Week #37: June 2nd - 5th

Dear Families,

Can you believe how quickly the days are flying by? It’s hard to believe we’re in the final stretch of the school year! 

With just a few weeks left, we’re making every moment count, staying focused on our learning goals and continuing to make the most of each day together.

As your child’s teacher, I’m fully committed to providing engaging, meaningful learning right up until the final bell on June 26th. 

This time of year is just as important as any other, and I take great pride in maintaining high expectations while also celebrating how far we’ve come.

I’m incredibly proud of how the students have embraced this mindset. They’re showing resilience, curiosity, and a strong work ethic and I’m excited to see what we can accomplish in these final weeks!

Let’s finish strong together! 💪📚✨

EQAO:

I want to take a moment to share how incredibly proud I am of all the students for their hard work and focus during the recent EQAO writing assessment. 

The format and questions closely reflected the strategies and expectations we’ve been learning and practicing throughout the school year. Because of this, I felt the students approached the assessment with confidence and a strong sense of preparedness.

Each child truly tried their best, and I believe their responses will reflect not only their understanding of the curriculum, but also their growth, effort, and potential as young writers. It was wonderful to see them apply what they’ve learned in a meaningful way.

Please note that individual EQAO results will be shared with families in the fall, through your child’s new teacher.

FUN FAIR:

Our annual Fun Fair was a huge success, and we couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of our entire school community. 

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, generous parent and community volunteers, and our hardworking Parent Council for all of the behind-the-scenes planning, organizing, and positive energy that brought this event to life.

I’m always amazed by how much care, creativity, and effort goes into making the Fun Fair such a memorable experience. 

From the variety of activities to the fantastic food and friendly atmosphere, it was clear just how much love went into making it special for our kids and families.

Check this out, all the fun events and eats that everyone enjoyed:
🎨 Maker space crafting
🎯 Ring toss & ball toss
👾 Pac-Man
🎭 Face painting
🚒 Fire truck & play firehouse
🐐 Petting zoo
🧱 Mega block & marble obstacle courses
🏒 Hockey corn hole & axe throwing
🍕 Pizza, pop, chips & freezies
🍦 Ice cream truck
🍭 Cotton candy
🧆 Greek food truck
🌮 Big Mouth food truck
🎟️ Silent auction

And a very special thank you to my classroom’s wonderful parent volunteer, Mrs. Kennedy. We are so grateful for the time, energy, and generous heart you shared with our Nottawa School Family. 

We love and appreciate you!

Thank you all for helping make this such a joyful event for our students. 💚

SPORTS THEMED BASKET:

Wowie, our class' Sports Basket turned out amazing with so many appealing items for kids to enjoy!  

When I went to the silent auction last evening, I noticed our basket had a number of bids, YAY!

I am delighted that Teagan and her family purchased this!  I know they will make the most of all these items and share too :)

As a school, we recognize all your responsibilities you (parents) have already with your households and child(ren) so for you all to take the time to purchase and donate an item for this basket is truly appreciated. 

Thank you parents for your continued generosity and efforts in all your child(ren)'s school endeavours :)

PRIMARY TRACK & FIELD PLAY DAY:

Speaking of fun events, the Leadership Team has come through yet again to provide another wonderful opportunity for our primary students, a TRACK & FIELD PLAY DAY!  

Please note, this will only involve the grade 3 students as the grade 4´s had theirs already.

It will be taking place on Thurs. Jun. 12th for periods 3-6 :)  Please ensure your child's dressed for the weather and has a hat, sunscreen, comfortable footwear for play, and lots of fluids.  

Thank you as always for helping prepare your child for our special events throughout the school year!

CHARACTER RECOGNITION ASSEMBLY:

Our final Character Recognition Assembly will be Tuesday, June 17th at 9:45AM.

Mr. Skillings, Mr. Bowhey, and Mrs. Garvan´s classes will be leading this one and many sports, clubs, teams, and staff will be recognized.  I have notified the parents whose child is receiving an award, but as always all are welcome!

POETRY CAFE:

Just giving another gentle reminder as some students have come to me and are unsure if they will be in attendance for this presentation. If you know for sure that your child will not be at school on Friday, June 20th at 12:00PM, please let me know ASAP via the agenda or email.

This would be very helpful for me as I continue to prepare the children for rehearsals in preparation for our upcoming Poetry Cafe.  

There will be important speaking parts for the kids so I need to know about attendance please :)  

Thank you in advance for letting me know and taking this into consideration :)

SOCIAL STUDIES:

This is a reminder that our Social Studies assessment will take place on Monday, June 9th and will focus on Canada’s Provinces, Territories, and the Great Lakes. 

To help your child prepare, a study sheet was sent home earlier this week and is also posted on our Google Classroom for easy access. I encouraged the students to use today's PA Day as a chance to review and get ready for Monday’s assessment.

Here are 3 helpful study tips your child can try:

1. Practice with a map – Label a blank map of Canada and quiz yourself or with a family member.

2. Use flashcards – Create cards for each province, territory, and Great Lake to test your memory.

3. Make it fun – Try singing a song, making a matching game, or challenging a family member to a quick quiz!

My students have been working hard during work periods provided and I’m confident they will do their best. Thank you for your support at home as we continue to build knowledge and confidence together!

LANGUAGE:

This week, my poets explored a special kind of poem called a Haiku! A Haiku is a short, three-line poem that follows a specific pattern:

• 1st line: 5 syllables

• 2nd line: 7 syllables

• 3rd line: 5 syllables

We read and discussed examples of Haiku poetry and then had fun creating our own in our poetry workbooks. Students used their creativity and what they’ve learned about syllables to write thoughtful and often very imaginative poems!

Ask your child to share their topic about their Haiku with you and if they can remember the special syllable pattern. Here's an example we talked about:

Soft breeze through the trees
Leaves dancing in the sunlight
Nature whispers calm

I´m so proud of how each student took on this challenge with focus and enthusiasm. 🌿📖✍️

MATH:

This week in math, we’ve been learning how to collect, organize, and analyze data in meaningful ways. The students have been working with Stem and Leaf Plots, which are a great way to display numbers so we can quickly see patterns and compare values.

Please watch the video below with your child and have them show you what they know :)

We also explored four important concepts used to describe a set of numbers:
📊 Mean – the average (add all the numbers, then divide by how many there are)
📊 Median – the middle number when the numbers are in order
📊 Mode – the number that appears most often
📊 Range – the difference between the highest and lowest numbers

We practiced using all of these tools with real-life examples and group activities, and students are building confidence in how to calculate and explain each one.

Ask your child to show you how to find the mean, median, mode, and range of a small group of numbers and maybe even build a quick Stem and Leaf Plot together at home! They're becoming true data detectives! 🔍📈

BLOCK 3 CHECK-IN ASSESSMENT:

This week, your child wrote their final math assessment for the year. This assessment is an opportunity for students to show what they have learned and understand, and it also helps identify areas where they may still need support or further review.

I’m proud of the effort and progress each student has made throughout the year. I look forward to celebrating their growth and successes, while also continuing to work together to close any learning gaps and build confidence in areas that are still developing.

These assessments will come home in the agenda in the coming days.

As always, thank you for your continued support at home. Together, we can help each child finish the year feeling proud, capable, and ready for the next step in their math journey!

INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH:

June is Indigenous History Month, and we have taken time to a time to recognize, learn about, and honour the rich history, culture, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada. 

It is also a time to reflect on the truths of the past and continue the important work of reconciliation.

In our own community, we are fortunate to have access to places that honour Indigenous culture, like the Awen Gathering Place behind McDonald’s in Collingwood. 

This space was created to help us learn about Indigenous teachings, art, and connection to the land. “Awen” means “word” or “poetic inspiration” in Ojibwe, and the space is meant to bring people together in respect and reflection.

Here are 3 meaningful ways families can honour Indigenous History Month together:

1. Visit the Awen Gathering Place – Take a walk through the space, read the interpretive signs, explore the beautiful design, and talk about its significance.

2. Read a book together by an Indigenous author – Stories are powerful tools for understanding. The library or your child’s school can help recommend age-appropriate titles.

3. Learn land acknowledgements – Talk about the land you live on, whose traditional territory it is, and why it’s important to honour and respect it.

By learning together, listening, and showing respect, we help ensure that the voices, histories, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples are never forgotten and are always valued. 🌿🧡

PRIDE MONTH:

June is Pride Month, and it’s a time when we come together to celebrate people for being exactly who they are! Pride is about being proud of yourself, showing kindness to others, and helping to make sure everyone feels safe, included, and accepted.

Since I began teaching in 2007 (yes, I’m aging myself! 😉), I’ve always made it my mission to ensure that my students feel SEEN, HEARD, and VALUED. This is something I will always strive to do with this class and every student I teach. 

I believe that everyone deserves to feel a strong sense of belonging, no matter who they are, who they love, or what their families look like.

I am also proud to share that Mrs. Mattice, one of our DECEs at Nottawa, has started a special initiative called the Skittles Care Club. 

This student-led group uses their voices and actions to help spread kindness and show that Nottawa is a safe and caring place for everyone. What a beautiful example of student leadership and inclusion in action!

Pride Month reminds us how important it is to stand up for fairness, treat others with respect, and make our school a welcoming space where everyone belongs. 🌟

Together, we are helping to build a world where all children feel safe, loved, and proud to be themselves and that’s definitely something to celebrate! 💖

MINDFULNESS #1:

Please take a moment to watch the video below, which shares an important message about the value of equity, diversity, and inclusion. It encourages us to appreciate and respect what makes each of us unique.

After watching, I invite you to have a thoughtful family conversation using these guiding questions:

• What message is the songwriter trying to share?

• Which words or images stood out to you, and why?

• What are some ways you can help someone feel empowered and proud of who they are?

These conversations help build understanding, kindness, and a stronger sense of community - at home, at school, and beyond. 💛

MINDFULNESS 2:

As part of National Indigenous Awareness Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), today we will learn about and watch another short video to highlight the history and strength of First Nations People.  

#nottawahonoursyou 

Jillian Morris is a Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) woman and band member of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.  Currently she resides here in Collingwood.

She holds a degree in Public Administration and Indigenous Governance through Ryerson University.  Jillian served 13 years with the Department of National Defense (DND) and co-chaired the Defense Aboriginal Advisory Board for a decade during this time. 

Simultaneously she took advantage of volunteer opportunities which allowed her to build meaningful relationships and networks with other Indigenous people and groups in Simcoe County. 

Thank you Jill Morris for sharing your personal message of self-reflection and resiliency. 

Nottawa, let’s continue to learn about the history and present lives of Indigenous peoples in Canada this month and ongoing! 

GROWTH MINDSET:

Thank you Avery for this weeks mindset message!

¨Be the change you wish to see in the world!¨ - Avery 

What does this mean?  This quote means that if you want the world to be a better place, you should start by doing those good things yourself. 

Instead of waiting for someone else to fix problems or make things better, you can take the first step. Even small actions can make a big difference!  

Here are 3 examples of how a child can live by this:

🌟 At School:
If you want your classmates to be kind, you can start by using kind words, including others in games, and helping a friend when they’re having a hard day. Your kindness will inspire others to do the same!

🏠 At Home:
If you want a peaceful and happy home, you can help by listening, sharing, cleaning up your mess, or saying “thank you.” Your positive attitude can make home feel even more loving.

🏘️ In the Community:
If you want your neighbourhood to be clean and safe, you can pick up litter at the park, help a neighbour, or remind others to take care of shared spaces. These actions show that you care, and others may follow your lead!

Thank you,

Ms. P. Gill