Last Day of School

Today was a day to relax, eat, and enjoy each other's company in Grade 6. The students are well deserving of this break after the hard work they have put in since September.
They also attended French, Drama, and Gym class.
Look out for a letter about International Day coming home today. Our class has voted to research Japan.
Some students are also bringing a letter home today.
Have a wonderful break everyone! See you all on Wednesday, January 7, 2015

The Nervous System

This morning we began our day with our human body inquiry unit. We had a special guest visit us during this time. Mr. Rehemtula, a SJA parent, is also a third year medical student. The Grade 6 students had the opportunity to ask him the answers to challenging questions about the human body. They were all disappointed when it was time for him to leave. We all found this visit very rewarding.

 

Next, we took up work students had completed about the circulatory system. We then began work on the next body system - the nervous system. Students used non-fiction texts to research the structure and function of the nervous system. We also watched a YouTube clip to help us understand the nervous system.

 

Our work was interrupted as the school rehearsed one last time for tonight's Christmas concert. The concert begins at 7 pm. We will be meeting in Ms. Padovan's classroom tonight. We will remain in this classroom until it is time for us to perform. Students may be picked up from Ms. Padovan's room after the concert.

Once back in class, students continued researching the nervous system.

Grade 6s attended French class today.

Ms. Lovan was away today. We used gym time to work on our inquiry unit. Students received packages to work through, such as labelling the parts of the brain and the functions of the different parts of the brain. They used the resources in the classroom to complete the worksheets. We used the last part of the lesson to take up all the worksheets.

Reregistration packages are coming home today.

SJA's student council is collecting Toys for Tots. Toys must be unwrapped. Canadian Tire money is also being collected. When students put their toy under the tree (at the school front desk) they can write their name on a Christmas tag and hang it on the tree at the front desk. Students have until tonight to donate!

Homework & Reminders:

• Look out for reregistration packages coming home today
• Tonight: Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome. Drop-off and pick up from Ms. Padovan's classroom. Today is the last day to contribute to Toys for Tots.
• Tomorrow: Last day of school. Red, Green, and White Spirit Day. Bring a treat to share with the class.
• Fri. Dec. 19 - Tues. Jan. 6 Christmas Holidays
• Wed. Jan. 7 - Back to school

The Periodic Table

Grade 9s began the second chemistry chapter which focuses on the periodic table and atomic model theories. Today we reviewed current student understanding of key concepts. We then learned about the 3 main sections of the periodic table metals, metalloids, and non-metals. Students have been challenged to memorise the names and symbols of the first 20 elements by January 7th.

Reminder
"For" or "Against" road salting due Thursday, Dec, 18
Begin memorising the first 20 periodic table elements

First Performance

This morning we began our day with writing assessments. I have met with each student and we have discussed each student's strengths and weaknesses with respect persuasive writing in letter format. As a class we created a checklist of what should be included in persuasive writing. Students wrote their summative persuasive writing piece while referring to their original writing and the checklists we created. The challenge today was for students to improve on their first attempt while writing on a new topic.

Students who completed their writing assessment worked independently on completing their circulatory packages. Students who did not get done in class are bringing these packages home to complete them as homework.

SJA performed their Christmas concert for an audience today. Grade 6s who had completed all their work got to sit in and watch the concert too.

Grade 6s attended French and Gym class today.

Tomorrow is Casual Day. The bake sale continues tomorrow. The Christmas concert takes place at 7 pm tomorrow evening.

SJA's student council is collecting Toys for Tots. Toys must be unwrapped. Canadian Tire money is also being collected. When students put their toy under the tree (at the school front desk) they can write their name on a Christmas tag and hang it on the tree at the front desk. Students have until Wednesday, December 16th to donate!

Homework & Reminders:

• Circulatory system pages to completed at home if you are behind
• Tomorrow: Bake Sale during school. Casual Day. Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome. Last day to contribute to Toys for Tots.
• Thurs. Dec. 18 - Last day of school. Red, Green, and White Spirit Day
• Fri. Dec. 19 - Tues. Jan. 6 Christmas Holidays

Heart Models

We began our day with math where we continued on our data management unit. Today students worked on a strategies lesson where they used a table to solve a problem.

In our inquiry unit on the human body, students finished up assembling their heart models while we discussed the name and function of each part. Heart models are now on display in the classroom.

We continued working on reading assessments. Students who were not working on their reading assessments worked on completing a package about the circulatory system. Once this was done, they chose a doctor to research whose work has advanced our knowledge of the heart and improved the lives of people.

Students spent part of their morning rehearsing for the Christmas concert. Students will perform the concert at 11:45 am tomorrow. All students must bring their costumes to school tomorrow.

Please support the bake sale taking place tomorrow.

SJA's student council is collecting Toys for Tots. Toys must be unwrapped. Canadian Tire money is also being collected. When students put their toy under the tree (at the school front desk) they can write their name on a Christmas tag and hang it on the tree at the front desk. Students have until Wednesday, December 16th to donate!

Homework & Reminders:

• Tomorrow: Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome. Please support the bake sale on this day.
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Bake Sale during school. Casual Day. Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome. Last day to contribute to Toys for Tots.
• Thurs. Dec. 18 - Last day of school. Red, Green, and White Spirit Day
• Fri. Dec. 19 - Tues. Jan. 6 Christmas Holidays

The Heart and the Median

We began our day with math where we continued on our data management unit. Today we reviewed the meaning of average. Students generated definitions. We decided that the average meant what is typical, usual or regular. We then reviewed the definition of mean and mode as well as how to find these kinds of averages. Students then learned that the median is the middle point of an ordered set of data. Students practiced finding the mean, mode, and median for data sets. Students had some difficulty with this work and we used a chunk of our inquiry time to give everyone extra practice time in class. Students are asked to complete practice questions on p. 174 & 175 of the MMS textbook.

In our inquiry unit on the human body, students assembled their heart models while we discussed the name and function of each part. They coloured the blood blue or red depending on whether it was oxygenated or deoxygenated. Ask you child to tell you the parts of the heart as well as how  and where blood enters or leaves the heart.

Students spent part of their morning rehearsing for the Christmas concert.

Students who are not yet done worked on their digestive system graphic stories. I continued meeting with students to conduct term 2 reading assessments.

Students who did not attend the ArtReach workshop yesterday got to do so today.

Students are reminded to bring in their Tradition Tree ornament. They are asked to write about ways that they celebrate traditions at home and then decorate the ornament. 

SJA's student council is collecting Toys for Tots. Toys must be unwrapped. Canadian Tire money is also being collected. When students put their toy under the tree (at the school front desk) they can write their name on a Christmas tag and hang it on the tree at the front desk. Students have until Wednesday, December 16th to donate!

Homework & Reminders:

• MMS p. 174 & 175
• Mon. Dec. 15 - Christmas concert dress rehearsal. Students should bring their costumes in to school.
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome. Please support the bake sale on this day.
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Bake Sale during school. Casual Day. Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome. Last day to contribute to Toys for Tots.
• Thurs. Dec. 18 - Last day of school. Red, Green, and White Spirit Day
• Fri. Dec. 19 - Tues. Jan. 6 Christmas Holidays

Snowy Day

We had a very unusual day at school. Due to the snowy weather and students arriving late, we had a late start to our academic day. As a result we did not do a math lesson nor did we work on our inquiry unit. Instead, we used the time for writing conferences. I have now met with each student that was at school today and discussed their strengths and weaknesses in persuasive writing in letter format. Each students knows what to focus on for improvement in their next writing assessment.

We also got started on term 2 reading assessments. I met with 4 students. We reviewed each student's individual results in the term 1 reading assessment as a way for students to be aware of and keep in mind areas of weakness.

Students who did not begin working on their reading assessments worked on completing their digestive system graphic stories. Some students also worked on making decorations for next week's Christmas concert.

Our class was called down for the ArtReach workshop midday.

The Carolling excursion to Streetsville was cancelled due to the weather today.

 

Here is a picture of our group during our visit to Queen's Park:

 

Homework & Reminders:

• Human Body - heart cut-outs past due
• Fri. Dec. 12 - ArtReach workshop, Lunch forms due
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome. Please support the bake sale on this day.
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Bake Sale during school. Casual Day. Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome
• Thurs. Dec. 18 - Last day of school. Red, Green, and White Spirit Day

Data Management

We began our day with math where we began a new unit on data management. Today's lesson was about interpreting data. Students examined and interpreted bar, circle, and line graphs. They learned that circle graphs are useful for comparing data, while line graphs are used to show changes over time. They used the information in the graphs to make inferences. They are asked to complete practice questions on p. 170 & 171 of the MMS textbook.

In our inquiry unit on the human body, students shared what they had learned about the circulatory system yesterday. Students added additional notes to the notes they had already made. Ask your child to tell you what they learned about the structure and function of the circulatory system. Students are bringing home models of the heart to cut out.  Please do NOT colour the heart models. We will be doing this in class. Cut outs are due at school tomorrow.

Students then worked on their digestive system graphic stories. I began conferencing with students today about their persuasive writing.

Grade 6s attended French class today. They also rehearsed for the Christmas concert.

Students who have not yet signed up for the ArtReach activity on Friday, may still do so. Please send in your form and payment as soon as possible.

Students are bringing home a Tradition Tree ornament. They are asked to write about ways that they celebrate traditions at home and then decorate the ornament. 

Homework & Reminders:

• MMS p. 170 & 171
• Human Body - heart cut-outs due tomorrow
• Return ArtReach tomorrow
• Carolling Club permission forms are past due
• Carollers go carolling in Streetsville tomorrow
• Fri. Dec. 12 - ArtReach workshop, Lunch forms due
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome. Please support the bake sale on this day.
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Bake Sale during school. Casual Day. Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome
• Thurs. Dec. 18 - Last day of school. Red, Green, and White Spirit Day

Visit to the Maples Academy

We began our day with math. Students wrote their unit test on decimals. Tests are coming home today. Please take time to review the test with your child, sign it, and return it to school tomorrow.

Human body mid-unit tests are also coming home today. Please review, sign and return this test to school tomorrow too. Once students were done with their test, they started discovering about the structure and function of the next body system we will be learning about - the circulatory system. Students read non-fiction texts and made notes about what they discovered.   

We had an early lunch and then it was time to board the bus and visit our sister school, The Maples Academy, in Orangeville. Ask your child about their experience as audience for the Maples Christmas concert.

Students who have not yet signed up for the ArtReach activity on Friday, may still do so. Please send in your form and payment as soon as possible.

Homework & Reminders:

• Return ArtReach tomorrow
• Carolling Club permission forms are past due
• Thurs. Dec. 11 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville
• Fri. Dec. 12 - ArtReach workshop, Lunch forms due
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome. Please support the bake sale on this day.
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Bake Sale during school. Casual Day. Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome
• Thurs. Dec. 18 - Last day of school. Red, Green, and White Spirit Day

Decimal Review

We began our day with students writing their human body mid-unit test.

Once students were done with their test, they continued working through the review package on decimals that they began last week. The goal was to complete and correct the whole package. As most students accomplished this, they will be writing their decimals unit test tomorrow. They are bringing their review packages home with them today for those who would like to do additional review tonight.

Students who completed their math review used the remaining class time to work on their digestive system graphic story.

Students attended French and gym class today.

Students who have not yet signed up for the ArtReach activity on Friday, may still do so. Please send in your form and payment as soon as possible.

Homework & Reminders:

 Decimal unit test tomorrow

• Return ArtReach tomorrow
• Maples Christmas Concert tomorrow
• Thurs. Dec. 11 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville
• Fri. Dec. 12 - ArtReach workshop, Lunch forms due
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome
• Thurs. Dec. 18 - Last day of school

 

 

Word Problem Strategies

Today our math lesson was about developing strategy skills for tackling and solving word problems. Students shared the strategies they use with the class. We then used these strategies to solve word problems. Strategies we use included reading the problem 3 times, rewriting the problem, recording what is given, recording what we need to find, using a chart to find the solution, and checking the word problem to ensure we have solved the problem. We completed all practice questions in class. Students should focus on reviewing the decimal unit to prepare for the unit test. Students will be writing their Decimals unit test on Tuesday, December 9 or Wednesday, December 10 depending on how long it takes to get through our review work.

In our inquiry unit on the human body students completed the remaining worksheets on the respiratory systems. We took up the work. We then watched a couple of short videos that explain how the respiratory system works. Students used the remaining inquiry time to work on their graphic stories of the digestive system. All students are bringing their human body duo tangs home today so they can study for Monday's test on the skeletal, digestive, and respiratory systems.

Our carolling club members headed out to Streetsville on their first carolling trip. Students who stayed behind worked on painting props for the upcoming Christmas concert.

Students attended French and gym class today.

Look out for after-care statements and picture retakes coming home with some students today.

Homework & Reminders:

• Review decimal unit, Decimal unit test on Tues. Dec 9 or Wed. Dec. 10
• Human body test on Monday, December 8
• Return ArtReach form by Monday Dec. 8
• Tues. Dec.9 - Maples Christmas Concert
• Thurs. Dec. 11 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville
• Fri. Dec. 12 - ArtReach workshop, Lunch forms due
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome

Human Body Models

We began our day with a math lesson. Today students continued to practice dividing a decimal by a 1-digit whole number. Students are growing in confidence as they do this.   They are asked to complete practice questions on p. 156 and 157 of the MMS textbook. Students will be writing their Decimals unit test on Tuesday, December 9 or Wednesday, December 10 depending on how long it takes to get through our review work.

In our inquiry unit on the human body students had time to continue working on the respiratory system packages they received yesterday. We took up about half the pages in the package in class today. Some students have not yet completed the whole package. There will be some time in class to finish up tomorrow. We worked on our human body models. Students put together their respiratory systems and added them to their skeletons.

 

Students who had completed all their work on the respiratory system have started working on their graphic stories. In this assignment, they are to write a story that takes place in the digestive tract. It will incorporate all the elements of story telling (setting, characters, problem, solution) while describing the structure and function of the digestive system. Students were treated to a Bill Nye the Science Guy video about the digestive system. I was hoping the video would creative juices flowing ;-). 

Students attended French and Drama today.

Carollers are reminded to dress warmly for their outing to Streetsville tomorrow.

Homework & Reminders:

• MMS p. 156 & 157, Decimal unit test on Tues. Dec 9 or Wed. Dec. 10
• Human body test on Monday, December 8
• Respiratory system colouring (in green) and cutting out  - past due
• Return trip letter for the  Maples Christmas Concert by tomorrow
• Tomorrow - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville 12:30  - 2:30
• Return ArtReach form by Monday Dec. 8
• Tues. Dec.9 - Maples Christmas Concert
• Thurs. Dec. 11 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville
• Fri. Dec. 12 - ArtReach workshop, Lunch forms due
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome

Day with Ms. Eisele

Grade 6s spent the day with Ms. Eisele as I as on a field trip with my Grade 9 science students.
Grade 6s worked on review work to prepare for next week's unit test on decimals. We will continue this review on Monday. They also worked on their respiratory systems for our human body inquiry unit.

Homework & Reminders:

 

• Decimal unit test on Tues. Dec 9 or Wed. Dec. 10
• Human body test on Monday, December 8
• Respiratory system colouring (in green) and cutting out due tomorrow
• Return trip letter for the  Maples Christmas Concert by Friday
• Thurs. Dec. 4 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Fri. Dec. 5 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville, 1 pm
• Return ArtReach form by Monday Dec. 8
• Tues. Dec.9 - Maples Christmas Concert
• Thurs. Dec. 11 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville
• Fri. Dec. 12 - ArtReach workshop, Lunch forms due
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome

The Respiratory System

We began our day with a math lesson. Today students learned how to divide a decimal by a 1-digit whole number. We did this by using the standard algorithm for long division while paying careful attention to the position of the decimal.  Students are asked to complete practice questions on p. 153 and 154 of the MMS textbook. Students will be writing their Decimals unit test on Tuesday, December 9 or Wednesday, December 10 depending on how long it takes to get through our review work.

In our inquiry unit on the human body we took up all worksheets on the digestive system and we reviewed what we have learned about the digestive system. Students brainstormed an impressive list of digestive system words to add to our body words chart. We began learning about the next body system - the respiratory system. Students were inquirers as they used non-fiction texts to research the structure and function of the respiratory system. Students then shared what they had learned with the rest of the class.

Students attended French, Drama, and Gym class today.

Look out for a letter about an exciting art workshop by ArtReach taking place at St. Jude's Academy on Friday, Dec. 12. Forms and payment are due Monday, December 8.

Also look out for January lunch order forms coming home today. Forms and payment are due Friday, December 12.

Please returns report cards with the comments section completed. I will copy this page and return the report card to your child.

Homework & Reminders:

• MMS p. 149 & 150, Decimal unit test on Tues. Dec 9 or Wed. Dec. 10
• Human body test on Monday, December 8
• Digestive system self-portrait, colouring (in blue) and cutting out  - past due
• Please return report cards with comments section completed
• Return trip letter for the  Maples Christmas Concert by Friday
• Thurs. Dec. 4 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Fri. Dec. 5 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville, 1 pm
• Return ArtReach form by Monday Dec. 8
• Tues. Dec.9 - Maples Christmas Concert
• Thurs. Dec. 11 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville
• Fri. Dec. 12 - ArtReach workshop, Lunch forms due
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome

 

 

The Digestive System

We began our day with a math lesson. Today students learned how to multiply a decimal by a 1-digit whole number. We did this by using the standard algorithm for multiplication for a 3- or 4- digit number while paying careful attention to the position of the decimal.  Students are asked to complete practice questions on p. 149 and 150 of the MMS textbook.

In our inquiry unit on the human body we continued learning about the digestive system. Students attached the parts of the digestive system to each other and then added them to their skeletons. Students were  given packages about the digestive system. They used the research they collected last week about the structure and function of the digestive system to complete the package. We took up the first four pages of the package in class. Students are asked to complete the remaining pages for homework.

We continued working on persuasive writing today. Students received samples of student writing. They gave each piece of writing a level 1, 2, 3, or 4. They justified why each sample deserved that level. We used the samples to create a checklist of what should be included in a good quality persuasive writing piece.

Students attended French class with Ms. Husain.

Ms. Lovan was away today. Students used their gym time to continue creating the class persuasive writing checklist, When this was done they worked on incomplete math or human body homework. A number of students forgot their skeletons or digestive system parts at home and were not able to participate in building the model of the human body. It is important that everyone comes to school prepared with all materials in order to fully participate and to get the most learning out of activities.

Look out for a trip letter coming home today. We will be attending the Maples Christmas Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Trip forms are due this Friday.

Please returns report cards with the comments section completed. I will copy this page and return the report card to your child.

Homework & Reminders:

• MMS p. 149 & 150
• Human body - complete p. 63 - 70
• Digestive system self-portrait, colouring (in blue) and cutting out  - past due
• Please return report cards with comments section completed
• Look out for a trip letter coming home today about the Maples Christmas Concert
• Thurs. Dec. 4 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Fri. Dec. 5 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville, 1 pm
• Tues. Dec.9 - Maples Christmas Concert
• Thurs. Dec. 11 - Carollers go carolling in Streetsville
• Tues. Dec. 16 - Christmas concert 11:45 am - All Welcome
• Wed. Dec. 17 - Christmas concert 7 pm - All Welcome