Dear Families,

Happy June everyone!  Yes, you read that correctly, it is JUNE!  We've entered our final month of school.  Where'd the year go?!  I suppose it zips by when you're surrounded with amazing students every day who make you smile, laugh, and rejoice!  I am truly blessed and have enjoyed every moment creating beautiful heart soaring memories.  As we enjoy the final few weeks of school, I would like to extend a thank you to all my families who have consistently supported their child in my teaching.  Together, we have made a significant difference in their academic, social, and behavioural needs.  I am surrounded with a class full of brilliant readers and writers :-)  I am delighted by all my students progress and reaching their highest potential.

Social Studies:
Our focus in Social Studies continues to be on exploring, investigating, and inquiring about countries around the world and comparing their similarities and differences to Canada.  Students have been actively engaged in this unit and have taken initiative to bring items from their homes to share with the class.

Over the May Break, Jack and his family visited Ottawa!!  Upon his return to school, he wanted to share his new learning with his peers.  Thank you Jack for enthusiastically sharing your meaningful experience with us all!  You have taught us many interesting and valuable facts about Canada's capital city!

Reanna also traveled over the May Break!  She went away with her family to a beautiful tropical place called St. Marten.  When Reanna shared her experience with us, she lit up and you can tell she had a wonderful time!  She even got her hair braided which looks beautiful!!  Thank you for sharing your Jamaican money with us!  Students enjoyed taking a close look at it!  

Science:
To link to our science learning of Canadian animals, on Thursday we had a special presentation from dairy farmer Charlotte.  She taught us all about how milk comes from the cow to our table at home! Students were intrigued from the beginning of the lesson to the end!  Farmer Charlotte provided us with a very engaging lesson using the SmartBoard to show us live videos, photographs, and hands on games to help us consolidate what we had learned!  Students were active and attentive throughout the presentation, it was a delight to see!  Please ask your child over the weekend about this experience and what they learned :)  We had a mooooreffic time!

Guided Meditation:
During our D.P.A. (daily physical activity) sessions, we always end it with a mindfulness activity.  I have been using the GoNoodle program and it has many wonderful guided meditation calming videos that the students love!  In class, we meditate daily in silence for 1 minute after our yoga and brain gym exercises, but I have also incorporated a guided one that offers guided breathing techniques with stretching.  After this experience, I observe my students feeling calmer and MORE energized for their thinking, learning, and playing!  We have learned to be mindful in our thoughts, words, and actions!

Art:
As always, Mr. Parker has my students working creatively on neat art projects.  The latest one is inspired by authorEric Carle.  If you have ever read his books, the techniques that students used to make their own works of art will look familiar!  Thank you Mr. Parker for making your art classes meaningful and FUN!  The students ADORE YOU!

Quote:
"Family isn't always blood.  It's the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are.  The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what."

Namaste,

Miss Gill