Happy Monday!

It was a great start to what I know is going to be a wonderful week here at SJA!

Unit of Inquiry: In today's class we continued working on exploring concepts in our rural and urban communities unit.  The students were introduced to the concepts of land and communities and explored the link between the two.  As a class we explored a map of Canada and discussed the reasons we felt that communities were developed in the places that they have been.  We discussed important features such as physical features, climate, resources and transportation and their link to the formation of communities.  The students were then asked to complete a comprehension activity where they showed what they have learned about the link between land and communities.

Language: During language today the students copied down their new weekly spelling words.  Their spelling notebooks will be brought home with them every night to help them study for Friday's spelling test.  In language we also worked on our Spelling Workbooks where the students were asked to explore syllables, short vowel sounds, solve riddles and write stories all using their spelling words.  The students also worked on journal writing where they wrote a summary of the events that happened over their weekend.  To conclude their language period the student practiced their cursive writing.

Math: During math today the children continued working on place value.  The students were asked to explore the multiple ways that we can represent a number such as in written form, in numerical form, using pictures and using base ten blocks.  The students are asked to practice these concepts in their Homework and Practice book.

The students also went to PE, Art and French classes today.

Homework: Read for 2o minutes and record in the reading log, practice weekly spelling words,  math pages 12 -13 and Land and Communities worksheet if needed.

Important information: The SJA Cross Country Team is having their first meet of the school year.  It is taking place this Wednesday from 4:00 - 4:30pm.  The children are asked to meet in Ms. Elliott portable to head out for their first try-out.  Many students from our grade 3 class have chosen to sign up which is great!  Please make arrangements with your child to be picked up after the team fnishes their meet at 4:30 on Wednesday if your child is a part of the team.  For more information please contact Ms. Elliott at melliott@stjudesacademy.com.

The Terry Fox run is happening at SJA on Thursday, September 26th.  Students are asked to collect pledges for this event which will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. Pledge forms went home with all students last week.  If you have pledge money collected please send it into the school.  Pledges can be collected up until the morning of the 26th when the run takes place.  For more information please contact Mr. Browning at rbrowning@stjudesacademy.com.

A trip permission form went home with all children last week. The grade 3 and 4 classes at SJA are taking a trip to the city of Toronto! This trip is a part of our IB Unit of Inquiry that is inquiring into urban and rural communities. On this trip we will be looking at the different elements of the great urban city of Toronto, taking various types of transportation offered throughout the city, and visiting the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. Trip forms are due back with the $14 fee by this Wednesday, September 18th. We are looking for 10 volunteers between both classes for this trip who will be confirmed on a first come, first serve basis.  Please make note of the allergy form that is attached to the permission form. This allergy release form must be signed and returned back to the school in order for your child to be admitted into the factory.

We are looking to have small boxes collected for an upcoming project in our Unit of Inquiry. The students are going to be asked to build small scale rural and urban communities. Please help us with this project by collecting and sending in small boxes that we can use. Please see the form sent home yesterday for more information.

The first casual day of the school year is taking place on Wednesday, October 25th.  Students may come to school dressed in any casual clothing they wish as school uniforms will not have to be worn on this day.


Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson