Week #16: Dec. 16th - 20th
Dear Families,
With warmth and heartfelt wishes, I hope you and your loved ones have a Merry Christmas, joyful holidays, and a wonderful start to the New Year!
As an educator, I feel incredibly blessed to have such caring, compassionate, and kind family, friends, and students in my life!
I will certainly miss your child’s enthusiastic and vibrant spirit during the holidays, but I look forward to reuniting and diving back into our daily routine of fun and learning on January 6th!
EMPATHY, COMPASSION & GRATITUDE ASSEMBLY:
What an incredible performance by my students on Tuesday! I am beyond proud of everyone for their dedication and hard work both at school and at home to prepare for this assembly. It was clear that all of our efforts truly paid off!
Even though I was seated at the front, I felt like I could have been an audience member as well because the children knew their parts so well! Outstanding job, boys and girls!
Below, I’ve shared a collection of photos of the kids in action. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Roth for beautifully capturing these special moments! 😊
If you (parents/grandparents) were able to attend, thank you so much for your support. Your presence meant the world to the class, and I’m sure you’re just as proud of them as I am. It was a truly memorable moment that we will cherish in our hearts for a long time ❤️
As I write this, I continue to be very moved reflecting on the incredible impact your child had on the audience - families, staff, and students alike during our assembly.
It was truly one of those “you had to be there” moments to fully feel the energy and emotion they brought to the performance.
I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to some very special people in my life who attended our presentation. Thank you to Mr. Roth & Mrs. Roth (family friends), my Ma, Mrs. Boucher (my Grade 4/5 teacher), and Mrs. Engel (retired custodian of Nottawa) for coming to support us!
Your unwavering care and encouragement in all my teaching endeavours mean so much to me, always. I’m truly grateful for you all, I love you! 😊
Thank you again for making such a positive impact on my heart, James :)
Congratulations to our amazing Teagan, Chase, and MJ for being recognized for your outstanding empathy, compassion, and gratitude.
You consistently use these qualities through your thoughts, words, and actions even when no one is watching.
Thank you for being your wonderful selves!
Choosing Students of the Month is always a tough decision because I am surrounded by SO MANY incredible kids with outstanding character.
Please know that I put a lot of thought into selecting each recipient and take care to highlight how they exemplify these important traits.
Congratulations you three! 😊 Keep shining with your empathy, compassion, and gratitude!
DONATIONS IN LIEU OF A TEACHER GIFT:
I want to sincerely thank all the families and children who so generously donated to SickKids, My Friend’s House, or shared other holiday gifts with me. Your kindness, effort, and generosity mean more than words can express! 😊
In class, I was moved as I read the touching messages from parents. These heartfelt words are treasures I will always hold close and never take for granted.
Your unwavering love and support in helping charities that truly need it shows how incredible you are 😃
Please know, I value the compassion you show each day. My students are, without a doubt, my greatest gift! ❤️
I would say this school year has been incredibly fulfilling, filled with positivity, productivity, and passion. I’m excited to create even more unforgettable memories with all of you in 2025!
I’m beyond grateful and proud to be part of our incredible Nighthawk family!
Once again, thank you to all the parents for your generous contributions to these important organizations, foundations, and causes. Your kindness truly makes a difference! #LivingIsGiving
Inside each bag, you’ll find a peace dove ornament with a heartfelt message, a poem by Maya Angelou titled "Amazing Peace," a peace stone, and a beautifully handmade letter and card from your child that I know you’ll treasure!
I believe that peace is one of the greatest gifts we can give to one another, helping to ensure we continue to live in a safe, strong, and free country.
Let’s all keep striving to treat each other with love and peace, contributing to a wonderful life for everyone!
SANTA'S VISIT & NOTTAWA'S 12 DAYS OF GIVING:
Santa's visit to our school was an incredible success, thanks to the kindness and generosity of our amazing students and families who donated to My Friends' House, an organization close to my heart.
Santa, we are so grateful you took time out of your BUSY holiday schedule to collect our donations and spend some time with our staff and students. The excitement and joy of meeting you were unforgettable!
Your warmth and energy with the children will remain cherished memories. Meegwich 🙂 We HONOUR & LOVE YOU.
A huge thank you to Mrs. Shaw, Ms. West, and the Leadership Team for organizing this initiative, packing up the donations, and delivering the boxes. Your efforts ensured everything ran smoothly and made a big difference!
I am thrilled to share that the amount of donations this year is the largest My Friends' House has ever received from a school, way to go, Nighthawks! 🎉
Santa’s heart was surely filled with joy, and he’s so proud of each and every one of you for embracing the true spirit of giving.
Thank you, Nottawa Elementary, for showing the true meaning of Christmas. Who knows? Maybe Santa will visit us again next year! 🎅❤️
DONATIONS:
Yesterday marked the final day for donations, and I want to extend another thanks to each of you (the parents in my class) for your incredible generosity.
With the rising costs of so many things, your willingness to go above and beyond to ensure your child brought in donations, often on multiple days is truly remarkable!
You have shown me and our school community the power of kindness and giving. Thank you, THANK YOU, for your immeasurable support! 💖
LETTERS TO THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES:
A special shout-out to all the students who thoughtfully wrote their holiday and gratitude letters for a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Your kindness will be deeply felt and remembered! The letters were heartfelt and turned out beautifully. Thank you, THANK YOU!!
I am also deeply grateful to the parents who supported their children with this writing task. As I read through these letters, I’m truly touched and excited to send them off at the D&L Variety Store!!
The purpose of this activity was for my students to acknowledge and remember all the men and women who are serving our country, especially during Christmas time when they will be away from their families.
We want the armed forces to know that we are thinking of them and value all their amazing contributions to keep us safe, strong, and free.
WORD STUDY:
Did your child come home this week talking about the most common sound in the English language? That’s right, it’s the SCHWA SOUND! It might even be a new concept for you too (it was for me 😉).
The schwa is a very subtle and quiet sound, but it plays an important role in many words.
The video below was a great help to us in identifying these sounds. Take a listen and see what you think!
GET OUTSIDE DAY:
What an incredible snowy ⛄️ day we had for Get Outside Day! Students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 participated in a variety of outdoor electives, promoting physical health, well-being, and a strong sense of community.
Some of the activities included Capture the Flag, Hockey, Music, Art, Tag, Bump Ball, Snowshoeing, Football, and Soccer.
The energy was contagious, and the smiles on everyone’s faces said it all, it was a huge success!
Events like these reflect our commitment to bringing the Nottawa community together in fun, festive, and healthy ways.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this day so special. Let’s continue to embrace the great outdoors and the joy it brings! 🌟😊🍂
PARENT VOLUNTEERS:
A big thank you to all our parent volunteers who joined us for Get Outside Day! Your time, effort, and energy made the day a success, and we are so grateful for your support of our staff and students.
A special shoutout to our school for providing hot chocolate for everyone, it was the perfect sweet treat to warm us up after an exciting afternoon outdoors! 🌟🍫🌳
TEAGAN:
Thank you to Teagan for bringing in the delicious apple 🍎 cider for the class to enjoy!
Her family's generosity and kindness truly brightened our day, and it was so thoughtful to take the extra care to provide compostable cups.
Your attention to detail and consideration for the environment did not go unnoticed 🤗
Thank you for sharing such a special treat with us! 🍎🍂😊
FINLEY V.
Thank you, Finley V. and family, for generously providing Tabs for Kids this week! We truly appreciate it :-)
The holiday season is a time to support those in need, and this cause truly benefits from your kindness. Finley, your empathy and compassion are valued more than words can express!
MINDFULNESS:
Please watch and share these heart warming videos which pays tribute to the heroes around us and reminds us all about the power of kindness especially WHEN NOBODY'S WATCHING! I love it :-)
GROWTH MINDSET:
Thank you Charlie Brown for inspiring us with the following message (see below).
 |
| Very, VERY TRUE! |
The greatest gift this holiday season is the time spent with our loved ones, they are truly irreplaceable, far beyond any material gift!
Cherish and enjoy every moment with your family, as we are truly blessed to have them!
Merry Christmas,
Ms. P. Gill
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