Happy Friday!

Today we started off with our weekly spelling tests. The words this week have been focused around adding suffixes to root words.

During our UOI today we started with a brainstorming session to make sure the students had a sound understanding of the relationship and impacts the pioneers and Aboriginals had on one another. Next, we discussed how pioneer children lived. This was a great opportunity to compare and contrast our own lives to the lives of the pioneer children. We then completed a sheet on the roles girls and boys play in daily life. Ask your children about this when they get home!

Today in Math we started a brand new unit on Motion Geometry. We began with working in pairs or table groups on a grid and tried to come up with as many routes as possible to get from point A to point B. We engaged the students by playing a game moving though a grid. The students caught on quickly to the importance of coordinates and stating the direction of motion. We continued to work into the challenge of choosing the most efficient route. The students seemed to really enjoy completing this task and I could tell they really were thinking about the best strategy! After playing the game students began their homework to reinforce the concepts.

Later on we had a chance to go over a few of the math problems that caused the most confusion. We took the time to determine at least four different ways of coming to the solution. This allowed us to engage the entire class through providing multiple entries into the problem and hash out any confusion that might have been during the test.

I hope everyone planning on attending the gala has a fantastic time!

Students also went to Art, Gym and French classes today.

Homework: Read for 20 minutes and record in the reading log, Math 136-137, and A Beka 65-66.

Important Information: Re-registration packages were due last week to ensure a spot for next year.  Registration has now been opened up to the public.  If you have not yet returned your re-registration package for next year please do that quickly so that your child doesn't miss a spot!

Outfits for the Gala:

Grade 3-4: Those who are joining us need to wear something as if they were going camping i.e. khaki coloured shorts and shirts/pants, bring pack backs, hats etc. Uniforms from Girl Guides, Scouts, Cubs etc. would do well with this outdoor camping scene for the play.

Please return field trip form for Mountsberg Conservation and cheque by Thursday, February 27, 2014.  

St. Jude's Academy's Annual Gala Dinner is approaching and it is sure to be an evening of fun and entertainment for friends and families alike!  Mark your calenders for this event which takes place on February 22nd at 6:00pm at the Sagan Banquet Hall.  The theme for this year's Gala is 'Legends of the World' which will be reflected in the buffet diner, and the short musical performance by St. Jude's students.  A silent action, raffle tickets and a 50/50 draw will also help add to the excitement of the night. Tickets for the event are $75 for adults and $10 for children. 

For more information about the Gala Dinner please contact Presy Malan at pmalan@stjudesacademy.com.  To donate items for the silent auction please contact Charmaine Tavares at lomaine@sympatico.ca  or Sudan Cashin at cashins@cashingroup.com.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Happy Thursday!

Today was a busy day! Students spent their day working hard preparing for the school wide oral competitions as well as the upcoming gala. 

This morning students started off with an introduction to Bitstrips for Schools. During which we continued to discuss concepts of writing from varying perspectives and exploring Jack and The Beanstalk as our story's backdrop. Next week we will have a chance to continue our Bitstrips alternate ending from the Orge's perspective. 

After our time in the resource portable we completed a Ontario Writing Assessment (OWA). This was not to be prepared for, it is used an a benchmark to see the student's progress in writing thus far. They  will be marked by Ms. Barber and she will follow up with parents about it. 

After completing the OWA students all had to present their poems in front of our class. Poems were judged on the characteristics listed in the rubric posted earlier this week. Ms. DaCosta (our class' judge) has said good things! Final results will be released tomorrow. 

During the afternoon students completed a formal dress rehearsal for gala performance this weekend. It was my first time seeing it all put together and let me tell you, it looks fantastic! I know the students are looking forward presenting. 

Students also went to Gym and French classes today.

Homework: Read for 20 minutes and record in the reading log, practice weekly spelling words, spelling test tomorrow and French spelling test (Valentine's Day themed).

Important Information: Re-registration packages were due last week to ensure a spot for next year.  Registration has now been opened up to the public.  If you have not yet returned your re-registration package for next year please do that quickly so that your child doesn't miss a spot!

Outfits for the Gala:
Grade 3-4: Those who are joining us need to wear something as if they were going camping i.e. khaki coloured shorts and shirts/pants, bring pack backs, hats etc. Uniforms from Girl Guides, Scouts, Cubs etc. would do well with this outdoor camping scene for the play.


Please return field trip form for Mountsberg Conservation and cheque by Thursday, February 27, 2014.  

St. Jude's Academy's Annual Gala Dinner is approaching and it is sure to be an evening of fun and entertainment for friends and families alike!  Mark your calenders for this event which takes place on February 22nd at 6:00pm at the Sagan Banquet Hall.  The theme for this year's Gala is 'Legends of the World' which will be reflected in the buffet diner, and the short musical performance by St. Jude's students.  A silent action, raffle tickets and a 50/50 draw will also help add to the excitement of the night. Tickets for the event are $75 for adults and $10 for children. 

For more information about the Gala Dinner please contact Presy Malan at pmalan@stjudesacademy.com.  To donate items for the silent auction please contact Charmaine Tavares at lomaine@sympatico.ca  or Sudan Cashin at cashins@cashingroup.com.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Happy Wednesday!

We started off today with another Olympic activity. We read an excerpt from a CBC article written about Justine and Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, with that piece we completed a creative writing activity. I asked students to write with voice and patriotism by asking questions like "How would you feel if won a medal?" and "Why are you proud to be Canadian?". I also had students activate their use of prior knowledge by completing a graphic story (similar to the Jack and the Beanstalk assignment) about what the athletes might be thinking or saying to one another while on the podium receiving their medals. 
  
Next, we took one hour to complete the Math test on Measurement. Marks will be returned to the students tomorrow. 

During our UOI today the students had a lot of fun learning about how the Aboriginals impacted the pioneers when the pioneers first arrived.  After reading a passage as a class we discussed exactly what the Aboriginals did to help the settlers. Specifically, we discussed how the Aboriginals taught pioneers to hunt and gather, plant crops successfully and use all that their environment had to offer. By exploring history holistically we were able to connect our prior knowledge of pioneer life and see the significant role that Aboriginals played in their arrival. The students will continue to investigate pioneers and Aboriginals to fully grasp how they impacted the history of Canada.  Ask your child tonight what they learned! 

Students also went to Gym, Art and French classes today.

Homework: Read for 20 minutes and record in the reading log, practice weekly spelling words, ABecka 63 - 64, and practise poems for tomorrow's oral competition. 

Important Information: Re-registration packages were due last week to ensure a spot for next year.  Registration has now been opened up to the public.  If you have not yet returned your re-registration package for next year please do that quickly so that your child doesn't miss a spot!

Please return field trip form for Mountsberg Conservation and cheque by Thursday, February 27, 2014.  

The in-class oral competition will be taking place this Thursday.  On this day the students will compete to find the 3 students that will enter into the final competition being held on Thursday, February 27th at 9am.  Parents are welcome to attend this final competition!  Please see the rubric for the oral competition attached below.  This is the rubric that will be used to find the 3 students to compete in the finals.

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Preparedness	Student does not seem at all prepared to present.  Poem is partially memorised.	Student is somewhat prepared, but it is clear that rehearsal was lacking.  Poem is mostly memorised.	Student seems fairly prepared, but might have needed a couple more rehearsals.  Poem is memorised.	Student is completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed.  Poem is confidently memorised.
Speaks Clearly	Often mumbles or cannot be understood or mispronounces more than one word.	Speaks clearly and distinctly most of the time. Mispronounces no more than one word.	Speaks clearly and distinctly all the time, but mispronounces one word.	Speaks clearly and distinctly all the time, and does not mispronounce any words.
Volume	Volume often too soft to be heard by all audience members.	Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members at least 80% of the time.	Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members at least 90% of the time.	Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members throughout the presentation.
Enthusiasm	Very little use of facial expressions or body language.    Did not generate much interest in topic being presented.	Facial expressions and body language are used to try to generate enthusiasm, but seem somewhat mimicked.	Facial expressions and body language sometimes generate a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic in others.	Facial expressions and body language generate a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic in others.

St. Jude's Academy's Annual Gala Dinner is approaching and it is sure to be an evening of fun and entertainment for friends and families alike!  Mark your calenders for this event which takes place on February 22nd at 6:00pm at the Sagan Banquet Hall.  The theme for this year's Gala is 'Legends of the World' which will be reflected in the buffet diner, and the short musical performance by St. Jude's students.  A silent action, raffle tickets and a 50/50 draw will also help add to the excitement of the night. Tickets for the event are $75 for adults and $10 for children. 

For more information about the Gala Dinner please contact Presy Malan at pmalan@stjudesacademy.com.  To donate items for the silent auction please contact Charmaine Tavares at lomaine@sympatico.ca  or Sudan Cashin at cashins@cashingroup.com.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Happy Tuesday!

I hope everyone had a very enjoyable long weekend with their families!  

After returning from the long weekend, the students started off the day by working on their spelling.  Students copied down their new weekly spelling words and worked on reinforcing them in their Spelling Workbooks,  This week's words focus on words where suffixes have been added on to root words.  During language today we also moved on with our novel study with the students having a work period to complete their comprehension section all about 'sugar snow' (a pioneer treat of maple syrup on snow), and wrote out directions for their ow favourite sweet treat!

During our UOI today the students had a lot of fun learning more about pioneers.  We started off the period with a mid-way check about the important concepts that have been learned to date.  Some of the interesting items the groups came up with were the differences in school rules, the differences in bathing habits, and the differences in the ways we build and use our homes today.  This check showed that great learning has been done and absorbed by the students!  In today's class the students moved on and inquired into the pioneer process of milling crops and making flour.  Students learned about important people such as millers and flairers, and learned about important tools such as sickles, scythes, hominy blocks and millstones.  Ask your child tonight what they learned!

During math today the students had their final review period with the measurement unit.  The math unit test will be taking place tomorrow!  All students have a review package for the unit that they have been able to study in the days approaching the test.  I am sure that with the at-home study sessions, combined with the in-class review periods, all students will show great success on the test tomorrow!  Find some pictures of the students in their study sessions at the end of this posting. 

Students also went to Art and French classes today.

Homework: Read for 20 minutes and record in the reading log, practice weekly spelling words, Spelling Workbook pages 94 - 96, and complete math review package for tomorrow's math unit test.

Important Information: Re-registration packages were due last week to ensure a spot for next year.  Registration has now been opened up to the public.  If you have not yet returned your re-registration package for next year please do that quickly so that your child doesn't miss a spot!

The in-class oral competition will be taking place this Thursday.  On this day the students will compete to find the 3 students that will enter into the final competition being held on Thursday, February 27th at 9am.  Parents are welcome to attend this final competition!  Please see the rubric for the oral competition attached below.  This is the rubric that will be used to find the 3 students to compete in the finals.

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Preparedness	Student does not seem at all prepared to present.  Poem is partially memorised.	Student is somewhat prepared, but it is clear that rehearsal was lacking.  Poem is mostly memorised.	Student seems fairly prepared, but might have needed a couple more rehearsals.  Poem is memorised.	Student is completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed.  Poem is confidently memorised.
Speaks Clearly	Often mumbles or cannot be understood or mispronounces more than one word.	Speaks clearly and distinctly most of the time. Mispronounces no more than one word.	Speaks clearly and distinctly all the time, but mispronounces one word.	Speaks clearly and distinctly all the time, and does not mispronounce any words.
Volume	Volume often too soft to be heard by all audience members.	Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members at least 80% of the time.	Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members at least 90% of the time.	Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members throughout the presentation.
Enthusiasm	Very little use of facial expressions or body language.  Did not generate much interest in topic being presented.	Facial expressions and body language are used to try to generate enthusiasm, but seem somewhat mimicked.	Facial expressions and body language sometimes generate a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic in others.	Facial expressions and body language generate a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic in others.

St. Jude's Academy's Annual Gala Dinner is approaching and it is sure to be an evening of fun and entertainment for friends and families alike!  Mark your calenders for this event which takes place on February 22nd at 6:00pm at the Sagan Banquet Hall.  The theme for this year's Gala is 'Legends of the World' which will be reflected in the buffet diner, and the short musical performance by St. Jude's students.  A silent action, raffle tickets and a 50/50 draw will also help add to the excitement of the night. Tickets for the event are $75 for adults and $10 for children. 

For more information about the Gala Dinner please contact Presy Malan at pmalan@stjudesacademy.com.  To donate items for the silent auction please contact Charmaine Tavares at lomaine@sympatico.ca  or Sudan Cashin at cashins@cashingroup.com.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson