Week #39: June 16th - 20th

Dear Families 😊,

Can you believe it?! We’ve just finished our last full week of this school year! 😲🎉 Time really flew by!

Thank you so much for being part of this journey, cheering on your child and supporting them in learning, growing, and feeling their best both in and out of the classroom 💖🧠📚

I’m so proud of every student for their hard work, effort, and responsibility, whether it was finishing homework, working on in class assignments, or preparing and speaking during special presentations ✏️📁🎤

This school year has had a lot of learning and we’ve done so much together! My goal has always been to help students grow and get ready for what’s coming next in Grade 4, 5, and beyond 🚀🧠✨

You might remember back at the student-led conferences in November, your child explained the meaning of T.E.A.M. 👫👬👭 Well, we’ve truly lived that because Together Everyone Achieves More 💪💫

I do believe we really were a DREAM TEAM this year! 🌟🏆

It has been a true pleasure writing these weekly posts as I get to reflect upon all the meaningful learning we're doing and have done as a class family, this brings me immense JOY! 

DONATION IN LIEU OF A GIFT:

First of all, please know that there is zero expectation to give me a “teacher gift” 🎁, truly! 

I’ve shared with the class that the greatest gift I could ever receive is the joy of teaching your wonderful child this year 💖😊

I did send home a little note, but I wanted to kindly share it here too as the end of the school year approaches.

If you were thinking of giving a gift (or already have, thank you so much 💕), I would still receive it with a full heart and a big smile. 

That said, if you're open to it, I’d love for you to consider making a small donation in lieu of a teacher gift this year.

Here are a few organizations that are near and dear to my heart:

🌊 Water First
🏡 My Friend’s House
🛏️ Home Horizon
👶 SickKids
🌳 Team Trees
🌍 Me to We
💫 Make-A-Wish Foundation

🏀 Collingwood Trailblazers 

I would like to acknowledge and thank the Chatterson, McCarl, Avezedo, and Smith families for making a generous donation to The Trailblazer Basketball Organization 🥰

As a youngster, I played on a Trailblazer team and loved it! It brought so much joy to me :) 

I am so touched that Charlotte, Avery, Harlow, and Charlotte donated money in my honour to support a child(ren) with the OBA registration fee. Thank you girls 🙏🏾

As many know, I’m a huge fan of basketball and I really enjoy playing “bump” with the kids before & after school 🏀

Sport is a connector and community builder :) 

This year has been solid — full of growth and learning in our academics, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. I feel so lucky to have been part of your child’s journey 💫✏️

I can’t wait to cheer them on as they continue to soar at Nottawa! Goooo Nighthawks! 🦅💙

TERM 2 REPORT CARDS:

By now, students have received their Term 2 Report Card, and as always, I want to remind everyone that it's not just about the marks or levels. What truly matters is recognizing and celebrating:

✨ What students know (their strengths)
🌱 What they don’t know… YET (their next steps)

I’m SO proud to say that each student has shown their personal best and that shines through not only in their learning, but in the strength of their character 💖👏

In the long run, it’s not just academics that guide us through life, but being respectful, KIND, and supportive of one another. These are the qualities that truly make a difference in the world 🌍💫

It takes patience, practice, and perseverance, but I believe that with a caring heart and a growth mindset, we can all live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives 😊

I’ve seen so many students take our school board’s 23 Character Attributes to heart, and I know they will continue to grow into not only amazing students, but also incredible citizens ready to make a positive difference 🙌🌟

As a proud educator at Nottawa, I want you to know that I will always do my best to be here for your child. Whether it’s something big or small, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time via email 💌

Because I truly believe…

“Once your child’s teacher, always their teacher.” 💖🧑‍🏫

CHARACTER RECOGNITION:

On Tuesday, we had our final Character Education Assembly of the year, a special time to celebrate all the amazing achievements of our students! 🌟🙌

This month, we recognized students who have been shining examples of RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY through their thoughts, words, and actions 💭🗣️🤝

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Charlotte C., Chase, and MJ for being recognized for your outstanding character! 🎉👏 Your leadership and kindness have made a real difference in our class community! 💖

To all my students: Keep practicing respect and responsibility in all that you do. These values help build trust, strengthen friendships, and create a positive and successful environment for everyone 🏫💫

Let’s carry these important character traits with us wherever we go! 💪😊

SCDSB CHARACTER AWARD:

I am so proud to share that Chase received a Simcoe County District School Board Character Recognition Certificate for displaying all 23 Character Attributes, what an outstanding achievement! 🌟

Chase was nominated by Mrs. Mortimer for consistently showing kindness, respect, responsibility, perseverance, and so much more throughout the school year. 

He was recognized in front of the entire school, and the applause he received was well deserved!

Chase, your positive attitude, thoughtful actions, and strong character truly make you a leader in our school community. Way to go, we’re all so proud of you! 💛👏

SPIRIT DAY:

To be honest, I wasn't sure how today's spirit day theme was going to go.  But boy o' boy did the children come up with so many creative ways to store their items in ANYTHING other than a backpack. 

Thank you as always parents for helping your child(ren) prepare for and participate in our various spirit days we've had all year!  #Nottawa'sGotSpirit 

POETRY CAFE:

I don’t know about you, but I’m still beaming with pride after our heartfelt Poetry Café! 💫🎤📖

Students were poised, prepared, and confident and they absolutely shone! 🌟 The photos below say it all 😍📸

I received heartwarming messages from families who were touched by the performances. It was such a beautiful reminder of the brilliant hearts and minds that fill our classroom every day 💖🧠✨

A big thank you to the families for being part of this special celebration. 🥰 It meant so much to have so many of you there to support and cheer us on. Your presence helped make the Café feel extra magical! ✨☕️

This is a memory I’ll treasure as I reflect on our year together. 💭📚

Special thanks to Mr. Roth (my family friend!) for capturing such lovely photos of the event! 📷💕

Scroll down to enjoy the moments and relive the magic of our unforgettable Poetry Café! 💫💬

THANKFUL SONG: 

At our Poetry Café, we shared a fun and upbeat song that reminded us how important it is to be THANKFUL, GRATEFUL, and to APPRECIATE all the good things in our lives 💖🌈🙌

I truly believe that when we have an attitude of gratitude, our hearts feel lighter and our lives become brighter with JOY! ✨😊💫

For those who may not have been in attendance, please ask your child to share the song with you, they will be eager to share the special actions that are part of the performance! 🎤💃🕺

Let’s keep spreading that positive energy and thankfulness wherever we go throughout the summer months and beyond! 💛🌟

MATH:

As we approach the final days of the school year, I’ve continued to reinforce an important message with our class: just because it’s June, doesn’t mean our learning is over! 

Our time together is still very valuable, and we are committed to engaging in meaningful learning right up until the final bell on June 27th :)

I take this responsibility seriously, as I want to ensure each child is equipped with the tools they need to continue growing their brains over the summer. 

As you can see from the images below, we’re still practicing essential skills in reading, writing, and mathematics to help build strong habits that will support lifelong learning.

So proud of YOU 👏🏾 

Teagan hard at work diligently note taking ✏️ 

Currently, we are exploring the math concept of Probability. I’ve posted Google Slides activities for students to complete, and we’ll continue diving into this topic over the next while. 

Ask your child to explain the meaning of the following probability terms:

• Certain

• Likely

• Equally likely

• Unlikely

• Impossible

It's a great way to spark conversation and reinforce their understanding at home. Thank you for your continued support as we finish the school year strong! 💪🧠✨

LEARNING BUDDIES:

This week, our class had the wonderful opportunity to visit McKean Park with our Kindergarten Learning Buddies and what a special experience it was!

While enjoying time together on the playground equipment, what truly warmed my heart was seeing my students step up as caring leaders and positive role models. 

From making sure their buddy was included and engaged, to carefully helping them cross the road while following all safety rules, their actions spoke volumes. 🚸💕

Way to go Aves, looking out for your buddy 🥰

Heartwarming to see Keenan supporting his buddy Jack

Before we left, I reminded the class that this wasn’t just an "extra recess," it was a chance to build our nurturing skills and to be present, patient, and kind. They certainly rose to the occasion! 

Watching my students take responsibility, show care, and create meaningful moments with their little buddies made me feel so proud!

😊 Way to go, team, you’re showing what leadership in action really looks like! 🌟

🌞 G.O.D. – GET OUTSIDE DAY: 🌿

We’re excited to announce our upcoming G.O.D. (Get Outside Day) happening on Tuesday, June 24th during Periods 2–6!

Students will be spending the day enjoying outdoor activities, team games, and lots of fun in the sun! ☀️ 

To help your child make the most of the day, please ensure they are prepared for the weather and dressed comfortably for physical activity.

✅ Here’s what they’ll need:

• Comfortable clothing for movement

• Running shoes

• Sunscreen

• Hat

• Reusable water bottle to stay hydrated

• A big smile and positive energy! 😄

A special thank you goes out to Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Mathews, and the Leadership Crew for planning and organizing this event for our school community. We can’t wait to get outside and celebrate the end of the year together!

LIBRARY BOOKS:

An important message from Mrs. Johnson:

Please ensure your child(ren) return any outstanding library books by next week. 

While Mrs. Johnson has been wonderfully flexible with students throughout the year, allowing new books to be signed out even if some were still at home, it’s really important that all books are returned before the summer break begins ☀️📖

Thank you so much for your continued support and understanding! 💛

Let’s help make sure all books find their way back to the library shelves for next year’s readers! 😊📚✨

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY:

You may have heard of National Indigenous Peoples Day, it happens every year on June 21st 🌞 🧡 

But did you know that since 2009, all of June has been recognized in Canada as National Indigenous History Month? 🇨🇦📚

This month is a time to honour and celebrate the rich history, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. 🪶🧊🐢

With so many unique cultures, languages, and traditions across Canada’s Indigenous communities, it’s important to ask:

Is one month really enough? 🤔

🎥 Watch the video below to learn more and deepen your understanding of why this month and every day is a time for respect, learning, and celebration 💫🌍

RHYS:

A big thank you to Rhys for bringing in freezies for our class family to enjoy during the hottest week of the school year! 🥵

Your thoughtful treat helped us all cool down and made our day a little extra sweet 😄🍬💙

We appreciate your kindness and generosity! 💫👏

MINDFULNESS:

Throughout this school year, I’ve shared many times with our class just how important it is to show our best selves, not just in what we say or do, but in how we think, speak, and act 💭🗣️🤝

The way we treat others and carry ourselves can have a powerful impact on our own lives and on the people around us. That’s why I always encourage students to lead with kindness, honesty, and integrity ✨💛

I’m proud to say that many students in this class have truly embraced this message. I know they will go on to be not just great students, but amazing citizens who make positive contributions to their communities 🌍💫

As always, I’ll continue to do my very best to support your child this year and beyond. If there’s ever anything I can do to help, whether big or small, please don’t hesitate to reach out 📧😊

GROWTH MINDSET:

Thank you Teagan for this week´s mindset message!

¨Always seek solutions, not the problems!¨ - Teagan

What does this mean?  This means instead of spending time only thinking about what went wrong or what’s hard, try to focus on how to fix it or make it better. 

✅ Remember: It’s okay to have problems, just don’t stay stuck in them. Be a problem-solver, not a problem-spotter! 🧠✨

🛠️ Example students can relate to:
Let’s say you forgot your homework at home. Instead of getting upset or blaming yourself, you could say,
"I forgot my homework, but I’ll tell my teacher honestly and ask if I can bring it tomorrow or finish it during lunch & learn."

That’s using a solution-focused mindset instead of just thinking about the problem. Problems happen, but what really matters is what you do next and apply a solution :)  

With love & appreciation,

Ms. P. Gill