Week #40: June 23rd - 26th

Dear Families,

Here I am writing my final blog update for our 2024/2025 school year.  It is with mixed emotions that I share this post.  

I am happy to have successfully completed this year seeing all my students diligently grow academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviourally, however, I do feel a lil' teary that our time together in our learning community has come to an end.  

I will miss each student as they have in their own way brightened my heart with their smiles, enthusiasm, and respect.  Each day, I was greeted with warmth and positive energy.  I truly am the blessed one!  

Last minute of school! Thank you for a wonderful day!

I would like to take this opportunity now to thank each of you (parents) for all that you have done this school year to continually support your child in each and every aspect of learning that they participated in.  

Just to name a few - helping your child in his/her weekly homework & assignments, organizing attire for the various spirit days, paying for our field trips, your generous donations to Sick Kids, Water First (and more), preparing your child for Stone Soup, the Empathy & Compassion Assembly, Black History Cafe, the Poetry Cafe, our ongoing open communication via email or in person - the list goes on! 

Our time at school was a meaningful one because of YOUR unwavering parental support - truly!  I could not have done what I did this year without your help so thank you from the bottom of my heart!  

I want to take this final opportunity to wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe summer holiday!  The next little while I am looking forward to traveling to Burgos, Spain & Porto, Portugal to watch the World Dance Competition that my friend's daughter is participating in, and upon my return - being glued to the outdoors biking, hiking (passions of mine), and cottaging with my loved ones.

As many know, I feel the most grounded in my classroom, but on my free time, it's definitely in nature that I feel at peace.  I am deeply grateful to have a healthy mind, body, and spirit to enjoy it.  #healthiswealth

I wish for you to seize and savour every moment you can with your dear child(ren) in our picturesque community!  #blessed  

KEEP SMILIN'! See you in September everyone!

TEACHER APPRECIATION:

To all my families and students, thank you for taking the time and energy to express your utmost appreciation and gratitude through your letters, cards, emails, gifts, and donations.  

Thank you Harlow & Finley L. for the cards & gifts of love 💙

Thank you Rhys, Jackson, Avery, & Isla for the gifts of appreciation ❤️

Thank you Seth for the flowers 💐 

Thank you Finley L. & Corbin for your gift certificates and maple syrup 😋 

Thank you Teagan for your generous donation to Water First and to your grandmother who worked for this organization for many years. Her service is appreciated 🙏🏾

I taught Harlow in grade 4, we share a special bond 🌟
Thank you for the message of gratitude & love 💕 

I taught Noah in grade 3, this year he graduated! So proud of being part of your story at Nottawa 🌟

Thank you Alex for the Buddha bracelet 💙

Thank you for your letter of gratitude Leyah ❤️

Your sentiments brought tears to my eyes and I will NEVER LOSE SIGHT of your kindness.  I am so moved by your generosity and caring hearts.  I truly won the jackpot of supportive parents and students!

My connections with my students' parents/guardians is something I value and is sealed in my heart.  I could not have made the progress in your child's academic, social, and behavioural learning if I didn't have your support every step of the way - thank you, thank you!!  

As requested, I appreciate that many families connected my love for giving back to a charity and donated to causes near and dear to me (e.g., Water First, Sick Kids, etc) on my behalf.  

Living is Giving 🥰

I truly cherish these acts of kindness!  LIVING IS GIVING and thank you for making a difference in the lives of others who need it the most.

I want each of you to know that I admire and respect all you parents for how you're raising your child(ren).  The kids at Nottawa can and will continue to make this planet BRIGHTER & BETTER with your influence.

I certainly had some emotional moments, but all happy tears and I'm excited to continue watching your child learn and grow throughout our years at Nottawa :)

Please don't ever hesitate to reach out to me to connect, I will always do my best to maintain our beautiful bond :)  

WEEKLY HOMEWORK & ASSIGNMENTS:

Thank you to all the students who continued to complete their daily homework and in class work diligently even in the last week and day of school!  Now some may have wondered, "Why would Ms. Gill do this?"  

In class, we regularly talk about the importance of continuing to build our BRAIN POWER, LEARNING SKILLS & WORK HABITS, and SCDSB's 23 CHARACTER ATTRIBUTES.

For us, LEARNING NEVER STOPS because we want to be the BEST WE CAN BE all day everyday!

Way to go boys and girls, you truly amaze and delight me!!  

Lastly, I encourage all the children to please practice their math facts, R.E.D. (read every day), and take moments to write letters of gratitude for your loved ones.  

After all, we all have people we are thankful, grateful, and appreciate in our daily lives, let them know you care not just on the "special days" like Mother's or Father's Day or Thanksgiving or birthdays :)  

Spread gratitude like confetti - it makes the world go round!

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS:

As gift to each other, students did a meaningful activity that focused on sharing positive affirmations about their peers/friends in our class.  

Below, you will find the children lovingly writing their messages 🌟

Your child brought this piece home with them and I hope you've had a chance to read these amazing affirmations :)

It's natural to feel insecurities at different times of our lives, it is my hope your child will keep their "YOU ARE AMAZING PLACEMAT" in a safe place so they can refer to it when they may need a 'boost' of positivity to reaffirm all the wonderful qualities that they possess!  

After all, we all need a 'pick me up' from time to time to get out of a sad, worried, anxious, or negative headspace.  

Please enjoy the students writing their affirmations below in such a caring and compassionate manner. 

As an educator, I always want my students to feel:

SEEN

HEARD

VALUED

Affirmations are positive statements that can help you to challenge and overcome negative thoughts.  When you repeat them often, and believe in them, you can start to make positive changes.

Many of us do repetitive exercises to improve our physical health, and affirmations are like exercises for our mind (brain) and outlook (perspective).  

These positive mental repetitions can reprogram our thinking patterns so that over time we begin to think and act with a stronger sense of self-worth making you more likely to improve your own well-being :)  HOW AMAZING, I LOVE THIS!!  

I have every confidence your child too will embrace their peers' positive affirmations about them and live a life filled with PEACE, JOY, and HARMONY :-)

ART:

Our class enjoyed creating portraits inspired by the famous artist Pablo Picasso! We looked at his fun and unique style and used it to make our own colourful and creative artwork. Each piece is bright, bold, and full of personality!

To go along with our art, we also did some writing! Students wrote either an artist statement or a little biography about the character they created. It was a great way to connect our art to our writing.

I hope you enjoy these special masterpieces when your child brings them home and shares them with you. They worked so hard and should feel really proud! 😊🖍️

G.O.D.

On Wednesday, we had our Get Outside Day (aka G.O.D.) and enjoyed getting into the summer spirit of playing many fun & friendly games.

Some of the activities we participated in were the following:  everybody's it tag, drip drip drop, beach volleyball, capture the football, etc ...

Please ask your child which station was their favourite :)  Many enjoyed the Drip, Drip, DROP!!!  

MRS. SHAW, MRS. MATHEWS, & LEADERSHIP CREW:

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Mrs. Shaw & Mrs. Mathews and the leadership students who organized all the engaging games.  There was not a moment that we didn't have a smile on our faces!  Thank you, thank you!!

TALENT SHOW:

Congratulations to ALL the talent show performers!  I was in awe of the many skills shown!  Nottawa is filled with exceptionally skilled students – wowie!  

The grade 8’s did a mash up dance 🪩 

In particular, I would like to extend a HUGE congrats to Isla who represented our class family so well in her dance with her bestie June M.

She did an outstanding job and displayed her extraordinary skills in dancing!

It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of a big audience.  You did it with such grace and gentle confidence.  You made our class family so proud!!  Way to go Isla  :-)  

LEARNING BUDDIES:

This week, we had our final Learning Buddy session with Mrs. Shaw’s adorable kindies and what a fabulous year it’s been! From reading together to creating crafts and playing games, we’ve shared so many fun and special moments.

One of the biggest highlights for me was watching my students shine as safe, caring, and thoughtful buddies. Their kindness and leadership were truly heartwarming to see.

On Wednesday, our buddies joined us in the portable and were so excited to explore our learning space! We spent some quality time together and exchanged messages of gratitude. The writing was heartfelt, meaningful, and full of appreciation, a beautiful way to wrap up our time together.

After that, we headed outside for a nature scavenger hunt around the schoolyard. It was a lovely way to end our year of buddy time - exploring, laughing, and learning side by side.

What a beautiful bond we’ve built! 💐📝🌿

GRADE 8 GRADUATION:

Thank you to our dedicated parent volunteers who took so much time and effort to provide and make ALL the amazing decorations for the grad theme.  

It looked stunning and you always go above and beyond to make it special for our school family!! 

I attended the graduation ceremony Monday evening and it was wonderful to see everyone “dressed to the nines!”  Our 8’s looked so beautiful!  

We as the staff are so proud of our graduates 🌟

So many of these graduates hold a special place in my heart because I have had a connection to many of them through teaching and/or coaching them throughout their junior and intermediate years.

As I sat at the ceremony admiring everyone, I couldn’t help but think about my current students (your child) getting up on stage for their graduation when it comes up, I can’t wait!  I know, I know, we still have a few years left don’t we?!  (Lol).  

It will be a precious moment and one I’m very much looking forward to!  It’s been a remarkable school year watching each learner grow to their full potential!  My students are truly ready for the next grade level.

MRS. O & MRS. WEST:

What a memorable and heartwarming celebration we had for Mrs. O and Ms. West on Wednesday! 🎉 

We gathered as a school family for an epic retirement assembly to honour their incredible careers and lasting legacy in our school community. 

Each student wrote a heartfelt message on a paper heart, which we proudly waved as we entered the gym, creating a beautiful sea of love and appreciation. 

The hearts even made a special appearance during our friendly game show, adding a personal and playful touch to the celebration.

Mrs. O and Ms. West, we thank you for your years of dedication, kindness, and impact. We wish you both a joyful, healthy, and well-deserved retirement surrounded by the love of your families. 💖

You will always be a part of our school family!

TEAGAN:

Thank you Teagan and her wonderful family for the thoughtful surprise of freshly picked strawberries! What a treat! Your kindness truly brightened my day!

I’m so grateful for your thoughtfulness and for thinking of me. Thank you again for sharing such a delicious gift! 💗🌸

TABS FOR KIDS:

A big THANK YOU to all the children this week who brought in tabs for our wheelchair initiative! Your willingness to help is making a real difference in the lives of children with accessibility needs.

Every tab collected brings us one step closer to helping families in need. Your kindness, generosity, and caring hearts mean so much not just to me, but to the families who will benefit from your support.

I'm so proud of the way you’re helping make the world a better place! 💖👏

KEENAN:

A very special shout-out goes to Keenan for his enormous contributions of tabs! 👏💫 

His Mom had shared with me earlier in the year about this collection and when a good time would be to bring them to school.  Well, yesterday was the day and I was awe-struck!  Check it out :-) 

Together Everybody Achieves MORE! 

His dedication and generosity did not go unnoticed, and he played a big part in supporting a cause that means so much to the Robert Thompson House.  

Thank you, Keenan, for showing us what it means to care, give back, and make a difference. I'm so proud of you! 🩵♻️

5 TIPS FOR A MENTALLY HEALTHY SUMMER BREAK:

To help you prepare for a summer break that supports your family’s mental wellness, here are five everyday tips for taking care of your mental health:

Get Outside

Seek out sunshine and fresh air every day.  Being outside in the sun, in green spaces, or in nature helps us to reduce stress and boost hormones that promote happiness.  Consider getting out for a walk each day and taking a book or activity outside.  Dress for the weather and enjoy the outdoors!

Get Active

Walk, stretch, run, hike, bike, swim, dance, jump rope, play a sport, or whatever else you like to do!  Try to get moving for at least 60 minutes every day, or as much as you can.  Exercise is important for our physical health and it can also help improve our mood, reduce stress, and help us sleep better at night.  Find fun ways to exercise with others to stay motivated.  Remember to go at your own pace.

Sleep Well, Eat Well

Children and teens need 10 hours of sleep each night for their bodies and minds to rest and restore. When we get lots of rest, eat a healthy diet, and drink lots of water, it helps our mood and we can think, learn, and act better.  Try cooking together; this can be a fun way to share traditions, recipes, and favourite cultural foods.

Be Creative and Have Fun

Taking part in activities we enjoy can increase our feel-good hormone, dopamine, that boosts positive emotions.  Spending time away from electronics can help encourage free time to play, have fun, and be creative.  When we develop our talents and hobbies it can lead to feelings of accomplishment that boost our feelings of well-being.  Have fun enjoying cultural music, dance, and art together.

Keep Connected

Connecting to family, friends, and neighbours is important for our mental health.  Schedule time with family members to check-in with each other, talk, and have fun together.  Reach out to keep connected to loved ones and friends.  Friendly chats with neighbours and volunteering to help others when we can, are also great ways to support our well-being, as well as those around us.

Take care of yourself this summer – unplug and be in the moment, stay active, be outside in the sunshine and warm weather, keep connected and enjoy a mentally healthy summer break.

MINDFULNESS:

As shared above, the summer holiday is here and with this, I encourage you to take quiet moments for yourself to just BE and BREATHE.  SELF-CARE is SO IMPORTANT, you're worth it :)

***POST PHOTO OF MEDITATING KIDS

In class, we meditated twice daily (once after 1st break and again after 2nd break) and I could always count on many students to be models for mindfulness and meditation.  Check out Kegan and Michael above!

Below, I have posted a 5 minute guided meditation for kids that you may wish to try out with your child.  

It features deep breathing techniques, an easy visualization, and relaxing music. It can be used to calm anxiety, stress, or worry. It can also be listened to at bedtime to help your child drift off into a deep and peaceful sleep.

You can use this meditation anytime and it only takes 5 minutes to calm the mind and relax the body. I hope this brings you all continued peace and harmony to seize and savour life's precious moments.

GROWTH MINDSET:

Thank you Alex for this week's mindset message!

"Love who takes care of you and take care of who you LOVE." - Alex

What does this mean?

This quote means that we should show love and kindness to the people who help us, like our family, friends, teachers, or anyone who looks out for us. 

At the same time, we should also take care of the people we care about, by being helpful, thoughtful, and showing them we care.

💛 How can you do this over the summer?

• Say thank you to someone who helps you.

• Help out at home by doing little chores without being asked.

• Be a good friend by sharing, listening, and being kind.

• Give someone a hug, a smile, or a kind note to show you care.

• Spend time with the people you love and do something special together.

It’s a beautiful reminder to treat others with the same love and care that we are lucky to receive. 💕

With ever lasting appreciation & respect,

Ms. Gill