Week #11: Nov. 11th - 14th

Dear Families,

As I write this blog update, my heart's bursting with JOY 🤩The highlight of my week was meeting with my students' family members 🤗 

Thank you (parents) for taking the time to attend, celebrate, and enjoy your child's academic, social, and emotional achievements thus far in the school year!  

The conferences are one of my most favourite times of the year as I get to connect with families 💞

You (parents) are making such a significant difference in how and what I teach on a daily basis.  I am in awe of the remarkable child(ren) you're raising who I have every confidence will take care of our future and the planet 🌍 

During the student-led conferences, I was extremely proud of all my learners as they clearly, confidently, and calmly led his or her conference by sharing their self-assessment (Progress Report), personal goals, and Remembrance Day message.

As I shared, this is a life skill your child’s developing - to lead a meeting and to hone their public speaking abilities 👌🏾 

It was your child’s chance to shine ✨ and they certainly lit up our hearts 💞 and minds, didn’t they 🥰 ?! Absolutely 💯 

As you could sense, your child worked exceptionally hard in class to prepare for this special experience and I am so proud of the manner in which everyone diligently prepared themselves :)  

Throughout the conferences, I experienced some heart-warming moments with parents and I really appreciate and value all your positive and constructive feedback.  #lifelonglearner

I will use it to continue to provide my best as an educator for your child's academic, social, emotional and behavioural needs.  Meeting the needs of my students is of utmost importance to me and I will always work hard to ensure they receive a compassionate, caring, and safe environment to learn, work, and play in 🏫 

Again, thank you for your continued support, cooperation, and understanding.  

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school or via email pgill@scdsb.on.ca

BULLYING PREVENTION WEEK:

Did you know that the third week of November is dedicated to Bullying Prevention?  This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart as your child's teacher because I have faced racism first hand as a youngster, and unfortunately, even as an adult.

To help show my students just how important this cause (bullying prevention) is to me, I have shared my personal experiences of being mistreated by my peers because of the colour of my skin.  

Please know, I want to be real and authentic with my students and how important it is to me that we all ACCEPT and EMBRACE others for who they are and never judge others based on their race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc ...  

These are the hands of my friend Lindsay and I hiking up 6th street, we found this heart!
"Love is the key to the world's problems."

MY STORY:

As a youngster, I attended Connaught Public School in the late 1980's and 1990's, many of the students there at the time didn't have experience with children of colour and I feel they didn't know how to relate to me.  

Unfortunately, each day in grades 2, 3 and halfway through even grade 4, I would quietly come home hurt and crying because I was "different."  

I would honestly want to wash away my brown skin so I wouldn't stand out.  I desperately wanted to fit in with the other kids and take the "brown away."

Left side grade 3; right side grade 4

But then halfway through my grade 4 year, my life changing teacher Mrs. Boucher entered my life!!  She was the first person who made me feel that I MATTERED.  

You see, Mrs. Boucher helped me recognize my differences as my strength (my SUPERPOWER) and that I should never be ashamed of who I was (an Indo-Canadian).

Mrs. Ann Boucher (my champion, my HERO)

In the middle of grade 4 and onwards, I became proud and confident in my OWN SKIN (see photo below).  Can you see the difference in my smile?  

In my grade 3 portrait (see above), I may have been smiling on the outside, but as a 4th grader (almost 5th), I'm genuinely smiling on the INSIDE TOO!!!  I now stand tall and proud to be an Indo-Canadian.

Thank you Mrs. Boucher for calmly and compassionately helping me through my pain and instilling the value of RESILIENCE in me!!  

Despite the hurt I experienced the previous years, I showed up to school every day, never gave up on myself because I had you in my life.  

I knew from a young age of 9 that I wanted to be a change maker like Mrs. Boucher.  My greatest dream has been to help children BE PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE and use their differences as their superpower because EVERY CHILD MATTERS!!  

As a result of my hardship (challenge), I have made it my goal/mission to ensure that my students do not go through what I did.  

Of course, life isn't all "rainbows and sunshine," we will all experience pain and sadness from time to time, and your child is encouraged to work hard in class (and at home) to learn strategies to build their RESILIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, and GRIT so that they are equipped to manage their emotions and overcome any challenge that comes their way.  

It won't be easy, but from my experience, I can confidently say, it will be worth it, I promise 🤗 

In class, I am reinforcing the importance of creating, building upon, and maintaining happy hearts in and out of our classroom.  Your child's caring and compassionate ways are appreciated beyond measure!! 

I want to help my students BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE ... EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING!  #integrity  In class, we regularly talk about celebrating our differences and IT'S OK TO BE DIFFERENT!!     

Our Community of Learners Agreements that are posted at the front of the classroom help guide us every day - Attentive Listening, Mutual Respect, NO PUT DOWNS, Right to Participate, Right to Pass. 

We also regularly refer to these agreements as a reminder for us all to treat our peers, friends, and family with kindness, dignity, and respect.  I feel this will help in creating a happier, safer, and more caring world.

I believe in all my students and their abilities to reach out to do their part in making a positive difference for our today and tomorrows ... together we can help put an END TO BULLYING!

GRAMMAR RULE #4:

This week we learned all about Common & Plural Nouns.  Below, I have posted a video which provides examples for this rule.

A common noun names general items (e.g., "town," "teacher"), while a proper noun names specific items and begins with a capital letter (e.g., "Nottawa," "Ms. Gill"). 

I have shared with the students that I feel English is one of the most challenging languages to effectively learn and apply because there are so MANY RULES and EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES. 

I have felt this first hand growing up because my first language was Punjabi and I didn't speak English fluently until I was in grade 2, and even then, I struggled for years to read and write it properly.  Thankfully, I was placed in an ESL class to help build my grammatical skills :)

Now being a teacher, I value explicitly teaching grammar because it's the foundation to WRITING and builds confident and competent writers.  

Additionally, when we learn the RULES TO GRAMMAR, we understand the English language on a deeper level so that we can apply it to every day life (e.g., resumes, cover letters, letter of reference, presentations, etc.,).

Please review the grammar sheets your child brought home in their agenda, and ask them to share what they’ve learned. 

Try coming up with examples together at home—it’s a meaningful way to reinforce these important rules!

MATH:

This week, we’ve started our new math unit on decimal numbers! 

Decimals are numbers with a dot (.) separating whole numbers from parts, like dollars and cents ($3.25). We see decimals in everyday life, especially with money, measurements, and prices. 

Since pennies are no longer in use, rounding decimals when purchasing items is common practice. 

Please access your child’s digital workbook posted in Google Classroom to review what we will be learning in this new unit and what your child completed in class this week. 

Practicing decimals at home is a great way to consolidate learning and build confidence with this concept. Encourage your child to share what they’ve learned so far!  Thank you 😀

ART:

This week, students explored the 7 elements of art: line, shape, form, space, colour, value, and texture. 

We learned how each element helps artists express their ideas.  In their art project, they used these elements to create a vibrant composition, using various lines, shapes, value, and space. 

Our art project we’re currently working on in class 🎨 

Please ask your child to share what the elements of art are and see if they can identify them in the art that we created this week.  

See images below of the children working on their creation and how much fun they had with this!  

Completed pieces will come home in the agenda when we're done with this :-) It’ll be vibrant & bright 🤩

WYE MARSH:

Did your child share about his or her experience with our Wye Marsh visitor yesterday?  If not, no worries, I'll explain below :)

Each year, Wye Marsh offers a science program for students in grade 4 (split classes get this opportunity too ;)  

In our outdoor classroom, the Wye Marsh instructor taught the students about habitats and communities in the natural world.  The children learned how different animals and plants work together to form ecosystems, with a special focus on decomposers and consumers. 

Through hands-on activities and engaging discussions, they explored the important roles these organisms play in maintaining balance in nature. 

Please ask your child what they learned about how animals and plants depend on each other, and how decomposers help break down materials to keep the environment healthy! 

It was an enriching and fun experience for all especially when we got to play some science based games together :)

Playing Prey & Predator 

CHARLOTTE C. & TAYLOR:

Charlotte and Taylor, you truly shine in collaboration! "We work together to get the job done!" 

A special shout-out to Charlotte for supporting Taylor in her daily math work with learning to tell time. I love catching my students in their leadership roles, way to go 😃

Thank you Charlotte for demonstrating YOUR leadership and showing that our classroom is a safe and supportive space to grow. 

Keep building each other up and sharing your strengths. Way to go, girls – you make my heart soar with joy!

MOLLY:

Molly, your contributions to our "Tabs for Kids" project are truly heartwarming! I absolutely adore and appreciate when former students like YOU continue to make their donations. 

Having had Molly in both Grade 3 and 4, I couldn’t be prouder of the kind, considerate person she’s become, always looking for ways to make a difference! 

Thank you for being a shining example of our school community of learners. Keep making the world a better place, Molly!

MINDFULNESS:

Here is a speech by famous musician Ed Sheeran who shares his childhood experience to encourage all outsiders to stop being ashamed of their uniqueness, and to embrace their differences instead.

If you listen to his story and how he's overcome challenges in his life, I believe it'll leave you with an appreciation for this wonderful musician. 

As you listen to the video, please think about the following questions:  

What did you learn from Ed’s wise words? 

How can you incorporate them in your life?

In life, unfortunately more often than not, we will all experience some form of hurt or pain because of who we are.  Don’t let others words get you down.  

Easier said than done, but trust me, let’s embrace our quirks and BE OURSELVES!  

There is only one YOU, stand UP, and shout, “I am worthy!  I am happy just the way I am!”  

Together, we can make a difference and accept one another as we are!

GROWTH MINDSET:

“Instead of thinking Plan A didn’t work, try thinking, there’s always Plan B!”

With love & gratitude,

Ms. P. Gill