Week of April 29 - May 3, 2013

Thursday HW
1.  Wahanowin final deposit due on May 15.
2.  Math Quizzes upcoming:
Ratios and Estimating Percents quiz on Monday, May 6 (Unit 8, Lessons 8 and 9).
Equivalent Ratios and Rates quiz on Tuesday, May 7 (Unit 8, Lessons 10 and 11).


There will be a tree planting ceremony in the Nature Garden of Runnymede Public School on Tuesday April 30 after school at 3:20.  We'll meet with our class at the amphitheatre area. I encourage all students in our class to attend.  Any parents or siblings who wish to attend are more than welcome. 
The tree we are planting is to commemorate the life of Alexander Shapiro.  There will be short speeches from grade six students, presentations and good community feeling.  As well, Alex's family will attend.   I hope to see you there.
Tuesday HW
1.  Wahanowin final deposit due on May 15.
2.  Percent quiz on Thursday, May 2.  Unit 8, Lessons 6 and 7.
3.  MMS pages 126-27.

Our class raised $215.00 for the Alex Shapiro Memorial Fund.  Thank you very much!

Monday HW
1.  Math Text pages 318-19 # 1-11.  I modelled #1-6 on the board in class and the students had 2 full periods to work on it.
2.  MMS pages 124-25.
3.  Math Unit 8 Lessons 6 and 7 Percent Quiz on Thursday May 2.
4.  Donations for Alex Shapiro Memorial Fund -- last day tomorrow.
5.  Practice "You Raise Me Up" song for tomorrow.  Check the Josh Groban version on the YouTubes for reference.  Wear red if you are able.

Week of April 22 - 26, 2013.

Friday HW
There will be a tree planting ceremony in the Nature Garden of Runnymede Public School on Tuesday April 30 after school at 3:20.  We'll meet with our class at the amphitheatre area. I encourage all students in our class to attend.  Any parents or siblings who wish to attend are more than welcome. 
The tree we are planting is to commemorate the life of Alexander Shapiro.  There will be short speeches from grade six students, presentations and good community feeling.  As well, Alex's family will attend.   I hope to see you there.

1.  Please bring a donation for the Alexander Shapiro Memorial Fund if you are able.  Thank you very much for the generous donations. So far we've raised $143.
2.  Math Text page 314-15 # 7-12.  We had 20 minutes to work on this in the morning and another 20 minutes after lunch.
3.  MMS pages 122-23.
4.  French Adverbs test on Monday.  A study sheet was distributed today.
5.  Percent quiz on Lessons 6 and 7 of Unit 8 on Thursday May 2.
6.  Wahanowin final deposit letter given out to each student personally today.  The final amount is $160.00.  (The total price for each of the 46 students going is $310.00).

Thursday HW
1.  Please bring a donation for the Alexander Shapiro Memorial Fund if you are able to.  It's for cancer research and a scholarship award at Runnymede in Alex's name.
2.  Pourquoi Tale rough draft must be done for tomorrow.  Most students have started the good copy typing.
3.  Math text page 314 # 1-6.
4.  Fractions and Mixed Numbers quiz tomorrow:  Unit 8, Lessons 1,2 and 3.

Wednesday HW
1  Please bring a donation for the Alexander Shapiro Memorial Fund if you are able.  We would need it by Monday next week.  Thank you.
2.  Tree Planting next Tuesday April 30 at 3:20 after school in the nature garden.  Students and parents are invited.
3.  Math Text page 310-11 # 1 to 13.  We had 50 minutes in class to work on it after a lesson.  At one student got to # 13 in class time.  Several were at # 7 as I circulated.
4.  MMS page 120-121
5.  Fraction and Mixed Numbers quiz on Friday April 26. (Unit 8, Lessons 1,2 and 3)
6.  Social Studies Booklet page 5.

Monday HW
1.  Tomorrow is a Library day.  10 students received fine notices today for books that were significantly overdue.  A number of these were in desks in the class already and returned, but at least ten books are still unaccounted for.  Please return these tomorrow if possible.  Students should have a DEAR time book in class each day going forward.
2.  MMS HW book pages 114-115 for Tuesday.

Week of April 15-19, 2013

This has been a very tough week for the students in room 365.  With the help of parents and staff at school we've taken some important steps in coming to terms with the loss of Alex.  Your sons and daughters have done incredible things this week amidst tragic circumstances.  Our grief was hard to manage.  The greatest help came from those experiencing the most pain of all -- Alex's family.  I want to thank Alex's Mom and Dad and Brother for their incredible generosity of spirit and concern for our students.  I'm awed by their dignity and strength.

This week we've read a number of books, had two visits from professional staff, welcomed two parents to class to speak with the students and conducted some structured talks about the grieving process.  We had a moving visit to Alex's home on Thursday that was very special.  I tried to stress that there was no timetable for mourning, there was no right way to do it, and that it would take time beyond this week to be fully felt.  I also wanted to acknowledge that the students have to still be kids and be allowed to be happy and have fun.  This is a difficult balance to achieve but I'm working at it.  I am very grateful for the supportive feedback I've received so far.  Please let me know if you feel I'm overlooking important things.

Next week we'll attempt to return to a more familiar school day after some baby steps today and tomorrow.  We'll have a Math Unit test on Monday and some journal work due the same day.  I've submitted the deposit to Camp Wahanowin and I will inform you of the amount of the remaining balance.  Soccer tryouts for the girls team I'm coaching will start the week after that.

But we'll still remember and talk about our dear friend.

Here are a few of the movies we made before and after April 12.  The students were inspired to work hard and with a genuine determination.  I was very proud of their efforts.

For Alex From Runnymede


 A Day in the Life of Room 365

 

365 Jokers

 

 To Alex From 365

 

Week of April 8-12, 2013.

Friday HW
1.  Almost all the Wahanowin forms and deposits are submitted.  Thank you!  When the final ones are in, I will send home a revised final payment amount.
2.  Math Unit 7 Test on Monday April 15.
3.  We completed two more films with the class as a show of support for Alex S.  My channel is up and running with the name shown below.  If you search for "Channels" rather than "Videos" , mine should be at the top of the results list.  Thank you again for the help of your wonderful kids in making these short films.

365 Jokers -- A Joke Day


A Day in the Life -- 365


Thursday HW
1.  Wahanowin forms and deposit due tomorrow.
2.  MMS pages 110-111.  This is the first lesson of a new unit (#8) on Fractions.
3.  Math Unit 7 test on Monday April 15.
4.  I have a YouTube channel.  The name is Andrew Reynolds365.  I've posted some of the movies we've made as messages of support for Alex S in our class in addition to the cards we made last week.  The boys and girls have really helped out with the planning, filming and technical details in addition to coming together to complete the projects in a short time frame.  I'm very proud of them.  Our first video is linked below.

Further to that subject, Alex's mom has welcomed visits from students who can find the time to visit him at The Hospital For Sick Children.  He is on the eighth floor in section A.  You should stop by at the reception desk on the eighth floor to announce your presence in case it is not a convenient time.  I have found that Alex enjoyed the visits of friends and classmates.


Wednesday HW
1.  Wahanowin forms and deposit due on Friday, April 12.
2.  MMS pages 108-109.
3.  Math Unit 7 Test on Monday April 15.

Tuesday HW
1.  Wahanowin form and deposit are due by Friday, April 12.
2.  Page 5 electricity booklet.
3.  Tiling activities in the Math text on page 279 # 1-5.
4.  Math Quiz tomorrow on Unit 7 lessons 3 and 4.
5.  Unit 7 math test on Monday April 15.

Monday HW
1.  Wahanowin form and deposit are due on Friday April 12.
2.  MMS pages 106-107.  Five students did not do their homework for today or left their books at home.
3.  Page 4 electricity booklet.
4.  Math Unit 7 Quizzes and Tests:
Lesson 1 and 2 quiz on Tuesday this week.
Lesson 3 and 4 quiz on Wednesday this week.
Unit test next Monday April 15.

Week of April 2 - 5, 2013

Friday HW
1.  Wahanowin trip forms and $150 deposit due on Friday, April 12.  Cheques are an appropriate method of payment, payable to "Runnymede Public School" as indicated on the 511C permission form.  Thus far we have 6 submitted forms out of 24.  Almost all students have indicated verbally that they are planning to attend.  I you have questions about financial support please contact me directly.

2. Math Quizzes for Unit 7 next week:
Lessons 1 and 2 on Tuesday (Transformations and combined transformations)
Lessons 3 and 4 on Wednesday (Congruent and similar figures)
3.  MMS pages 104-105
4.  Book Report due on Monday.


Thursday HW
1.  Wahanowin trip forms and $150 deposit due on Friday April 12.
2.  Bitstrips:  2 cartoons due tomorrow, online.
3.  Math Quizzes for Unit 7 next week:
Lessons 1 and 2 on Tuesday (Transformations and combined transformations)
Lessons 3 and 4 on Wednesday (Congruent and similar figures)
4.  Book Report due on Monday.

Wednesday HW
No homework due to Spring Thaw.
Wahanowin forms and deposit due on Friday April 12.

Tuesday HW
1.  Cereal box assignment is due on Thursday.
2.  Next Book report is due on Monday, April 8.
3.  The first two Bitstrip activities (Introduce Yourself and Speech Bubble Instruction) are due by Friday.  Students should continue to use capitalization and punctuation where necessary in their texts.  Another focus is on using a range of background and body poses/postures/angles.
4.  Our Wahanowin deposits are due on April 12.  The amount is $150.  After we see how many students are participating the remainder of the fee will be calculated and shared with parents.
5.  Cake walk supervision for the Spring Thaw fundraiser occurs tomorrow after school in three shifts.  Thank you very much to the students who brought their cakes in today.