Classroom news, learning highlights, and reminders for families. Updates appear newest first. Select a dated heading to read the full post.
Welcome, Grade 5/6 families! I am looking forward to welcoming everyone on Wednesday, September 9. Our first few days will focus on getting to know one another, settling into routines, and building a caring classroom where everyone belongs.
Wednesday, September 9: First day of school. Early dismissal at 2 p.m. There will be no PE class that day.
Our regular PE days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Uniforms: Please help your child arrive in the appropriate school uniform from day one. Prepare the required PE clothing for Thursday. View the school’s uniform requirements.
General school supplies will be provided by the school for your child.
Please keep toys and electronic devices at home.
We are a nut-free school. Please send nut-free snacks and lunches.
We are also a water only school.
A new school year can bring both excitement and butterflies. Listen to your child’s worries without brushing them aside: “It makes sense to feel nervous when something is new.” Together, choose one small step they can take, such as greeting a classmate or asking a teacher for help.
Make mornings predictable by practising the school routine, preparing clothing and lunch the night before, and returning to a regular bedtime. Let your child take responsibility for a manageable part of getting ready.
Build realistic optimism: “You do not have to know everything on the first day. We can take it one step at a time.” Notice courage, kindness, and persistence. After school, leave room to unwind, then ask about one good moment and one thing that was tricky. Remind your child that asking for help is a strength.
If worries persist or make attending school difficult, please get in touch so we can work together.
Further reading for families: Johns Hopkins Medicine’s back-to-school tips.
Thank you for helping us begin the year with care and confidence. I look forward to our first week together!
I hope everyone had an enjoyable first week of school!
This week we have a few items to note in our calendar:
Wednesday will be our first whole school mass. It will begin at 2:00 pm
Thursday we will host our Terry Fox run in the afternoon. Students are permitted to wear their PE strip to school that day.
Friday there is no school for students. It is an in-school Pro-D day for staff.
We will also be starting some of our units for the first semester.
In Mathematics, we are beginning in Number, a unit that will reappear throughout the year as we continue expanding upon our skills and understanding in other areas.
In Science, we will begin our Earth science unit in Grade 5 and our Space unit in Grade 6. There are a lot of excellent connections between the two units and the students will be engaging with a mixture of stand-alone and combined unit tasks across the two grades.
In Language Arts this week, we will continue working through our diagnostic assessments, as well as review our writing conventions.
Happy week 3 everyone!
Items to note in our calendar for this week:
Tuesday, we have a fundraiser for the Tour de Rock. The school will be selling chips for $2 each.
Wednesday, we have our PSG hot lunch (Local Pizza).
Thursday, will be the Cross Country meet at Witty's Lagoon. For those who signed up and brought in their permission form, the bus will leave at 8:45 am and return to school by 2:40 pm for regular pickup. Students are to wear their P.E. strip, good running shoes, and bring lunch, water, and appropriate outer clothing. Please consider packing sunblock and a hat as well.
Friday, will be Orange Shirt Day. Students are to wear their regular uniform bottoms with an orange shirt for that day. We will have a whole school assembly in the morning,
Monday, September 28, we will have another fundraiser for Tour de Rock. Crazy hair and Civvies Spirit Day. In order to participate, a minimum donation of $5 is asked.
Thank you to all the families who were able to join us for the Meet the Teacher BBQ evening on Thursday. It was a pleasure meeting many of you. I look forward to working together more as the year goes on.
This week, in Science, we will continue our exploration of the Earth and our place within the Cosmos. The students looked at the layers of the Earth today (Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, and Inner Core), and how scientists learn about the inner layers without being able to explore them personally.
We also began discussing the scale of the solar system and arangement of planets. About 1/4 of the class could name the planets already, and only a couple of students were able to order them correctly. This means we have a lot we can learn together throughout this unit. We also went outside with walking measuring sticks and chalk, and working in groups, tried to space out the planets on a 50 metre space of blacktop, the Sun being at 0m and Neptune at 50m. Many of the groups measured out each planet equidistant from each other, while a couple more courageous students tried playing with the scale and distance a bit more dramatically. I think every student was surprised when the first four planets were all within 2.5 metres of the sun on the 50 metre scale.
In English, we will continue unpacking and working with complete sentences vs. sentence fragments, subject and predicate, as well as begin unpacking the parts of speech with further detail and clarity. The students are showing great progress with their reading stamina so far.
In Mathematics, we are almost done with our review of place value and will begin focusing on expressions, equations, and decimals.
We have another busy week ahead in Grade 5/6, with several special events taking place alongside our regular learning.
Tuesday, October 6 – World Cup Soccer Jamboree
Many of our Grade 5 students will be participating in the World Cup Soccer Jamboree. Please make sure your child wears the colour that corresponds with their assigned team. Students were informed of their team colours by Mrs. Annendale last week.
Students who are not participating in the jamboree will join another class for the majority of the day until our class returns.
Wednesday, October 7 & Thursday, October 8 – Parent-Teacher Conferences & Scholastic Book Fair
Parent-teacher conferences will take place on Wednesday and Thursday evening this week. The Scholastic Book Fair will also be open in the library. I look forward to meeting with everyone and having the opportunity to discuss your child’s learning and progress.
Wednesday, October 7 is early dismissal at 2:00 pm.
Friday, October 9 - School closed.
Monday, October 12 - School closed for Thanksgiving.
Language Arts
We have been working with complete sentences and sentence fragments, including how writers may sometimes use intentional fragments for effect. We have also been reviewing the parts of speech. Many students are still developing their foundational understanding of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, so any opportunities to practise identifying and using these at home would be very beneficial.
This week, we will continue building on these skills by learning about direct objects and beginning work on personal opinion writing.
Mathematics
Last week, students completed a diagnostic mathematics assessment covering a variety of mathematical strands. This assessment will help me better understand each student’s current strengths and areas for growth.
Using this information, we will begin working in flexible groups to further develop number sense and computational understanding, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and decimals. As in any classroom, there is a wide range of experience and ability, and I will continue working to meet students where they are while helping each of them move forward in their learning.
Science
In our Science studies, students have continued learning about the terrestrial planets as part of our space unit and about rocks and minerals in our Earth science unit.
The students have shown particular enthusiasm for our study of the solar system and have been very interested in learning about current and upcoming space missions and how scientists continue to expand our understanding of the cosmos.
Social Studies
Students will continue exploring Canada’s natural resources and considering the important role these resources have played—and continue to play—in shaping the regions, economy, communities, and identity of our country.
Art
Our recent Art lessons have focused on using line as a form of expression. In our latest project, students began with a portrait of Leonardo da Vinci and were given creative licence to give “Leo” a brand-new hairstyle and wardrobe.
Using different types of line, pattern, and detail, students transformed Leonardo into a variety of imaginative, and often very funny, new looks. It was a fun opportunity to practise an important element of art while also allowing plenty of room for creativity and personal expression.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support at home. I look forward to seeing many of you at parent-teacher conferences this week.
Student Information Verification Forms
Student Information Verification Form 2026–27 letters were sent home with students today. Each letter accompanies your child’s personal Student Information Verification Form in a sealed envelope with their name on the front.
Once received, please verify the information, sign the form, and return it at your earliest convenience. Please note that not all emergency contact information will appear on these forms. If you would like to review your complete list of emergency contacts, please feel free to call or stop by the school office. The office staff will be happy to go over it with you.
Grade 6/7 Soccer Tournament — Thursday
Grade 6/7 students participating in the soccer tournament will be away on Thursday. Students who are not attending the tournament will remain at school and follow the regular class schedule.
World Food Day & Food Drive — Friday
Queen of Angels will be recognizing World Food Day on Friday with a school food drive. Families who are able and willing are invited to send in non-perishable food items to support members of our local community who may be experiencing food insecurity.
Please send donations to school by Friday.
On Friday, we will also have a school assembly featuring a guest speaker who will speak about World Food Day. Students will then participate in a community walk to help raise awareness.
Angel Watch Training — Grade 6
Interested Grade 6 students will begin Angel Watch training. Through this program, students learn how to help supervise play areas and respond appropriately to minor playground conflicts. Once trained, they will take turns helping to supervise and support the primary playground.
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to build leadership, responsibility, communication, and problem-solving skills while contributing positively to our school community.
Homework Duotangs
Homework is being sent home today in our new green homework duotangs.
At the beginning of each week, homework will be sent home and should be completed and returned by the following Friday. Students who finish early are welcome to hand their work in before Friday. Additional homework may occasionally be sent home outside of this regular schedule.
Please encourage your child to attempt their homework independently first. Clarifying questions are always welcome; however, if your child is struggling to complete the work and requires significant parent assistance, please let me know. This is helpful information for me and allows me to revisit those concepts in class.
Classroom Jobs Program
Students are also bringing home information today about our new Classroom Jobs Program.
Students received a packet outlining the different classroom positions available, their responsibilities, the pretend salary associated with each job, the monthly “rent” for their desk, and information about how our classroom economy will work.
The goal of this program is not only to build responsibility and ownership within our classroom, but also to provide practical opportunities to develop financial literacy, planning, decision-making, commitment, leadership, and independence.
If you have any questions about the program, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Beaver Computing Challenge
Our school will be participating in the Beaver Computing Challenge, a national mathematics, logic, and computational-thinking competition offered by the University of Waterloo.
The challenge is open to students in Grades 5–9, and I would encourage interested students in our class to consider participating.
Students need to be registered by Tuesday, October 20. I will register any students who express an interest in participating.
The challenge will take place at school during regular school hours and requires approximately one 45-minute period.
More information can be found here:
https://cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/bcc
As far as I am currently aware, the school will cover the participation fee. I will provide an update if that information changes.
Kindergarten Buddies — Thursday
On Thursday, we will spend some time with our Kindergarten buddies. Students will help their buddies decorate pumpkins using a variety of art materials. It should be a fun opportunity to build relationships, practise leadership, and enjoy some creative time together.
Mathematics
This week we are reviewing regrouping in addition and subtraction while also continuing to build fluency with multiplication facts.
Regrouping is an important foundational skill that students need to use confidently before moving into more complex mathematical concepts. We will continue practising accuracy, efficiency, and explaining our mathematical thinking.
Language Arts
Our focus this week is paragraph writing.
Today, students began by brainstorming ideas using a word web. Tomorrow, we will continue developing those ideas and begin turning them into complete sentences that can be organized into a clear, well-planned paragraph.
Our writing topic this week is “All About Me.”
We will be focusing on: a clear main idea; topic sentences; supporting details; complete sentences; logical organization; and concluding sentences.
Social Studies
We will continue learning about British Columbia’s natural resources and the important role they play in our province.
Students will explore how natural resources are: discovered and acquired; harvested or mined; processed and manufactured; used in everyday life; conserved and managed; and connected to the economy and identity of different regions.
Science
Our Grade 5 and Grade 6 students will continue working on their respective science topics.
Grade 5: We will take a closer look at the rock cycle, including how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks form and change over time.
Grade 6: We will continue investigating the terrestrial planets, looking more closely at their characteristics, similarities, and differences.
Art
Students will finish their autumn landscape artwork this week.
As they complete their pieces, we will reflect on how we used important elements and principles of art, including: colour; line; space; layering and overlap; balance; contrast; and composition.
Students have been encouraged to make their landscapes unique while applying the same artistic principles and techniques we have been learning in class.
Grade 6 Soccer Tournament – Tuesday, October 20
Our Grade 6 boys will be participating in their soccer tournament on Tuesday. Good luck, boys! We hope you have a great day representing Queen of Angels.
Individual Photo Day – Wednesday, October 21
Wednesday is individual school photo day. Our Grade 5/6 class is scheduled to have photographs taken at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Whole-School Mass – Wednesday Afternoon
On Wednesday afternoon, we will come together as a school community to celebrate Mass.
Hot Lunch – Thursday, October 22
Thursday’s hot lunch will be Subway.
Homework Due – Thursday, October 22
Because there is no school on Friday, this week’s homework should be returned by Thursday. Students are always welcome to hand it in earlier if it is complete.
Halloween Movie Night – Thursday, October 22
The PSG will be hosting a Halloween Movie Night from 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Thursday evening. We hope families who are able to attend have a fun evening together!
No School – Friday, October 23
There will be no school for students on Friday due to professional development for staff.
This week, students participated in our school-wide writing assessment for the semester. Each student completed a personal writing piece that will be used internally to help assess writing development and inform future instruction.
We have also continued reviewing the “anatomy of a sentence.” Students have been completing short quizzes and activities involving:
sentence structure;
subjects and predicates;
parts of speech;
direct objects;
complete sentences and fragments;
and general writing conventions.
The time we are spending strengthening these foundations should pay dividends over the long term. The better students understand how sentences are constructed, the more confidently and deliberately they can use those structures in their own paragraph and composition writing.
In Mathematics, we have been working on addition and subtraction with regrouping, including numbers containing decimals.
A major focus has been making sure students understand that digits must be lined up according to their place value. In decimal calculations, this means carefully aligning the decimal points so that ones are calculated with ones, tenths with tenths, hundredths with hundredths, and so on.
For example:
A Blue Jay feather weighs 2.035 grams and a Barred Owl feather weighs 4.49 grams. How much more does the owl feather weigh?
Students learn to rewrite 4.49 as 4.490 so that the place values align correctly before subtracting:
4.490 − 2.035
We are emphasizing not only getting the correct answer, but also understanding why the numbers need to be organized this way.
Our Grade 5 and Grade 6 students will continue exploring their respective science topics this week.
Grade 5 – Rocks and Geology
Students will look more closely at the different types of rocks and how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks contribute to our understanding of Earth’s history and present-day geology.
Grade 6 – The Solar System
Students will move farther into the outer Solar System as we learn about the gas giants. We will examine their characteristics, how they differ from the terrestrial planets, and what these enormous worlds can teach us about the formation and structure of our Solar System.
Thursday, October 29 — Cross Country
Approximately half of our class will be attending the final cross-country event of the season.
Best of luck to all of our runners!
Friday, October 30 — Black & Orange Day
The school will be celebrating Black & Orange Day on Friday. Students are invited to come to school dressed in Halloween colours.
Language Arts — Becoming Language Detectives
This week, we began our new Poetry Unit!
Our introduction to poetry will have students listening to, reading, discussing, interpreting, writing, performing, and reflecting on a wide variety of poems. As we progress, we will explore how poets use imagery, sound, rhythm, figurative language, vocabulary, voice, perspective, structure, audience, and purpose to communicate ideas and experiences.
One of our first poems has been Lewis Carroll's wonderfully strange “Jabberwocky.” The poem contains many words that Carroll invented, which led us to an important question:
How can we understand something when we don't understand every word?
Students have been discovering that grammar can sometimes give us clues that vocabulary cannot. Even when we encounter an unfamiliar—or completely invented—word, its position in a sentence can help us determine whether it is likely acting as a noun, verb, adjective, or another part of speech. Context, surrounding words, sounds, and patterns provide still more clues.
We are becoming language detectives, using evidence to make reasonable inferences instead of immediately giving up when we encounter unfamiliar language.
Jabberwocky has also provided a wonderfully playful way to explore rhyme, rhythm, sound, invented vocabulary, imagery, and the idea that readers can make meaning without necessarily having every answer.
Social Studies — Where Does Our Waste Go?
Our study of Canada's natural resources has moved into resource conservation and waste.
This week, students conducted a small classroom waste audit. We tracked the kinds of things we were throwing away and then began investigating a surprisingly complicated question:
When we throw something “away,” where is away?
We learned that much of the garbage generated in the Cowichan Valley travels a remarkable distance after we dispose of it. Garbage transported through the CVRD system can travel from Bings Creek to Duke Point, by barge to the Lower Mainland, and then by rail to a landfill in Washington State—a journey of approximately 730 km.
Families who would like to explore this with their children can visit:
CVRD — Where Does My Garbage Go?
We also investigated what happens when materials enter a recycling system instead. Recycle BC explains how recyclables are collected, transported to sorting facilities, separated by material, baled, processed into raw materials, and eventually used to manufacture new products.
Recycle BC — What Happens to My Recycling?
Finally, we looked at another approach to managing garbage: waste-to-energy. Metro Vancouver operates a facility in Burnaby that uses heat generated from processing garbage to produce electricity while also recovering metals from the waste stream.
Metro Vancouver — Waste-to-Energy Facility
These examples have helped us see that using a natural resource does not end when we finish with a product. Materials continue on a journey after we discard them, and the choices we make about reducing, reusing, recycling, composting, and disposing of materials all have consequences.
Next week, we will continue exploring resource conservation and consider ways resources can be used more responsibly and sustainably.
Science
Grade 5 — Earth Materials
Grade 5 students will continue our study of geology and Earth's materials. We will be:
practising rock identification using observable characteristics;
investigating how sedimentary rocks form;
looking at weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation; and
exploring the many ways people use materials from the Earth.
We will also look beyond obvious examples such as building stone and consider familiar materials such as glass and clay, connecting everyday products back to the Earth materials from which they originate.
Grade 6 — Exploring the Solar System
Grade 6 students will continue travelling outward through our study of the Solar System.
Our upcoming learning will include:
the habitable zone and the conditions that may allow liquid water and life;
the fascinating variety of moons found throughout our Solar System; and
the similarities and differences among asteroids, meteoroids, meteors, meteorites, and comets.
As always, our goal is not simply to memorize facts, but to ask questions and use evidence to understand how the Solar System works.
Art
Students have now finished their Autumn Landscape artwork. Throughout this project, we explored elements and principles including colour, line, space, layering, overlap, balance, contrast, and composition.
Students have also completed their Created by Kids Christmas artwork. Families will have the opportunity to order their child's artwork printed on various pieces of merchandise should you wish to participate. More information about ordering will be shared through the school.
Classroom Jobs & Financial Literacy
I am finishing the final few student job interviews early next week and plan to assign classroom positions by mid-week.
I am very much looking forward to launching our classroom jobs program!
Students will take responsibility for authentic jobs that help our classroom operate smoothly. Along with developing responsibility, independence, leadership, and ownership of our classroom community, the program will provide us with opportunities to develop practical financial literacy skills.
Students will earn classroom salaries for their work, manage expenses such as desk rent, make decisions about saving and spending, and begin thinking about budgeting and financial responsibility.
Every job contributes to our classroom community, and I am excited to see students take ownership of their new roles.