Wednesday!

Another busy week at Erin Public School!!!

Thank you to all of the parents and students who came out to the information night for the grade 8 trip to Ottawa!  The info session was quite informative and hopefully all questions were answered.  The information packages and online application forms that were handed out last night are also available in school. If you were unable to attend the meeting - please have your son or daughter come and speak to me about receiving the package.
Also, MacMillan fundraising packages have also gone home and fundraising has begun!  There is also a "profit list" that goes home - to let you know how much money will go to your child's trip - depending what food item is being sold.
On December 7th - the first MacMillan's order is due at the school, as it gives the company an idea of how much they will need to ship to our school before Christmas.  On December 9th - the first installment of $299 is due to the EF tour company which holds a spot on the trip for your son or daughter. (The info package details how to apply and make that first payment). December 14th - last MacMillan orders are due into the school - and all items will be ordered at this time.  Pick up for all fundraising items is on December 22nd after noon.  Finally, second installment payments are due on January 9th.  Although, if your child has done fundraising - the $176 dollars of the second installment may be covered,and therefore no payment is required.  Students will receive a letter stating how much fundraising money they have accumulated - and if they even need to make a payment.
If you have any questions or concerns - please let me know :)

Yesterday we held our fist Character Education assembly here at Erin - celebrating the students in the school who demonstrate caring and compassion to others - in all aspects of their lives.  I would like to say a big congratulations to our Caring and Compassion award winners from 8C : Mees Duijsens, Amber Lacombe, Shelby Cole and Mathew Hope!  Well done - we are so proud of you!!!!!  Pictures will be posted soon!!!

Today we are also taking part in the National/Global Vow of Silence - which is a show of solidarity and support behind children around the world who are affected by the hardships of war, child labour, exploitation, and abuse.  The Vow of Silence is to show that we support the children who cannot speak for themselves.  The kids remain silent from 9:25-10:25 - in order to help raise awareness to the plight of children across the globe who don't have a "voice" of their own. Lessons and activities are done with no talking....and very little communicating.  And so far - the kids have been wonderful.  I'm very proud of them! 

A quick reminder that the kids have a history test on FRIDAY - and they should be studying and working on their study notes!!!!

I hope everyone is having a great week!!!

Miss Waddell

Reminders!

Well, interviews are almost over!!!  It was so nice to see/meet everyone last Thursday and Friday!  I have either met or spoken to most parents, although if you have not booked a time for an interview- please do so by phoning the school and leaving me a message.

Here are some of the things going on in our classroom :

Language : the kids are working on a few assignments. They include : an essay which looks at the pros and cons of an argument.  In this essay, the goal is to have the reader/audience look at both sides of a statement and to defend both sides confidently.  Last year, we worked on persuasive writing from one perspective, and this year - the kids have to persuade and write an essay from both sides.  Also in language, the kids are working on a media unit that includes designing a menu for a themed restaurant, figuring out how much the items on the menu will cost, how much a family can eat for, and creating a radio jingle for the restaurant. The kids are also working on novel studies that will involve all grade 8 students.  The students pick what novel they are interested in reading : Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Hunger Games, and End of Days, and will go to the teacher's room that is in charge of that particular novel.  The novel study activities will take place four periods a week and could involve language homework that pertains to the novels.  Each book is amazing - and I am so excited that the kids will participate in a book study in this fashion.  A book report has been handed out in class and will be due the first Friday of January.  Please ask your child to review the Sandwich Book Report so you are aware of all expectations for this report.

Math : the kids are working on square roots, exponents, and order of operations BEDMAS.  I strongly recommend that each student has a calculator at school, as this will help with the math lessons over the next few weeks.  Also - the kids should continue to practice their multiplication and division drills!

Phys-ed : we are still working on football...and how to play a game against Mrs. Reilly's class soon.  We will then move on to basketball.

Next week we have our first Character Education assembly.  The assembly is celebrating Caring and Compassion.  Students that demonstrate these characteristics have been chosen from our class and parents have been invited to the assembly.  The assembly is next Tuesday at 11:00 in the assembly gym - see you there!

Next Tuesday evening from 6:30-7:30 we have our Grade 8 trip parent information meeting , taking place in the cafeteria. Fundraising packages and information letters have gone home with the students already.  This info night will also go over everything pertaining to the trip - so I hope you can attend this meeting.  If not , please contact me at the school if you have any questions.

I hope everyone has a fabulous week!

Miss Waddell

We-Day!

Congratulations to Brad, Mikaela, and Brianna for attending the We-Day celebrations in Waterloo today!!  More updates to come - right from them - as we get an update from them tomorrow!
Remember that interviews are tomorrow night and Friday!  Friday is a PA Day for the kids.

Many parents have been asking about the Grade 8 Trip.  Yes - the kids have the opportunity to go on a trip - and the destination will be announced by the beginning of next week.  Fundraising will also begin next week too!!

As soon as the plans are announced - I will post all the details here :)

Everyone have a fabulous weekend, and I will see most of you soon!

Miss Waddell

Progress Reports!

Progress Reports went home yesterday! Please review these with your child and return the bottom half of the second page to school, along with the report card envelope. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at the school, and we can go over the report.  Also - parent/teacher interviews are this Thursday night from 3:30 - 8:00, and all day Friday.   Please book an interview during one of those days - or call to arrange another time. I am available most days before and after school.

Take care and have a good weekend!!!

Miss Waddell

Reminders!

Just a reminder that progress reports go home on Friday.  Please review these reports with your child and return the correct portions of the report to school.
Also - interviews are next week , on Thursday evening and all day Friday. Please call the school to book an appointment. 519-833-9685
Our Remembrance Day assembly is Friday at 10:30 am, and all parents are welcome to attend.

See you soon,

Miss Waddell

Happy Monday!

This week, we have kids preparing for our Remembrance Day assembly, which will take place on Friday at 10:30am.  Some of the students from our class will be reciting two poems, in honour of our fallen and currently serving members of the armed forces.  Any parents wishing to attend the service - please feel free to join us in the assembly gym on Friday.
In math - we are about half-way through our number sense unit and the kids will be having a quiz on Wednesday.  The focus is on factors and multiples : greatest-common-factors and lowest common multiples.  The nutrition breaks will be available for any students who need extra help - or who just want to study.
Progress report cards go home on Friday.  Please review these reports with your child - and we will be doing this in class as well. 
PARENT/TEACHER interviews are next Thursday night and all day on Friday (November 17th and 18th ).  Please call the school to book an interview, as it is imperative that I meet with parents to go over your child's progress this term.  Contact the school at 519-833-9685 and ask to book an interview with me - or any other teacher that you would like to speak to.  If Thursday or Friday do not work for your schedule , I will gladly make time before or after school and time during the week.

Have a wonderful week!  See you all soon,

Miss Waddell

Tuesday!

Everyone had a safe and happy Halloween yesterday - thank you for bringing in all of the treats!

Updates :

Please make sure that your kids are studying their multiplication and division drills.

History maps are due for Mr. Primeau on Thursday.

Gym clothes need to be at school on Day 4 and Day 5.

Paper newsletters will no longer be coming home after this month, as Erin P.S. has gone online!  Each student has a note in their agendas regarding the new system and the web site you can visit to view the monthly newsletter.

Progress reports for home in the next two weeks and parent/teacher interviews will be on the evening of November 17th, and during the day on November 18th.  Please call the office to book these conferences.

Have a good week!!

Miss Waddell