A New School Year!

September 2014

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer!  I would like to introduce myself to you as your child’s grade 8 core/homeroom teacher.  My name is Carolynne Waddell and I have been teaching at Erin Public School for 14 years.  I am really looking forward to teaching the grade 8’s – we are going to have an amazing year!

 Over the next few months, our goal is to meet the expectations of the Ontario Curriculum, and of course to make sure the students settle into Erin Public School routines and activities comfortably.  I will be teaching the following subjects to your child/children : Language, Math, Geography, History, Phys-ed and Drama, and some Visual Art.

·        The language arts program will consist of  grammar, creative writing and reading, persuasive writing, novel studies, media studies, book reports (one per term), and many other language-based activities.  The students will be working in small groups, guided reading groups, and whole-class lessons and discussions.

·        The math program will cover many areas of study – starting off with a geometry unit that focuses on line segments, rays, congruent and similar figures, obtuse, acute and reflex angles.

·        We will be covering history term one and will then move into the geography program in term two. Our first history unit will begin with a look at the Confederation of our country. The focus in social studies this year will be project-based learning. What is PBL?  According to Edutopia : “Project-based learning is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges. With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying.”

·        In phys-ed we will begin with team-building games, leadership skills and soccer skills. The culminating task for the team-building/leadership unit will be to design, practice, and carry-out a warm-up activity and a team-builder activity to a Junior or Primary class. Health will focus on healthy body image, and healthy eating.

·        In drama, we will be starting with small comedic skits.

·        In visual arts we will explore different aspects of colour,cartooning and sketching.

During our first day of school, the students and I discussed classroom rules and expectations that will be followed over the entire school year.  Please ask your child to go over these with you.  They are posted in the room at all times.  My overall focus for the class is for the students to enjoy a happy, cooperative, and respectful learning environment.

In the past, each student was given an agenda at the beginning of the school year, to track homework, due dates, and special events. With students having hand-held devices and access to various forms of technology, it is much easier and current to track this information digitally. Cell phones and I-pods with calendars/agendas will (with my help and guidance),
be used to track homework and assignment due dates. I will be checking these devices on a daily basis to ensure that all needed information is being tracked by all students.  (We ordered 30
agendas for students who will not be able to consistently access an online agenda if need be). Another form of communication is our class blog.  At  www.misswaddell8D.blogspot.com  , you can check for up-coming classroom activities and assignments.  The blog will also be updated on a regular basis. And finally, an amazing way of communicating to you directly will be through a program/phone app called Remind 101. This allows communication directly to you and your cell through text message. I will be sending home a sign-up sheet and explanation of this program. In short, it will allow me to send you due dates and upcoming event reminders right to your phone.

 A quick heads-up regarding a field trip that is on the horizon. On September 16 and 17, the grade 8’s are heading to Island Lake Conservation Area in Orangeville, for an entire day  (9:00am - 2:30pm) to participate in cooperative games - linked to the phys-ed program, and a  pond study that will be linked to their grade 8 water cycle science expectations. Students need to dress appropriately, bring a lunch, and wear appropriate footwear. Parent volunteers are needed - please contact me if you are interested in going with us. Two classes are going on the Tuesday, and two are going on Wednesday – I will keep you posted with info regarding which day we go to Island Lake.

 I look forward to meeting you at our Open House on Tuesday, September 23rd!  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the school, 519-833-9685, send me a note, or via our class blog/email.

Take Care,

Miss Waddell