Grade Six
June 18th
One more week until summer break
Next week, we will have normal classes with a splash of fun in the afternoons. Please see the schedule to the right for what will be happening next week!
Don't forget your Games for Monday!
ART: We leave the year with Leaves!!!
June 11th
Announcements for this week:
Join us this evening for our Friday Night at the Movies! The movie premiere of "The Complaint Department and Lemonade" featuring the amazing Grade 8 students. A snack and treat bag was sent home earlier this week. Join the Google Meet at 7:00pm for a time of fellowship, games, and a chance to win prizes. The link to watch the movie will be released after the event. We look forward to seeing you there!
Wednesday, June 16- Kinder Grad! Please bring a box of smarties and wear summer best or formal uniform
Friday, June 18- All library books are to be returned
June 4th
Thank you to those who wore orange on Monday to honor the 215 Indigenous children who were discovered in an unmarked and undocumented grave. We are devasted by this news and our hearts go out to all the people affected by the atrocities done at the Residental Schools.
Announcements for this week:
June 7-9 KD Domino Challenge: Bring in as many boxes of mac & cheese dinner as you can. This is a fundraiser for the Calgary Food Bank
June 9th Formal dress-up day- Come wearing your fanciest outfit! This can be a suit and tie/bowtie, a ballgown or your best outfit. Students are to wear their uniform if they are not participating
May 28th
We celebrate being back face-to-face with the kids this week! Although we know the importance of keeping everyone safe and healthy, we do miss seeing our students in class.
As we move into June, there are a few events coming up:
June 2nd Class Picture Day: Please ensure your child is wearing full uniform
June 7-9 KD Domino Challenge: Bring in as many boxes of mac& cheese dinner as you can. This is a fundraiser for the Calgary Food bank
June 9th Formal dress-up day- Come wearing your fanciest outfit!
UPDATE: Wear orange on Monday, May 30th in honor of the unmarked graves of 215 Indigenous children who were found buried on the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site.
May 7th
With the recent announcement for online learning made on Tuesday, the teachers and staff were saying "we will be together again soon" to our students as we move online for the next two weeks. Here are a few important points:
Students were given a digital and paper copy of their online schedule and I have included a copy below.
Attendance will be taken during devotions and after lunch.
Students are required to sign up for one check-in with Mrs. Carpenter during "Calendly Help Sessions" each week and are encouraged to sign up for help with their teacher(s) if they need it. Links to sign-up are on the Stream page on Google Classroom.
We understand online learning is not ideal for all students. If there is a way we can help support your child during these two weeks, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
April 30th
The Grade 6's had a wonderful week. A definite highlight was the Kindergarten Chapel; our buddies did such an amazing job! Interested in seeing our Chapels? Have your child login to Google Classroom and watch the videos posted under Chapels.
It will be strange not to see the Jr Highs in the hallways next week and we will be praying for them as they move to online learning. We appreciate your continued support in keeping us all safe and healthy. Continue to pray for our school for all our staff and students.
Just a reminder to click on the different subject headings to read what we've been working on and any announcements.
Coming up:
May the 4th (+1) be with you! Star Wars Dress-up Day on Wednesday, May 5th.
Hard to believe we are in May next week. Have a wonderful weekend!
April 23rd
It was a "second winter" type of week with a roller coaster of temperatures, but the Grade 6's are very resilient- even asking to go outside in the cold snowy weather! I'm hoping spring, and its nice weather, will come and stay for good. We continued the theme of Kindness this month and enjoyed the Grade 2 Chapel this morning! Ephesians 3:32 says, "Be kind and loving to each other, forgive each other, just as God forgave you." Sometimes this is difficult, but we can do it with God's help. They also had 21 things we should say more often. Can your child remember some of the wise words?
Coming up:
Casual day on Wednesday
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Check Out Our Awesome Art!!!
April 16th Welcome Back!
Students had a great week back here at school! Our theme this month is Kindness and in Chapel this morning and were able to apply their understanding through a service project: picking up garbage outside. What a wonderful way to show kindness to our community and world!
Wednesday was Where's Waldo dress-up day. Great costumes!
A quiet week coming up in terms of activities and announcements. Have a wonderful weekend!
April 9th: Looking ahead to next week
As we enter the final days of spring break I am sure that many of us are beginning to have our thoughts turn to school. As you do here are a couple of important notes:
Remember to bring your buckets back on Monday. This is a great time to check that your child still has scissors, a glue stick, pencils etc...
Band instruments should come back on Monday as well.
Mrs. Carpenter will officially become the grade 6 Homeroom Teacher. She will do morning devotions with the students each morning.
Mrs. Carey is returning from her maternity leave and will be teaching Social Studies 6. We welcome her back into the classroom after a year with her kids at home, she is ready and excited to be back in the classroom again! She can be reached at deanne.carey@pallisersd.ab.ca. Mr. Colgan will also be returning from his parental leave. Thanks so much to Mrs. Prins for working so hard while he was away.
I hope that these last couple of weeks have been a wonderful time of rest and connection and everyone is feeling refueled for that few months of grade 6! I know this fantastic group will continue to learn and grow as they finish off the year together. My sincere thanks again for your support over the last seven months!
March 18:
This short week flew by with some fun green accessories on Wednesday, a lot of great learning experiences that you can read about on the subject tabs of this site and a visit from Mrs. Folkerts' new puppy, Fern. The love was mutual!
Please remember that tomorrow is a PD day for teachers and a day off for students. Have a wonderful long weekend!
Upcoming Dates:
March 19: PD day (no school for students)
March 24: Casual Day
March 26: Spring Break Begins (March 26-April 11)
April 12: School Resumes. Mr. Colgan & Mrs. Carey returns from their parental leaves.
April 14: Where's Waldo dress-up day.
March 12: Last full week before spring break (Two 4-day weeks to go!)
It is hard to believe that there are only two weeks left before spring break. Although the warm weather definitely makes it feel a lot like spring outside! Our schoolyard has become a little muddy and wet, but it hasn't slowed down the games of infection tag! After Spring break Mrs. Carey will be returning from her maternity leave and will begin teaching the grade 6 class for Social Studies (Mr. Colgan will also be back at this time). Please see the subject tabs for pictures and information about what we have been learning this week.
March 5: Exciting News!
There was lots to celebrate this week at Mrs. Carpenter used the neat "musical decoder" to share her good news with the grade 6 class and Mr. Colgan shared the news of his new arrival. Lots of fun costumes livened up our classroom this week as well. Be sure to check out what we were up to in the subject tabs.
Feb 26: Welcome Mrs. Prins!
This week we welcomed Mrs. Prins who will be filling in for Mr. Colgan until spring break. It is awesome to have her here teaching and being in community with us for the next month! Wednesday was Pink Shirt Day. If you are not familiar with the story of how pink shirt day came to be a national anti-bullying/ pro-kindness movement feel free to ask your child. It is a really cool story of the powerful actions of young people as they peacefully stood up for kindness. This week we jumped into a whole bunch of new exciting units (the grade 6 curriculum really is a lot of fun!) so be sure to check out the subject tabs for updates.
Don't forget to remind your child to bring their band instrument on Monday!
Feb 12: Indoor Recess, Buddies & now a week off!
After a busy and cold week, we are ready for a week off. Students worked hard with lots of tests this week. Although we missed being able to get outside to play we did enjoy the Gaga Ball pit cobbled together of tables in the CTF room. This was a great way to burn off some of the recess energy. On Friday we enjoyed buddies through the window using whiteboard markers to play X's and O's as well as draw some silly faces. Although this year has required a lot of creativity is it special to see the bonds that have developed between grade 6 and Kindergarten. This activity was a perfect follow up the grade 9 chapel on Mentoring. These students are being wonderful mentors and examples to their buddies.
Students also sent Mr. Colgan off with a giant card filled with well-wishes and some good advice as he heads off to be with his family which will welcome a new baby in the coming weeks. Mr. Colgan will be back after Spring break and Mrs. Prins will be here ready to continue with the kids in the interim.
Wishing you a week of rest as you enjoy extra time with your families.
Upcoming dates:
Wed Feb 24: PINK shirt day
February 5
We welcomed a new month, and with each new month, I always find it is a time to reflect on just how much we have learned and done since we began together in September. This week we also send home report cards with the students. Please take the time to read through and celebrate the progress and learning that has happened. Each student has areas of current and future growth, and each of them has enriched our classroom community. You will soon receive information (from the office) about booking parent-teacher interviews which will take place next week Thurs evening and Fri afternoon.
Important Dates:
Feb 5th - Report Cards Go Home
Feb 11th @ 3:30-7:00pm -Parent Teacher Interviews
Feb 12th - Half Day (Dismissal @ 12:05pm)
Feb 12th @1:00-3:30pm -Parent Teacher Interviews. & Mr. Colgan's last day until after Spring Break.
Feb 15th to 19th - No School
Important Dates:
Jan 29: NO SCHOOL for students.
Feb 5th - Report Cards Go Home
Feb 11th @ 3:30-7:00pm -Parent Teacher Interviews
Feb 12th - Half Day (Dismissal @ 12:05pm)
Feb 12th @1:00-3:30pm -Parent Teacher Interviews
Feb 15th to 19th - No School
January 28th
Students had a short but productive week. We were able to survive the cold outside and enjoy relaxing with a casual day on Wednesday. Tommorow is a PD day for teachers, but there is no school for students. We hope you enjoy the long weekend. Don't forget to look for report cards on Friday next week and information will be coming from the school regarding booking times for upcoming Parent Teacher Interviews.
January 22
This week was wonderfully normal and you can read all about the things we have been learning in the subject headings. Please remember to reach out if you have any questions. This week we spent some time talking about appropriate and kind ways to respond when we are feeling annoyed. We are working to build the habit of using "I feel.....I need..." to express ourselves kindly and assertively.
Upcoming Dates
Lunch Skating Tues, Wed & Fri
Jan 27- Casual Day
Jan 29- NO SCHOOL for students (PD day)
Skating Schedule:
Grade 6 will use the rinks on Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday only during lunch recess.
Skating will also occur during PE next week so all students should bring their skates & helmets on PE days.
The two rinks have also been divided by ability level & if students are playing hockey. Helmets are mandatory.
** students can also use the rink after school hours & on weekends.
January 15
Hello Parents!
This year has offered so many blessings to notice. This week we enjoyed the fun of a Hawaiian dress-up day, but we enjoyed the real warmth of the beautiful winter sun on our faces at recess. It really has been an amazing winter this far and we are so thankful (especially since so many of the boys seem keen to wear shorts all winter long...even when it isn't Hawaiian day!).
January 8: Happy New Years
Well, we did it. We made it through 2020 and the first week of 2021. Thanks so much for the ways you supported your kids as they learned at home this week. By helping them get to their meetings (we had OUTSTANDING attendance this week!), providing them with good places to learn that kept them organized and on task. One fun event this week was trying buddies over google meets. Once we got set up students were in a break-out room with their buddy and were able to lead an alphabet scavenger hunt. Even though we have found lots of creative and successful ways to learn and be together, we are so excited to welcome them back into the building next week. Once we are back together we will go back to our regular schedule with online check-ins two times a day if students are isolating at home.
Dec 18: Christmas Break
Wow! Here we are at Christmas break already. It is amazing what we have been able to do already this year and I am so proud of each of the students and the resilience and respect they show and the growth they have achieved. This week was full of fun and celebration as well as learning. Students watched Story Book theater's production of Annie and exchanged secret Santa gifts and they also worked hard to complete graphic novels, write a charter for their colonies and take a social test.
Our prayer for your family is that these next couple of weeks will be filled with relaxation, good food and special family memories as we celebrate the birth of Jesus many years ago and his continued presence and care in our lives today. Many people have noted that Jesus arrived in circumstances that were difficult and far from ideal and this Christmas we celebrate in a world that is experiencing a different type of difficult, but we too find ourselves in need to of the hopeful restoration of Jesus.
We will resume classes on January 4th. We will be online. Please see details on the schedule tab of this website.
Dec 11
What a great week we had. The Christmas concert was a wonderful chance to come together as a community and celebrate the gift of Jesus into our world. Great job Mrs. Carpenter and grade 5 class and the many others who put that together.
Next week is the last week before Christmas break and there is LOTS we are looking forward to:
Tues 15: Sneaky Santa gifts need to be brought in by the 15th. All students have received the name and a little survey for the person who they are buying for. If you have any questions or can not help your child participate I need to know ASAP so that I can make sure each child gets a gift on the 18th.
Wed 16: ANNIE the Musical as presented by Story Book Theater will be streamed into our classroom on Wednesday the 16th. This virtual field trip will be a chance for us to enjoy and support the work of Storybook Theater. Find more about the show here: https://www.storybooktheatre.org/annie
Wed 16: Christmas Dress up day
Thurs 17: Intro to Democracy test.
Fri 18: Lots of Christmas fun planned including our Sneaky Santa exchange.
Dec 4:
This week we turned the calendar to December and put up some Christmas decorations. Grade 6 got to enjoy a buddy activity (making poinsettias which have contributed to the festive vibe of our room) . It is so special to see them nurture and model for their kindergarten buddies.
Sneaky Santa information went home today. Please send a small, wrapped gift by Dec 15 so that gifts have time to quarantine before we hand them out on the 18th.
Please remember to check out all the other pages on this site (including band) for information about our week and if your child needs to stay home, but is well enough to work you can see our most up to date connections schedule in the schedule tab.
UPCOMING DATES:
Dec 10: Virtual Christmas Concert (evening)
Dec 11: PJ day
Dec 15- Bring in Secret Santa gift (so it can quarantine)
Dec 16- Christmas Dress up & Class showing of Storybook theater's production of Annie The Musical
Dec 18- Noon Dismissal.
Dec 19 Christmas Break Begins
Jan 4: First day back... Online...
Nov 27
November 27th
This week seemed to fly by with lots of different learning in class and sunshine out on the playground. The students took this week's announcement form the provincial government in stride and continued to do an excellent job of keeping one another safe with proper sanitizing and mask wearing. The Grade 6s have also become avid chess players over the past few weeks, taking the opportunity to join the recent Chess Club at lunch time with Mr. Potvin. Check out some of the intense games below:
Nov 19
This week we jumped right back in after some time off. November break was great and so was getting to talk to so many of you during parent teacher conferences. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Please note that we have had some changes in our schedule and the new schedules will be found in the schedules tab once they have been finalized next week.
Please note that we have added a BAND tab to the top of this website. Please be sure to look their for the latest news about when band will be and what will be required for participation
Reminder to keep an eye on the weather and send warm clothing and the needed snow pants/jackets to keep students warm as they roll, leap & slide at recces.
Thanks for the amazing level of cooperation with the requests from Alberta Health Services and Palliser Schools. This class has been great about caring for one another by staying home when they are feeling unwell and staying connected through on line meets.
Check out the other tabs to see what we have been up to in class!
October 30
This week started with time with our Kindergarten buddies and was capped off by a a great grade 5 led chapel and a fun time enjoying the Penny Carnival. Thanks to the Jr. High leaders for thoughtfully organizing this safe, fun time! In between students did a lot of learning. Read about what has been going on in their classes under the subject tabs.
PLEASE NOTE:
Immunization and band forms came home this week and need to be returned to the school ASAP.
Social Quiz- Tues
Math Test- Thurs
Group Work Consent Form
If you haven't had a chance, please remember to fill out the group work consent form for your child!
FOLKERTS RULE THE HILL!!!
IMG_7579.MOVOct 23: Snow & Enthusiasm
This week the grade 6 led chapel. It was really amazing to see all the students contribute enthusiastically with their gifts. Some students made activities for the div 1, 2 & 3 to do after the video, some created comics, issued challenges or made stop motion videos or slides. All together (and with a little help from a few technical geniuses) the students were able to lead the school in a fun, clear and meaningful way. Although we couldn't invite you to the gym we encourage you to watch the chapel video here and be encouraged to find ways to live out the for "I Wills" of enthusiasm. I am exceedingly proud of the kids for working hard and giving of their unique gifts to this endeavor.
Snow..... the snowy season is upon us and while it may come and go we know that it will be here most of the next many months. Snow is a lot of fun and the way that kids play means they are getting snowy at recess and lunch (which is great!!). Please remember that your child should come to school with FULL snow gear. Sliding down hills or snowy slides and snowy soccer without boots, snow pants and jackets means coming inside and having wet pants or feet for the rest of the day. This chance to play is so important so please help us ensure your student is warm and comfortable during and after outdoor recess!
POP ART!!!
This week we finished up some pretty cool art pieces. Students were challenged to incorporate at least 5 different layers into their piece to make a Retro Batman inspired piece. Check out our work below!!!
Group Work Consent Form
We care about your child's safety, privacy as well as their academic and community experience! Can you please carefully read and respond to the following form indicating whether or not you consent to your child participating in supervised SMALL group work done in a classroom setting via video with students who are working from home. Thanks for considering this carefully.
Click here to fill in consent form
Remember Crazy Hair and Crazy Socks on Wednesday!
Oct 16
Weekly Update
This week we did a lot of creative work planning for next week's chapel. Even though you, as parents, can't come into the school for chapel we plan to share our hard work with you and hope that you will watch with us virtually next week. We have recorded a music/action video, told stories, made stop motion videos, comic strips, slides and activities for all the grades to do. Enthusiasm was a great pick of chapel themes for this group of talented leaders. We can't wait to share!
Virtual Book Fair
Every Fall we look forward to hosting a Scholastic Book Fair, and this year is not different. However, the format of our Book Fair, is different. We invite you to join the Scholastic Book Fair fun online, by visiting MSCS Book Fair fun! There are books for every interest, reading ability and age as well as some great gift ideas, and all purchases will be sent directly to your home. All purchases made during this online Book Fair will benefit our school Library, as we receive 40% back in credit with Scholastic. Wednesday, October 21 between 6:00 and 8:00 pm is an especially good time to shop as it's their Family Night promotion, which includes free shipping.
The grade 6 students have taken a key leadership role in helping make this year's book fair fun. They hope for the same kind of high-energy Book Fair fun at school so we'll be incorporating some contests into each day next week. Wednesday, we invite students to come to school in their CRAZIEST HAIR and CRAZIEST socks to liven up their uniforms.
Happy Thanksgiving! October 9th
It was another full week of learning and growing in grade 6. Please check your email for information about chrome book chargers. We pray that your weekend is full of many opportunities to remember the ways in which we are blessed. I know that being able to have spent the last 5 weeks in class with these students has been an amazing gift and I am thankful that it has been a safe and positive experience so far. Please enjoy a wonderful long weekend. We will see you again on Tuesday!
Looking forward:
Monday 12th- Thanksgiving (No School)
Wednesday 15th- Spirit Dress Up Day (Teacher Look-A-Like)
Artists at work
Grade 6 students are working hard on their sound effect word art! What a great way to spend a couple of periods at the end of the week.
Enthusiastic Participants
This food drive was a chance for us to live out Participation and Enthusiasm which have been our devotional focus of September and October. Our class is busy working on preparing this month's chapel on enthusiasm which will be shown (and shared) on the 23rd. Way to go everybody!
October 2:
This week was a full one, but had a resounding highlight: BUDDIES! On Monday we met our Kindergarten buddies and enjoyed getting to know them while drawing with sidewalk chalk. The grade 6 class jumped right into this leadership role showing responsibility (following distancing rules) and kindness and care for their buddies. I am so proud of the way they proposed and carefully planned this activity to make it a reality. We look forward to meeting with our buddies and carrying on these important relationships throughout the year.
Don't Forget....
Monday is Picture day
Wednesday is Orange Shirt day
Sept 24:
We had another great week in grade 6. Chapel is now spent in our classrooms, but still included doing actions to a fun song and a visit from the much loved Turkey Man and Duck Girl. In Devotion time this week we unpacked the idea that there are no bystanders in God's Kingdom. We made and delivered cards as a way of being God's love to someone else in our community.
In Art, we have been looking at patterns. We completed our "Bad Hair Day" project with some really neat patterns. Check them out below!
Next Week:
Monday: We will begin meeting with our kindergarten buddies. Right from day one the grade 6's had a strong desire to participate in our school through buddies and have been working to come up with great ideas about how to do this safely. We will wear masks, start with structured outdoor events that emphasize distancing and avoid sharing any supplies during activities.
Wednesday is Orange shirt day and students can wear an orange shirt to remember the Every Child Matters and that at one point in Canadian history we didn't remember this. We wear orange to remember our past and participate in a future of caring for all children.
Sept 18: Our first 5 day week conquered!
We had another great week in grade six. This month our school focus has been on being participants in God's story. We have been talking about how we can live this out in school, home and the world. This week student's got to be participants in the Terry Fox run, honoring his legacy and contributing to an ever more optimistic future for those living cancer. Many wore gold also to show care and acknowledgment for those impacted by childhood cancer.
We also had an outdoor drop in visit from last year's home room teacher and these students got to meet baby Nel who gave the kids lots and lots of smiles!
Homeroom Reminders
Birthday Celebrations:
If they wish students may bring in a small birthday treat to share, but these treats must be nut free and individually packaged.
Health checks and virtual class sessions
Please keep doing daily checks with your child before leaving for school. If you do need to stay home details about remote check in times are on the schedule tab of this website.
REMINDER: Please help your student to continue to practice safe socialization after school. It is easy to forget to take that extra step back when chatting with your friends after school!
Sept 11: Week 2 is in the books
This week we kept working on routines and adjusting to the changes in the ways we move within the school. Students are adjusting wonderfully and while I won't use the word "normal" the routine IS feeling more and more settled. Each morning students enter and we spend a relaxed time chatting, getting ready, sharing and having devotions together before the work of the day begins. I encourage you to check out what students have been up to in their classes by visiting the subject tabs. A schedule and up to date info about remote learning for students who are isolating and able to continue with their school work has been posted in the schedule tab as well.
Sept 2, 2020: Welcome Grade 6 Parents!
This year promises to be an adventure that is unlike any other! We are committed to consistently and creatively caring for each student in grade six as we learn and create community together this year. This website will be our communication tool with you, parents, this year. Please have a look around and visit each of the subject tabs above and meet the teachers below. Come back each week to see what we have done! Newest information will always appear on the top of each page.
Meet The Teachers
Mrs. Folkerts
I am the Grade 6 Homeroom teacher and will be teaching Social Studies. I am mom to three awesome boys who will be coming to Menno this year. My husband Trevor and I are so excited to deepen our connection to this amazing community. I am grateful for the chance to teach this wonderful group of students again and grow deeper in our understanding of the roles we are created to play in God's world.
Mr. Colgan
I'm the Grade 5 homeroom teacher this year and will be teaching Math, Science, CS, Art and Health for the 6s. This is my 9th year teaching at Menno and my 4th working primarily with the 5s and 6s. My wife Jo is also a teacher in a small gr 7-9 class. Our daughter Alice has just turned 2 years old and it has been fun watching her develop her skills in exploring the world. I look forward to working with students and parents to create a safe and productive school environment this year at Menno.
Mrs. Carpenter
This year I will be teaching Language Arts, French, and Music to the Grade 6's. This is my seventh year teaching and fifth year at Menno Simons. My family consists of my husband Adam and a yorkie named Widget. She has quite the personality if you ever get a chance to meet her. I love Star Wars (ask me to hear my Chewbacca impression), riding motorcycles, and playing music. I believe in all of my students and that they teach me as much as I teach them. I believe in listening, learning, and laughing. Looking forward to a wonderful year!
