Week #24: Feb. 24th - 28th
Welcome to this week’s blog update! I’m so excited to share the incredible experiences our class had this week!
From exploring the vibrant art of Romero Britto to enjoying our field trip to Highlands Nordic for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, it’s been a week full of fun and valuable learning moments. 🎨❄️
I’m sure many of you have already heard about some of these exciting experiences through your child, which is so wonderful! I strongly believe it’s so important for our classroom conversations to continue at home, as it helps keep everyone connected and engaged in what’s happening in the classroom.
Your child’s reflections are such a great way to keep the learning alive beyond school walls! 💬📚
I can’t wait for you to read more about this week’s adventures, there’s so much to celebrate! 😊
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CHARACTER EDUCATION RECIPIENTS! 🎉
A big congratulations to Alex, Adalina, and Finley L. for being recognized at this month's character education assembly for demonstrating INCLUSIVENESS! 💙✨
Inclusiveness means making sure everyone feels welcome, valued, and accepted, no matter what.
😊 It looks like inviting others to join in 💕
😊 It sounds like kind and encouraging words 💕
😊 It feels like a warm sense of belonging 💕
Alex, Adalina, and Finley have shown a genuine willingness to include others, be supportive friends, and create a positive and accepting environment for everyone around them.
Their actions make our school a better place, and we encourage them to continue spreading kindness and inclusivity throughout their years at Nottawa and beyond! 🌎💫
Way to go! 👏👏
#InclusivenessMatters #LeadWithKindness #ProudMoment
🏔️❄️ HIGHLANDS NORDIC FIELD TRIP! ❄️🏔️
What an amazing day we had at Highlands Nordic in Duntroon! 🌞 The weather was absolutely perfect - sunny and not too chilly, setting the stage for our outdoor learning experience.
From the moment we arrived, the venue and organization were wonderful, ensuring a smooth and well-run day for all.
My students had the chance to cross-country ski and snowshoe, taking on new challenges with determination and enthusiasm! ⛷️🥾
But beyond the physical activity, they also learned valuable outdoor safety skills - including what to do if stranded in the woods, how to build a shelter, and ways to stay warm and safe in winter conditions. 🌲🏕️
It was inspiring to see everyone supporting each other, embracing the adventure, and gaining confidence in the great outdoors 👏
#OutdoorEducation #HighlandsNordic #WinterAdventures #LearningBeyondTheClassroom
🌟 PARENT VOLUNTEERS – THANK YOU! 🌟
A huge shoutout to all our amazing moms who volunteered their time and energy to join us on our field trip! 💕
Your patience, kindness, and encouragement made all the difference in ensuring everything ran smoothly and the children felt seen, heard, and valued :)
From helping students navigate the challenges of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing ⛷️❄️ to offering gentle support and motivation, you played a vital role in building their confidence and making this experience a positive one. 💪💙
I am so grateful for your love, care, and willingness to be there for my students and also for capturing so many great images so that I could share them on this blog post for other parents to see their child in action. THANK YOU! 👏👏
#GratefulHeart #ParentVolunteersRock #BuildingConfidence
💖 INTERNATIONAL PINK SHIRT DAY! 💖
Standing Together Against Bullying! 🌎✨
Pink Shirt Day is a special day where we wear pink to take a stand against bullying! This movement started in Canada and is now recognized every year on the last Wednesday of February.
Earlier this week, did you have a chance to chat with your child about why Pink Shirt Day began? If not, no worries! Now’s the perfect time to do so, as we’ve had meaningful discussions about it in class. 😊
📽️ Check out the video below to learn more about the inspiring story behind Pink Shirt Day.
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| 💡 A Question to Ask Your Child: "What kind things can you do to make the world a better place?" 🌎❤️ |
In our classroom, we focus on kindness, respect, and inclusivity every single day. Our Community of Learners Agreements, which are proudly posted at the front of our class—help guide us:
✅ Attentive Listening
✅ Mutual Respect
✅ NO Put-Downs
✅ Right to Participate
✅ Right to Pass
These agreements remind us to treat our peers, friends, and family with kindness, dignity, and respect. I truly believe that when we uphold these values, we help create a world that is safe, caring, and filled with love.
💪 Taking the Pledge to END Bullying! 💪
When your child signs a pledge, they are making a PROMISE to:
✔️ Treat others with kindness and respect
✔️ Include those who may feel left out
✔️ Stand up against bullying and refuse to take part
✔️ Speak up and tell an adult when they see bullying
✔️ Help others who are being mistreated
I believe in all of my students and their power to make a difference! Together, we are creating a bully-free, safe, and welcoming environment in our class and beyond. 🌟💖
Let’s continue to spread kindness and stand up for what’s right because TOGETHER, we can put an END to bullying! 🚀✨
#PinkShirtDay #KindnessMatters #StandUpToBullying 💗💪
💭 T.H.I.N.K. BEFORE YOU SPEAK LESSON! 🗣️✨
This week, we had a powerful lesson on the impact of our words and actions. We explored how deeply someone can be hurt by put-downs or bullying and how we all have the power to choose kindness. 💖
❤️ A Lesson from the Heart ❤️
I started by drawing a big heart on a piece of paper. We looked at it and talked about how it might be feeling. Many students said, “Happy, loved, respected, full.”
Then, I crumpled the paper heart and opened it back up for everyone to see. We observed the new wrinkles and creases. How does the heart feel now? 😢
This led to an eye-opening discussion:
Once a heart (someone’s feelings) is hurt, it creates "wrinkles" or "scars" that may never fully heal. Words and actions leave a mark, and while apologies help, the damage can still linger. 💔
📢 T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak 📢
We revisited an important acronym we’ve been using all year - T.H.I.N.K. Please ask your child: What does T.H.I.N.K. stand for? They may already know! If not, no worries, this is a great time to discuss it. 😊
👀 The Role of a Bystander
We also talked about bystanders—those who see bullying happen but don’t step in to help. When bystanders choose to stay silent or walk away, it allows unkindness to continue. Instead, we want to be UPSTANDERS—people who speak up, support others, and take action! 💪❤️
💡 Words + Actions = Real Change
We emphasized the importance of turning our thoughts into words, and more importantly, into ACTIONS. Our actions have the power to STOP bullying and create a culture of kindness and respect.
🏫 A Community of Kindness
Our classroom is a family of loving learners 💕, and my hope is that we continue to support and uplift one another—not just in our class, but throughout our school. No put-downs. No bullying. Just kindness.
✨ Together, we CAN & WILL make a difference! 🌎💖
📖✨ READING: ACCEPTANCE, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION! 🌈💖
As part of our ongoing learning (and unlearning) about acceptance, diversity, and inclusion, I shared a beautiful book with the class -"The Princess Boy." 👑💗
This heartwarming story is about unconditional love and embracing who we truly are. I’ve posted a digital copy below for you to enjoy as a family. 💕
📚 About the Story:
Dyson, the main character, loves the color pink and all things sparkly. ✨ Sometimes, he wears dresses; sometimes, he wears jeans. He loves climbing trees while wearing his princess tiara. And most importantly his family loves him exactly the way he is! ❤️
This book is inspired by the author's own son and her journey of understanding and accepting him. It is a powerful reminder that love knows no limits and that every child deserves to be celebrated for who they are.
💜 A Call for Kindness & Inclusion 🌍
This heart-opening story encourages us to:
✅ Embrace tolerance and acceptance 💙
✅ Say NO to bullying and judgment 🚫
✅ Recognize that the world is brighter and better when we honor each other's uniqueness 🌟
We have the power to shape a world where every child feels seen, valued, and accepted through our thoughts, words, and actions. Let’s continue to support and uplift one another in our community.
👀 Watch the story below as a family and celebrate the beauty of being YOU! 🎥✨
Thank you, Dyson, for inspiring us all with your courage and joy! 🌈😊 Be unapologetically YOU! 💫💖
🎨 EXPLORING THE ART OF ROMERO BRITTO!🎨
This week, our class dove into the vibrant world of Romero Britto, a Brazilian-born artist known for his bold, colorful artwork that combines pop art and cubism with a joyful, playful style.
His use of bright colors, thick black lines, and geometric shapes has made him famous worldwide, and his art exudes positivity and happiness. 🌈💖
Inspired by Britto's unique techniques, the students created their own one-of-a-kind masterpieces, using similar bold lines and vivid colors to express their creativity. 🖌️✨
The kids had a blast experimenting with shapes and patterns, and they were thrilled to bring their vibrant creations to life.
They will be bringing home their beautiful artwork in the coming days, so be on the lookout for these bright, cheerful pieces of their hard work and imagination! 🖼️💫
#RomeroBrittoInspired #CreativeKids #ArtInTheClassroom
📍✨ NEW MATH UNIT - SPATIAL SENSE: LOCATION & MOVEMENT! ✨📍
We’re diving into a new math unit where students will explore coordinates, transformations, and movement on a grid! 🗺️🔢
🎯 Learning Goals:
✅ Plot & read coordinates in the first quadrant of the Cartesian plane.
✅ Describe translations (slides) from one coordinate to another.
✅ Perform & describe translations and reflections on a grid.
✅ Predict the results of transformations.
To support learning both at home and school, I’ve shared a digital copy of our math slides on Google Classroom so students can practice and work through the concepts at their own pace. 💻📚
🚀 Can’t wait to see these skills in action! ✨
#MathInMotion #SpatialSense #TransformingOurThinking
🌟LEARNING BUDDIES!🌟
This week, we spent some quality time in Mrs. Shaw's class! Seeing my students work alongside their Kindie Learning Buddies during a friendly Knowledgehook GameShow activity was truly heartwarming! 💕
Watching them support their younger buddies in recognizing shapes and exploring geometric properties was a beautiful reminder of the power of mentorship.
This experience not only strengthens their leadership and communication skills, but also fosters patience, empathy, and a sense of responsibility.
It’s incredible to see my students step up as role models, offering encouragement and guidance with such kindness. So proud of them all! 💡✨
#MentorshipMatters #LearningTogether #KindnessInAction
🎭 EXCITING NEWS, OUR SCHOOL MUSICAL IS ALMOST HERE! 🎭
Mark your calendars! Our school musical is happening on the evening of Wednesday, March 5th, and Thursday, March 6th @ 6:30PM in our school gym.
🎟 Tickets are available now on School Cash Online. If you have any questions about ticketing, please reach out to the office, as they are managing sales.
You won’t want to miss this incredible production! 🎶✨
I want to take a moment to give a special shoutout to some incredible members of our class family, namely Teagan, Isla, Charlotte C., and Avery. Their dedication, hard work, and talent have been truly inspiring, and I know they will shine on stage! 🌟
On a personal note, I’ve had the honour of being part of this production as well as the stage manager, managing props and set design.
This role has pushed me beyond my comfort zone, but I always strive to practice what I preach, growth comes from facing challenges head-on.
I once had F.E.A.R. of stepping into this role, but I chose to FACE EVERYTHING AND RISE as I regularly encourage my students to do so as well💪
I hope to see you all in the audience supporting our talented cast and crew! Let’s make this a show to remember! 🎭👏
🧘♂️ MONDAY MEDITATION CLUB - A JOURNEY OF GROWTH & PEACE! 🧘♀️
Over the past 4 weeks, our Monday Meditation Club has been a beautiful experience of mindfulness, relaxation, and self-discovery.
Watching my lil’ meditators embrace the practice with open hearts and minds has been truly rewarding. They have learned to find calm, focus their energy, and carry a sense of peace into their day. 🌿✨
The benefits of meditation are undeniable - improved focus, reduced stress, and a greater sense of well-being. Seeing these young minds thrive through guided meditation has been a joy, and I am so proud of their dedication to this practice.
A huge thank you to the wonderful parents who take the time to drive their child(ren) to school early so they can participate. Your efforts are truly appreciated! 💖
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| Reyah, thank you for the note of love 💕 |
I look forward to hosting our final winter guided meditation on Monday, March 3rd, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with you all in the spring sessions, stay tuned!
🌸 See you later meditators 🌸
#MindfulMondays #LilMeditators #PeaceAndPresence #GratefulForOurParents
🌷ADALINA!🌷
Adalina’s kindness and thoughtfulness truly warmed my heart! 💕 A huge thank you to her for creating a beautiful bouquet of LEGO flowers for me, such a sweet and creative gesture! 🌸🧱
Her generosity and caring nature do not go unnoticed, and I am so grateful. Thank you, Adalina! You made my day! 💖😊
#KindnessMatters #ThoughtfulHeart #LegoLove
🌿 MINDFULNESS MOMENT! 🌈✨
📖 "My Shadow is Pink" is a heartwarming story about a young boy born with a pink shadow, one that loves princesses, dresses, and things that some say “aren’t for boys.” 💖👗
🎬 This beautifully animated short film is a celebration of:
🌟 Daring to be different
💪 Having the courage to be true to yourself
❤️ Embracing love and self-acceptance
It thoughtfully explores themes of gender identity, equality, and diversity, reminding us all that being YOU is more than enough! 💕🏳️🌈
💡 Watch & Reflect:
How can we create a world where everyone feels seen, valued, and accepted? 🌍✨
Breaking it down for kids:
- "I avoid looking forward or backward" ⏳➡️ This means not getting stuck thinking too much about things that already happened or worrying too much about what’s coming next.
- "And try to keep looking UPWARD!" ☁️🌈 This means focusing on being the best version of yourself, staying hopeful, and always trying to do better.
How can my students use this in their lives?
- In School 📚✏️ – If you didn’t do well on a test, don’t keep worrying about it. Instead, focus on what you can do to improve next time.
- In Friendships ❤️🤝 – If you had a disagreement with a friend, don’t stay upset about it. Look for ways to move forward and be kind.
- In Challenges 💪🏾🔥 – If something feels hard, don’t give up! Keep a positive attitude and try again.
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