Week #13: Nov. 27th - Dec. 1st

Dear Families,

Happy December!  It's the "most wonderful time of the year" and I've overheard some of the kids enthusiastically buzzing about their Elf on a shelf, creating their Christmas lists, writing letters to Santa, and all the other joys that this season brings! 

Although it is a magical time for many, we must not lose sight of those who may be struggling mentally, emotionally, and financially during this time of year.  It looks differently for everyone. 

We regularly talk about the importance of ‘LIVING IS GIVING’ and we want to support those who may need some help this holiday season to make it a little lighter and brighter. 

Our class family is truly thinking about the feelings of others because we will be participating in a variety of activities and initiatives that will support important organizations such as Sick Kids, the elders at Sunset Manor, and My Friends House.

Please read on to find out the specifics on how we are going to graciously give back to those that need our time, attention, and donations the most.  Thank you in advance for your care, compassion, and contributions :)

NOTTAWA'S 12 DAYS OF GIVING:

Our school family is pleased to be supporting our local food banks and My Friends House.  We are hosting a 12 Days of Giving where Nottawa students, staff, and families may wish to bring in items for 12 days in December.  

Thank you to Mrs. Garvan and our school's Leadership Team for organizing the logistics of this!

The wish list of items and dates are posted below for your reference.  We will also write it down in the agenda as friendly reminders too.  

Nottawa continues to be one of the most generous and giving communities that I've had the pleasure of being part of, truly!  It always warms my heart by seeing student and family engagement in helping make a difference in the lives of others :)  

Thank you to the students and families who have already donated and/or will in the coming days, your contributions are appreciated!

TERRY FOX DONATIONS:

Speaking of generosity, thank you to our Nottawa school family for raising close to $6,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.  HOW AMAZING!!

As a result of reaching our school goal, Mae and her little brother (out of a hat) got to pie Mrs. Mortimer in the face!  Check it out below ;)

Everybody had a blast watching this (look at Mrs. Johnson's reaction) and seeing our principal being such a good sport :)

Here at Nottawa, we keep Terry Fox's legacy alive and will always do our part in keeping his dream going to find a cure for cancer.  Way to go Nighthawks!

CHARACTER RECOGNITION:

Congratulations to James, Kegan, and Sophie for being recognized for their COURAGE & BRAVERY at the assembly yesterday.

Thank you for displaying courage in your thoughts, words, and actions.  You've worked hard at doing the right thing even when it's difficult.  Your classmates and I are so proud of YOU!

DECEMBER'S CHARACTER ATTRIBUTES:

Our class' focus for December will be on EMPATHY & COMPASSION.  These attributes are close to my heart and ones that I want to reinforce and continue to do my part to help instill in all my students.

When we are empathetic and compassionate, we are thinking about the feelings of others.  This helps shift our mindset from a 'ME to a WE' perspective.  When we help others, it often makes us feel good too!  

The video below is informative in helping children (and adults) recognize the importance and value of empathy.  Give it a listen and at the end of it, talk about its message with your child :)

SANTA LEADS THE WAY TO EMPATHY:

Exciting news Nighthawks!  I have be in touch with Santa and he will be visiting our school on Friday December 15th!  YES, you read that correctly :-)  

Since Dec. 2017, Santa excitedly comes to our school and is so amazed by Nottawa's empathetic ways!  See the photos below :) 

I have every confidence, we will continue to show Santa how EMPATHETIC & COMPASSIONATE Nottawa's staff, students, and families are because we genuinely care about helping others!

Patiently awaiting 1:1 time with Santa :)

Donations to My Friends House in Dec. 2019

Who better than Santa to understand the feelings and needs of others?  After all, this month's character attributes in our class are Empathy & Compassion!

Donations to My Friends House in Dec. 2022

To help reinforce this trait, we are asking our Nottawa students to think about others, especially the people who may be visiting My Friend’s House (Womens’ Shelter) this holiday season.

Grade 5 Jardine & I :)

To meet Santa, we are encouraging students to bring in toilet paper to donate to Santa on Fri. Dec. 15th for My Friends’ House.  

Many thanks in advance for your unwavering support!!  We can all make a positive difference this holiday season :)

GOOGLE CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT:

In the spirit of expressing our EMPATHY and GRATITUDE, our class family is also thinking about the feelings of our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).  

The men and women of the CAF have demonstrated time and again that they will rise to ANY challenge to help protect our country.

It is our class' mission to let the armed forces members know that we appreciate their service by sending them a message of love, peace, and hope this holiday season.  

Many CAF members will be away from their families which will be so difficult.  We hope our letters provide these men and women with some comfort and happiness while they continue to serve and protect our country.

This weekend, I encourage your child to please access Google Classroom and begin working on their letter.

A printed and decorated copy is due Dec. 20th.  I will be mailing these letters of gratitude over the holidays.  Many thanks for your support in this special writing activity :-)

ACTION OF HAPPINESS:
We sure are on a fantastic roll in showing our empathetic ways!  Perhaps your child came home excited to share our kindness challenge for this month using his or her December Kindness Calendar?!  I hope so!

Enjoy taking the DO GOOD DECEMBER challenge with your family!   

Now more than ever, we NEED EACHOTHER to help uplift our spirits during this holiday season!

Thank you to the students who are already have been actively engaging in the suggested acts of kindness provided in the calendars I've sent home in Sept. - Nov.  I really enjoyed listening to some of the kind gestures you've completed!!

For me and many others, the holiday season is an excellent time to stop, think, and reflect upon all the wonderful ways we can spread JOY, PEACE, and KINDNESS for not only our loved ones, but also for those who need us the most who may not have a hot meal or warm place to rest at night.

Together, we can make a positive difference in the lives of others!

HOLIDAY HAPPY MAIL PROGRAM:

Here's another meaningful initiative which I can't wait to participate in with my students!  

Our class will be joining in on the 'Holiday Happy Mail' Program.  What is it?  The mission is to bring joy to the elderly by distributing handmade cards and written letters. 

There is an epidemic of loneliness among our elderly.  Every day, many seniors are spending what are supposed to be their golden years in long-term care homes with little or no connection to the outside world.  

Many leave their rooms for only meals and medical appointments.  Many have little family left, or have families who live hours away and don’t visit often. 

The seniors who move into long-term care facilities have to leave their homes, beloved pets and close friends.  We often forget that seniors are a vibrant, valuable part of our communities with so much knowledge that can be shared with others.  We’re here to remind seniors of that, one kind act at a time.

In this age of screens and instant communication, we often forget the power of a handwritten note. Who wouldn’t love to receive a kind, personalized card complete with original artwork and a handwritten message out of the blue?  

You have the power to brighten a senior’s day with just a few minutes of your time by creating a handmade card that will be hand delivered to a senior in a long-term care facility.

I have every confidence students will be buzzing with excitement to begin their letter and card writing for a senior at Sunset Manor (see photo below) which is located in Collingwood. 

This a very meaningful writing activity as students are yet again, demonstrating this month's character attributes of:  EMPATHY & COMPASSION!  We are thinking about the feelings of the elderly :)

Here's something else that's exciting that we will be doing!  I have contacted Sunset Manor and our class is planning/coordinating to set up a very special Google Meet with the elders who will receive our handmade cards. It will be an opportunity for us to also interact and share some songs with them!  

Yes, you read that correctly :-)  I've done this with my classes over the years, and they always enjoy this heartfelt experience!  

See some photos below.  This experience surely brightened the seniors hearts!!  Elders LOVE listening to children perform.  I just had to get my class this year to participate as well!

A Google Meet my former class did

I will be sure to post all about this experience before our winter holidays so you too can get a glimpse of this special Meet.  Stay tuned everyone :-)

HOLIDAY TEACHER GIFT:

I sent home a note regarding this today (photos below), but I also wanted to address it here on my blog as well :)

As the holidays approach, there may be some families who may be thinking of a gift to give to their child's teacher(s). 

For me, the greatest gift I have received is teaching, learning, and growing with your child this school year.  I truly mean this! 

In lieu of buying a gift for me this holiday season, please, please consider donating to SickKids.  It is a cause that is near and dear to my heart and to other Nottawa families.  

Many of us will be blessed to be home with our loved ones this holiday season, however, there are many others who cannot due to illness. It is the season of giving and what better way than to help other families in need.

I believe EMPATHY is one of life’s greatest traits - thinking about the feelings of others :) 

Thank you parents for your time, energy, efforts, and consideration in helping children and their families who need us the most.

If you wish to donate, please visit → https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/

MATH:

Check out the link below for resources from Math is Fun to support your child's understanding of metric measures which is our focus in math currently.

In this resource, you will find lessons, activities, and quizzes for your child to access, try out, and learn, Learn, LEARN :-)

Students had an opportunity to explore this site in class with an elbow partner, so they are familiar with it :)  Check it out this weekend.

https://www.mathsisfun.com/measure/index.html

SCIENCE:

This week, we learned about Food Chains.  They show how each living thing gets food and how nutrients are passed from species to species.  

Everything in a food chain is either a producer, a consumer, or a decomposer.  Watch the video below. 

Now, see if your child can share with you the definition of a producer, a consumer, and decomposers :)  We completed the following sheet in class to help solidify our skills!

OUTDOOR LEARNING:

On Wed. Dec. 6th, the Wye Marsh instructors will be visiting our school for a day of outdoor fun science learning!

It is important that your child dresses warmly for the weather as we will be outdoors for the majority of the day. 

Please also encourage your child to show their utmost respect and gratefulness for this opportunity.  We are very fortunate to have the Wye Marsh educators visit our school and they will return again in the spring (April 4th 2024).  

I will be sure to post many images in next week's blog for you to see us in science action :-) 

GRAMMAR RULE # 6:

This week, we learned all about plural and singular nouns.  Singular nouns name one person, place, or thing.  Plural nouns name more than one.

Below, I have posted a video which provides examples for this rule.

Please take an opportunity to go over the grammar sheets that came home today and see if your child can share the difference between SINGULAR & PLURAL NOUNS.  

Ask:  When do you add an s, es, or ies to a noun to make it plural?  

SNOWBALL THROWING:

Here is an important message from our principal Mrs. Mortimer about our ZERO TOLERANCE for snowball throwing.   

As we know, there can be serious injuries to students by throwing snowballs and we do not want this to happen at our school.  

Students are of course welcome to build structures, snow angels, and have all around fun with the snow.

Student wellness and safety is of utmost importance to all staff and we appreciate you (parents) to please have a talk with your child(ren) at home to also help reinforce our school's policy of no snowball throwing at any time.  This will benefit everyone, thank you.

MALCOLM & BENTON:

Thank you to Malcolm and Benton for their contributions for our Tabs for Kids this week!  I have every confidence that our blue jug will continue to fill higher and higher :)

Way to go boys!!

MINDFULNESS:

Here's a wonderful act of giving to get us thinking about ways we can make this holiday season better for one and ALL!  Please watch this video below to get inspired!  We all have it in us to give :) 

GROWTH MINDSET:

Thank you to Jonas for providing this week's growth mindset!  I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and words with our class family.

"Pencils have erasers because we are made to make mistakes!"  - Jonas

If your child has a growth mindset that they'd like to share, I've encouraged them to write it down on a sticky note and then place it at the front of the class by Our Class Promise chart :-) 

Looking forward to seeing and celebrating other children's mindset messages as the week's go on!

From my heart to yours ... MEEGWICH,

Ms. Gill