October 2026

October 19th - 23rd, 2026

Happy Fall Parents of 5A, 

We have a pre-service teacher completing her first practicum with us, October 19th - Dec 11th.  Danica Vessey will be learning and practicing teacher throughout this time.  She will start with a few lessons, building up to teaching 75% of the day by the end of her time with us.

Important Dates:

• October 20th - Library (return books)

• October 20th - Photo Club @ 11:15am

• October 22nd - Choir @ 11:15am

• October 28th - Field Trip (rain date October 29th)

• November 5th & 6th - PEITF convention (no classes for students)

Language Arts: In French grammar, we are learning about different classes of words. We have learned about nouns and determinants.  We will move onto adjectives later this week.  In English, we are reviewing Spelling Units 1–5, which cover short and long vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, and u).  We have started our first book club in English, All Systems Go. Students are learning comprehension strategies through a read aloud, shared readings, reader responses, and sharing sessions.  They will learn to develop listening skills by hearing the opinions of others and agreeing or disagreeing, and even changing their own opinion based on these conversations.

Math: In our upcoming math unit, students will practice comparing and ordering decimals to the thousandths place using number lines, comparison symbols (<, >, and =), and equivalent decimals. We will have a pre-test on Thursday to assess where students are starting with their decimal knowledge. 

Integrated Curriculum: Our human body systems project took longer than expected. This week, students will be sharing their projects with their Reading Buddies (grade 2 FI).  This week, our class will begin our health unit covering puberty, consent, personal boundaries, and safety. Using Department of Education approved resources, we will openly and respectfully discuss physical and emotional changes, as well as strategies for recognizing unsafe situations. Our focus will be on ensuring students know how to seek support from trusted adults or organizations like Kids Help Phone if they ever feel worried or uncomfortable. My goal is to create a safe, supportive environment where students can ask questions, and I welcome you to reach out as soon as possible if you have any questions or wish to discuss the materials. 

October 12th - 16th, 2026

Thank you so much for your incredible generosity during our Terry Fox Run, Sherwood families raised $935! This week, we are continuing our community support by collecting non-perishable food items for our local food bank. 

Important Dates:

• October 12th - Thanksgiving Day (no classes)

• October 13th - XC practice @ 11:15

• October 14th - Choir practice @ 11:15

• October 15th - XC practice @ 11:15

• October 16th - Autumn Assembly (Grade 2 performs)

What we are learning:

Language Arts: Our writing focus is all about bringing their descriptions to life with precise and expressive language. First, we are practicing using vivid verbs and descriptive adjectives/adverbs—swapping simple sentences like "Le chien mange vite" (The dog eats fast) for richer phrasing like "Le chien dévore avec frénésie" (The dog devours frantically). Second, students are learning to use precise vocabulary related to their hobbies, like specifying "les pinceaux et la peinture acrylique" (paintbrushes and acrylic paint) instead of general phrases like "le matériel de peinture" (painting gear).  At home, you can support them simply by encouraging them to use strong, descriptive words when telling stories.

Math:  In Math, we are currently learning how to describe and represent decimals up to the thousandths place (dixièmes, centièmes et millièmes). Students are practicing expressing these values in three ways: using hands-on base-ten blocks (concrete), drawing visual models (imagée), and writing the digits (symbolique). At home, you can support your child by asking them to spot decimals on price tags or sports stats and describe what each digit represents! 

Integrated Curriculum: For the last part of their science project, students are answering questions about how two body systems work together, where we see this relationship in real life, and what happens when one system isn't functioning well. Alongside their research, they are also designing a hands-on activity to physically demonstrate how these two systems interact. At home, ask your child which two systems they chose and how their model will show them working together!