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PRINCIPAL ’S MESSAGE Dear Parents/Guardians,
Our school’s two goals for the school year 2013-2014 involve continuing to
work on assessment/evaluation and inquiry based learning. More specifically the
goals are: 1) During learning, timely, ongoing, descriptive feedback about student
progress is provided, based on student actions and co-constructed success criteria. We
hope to promote a culture of learning in schools and classrooms whereby errors are
seen as opportunities for learning and improvement. Also, that students are able to
use descriptive feedback, based on the success criteria, to revise and refine their dem-
onstration of learning and set individual learning goals provide accurate, constructive
and descriptive feedback to themselves, their classmates, and educators in relation to
the predetermined success criteria. 2) Teachers/Principal will continue to have professional learning which is inquiry-based and responsive to
student assessment data which leads to risk taking by trying new instructional practices (collaborating, co-
planning and co-teaching) and strategies that lead to a culture of learning. This will enable students to:
collaborate, demonstrate curiousity by generating questions, risk take and persevere through tasks and be
reflective about learning. The teachers are all involved in professional development with professional in-
structors (e.g. math, science).
Math classes today look so different since I went to school as a student, even different in how I
taught it as a teacher years ago. The staff and I would like to share with you how effective math instruction
looks like. So, over the next few newsletters, I will include information about math and share what teach-
ers are doing in math classes throughout the grades. And please, if you have any questions, just ask.
On the P.A. Day in November, the staff will be involved in math learning conversations. We
will continue to improve our content understanding of the Mathematics curriculum, will have learning
conversations around the research-based instructional strategies and will plan effective lessons.
Any family has access to help their son/daughter with their writing using a program called
Word Q (students in grades 2 to 8 should know about this program). It is available to all.
Please continue to encourage your son/daughter to use RazKids (reading program K-5) and
Dream Box (K-7 math program) several times a week. The Dreambox program accelerates student
learning by ensuring every student works continually in their optimal learning area and helps all students
achieve math proficiency. This program is a form of adaptive instruction with student performance deter-
mining the next instructional lesson. DreamBox combines three essential elements: a rigorous curriculum,
motivating learning environments, and an adaptive engine.
Guest author Dr. Maria Becker to visit Grand Avenue on Tuesday November 19 to share her
stories. More information about this day will be sent home.
We were extremely fortunate to receive again season tickets for the Niagara Ice Dogs games
by the owner. They will be given to students who have earned them in a variety of ways (e.g. work habits/
learning skills, academics, character traits, assessment).
Thank you for supporting UNICEF. We have raised $475.59 from chewing gum and the UNI-
CEF envelopes. Thank you for supporting children in another country.
Sincerely,
Miss Findlay Achieving Success Together
REMEMBRANCE DAY On Monday, November 11, 2013, Grand Avenue School will be having a Remembrance Day
Service at 10:45 a.m. in the gymnasium. Parents are welcome to attend. Poppies will be dis-
tributed to students on the morning of November 11 for a small donation to the Royal Canadian
Legion. We ask that students wear dark pants and a white shirt. Lest We Forget
GRAND AVENUE SCHOOL 14 Grand Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, L3M 2R7 (905) 945-2227 website: http://grandave.dsbn.org
NOVEMBER 2013 UPCOMING EVENTS TO WRITE ON
YOUR SCHOOL
CALENDAR
* Wednesday, November 6
Grade 8s to GSS for the day
* Thursday, November 7
Parent Teacher Interviews
* Friday, November 8
Dental Screening K, grade 2, 4, 6, and 8 and Gino’s Pizza Lunch Day
* Wednesday, November 13
Kindergarten trip to Jack Grunsky
* Friday, November 15
P.A. Day (No school)
* Monday, November 18
Grade 1 and 2/3 to St. John’s
* Tuesday, November 19
Author Dr. Maria Becker visits Grand Avenue
* Friday, November 22
Pizza Pizza Lunch Day
* Tuesday, November 26
School Council/PTA 6:30 p.m. in the library
* Thursday, November 28
Poinsettia Pick up at 5:30 p.m.
* Wednesday, December 4
M&M School Fundraiser
NEXT SCHOOL
COUNCIL/PTA MEETING
Tuesday November 26th ♦ 6:30 p.m.
In the School Library
At our parent council meetings we decide as a group how we would like to use the fundraising profits. Some of the ways that our fundraising dollars support our students, staff and school are:
Classroom Allowance: $ 2350.00 Field Trip Subsidy of $10/student: approximately $2300.00
School Nutrition Program: $200.00 Repairs to Swing set and playground maintenance: TBD
As we continue to raise funds from these initiatives, we can contribute to additional items for the school. We encourage parents to come out to a meeting to take part in these and other discussions.
We are very fortunate to have 2 families in our
school community who own pizza companies.
Therefore, we will alternate between each
company for our Special Lunch Days
Upcoming Special Lunch Dates:
Friday November 8th
(Gino’s Pizza)
& Friday November 22nd
(Pizza Pizza)
As a reminder to families, order forms will go out once per
month and orders for multiple lunches are due back at the
same time. If you have any questions pertaining to special
lunch days, please contact Nicolette Cullen at mncu-
[email protected] or 905-309-7949.
Annual Poinsettia Sale: This fundraiser is always popular and we are glad to be able to offer it again this year. The plants come from a local supplier in a 6” pot and will be offered in Red, Pink, Burgundy or White at a price of $8 each. Sale Start: Monday November 4th Orders due: Monday November 18th
Plant Pick-Up: Thursday November 28th between 6– 8 pm in the School Library. If that pick up time does not work for you, please contact us to make other arrangements. If you have any questions about this fundraiser, please contact Elaine Shaw at [email protected]
Magazine Fundraiser: Thank you for your overwhelming support for our annual Magazine fundraiser again this year. The campaign was a huge success and we sold approximately $14,000 in subscriptions! We will let everyone know the profits earned when we receive our invoice from QSP in December. The prize order has been sent out and we expect prizes to be distributed before the end of November.
Looking for Resources??
Grand Avenue Parent Council has received a PRO Grant to purchase resources for Parents on topics under the mental health umbrella. Topics such as Autism, ADHD, Bereave-ment, Divorce, Anxiety, depression, eating disorders, etc. There is currently a bookshelf in the school foyer for these resources. If there is a topic that is of particular interest to you, please feel free to note it and put it in the suggestion box on the bookshelf. We want to make sure we are using the grant money to provide resources that are of interest to our school community so we would appreci-ate your input.
M&M MEAT SHOP
On WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, M&M Meat Shop in Grimsby will do-nate 10% of all sales by Grand Ave-nue School families and friends to the school. Please let them know that you are from Grand Avenue School when you ring up your purchase for the school to receive their 10%. Make your list, check it twice, and stock up
for Christmas early!
FIRE DRILLS AND
LOCKDOWNS Fire drills are practiced three times in the Fall and three times during the Spring as per DSBN policy. Also, as part of our Emergency Response Pre-paredness Plan, our school will be in-volved in practice lockdown procedures (2 per school year). These fire drill and lockdown procedures will provide stu-dents and staff the opportunity to prac-tice procedures should an emergency situation occur in our school. We have done our three fire drills for the fall, and we will practice our lockdown late No-vember (parents/guardians will be in-formed of the date).
PROGRESS REPORTS AND
PARENT/ TEACHER
INTERVIEWS Parent/Teacher interviews will be held the evening of Thursday, November 7. Please read the letter sent home regarding pro-gress reports and parent/ teacher interviews.
NEEDING HELP (at Christmas)
We are very fortunate at Grand Avenue School because we have many kind community members, and staff, that want to help families at Christmas. If you are a family that needs help at Christmas either with food or gifts for your children, please contact Miss Findlay /Mrs. MacTavish before the end of November. Help will be given in a confidential and respectful manner.
Spirit Day
Friday November 22
‘Party Like a Rock Star’
BULLYING AWARENESS WEEK– STAND UP! NOVEMBER 17-22 Everyone has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others in person and online
At Grand Avenue School, we strive to meet all of your children’s needs. Children’s needs and rights are of central importance in any discussion of bullying in the school context. It is very important that you as a parent/guardian keep open communication with the school on any bullying issues your child may encounter. Encourage your child to speak with their teacher or principal if they are being bullied. If your child comes to you with a concern, listen, be clear on the facts (take notes about what happened and when), try to remain calm so that you can support your child with a plan of action, stay on course (keep an eye on your child’s behavior), contact the police if the bullying involves criminal behaviour, or if there is a threat to your child’s safety. Re-member bullying can take many forms. It can be, physical, verbal, social or electronic. No matter what the age of your child you
can help by encouraging your child to talk to you about it . Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 19: Guest author Dr. Maria Becker to speak to students in K—Grade 6
Family Picture Night
Tuesday Nov 5
At Grand Avenue School from 4-8 p.m.
Call 289-235-8897 to book your
appointment.
West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday December 14 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon
at the PK Centre
Pancakes and Sausage
Tickets $5 each or $20 for a family
Tickets can be purchased at the W.L.M. Auxiliary office.
All proceeds go toward WLM Hospital equipment purchases.
SOCCER—JUNIOR AND INTERMEDIATE Way to go Junior Soccer Team!!
The Junior Team members are: Ashton G., Autumn J., Ben H., Charlie M. , Hayden S., Jordan C., Josh H., Mason B., Mikey B., Nate J., Nathan D., Noah T., Peyton G., and Yash C.
Congratulations to the Intermediate Soccer Team for a great season.
The Intermediate Soccer Team members are: Rebecca W., Eric B., Xavier H., Ben C., Nicole R., Emma C., Kiana B., Katelyn H., Maddy L., Jacob D.., Sarah B., Maddy M., Nick D., Madyson L., Josh C., Connor J., Alyssa A., Avery W., Grace H., Nick H. and Pierce R., Christian S., Christian M., and Abbigail J.
GRAND AVENUE CROSS COUNTRY 2013
GRAND AVENUE CROSS COUNTRY 2013
Grand Avenue's Cross Country team had two fantastic meets at Centennial Park on September 26th and October 3rd! All athletes are to be congratulated on their determination, enthusiasm and outstanding effort in finishing their races. Congratulations to Grace Humphrey, Pierce Razzaque, Grace Loewen, Christian McAlpine and Christian Stevens who qualified to compete in the DSBN Cross Country Meet which was held on October 9th. Way to go, Grizzlies!
Thank you to the Grand Avenue Grizzlies Cross Country Team for a terrific 2013 season!
Liam K . Joshua L. Jake N. Annika H.
Jessica C. Payton C. Sarah D. Yash C.
Charlie M. Logan A. Mikey B. Cameron C.
Ben H. Josh H. Grace L. Josh C.
Christian M. Christian S. Grace H. Pierce R.
Nicolaas D. Coleby S.
Yours in health and fitness, Miss C. Esau
Resources in Your Community
Your local School or school board
Information on community resources: dial 211 or 1-800-263-3695
Public Health Elementary or Secondary 905-688-8248 Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-000
Niagara Regional Police 905-688-4111
Pathstone Mental Health 905-688-6850 Crisis 1-800-263-4944 or www.pathstonementalhealth.ca
Contact Niagara: 905-684-3407 or 1-800-933-3617 or www.contactniagara.org
Kids Help Line: 1-800-668-6868
Victim Support Line: 1-888-579-2888
TALK (Teams of Adults Listening to Kids): 905-646-0612 or www.talkniagara.com
Children‟s Clinic: Niagara Health System 905-378-4647
Distress Centre Grimsby 905-563-6674 or www.distresscentreniagara.com
Coast: Mobile crisis response team 1-800-263-4944
Way2Click: Internet safety and support solutions 905-714-9815 or www.way2click.com
Jericho Counselling: 905-704-0457
Julie Christianesen Counselling: 905-329-6169
Project Rewind: Restoration Conferencing including bullying mediation 905-682-2657 ext 258
INSIDE STORY HEADLINE
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES
There may be times during the school year where inclement weather or other situations could cause transportation cancellations or school closures.
At times when student transportation has been cancelled and schools remain open, the decision of whether or not to have children in school on that day rests with the parent or guardian. Should you decide not to send your child to school in the event that transportation is cancelled but schools remain open, or if your child is ill or late, please ensure that you call your child’s school to inform them of your child’s absence. A key resource in any emergency is the DSBN Emergency Informa-tion form that you filled out at the beginning of the school year. Please let the school know of any changes in contact information or procedures you wish to be followed throughout the school year. For secondary schools it may become necessary to cancel late buses. Notice will be provided via school announcements and on the websites and subscription features by 11:30 a.m. Information about transportation cancellations and school closures will be available as soon as it is available through the following chan-nels:
Websites: www.dsbn.org www.nsts.ca Subscription Features: DSBN Facebook or Twitter NSTS Transportation Delay or Cancellation Alerts Phone: Niagara Student Transportation Services 905-346-0290 Voice Auto Attendant Radio Stations: CKTB (610 AM) St.Catharines WAVE (94.7 FM) Hamilton CKOC (1150 AM) Hamilton CHML (900 AM) Hamilton Y-108 (107.9 FM) Hamilton CHRE (105.7 FM) St.Catharines CHTZ-FM (97.7 FM) St.Catharines CKEY (105.1 FM) Niagara Falls/Fort Erie K-LITE FM (102.9 FM) Hamilton GIANT FM (91.7 FM) Welland
Television Stations: City TV Breakfast Television CH– Hamilton Cogeco Channel 10 CTV Toronto
Picture: You’re The Chef
Program—Grade 8
HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD
DEVELOP CRUCIAL
LEARNING SKILLS AND WORK HABITS?
RESPONSIBILITY
Students are responsible for fulfilling commitments, completing assignments on time and managing their own behavior.
Help your child learn to plan ahead by asking questions such as, “What do you need to pack for school tomorrow?”
ORGANIZATION
Students develop and follow a plan and process for completing work and achieving goals. Students com-plete tasks by identifying, gathering, evaluating and using information, technology, and resources.
Track your child’s assignments and activities on a wall calen-dar. Children benefit from visual reminders.
INDEPENDENT WORK
Students develop independence by following in-structions, monitoring progress, assessing and revis-ing plans. Class time is used effectively to complete tasks and meet goals with minimal supervision.
Involve your child in making age-appropriate decisions, such as healthy food choices for their lunches and picking out their own clothes.
COLLABORATION
Students share information and fulfill various roles within a group to achieve goals. The group works together to solve problems while respecting the ideas and opinions of the other group members.
Play interactive games to practice sharing and taking turns.
INITIATIVE
Students seek new ideas and opportunities for learn-ing. The student willingly takes risks and demon-strates a positive attitude while respecting the rights of self and others.
Promote your child’s interests and support them by providing them with related experiences such as a nature walk or a trip to the library.
SELF-REGULATION
Students set and monitor individual goals based on strengths, needs and interests. Appropriate learning opportunities are identified and the student perse-veres to achieve these goals.
Encourage your child to set goals of personal interest. Help them to make a plan to achieve their goal such as earning/saving enough money to purchase a desired item.
When students are doing inquiry based science, an ob-server will see that:
Children ask questions.
Children plan and carry out investigations.
Children use observation skills.
Children communicate using a variety of methods (e.g. charts, tables)
"Inquiry Based Science: What Does It Look
Like?" Connect Magazine (published by
Synergy Learning), March-April 1995, p. 13.
GRADE 1 BUBBLE INQUIRY!!!
Mme. Lemke has been studying the book Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, with Mrs. Arghittu’s Grade 1 class. The Grade 1’s love to ask questions and as Ms. Moore happened to be visiting the Grade 1 class one day, she heard these wonderings:
What is a bubble?’
How do bubbles form?
What ingredients make a great bubble?
During the class discussion, everyone agreed that a bubble is like a pocket- a pocket made of soap and water and filled with air. When you blow air into a soap and water mixture, the soap forms a thin skin around the air, trapping it…and creating a bubble!
Now there was just one question the Grade 1’s had left to answer: What makes a great bubble? After cre-
ating criteria for a great bubble, the students in Grade 1 decided on different ingredients that they wanted to
add to a soap solution in hopes of creating a great bubble! The Grade 1’s reassured Mme. Lemke and Ms.
Moore that they had been practicing how to make great observations with Mrs. Arghittu and that they were
ready to experiment and test their predictions! This is what it looked like:
After careful analysis of their
data, the Grade 1’s concluded
that the chocolate syrup mixed
with Dawn detergent made a
great bubble. However, they
don’t recommend using this so-
lution to get Harry clean!
Math Education is Changing!
Math classrooms today look different than what we remember. How can we help our children succeed when the goals of math
instruction seem so different from what we experienced? Today the focus is more on conceptual understanding. Most of us
probably experienced math lessons where teachers focused on procedures and we practice them. We may be able to do arithme-
tic with pencil and paper quite well, but do we truly understand why the procedures work?
Math education today…
Encourages students to explore why procedures work and to find various strategies for solving a problem and to exam-
ine each strategy for its efficiency.
Allows teachers to work more closely with students, one-on-one and in groups, discussing and questioning and refining
their strategies. Teachers also create a classroom culture in which students can learn from one another.
Supports students to work collaboratively with one another, in pairs and groups, to look at options, and to exchange
ideas and develop ways to communicate and defend their ideas.
Supports students to persevere in solving problems and to appreciate puzzlement and the fun of “cracking” a problem
Makes the mathematical connection between the classroom ideas and the real world in which children and their teach-
ers and families live and work.
Emphasizes clever mental math computation and focuses to a lesser degree on pencil and paper arithmetic strategies
Encourages children to model problems, for example with arrays, and number lines
In classrooms today, children are being challenged to think, to wonder, to explore, to pose and solve problems about their real
world, to craft arguments to defend their thinking, and to use mental math strategies. They are being encouraged to be young
mathematicians as work!!
Excerpts taken from: “A Parent‟s Guide to Understanding Math Education in Today‟s Schools” by Cathrine Kellison and Cath-
erine Fosnot
One goal staff are working on which parents can help with:
We are encouraging students to value mistakes.
Mistakes are an opportunity for learning and everyone young or old makes them. Figuring out what the mistake is and looking
at the different ways the problem can be solved are essential skills to learning mathematics. When a child announces the answer
to a problem, regardless of whether the answer is right or wrong, try to remember to ask questions like: “How do you get your
answer? How do you know that it is right?” A child who may have made an error will begin to see and reverse his/her faulty
reasoning. Trust must be established with an understanding that it is okay to make mistakes.
Future newsletters will include: tips for parents, understanding some math terms and sample student work/ questions.
Picture 1) Grade 6/7 A Multiplication String showing student‟s thinking. Ask your son/daughter about „strings‟
Picture 2 and 3) Grade 2/3 Word Problem with rubric
Early Learning Kindergarten—Math
The Early Learning Programs have been focusing on number construction and measurement during the month of October. The students are becoming passionate mathematicians. Students have been finding ob-jects in the classroom to construct numbers 1-20. Students have also been very excited to explore pump-kins and squash in the classroom. They have discovered they can measure the pumpkins many different ways. They have used cubes, string, rulers, measuring tapes and blocks. We also issued a challenge to the students this month. They were given a shovel and a bucket and asked to estimate how many scoops of sand would fill up the bucket. The students created a chart to record their estimations and their measure-
ments.
Pictures: Constructing numbers, investigating pumpkins, measuring height and seeds in pumpkin,
measuring sand.
Pictures include: Fire
Presentation, Birds of Prey
Visit, Bullying Hurts pres-
entation, the Grade 4/5
class enjoyed a visit by
Mr. Deare who brought
along many interesting
rock and mineral samples
(from around the world)
for the students to exam-
ine, and Halloween
NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER DRAW
FOR A PRIZE
My child(ren) ______________________________
Class(es) and I have read the newsletter.
Question: School Council received a grant ($1000)to purchase parent resources for the book shelf in the front foyer. What topics would you like to see on the resource shelf (e.g. ADHD, anxiety. mental health, behaviour, bullying, bereave-ment)
______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Thank you for completing
(Please return to the Office)
STUDENT RECOGNITION Mrs. Oluic/ Gillian S. Miss Weir (K) Jaeden H
Miss Ashton/ Leo Z. Mrs. Morin (K) Jayden D.
Mrs. Arghittu (Gr.1) Ethan C. Abby B. Gary F.
Mrs. Height (Gr. 2) Calvin G. Justinas F.
Miss Esau (Gr. 2/3) Zoey B. Kieran V. Kate M. Ms. Molloy (Gr. 3/4) Charlie M. Tabytha J. Peyton G. Sarah D.
Mme Lemke (Gr. 4/5) Nolan K. Amy K. Ayden H. Mikey B.
Mr. Dodman (Gr. 6/7) Madyson L. Christian M. Christian S. Eric B.
Miss Whittal (Gr. 8) Nick H. Sierra M. Ben C. Mr. Nicholls (FS) Wayne S. Ava P.
Grade 2 are Scientists
(Mad Science)
OCTOBER NEWSLETTER WINNER The winner for the October newsletter is Charlotte and Jessica Cullen’s family and Hailey Downs’ family. Each family will re-ceive two large free pizzas from Gino’s Pizza. Congratulations.
Congratulations and thank you for your feedback. The feedback is taken seriously and the honesty is greatly appreciated.
Thank you Gino’s Pizza for supporting
Grand Avenue students.
How Long Must My Child Stay Home When Sick?
Please keep your child at home and away from others if he or she has any of these symptoms:
Fever
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Rash
Frequent coughing or sneezing
Yellow or green discharge from the nose, ears, or eyes
Sore throat
Contact your family doctor for a diagnosis. Your doctor will advise you about care and treatment if a communicable disease is diagnosed. For more information, please contact the Infectious Disease Program at 905-688-8248 ext. 7330 or 1-888-505-6074 or www.niagararegion.ca