Nove mbe r 2014

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School website : www.keswick.ps.yrdsb.ca

Keswick Hawks

Thank you to our students, staff and families for another great month at KPS. Our students continue to be engaged in a variety of learning opportunities. In our recent Appreciation Assemblies students sang, they presented science projects, the ECO team shared their learning from ECO camp and we had students leading the assembly both as MC’s and through stage and sound crew. We continue to have a number of students engaged in clubs and activities during recess and lunch. Ask your child about the activities they are involved in at KPS.

Our School Council continues to identify strategies to engage our community. Parent engagement in school is one of the leading factors in student engagement and improved student achievement. Our most recent “Journee des Ongles Roses” and the Community Dance were both great opportunities for our families to actively participate in our school.

Our most recent technology purchases include a laptop cart with speakers, LCD projector and document cameras. This purchase ensures that each classroom will be equipped with technology for both teacher and student use. Our School Council continues to fundraise for a variety of items to support learning at KPS. We will have two other opportunities within in the school year to purchase more technology for our school.

My new learning this month…our students on the student newspaper team said, “Mme, why don’t we submit this to you on our GOOGLE docs?” Time for Mme Cochrane to take a technology risk! Thank you to our students for creating a technology learning opportunity for me.

There's music in the air... Request for auditions for our upcoming Talent Shows were distributed on Friday October 31st. If your son/daughter likes to perform this is his/her moment to shine! Auditions will start as early as Wednesday November 5th with show dates of Tuesday and Wednesday December 2nd and 3rd, each night at 6:30 pm. Just a reminder that our Talent Shows provide the opportunity for students to share their existing skills - a song played on an instrument or sung accompanied by a karaoke version, for example. Keeping this in mind, our staff will not be providing training or preparations towards these performances.

***If you would like to receive an email letting you know that the school newsletter has been posted to our website, please email: marina.cochrane@yrdsb.ca

Principal’s Corner

ECO …What Goes Where???

Waste reduction is important at KPS. What goes where is one of our biggest challenges! Test your ECO knowledge below – do you know where these items go? Check the bottom of page 2 for the answers.

1) Juice boxes 2) Cardboard

3) Paper Towel 4) Straws

5) Food wrapping 6) Uneaten food

Contents

Principal’s News 1

Eco School 1

Math at KPS 2

Student Journalists 3

Student Journalists 3

Month at a Glance 4

Smile Photo Gallery 5, 6

Progress Report Cards 7

Mari na Coc h rane , Pr inc ipa

EOAA, Bre nda Ch i s ho lm /Se c re t a ry , K e l ly H ighe t

D ianne Hawki ns , S upe r i nt e n de nt

Nanc y Elg ie , Sc hoo l Tr us t e e

Upcoming

Events

Book Fair

Nov. 10 - 14

Parent,

Student,

Teacher

Interviews

Nov. 13, 14

November’s character trait is courage. When we demonstrate courage… We face challenges directly. We seek help from others when necessary. We do the right thing even when it may be unpopular. We are able to recognize risks and danger and do not take unwise risks to gain the approval of those around us. Discuss these quotes with your child and talk about how they can demonstrate courage in their classrooms, in our hallways, on our school yard, at home and in their community.

“Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral courage.” Margaret Chase Smith

“Sometimes honesty takes real courage, but it’s always the right thing to do.”

Character Counts at Keswick Public

At KPS, we have been actively using Google Drive and Docs for the past two years. Google Docs provides our students with an opportunity to work collaboratively from anywhere; at school, at home, at the public library. Many of our students have used Google Docs to write descriptive narratives, recounts, persuasive letters and now even articles for our school newsletter!. Students have also used Google Sites to design and publish websites about books. Google Draw is used to create mind-maps and graphic organizers for displaying thoughts about a story or to work collaboratively on a document. Students have also created slideshows on various subjects using Google Presentations. Google Apps for Education is a set of free communication and collaboration tools for schools that are accessed through a web browser (like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari or Chrome) or through a series of applications designed for iOS (iPad, iPhone etc.) or Android tablets and devices. All students at KPS and across YRDSB have a GAPPS account. Ask your child about their use of GAPPS at school.

Technology Tidbits…

Math is Fun!!!

“Written Communication enables students to think about and articulate what they know. Mathematical writing also provides evidence of students’ mathematical understanding. Before beginning any writing task, students need experiences in expressing their ideas orally, as well as listen to the ideas of others. The quality of a written product is significantly improved by the opportunity to participate in a class dialogue before writing.” (Ontario Ministry of

Education, 2006)

Mr. White and Mr. Evans,

our amazing caretakers.

Thank you for keeping our

school looking awesome!

Page 2 of 2 Keswick Hawks www.keswick.ps.yrdsb.ca

The Ontario Math curriculum is organized into five strands; number sense and numeration, geometry and spatial sense, patterning and algebra, measurement and data management/probability. As a staff we continue to co-learn about a comprehensive math program and how to effectively implement the components of an effective math program into our daily math instruction to build a strong Mathematical Community Environment. The components of this program include: mini lessons, Three part math lesson framework for inquiry, math games and puzzles and independent work. Throughout the math program students will be engaged in the following mathematical processes that support effective learning in mathematics: problem solving, reasoning and proving, reflecting, selecting tools and computational strategies, connecting, representing and communicating.

How to help your child with math at home:

"Helping Your Child Do Mathematics~ A Guide for Parents (k-6)”

see the attachment to this newsletter.

ECO answers:

1) Juice boxes – rinsed and recycling 2) Cardboard - recycling

3) Paper Towel - green bin 4) Straws - garbage

5) Food wrapping - garbage 6) Uneaten food – green bin

Page 3 of 4 Student News…KPS Journal Scolaire

On Wednesday October 22nd, the grade seven and eight students went to the ROC to participate in high ropes, low ropes, teamwork exercises, and rock climbing. Everyone showed excitement and excellent participation in each activity. Everyone listened to instructions carefully and learned the safety procedures of each event. The grade seven, eight students learned many lessons; to trust each other, to work together, to overcome your fears and face new challenges, and most importantly, to have fun and trust yourself. At the end of the courses, I asked students to think of one word to describe their experience at the ROC. A lot said fun and amusing and a lot said scary, and I think that is the point of this trip. To experience all those emotions and have a good time overcoming your fears and trusting each other, so you can have a laugh about it later. Overall, this has been an amazing field trip for each student, and we can’t wait for the next one and for more lessons to come. ~Mackenzie, grade 8

Grade 7 and 8 Classes Rock the ROC

Je peux te dire personnellement, Mme Cochrane veut écouter les suggestions par les étudiants, les professeurs et les parents. Voici notre discussion: Naomi: Comment trouvez-vous notre école à ce moment? Mme Cochrane: J’aime notre école! Nos professeurs travaillent dur pour planifier les activités et assurez-vous que les enfants apprennent. Nos étudiants sont désireux de participer, sont respectueux, et continuent à faire tous les efforts pour parler français. Les parents continuent a donner les commentaires positifs à-propos de notre école. N: Est-ce qu’il y a une raison spécifique que vous avez choisi cette école? MC: Ce qui se passe est nous ne choisissons pas une école nous-mêmes. Cependant, je peux dire mes intérêts, comme travailler à une école française. J’étais une directrice adjointe a Georgina avant de venir ici, et j’ai aimé la communauté autant que je suis revenue. N: Est-ce que vous avez des souvenirs de ton enfance à l’école? MC: Mes souvenirs préférés de mon école ancienne sont mes amis, les clubs des sports, et mes professeurs. N: Est-ce que vous avez un but personnel pour l’année? MC: Mon but pour l’école est de voir les élèves qui mènent les clubs, les équipes, et les événements, et pour notre école d’être la meilleure école. Mme Cochrane prend soin des choses immédiatement, et elle est la quand les autres ne sont pas. Être directrice signifie que vous avez besoin d’effectuer plusieurs tâches sur commande. Mme Cochrane est une bonne directrice, qui va apporter quelque chose de nouveau à notre école. ~Naomi, 5eme année

La Meilleure École…

Maybelle : Est-ce que tu aimes être un professeur de gymnase? Mme Richmond : C’est amusant. Maybelle : Qu’est-ce tu aimes faire au gymnase? Mme Richmond : Les jeux coopératifs. Maybelle : Quels sont tes jeux préférés Mme Richmond : Le soccer et le dodgeball. Maybelle : Qu’est-ce tu dis aux gens qui n'aiment pas les sports? Mme Richmond : Je dis, d’essayer le jeu au moins et de s'amuser parce que nous voulons être inclusifs et ce n'est pas à propos de qui gagne. ~ Maybelle, 4eme année

Une Entrevue avec Mme Richmond...

November (Cycle days are indicated beside each date)

***Volunteers needed for Pizza delivery on Fridays 12:30 - 1:30 pm. Please call Mrs. Chisholm 905-476-4377.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

3 - 2

4-3

Talent Show audition

requests due

Grade 1 - Parent

Education Night

6 – 7 pm Library

School Council

6:30 – 7:30 pm

staffroom

5 - 4

Talent Show

auditions

Nov. 5 -13

Grade 4 - Legoland

Grade 8 – Newmarket

High School

6 - 5

Photo Retake Day

7 – 1

Pizza

Volunteers needed for

Pizza delivery 12:30 –

1:30 pm

Veteran’s Visit

10 – 2

Book Fair this week

11 - 3

Book Fair this week

Progress Reports Go

Home

Remembrance Day Assembly

@ 9:15 am

12 – 4

Book Fair this week

13 – 5

Book Fair this week

Pizza

Evening:Student, Parent, Teacher Interviews

14 – 0

Book Fair this week

PA Day

Student, Parent, Teacher Interviews

17 - 1 18 - 2 19 –3

Mid month

newsletter home

20 - 4 21 – 5

Pizza

Volunteers needed for

Pizza delivery 12:30 –

1:30 pm

24 – 1

Jungle Sport in the

Gym all week

25 – 2

Jungle Sport in the

Gym all week

HPV & Meningitis

Int. Girls Volleyball –

Sutton DHS

26 – 3

Jungle Sport in the

Gym all week

Int. Boys Volleyball –

Sutton DHS

27 – 4

Jungle Sport in the

Gym all week

Grade 8 Parents Night

Arts Huron

28 - 5

Pizza

1 - 1 2 – 2

Talent Show

6:30 – 8:30 pm

3 – 3

Talent Show

6:30 – 8:30 pm

4 -4 5 – 5

Appreciation

Assemblies

Primary: 9:15 – 9:45

am

Junior/Intermediate:

10:00 – 10:30 am

Pizza

Progress Report for Parents

The Ministry of Education requires all School Boards in the Province of Ontario to provide a fall Progress Report. Home and school communication is an essential component to student success. As directed by the Ministry of Education, the way we communicate a student’s progress to parents/guardians formally, occurs three times throughout the school year. There are three reporting periods:

1) November: Progress Report Card – Reports Home Tues. Nov. 11 2) February: First Term Report Card – Reports Home Wed. Feb. 18 3) June: Second Term Report Card – Reports Home Wed. June 24

The upcoming Progress Report Card will be coming home on Tuesday November 11. This report will help parents understand their child’s growth in learning skills and work habits. Teachers will also indicate a student’s progress with respect to curriculum expectations addressed in the first months of school in one of three categories,

Progressing With Difficulty Progressing Well

Progressing Very Well

Unlike the report cards, the Progress Report will not contain letter grades (Grades 1-6) or numerical grades (Grades 7-8). The intention of the Progress Report is to facilitate early communication between the teacher and the parent/guardian.