WELCOME TO DIV. 17

24 Oct. 2024

Hello Families,

What a fantastic week we had in Div. 17! On Take Me Outside Day, we ventured to Blenkinsop Lake to embrace outdoor learning. The students participated in nature sketching, inspired by the local artist Robert Bateman. This activity not only fosters a love of nature but also helps us understand local wildlife and habitats. Observing nature while creating art deepens our connection to the environment and encourages lifelong engagement with the outdoors.

Last week we also enjoyed a visit to the Central Saanich Fire Hall, where students learned about fire safety and prevention. This important training helps raise awareness and equips our students with essential knowledge to stay safe.

In math, we wrapped up our unit on place value. The students learned how the value of a digit changes based on its position in a number. For instance, in the number 3458, the place value of 5 is 50, while in 5781, it represents 5,000. We are now moving on to addition strategies, where students will explore various methods to enhance their math skills (Addition and subtraction of whole numbers to 1 000 000).

In writing, we're focusing on paragraph structure—crafting strong introductions, providing supporting details, and concluding effectively. Their Paragraphs of the Week (P.O.W.) are shining with excellence, and I’m thrilled to see improvement with each attempt! The growth they’re demonstrating is fantastic!

As the NHL season kicks into gear, we're diving into floor hockey in P.E.! While developing our skills, we’re placing a strong emphasis on teamwork, kindness, and sportsmanship. It’s great to witness the students supporting one another, both on and off the gym floor. We’re also discussing the importance of learning to lose graciously and celebrating our successes without showing off. These lessons help us grow as athletes and individuals, fostering a positive and respectful environment for everyone.

Lastly, we completed our Student Vote with CIVIX! The results are in, and you can find them here. More than 180,000 elementary, middle and secondary students participated in Student Vote BC 2024 - we're one school of many!

Thank you for your continued support!

>>>> Mr. O'Connor

04 Oct. 2024

Hello Families!

We've had a busy and fun-filled few weeks in grade 4/5!  Whether we were reading an interesting book, meeting our new little buddy, or making friendships at recess, each moment has helped us grow and connect with one another.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the MANY THINGS 😅 your children have been up to:

Social Studies: Our inquiry into the upcoming Student VOTE on October 17th for the Saanich South election has sparked a lot of curiosity about democracy in Canada! Students are honing their skills by asking critical questions, gathering and analyzing information, and sharing their findings. It’s been a great way for them to connect with real-world issues and understand the importance of civic engagement. Be sure to check the agenda to see what they should be bringing to our class!

Math: We’re investigating place value this month including number concepts to 1 000 000. The students were also excited to explore our new Mathletics program, generously funded by the PAC. Thanks for this resource! It’s been a neat tool for reinforcing their math skills while making learning engaging and interactive! Their sign in (username etc) is glued into their agendas.

Orange Shirt Day: On September 30th, we participated in Orange Shirt Day to honor the Indigenous children affected by residential schools. Wearing bright orange shirts, our class came together to reflect on this important part of our history and raise awareness.

PE: With the NHL season around the corner, our floor hockey skills sessions have been a hit! Students are developing their skills while enjoying the excitement of teamwork and competition.

Science Experiments: We conducted some fascinating science experiments focusing on germs and handwashing. We even tested whether mold would grow on bread left unwashed! The results will no doubt be eye-opening and sparked lots of laughter and discussion. Look for the experiments in our classroom windows as this experiment will likely take weeks if not longer!

Writing/Book of Thoughts: Lastly, each week our students will likely bring home a notebook called the Book of Thoughts. This is a space for them to express their feelings about the week, share what they learned, and reflect on their experiences. Parents are encouraged to read their child’s entries and respond with thoughts or questions. It’s a great way to engage in meaningful conversations about their school life! Thanks for taking the time to respond so far, and please don't worry if you haven't yet! A new response will come home today.

It’s been a busy time here and we’re excited for the learning adventures still to come. Thank you for your continued support!

>>>> Mr. O'Connor

PS: Our trip to visit our provincial parliment is next week! Exciting time ahead!

PPS: Be sure to see the pictures below with your little ones!

20 Sept. 2024

Dear Division 17 Families,

It was so nice to meet or reconnect with so many of you at our open house yesterday!  We are off to a great start and I can tell this year is going to be a huge success!  If you were unable to make it but would like to swing by and check out our space please don't hesitate to get in touch.

We are well underway with a number of our academic units.  Students have been producing some wonderful writing within their social studies activities as well as their Book of Thoughts journals. Please read this book that is in their bag with the instructions on the inside cover. We will be moving onto paragraph writing next week where the focus will be around organization, ideas and conventions (spelling and grammar).  Students will learn about topic sentences, supporting details and closing sentences as well.

Another big theme of the week was working on a colourful art piece.  Students created a wonderful seaside town and used water colour paints.  These will be sent in for the Card Project and you can choose to purchase cards (or other items) with your child's creation on it.  This is a PAC fundraising initiative.  I have also uploaded pictures to the class website which you can check out below.

Some other highlights of the week include:

• number patterns and skip counting in math

• playing passing games and four corners for soccer in gym

• the Terry Fox Run and related activities

• word art for Terry Fox in the learning commons with Mrs. Malloy

***Please note that Monday is a professional development day and there will be no school for students*** I will be at a conference on Monday offered by our school district called: Student Voice In Action: Our Collective Work Towards Anti-Racism and Decolonization.

 Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!

>>>> Mr. O'Connor