Baby, Baby, Baby...

It's that time of year!  Preparations are underway and we are gearing up for the big celebration next Friday!  In light of this special occasion, we are asking for each student to send in a baby photo (somewhere in the range of newborn to 4) for a special project.  Some of you have sent them in already and oh my were you ever cute!  Can't wait to see the rest of them!

Have a fabulous night,
 Mme Charles

Today's awesome

Ice cream Sandwiches

Ice cream - delicious.  Cookies - so tasty!  Whoever decided to put these two together for the first time definitely deserves our respect and gratitude.  Mmmm...mmmm...AWESOME!

PS  Here's a couple of photos from me as a baby (yes!  There were cameras back then!).  Apparently my parents enjoyed taking pictures of me eating ;)

EQAO is upon us...

Time has just flown!  It is hard to believe that tomorrow is the beginning of our EQAO testing! Using their powers of persuasion, the students managed to convince Mrs. Fitzgerald that they should be allowed to chew gum during the testing as it shall help them increase their focus and obtain better results.  Having said that, don't forget to bring in your sugarless gum (I hear peppermint and spearmint are the real testing champions)!  See below to read the letters that were chosen for Mrs. Fitzgerald.  Super work!

I just know you are all going to do wonderfully tomorrow!  Now is your time to shine and show all that you have learned over the past three years! :)  Best of luck!

Persuasive letter # 1
Persuasive Letter # 2
Persuasive Letter # 3

Star light, star bright

On Friday, French Immersion students in my afternoon class were assigned a project on a constellation.  Everyone has chosen their constellation and has the written guidelines for what the project requires.  Don't forget to use the graphic organizer to help you stay on topic!  Can't wait to see your presentations (your choice of a media presentation such as Notebook, Glogster, Pic Collage or a bristol board).  You can even get more creative if you like, diorama, pre-filmed presentation, homemade animation, etc.  This is YOUR project, just make sure that you have all the required info :)  Don't forget to learn lots and have fun!

Read below to see the project requirements:
Projet sur les constellations

Today's awesome

Bedtime Stories

What could be better than reading a bedtime story to your child you ask?  Having your child read you the bedtime story instead.  Perhaps "reading" is not quite the right term since Autumn can't actually read yet, however, she told me the whole story and then proceeded to ask me comprehension questions.  "What did you discover Mommy?", she asked.  After hearing my response, she told me I was wrong although my answer was still a good one.  I think I may have created a reading monster ;)  Awesome! 

Legend has it..

Today we learned all about legends, what they are, how they started and why they are so important. We will be reading more examples of legends in the next little while and you will even have the chance to write your very own legend (more details to follow!).  Can't wait to read them!

Today's awesome

When you roll up the rim and you actually win!

So this year's Roll up the Rim campaign seems to have brought twice the grief.  I roll once, I lose.  I roll twice, I lose again.  Talk about depressing!  However, nothing can match the excitement of rolling that second rim to actually win!  Sure, it may just be a free coffee, but it still feels exhilarating and just plain awesome!

Social Justice Fair

What can I say but, WOW! WOW! WOW! I was blown away by your participation in St. Emily's first ever Social Justice Fair. Your booths looked great and you were all very knowledgeable about the children's right you were presenting as well as the organization that protects it. I know that everyone that came through that gym was impressed with all the work you had done, students, teachers, parents and Mrs. Fitzgerald. Your fundraising efforts really paid off too!  All together we raised a little over $2100 as well as about 180 cans of food!  You proved today how we each have the power to change the world!  I can't tell you how proud I am to be the teacher of such an amazing group of students :) Thanks for your commitment to such a wonderful event, it surpassed all of my expectations (which were in fact quite high already!)! Way to go!  

Today's awesome

Being proud of someone

You know the feeling. Your heart swells up and your eyes get a little teary. In that moment, all you can think of is how lucky you are to be a part of that person's life. I'd like to thank all of you, because on Friday, I felt that feeling in a very strong way. I am very blessed to get to spend this year-long journey with you! AWESOME!

Friday Folders

Hopefully everyone has seen our Friday Folders by now.  They went home with the students this past Friday, along with an introductory letter explaining what it is and its' purpose.  I was glad to see so many of them come back today (with the papers removed that were not supposed to be in there and the other papers returned with signatures).  Thank you for taking the time to go through this with your child every week.  Through the folders, we hope the students will take on greater responsibility for their learning and will be able to set realistic and  achievable goals for the following week.

**Please do not forget to bring in your signed permission form for the St. Monica Retreat tomorrow (if you haven't already)!  Remember to bring your bible please!**

Today's awesome

Finishing a book challenge

Well, I am used to handing out the reading challenges, but this time I was on the receiving end.  Back at the end of January, Autumn was given a 100 book challenge!  We have been working away every day and finally over the weekend, we finished.  Finishing a challenge and seeing the look of pride on your little girl's face?  AWESOME! 

Short week ahead!

We have a short week ahead of us (don't forget March break starts Friday!), but it is jam packed with learning!  Here are some of things that are going on this week:

Monday: Grade 6 photos
Million Dollar Project due (can't wait to see them!!)
Healthy snack initiative (bananas and soda crackers provided)

Tuesday:  Shrove Tuesday
St. Joseph Teacher visiting with two grade 8 students

Wednesday: Ash Wednesday

We will be having a multiplication quiz this week.  Make sure you are brushed up on: multiplying 1 by 1 digits right up to four digits by two digits and multiplying decimals.  Some of you seem to still be struggling with your math facts.  Please practice at home by having Mom and Dad quiz you.

Since it is a short week, your homework will be your Social Justice project (all posters must be completed this week).  For Math, I would like all of you to spend a minimum of 15 minutes on Khan academy exploring different math skills (this would be a great time to test yourself on multiplication).  You have all received an invitation to join through your school account.  Some of you have already started and I am amazed by your mad math skills!  What Mathe-magicians I have in my class ;)

See you all tomorrow morning!  Can't wait to see how handsome and beautiful you all look for those photos!

Mme Charles

Exciting Project!

Well, you have probably already heard about the exciting project that the grade 6s are working on, but I thought I would let you in on a little more detail about exactly what it is they are doing.  Last week, through a beautiful picture book and a captivating video, the students learned all about children's' rights around the world. Every student has been put into a group, and every group will be researching and presenting an organization that helps promote and protect a different right of the child. The group will be preparing a poster as well as an accompanying piece of their choice (Photostory, video, poem, skit, song, etc.) to help promote their chosen right and organization. This info will all be shared during our first ever, Social Justice Fair on March 28th (don't worry, parents are invited!)! I am so impressed with all of you so far!  Many of you have taken the initiative to contact your chosen organization and have already had positive responses from them! I am very proud of the level of commitment you are showing to this project! I can't wait to see all the creativity that each group brings to the fair!

Today's awesome

Children's RightsI think that children's rights are by far the most important rights there are. Children need special protection and care and they must be able depend on adults to protect their rights, look after them and help them reach their full potential. The United Nations have ensured this by creating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Together, St. Emily students will help spread the word about these rights and organizations that protect them. Children spreading the word about this convention? Awesome!

3D Printing Demo

Today was very cool as Luc Lalande came in to demonstrate a 3D printer in action!  Talk about cool!  The students had tons of great questions for him and were very impressed by the demo (Minecraft creeper) that he did.  He will be giving demos (where you can get your very own creeper) at the following locations and times:

Nepean Centrepointe -  March 1st - 1:30pm
                                   
Ruth E Dickinson -  March 29 - 1:00 pm

Best of all?  It's free!  Don't forget to check out some books for the 30 book challenge while you are there ;)

Today's awesome

3D Printers 

A printer that uses Cartesian coordinates to move along the X, Y, and Z axis while printing?  Now that's an example of real-life geometry that is just plain.. Awesome!   

The Million Dollar Project

Congratulations!  You are all now instant millionaires! Your job?  To spend as much of this money as you can while following certain guidelines.  Don't worry though; you have a full 3 weeks to spend the money before you lose it :)  To find out more details about the project or to print another copy, you can click on the link below.  Can't wait to see how you all choose to spend your million!

Million Dollar Project
Information Page Example
Today's awesome

Sharing books

What a great way to save money and help the environment at the same time! You're almost guaranteed it is a good read since someone recommended it. Plus, it helps you get ahead in your 30 book challenge! AWESOME!

The Biggest Problem in The World

A few weeks ago, I asked the students what the biggest problem in the world was. We brainstormed a huge list of ideas and began to formulate our own opinions on the matter. Each student wrote an opinion piece on what they thought the biggest problem in the world was. We have also been reading books about Social Justice; poverty, war, discrimination, slavery, global warming, human rights violations, etc. While these are not always easy books to read (especially when they don't have the happy ending we long for!), they all provide us with signs of hope for the future. When I look around the classroom, I see my very own signs of hope through your words and more importantly your actions. You have the ability to change the world, together we can all make a difference :)
 
Today's awesome

The sound of a bird chirping in the middle of Winter

Such a beautiful sound, especially when you least expect it. Look up in the sky, chirp, chirp...AWESOME!

Brrrrr....

Wow!  What a chilly week we are having!  We've been keeping warm inside by staying very busy!  In Language we've been improving our writing skills by learning about homophones and how to avoid using run-on sentences.  In Math, we have been all about geometry, looking at angles (stayed tuned for our MART!) and also learning all about the quadrilateral family tree :)  We have been learning about electricity and are very excited to have Scientists in the School coming in this Thursday for some hands-on demonstrations.  Can't wait!

Today's awesome

Mash ups

Whether in music or dance, they bring a smile to my face and a spring to my step.  AWESOME! 

Country in a box

We have been very busy presenting our "countries in a box".  I am very impressed with all that you have learned about other parts of the world!  Great job!  Can't wait to see the rest of the presentations!

Today's awesome

When someone does something before you even have to ask
Could you please...Oh, you've already done it?  Awesome!

Yesterday's awesome

Snowy Owls
Such a majestic creature!  Having one hang out near you for the day?  Well, now that is just plain AWESOME!

Happy New Year!

What a way to start the New Year!  Such an icy day found us with very few people in the classroom.  Those of us that were here put our knowledge of coordinate grids to the test! We reviewed ordered pairs, the x-axis, the y-axis, and the origin on a coordinate plane. To help consolidate our learning, we played a modified version of Battleship. Students called out ordered pairs and tried to sink each others battleships. It got pretty intense! One thing is for sure, I think everyone had a great time and can now locate coordinates on a grid. Woohoo! 

Hoping to see everyone back safe and sound tomorrow!

Today's awesome

Angle Kung Fu
So. Much. Fun. Seriously. Just wait until you become the Master of Angles. Master of Angles? Wait, make the the Master of AWESOME!