Prep School OCTOBER 5, 2023
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Prep School Highlights
Prep School Highlights
Friday, Oct. 6
🕓 Hopes and Dreams Conference
(No school for students today)
Monday, Oct. 9
🕓 School Closed —Thanksgiving break
Tuesday, Oct. 10
7B and 7S to Norval until Friday
Wednesday, Oct. 11
🕓 Student late start day
Power Snack Day
Year 5 to Queen's Park
THIS WEEK AT THE PREP
THIS WEEK AT THE PREP
Prep Leadership Team | Sarah Fleming, David Girard and Gareth Evans
Year 2 | Update
Year 2 | Update
We have had an exceptional start to Year 2! Our students have returned to school with enthusiasm and have quickly adapted to familiar school routines while embracing new ones. I am delighted to share some developments with you.
Our new placement of cubbies has proven highly effective in reducing transition times and helping our Year 2s better manage their belongings. As we transition into the colder weather, I kindly request that you label all of your child’s belongings to ensure they stay organized and accounted for.
In terms of our academic progress, we are nearing the completion of our first unit on inquiry, Healthy Me. Throughout this unit, our students have been exploring strategies to promote well-being. Topics such as the importance of quality sleep, regular exercise, and dental and hand hygiene have been central to our class discussions. By making informed choices in these areas, our students are discovering how they can contribute to their emotional well-being. I encourage you to continue these conversations at home, reinforcing the valuable concepts we are exploring. Additionally, I want to express my gratitude for the delightful photographs you have shared. They served as an excellent inspiration for our first procedural writing assignment.
In mathematics, we have launched our program using the Dimensions Math curriculum, which is inspired by Singapore math. We have already witnessed positive outcomes within our community. Our first unit of study revolves around place-value concepts up to the hundreds. There are numerous opportunities to extend this learning experience at home. Engaging your child in discussions about money and practicing simple counting exercises can help solidify the concepts we are covering at school.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to our upcoming trip to Norval on Monday, Oct. 30. Please be on the lookout for any emails you may receive concerning this exciting excursion.
Wishing you all the best,
Carly Crippin
Middle science | Update
Middle science | Update
Dear Prep Families,
As an educator, having our students back in the classrooms following a well-deserved summer break is gratifying. The buzz in the hallways is a welcome sound as we re-engage with collaborative learning and hands-on activities in our Lee and Lui Science Labs. Below is a summary of our Year 6 and Year 7 programs.
The Year 6 students are currently studying Mixtures and Solutions. Students will explore the Particle Theory of Matter in this unit through various hands-on, inquiry-based lab exercises. The concepts of solubility, concentration, and separating mechanical mixtures and solutions will be explored as they develop fundamental laboratory skills and develop safe habits while working with the equipment.
The second unit, Heat & The Environment, will continue the focus on the Particle Theory of Matter with an emphasis on the effect of heat energy on particles. The Kinetic Molecular Theory will be introduced as the students explore the concepts of heat, temperature, heat transfer (through convection, radiation and conduction) and heat's impact on our environment.
The Year 7 students are studying the fundamental principles of scientific inquiry in their current unit, Foundations of Science and Measurement. We began the year with an introduction to the scientific method, variables, and measurement through an investigation into reaction time and hand dominance. The students investigated the question, “Is there a relationship between reaction time and hand dominance?” They collected data using a reaction-time ruler, analysed and graphed the data to support or refute their hypothesis.
Going forward in the current unit, we will deepen our understanding of scientific measurement — accuracy, precision, SI units of measurement and experimental error — and the scientific method. We will explore independent, dependent and control variables through hands-on activities and experiments. Students will learn how to design an investigation and measure, collect, analyse and display data to reach meaningful conclusions. Our current investigation, “What is the Effect of Temperature on the Voltage Produced by a Solar Panel,” will provide our students with a formative experience in conducting an experiment and communicating their process and results through a lab report. The first unit will culminate with a summative assessment in the form of a written unit test and lab report.
In our second unit of the year, Atoms and Elements, we will explore the Periodic Table of the Elements to understand the fundamental structure of atoms and how elements form molecules through ionic bonds.
If you have any questions regarding our curriculum, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher. Best wishes for a year filled with success, happiness and growth.
Sincerely,
Mr. Kerry Dupuis and Ms. Sydney Frank
Year 6 and 7 Science Teachers
Wilder Library | Update
Wilder Library | Update
It’s hard to believe that September is behind us and October has arrived! The library has been fortunate to welcome back our parent volunteers this year and we do have a few spots still open for bi-weekly shifts. If this is something you would like to get involved in please let us know and we can connect.
In the library we honoured The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with lots of related read alouds and vibrant discussions surrounding how our students can play a part in the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action. Looking forward, we are excited to be celebrating Halloween and honouring Remembrance Day with many read alouds and displays.
We have been busy in the library this past month with the launch of our new questionnaire for Year 3–7 students. Each student has filled out a form that gathers information on their interest in reading, reading habits, and reading preferences. We have encouraged students to be completely honest with their answers in an attempt to be able to identify who may need a little extra help in finding the perfect book for them.
Everyone was required to create one reading goal for this year, ranging from increasing how many minutes they read, how many books they read and increasing the types of genres they read from. Then, in December, the students will revisit their goals and see if they are on track, or they need to modify to be more realistic. This process of revisiting goals will happen twice a year each year until the end of their time in the Prep and will hopefully paint a picture of how they progressed as readers.
This activity has allowed students to see themselves as readers and learn about who they are from that lens. This also helps us ensure we’re providing the support they need and creating a collection that meets their needs and reading interests.
Aside from the scheduled class time, the library is open Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Year 5, 6 and 7 students are welcome to use the space after school without a parent present. All students in Year 4 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Laptops/iPads are permitted to be in use during this time but we do not allow gaming.
We are also happy to announce that we are now open for morning recess for middle years and Year 4 and 5 to read quietly.
Mallory McKinney
Teacher Librarian
SIGN UP | Literacy information parent session on October 12, 7–8:30pm
SIGN UP | Literacy information parent session on October 12, 7–8:30pm
This year, we are working towards a structured literacy approach, focusing on best practices for language learning and responsive to Ontario’s newly released language arts curriculum and The Right to Read report. To support this work, we are excited to partner with Erin Kent Consulting as we continue to enrich our literacy practices. Our consultant, Colleen Ackford, will be on site with us from October 10 to 13, offering professional development workshops for teachers, demonstration lessons and coaching opportunities.
As a part of our consultant visit, we’d like to offer a parent education session for SK–7 focused on what matters most for growing readers and ways we can support learning at home. Our evening will include a keynote presentation and then smaller group breakout sessions in grade-level bands to provide some practical takeaways for readers within different age groups.
Our parent event will take place on October 12 from 7–8:30 p.m. in Weston Hall and the Wilder Library. To help with planning for this evening of learning, please RSVP here with your child’s year level.
Our consultant, Colleen Ackford, has worked as an IB classroom teacher, curriculum developer, reading specialist, literacy intervention teacher, and learning coach in Canada, Japan, Thailand, Australia, and Chile. Colleen has extensive experience working alongside teachers to establish responsive literacy programs and utilize research-informed literacy practices that inspire learners to take ownership of their reading and writing lives, express curiosity, and grow their thinking with peers. She has guided teaching teams with developing outcome-aligned units of study, progressions of learning, transdisciplinary units, and assessments. Colleen is passionate about coaching to support teams in reaching their collective goals and studying their impact on student learning.
Thank you and we hope to see you there.
Dianne Jojic
PYP Coordinator
Melody Thompson
Literacy Learning Leader
Association Day is coming October 14!
Association Day is coming October 14!
This year we're celebrating our 41st Association Day!
Bring your families and reunite and reconnect with alumni, parents, teachers and friends.
All new parents are welcome to a breakfast in Weston Hall from 7:30 to 8:40 a.m.
Prep students are asked to wear their house colours.
Families, no need to stop at your local coffee shop on the way here! Instead, drop by the Prep French Café for your morning beverage and snack. It will be located on the north side of the Eaton Building and open for business from 8:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. You can purchase a yummy croissant, pastry, coffee or tea. Bienvenue à tout le monde!
KidZone will take place outside of the Upper School’s Hewitt Athletic Centre. Enjoy the activities from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
SK to Year 2 students will meet in their classrooms at 8:15 a.m. Students in Year 3 and 4 will meet in their classrooms at 8:15 am and then leave at 8:30 am to meet with the other Year 5, 6 and 7 students on the avenue in front of the arena at 8:35 a.m. Opening ceremonies will commence at 8:55 a.m., and Soccerfest will officially begin at 9:10 a.m.
The day is sure to be full of fun for the whole family and everyone is encouraged to attend!
The Soccerfest game locations are:
SK to Year 2 at Prep West
Year 3 and 4 at Prep East
Years 5, 6 and 7 at Lords Field
Soccerfest will be finished by 10:25 a.m. Students in SK to Year 4 will then need to follow their form adviser back to their classrooms, where they’ll be dismissed promptly to enjoy the rest of A-Day with their families. Parents, please pick up your child from their classroom. Students in Year 5 to 7 will be dismissed directly from Lords Field to enjoy the rest of the day with their families.
Families are invited to cheer on the UCC Blues at any sporting event.
SIGN UP | Community Reads Book Club on November 14
SIGN UP | Community Reads Book Club on November 14
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of the PPO, supported by the Prep Leadership Team, is excited to launch the Community Reads Book Club! Our hope is that the book club serves as a community builder and an opportunity to share and start discussions around the varied and important values in our community.
Our fall book selection is Boys: What It Means to Become a Man by Rachel Giese, a Toronto-based journalist and regular contributor to CBC Radio. She is also a Deputy National Editor at the Globe and Mail.
Winner of the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize, Boys takes an in-depth look at the societal myths surrounding masculinity and examines the many challenges facing boys today. The book is available at various community bookstores (Type Books, Another Story and Queen Books) as well as big box stores. The Prep Leadership Team has bought several copies that will be available at the Prep library for borrowing or purchase at cost. Contact Crystal Arruda if you are interested in purchasing a copy.
Our fall book club discussion will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Wilder LIbrary at the Prep. We are delighted to have author Rachel Giese join us at this session!
NOTE: This is a date change from what was sent in the PPO newsletter last week —we hope you are able to join us as there will only be one session for the fall book.
If you are interested in joining the book club, please complete this form by Thursday, Nov. 9. Please contact Samira or Kalesha with any questions.
SAVE THE DATE | PPO Parent Socials
SAVE THE DATE | PPO Parent Socials
The Prep Parents’ Organization (PPO) is pleased to invite Prep parents to its upcoming fall socials. Come join your fellow parents at the Upper School Student Centre for a night of wine, nibbles and mingling. Save the dates below and check your inbox for an invitation soon!
* Primary Years social (SK to Year 5 parents) — Tuesday, Oct. 24, 6–7:30 p.m.
* Middle Years social (Year 6 and 7 parents) — Wednesday, Oct. 25, 6–7:30 p.m.
VOLUNTEER | Power Snack Day and Association Day
VOLUNTEER | Power Snack Day and Association Day
Power Snack Day
Sponsored by the PPO, the first Power Snack Day of the year is planned for Wednesday, Oct. 11. Bite-sized pieces of fruit and vegetables and a healthy hearty treat will be served to students by parents during morning recess — a fabulous time outdoors with food, friends and fun! We need parent volunteers to make this event a success! If you have a couple of hours to spare, please sign up here.
Association Day
Association Day (A-Day) is just around the corner on Saturday, Oct. 14. We are still in need of parent volunteers to help out. If you are able to spare some time, please sign up here.
Thank you for your help!
Dear Prep families,
It has been unexpectedly warm over the past few days; however, it feels like changes are on the way as we will soon take a turn to fall weather. Students have been enjoying their time at Norval so far this year, the busiest fall we have had in years! We are so fortunate to have such a beautiful outdoor campus and are grateful to the faculty and staff who run it so exceptionally.
We are looking forward to a day of meeting with parents/guardians at our Hopes and Dreams Conferences (previously Settling In Conferences). The purpose of these conferences is for you to have a chance to connect with your child’s home form teacher, share your hopes and dreams for their academic year and discuss how they are settling into the school year so far.
There are a number of ways to participate in A Day, which is next Saturday, October 14. Please note that participation in the Prep Soccerfest is strongly encouraged, and all the relevant details are in an article entitled “Association Day is Coming” below.
A big thank you to the PPO who provided a decadent breakfast today for faculty and staff in honour of Teacher Appreciation Day. We are grateful and feel VERY appreciated!
Wishing our entire community a lovely long weekend.
Your partners in learning,
Sarah Fleming, David Girard and Gareth Evans
The Prep Leadership Team
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