“Let all your feelings roll on past.” – Wyatt

Dear Families,

We have reached the end of another month and soon entering “April showers bring May flowers!”  As the temperatures become more and more ‘spring-like,’ I am noticing a rise in the energy level of my students as well.  I believe we are all ready to soak in some vitamin D and the warmth of the sun.  Please keep doing the ‘sun dance’ as I would like to utilize opportunities to be outside to do D.P.A., and other school-related learning! 

Gym – Basketball Unit:

As many are aware, another one of my passions is sport and coaching.  I am fortunate to have the opportunity to teach, mentor, and develop skills in various sports; in particular, basketball.  Many junior students are trying out for, and have tried out for our New Lowell basketball team.  As a result, I decided to introduce a basketball unit to help my students develop their skills and schema in this area.  Here are the following skills I have introduced with my students with specific success criteria to help them achieve these fundamental skills; please ask your child about these and to demonstrate them at your home.

Success Criteria for Safely Dribbling and Ball Handling Under Control:

·         Keep head and eyes up

·         Push ball down using finger pads

·         Keep ball low and close to the body

·         Flex knees and lean forward

·         Keep dribble low (below the waist)

·         Flex wrist and fingers

·         Protect ball with body

·         Cushion ball on up bounce

Success Criteria for Chest Passing from the Dribble:

·         Ready position

·         Position feet shoulder-width apart.  Point toes straight ahead with dominant foot slightly forward.

·         Flex hips and knees

·         Hold ball close at chest level

·         Keep eyes up and focused on the target

·         Keep elbows relaxed, flexed and away from the body

·         Extend arms and flick wrists outward

·         Step in direction of target and aim for the team mate’s chest area

·         Follow through with fingers pointing in the direction of the pass

Success Criteria for Pivoting:

·         The first foot to hit the floor after receiving a pass or holding the ball from the dribble becomes the pivoting foot

·         Most of body weight is shifted to the pivoting foot

·         Non-pivoting foot helps to turn the body

·         Square the feet, hips and shoulders toward intended direction of pass or shot, and use a balanced stance

Success Criteria for Lay-Ups:

·         Assume an athletic stance

·         Keep eyes on the target

·         Move toward basket from 45 degree angle

·         Keep both hands on ball

·         Take 1-2 steps, jumping off foot opposite shooting hand

·         Extend elbow and release ball from finger pads such that the ball will hit the target (use backboard)

·         Shoot with palm facing up and toward target

Math – developing Learning Goals with Success Criteria:

As stated in last week’s blog, I said I would post pictures of my students as they accountably worked with a peer to develop Success Criteria in the area of 2D & 3D Geometry.  I was extremely proud of their efforts as they collaborated effectively to help them consolidate their learning in this strand of mathematics.  Students were then permitted to use their Criteria to assist them when they wrote their assessment – well done boys and girls!  I have put up their work in our classroom for us all to acknowledge and celebrate!  In the coming weeks, your child will be challenged to create their own math success criteria at the end of a unit to utilize for a test.  We have been working towards this from the beginning of the year and I have every confidence that each student will achieve this!

Jake & Ryan

Steven & Wyatt

Owen & Bradley

Mikaila & Julia

Josie & Alexandra

Eryn, Carrie-ann &  Trista

Anjoli, Sammy (absent), Eagen, Alexander

William & Jax

“Namaste – I honour the place in you of light, of love, of truth, of peace …”

Miss Gill

  

“You always pass failure on the way to success.” – Mickey Rooney

Thank you Josie for providing this quote to share with your peers and I.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Dear Families,

It was lovely seeing your child after our March Break.  As you can see from the picture above, many students arrived in their St. Patties spirit on Monday; this brought a huge smile to my face J  Thank you for dressing up and sharing your pride!  It is always so refreshing to be part of this fun and excitement!

Daniel Bell – “I Promise to End Bullying NOW!”

Daniel's promise to put an end to bullying now!



The Pledge - thanks Daniel for providing one for each of us!!



Integrity - "We can always be trusted even when NO ONE IS WATCHING!!"

Daniel arrived to school bright-eyed and filled with enthusiasm because he had a powerful activity and message to share with his peers and teacher.  Over the break, Daniel and his family purchased some cards to spread the word of helping prevent ‘Bullying’ and to put an end to it in our thoughts, words, and actions.  As a whole class, we did a shared reading and each student received a card and signed it.  We all made a promise to ourselves to make a change.  Daniel, you have made a significant difference in our learning community, thank you for being “the change we wish to see in our world!”  Together we CAN and ARE making a positive difference!!!  I look forward to reinforcing your teachings with our class for the remainder of the year as well as in all my future classes!!!  Thank you J

Math – 3D Skeleton Building:

As part of our Geometry & Spatial Sense learning, I had the students construct 3D skeletons and analyze the important features of each.  For example, recognizing that the plastacine represented the vertices and the toothpicks represented the edges.   We also learned that skeletons do not have faces like other regular 3D figures.  The students thoroughly enjoyed making these skeletons as it served as a purposeful activity to reinforce and help describe the important properties of 3D figures. 

This week students will be working in small groups to create “Success Criteria” to help consolidate their learning for this unit of math which will then assist them for their Geometry assessment.   Please take a moment to ask your child about this process.  I will be sure to post pictures for this activity in my next blog update as well.  And now, here are a few pictures from our 3D skeleton building, enjoy!

3 Part Math Lesson - Minds On, Action, Consolidation!

Minds On activity to activate our schema!

Izzy, Owen, and Carrie-ann diligently constructing their skeletons

Ryan, Grace, and Julia working hard!

Daniel, Mikaila, and Wyatt a wonderful constructing trio!

Trista, Steven, Alexandra, and Eagen - tremendous work!

A Pen and Leaf fan showing their models!

William and Anjoli

Bradley's models

Jakob and Ryan all smiles as always!

Carrie-ann and Josie working together to get the job done!

Trista's models - she successfully created 4 skeletons with 4, 5,  and 6 vertices!  You did it!

“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.”

Namaste,

Miss Gill

“A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he gives up.” 

Thank you Julia for bringing in this fortune cookie quote to share with our class!  What a powerful message!

Rockin' out on Pajama Day!

Dear Families,

It is officially our March Break!  I hope you’re all enjoying the spring like temperatures and weather!  My prayers came true from last week, wihoo!  I am really looking forward to spending this Break outside in nature with my loved ones close.  I feel very fortunate to have this time off to spend it family and dear friends.  Thus far, I have already been out snowshoeing twice this weekend; I think Nordic Highlands has inspired me greatly in pursuing this winter activity more and more in my life!  It is a fabulous work out and time well spent amongst the trees getting fresh air.  I am wishing you ALL a safe and enjoyable Break with your child!  I will see you on St. Patrick’s Day with a … yep, you guessed it - A SMILE J  If you’d like, please wear GREEN to get into the spirit!

“Inclusiveness” Recipients:

Josie, Bradley, and Xavier - always inclusive to their peers!

K-8 Inclusiveness Recipients - congratulations to one and ALL!!

Congratulations to Josie, Bradley, and Xavier for being recognized for displaying Inclusiveness– “We include others in our play, we never turn anyone away.  You all have worked diligently hard to demonstrate this trait and I am so very proud of your efforts!  Continue to be your best selves in all that you do!  I have also included a picture of all the other students from K-8 who received this award as well, our school is filled with amazing children!

Nordic Highlands – FINAL SESSION:

On Wed. we traveled to Duntroon to participate in our last session for Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing.  The weather this time cooperated, it was a beauty out!  The temperature was perfect and the sun was shining, we couldn’t have predicted a better day.  The first part of the morning we spent on our skis with Chance (a young, talented, passionate instructor).  He taught the students effective strategies to go up/down hills, getting up after a fall, and he challenged many of the students to try the ‘blue’ trail which has many steep hills!  Thank you Chance for being such a fantastic leader and energizing my students to step outside their comfort zones to persevere!! 

In the afternoon, we joined Lucy for snowshoeing in the woods!  As part of our learning, we were taught some techniques for shelter-building.  The students quickly got into groups and built shelters using materials from their surroundings.  Let me share, this task was not easy, but each group worked together to get the job done!  I was in awe of their creativity, determination, hard work, and not giving up!  The shelters turned out amazing.   I could see and feel the pride of each group.  As a treat for their efforts, each student got the opportunity to roast a yummy hot dog in a wood burning fire – it was finger-lickin’ goooooood.  Please take a moment to enjoy some of these pictures  …

Chance instructing us all on how to effectively get up a hill using the 'pizza' style method

Steven, Jax, Anjoli listening attentively and using Chance's model

Ready?  Set.  We're off!

Confident skiers independently venturing on some steeper hills

Eagen, William, Jax, Ryan - enthusiastic and ready to build their shelter in the woods!

Owen, Wyatt, and Daniel - determined to dig out a loooong piece of wood to start their build!

Alex, Jakob, and Steven - all set, ready to go!

Trista patiently gathering material and gently placing her pieces for her creation!

Eryn and Mrs. Knowler working together to get the job done!  Great team work girls!

Josie, Grace, and Anjoli inside their cozy shelter!

Perseverence at its finest, you did it boys! 

Julia, Mikaila and I nestled in cozily in their shelter!

Eryn and Julia all smiles upon their completion!

Sammi, Julia, Mikaila and I enjoying the view!

Sammi, Julia, Eryn, and Mikaila - a hard working team!

Snowy, forest bliss!

Peek-a-boo!  We SEE you!

Proud builders - Carrie-ann & Trista

Their efforts paid off, well done boys!

Owen, Wyatt, and Daniel - they dug, lugged, and assembled their shelter wonderfully!

Well deserved hot dog roast!

Hot dog time!

Grateful Ryan wishing you all peace and happiness for your March Break!

Mrs. Knowler (Julia’s Mom):

I would like to express our utmost gratitude and appreciation to Mrs. Knowler for spending each trip day with us.  She came all three times and WE are very grateful for this!!  Your time, energy, love and support means so much to us.  I can say with confidence – without you, our experience may not have been as smooth, and well executed.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts; you are an amazing volunteer, mother, PERSON!!!

“Pain is temporary.  Quitting is forever.” –BayHaven Nursing Home, Collingwood

Namaste,

Miss Gill