Preparing our Hearts

The grade 3 students will be introducing the Gospel Value of HOPE and the Grandfather Teacher of COURAGE to the rest of the school during the last week before holidays.  Students will be practising the "Kindness" song by Steve Bell over the next week and a half.  Here is a link to the song that we are work on...we have just started practising and WOW, already so beautiful with an even more inspiring message.  We are preparing our hearts during this Advent Season.

Also, a big thank you to everyone who has sent in their hamper items and anyone that will be helping us fill our basket.  We have a family that includes three boys aged 1 1/2, 9 and 10.

Christmas Spirit Day will be on Friday, December 14th.  We are asking that students bring in a donation of $2.00 and wear their festive attire. All of the money collected on the 14th will go towards grocery cards for all of our families.

In regards to our hamper, the items we brainstormed on Monday will be an assortment of gifts, treats, necessities such as warm hats, mitts, socks, soaps, toothpaste, etc.  We are wanting our family to feel loved and cared for when they open their Christmas Hamper.  All items are asked to be sent in by Wednesday or Thursday next week. If for any reason you are not able to send in the item your child chose, please do not hesitate to let me know or if you would prefer to send in an alternate item.  

Thank you in advance for all of your support.

Your Partner in Education,

Mrs. Caluori

Advent

Police Check

Police check

We just wanted to let you know that providing you have already
(or have by Thursday) applied for the “vulnerable sector police check”
you are very welcome to volunteer with us for the Nature Walk.
We have been notified that there is a long back log in getting these
completed. Therefore, as long as your application is in we will have you
fill out a quick form here at the school before our outing on Thursday
October 25th. We are asking parents to arrive for 12:45 so that we can
explain the afternoon's events before the students come in from recess.
Please meet at the front office.

If you already have a police check, the office needs a copy of that report.
You can email it to: volunteers@ocsb.ca

*For future thought, if you are planning on volunteering at any other
time of the school year, you will need to allow enough time for the
police check to be completed in order to attend.

Micah 6:8

The Giving Tree (Read Aloud)

Character and showing GRIT

Today we talked about our character and some of the things that we want to work on at school (learning goals for the year).  We also talked about how learning is hard work but that we grow as learners when we face challenges and struggles.  We watched a short video (link below) about GRIT!  Students were able to make a lot of connections with the video!

Welcome Back!!!

Welcome to Grade 3D!!!

 I am so excited to begin a new school year and I look forward to meeting all of our new grade 3 students on Tuesday September 4th!

On the first day of school, the students will be getting to know each other, myself and their new learning environment.

The focus of our first week of school will be on establishing routines, developing strategies that will help enhance our learning environment and classroom culture as well as getting to know each other a little better.Please keep an eye out on the first day of school for our Classroom Newsletter, verification form, technology agreement, school calendar and concussion protocol, etc.  A lot of important information will be going home on the first day of school!

Student Agendas will also be coming home on the first day of school.  Please look through the agenda for more detailed information regarding school policies and procedures.  The Agenda will be an important communication tool throughout the school year.

Allergy Alert

In our classroom this year we have the following life threatening allergies.  Please check all food items carefully when packing food for school.

Walnut Allergy and Seafood Allergy



IMPORTANT DATES:

September 4th, 2018 - First Day of School - Class Lists will be posted outside by 8:45 a.m.

August 28th - Cash Online open for Pizza, Milk and Activity Fee orders and payments

September 11th - Last day to order Pizza, Milk and pay Activity Fees

September 17th - Milk and Pizza Programs begin this week
September 20th, 2018 - Meet the Teacher Night begins @ 6:30 p.m.

Home School Communication

On our classroom blog, there are a variety of links.  Please explore and have fun learning!  I will also post our weekly WWWs and a link to our homework once it gets started.  Homework and WWWs will also go home in the agendas and in a Homework Duotang each week.  On the right hand side of our classroom blog (you may need to scroll down some) you will find our Classroom Twitter Feed.  If you have Twitter, you can follow our learning and daily happenings by searching our Twitter Handle @lcaluori or if you do not have a Twitter account, you can still view everything we do via the live Twitter Feed on our Blog.

Also, please feel free to call me at the school or write me a note in your child's agenda.  I will get back to you as soon as I can.

I hope to meet many of you on the first day of school and to those that I don't get a chance to speak to, I will be making a phone call home to introduce myself in the next week or two.

I look forward to working with you this year to ensure your child has a successful school year.

Your Partner in Education,

Mrs. Caluori

End of the Year!

I just wanted to say a great big thank you to all of the students and families in Grade 3D this school year!  What a fantastic year it was.  All of the children progressed and shined brightly this year.  I am so proud of all of you and have the utmost confidence that you are ready for your new learning adventures in Grade 4.  

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to all of the parents and families that were so supportive this year.  It really takes a village and this year was a successful school year because of the wonderful teamwork between home and school. 


As amazing as this school year was, I am sure you are all ready for a little bit of sunshine and Summer fun.  

I look forward to seeing you all grow, learn and take on some leadership roles as you enter the junior grades.  

Be sure to come visit me in the Blue Pod!!!

I will miss you all and look forward to seeing you all back in September.

I am so proud of all of you!

Your Partner in Education,

Mrs. Caluori

EQAO Reminder Note

Hello Parents,

As you know EQAO begins next week. I just wanted to remind you about a few
important things.

Please ensure your child;

• has had a good breakfast
• has an easy and nutritious snack they can eat while working 
• arrives to school on time
• has an interesting book to read (or puzzle book etc.) for when they are done writing and others aren’t
• has a full water bottle

All EQAO testing begins at 9:10 in the morning.

Dates: Tuesday, May 22nd, Wednesday, May 23rd, Thursday, May 24th, Monday, May 28th

Tuesday, May 29th and Wednesday, May 30th

Upcoming Dates!

EQAO Dates

All EQAO testing begins at 9:10 in the morning.

Dates:

Tuesday, May 22nd

Wednesday, May 23rd

Thursday, May 24th

Monday, May 28th

Tuesday, May 29th

Wednesday, May 30th

End of Year Field Trip: Save the Date

Upper Canada Village - Thursday June 21st, 2018

He Has Risen!!!

Holy Week

 This week students have been working hard on their Holy Week narrative stories called, "Through the Eyes of Jesus."  Students are writing from the perspective of Jesus and how He felt in His heart when He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, His thoughts and emotions during the Last Supper as well as on Good Friday.  When we return after Easter weekend, we will finish with Jesus' ascension.

Tomorrow during third block, students will watch the 'Stations of the Cross' performed by our Faith In Action members here at St. Cecilia.   We will also finish up our Lenten Art project using pastels (warm and cool colours) and construction paper that we have layered to create depth in our artwork (foreground, middleground and background).


In Math, we have been working on our measurement unit with a focus on perimeter and area.  Students have also been practicing representing money amounts up to $10.00, making change and representing a money amount in more than one way.  We also continue to review and revisit all strands of math that we have covered thus far.  

In Physical Education, students have been participating in 'lead up' activities for basketball.  Students have been working on their dribbling, chest and bounce passes as well as their shooting skills from various points in the key.  Students understand how important it is for them to be in the ready position and making eye contact with their partner before passing the ball.

As we approach the end of this school week, I just wanted to wish everyone a blessed Easter weekend.  

Looking forward to hearing all about everyone's Easter on Tuesday.

Your Partner in Education,

Mrs. Caluori

It's Time for March Break!

 It is hard to believe that March Break has already arrived!  I wish everyone a safe, restful and happy March Break.  I look forward to hearing about all of the March Break adventures when we return March 19th.

A huge thank you to everyone who has sent in money to support our UNICEF #right2learn Lenten Project.  We were able to add TWO bricks to our school in the front lobby today!!!  Amazing.  We are also $6.00 into our third brick.  Our campaign continues after the break and will be running until March 29th so let's get those donations in to build a better world, one brick at a time.

We have started GENIUS HOUR in 3D!

To learn more about Genius Hour, check out the video clip below.  Have fun and enjoy the learning process.  I can't wait to see what you have become an expert in :).

Winter Olympics 2018!!!

We have been having lots of fun discussing the upcoming Olympics and all the possibilities in linking a variety of Olympic subjects to the Grade 3 curriculum!
During second term we will be investigating Forces (gravity, friction, wind resistance, etc.) and Structures (stable, purposeful) in Science.  In Math we have begun looking at naming and categorizing shapes in Geometry and will then move to Measurement.  In Language we will be continuing with asking good questions while reading as well as researching Canadian Athletes and the variety of Winter Game Sports.  Narrative writing will be our next writing unit.

Here is a link to some great websites to support researching the Winter Games!

Olympic Websites for Kids

Click the link below to see all the fun Spirit Week activities planned during February 20th- February 23rd.

St. Cecilia Spirit Week Activities

We are loving the Olympic Mascot for the 2018 Winter Games!  Check out Soohorang demonstrating the Winter Sports that are featured in this year's Olympics. 

Great Week Back!

It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through January already!  We had a great week back to school after the Christmas Break and I think students were happy to see their friends again and get back into a regular routine.  It was wonderful to see all the smiling faces and hear all about the wonderful vacations everyone had.

We have finished up our Descriptive Writing unit in Language and have begun Procedural Writing.  Check out our Twitter Feed for our co-created 'Must Haves' chart.

Students are wrapping up their Google Presentations on their Soil/Plant inquiry.  We should be ready this week to start presentations and build each others' knowledge.  Each group has been researching and preparing a different project so it will be exciting when these 'experts' help us all to learn more about their topic of research. 

Students have been learning how text font, backgrounds, subtitles, table of contents, diagrams, etc. help grab the attention of the reader and help the reader understand the text better.  We have also been talking about the importance of communication skills when presenting.  Students have been thinking about how they can make sure the information they are presenting 'sticks' with their audience. 

In Physical Education, students have been learning a new game called Handball.  They are doing so well and starting to learn some great game strategies.

In Mathematics, we continue with Temperature and have introduced Time.  These are great concepts to practice daily at home using everyday situations such as, "What time is it now/"  "We are leaving for hockey in an hour and a half, what time will it be then?", "If you have dance practice everyday for 20 mins., how much have your practiced in total this week?", etc.  There are also numerous Time activities linked on our blog.  Have fun!