​Happy Halloween! Thank you to all the parents and guardians who signed sent in ingredients and equipment for our smoothies today. They were delicious! 

Agenda
Weekly Homework: due Thursday

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)

PEAK: Friday

Math: 
Science:
Social Studies:
Health:
Art:
French: 
Other: 

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm

Spirit Week: Thursday - Talent Day ($2 for United Way)
​Remembrance Day Assembly - November 8th, 1:30 pm (families welcome)

Agenda
Weekly Homework: due Thursday

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)
- Book Talk (due October 30th)
- Scholastic Book Orders (due October 30th)

PEAK: Wednesday

Math: 
Science:
Social Studies:
Health:
Art:
French: 
Other: 

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm

Spirit Week: Tuesday - Teacher/Professional Day ($2 for United Way)
Halloween Family Dance: Tuesday, 5:30-7:00 pm
Classroom Halloween Celebration: Wednesday
Halloween Smoothie Supply Sign Up: Available HERE
​Remembrance Day Assembly - November 8th, 1:30 pm (families welcome)

Please see the following email sent home earlier this evening:

Good evening,

Just a quick update on some of the events and activities taking place next week at school and within our classroom. First, thank you to everyone who was able to make it to our Three-Way Conferences this week. It is always wonderful to be able to meet in person and to get to share your students' successes with you. If you were unable to attend Three-Way Conferences this week but would like to set up a meeting at another time, please let me know. I am more than happy to schedule a meeting at a later date that is a better fit for your schedule and would love to be able to talk to all parents/guardians before report cards go home if possible. 

Our annual Halloween Dance will take place on Tuesday, October 30th from 5:30-7:00 pm in the school gymnasium. All students are welcome to attend with their families. Students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian in order to attend. Entrance is by donation for healthy school initiatives. Glows sticks, water, and snacks will also be on sale throughout the event. Families may also participate in the pumpkin carving contest. Bring a carved pumpkin from home. Throughout the evening, families will vote on and decide the winning pumpkin. We hope to see many of you there! 

The students and I discussed some options for our classroom Halloween Celebrations yesterday. We have decided that we would like to have a Halloween Smoothie Making Competition. Students will be divided into teams of 5-6. Each team will work together to write a recipe for a spooky, Halloween themed smoothie. Then, I will assist each team in preparing their smoothies, to be enjoyed as a healthy Halloween treat by the team as well as our guest judges. Afterwards, we are going to be watching 1-2 episodes of "A Series of Unfortunate Events," as we have already read and are almost finished reading the first and second books in this series as a class. If there are parents/guardians who are able to supply ingredients or supplies for our Smoothie Making Competition, please sign up using the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oZEJP7sJVbx328ajHWf5Bwv0_hBKHFmT8YZPQgY0VvI/edit?usp=sharing. If you are unable to enter your information into this document, please let me know and I can enter it for you. Also, please remember that parents/guardians are in no way obligated to bring ingredients. I will provide whatever is necessary for all students to participate. 

Students are welcome to wear Halloween costumes at school this upcoming Wednesday. We will be having a Halloween costume parade in the school gymnasium at approximately 10:10 am so that students are able to view each classes costumes. The students and I have discussed school rules surrounding costumes. Students may bring masks as part of their costumes and are welcome to wear them within our classroom. However, as many younger students may be uncomfortable with or frightened by masks, we will take them off when in the hallways or gymnasium.

Finally, next week we will be having a Spirit Week in support of the United Way. Students are welcome to participate in the following theme days and, if able to do so, can donate $2 to the United Way. Spirit Week will run from October 29th to November 2nd. Each day's theme are as follows:

- Monday - Twin Day
- Tuesday - Teacher/Professional Day
- Wednesday - Halloween (Wear a Costume)
- Thursday - Talent Day (Sport, Dancewear, etc.)
- Friday - PJ Day

As always, remember that students are not obligated to make a donation and are welcome to participate in the above without doing so. Thank you everyone! As always, please let me know if there are any questions or concerns in regards to any of the above, 

- Ashley Barrington, Grade 5 Teacher

Agenda
Weekly Homework: Study for Math

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)
- Book Talk (due October 30th)
- Scholastic Book Orders (due October 30th)

Math:
- Whole Numbers Unit Test (Monday)

PEAK: Wednesday

Science:
Social Studies:
Health:
Art:
French: 
Other: 

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm

Spirit Week: Monday - Twin Day ($2 for United Way)
Halloween Family Dance: Tuesday, 5:30-7:00 pm
Classroom Halloween Celebration: Wednesday
Halloween Smoothie Supply Sign Up: Available HERE

​Please see the following email sent home this evening:

Good afternoon,

Just a few updates about activities and events taking place in our classroom and at school this week. First, a reminder that our Three-Way Conferences are tomorrow (Tuesday, October 23rd) and Wednesday (October 24th). Parents and guardians can go online to set up appointments with teachers. The purpose in having these meetings midterm, rather than waiting until report cards go home (December 6th), is our belief that early communication with parents/guardians and students to discuss the students' progress is vital. In doing so, parents/guardians and students have a discussion prior to the first term report card, allowing for necessary changes to be made to ensure students' success. This is a more proactive approach than reacting to the report card. Today students received a brief progress report (not to be confused with the report cards coming home later). This is meant to help guide the discussion at the Three-Way Conferences. As the students and I have discussed, there is a benefit in both the parent/guardian and student attending the Three-Way Conferences, which is why we ask that all three (parents/guardians, students, and teachers) be involved and attend, rather than conducting a traditional Parent-Teacher Interview. Please bring your student to the Three-Way Conference. To book appointments for ECDP and Grades 1-6, please go to our school website or follow this link: http://christinagordon.fmpsdschools.ca/view.php?action=signin. If you have not already set up an account, you will be asked to do so at that time.

On Wednesday, our CG Cares Club will be hosting a Toonie Toss on behalf of the United Way. Students are invited to bring in a toonie donation. Students names will be recorded on the toonie using masking tape (if any parents are able to do this in advance, it is greatly appreciated). The student who throws their toonie closest to the centre of the gym will win extra Phys. Ed. time with Mrs. Andrews for their classroom! The Toonie Toss is being hosted by our CG Cares students in order to raise money for the United Way. 

Just a reminder that students have a few important Agenda items approaching. First, students have completed their first unit of study in Math. Our first unit of study has been Unit 2: Whole Numbers. We will be reviewing place value, addition, subtraction, and estimation for the remainder of the the week and students will be writing a Unit Test on Monday, October 29th. Please take some time this week to help your student prepare for the above. Students have been instructed to: bring home and practice with their Math duotangs (read "Quick Review," practice questions, etc.), use Mathletics (http://ca.mathletics.com/), or to use the classroom website (www.ashleybarrington.com) where students have access to videos, extra workbooks, and practice games. Students will also be completing the chapter review from the textbook and will be allowed to complete any unfinished review at home. Please take some time this week to help students to prepare for the above using one of the suggested resources. Students also have their first Book Talk coming up. Book Talks will take place on October 30th. Please make sure that students have completed reading a book and are prepared to discuss the book with the class for at least 2-3 minutes. Attached is the assignment sheet that was sent home with students earlier this month. As always, please let me know if there are any questions or concerns in regards to any of the above, 

- Ashley Barrington, Grade 5 Teacher

Agenda
Weekly Homework: Study for Math

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)
- Book Talk (due October 30th)
- Scholastic Book Orders (due October 30th)

Math:
- Whole Numbers Unit Test (Monday)

PEAK: Tuesday

Science:
Social Studies:
Health:
Art:
French: 
Other: 

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Running Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm

Three-Way Conferences: October 23rd and 24th (Register Online)
Book Fair: October 22-24th
Toonie Toss: Wednesday
Healthy Bake Sale: Thursday ($1)

In Math today, students continued to practice estimation. We have been working with three different estimation strategies throughout the unit: front-end estimation, compatible numbers (rounding), and compensation. Today students were practicing estimating the difference between two numbers (subtraction). This requires students reviewing and practicing their subtraction. As a class, we have reviewed lining up our place value places when stacking numbers as well as borrowing and carrying. Students are encouraged to continue to practice these skills at home, such as using their Mathletics accounts when possible. 

We are currently reviewing the water cycle in Science. Today students once again reviewed the steps of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, saturation, precipitation, accumulation, and transpiration. Today we also added to our knowledge of the water cycle by studying the four main types of precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, and hail. Each group was assigned a form of precipitation. On Monday, students will become the "teachers" and teach the other groups about their form of precipitation. 

In Language Arts today, we did some paragraph writing. Today students were writing a paragraph about the soft starts that we use in the morning in our classroom. Students will be sharing these paragraphs with their parents during our Three-Way Conferences next week. Please do not forget, it is important that your student attends the conference so that students are involved in the discussion of their areas of success and areas of growth. 

Agenda
Weekly Homework:

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)
- Book Talk (due October 30th)

PEAK: Tuesday

Math:
Science:
Social Studies:
Health:
Art:
French: 
Other: 

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Running Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm

Three-Way Conferences: October 23rd and 34th (Register Online)

​Please see the following in regards to our upcoming Three-Way Conferences:


​Dear Parent/Guardian,

This letter is to advise you that our Three-Way Conferences for ECDP and Grades 1-6 are scheduled for October 23rd and 24th (ECDP will also hold conferences on Friday November 2nd) and to encourage you to go online and set up appointments with your student's teachers. Report cards for Grades 1-6 will be sent home at the end of Term 1 on December 6th. 

For anyone new to the school, I should explain that we believe that early communication with parents/guardians and students to discuss the student's progress is vital, which is why we set up these meetings, usually mid-term. In doing so, parents/guardians and students have a discussion prior to the first term report card going home. This allows changes to be made if necessary to ensure the student's success. This is a more proactive approach than reacting to the report card.

Just before the Three-Way Conferences, parents/guardians of Grades 1-6 students will receive a brief progress report for your student (not to be confused with the report cards coming home later). This will be helpful to guide discussion at the Three-Way Conferences. 

We believe there is much benefit in both the parent/guardian and student sitting down and having these discussions, which is why we have Three-Way Conferences involving all parents/guardians, students, and teacher, instead of the traditional Parent-Teacher Interviews. Please bring your student to the Three-Way Conferences.

For a number of reasons, including the fact that the results of the EYE (Early Years Evaluation) were unavoidably late in coming, we will need to schedule our Kindergarten Three-Way Conferences for the first week of December. More to follow.

To book appointments for ECDP and Grades 1-6, please go to our school website or follow this link: http://christinagordon.fmpsdschools.ca/view.php?action=signin​

If you have not already set up an account, you will be asked to do so at that time. 

Sincere regards, 

Rick Thorne


Agenda
Weekly Homework: Thursday

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)
- Book Talk (due October 30th)

PEAK: Wednesday

Math:
Science:
Social Studies:
Health:
Art:
French: 
Other: 

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Running Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm

Three-Way Conferences: October 23rd and 34th (Register Online)

Sorry that I have been forgetting to embed the morning broadcasts this week into my posts! Remember, if I ever forget, they can all be found on the Christina Gordon Facebook page. 

Agenda
Weekly Homework: None

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)
- Book Talk (due October 30th)

Social Studies:
- Provinces, Territories, Capitals Re-Quiz (Monday) 

PEAK: Monday

Math:
Science:
Health:
Art:
French: 
Other: 

Fall Market: October 13th, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Running Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:!5 pm

Thank you to Amelia, our classroom photographer, for the photos of our classroom and classroom activities today! 

Below you can also find a short video of some of the work done during our Dance Play Residency:

​Agenda
Weekly Homework: None

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)
- Book Talk (due October 30th)

Social Studies:
- Provinces, Territories, Capitals Re-Quiz (Monday) 

PEAK: Monday

Math:
Science:
Health:
Art:
French: 
Other: 

FriYay! Popcorn Day - Friday ($2)
Spirit Week: Pyjama Day, Granola Bar donations
Fall Market: October 13th, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Running Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:!5 pm

Thank you to Om and Amelia, our classroom photographers today.

We are almost done with our Mission Statement. We can't wait to share it with you! It has taken a lot of negotiating and some very creative compromising, but after we review it together again tomorrow, I think we will be ready to share it.

In Math today, we continued to look at estimating sums. Yesterday we began to discuss different estimation strategies: front-end estimation, compatible numbers (rounding), and compensation that we will be using throughout the majority of our units this year. Today, we spent some time reviewing addition. Since the word "sum" means the answer to an addition question, we had to review how to add larger numbers. Today we looked at some examples where you could draw a picture or use a number line to help you add. We also looked at "stacking" our numbers and then carrying numbers to keep our place value places separated. We will continue to practice both addition and estimation in upcoming classes. 

We also had Buddies for the first time today. This year we will be working with Ms. Luco's ECDP AM class each Day 4. Today the students just had some time to play with and get to know some of the ECDP students. Throughout the year we will help them with projects, finish their work, and play together. Buddies is an important part of our Health curriculum (volunteering) but it is also beneficial for both the ECDP and the Grade 5 students to develop relationships and learn to work with each other, especially because we are different ages. 

Agenda
Weekly Homework: None

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)
- Book Talk (due October 30th)

PEAK: Monday

Social Studies:
Math:
Science:
Health:
Art:
French: 
Other: 

FriYay! Popcorn Day - Friday ($2)
Spirit Week: Throwback Thursday, Mini-Wheats donations
Fall Market: October 13th, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Running Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:!5 pm

Please see the following email shared with families this evening and thanks to Andrew who was our Classroom Photographer today for the photos:

Good afternoon,

Just a few updates on activities and events taking place at school this week. First, a reminder that we are hosting our Fall Spirit Week this week (October 9-12th). Help us to welcome fall and stock our Breakfast Program shelves! Each day staff and students can choose to dress in theme and can also bring in an item for our Breakfast Program. If you would prefer to make a monetary donation, you can send $2 instead. A summary of each day is provided below: October 9th, Team Spirit Tuesday - Wear your favourite team or CG gear and bring in General Mills Multigrain Cheerios (or similar) October 10th, Wacky Hair Wednesday - Rock a crazy, creative hairstyle and bring in Mott's Fruitsation Apple Sauce Cups (or similar) October 11th, Throwback Thursday - Wear an outfit from the past and bring in Kellogg's Mini Wheats (or similar) October 12th, Fri-YAY! PJ Day - Wear your comfiest clothes and bring in NUT FREE Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Bars (or similar) Remember, students do not have to bring in a donation (item or monetary) to participate in the Spirit Week activities. I cannot wait to see some wacky hair tomorrow! 

Second, a reminder that the Fundraising Association's first fundraiser of the school year will be taking place this Saturday. The Christina Gordon School Fundraising Association will be hosting a Fall Market on Saturday, October 13th from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm in the school gymnasium. We hope to see you there! 

Third, there is no weekly homework this week because students have a French Quiz tomorrow on their numbers from 0-31 and because today I assigned students' first Book Talk of the school year. We will be doing a Book Talk (or similar) activity once a month. This gives students an opportunity to share what they are reading with myself and their classmates. It is also a good opportunity to practice public speaking (curricular outcome in both Language Arts and Social Studies) and reading fluency (curricular outcome in Language Arts). The students and I went over the "Must Haves" of this assignment together today as well as ideas on what students can do to prepare for a book talk. The "Must Haves" are: Look at everyone Speak loudly so all can hear Talk about the characters, the problem in the story, or some interesting information Read a small part of the book to interest the readers Each Book Talk should be no more than 2-3 minutes in length if students are well prepared and well practiced. I have attached the entire assignment sheet with the instructions as well as assessment rubric. Students will be bringing this sheet home in the student Agenda tomorrow. You can also visit Scholastic: Book Talks for more information. Our first Book Talk will be due on October 30th. 

Finally, Christina Gordon Public School will be participating in an Art Cards by Kids fundraiser this fall. This fundraiser allows families the opportunity to purchase their student's art on a greeting card. Each student creates their own piece of art (in class), which will be used for the front image of the card. These cards are not only functional, but serve as a great keepsake for yourself and your family and friends! Students complete the artwork at school and I will send the templates for printing. A sample of the card will be returned to school and then sent home. You will then be able to place your orders. Other items, such as phone cases and puzzles can be ordered as well. In order to get our class started, I wanted to see what images you would like to have your child create on their template. The options are: create a winter or holiday card create a birthday card create a thank you card 
You can email me your preference or talk it over with your student and they can come prepared to create whatever image you have discussed. Of course, you can leave it totally up to your student as well. Please visit Art Cards by Kids for more information. Thank you everyone! As always, please let me know if you have questions or concerns in regards to any of the above,

- Ashley Barrington, Grade 5 Classroom Teacher

Agenda
Weekly Homework: None

Language Arts:
​- Read 20 minutes (track in your Agenda)
- Book Talk (due October 30th)

French: 
- Quiz #1: Numbers 0-31 (tomorrow)

PEAK: Wednesday

Social Studies:
Math:
Science:
Health:
Art:
Other: 

FriYay! Popcorn Day - Friday ($2)
Spirit Week: Wednesday, Wacky Hair Day, apple sauce cup donations
Fall Market: October 13th, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tech & Trades Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Running Club - Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Boys' Volleyball - Mondays/Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
Girls' Volleyball - Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
​Literacy Club - Wednesdays, 3:15-4:!5 pm