Week 27: March 26-Good Friday

It's hard to believe it is almost Easter, already! We have spent a lot of time thinking about kindness, thinking about our Faith, and talking about prayer. We spent a block with our Faith Buddies on Friday, talking about why we pray, and who we pray for. They created their own Prayer Wall, with prayers for their families, for the OK Clean water project, and for the world. I will post a picture on Twitter tomorrow.

We are continuing to practice our dance almost every day! HERE is another link to the music, HERE is another link to the lyrics, and HERE is a link to a video showing Robin demonstrating the choreography, for students to practice at home. A number of students have indicated that they have watched the original dance segment and/or googled the original lyrics, and I want to again caution that the original lyrics are not appropriate for this age. That is why we are using Robin's clean version for our dance.

Math - we had a quick review test on Friday of multiplication and division with and without remainders. The students as a whole did very well! 

Language Arts - we are working on Bug Menus. The students are very creative with their restaurant names and menu items! Would you eat at McBuggles? Yum! Ask your child what they called their restaurant and what they are serving up for dinner!

Science - we have built food webs using pictures of animals and plants that we cut out of magazines. The students enjoyed looking up who eats what, and which animals are herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. Next, we will look at animal adaptations.

Phys Ed - the next sport is basketball, now that the gym is open again!

Have a lovely Easter!

Don't Forget!

TOMORROW is Crazy Hat and Hair Day! Bring a loonie or a toonie and wear your craziest hairdo or your funkiest hat for the day! It is a fundraiser for our Lenten initiative - the OK Clean Water project.

Also:

Dear parents,
On Thursday morning, your child's homeroom class has been invited to participate in a Water Celebration organized and run by the Eco Team. As part of this celebration, a small snack will be provided. The students will be given a mini doughnut (nut and peanut free) and carrot sticks. Please advise your homeroom teacher if your child is not to participate in the snack option. Thank you!

Madam Gaudet (Eco Team facilitator)

Week 26: March 19-23 Welcome Back

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing March Break! With lots of fresh snow and fairly warm temperatures, it was a pretty good week for outdoor activities!

Here's what is coming up this week:

Tuesday we will have our 2nd session of Musical Theatre with Robin Guy. We had practiced the lyrics and actions to the theatrical version of "Greased Lightning" that I posted on the blog before the break. She will finish the choreography with us on Tuesday, and we will continue to practice until the performance date in May. As our workshop was scheduled during Faith Buddy block, we will reschedule our Faith Buddy time with Mrs. Fitzpatrick's class for another time this week.

Wednesday is Crazy Hat/Hair Day as part of our Lenten Fundraiser. Students are encouraged to wear a crazy hat or hairdo and bring in a loonie or a toonie to support our Lenten fundraising initiative, the OK Clean Water project.

Wednesday is also iWalk day, where students are encouraged to walk to school or Drive to 5, to promote active and safe transportation to school. 

On Thursday, the Ecoteam will be holding a Water Celebration in the morning, during 2nd block. 

On Friday, Fr. Tavis and the other priests from our Parish will be here for Lenten Reconciliation. They will hear individual confessions of students who have already received their First Reconciliation. Here is a copy of the Children's Examination of Conscience, for you to go over with your child in preparation for the sacrament if you wish. It also has a reminder of what to say during the Sacrament of Reconciliation and an Act of Contrition, for reference.

Musical Theatre

Robin Guy has been holding Musical Theatre workshops with the students this week, and will return after March break to hold another. Our morning class has been assigned the song "Greased Lightning" from the movie "Grease". The song and lyrics are below, so the students can practice at home. Please don't google the lyrics or the song, as the song we are using is a special cut and key, and the lyrics have also been modified to be appropriate for a school audience. Please use the links below:

Song
Lyrics

Week 24 & 25: Feb 26 - March 9

Winter Walk Day / iWalk Day was a great success! A beautiful morning for a walk, and delicious hot chocolate afterwards! We were joined by Phyz from the Ottawa Health Dept, some representatives from Active Transportation, and various community members. Thanks to everyone who walked to school, or did the Drive to 5, we appreciate your support!

In Phys Ed class, we have been simulating various Olympic sports - snowboarding-type obstacle runs, "bobsled" races on scooterboards, sledge hockey using scooter boards and mini-sticks, and on Tuesday, the students had the opportunity to participate in the Rocks and Rings program. This program, presented by Curling Canada and supported by the Egg Farmers of Ontario, introduces students to the sport of curling, without the ice. They really enjoyed their introduction, and many students expressed an interest in taking up curling outside of school. 

Friday, we enjoyed a Board Game block in support of our Lenten Project - the OK Clean Water Project. Next Friday, we will have a movie afternoon to support this initiative. Students will also be able to order popcorn to enjoy during the movie (or to bring home) for $2/bag. Please order through Cash Online before Sunday.

Our Eco-team has an initiative they want to tell you about as well:

Hello families!

Our Eco Team has been working on the Great Waters Challenge, which is a cross-Canada challenge for youth that helps them learn about and raise awareness of local water issues. As part of the challenge, they are going to be hosting a water celebration and fundraiser for OK Clean Water  on Tuesday, March 6th. Please have your child bring in 25 cents, or other donation in order for them to share with us a water story and enjoy a peanut and nut free cookie, courtesy of the Eco Team. Our celebration will take place during 2nd block for all Grade 2-6 students.

Thank you for your continued support!

St. Clare Eco Team

Another event upcoming this week, is the return of Musical Theatre workshops with Robin Guy. My morning class will have their first workshop on Tuesday morning, where we will learn our song and our choreography. We will be performing the dance during Education Week for parents - we hope you can come to see it!

Language Arts - we are presenting our Olympic Virtual scrapbooks this week before March break. I am looking forward to seeing them all!

Math - we are linking division with multiplication. Students really need to know their math facts (read: multiplication tables). When students know their times tables, and can recall their facts instantly rather than counting up on their fingers or looking it up on a chart, they can perform multiplication and division calculations so much more quickly and accurately. Keep on trying!

Science - we wrapped up light and sound, and have started with Habitats. We've learned about producers (plants produce their own food through photosynthesis), consumers (like us, we consume other plants and animals for energy), and decomposers (that break down dead matter - mushrooms, fungi and bacteria).

Daylight Savings Time starts on Sunday, March 11 - don't forget to Spring Ahead!