October 17th, 2019

​Please see the following email, shared earlier this evening:

Good evening,

Just a few updates on events and activities taking place at school. First, students are all bringing home their book bags with a parent/guardian letter tonight. This letter is meant to inform parents/guardians of some of our routines and expectations with our book bags. Students are expected to return their book bags to school each week (they can bring them to and from school each day if they prefer). Each Monday (or Tuesday if there is a school holiday) students will bring home the book bags with self-selected texts to read to/with a friend or family member. Students should record their reading minutes daily in the front of the student agenda. Please do not expect students to read every text independently. Students are self-selecting texts that are of interest to them intentionally. This is meant to further their curiosity, a love of reading, and learning. Reading these self-selected texts with someone (instead of always to someone) is valuable to their learning (eg. phrasing and fluency are modelled, exposes students to new vocabulary words, allows students to focus on comprehension, etc.). Included in this letter are also suggestions of ways that you can help your student as you read together. I have also attached a copy of the letter in this email. 

Second, the Christina Gordon School Council has formed a sub-committee to be called the Christina Gordon Inclusion Advisory Committee. The first meeting will be held on Monday, October 21st from 7:00-9:00 pm in the Staff Room at Christina Gordon Public School. This committee is a place where parents, teachers, EAs, and administrators can come together to discuss some of the barriers that students face as well as possible solutions. It is intended to be a place to talk about what is going well as well as how to support one another in order to do what is best for all students. This sub-committee will be seeking someone to fill the positions of Secretary and Vice-Chair at this meeting. Please let Mrs. Power ([email protected]) know if you would like further information or are interested in attending.

Third, three-way conferences for Grades 1-6 students are scheduled for October 23rd and 24th. Parents/guardians should set up appointments online to meet with classroom teachers. Report cards for Grades 1-6 will be sent home at a later date (at the end of Term 1 in early December). At Christina Gordon Public School we believe that early communication with parents/guardians and children to discuss the child's progress is vital, which is why these meetings are set up mid-term. In doing so, parents/guardians and students are able to have a discussion prior to the first term report card going home. This allows changes to be made where necessary to ensure the student's success. This is a more proactive approach than simply reacting to the report card. Early next week, parents of Grades 1-6 students will receive a brief progress report for the students, focusing on literacy and numeracy. This is meant to be helpful in guiding the 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 intended to involve all parents/guardians, students, and teachers, instead of a traditional parent-teacher interview. Please bring your student to these three-way conferences. To book an appointment for Grades 1-6 students, please go to the school website (http://christinagordon.fmpsdschools.ca/view.php?action=signin). If you have not already created an account, you will be asked to do so at that time. Please note, ECDP and Kindergarten three-way conferences will be held at a later date. 

Finally, the Arctic Adventure Book Fair will be held during three-way conferences next week. The Book Fair will be open for browsing from 10:00-11:15 am and 2:00-3:00 pm from Monday-Thursday. We will be visiting the Book Fair as a class next week. Students are also able to visit the Book Fair during morning recess (if they intend to purchase a book). Flyers will be sent home with the October Book Orders tomorrow in the student agendas. The Book Fair will also be open at night, during our three-way conferences.

Thank you everyone! As always, please let me know if there are any questions or concerns in regards to the above, 

- Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher

Agenda
- Sr. Choir: Tuesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm
- Sign Language Club: Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm 
- Hot Lunch Program: Tuesdays, Thursdays
- Fri-yay Popcorn Day (October 18th)
- Jr. Tech: Mondays, 3:15-4:15 pm (will begin October 21st)​
- Family Halloween Dance: Wednesday, October 30th (5:30-7:00 pm)