The Merkley Monitor
March 2009
Greetings!
Greetings from Room 7! The students have worked hard during this term and are well deserving of their March Break. I hope everyone will have a great holiday!
February Highlights
On February 5th the students had a tour of City Hall where and skated at the outdoor rink in front of City Hall. We would like to thank Mrs. Westlake Lea and Tracy Stinson for accompanying us on this trip – and helping to tie skates!
On February 11th we went to MacArthur Auditorium to see The Kingston Symphony. For the students, this was an excellent introduction to the instruments in the orchestra. We also went to Cloverleaf Bowling Lanes where many students made lucky strikes! Many thanks to Lyn Rosebush who accompanied us for the whole day, and to Jessica Tizard and Tracey Stinson for meeting us at the bowling alley.
We celebrated Valentine’s Day with a party on February 13th. Thank you to all the parents who provided the food. As well as party treats, we had healthy food items.
On Tuesday, February 24th we celebrated Pancake Tuesday with delicious pancakes.

Welcome
We welcome Miss Sydney Plavins and Mr. David Williamson, students from Queen’s University. They will be helping students with reading in our classroom for the next eight weeks.
We also welcome Miss Lauren Kidd, a student in the Behavioural Psychology program from St. Lawrence College. She is completing a practicum that will allow her to be working with us from February 23rd through to April 30th.
In addition to these students we have Miss Land and Miss Eamers who started placements during February. We are very fortunate to have so many volunteers helping the students.





Steps to Respect Program
During March, we will continue to focus on bullying. “Steps to Respect” defines bullying as follows: “Bullying is unfair and one-side. It happens when someone keeps hurting frightening, threatening, or leaving someone out on purpose.” Bullying is more than just pushing, hitting or fighting. Bullying also includes things like putdown, rumours, verbal threats, gossip, and being excluded from groups.
You can help your child increase their awareness by pointing out the use of put-downs, rumours, and gossip you notice in TV programs. Discuss how these things affect the character in the story. Then talk about how people might feel if this behaviour occurred in real file – even between friends.

Participation
Congratulations to Josh J., Isaac, Eli, and Braydon for participating in Junior Boys Basketball that takes places after school on Tuesday nights. Congratulations to Ashley, Alexis V., Shawna, Mariana, Isra, Faith, and Alexis M. for getting involved with Junior Girls Basketball that takes place on Thursday nights after school.
Many thanks to the students who stay after school for the Wizard of Oz practices that take place after school on Wednesday. We encourage all students who can make these practises (as requested in a note the previous Friday) to be there.
Parents are reminded that all students have received a permission slip letting you know that there will be a rehearsal for Oz on Saturday, March 7th. We would like to have this returned by Tuesday, March 3rd so that we can organize the day and plan lunch for that day.

Pysanka
On Monday, March the 23rd, we will be working on a traditional Ukrainian Easter egg activity called pysanka, all afternoon. Since we will be working with raw eggs, candles, and dyes, I will be happy to have as many parents who want to help supervise, join us! I will supply all the materials but students, who can bring in old candles, soft paper towels, and egg cartons, are asked to do so. The yolk and egg white will eventually dry out so the egg may be kept indefinitely. If you wish, you may finish them with a nonsoluable varnish. Please note in your child’s students agenda if you can come into the classroom on this day.



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 March help them to connect ideas that they view and read to their own knowledge, their own experiences, their own insights, and to familiar texts. This will help them understand the importance of making connections. Also point out to them the various features that a text uses to organize information. (e.g. chapters, glossary, index)

The focus for writing during March will be exposition writing. Exposition is a type of writing that is used to explain, describe, give information, or inform. You can help your child understand what this kind of writing is by pointing it out to them when you see it and by having him or her use words that clearly show what they are talking about when they are explaining something to you, in an organized fashion.
Our poem for March, Sticky Maple Syrup, is attached to the newsletter.

Mathematics
During February the students started mastering their multiplication facts to 100. We will continue doing so during March. It is critical that these facts are committed to memory in order to facilitate working with larger numbers.

The Grade Five students will finish the unit started on Transformational Geometry and work through a unit on Fractions and Decimals.





Science
During March we will continue a Science unit on Understanding Structures and Mechanisms. In Grade Four this unit explores Pulley and Gears and in Grade Five this unit explores the Forces Acting on Structures and Mechanisms.

Social Studies
After March Break we will start our second strand in Social Studies, Heritage and Citizenship. In Grade Four this unit explores Medieval Times and in Grade Five this unit explores Ancient Civilizations.

Physical Education and Human Growth
During March we will continue to work on a number of stability skills and developing a sequence of moves.

Snacks
I am delighted with the effort that everyone is putting into bringing garbageless lunches to school. I know it takes a little more effort and time to produce.

Special Upcoming Events
On March 5th the students will have the opportunity to watch “Belonging”, a play put on by the Limestone Teachers Theatre Company.
Parents are reminded that there will be a full day rehearsal at the school for The Wizard of Oz, on Saturday, March 7th and Saturday, March 28th. All students who are able to attend are encouraged to do so.

Reminders and Requests
Second term report cards go home on Monday, March 30th.
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).

Sincerely, Margaret Merkley