An Awesome Trip!

Some pics from our field trip :)

Field Trip!

Remember that the kids are going to Island Lake Conservation Area tomorrow for a day of cooperative games and a science-related pond study.

The weather tomorrow looks GREAT!  Please make sure the kids have a good lunch, a change of clothes.... perhaps a pair of rubber boots......sunscreen.....

The bus leaves in the morning at 9:00 am and we return at 3:00pm.

The kids have been great this week...things are rolling along.

Dates to remember :

Tuesday, September 25th - BBQ and Open House - 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Friday, September 28th - Terry Fox Run
Friday, September 28th - evening - Guelph Storm game - Erin P.S. sings anthem

I hope everyone has a great evening,

See you all soon,

Miss Waddell

First Week!

Congratulations on a SUPER first week back at Erin P.S.

The year is off to a great start!

Already the kids have been busy - getting to know each other, figuring out their classes and teachers, and learning the expectations of grade 8.

Thank you for sending back all forms and information sheets with the students.  A few more parents have to finish and hand in their homework : the Parent Brag Sheet - they are due tomorrow :)

Next Wednesday, we are heading to Island Lake Conservation Area in Orangeville, for the entire day ( 9:00am - 2:30pm) to participate in a 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.

Reminders :

Wednesday, September, 12 - Island Lake trip
Tuesday, September 25 - Open House - details to come soon

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend,

Take care,

Miss Waddell

School Days :)

September 2012

Dear Parents and Guardians,

                Welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer!  Welcome to our class blog!  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.

·         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

·         In phys-ed we will begin with team-building games and soccer skills

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

                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.

                Each student has been given an agenda, which will be used on a daily basis to record homework.  Please look over the agenda with your child to review the day’s events, and sign in the place provided.  Agendas will be checked on a frequent basis to ensure that they are being taken home and used properly.  I will also be using these books as a means of communication with you. Please feel free to write any notes or concerns in the agenda. Another form of communication is our class blog.  At  www.misswaddell7.blogspot.com  , you can check for up-coming classroom activities and assignments.  The blog will also be updated on a regular basis.

                I look forward to meeting you at our Open House in September!  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the school or write a note in your child’s agenda.

                                                                                                                                Take Care,

 Miss Waddell

First Day!!!

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a fabulous summer! I enjoyed spending time up north at the cottage, and running around PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia......

I am very excited to start the 2012/2-13 school year! See you on Tuesday!

Miss Waddell

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to all the grads!!!! 8C was amazing!!!! Here's to a fabulous year!!!!

I will miss you all!!!

Have a wonderful summer!

Miss Waddell

3 More Days!

I can't believe only three days are left in this school year! WOW!  I will miss the kids in 8C!!!

Tomorrow we have our big 8C, 8D and 8E catapult challenge!  May the best launcher win!!!

Tomorrow night the grad committee is staying after school to decorate both gyms - they have been AWESOME!!!!!

Wednesday morning we have grad practice from 9:00 - 10:25 am.  Grad night is from 6:30pm (kids here by 6) until 10:30 pm. Our class is in charge of fruits and veggies trays!!!!

Thursday morning we have our year-end assembly from 9 - 11:00am - parents are more than welcome to attend:)

Please let me know if you have any questions !!!

Miss Waddell

HOT HOT HOT!!!

Thank goodness Erin PS has air conditioning!!! It is so incredibly hot today!  The kids will be well looked after - making sure they have lots to drink, and can stay in a break if they need to.

Things are winding down here!  This week, many last assignments and activities are coming to a close.

In language the kids are finishing their novel study summaries, their research papers, and their final Titanic activities.

In math, we are finishing our fractions unit - with a quick test on Thursday.  We will then work on a grade 9 survival guide for the kids to take with them to high school.

In dance - we are working on a flash-dance!! A local Zumba coach has been coming into the school to help the grade 8's learn a dance that they can boogie to at their grad :)

Speaking of Grad : the ceremony is creeping closer!  The dress rehearsal is Wednesday at 9:00 - 10:25 am.  The ceremony is at 6:30 pm, but the kids need to be at the school at 6:00 pm to take their positions :)
Our class is responsible for bringing in fruit and veggie trays - please drop them off anytime during the day.
The dance that follows grad will take place until 10:30 pm.

If you have any questions, please contact me at the school:)

Stay cool!

Miss Waddell

Finish Line!

Still busy in Room 18 - even though things are winding down! This week, some of the kids in the band or in the Willy Wonka cast are heading to Canada's Wonderland to play....enjoy!!

This week we are finishing things up!

Due in by Friday are all novel study assignments, all research essays and all creative writing assignments.

In math we will be finishing off our fractions, decimals and percents unit, and there will be a test on Thursday.

In gym - we will continue with our mini dance lessons, lacrosse and ultimate frisbee.

In drama, we will be performing small humourous skits.

Don't forget - grad money is due soon......

Have a great Monday!

Miss Waddell

Talent Show!

Tomorrow is the Talent Show! Thanks to all my kids for helping out with this year's show:)
Dress Rehearsal : Period 3and 4
Evening Performance : 7 - 8:30

Up next : Graduation!!!!

Have a great day!

Miss Waddell

PA Day!

Don't forget that Friday is a PA Day!!! 

Next Tuesday is the Talent Show!  Many of our kids are involved!  Dress rehearsal is from 11:10am - 12:50pm and the evening performance is from 7:00pm - 8:30 pm!

Three weeks to grad!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

Miss Waddell

Too fast!

Time is zipping away too quickly in Room 18!

Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart was a huge success last Friday!  The kids participated in all events and did a super job!!!
Our students that went to city track in Guelph, represented Erin Public School well at the meet - Well done!

Some updates :
In language we are working on a major writing assignment : a proper essay.  The kids have picked their topics and have started researching. The next step is to record their information in a planner and then move onto a rough copy. Good copies are due the second week of June.
In math, we finished the Pythagorean Theory and the kids wrote their test on Tuesday. Now, we move on to fractions decimals and percents.
In science, the kids are almost done their catapults, and the competition begins in a couple of weeks!
In gym, we will focus on outdoor soccer and ultimate frisbee.

Remember that next week Friday is a PA day!

Take care,
Miss Waddell

Track and Field!

Track and Field is tomorrow!  Bring your water bottles, sun screen and a good pair of shoes!

On Friday, we go to the high school in the morning (9:05-10:25) so the kids can meet with the grade 9 teachers AND sit in on a full grade 9 class.

Also on Friday, we have Jump Rope for Heart the last two periods of the day !

Graduation info went home in a news letter last week. If you have any further questions, please contact me at the school.

Another busy week!

Take care,
Miss Waddell

Updates!

Reminders :

Tomorrow is pot-luck day in Room 18!!! All students have offered to bring in a particular treat!

Monday is a holiday.

Wednesday is Track and Field!!!

Have a wonderful long weekend!!

Miss Waddell

Busy!!!

Time is flying!
This week :
Tomorrow the kids will have a gr. 9 math teacher come into our room to teach/explain how a high school math lesson would be.  For two periods, the kids will learn a few new concepts and will see a three-part problem solving lesson.  Sounds kinda cool!
In language, we will be working on formatted, non-fiction essays, and poetry.
In phys-ed, we continue with track and field skills and then move on to ultimate frisbee.
In science we are finishing our catapults..

Tuesday afternoon, the kids will watch a dress-rehearsal of Willy Wonka during periods three and four. Parents are welcome to attend.

Thursday is our volunteer tea - and all parents who have helped our class have been invited.

This Friday we having a class potluck - and each student has signed up for their "treat".

Another busy week!!!

Take care,
Miss W

Friday!

Tree planting tomorrow morning....along with Willy Wonka practice for all cast mates and crew...

Next week : Willy Wonka dress rehearsal on Tuesday, and class pot-luck on Friday - yum!  All the kids have signed up to bring something:)

Well done to all of the Willy Wonka cast mates and grade 7/8 band who performed at the Dufferin Youth Festival for the Arts today! Fantastic!

Have a great weekend!!!!

Miss W

Monday!

Another busy week coming up!

We are gearing up for track and field (in two weeks)... and we have a tennis clinic that the kids will be participating this week.
The kids have a math test today on integers - they have know about this for over a week.  Tomorrow, we move on to the Pythagorean Theory!!
In language, we are moving on!  Titanic activities are due at the end of the week, and we are soon going to be writing poetry!!! Good copies of the Hunger Games movie reviews are due soon as well.

Don't forget that Friday morning we go tree planting!!! Parent volunteers are welcome!!!

Miss Waddell

Reminders

The kids have had a great week so far!

A quick update :
In language we are finishing up our Titanic activities, and working on the rough copy of our Hunger Games movie review.  Good copies will be due late next week.  In math we are finishing our integer unit, and we will have a test early next week. In science, the catapults are well underway!!!  In phys-ed we are winding up our badminton tournament, taking up tennis, and practicing our track and field skills.

Upcoming events :
May 10th - Dufferin Festival of the Arts (band and musical members)
May 11th - all-day practice for Willy Wonka cast members
May 11th - 8C is tree-planting in the morning - permission forms went home today

Have a great week everyone!!!!

Miss Waddell

Wednesday!

Here are some of the things going on in room 18 over the next little while!

In math we have been adding and subtracting integers.....and the kids are doing a pretty good job! We have a quick quiz tomorrow and then we move on to multiplying and dividing integers.
In language we are finishing our Titanic activities and we are also working on how to write a proper movie review. This is the culminating activity linked to all of our Hunger Games activities.
In science we are building catapults!!! We are only in the planning stages, but will be building them in the next week or so.
In phys-ed, we are focusing on badminton, indoor tennis and track and field.

Another quick week, but a busy one! The months of May and June are going to be just as busy!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the school :)

Miss Waddell

Don't Forget!!

Don't forget that tomorrow is a PA day!  See you all on Tuesday!

Miss W.

Great Movie!

The Hunger Games was great - and so were the kids!  What an awesome time!  As a follow-up to watching the movie, the kids are expected to write a Hunger Games movie review.  The assignment will be introduced by the end of the week.
Thursday morning we head to the high school for our in-class sessions.

In math we have begun our integers unit.... in science we begin building catapults, in language we are finishing up our Titanic unit, and in gym we are going to be starting our track and field activities soon!

Have a great week!

Miss W

Next Week!

Next Tuesday we head to Orangeville to see Hunger Games!

We also have half-day visits to the high school, where the kids will sit in on various classes that are in-session.  It gives them a glimpse of what a typical high-school classroom setting will be like.

Have a great weekend!!!

Miss Waddell

Another Short Week!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter weekend! I think everyone needed the rest!

This week, we will be finishing our circle unit in measurement math, and we will be moving on to integers!  Tests were written and should be marked by early next week.

In language , we will be continuing with our Titanic activities....it was 100 years today that the Titanic set sail!

In science - we are building and building..... and will do more building over the next 2 months! Challenge # 2 is about to unfold!!!!

In gym, we are going to be gearing up for Track and Field and ultimate frisbee try-outs.

In french , the kids have a test tomorrow.

Some reminders :

Tomorrow our girls have their HPV shots - first period in the morning.
Thursday we head to the River Run Centre to hear a world-class "funky" cello player.

Also - next Tuesday we are heading to Orangeville to the Galaxy theaters to see the Hunger Games.  Please fill in permission forms and return to the school, before Friday!

Have a great week!

Miss Waddell

Award Winners!

Award Winners : Owen Cole, Shannon Arthey, Breanne Dickson, and Bradley Cripps

Pictures!!!!!

Science Spaghetti Structures!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!

Another fantastic week that began with out Respect and Responsibility Character Education assembly on Monday. Congratulations to our award winners :Shannon Arthey, Owen Cole, Breanne Dickson, and Brad Cripps for their hard work! Photos will be posted soon!

This up-coming week is a busy one!  On Tuesday we have the intermediate floor hockey tournament and on Thursday we have some student from 8C heading to the Skills Canada science and tech competition.  Good luck to the students going - and there will be updates on their achievements!

April 14th is the 100th year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  In order to commemorate this event,  we will be starting a three-week literacy unit on the grand ship.  Many activities are planned! The kids have already begun reading novels that revolve around the grand ship, writing assignments are geared towards the topic and there is even a challenge/science link that is related to the sinking of the ship.  Exciting stuff!

In math we have finished learning about the circumference of circles and we have been learning about the area of circles.  Once this unit is done, we will be moving on to integers.

In science we are starting to build!  The kids have been working on their orthographic and isometric drawing and will soon be building!!!

In gym, we continue you on with our floor hockey and badminton units.
 A reminder that each student needs to have proper gym clothes at school, to participate appropriately in the phys-ed program.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Miss Waddell

Amazing week!

Things are back to "busy" in room 18!
We have many upcoming events and activities in the next few weeks!

Here is a snap-shot :
Tomorrow, Loretta Penny will be visiting our school to talk about her journeys through travel. The topic she will be discussing is Oceans.  With her, she not only brings her amazing experiences and stories to the kids....she also brings items and wares from around the world that the kids can purchase.  The kids are aware that she is coming and will love her presentation!
Next Monday we have our Character Education assembly and the characteristics being celebrated at this assembly are Respect and Responsibility.  Parents of the students receiving the awards will be notified this week.
The grade 8's will be going to see the Hunger Games movie in Orangeville!!!!!  This will occur in early April - details to come!!

In language , the kids have been working on summarizing news articles, and they will be presenting these summaries next week.  Also, the menus that the kids created in January, will require some publicity...SO... the kids will be working on their radio "jingles" soon!
In math we are learning about circles - their circumference, diameter, and radius, Pi...... and will soon be learning about the area of circles and how to calculate it.
In science we are working on isometric and orthographic drawings which will lead us into "building" our first project.
In gym, the focus has been on floor hockey and badminton.

Busy busy!

I hope everyone enjoys the beautiful weather this week!

Miss Waddell

Back to School We Go!!!

I hope everyone had a FANTASTIC March Break!  We will be back at it in room 18 - many exciting things coming up over the next three months! It seems like summer has already arrived, but there are so many things to do from now until June.
Enjoy the amazing weather, and there will be more updates coming this week!

Miss Waddell

Quick update!

We are starting our new math unit this week : the focus is on circles. Learning how to calculate their circumference, the area, radius and the diameter.

The Dance-a-th-on is this Tuesday during the last two periods.  We are heading to Centre 2000 to skate on Wednesday during the last two periods.

March Break is from March 10 - March 18.

Have a great week!

Miss Waddell

Due dates!

Some due dates :

Novel Study final assignments are due Monday, as are photo essays.

French test tomorrow.

The grade 7/8 band is heading to Guelph to perform tomorrow.... good luck!

Have a great weekend!

Miss Waddell

Happy Snow Day!

I hope everyone enjoyed yet another snow day!

Hopefully everyone stayed warm and safe.... see you all tomorrow :)

Miss Waddell

Busy Week!

I hope everyone enjoyed their extended weekend!  Although the snow day just didn't measure up to what it was supposed to!
This week in Room 18, we are finishing up many things.
Photo essays, novel study assignments and media posters are due this week.  The kids can have the weekend - as long as they ask for an extension.

In math, we are having a unit test on Patterning and Algebra - on Tuesday - and we will be moving on to our Measurement unit.

Up-coming events:

Tuesday, March  6 - Dance-a-thon
Wednesday, March 7 - Skating in the pm
Friday, March 9 - last day of school before break
March 10- 18 - March Break

I hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Miss Waddell

Short Week!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Family Day weekend!

Things are busy as usual in Room 18!

Some of the activities the kids are working on are as follows :

Language : we are working on photo essays that require the kids to bring in their photos to school and put them into a picture-essay format, that has a "theme" of their choice.
Also in language, we are working on the reading and summarizing of current events news articles. And, the culminating projects for our novel studies are due before March Break.  We are finishing our media/concert posters and our menu math.  The kids will soon be creating radio jingles that advertize the restaurants that their menus were created for.

Math : we are finishing off our patterning unit and moving onto a measurement unit.

Science : we are beginning our Systems in Actions unit and will be building a structure that includes spaghetti and marshmallows!

Phys-ed : we have finished basketball and will move onto floor hockey, badminton, and healthy eating.

Upcoming dates : 
February 23 - IPRC reviews (parents who are involved with this have been notified)
March 6th - our Dance-a-thon!!!

Please remember to return all report card slips and envelopes to the school before March Break!

Have a great week!

Miss Waddell

Report Cards!

Term One report cards went home yesterday.  Please review these reports with your child and return the tear-offs on page three and page four to school.  If you have any questions, or would like to book an interview, please contact me at the school and we can arrange an interview.

Remember that Monday is Family Day - no school.....

Have a great week!

Miss Waddell

OTTAWA!!!

We are back from Ottawa and the trip was awesome!! The kids were great, many sights were seen.....and the experience of visiting our nation's capital was amazing! Here are some sneak-peak pictures :

OTTAWA!!!

We are off to Ottawa in the morning!!!! I am soooo excited and so are the kids!
Looking forward to a GREAT time!!

Miss Waddell

Pictures - MATH, CHRISTMAS BAKING, MR. ZUK'S FAIRWELL!

MONDAY!!

I hope everyone enjoyed that extra-long "SNOWY" weekend!

There is a week left before we board the buses and head out to Ottawa!!!  The students received their itinerary today - which outlines the events and venues that the kids will be visiting during their four-day stay.  Please go over this with your son/daughter, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the school.

Today, the kids visited Erin District High School for an orientation tour. The student have received their course selection sheets for grade nine, and are reminded to have them returned to school by the end of this week.

In language : all menus, persuasive essays, and book reports MUST be handed in.  They were due last week.
In math : we are working our way through our Patterning and Algebra unit.
In science : we are looking at cells, using microscopes
In gym : we are continuing on with our basketball unit

Due to the snow day last Friday, our Scientist in Schools program was cancelled , and will be rescheduled for later this week.

As you all know, Mr. Zuk is leaving our school, after 7 years.  We will miss him very much! 
To celebrate how much we appreciate all he has done for our school, and to send him off to his new school, we will be having a celebration assembly tomorrow during period two in the small gym. ALL are welcome to attend. (9:35am- 10:25am).

Remember : start packing your bags for Ottawa - we leave in a week!!!!

Have a great week everyone!!!

Miss Waddell

Back to School We Go!!!

I  hope everyone had a nice, extended weekend!

Here are some of the "goings-on" in Room 18 this week :

All book reports, menus, and persuasive essays were due last Friday. We will continue with our media unit - creating a band or concert flyer, and we will be moving towards a poetry unit and a public speaking/speech writing activity.   In math, we are finishing Data Management until the spring, and we will be working on a Patterning/Algebra unit from the end of January thru to the beginning or February. In science, we will be finishing with our cell unit and in late February we will begin our Systems in Action unit.  However, this Thursday and Friday, we will be having Scientists in Schools coming in to "kick-start" the Systems unit.
Also on Friday, the intermediate basketball team will travel to Guelph to compete in the area tournament. Good luck!!!!

Yellow course selection sheets went home with the students so they can go over their choices with parents.  Please make sure that you do go over these choices, and return the sheets to school once decisions have been made. That being said - we are heading over to Erin High School on Monday for an orientation afternoon.  So perhaps students should wait until after this visit before they hand the yellow sheets back in.

Have a great week everyone!!!

Miss Waddell

Remember!

Tomorrow the kids are getting their grad photos taken!!! Please wear a white collared shirt/blouse for the picture!!!

Monday is a PA Day.....

The parent-info night at Erin District High School was cancelled for this evening due to the poor weather, however I will let you know the new date as soon as possible.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!

Miss Waddell

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a good weekend!!!

Here are some reminders for the up-coming week :

Book reports, menus, and persuasive essays are due Monday.  If extensions are needed , the kids can have a few more days - but the assignments MUST be done this week.

On Wednesday , we are walking over to the high school for a drama presentation being put on for the grade 8 students.  We will leave school at noon and return by 3.

Thursday evening, Erin District High School is offering an information night for all grade 8 students and their parents that will introduce the courses being offered and  the transition plan from elementary school to the high school level.  Last week ALL grade 8 students received notification about this meeting - please look in your child's agenda for the information regarding this info session.

Friday morning, the grade 8's will be having their grad photos taken. Information packages also went home that outline the photo packages and what is needed for each photo session.

I hope everyone has an amazing week.

Take care,

Miss Waddell

Updates!

Graduation pictures are NEXT Friday!!! Information letters went home today - please read!!!

Book reports, persuasive essays and menus are due in the next few days.  Many of the kids have asked for extensions until Monday - and that is just fine.

Have a great Thursday!

Miss Waddell

Happy New Year!!

Back to school we go!!!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I hope the New Year brings the best to everyone in 2012!
Thank you to everyone for all of the gifts and well wishes - I am so lucky to have great kids (who have great parents) in my class!

Here is what's going on in room 18!

1. Book Reports are due this Friday , although if the students need extra time, they can ask for an extension to the following Monday.

2. Menus - are due on Friday - today the kids had a work period to finish up the good copy.

3. Persuasive essays are also due on Friday.

4. Animal and Plant cell assignments were due today - most students handed them in before the break.

The classroom is open most breaks, should the kids need some extra time to complete these assignments.  Also - if the students speak to me about needing an extension - one will be arranged.

Second installments for the Grade 8 Ottawa trip are due this week. Each student has been told the amount they have owing, and all cheques should be made out to Erin Public School.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me.

I hope everyone has a great Monday!

Take care,

Miss Waddell