Week #5: Oct. 2nd - 6th

Dear Families,

Thinking of you all and wishing you a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving long weekend with your loved ones!  I trust you will all be surrounded with love and make the most of your family's traditions.  

In class, I look forward to hearing about your family's 'Thankful Stone' sharing experience.  Students were extremely excited to bring home their 'Thankful Bags' and share the contents that are placed inside with you!  

Many of you will also cherish your child’s Letter of Gratitude.  I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as your child enjoyed writing it this week!  The kids worked extremely hard and I know you'll appreciate this dearly :)

As I conferenced with students to offer feedback, I was so touched by their thoughts, words, and actions in their heartfelt message to you!  It brought such JOY TO MY HEART!  

From these letters, it's evidence that you're (parents) all raising gracious, caring and compassionate children :-)  

GRATITUDE PLACEMAT:

Your child has also created a placement which is intended for you and your family to write down your thoughts and words about what you're grateful for.  

You will notice that your child has completed his or hers already in class to help guide the rest of the family in this friendly and meaningful task.  Enjoy the process and I hope you can keep this activity going for years to come :-)

When I was a child, this was a tradition that I used to do :)  I look back on it now and am ever so grateful as it's helped shape me into the person I am today - always striving to be POSITIVE and GRATEFUL for my life.

GRATITUDE:

We have been doing A LOT of meaningful thinking, learning and reflecting about the word and importance of GRATITUDE.  Ask your child what this term means :)  

We have also learned a variety of ways to say thank you in different languages.  In class, we are looking for ways to honour and celebrate different cultures, faiths, and religions.  

I am a proud Sikh-Canadian (East Indian, Punjabi) and perhaps your child's shared with you that I have been teaching them about my cultural practices and language :)  

In your child's thankful bag, you will find he or she has written various ways to say THANK YOU from different cultural backgrounds.  

Throughout the school year, there will be a regular emphasis on expressing an 'ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE" in our thoughts, words, and actions!

Also inside your child's thankful bag, you will find a bright pink note about the science behind gratitude and how it empowers our brain!  Please take a moment to go over this with your child :) 

In this gratitude note, you'll find that SEROTONIN which is known as the 'HAPPY HORMONE' because it contributes to a feeling of happiness and well-being.

Below, I have posted a read aloud that I shared in class about giving thanks (gratitude) from an Indigenous perspective.  Students learned all about appreciating and valuing nature and all that Mother Earth provides for us.   

There is science research behind gratitude and how it helps our brains.  The research tells us that gratitude is awesome for our health and well-being!  

YES, gratitude actually changes our brains :) Practicing gratitude increases neuron density and leads to higher emotional intelligence so we actually get smarter.  Gratitude is like a secret sauce for happiness :)

Being in a state of gratitude feels GOOD and it increases:

• optimism
• caring, cooperation and friendship
• motivation to work hard at school
• happiness
• calm and ready to learn!

LOOK AT ALL THOSE CHARACTER TRAITS!

STONE SOUP CELEBRATION:

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude to ALL the families who took time out of their work days to join us in our "Stone Soup" Celebration.  It was a huge success!!  

Many of you shared with me how very excited your child was to participate in this and to have you there meant the world to all of us.  When I totaled up the RSVP's to set out the chairs for you, I accounted for 30+ guests!  Your compassion and support was felt! 

Below, I will also post the many photos of  us creating the soup which lots of you commented on how delicious it was!  I agree!!  It was all the love that went into it from your child's contribution in washing, peeling, and cutting the veggies to place in our crock pots!!

As a teacher, I strongly believe in parent-child-teacher working closely together as a team to help our children rise to their highest potential!  I can say with confidence, the students certainly put in their "level 4 personal best" and performed exceptionally well!!

I am extremely proud of my students' efforts, they've lit up my heart!  At the conclusion of our Stone Soup presentation, I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with many of my students' families as well, what a wonderful opportunity to do so!  I was quite emotional, please know all my tears were of JOY!!

I have every confidence we are going to continue having a year filled with purpose, passion, and productivity!  This is the greatest gift I have received, having your child in my class :) 

LIVING IS GIVING:

It is with tremendous gratitude that I extend my love and hugs to all the families who were able to contribute to our class' food drive for the Collingwood Food Bank.  In total, we have 30+ items to donate!!  AMAZING :-)

It brings tears to my eyes when I think about your GENEROSITY and EMPATHETIC WAYS!!  Together we CAN, WILL, and ARE making a SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE in the lives of those who need it the most.

I am looking forward to taking our donations to the Food Bank this weekend :)  

From my heart to yours --> Merci, Gracias, Obrigado!

TERRY FOX RUN:

Today, we had a fantastic afternoon to honour our CANADIAN HERO Terry Fox!  It brought such joy to my heart seeing, hearing, and feeling my students demonstrating their love and respect for our beloved hero.  Check out the photos below!

Today it was projected to be a grey rainy day, but it was all sunshine for our run!  It brings tears to my eyes as I think about Terry Fox and his spirit shining down on us all as we all participated with pride and dignity.   

#tryliketerry!

TERRY FOX FOUNDATION:

It was our school goal to raise $5,800 for the Terry Fox Foundation and I am thrilled to share that we did it!

Thank you Bonta family for helping us reach our goal donating $99.00

Thank you to all the staff, students, and parents who generously donated to our Nottawa fundraising page.  Mrs. Johnson our staff lead for organizing this event was brought to tears of joy upon seeing our total at the end of the day!

I AM GRATEFUL SPIRIT DAY:

On Thursday, we had a spirit day to dress up as a person or something that we're grateful for.  It was wonderful to see all the different outfits!

Thank you for continuing to demonstrate school spirit everyone :)

FINN:

Congratulations to our very own Finn for placing 1st place in this weeks cross country meet!  

I am so proud of your humility and demonstrating true Nighthawk Character in your thoughts, words, and actions.  Keep up the great work!

MINDFULNESS:

What are you grateful for and why?  Instead of counting "sheep" before going to bed, TRY to count all your "blessings" you have in your life :)  Increase that serotonin!

You'll be amazed at how many things you're blessed with!  It is my belief that reflecting upon things we're grateful for will help and can improve your sleep and fully energize your body for the next day.  Give it a TRY!

GROWTH MINDSET:

I believe our willingness to give and our thoughtful gestures show the true meaning of kindness.  

May you all be wrapped with kindness and thoughtfulness this Thanksgiving and beyond :)

From my heart to yours ... MEEGWICH

Ms. Gill