Happy Love Day!

Can you believe it is the middle if February already?!

 
January flew by and I have a sneaky suspicion that this is an indication of how quickly the rest of the year will go! Every year I am amazed at how quickly times goes!

As early in the year as it seems, we have already begun discussions about the student's progress and where their learning journeys will take them next year. For some students, they will be returning to their home school full time while other students will be returning here to the PLC at St. John the Apostle for another year in this program. It is necessary for these conversations to happen this early as there are many protocol to follow and some paperwork that needs to be done! I have been lucky enough to have already spoken with many of you about this. Please know that I will be touching base with everyone about the next steps for your child. If I have sent home any documentation for what is upcoming for your child, please fill it in and return it to the school as soon as you can. Feel free to call me if you have any questions about the forms.

Just a reminder that your child's Term 1 report card and IEP will be coming home soon. These reports are completed as a collaboration between myself and the homeschool. They are sent home from your child's homeschool. 

If you would like to discuss your child's progress at all, either on the phone or in person, I am happy to talk with you. I will send home an interview request form at the end of the week. Some schools will be including the Term 2 IEP's in with the reports from Term 1. This means you will be receiving the grades and evaluations of their progress on their expectations from Term 1 as well as the new IEP goals that your child will be working toward in Term 2. Some schools will be sending the Term 2 expectations home at a later date. Regardless of when you will be receiving the Term 2 document, I am happy to go over it with you as well. There is a lot of information in those documents and your voice as the parents is important. Your input on the IEP is encouraged! 

We have been really busy here in the Primary Language Class! So much learning and many exciting events have happened in the past few weeks!  

The students have been doing a great job with their word wall words. Just as a reminder, I send the words home each week in their notebooks. You are welcome to work through the words as you would like. As I have mentioned before, I completely understand that your lives are busy and there are so many other things you would like to be doing with your children that are not homework! That being said, exposure to these words is extremely beneficial. Repetition and daily use of these words will improve their recognition of the words, alleviating some stress while learning to read. There are many different apps and programs that focus on sight words as well. Please let me know if you would like some information regarding these useful sites. 

Lately, we have been exploring different technological tools to help us in our learning. The students have been working in an app called SeeSaw. We used this program last year and, and the students who were familiar with it were able to teach the new students about it! With this program, they can record their learning in picture, photograph and video format. They are many options including taking a video, recording their voice or show their learning by drawing. They are all able to independently record their learning and store it in their own file. I am pretty impressed with the ease of which they have picked it up!  

I have also introduced an app called Google Read and Write to the Grade 3 students. This is a tool that they will be using to help them gain independence as a learner. This program helps students with reading, comprehension, vocabulary and writing. I am very excited to teach the students this tool as I hope they will be able to use it independently in the junior grades. I will also be introducing this tool to the Grade 1 and 2 students later in the year. 

Today is Valentine's Day! The students will be working on different literacy stations to showcase their learning.

Check out Twitter to see some of the fun! @MrsFaloonPLC

Today is also Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. This afternoon, students will gather in the gymnasium to hear Father Lindsay from St. John the Apostle Parish talk about this important liturgical season. The students will receive ashes on their foreheads.

The students will also be thinking about the importance of a Lenten Promise. They will be writing one Lenten promise (for example: I will help mom with dishes, I will be kind to my friends at school, etc.).  We will revisit these promises often throughout this liturgical season.  It is our hope that parents will continue to encourage their children to make positive choices at home as well (for example: completing chores at home for a small amount of money) in support of our school-wide initiative with the OK Clean Water.
Please see this information for what is coming up in the next few weeks to support our Lenten Projects.

OK CLEAN WATER     

40 cans for lent!

St. John the Apostle’s

LENTEN PROJECTS

BACKGROUND: Ottawa-Kumbo (OK) Partnership

The OK Clean Water Project takes its name from the link that has been developed between Ottawa, Canada and Kumbo, Cameroon, Africa. The volunteers in Ottawa raise funds to support the water delivery systems being built in Kumbo and surrounding villages. The villagers in and around Kumbo volunteer their labour to build the water delivery structures and then receive training to manage and maintain the water supply. In doing so they establish ownership of their efforts.

40 Cans for Lent  We will be working with other schools in our area, St. John the Apostle Church, and the Knights of Columbus to raise 2000 lbs of food which will be shared with Morrison Gardens and Pinecrest Terrace Food Bank. Bring in a can or two every Tuesday during Lent and we’ll arrange a pick up from your classroom.  We will begin collecting every Tuesday beginning on Shrove Tuesday, February 14th.

Events- Mark your Calendars

Wednesday, Feb 14th       Launch of our OK Clean Water Project and 1000 lbs of Food on Ash Wednesday.

Friday, Feb 23rd  Jersey Day/ Hat Day. Make a donation to wear your favourite team jersey and/ or hat.  Some friendly contests will be held during the day.

Thursday, March 1th    Mile of Coins Day.   Let’s line the halls with our loose change donations and see if we can’t go all of the way around the library.  How many coins would it take to do that?  

Friday, March 9th     PJ DAY! Make a donation to OK Clean Water and wear your favourite PJs for the day.

Friday,  March 29th    Presentation of our school donation to Ms. Horan and the OK Clean Water Project at our April Assembly.

We are encouraging students to donate coins from their allowance or money they have earned so that, in a very real way, their efforts and donations are making a direct and positive impact on the lives of others.

Next week is Winter Olympic Spirit and Kindness week. There are many things scheduled for the week. Please take a look at what we have going on!

• Winter Activity Day: For grades 1-6, our winter activity events are Wednesday morning.  Spirit and Participation  points will be awarded for each event, except the hot chocolate station. Our station leaders (St. Paul students) will award the spirit and participation points.   
• We will be having a winter fun block for the afternoon class! Stay tuned for more information!
• Hot chocolate for all. Donations will be collected in homeroom class.
• All outdoor activities are weather dependent.
• Monday is Family Day.

DAY	TUESDAY, FEB 20	WEDNESDAY, FEB 21	THURSDAY, FEB 22	FRIDAY, FEB 23
THEME	TEAM CANADA DAY DRESS IN YOUR RED AND WHITE	OLYMPIC SPIRIT DAY	PAY IT FORWARD THURSDAY	ALL ABOUT SJA FRIDAY BLUE AND GOLD
ACTIVITY		Grades 1-6 Winter Activity Events AM (St Paul Students)	Rosary Leaders in AM	Back-Up Day for Winter Activity 1-6  AM Assembly: Block 4 Class Spirit Songs, Chants, Dances. Spirit Winners!