Hello R7A Families –

I hope you are keeping warm, and also enjoying the snow and sunshine. St. John’s, Newfoundland is digging out of a snowstorm that brought 76 cm of snow to the city that is now in a state of emergency. An enterprising snowboarder decided to take advantage of the snow-heavy streets.

This week, on Thursday, we say farewell to Mr. Patrick Catahan, U of O teacher candidate, who has been with our class since the first day of grade 7, taught and learned with us every Wednesday and then every day since the beginning of December. There will be a “surprise” party for Mr. Catahan on Thursday afternoon. Students are invited to bring notes and snacks to say so long and good luck to our wonderful teacher-to-be.

In Language Arts, we are learning about how advertisements are made and will ourselves be making ads with products and target audiences. Guided reading will resume next week with the reading groups deciding what types of novels they would like to read in February. Speaking of February, in that month, every day, we will be having a “February 15”, starting each day with a full 15 minutes of reading. Our next activities in Language Arts will include writers’ boot camp and a unit on the teenage brain and the film, “Inside Out”. Please ask your children what they wrote for their New Year resolutions. They worked hard to be precise and realistic and did a good job.

In Geography, led by Mr. Catahan, the class is finishing up their teaching posters on different kinds of natural resources. This week we will learn about how fossil fuels are extracted and processed, and what the implications are for the environment. A short research project will follow with my giving specific feedback on how students did in their first research project and what they can focus on to become stronger.

In Visual Arts, our Morning Star personalized mandalas are almost done. Some samples as included below. Our next project focuses on using perspective and shading in water colour representations of mountains.

 

This week promises a lot of cold and snowy days. Please ensure your pre-teens are wearing boots, gloves and hats!

IMPORTANT NOTE: This will be my last weekly blog to the R7A community until the end of the current labour situation. As  always, I am available by e-mail, and available for meetings at recesses. There will be no school tomorrow, Monday, given the walk-out and no school on Friday which is a professional development day for report card writing.

Take care,

Ms Swail

Hello R7A Families –

We had a very good first week into 2020.  Welcome to our new principal, Mme. Ginette Thibault, and all the best to Mme. Deschenes as she starts her new adventure into retirement.

This week, in Language Arts, we will be continuing our Wednesday guided reading and completing the detailed New Year’s resolutions we started last week. In this thinking and writing exercise, we are focusing on being detailed and organized to help us be successful in making small changes toward larger, ongoing change. Here is a copy of the slide show in which Ms Shiau, Mr. Catahan and I declared one of our own resolutions: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1aWsWCKEPcjTnhGPOIaeFsdxTkOPpOVIxA1mgo2Hdytk/edit#slide=id.p

Last week, Mr. Catahan introduced a unit on media literacy and here is the synopsis (thanks, Mr. Catahan):

Last Friday, the R7A class started its Media Literacy unit, where we analyze and reflected our media consumption in our everyday lives. Unsurprisingly, the R7A class spends around a total “33” hours on social media every day! With this in mind, over the next two weeks, the class will look at how this exposure to media, specifically advertising, can affect its audiences. We will delve into issues such as stereotypes used advertising and body image. As such, over these weeks I want students to be constantly reflecting about how much media they are exposed to every day and how might they themselves or others might be affected by it!

In Geography, we are learning about different kinds of natural resources and how they are extracted and used. We are always talking about the impact of our use of natural resources on the environment and climate change.

In Visual Arts, students are finishing their Morning Star adaptation mandalas. I will post photos of their lovely creations next. week.

Please ensure your children know how important it is to get to school on time. Last week was a shock for many after two weeks of sleeping in, I am sure. It is really important they are at school by 8:30 to start the day positively and not feel left behind.

Have a wonderful week!

Ms Swail

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR R7A FAMILIES –

I hope you are all well and your young wards are ready to start the “second half” of grade  7.

January, despite its sometimes gray-ice-cold, is an opportunity for a bright, brand new start, or at least a re-boot.

This is Mr. Catahan’s (teacher candidate) last month with us and he will be taking the lead on Geography and Language Arts.

This week, we will start off by talking about and setting some New Year’s resolutions that are realistic and achievable. Ms Shiau’s background talks with each of the students on current reading levels and progress may feed into some of the students’ resolutions. Here is a link to the slide show we will be showing the students:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1aWsWCKEPcjTnhGPOIaeFsdxTkOPpOVIxA1mgo2Hdytk/edit?folder=0AC1eeuSC8w8DUk9PVA#slide=id.g764017c3a9_0_287

January is also the month when teachers are preparing first term report cards and consulting with students on both their academic and social progress.

Please continue to encourage your children to read for an average of 30 minutes per afternoon/evening. They are always to welcome to borrow from the class library as well as the school library. It is quite obvious, at this point of the year, which students are progressing more in their reading skills due to extra practice and discipline. Please also negotiate appropriate, daily screen times.

Thanks very much.  Here is to a very good 2020!!!!!!!!!

Ms Swail