Spring is in the Air

Surprise Mrs. Leo!

On Friday our class was able to co-host a Surprise Baby Shower, for Mrs. Leo. Her Grade 4's came to me a few weeks ago, asking if we could help plan this surprise for her. We celebrated and shared treats with one another, in honour of Baby Leo. Mrs. Leo was very thankful.


Let's End the Stigma! World Autism Awareness Day ~ April 1, 2014

Thanks to Lynn, as she has sent the above link to share with the Siena community.  Western students share their stories and personal experiences. Please take a peek.



Join us this Thursday April 3rd.




Religion
We will begin to prepare for Holy Week. As our class will lead in the Liturgy about the Stations of the Cross, on Thursday April 17, 2014.

Math
Our next unit is Chapter 9: Multiplying Greater Numbers. This is a fairly short unit which we will be extending and applying the multiplication skills from Chapter 6, to multiply 2 and 3 digit numbers by 1 digit. Students are encouraged to continue to practice multiplication skills and drills, as I predict division in the near future. ;)

Language
We will continue to learn and practice persuasive writing at school. For extra practice, have your child write a persuasive letter using any of the following ideas.

Persuasive Writing Prompts:
Eating Ice Cream everyday
Video Games
Technology in school (iPads in the classroom)
Vending Machines in school
Being a Fit Kid
School Uniforms
Topic of your choice


Physical Education

We have been having so much fun in phys.ed. We have been working on basketball skills, co-operative games and soon will begin our dance unit. :)

Easter Food Drive
The Siena Easter food drive will run from April 7-16, 2014. Remember, every little bit helps.








Have an excellent week everyone. So thrilled that spring is finally in the air.

Math Rocks! Perimeter & Area

Here is a great song that can help with review for our test next Monday.

Last Week of March :)

Technical Difficulties
I would like to start off by sending my most sincere apologies, I am having internet issues at my house and am unable to post anything.

Tubing was a great success!
What a beautiful day to be outside and have fun. The kids and teachers enjoyed themselves this past Friday. Thank you to the parents and grandparents who were able to attend.
Please know that we still have 2 helmuts here at school.

Healthy School Committee
Eating Through the Rainbow!
Monday: Bring in something healthy that is red to eat.
Tuesday: Bring in something healthy that is orange to eat.
Wednesday: Bring in something healthy that is yellow to eat.
Thursday: Bring in something healthy that is green to eat.
Friday: Bring in something healthy that is blue/purple to eat.
 
Big News
At the LDCSB Board Meeting last night, it was announced that Mr. Cocurullo would be transferred to St. Theresa school for September 2014.  Honestly, we are a somewhat sad here at St. Catherine of Siena only because Mr. Cocurullo has been an excellent principal and we are truly blessed to have him. We wish Mr. Cocurullo all the best at his new school! 

We will welcome Mr. Mike Bruneel, currently the principal at St. Jude's (Ingersoll) has been appointed principal of St. Catherine of Siena for September 2014. We look forward to meeting Mr. Bruneel. (All of this information can be found in the SCOS newsletter that was sent home today)

Curriculum Corner

Religion Focus
Our Lenten journey together with Jesus.
At home focus: Doing a few "extras" together as a family.


Math 
~ The students are working away at their Minute Madness Minutes and improving daily.
~ They have been learning about the Area and Perimeter of shapes and we will be wrapping up the unit this week.
There will be a test this Monday, March 31, 2014.

Math Review
Standard Area Units
Square Centimetres and Square Metres
Relating Linear Dimensions and Area
Relating Shape, Area & Perimeter
Solving Problems Using Organized Lists


Language

Persuasive Writing ~We have moved on from persuasive letter writing to the beginning stages of planning a persausive essay. The students went home the other day and had to choose a topic of their interest to write about in the near future.

Creative Writing/Journal ~ As a teacher, it is a blessing to see the creativity that comes about through your children's imagination and is transferred to their writing. Their limericks and Something that is Worth More to Me than Gold journal entries were a pleasure to read.

Novel Study ~ Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. We are all enjoying our novel study and reading about Peter and Fudge's relationship.

Social Studies

Today we began our new Social Studies unit, Early Societies. Our class will investigate various early societies around the world. We will investigate what life was like, how they were similar and different to each other, how the people used their envirionmnet and how life in the societies compares top life today.

As we work on this unit, I will be sending home activies that you and your child can work on together.  Here are some other ways you can support your child's learning throughout this unit.

Learning Skills
~ Together with your child, formulate questions about an early society that interest you.  For example: Why did the Egyptians build pyramids?

~ Gather and organize some information related to your questions. You could research together, by watching documentaries, reading articles online, or going to the library to take out books on the topic. Ask your child to determine if you need more information to answer the question.

~ Interpret and analyze the information that you have gathered together. Ask your child to identify the key ideas in the resources that you have located.

~ Draw conclusions together.  Ask your child to creat a concluding statement that answers the question you started with.

Please note that anytime your child has social studies activities to bring home, s/he will bring the text book home but absolutely needs to bring it back the next day so the other junior classes can use them.


Friendly Reminders
Dental Screening ~ Thursday March 27, 2014.
Off Uniform Day ~  Friday March 28, 2014.
Lenten Reconciliation ~ Next Wednesday April 2nd, 2014.




 

Week of March 17th

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!      
Nothing says "Welcome Back" like some good old "Irish" school spirit. The Healthy School Committee has asked students to bring a green fruit or vegetable in honour of celebrating St. Patrick. Students are also welcome to wear green. Please keep in mind that it is only a non-uniform day if you choose to wear green.

I hope you all had a wonderful March Break! I spent mine celebrating my niece's birthday, catching up with family and friends and a couple of days away shopping.  I can't wait to hear about all of your family vacations & stories.

 
Rescheduled Carnaval tubing is Friday, March 21.

March Madness

Religion:    
 

Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Tuesday:
We will be sharing a pancake snack before first recess on Tuesday.  I will be making pancakes first thing in the morning. I am asking for students to bring in a toonie to help provide the  syrup, plates, cutlery etc.  Thank you:)

Ash Wednesday:
We will be having our Ash Wednesday service on Wed. at 1:30. 


Math:
This week we will continue with multiplying and dividing basic fact families.  Our test will be this coming Thursday. We will be starting a new unit after the March Break, however, we will still be continuing our Minute Madness challenges daily as we will get into more difficult multiplication/division, fractions etc., in the months to come.  You can further support your child at home by reviewing the following strategies:                                                  
*doubling 
* grouping
*using arrays for fact families                                     
* repeated addition

Chapter 6: Multiplication and Division Facts

Review

Test Date: Thursday, March 6^th, 2014

1.    Using Doubling to Multiply: using repeated addition and doubling to multiply.

2.    Sharing and Grouping: Use 2 meanings from division to solve problems. Sharing (knowing the number of groups) and Grouping (knowing the number in each group)

3.    Arrays for Fact Families: describe arrays using fact families.

4.    Using Facts to Multiply Larger Numbers: using basic facts, patterns, and mental math to multiply.

5.    Halving Strategies: Facts with 5 and 10-Finding patterns in multiplication and division facts with 5 and 10.

6.    Adding On: Facts with 3 and 6-using addition to multiply and divide with 3 and 6.

7.    Subtraction Strategy: Facts with 9-Using counting patterns to multiply and divide with 9.

8.    Number Neighbours: Facts with 7 and 8-Use facts to multiply and divide with 7 and 8.

Language:
We have begun the novel study, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.  We will read this story together focusing on vocabulary, reading with expression and comprehension.