October 2013 Division 3 Newsletter
Osiyo!
"Truth: to learn to be true to ourselves, to live with truth and to walk with truth, to speak truth. Teach children to share their truth...their feelings."
Wow! More than a month gone already. I can't believe the time has gone so fast! 8.5 more months to go...
On September 17th, Division 3 watched the ceremonies as flotilla after flotilla landed at 'Namwayut, All Nations Canoe Gathering for Truth and Reconciliation Week.
On a related note, one of the "truths" that TRC is helping all of Canada realize is that the residential school system negatively impacted many Aboriginal people's "social-emotional" development. Like many other classes at our school, Division 3 is also using a program called Second Step to help our students learn both how to learn and how to get along better with others. Second Step directly teaches skills in the following four areas:
1. Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and be assertive when asking for help with schoolwork.
2. Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others' feelings. Students also learn how to take another's perspective and how to show compassion.
3. Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when experiencing strong feelings, such as anxiety or anger.
4. Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in a positive way.
Your child will be learning a lot this year--and will need your help! Throughout the year, your child will be bringing home Home Links that go with several of the Second Step lessons. Home Links are simple, fun activities for you and your child to complete together. They are a great way for you to experience what your child is learning and for your child to show you what he or she knows.
You can join www.secondstep.org with the activation key SS3P FAMI LY73 to watch videos about the Second Step program and get information about what your child is learning.
On the September 26th, we ran the Terry Fox Run. Students had a great time running around a track at the PNE--many of our students exceeded expectations in that they ran multiple times around the primary track (3-5 laps) and some of the intermediates ran their course twice! So proud of all our participants in the run.
As some of you know from our recent Goal Setting Conferences, we have started a school wide math program where each student wrote the same "placement test" and have been placed in an ability group with other children at a similar level. We are hoping this strategy will help each student experience both success and the right amount of challenge. The entire school is using the JUMP Math system. Go here: http://jumpmath.org/cms/role_parent for information on the program and FAQs. Or, please feel free to ask me or any other teacher for more information.
Last but certainly not least, Division 3 is going to the Pumpkin Patch in Southlands this coming Monday (October 28th)! We are very excited for this opportunity to help our Aboriginal children build a greater connection to the land. Please sign and return the field trip form that accompanies this letter. We also will need Division 3 students to arrive at school no later than 8:45am Monday morning so we make it to the farm by 9:30am. We'll be back at school in time for lunch.
On a similar note, we will also have a Halloween party on October 31st. Many students are helping plan snacks, games, and other fun activities for that day. If you're interested in helping out or attending, please let us know either through a note sent with your child or give the school a call and ask for me.
Yours in Community,
Brenda
No comments:
Post a Comment