Author: Tiffany Poirier

Hello, 5B families!

Tomorrow we wrap up a short but valuable week of learning with our Raptors field trip! (Scroll down for more reminders about the trip.)

In Social Studies, students had the choice to bring home their recent quizzes or put them in their portfolios.

In Math, we continue to build our skills and practice multi-digit addition. I ask students every day to bring home any unfinished class work to complete as homework. Worksheets are self-marked using an answer key or calculator, and I assess by daily observation, “math meetings” and marking students’ check-in quizzes (which will continue to happen on a usually bi-weekly basis). The next quiz will be on Monday on questions like these…

In Language Arts, students have continued to learn about how to form contractions with apostrophes and also use apostrophes to show possession.

As well, a major focus this week has been on learning to write powerful paragraphs that have a relevant title, hook, topic sentence, well-developed ideas, transition words, and a meaningful conclusion.

Over the week, students chose their own topics, brainstormed with a graphic organizer, wrote paragraphs of 5-9+ sentences, did their own edits, wrote a self evaluation, and handed in their “best work” for teacher feedback. Students had the choice to write, type, and/or use voice-to-text as needed.

As well, we finished our class novel study on “Owls in the Family” by Farley Mowat. Students learned about how to go deeper in their literary analysis through guided discussions and a scaffolded writing assignment.

We explored major themes of the novel and students chose one question to respond to in more depth. They learned about how to structure an organized reading response paragraph with references to the text, and I modelled how to compose a reading response at both a proficient and an extending level.

In Science, it’s exciting to see students making progress on their independent inquiry projects on simple machines. Please check in with your child to see what he/she is working on, and you can see previous blog posts for more information on this assignment.

In Religion, students have learned more about the magisterium and had rich discussions about their thoughts on the purpose of life.

We also enjoyed reading a Lego version of the Bible story of Noah’s Ark. Later this year, students will be tasked with choosing a 2-minute Bible story to retell to their little buddies in grade 2 but using puppets, props, costumes, a diorama, and/or other visuals like Lego.

As well, we continue to deepen our prayer practice by learning traditional prayers and praying in spontaneous moments with words from our hearts.

On October 18th, our whole school will participate in a 45-minute “Praying the Rosary for Peace” event on the theme of peace. More information can be found by clicking HERE.

We are rounding out our learning with a great video/discussion series with materials from Alpha Canada that was specifically created for a youth audience in a Catholic context. I invite you to learn more about the Catholic Alpha Course offerings online here: https://alphacanada.org/catholic-context/

BAZAAR BAKING:

Please note that if you are bringing items for the Parish Bazaar that they should be dropped off at school tomorrow by 9am. They need to have a listing of all ingredients used and the name and phone number of the family/person who contributed them. Please refer to the letter that was sent home in agendas earlier this week and via email. Thank you!

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Raptors Field Trip

Please note the itinerary emailed to you today. Remember that tomorrow students should wear their FULL UNIFORM as we are representing our school and approaching this day with an academic mindset. However, students can choose the footwear they would be most comfortable walking around in at an outdoor facility. Students must bring a coat and understand that there could be rain. Bring a lunch and snack and full water bottle. Our bus leaves promptly at 10:10am. We are planning to be back by 3:00pm, but please understand this time is traffic dependent. I will update the school by phone if we think we will be later than expected. Please note that the updated list of parent/guardian volunteers we expect to have joining us is as follows…

• Chris L.
• Vicki Z.
• Phillip J.
• Tamara B.
• Whitney D.
• Adia M.
• Annie L.

*Please email me a.s.a.p. if you are no longer able to join us. (Please also make sure you have submitted your own entrance $18 payment via cash or Etransfer to the school at sp@cisdv.bc.ca. Make sure you indicate in your Etransfer that this is your payment for the 5B Raptors field trip.)

FIELD TRIP VOLUNTEERS: Please arrive in our 5B classroom by 10:00am tomorrow.

Make sure you budget enough time to find parking by our school and do not use the teacher’s parking lot.

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Upcoming Dates:

Sat., Oct 5 – St. Patrick’s Parish Bazaar, 9:30am – 2:00pm

Mon., Oct 14 – Thanksgiving, school closed

Wed., Oct 16 – World Food Day Mass, 10:45am. We are collecting your donations of non-perishable food items from Oct. 10-16.

Mon., Oct 21 – Parent/Teacher Conferences on ZOOM from 3:30-6:30pm (details coming soon)

Wed., Oct 23 – Parent/Teacher Conferences on ZOOM, 3:30-6:30pm (details coming soon)

*Note that all students on an IEP will NOT have Parent/Teacher conferences on Oct. 21 and 23, but instead will have IEP meetings scheduled for another day.

Fri., Oct 25 – Pro-D, no school province-wide

Fri., Nov. 1– Pro-D, no school district-wide

Dear 5B families,

In Social Studies, we have been learning about the meaning of “Orange Shirt Day” and the purpose of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Please watch the video we created as a part of raising awareness and exploring our personal responsibility for justice, healing, and building a better future for all.

Students explored many ways to share their learning in our Social Studies unit over the last two weeks. Today we wrapped up the work on our video project documenting our learning journey with truth and reconciliation.

What are some ways we can work towards truth and reconciliation? See the ideas students chose to share below…

There was rich brainstorming, dialogue, research, artworks, Lego dioramas to tell challenging stories in accessible ways, and poster making. We listened to stories of residential school survivors and dove into the history from different perspectives. Students wrote quizzes and short written reflections today as well and used technology to record their ideas as needed.

Hello, 5B families!

*REMINDER: Wear your FULL UNIFORM for Mass tomorrow. Also, tomorrow is the first HOT LUNCH day!

In Religion, we reviewed the “School Mass Expectations” for tomorrow.

In Language Arts, we have been learning to craft powerful paragraphs and how these differ in narrative versus expository writing. We are using a graphic organizer and have been teasing out the differences between a hook and a topic sentence.

We will continue to focus on developing ideas, using transition words and proper conventions, and writing an effective but brief conclusion that does a “call back” to the main ideas of the paragraph in fresh language. Students are encouraged to write on any “how to” topic (expository) of their interest and knowledge.

Constable Alex and Constable Shelley came in for a visit and discussion that supported our learning goals in Health Ed. and Career Ed. Students gained awareness and learned a lot about ways to stay safe in the community. As well, they spoke about the skills, qualities, and preparation that is helpful for students aspiring to a profession in law enforcement.

In Math, we have been reviewing multiplication tables and learning to use a multiplication chart for quick calculations as we journey towards independence. As well, we introduced some mental math skills today for multi-digit addition and subtraction, as well as how to use a calculator to check our work.

Some of the mental math strategies we will be focusing could be called taking it one step at a time, using place value names, using what we already know, breaking it up, dropping common zeros, and taking a front-end focus. Below is a peek at some of strategies from students’ “extra practice” booklets.

These booklets are worked on when students finish other work at school and can be taken home for practice. I do not mark these work booklets; rather, students are encouraged to mark it themselves to learn from their mistakes. There is no deadline to finish the booklets—it’s just extra practice.

*We have Mass at 10:45am on Thursday, Sept. 26. (FULL UNIFORM required.)

Here is a summary the forms and items for students to bring in a.s.a.p. (Thank you if you have already done so.) I have also asked all students to continually use their agendas to keep track of their needs.

(1.) Student Identification Form (White sheet): please check all info is correct and sign.

(2.) Photo/Video Permission for Blog Form (Yellow sheet)

(3.) Raptors Field Trip Form (White form): you can send in $13 cash or e-transfer $13 to sp@cisdv.bc.ca and be sure to include in the e-transfer note your child’s name and that the money is for the 5B field trip.

(4.) Comfort Kit and ID card: The items you put in the ziplock bag with a letter in case of emergency.

(5.) School supplies: Please ask you child if he/she is missing anything. Dollarama and Amazon.ca may have what you need, as well as Monks or Staples–or perhaps reuse from a previous year.

(6.) Indoor Black Dress Shoes & Indoor Running Shoes for Phys. Ed:

*Thank you for your time running through this list with your child. As a mom of three school-age kids, I too know how much work it is for me to coordinate all these kinds of things on top of making lunches and uniforms! You’re doing a great job! You may not hear it enough: we all thank you for how much work it is to keep track of our busy lives and families!  

We appreciate you for helping us have a great back-to-school start-up!

Happy weekend, 5B families!

*Mon., Sept. 23rd is PHOTO DAY! (Please wear your FULL UNIFORM)

Here is a window into our recent classroom learning…

Exploring Science/ADST curriculum goals, all grade 5 students mingled across both the 5A and 5B classes building friendships and knowledge in a fun, hands-on STEM challenge to build a little car with a working wheel and axel. This was to further our learning in our unit of study on simple machines.

In Language Arts, we have been reviewing apostrophe usage and how to create contractions and going further in strengthening our oral storytelling skills.

Students have been spinning some wonderfully creative, humorous, and enjoyable tales—and a low pressure, small group “workshop format” helps students build confidence as they to help develop others’ ideas and see how their own ideas can grow with audience feedback!

In Math class, we continue to support and deepen students’ understanding of place value concepts through hands on activities and games.

Students are able to rewrite their place value quiz. *Please return that signed form that came home with the math quiz so I know it reached you.

In Religion class, we are sequentially working our way through the children’s adaptations of Bible stories (Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, etc.). As well, we learned about the Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed, and students are working to write and illustrate their own creeds.

Students have been discussing the concept of free will and grappling with their own questions in small group discussions.

Our Religion course studies emerge through a Catholic worldview, while also providing context of other world religious views and inviting students to build their own understandings and feel supported in their own spiritual inquiries.

As well, we will continue to develop the skills and a mindset that can leads to insightful reflection and encourage students to discover for themselves the joys and lessons of a prayer practice.

In Social Studies, our next inquiry looks at the history and impact of residential schools in Canada with age-appropriate, approved resources.

In the lead up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we are exploring of how we can work towards reconciliation in our own lives and communities for justice and a better world. We will focus on hearing Indigenous voices and perspectives. On Friday, we read and discussed Phyllis Webstad’s book, “The Orange Shirt Story”.

We have now wrapped up our investigation of the eminent Canadian hero Terry Fox and shared our learning by researching online and writing biographical poems—many are finished and on display now

Fri., Sept 20 – Pro-D, no school for students

Mon., Sept 23 – Photo Day, full uniform required, including tie and sweater

Thurs., Sept 26 – Welcome Back Mass, 10:45am, St. Patrick’s Parish, Everyone Welcome! Wear FULL UNIFORM.

Fri., Sept 27 – Orange Shirt Day, wear any orange shirt with your uniform

Mon., Sept 30 – National Truth & Reconciliation Day, school closed

Wed., Oct 2 – Early Dismissal, 2:00 pm

Fri., Oct 4 – Field Trip to THE RAPTORS

Sat., Oct 5 – St. Patrick’s Parish Bazaar, 9:30am – 2:00pm

Mon., Oct 14 – Thanksgiving, school closed

Wed., Oct 16 – World Food Day Mass, 10:45am

Mon., Oct 21 – Parent /Teacher Conferences 3:30-6:30pm (details coming soon)

Wed., Oct 23 – Parent/Teacher Conferences, 3:30-6:30pm

Hello, 5B families!

In Math, we continue to review telling time, calculating elapsed time and understanding place value. Please check in with your children to see their comfort level with writing numbers in standard form, word form and expanded form. For example, see the below images.

Hello, 5B families!

In Career Education, students learned about Howard Gardner’s “Theory of Multiple Intelligences” through a poster, checklist, and video, and I invited them to reflect upon and share their top three multiple intelligences.

In Math, students have now brought home a quiz on telling time on an analog clock and calculating elapsed time. I am encouraging all students to keep reviewing this content and to do a retest or have a “math meeting” with me to show their new learning in this areas as they make progress—at any time this year! There is no deadline to progress!

Right now we are focussing on understanding place value and writing numbers in standard form, expanded form and word form.

In Religion class, we opened up discussion by reading this beautiful book and discussing prayer, free will, and the similarities between some major religions. Students will learn about a Catholic worldview this year, while honouring diversity, encouraging critical thinking, and supporting one another in their spiritual journeys.

Students also learned about the Apostles’ Creed and are reflecting upon their own beliefs as they write and illustrate their own creeds.

In Social Studies, we have been learning about eminent Canadians, specifically Terry Fox. Students were supported with tips on how to research using appropriate internet sites about Terry Fox. Students were tasked with creating a Google doc and typing up their own original poem about Terry Fox. We introduced some poetry concepts as well, including line breaks, repetition, symbolic language, and appealing to the five senses.

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Reminder: It’s the Soccer Jamboree tomorrow!

Students should wear their comfortable gym strip and outdoor running shoes. As well, I recommend sunscreen, hats, full water bottles, and a good night sleep on Thursday. We will have a fun day of sport—and everyone will be encouraged and supported to be successful. Competition is de-emphasized, and teamwork and a positive growth mindset will be emphasized and celebrated!

In Language Arts, we continued to work on our creative storytelling skills. Students are crafting an “unexpected visitor” story to share with their little buddies later this month. As well, we began a whole class novel study on Farley Mowat’s book, “Owls in the Family”. More like a “book club”, we are doing a very “soft start” to novel study: I read the story aloud as students follow along, and I explain vocabulary and context as we go. We have casual conversation about our observations and questions, and reading response questions are informal and scaffolded so everyone can be successful using their preferred method of communication.

As we go through our novel study, if students are absent, they can borrow a copy of the novel to take home and/or listen to the book in audio form, which is found for free on Youtube (for example, see below).

In Health Ed., we discussed some of the safety hazards and notes we noticed when reading chapter one of “Owls in the Family”. Students discussed safer alternatives to the choices made by the main characters of Billy and Bruce.

In Social Studies, we have been talking about eminent Canadians who have impacted our country. We watched the short documentary below about Terry Fox, and discussed the qualities and virtues he exhibited through his crusade to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Students will be tasked with writing a biographical poem about Terry Fox to creatively show their learning. Think and discuss: Who was Terry Fox, and what impact did he make?

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/3BzyHYZgMz8?si=wFGNJ7Q3maSY2ckM

In Career Ed., we returned to the topic of goal setting again and did a creative exercise to practice prioritizing values. Students journaled and did artwork about what wonderful things they would ask for if a fairy granted them three wishes. What would you wish for?

We continued to work in Math on reading clocks and calculating elapsed time. As well, we explored topics in “place value” using base ten blocks and diagrams.

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Here are some important reminders for you for tomorrow…

(1.) Please sign and return the FIELD TRIP PERMISSION FORM for the Soccer Jamboree.

(2.) Cross Country Team try-outs happen at school tomorrow morning at 7:30am. (Information was sent home today about this club).

(3.) Optional: Tomorrow is “part two” of our ADST toilet paper challenge. This time, students can modify toilet paper rolls in any safe and appropriate way they like. So students are welcome to bring extra materials from home if they choose to do so.

(4.) Welcome Back BBQ tomorrow! Please note that the new time of the BBQ is 4:30-6:30pm. For families who will make it tomorrow, dinner is available for purchase on the intermediate field. We will gather in the gym at 6pm for introductions, then students and families can go to their classes to look around and say hi to the teachers. *Please note that this is a simple “meet and greet” and look around at the classrooms, and there will not be time to discuss students’ progress and needs. Please feel free to wait until our “Parent-Teacher Conferences” in October or send me an email or request a separate meeting if needed. 

Hello, 5B families!

Here are some highlights from this past week you could discuss with your children to continue the learning connection at home…

Academic Highlights:

This week we focussed on storytelling skills, reading a clock, calculating elapsed time, goal setting, and being creative using the design process.

In Language Arts, we enjoyed reading aloud the story “The Tiger Who Came to Tea” as a creative prompt. Students were invited to create and tell their own spin-off story of “The ____ Who Came to ________”. We talked about storytelling skills and about the upcoming opportunities students will have to tell their stories to our little grade 2 buddies later this term. *Please invite your child to tell you his/her story and offer your support and feedback.

As well, we set up our Personal Spelling Dictionaries, which students will use to record new words, including words I underline and correct for them on their writing assignments.

Please Note:
I have vetted all the videos I post on this blog as both age appropriate and useful teaching content. The videos can help to reinforce and review our classroom learning.

If your child needs more help with the concepts we covered in class, please help your child to continue study at home in some way, such as watching these tutorials I post.

In Math class we have working on reading an analog clock, and beginning the skill of calculating elapsed time. Here are two videos that review the concepts…

In Career Education, we explored the concept of goal setting and did a creative visualization activity to inspire students to picture themselves in 20 years achieving their own definitions of success. Some students volunteered to share their wonderful work with you here. Come to our classroom to see more!

In ADST (Applied Design Skills and Technologies), we learned about the design process while enjoying a creativity challenge based on transforming a toilet paper roll! What an amazing gallery of new creations! Here are some examples of works students volunteered to share…

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COMING UP…

Mon., Sept. 9 is our first Phys. Ed. class. Please wear gym strip. Also, the Comfort Kits are due back, and please make sure you have all your school supplies. *Some students are still missing important items like binders: please ask your child what he/she still needs and refer to the supplies list. Thank you!

Tues., Sept. 10 – Welcome Back BBQ & Meet the Teacher, 4:30-6:30pm

Fri., Sept. 13 – Grade 5 Soccer Jamboree at Carnarvon Park 

Tues., Sept. 17 – Terry Fox Run (Wear Gym Strip this day) at 9am

Fri., Sept. 20 – Pro-D, no school for students

Mon., Sept. 23 – Photo Day, full uniform

Thurs., Sept. 26 – Welcome Back Mass, 10:45am

Mon., Sept. 30 – National Truth & Reconciliation Day, school is closed