CANNED FOOD DRIVE!

We are still collecting cans next week. We still would love to have students send in any food items they can. The Kanata Food Cupboard needs more help this year than previous years. I am very proud of our class so far. Some students have sent in 10 to 16 cans at a time! Our class total so far is 77 cans! Impressive for a classroom of 25 students. If you have not yet sent in any donations and wish to, we will accept until WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

Miss. Sturgeon and Monty

Check this out

Here is what a Catholic High School made for their Canned Food Drive. FUN!

We Need Canned Food

Please send in any canned good and non perishable food items you can spare. The Kanata Food Cupboard is in extra need this year. We will be collecting until December 18th. THANK YOU!!

Advent Week 1: December Homework

This week's homework is studying and memorizing the 3 times table.

Students will also be bringing home their big unit test study guide for Math. We have completed a large unit of patterning and students need to spend every night reading and re-reading their guide. Test questions are based on the type in the guide.

TEST IS NEXT MONDAY!

6 times tables test

The 6 times table quiz is tomorrow! Our class needs everyone to have times tables practiced and memorized! Many Grade 7 teachers have noticed an increase in times tables not being memorized (or at least having a strategy to solve them fast) is having an impact on math skills in high school. Practice at home with FLASHCARDS or rewriting them over and over. We will continue to focus on them every week ALL YEAR LONG. This means returning to the same numbers over and over until they are recalling the families with greater speed.

Homework

One page of Word Problems is the Homework for the whole class this week, to see who remembers last week's strategies for solving trickier pattern word problems.

After finishing the problems page, work on memorizing the 6 times tables up to 6 x 11. You can use games on this site, re-writing them over and over, or making flashcards or a rap song to help. Remember: repeating is the key to move them to long term memory. The same way we know all the words to Hail Mary, The Lord's Prayer or even songs on the radio. Lots of repetition!

Upcoming Events

Hello Parents! A few updates and news for the coming weeks. There is a PD day this Friday. If students are unable to complete this weeks homework with a day (or two...I saw a few homework books in desks tonight) less, hand it in on Monday. No worries!

Our school Remembrance Day ceremony is on November 11th at 10:45 in the gym. All are welcome.

Photo retakes will be on November 15th.

Girls Volleyball tournament will be on November 13th.

Please note, interviews will be on two nights: November 14 and November 18th.

Boys Volleyball Tournament will be November 20th.

The Christmas Fundraiser craft fair/sale will be on Saturday, November 30th.

Our Christmas theme baskets using the idea of CANDY are due before the craft Fair.

Operation Christmas child donations are accepted as soon as possible.

Thanks! November is always such a busy month!! My goodness!!

And finally...Miss. Sturgeon is feeling better after being in the hospital. She wishes to thank
all the students (and parents) who sent cards or well wishes. It made her smile and look forward to coming back to work. She was quite miserable at home and in the hospital, especially so close to one of her favourite fun days: Halloween!

Miss. Sturgeon away sick

Miss. Sturgeon is away sick with a bad head cold, fever and cough. She is hoping to be back Thursday. There will be no regular homework this week, but students can practice math drills (times tables) using games on this site.

Homework and Picture Day

     I hope all our families had a relaxing Thanksgiving and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Monty and Miss. Sturgeon sure did! They even went apple picking (which ended up being picking apples up off the ground and fighting off wasps) but it was still fun to get out in the sun!

Homework is as follows:
Grade 5- Math textbook page 57 #1 to 10 and 73 to 40 (use the previous page 56 for help with the amount of strings per instrument).

Grade 4- Red Folder came home with some patterning work to do.

Please note that it is Picture Day tomorrow! Get that hair fixed up and wear something you love! They recommend solid colours to stand out against the backgrounds. This year, there were no check boxes to choose a pose and background. Proofs will come home and you will select at that time.

Cancer Stories: Terry Fox Fund

http://www.terryfox.org/Survivors/watch_video.html


Click the link above to hear stories of hope and survival.

Terry Fox Run TOMORROW

It's the final day to send in donations for the Terry Fox cancer fund! Don't forget to also try to wear RED BLACK AND WHITE, our school colours!

Terry Fox

Homework and News

This week's grade 5 homework is in the textbook. It is as follows:
Page 52 # 1 to 34 (as many as you can do)
Page 53 # 10 and 11
Page 55 # 1 to 8, 29 and 30

This is practice with times table drills and multiplying basic word problems.

Grade 4: Red Folder worksheets about multiplication patterns.

The Terry Fox Run is in a few days...on Thursday! Please send in donations! We are collecting money this week!

Homework

Homework this week will be studying for the math test on Friday. Read and re-read your study guide. Make yourself a mini fake test based on the questions included. Read the definitions so you remember them. Look at how you solved the word problems. The test is made from the study guide!

BITSTRIPS is ready for fun!

Please use Bitstrips at home as well as at school to be creative and write. Log onto www.bitstripsforschools.com and use our class code Rocks! to enter. Then you will need your personal password to do the activities and create your characters and avatar. Session One beings in computer lab tomorrow! FUN!!

Homework

Grade 5 Texbook Math: Due for Friday the 27th
Page 9 letters A to E in the green boxed area.
Page 10 # 3 to 14
Page 15 # 1 to 13 AND 33-36

Grade 4 Homework Red Folder: Due Friday (hand in the folder too!)
Worksheets practicing calculation accuracy and rounding.

TIME CAPSULE PROJECTS ARE DUE FOR THE WHOLE CLASS ON FRIDAY. If you lost your sheet, ask for a new one quick!

News

Classroom General News:
Homework was review of Place Value concepts and a series of photocopy pages instead of the text. This happens occasionally, so watch the agenda for homework instructions. Students had a POP quiz to see who understands these concepts. The quiz will be coming home next week in a special TEST AND QUIZ duotang. Sign and return!

Math text homework will start being posted here weekly, in case your child is absent or wrote the pages incorrectly (ie: he/she has no clue what to do because the work does not match what we are learning, OR those numbers are not even on that page! Uh oh..). So check here for the assignments!

Our Richmond Fair field trip is Friday. Lets hope for good weather. Looks like it may be warm that day. Volunteers will receive a call by Wednesday evening. We do not need too many this year. 1 per 10 students is what the organizer requested.

Pizza and meet the teacher night is this Thursday starting at 6pm. Perhaps I will see you then!

---------------Monty and Miss.Sturgeon

WELCOME!!!

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students:
           Welcome to the new school year! Our class is now a Grade 4 and 5 split class all day long, with a few different students in the morning than in the afternoon. There are lots of transitions, and I am very impressed with how smoothly the changes happened and how organized and mature the students acted in handling all the changes. I am very pleased thus far with everyone's behaviour and attitude! I look forward to teaching a split grade again this year, as I have had splits for many MANY years! If you have questions about the program, send a quick question or note in the agenda.
**Please note that in a split grade, all students still receive their grade specific curriculum even though they will be present in the classroom listening to the repeated concepts from the lower grade. I know that is always a concern for parents. When asked, many students actually like hearing review from the previous year as it boosts confidence and understanding! Often students don't always fully understand or remember a concept the first time around.
          Please check out this website often for news about our class, or items I feel that are important to you. Some weeks it is updated frequently, other times not as often. There are many great website links I have compiled here, especially ones to practice... such as those dreaded TIMES TABLES. Practice, practice! Those times tables are important!

                                                                                                             I will see you all in person soon.

                                                                                                             Miss. Katrina Sturgeon

Math Textbook Return

Please return your child's homework textbook by Friday. They will have no more use for it after this week's homework is due on Friday. Inventory will be taken on the weekend to ensure we have all the books for next year's students. Thanks!

NEWS!

Math Test corrections are due by Friday as the only homework for this week. Students who want to re-write and up their mark if they are unhappy with it can try a new version of the test on Friday. Study your guide or your test!

SCIENTISTS IN SCHOOLS are visiting us next Monday (June 17th) in the morning. Please make sure you are in school and not late that day. You don't want to miss all the amazing experiments for Force and Structures!

Check out the new bridge building game that fits into our Structures Grade 5 science curriculum. It is tomorrow's computer lab design challenge! It is a link on the right side of this blog!

Help Stop the Cycle of Cruelty

In class, we have been discussing Puppy Mills and the fact that there are increasing amounts of these sad places in Quebec and Ontario. Here are a few good links with tips to help stop Puppy Mills. Don't feel helpless. You CAN help. There are even links to sample template letters that you can send to MP's, Mayors or Counselors. Be informed! Know what is happening in our Country!

Be the change you wish to see and share info with friends.

Links:

http://www.hsi.org/world/canada/work/puppy_mills/tips/puppymills_actions.html

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/tips/what_you_can_do_stop_puppy_mills.html?utm_source=billyslegacy&utm_medium=hsusweb&utm_campaign=billyslegacy13

http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/links.htm

My favourite story is Billy, the video above. His rescuer, Adam, shows the true meaning behind We Care for God's Creation.

Feed the Fish!

A little fishy fun.... did you know if you click on the water and drop food pellets, you can feed the fish swimming above? Try it!

School Climate Survey

Hello Parents! If you did not get a chance to log in and do our School Climate Survey, tomorrow is a last chance! Copy and paste this link (below) to have direct access and please tell us what you think. It's fast and anonymous! Thanks a bunch!


Students:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WZLDDHF

Parents:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PYYRHF2

STAR WARS IDENTITIES Fun!

I was very excited to see the real Yoda puppet. He is so cute! The Ewok is the character that I created at the exhibit. You travel through the show with a special bracelet that slowly creates a character that is based on your personality. At the end, your character is revealed!

Star Wars Identities Exhibit

FYI- The Star Wars exhibit is now here in Ottawa and well worth seeing! It includes all interactive activities and all the actual props, costumes and amazing puppets from the first Star Wars films! A must for the family who enjoys Star Wars! Click here for tickets and times. It runs until September, so it may be a neat summer treat!

Miss. Sturgeon loved it!!

http://www.starwarsidentities.com/

FUN and FREE on Saturday!

If you are looking for something to do outdoors this Saturday, Centerpointe Theater is having their big 25th anniversary Block Party for families! It begins at 10am with personal friends of mine performing in a group called DRUMHAND.

There are:
henna tattooing, working with robots and lasers, bubble blowing, magic shows, juggling, arts and crafts, Juno nominated musicians and skateboard ramps to skate on. Check it out! Maybe I will see you there!

Copy and paste the link below for the schedule!

http://centrepointetheatre.ca/en/events_tickets/may2013/alive25/index.htm


Miss. Sturgeon

Miss. Sturgeon Away sick

Miss. Sturgeon will be back Wednesday. She has been off sick with the flu (even though she got the flu shot!) since last Tuesday. There will be no homework this week.

School Musical

Our School Musical is tomorrow! Wear or bring your costume and be ready to enjoy dancing and singing. There are two shows, as stated in the newsletter. One in the morning, the other in the afternoon. Hope to see you all there!

EARTH HOUR

EARTH HOUR is fast approaching! Be sure to turn off your lights for an hour on Saturday (March 23rd). Our whole school will be doing out special Earth Hour on Monday, March 24th from 1pm until 2pm.

Musical!

Our school is putting on a musical on March 28th. Please take time to review the newsletter that came home today regarding your child's costume, which is needed at the school for our Dress Rehearsal on Wednesday, March 27th. We hope to see you all at the school in the morning or afternoon, for one of our two performances on March 28th. Next week will be busy!!

Homework

Homework this week is one sheet (both sides) practicing our Conversion Staircase strategy. This staircase picture helps students convert all metric units and provides a great visual that can be easily remembered for years. We have been using it frequently in class. Miss Sturgeon even had to use it at Ikea last weekend! It comes in handy!

News

Winter Play Day will be on Friday. Please dress for the weather.
Pizza/Sub day is tomorrow (Thursday).
A class list was typed by one of our students and sent home in case you want to bring Valentines to class. Please include one for every student!
Textbook Homework about Measurement is due Friday, even though it is Play Day.
Send any PENNIES for our fund-raiser this week. We are collecting them!

Homework

Homework this week comes home attached to the Movie Night newsletter and the class Skating Permission and Skating Times information. Homework is a graphing worksheet. Both sides should be completed by Thursday and handed in. Don't forget there is a PD day on Friday!

Happy New Year Homework

This week's homework is in the regular math textbook. It is page 328 (all), page 329 (all) AND page 332. Students will be taking home a graph paper page to draw the graph from question 3 on page 329. They can glue it in their notebooks.