Aboriginal Creation Stories

We are asking our amazing SJA Community to

come show school spirit and support

for our St. Jude’s Academy Senior Basketball Team
on

Tuesday, December 3 at 3:30 pm

 This will be our first basketball game of the season!
Place:  St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School

2800 Erin Centre Blvd, Mississauga, ON L5M 6R5

 

Due to bus cancellations in Acton, we were not able to go on our curling trip today. We expect to hear of the new date soon.

 

We began a new inquiry unit today. That also signifies changes in seating arrangements.
Theme: Where we are in place and time
An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.
Central Idea: Exploration has changed and will continue to change people’s lives.
Concepts: Causation, Change, Perspective
Related Concepts: Adaptation, Truth, Impact
Lines of Inquiry:
·         First Peoples and their interaction with the environment
·         The evidence of early explorers
·         The various groups and communities that make up Canada’s identity

During today’s inquiry time, students became familiar with the portions of our new transdisciplinary theme that we are responsible to covering, the central idea, the key and related concepts, lines of inquiry, and projects for this unit. Students even got to see a few samples of projects by siblings of current students. Through this unit we will reflect on Aboriginal perspectives on ‘Canadian identity’ as well as contemporary perspectives of ‘Canadian identity’. Students have been asked to discuss with their families what is meant by ‘Canadian identity’ and how this affects them personally. They are to share their ideas with the class tomorrow.

At the end of the day we had more inquiry time. This time, students engaged with aboriginal creation stories. They listened to a reading of The Earth on Turtle’s Back. They received two Aboriginal creation stories The Creation of the World and The Fire, the Flood, and the Creation of the World to read and compare using a comparison chart. For homework, students are to talk to their families about their beliefs about the origin of people and be willing to share these with the class tomorrow if they are comfortable doing so.

We began working on our new novel study today – Tuck Everlasting  by Natalie Babbitt. Students received their novels and novel study guides. They are to read the Prologue and Chapters 1 & 2 today, and complete pages 4 – 12 in the guide. This is due tomorrow.

Students attended French and math class today. In math, they reviewed the mid-unit quiz and the homework on multiplication of decimals with Ms. Joseph. She introduced students to the division of decimals. Students are reminded to estimate the answer by rounding the numbers, then perform the division, and fix the decimal point so that the answer is closest to the estimated value. Students should get the mid unit quiz signed by their parents today. For homework, students are to complete Q. 1, 3, 6, 9, 10 on P. 151 – 152. The tentative date for the unit test is Monday, December 9^th.

Homework and Reminders

Novel Study: Tuck Everlasting

·         Read Prologue, Chapter 1 & 2
·         Complete Study Guide pages 1 - 12
What is meant by ‘Canadian Identity’? How does a Canadian identity affect you personally? Be ready to share with the class tomorrow.
What does your family believe about the origin of people? Be ready to share your thoughts with the class tomorrow if you are comfortable doing so.
Purchase your Secret Santa gift before the last week of school. Min. $10 & Max. $25
Math: Complete Q 1, 3, 6, 9, 10 on P. 151 - 152
Thursday, December 5^th
·         Lower School Conferences
Friday, December 6^th – December hot lunch payments are due
Tuesday, December 10^th – JK – Grade 2 Christmas Concert
Thursday, December 12^th - Parent Guild After-School Skating Event
Tuesday, December 17^th – Grade 3 – 8 Christmas Concert
Wednesday, December 18^th 
·         Bake Sale
·         Casual Day
Thursday, December 19^th
·         House Game Day
·         Spirit Day (wear red, green, white),
·         Bake Sale
Friday, December 20^th – Tuesday, January 7^th – Christmas Break