Read-alouds are so important for comprehension and for enabling struggling readers to travel with everyone and enjoy a good book. We are concluding a writing assignment that includes three writing goals for the next term that the students are themselves choosing based on feedback and their writers’ workshop sessions. At the end of the week, we will start a unit on the teenage brain and on the film, “Inside Out”. 

This is quite a wonderful film about a 13-year-old girl and her struggles with a family move and in growing up. Emotions such as joy, anger and sadness are animated and brought to life. I know we will have many interesting discussions.

In Health Education, we continue our viewing of videos on keeping safe in daily relationships and in our use of social media and technology.

In Ourstory, students are getting ready to start a research project on groups affected by the formation of British North America. In class, we brainstormed on what they wanted to research. I will be giving direct instruction on how to conduct research and how to keep notes and references. The students will be preparing 15-slide Powerpoint presentations with images to show and share their understanding.

 .  .  

PIZZA ORDERS ARE COMING UP – Please read below.

Have a very good week –

Ms Swail

PIZZA LUNCH

The Vincent Massey PS pizza lunch program is being offered every Thursday
during the 2nd nutrition break starting on February 7, 2019.
Profits raised by this program all go towards supporting students and programs at
the school.
This term orders go from: February 7, 2019 to June 20, 2019 (19 weeks)
We are offering both Cheese and Pepperoni pizza at the cost of $2.00 per slice.
Cost for 1 slice is $38    Cost for 2 slices is $76
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. You need to create the
account online at: https://ocdsb.schoolcashonline.com/
Once you have received a confirmation email you will be able to login and “Add
student” for your child(ren).
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 Wednesday, January 23.
After this date you will no longer be able to order.

Welcome to 2019, R7A Families –

I hope you all had a very good holiday break with your families and children. The start of a brand new year is exciting – with all of its surprises, challenges and opportunities. This will be a year of great growth for your children. Ms. Prokaska and I will be starting our physical training for our adventure/fundraiser trek this July around Mont Blanc. No more chocolates for me! Back to climbing stairs and fitness workouts. This is also the year that our oldest, Liam, gets married. It seems like just yesterday that he was a babe in arms.

Let’s get ready for a cold week with temperatures plummeting to -28 degrees tomorrow. I will be wearing as many layers as possible!

For some of the students, re-entry will be challenging. We will do our best to get back into routines and have some fun learning times. This week, we will be focusing on Writers’ Workshop and creating some simple, manageable goals for our writing in 2019. We will also be gearing up for a brand new media literacy unit focusing on the excellent film, “Inside Out”. More about that next week. In Health, we will continue to focus on and learn about Keeping Safe and Healthy in our relationships.

On Thursday, YouthNet will be facilitating workshops on stress with the Intermediate students. Here is a description of their workshop: StressLess: We all experience stress in our lives, and stress can be overwhelming. This goals for this presentation are for youth to understand stress and its purpose, notice the signs of being distressed, and learn about coping and resources that are helpful with managing stress.

I am including a blog post from one of my favourite bloggers, a U.S. middle school teacher and author. Just to keep perspective…