The Merkley Monitor
January 2009
New Year’s Welcome!
A warm New Year’s greeting to everyone.
December Highlights
On December 5th the students participated in the Jingle Bell Walk. We thank the many families who sent in items for the Food Bank.
On December 16th we had a Winter Workshop where students had the opportunity to make 24 different crafts!! It was a wonderful day and the students handled the open structure of the day extremely well. Many thanks to Ms Stinson, Ms Tizard, Mrs. Westlake, Mrs. Riel, Mrs. Mohammed, and Mrs. Martin who planned activities for the workshop and volunteered their time.
On December 17th our class and Mrs. Walker’s class attended the performance, Newton finds a Home: the Musical! The show was entertaining and inspiring.
On December 19th we went skating at the Wally Elmer Arena.
We would also like to thank the parents of the students in the Dynamite House League group for supplying the food for our Christmas party on Thursday, December 20th. We had lots of sweet and healthy treats!
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. To access this site go to http://centralps.limestone.on.ca/. Please let me know if you will access this information on line and do not need a hard copy sent home.
Participation
Congratulations to Emily, Faith, Adora, Isra, Breanna, Ashley and Shawna for becoming involved with the French Improv Club. They put on an excellent coffee shop on Thursday, December 18th. Merci!
Congratulations to Eli, Breanna, Emily, Faith, Isabella, Alexis V., Summer, and Isra who auditioned for our school musical, The Wizard of Oz. Congratulations to Emily and Eli for earning leading roles. All students will have a role within the play.
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. These reflections should include facts from the story, make connections with other stories that they have read, make connections with their own lives, offer opinions, and make predictions.
While reading with your child and watching television during January, help them to identify the point of view of the person who wrote the text or script. This will help them understand the importance of having a point of view when writing. Also help your child interpret what they are reading and viewing by making inferences – reading between the lines and listening to what is not necessarily voiced.
The focus for writing during January will be report writing. The students will be asked to complete a short research project for Social Studies.
We have received our first set of penpal letters! We will work on writing return letters to our penpals at Amherstview Public School, during January.
Poem of the Month
Our poem for January, an excerpt from The Cremation of Sam McGee, is attached to this newsletter.
Mathematics
During December the students were working on mastering their subtraction facts from 100. They will continue to work on these facts during January. 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 January the Grade Five students will finish the unit started on Data Management. Data Management is interpreting, collecting, and organizing data in tables and graphs. This unit includes many concepts and themes your child already encounters in the world. Your child will be interpreting, designing, and conducting surveys, and displaying the results in graphs. Your child will also be introduced to the idea that data can be displayed with bias.
The students will:
· distinguish between discrete data and continuous data
· collect data by conducting a survey or an experiment
· collect and organize discrete or continuous primary data and secondary data and display the data in charts, tables, and graphs that have appropriate titles, labels
· demonstrate an understanding that sets of data can be samples of larger populations
· describe how a set of data is collected and explain whether the collection method is appropriate
· read, interpret, and draw conclusions from primary data and from secondary data presented in charts, tables, and graphs (including broken-line graphs)
· calculate the mean for a small set of data and use it to describe the shape of the data set across its range of values, using charts, tables, and graphs
· compare similarities and differences between two related sets of data plots, double bar graphs, or broken-line graphs
There are many activities you can do at home that will improve your child’s understanding in these areas. Consider:
· Encouraging your child to discuss any surveys you hear mentioned in the news.
· Asking your child to interpret data displayed in tables, charts, or graphs found in newspapers, magazines, or on the Internet.
Social Studies
During January we will return to a unit on Canada and World Connections. The Grade Fours will learn to use maps and charts to learn about Canada’s main physical regions. Grade Fives will be learning about some of Canada’s civic ceremonies and celebrations, identifying some current and historical political figures and their significance, and learning about the significance of some civic buildings and symbols.
All students will be asked to complete research projects relating to these themes. Please see the attached project sheets that outline the expectations and deadlines. As with all projects, students should identify the topic they want to research as soon as the assignment is given, gather materials, and bring to them to school to work on during class time.
Physical Education and Human Growth During January we will continue to work on age appropriate basketball skills and basketball type games. We will start a unit on Healthy Eating.
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. Since Central Public School is aiming to be a “Garbageless Lunch School” by the end of January, all items not recycled or composted at school should be going home in your child’s lunch box.
Steps to Respect
During January we will be focusing on the importance of knowing how to join group activities in an appropriate fashion.
Special Upcoming Events
On Tuesday, January 27th we will be celebrating Family Literacy Day. If there are any parents who would like to join us in a special day of literacy events that day, please let me know by writing a note in your child’s agenda.
Reminders and Requests
Please remember to have your child complete the third page of their first term report card. Taking take to set goals for Term Two is an important step in the learning process.
Students are reminded to make sure that all winter clothing is labelled and that they bring everything home each night.
If you have any concerns about your child’s progress or information to supplement curriculum, please feel free to contact me at 613-372-2026 or at merkleym@limestone.on.ca.
Sincerely,
Margaret Merkley
