The Merkley Monitor
December 2008
November Highlights
The students did an excellent job of their choral reading of In Flanders Fields at our Remembrance Day assembly. I was happy that several parents were able to attend this special event.
On November13th we had a special presentation by two people from the Kingston Area Recycling Centre. They explained to us what items can be recycled at home and in our community. It is important for students to remember that the recycling program at school is different from the one at home.
On November 19th we accompanied Miss Bulgin’s class to the Kingston Area Recycling Centre. It gave us a greater understanding of what happens to the items that we recycle.
Also on November 19th we had a special guest presenter from Kingston Fire and Rescue. I hope that all students went home and did their homework by checking out the smoke detectors at home and by reviewing an escape plan in case of fire.
On November 26th we went to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. This was an excellent production put on by the students at LCVI.
We completed Social Studies units on Canada and Canadian Government, a health unit on Substance Use and Abuse, and Music Unit on Music Theory.
Welcome
We welcome Miss Jenny Lee into our classroom for four weeks. She started November 24th and will be in our classroom until December 19th. She is a teacher candidate from the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University and we are lucky to have her completing her second teaching practicum with us.
Thank You
We would like to thank Mrs. Lea Westlake, Eli’s Mom, and Mrs. Hyland for accompanying us on our trip to the Kingston Area Recycling Centre.
Citizenship and Personal Achievement
Each month we recognize student achievement during an assembly. This month we would like to congratulate Dexter for being an outstanding recycling volunteer, Mariana for exhibiting our character attribute of the month - courage, and Josh H. and Austin M. for carrying out excellent classroom campaigns when they ran for class president.
Communication
Remember to check out Central’s new web-site. I’ll be posting the Merkley Monitor on it each month. In addition the daily “Eco-announcements” will be posted.
Participation
Congratulations to Mariana, Isaac, Emily, Faith, Adora, Aydan, Isra, Breanna, Ashley and Shawna for becoming involved with the French Improv Club. What a neat opportunity for these students. We will be holding auditions during December for the school’s Spring musical. Encourage your child to try out!
Congratulations too, to the many students who wrote an application expressing their interest in becoming involved with student council at Central Public School. The staff read all of the applications and selected two students from each class. The two students from our class who were selected were Josephina and Eli.
Language Arts
Students are reminded that on Tuesdays we have a library book exchange period. They are reminded to keep a record of the pages that they read at home and to write a short reflection for each book that they read.
The Christmas season often presents opportunities to have children write letters to friends and relatives. Taking the time to apply writing skills to relevant situations helps children see the importance of being able to express themselves in written form.
In December we will be working on communication skills – on how to engage listeners when we are talking, reading, and writing. We will also be looking at how quotation marks are used to write dialogue. When reading with your child remind them that good readers read fluently – at a sufficient rate and with sufficient expression to engage the listener. Look for ways that writers make their “voice” heard.
In December we will be working on using “Predicting” to help comprehension strategies. When reading with your child remind them that good readers always make predictions based on what the author has told them both directly and indirectly.
Poem of the Month
Our poem for December, Twas the Night Before Christmas, is attached to this newsletter. The students will be assigned certain lines to add appropriate musical accompaniments.
Mathematics
During November the students were working on mastering their addition facts from 100. In today’s homework package, those students who have mastered these facts have received a certificate. Parents can help their children master their math facts by giving them 5 or 6 facts each time you get in the car to travel somewhere. Remember to emphasize accuracy first as speed will come. In December we will be working on mastering subtraction facts.
In December the Grade Five students will finish the unit started on Decimals.
The students will:
• use estimation when solving problems involving the multiplication and division of whole numbers to help judge the reasonableness of a solution
• solve problems involving the addition, subtraction and multiplication of whole numbers
• add and subtract decimal numbers to hundredths
• represent compare and order fractional amount with like denominator including proper and improper fractions and mixed numbers
• demonstrate and explain equivalent representations of a decimal number
• divide three-digit whole numbers by one-digit whole numbers
• divide decimal numbers by 10 and 100
Science
In December we will complete units in the Energy and Control strand. In Grade 4 this unit focuses on Light and Sound Energy. In Grade 5 this unit focuses on Properties of Changing Matter and Conservation of Energy.
Grade Four students are reminded to collect the materials needed for their in-class project and to complete some of the sections at home as required. This project sheet was sent home last week.
Physical Education and Human Growth
During December we will continue to work on age appropriate volleyball skills and volleyball type games.
Steps to Respect
According to recent research, bullying is an aggressive type of repeated behaviour that should be actively discouraged by parents and teachers alike. Without question, bullying inflicts a great deal of pain on its victims. Steps to Respect is a bullying prevention program that the students will be covering throughout the course of the year. The primary goal of this program is to help create a safe, caring, respectful learning environment in which bullying is not tolerated. I was pleased that so many students wore pink to school on Friday, November 21st in support of Bully Awareness Week.
Snacks
Students are reminded to bring healthy snacks and use recyclable containers. We appreciate your assistance in helping your child understand what “sometimes” snacks are, and to save them, if they have them, for afternoon snack.
First Term Reports
The first term report card is being sent home with students on Tuesday, December 12th. Although there is not a formal day set aside for interviews, if you would like to meet with me, please indicate your request on the third page of the report card. I have met with several parents already, and would like to meet with everyone by the end of second term.
When going over the report card with your child, please help him or her recognize the growth they have made and assist them in recording their goals for the second term, on the third page of the report card. Through this process of reflection we can encourage students to celebrate their achievements and to take ownership for their academic progress.
Special Upcoming Events
On Tuesday, December 16th we will have a Santa’s workshop in our classroom from 9:30 to 2:30. If you have a craft that we could make that day and/or would like to join us for the day or for a portion of the day, please let me know by putting a note in your child’s agenda.
On Thursday, December 18th we will have our Christmas class party. Students in the “Fireballs ” house-league group (Breanna, Dyllan, Isra, Jessica, Austin, Faith, and Joshua J.)
are responsible for treats that day. Students will use their agendas to record what they are responsible for bringing.
Requests
As winter approaches, I would like to recommend that all articles of clothing that students wear are labelled clearly and that you encourage your children to bring home all hats, mitts, and scarves on a nightly basis. Students are reminded to dress appropriately for our cold, wintry weather, as they will be expected to go outside for recess unless the weather is extremely cold.
If you have any concerns about your child’s progress or information to supplement curriculum, please feel free to contact me at school by phone (613-546-9454) or e-mail (merkleym@limestone.on.ca)
I would like to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season with your children, friends and family.
Margaret Merkley
Twas the Night before Christmas
Twas the Night before Christmas when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads
And Mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap
Had just settled our brains for a long winters nap
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Gave the lustre of midday to objects below
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
Now Dasher now Dancer now Prancer and Vixen
On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too
And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof
As I drew in my head and was turning around
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack
His eyes - how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf
And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread
He spoke not a word but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his sleigh to his team gave a whistle
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
