Thursday, November 28, 2013

This month we celebrated the Character Trait of Empathy. I was telling the Kindergarten parents that I was reading an article of compassion and empathy and thought I would share a couple of strategies for learning these skills. The author, Sally Kempton, says to develop real compassion you must actively feel what the other person feels. If the person is in pain, you must feel his/her pain and wish the pain ends for that person. Furthermore, do something kind for the person. The key to feeling compassion and empathy is to feel a connection to the person.

Discussions around making connections with people is a good entry point when talking to kids. If your child is mad at someone, ask them to discuss things they have in common with the person.  He/she may begin to make some small connections with the person, leading to a more compassionate view about the person.  These conversations do require lots of adult guidance depending on the age of the child. 

 I wish the Choir good luck at the Marlie's game. It should be a fun time!

December-Kindness and Caring

2nd-Parent/Student Council Stonegate Gift Baskets Begin 

9th-Grade 8s visit ECI

10th-Sr Boys VBall Conference Finals 

11th-Scientist in the School-Grade 8

16th-Grade 6-8 Middle School Concert @ 6:30 p.m.; Delivery of Stonegate Gift Baskets 

17th-Carol Singing-morning; Sr Boys Vball City Finals 

18th-1-8 Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

19th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Carol Singing-afternoon 

20th-Holidays Begin

January-Teamwork

 6th-School Begins

9th-Author Visit

15th-Officer Rich visits Grade 1 and 2

24th-PA Day

30th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Primary Concert

31st-1-8 Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

February-Fairness

27th-1-8 Sharing Assembly

28th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

March-Honesty

7th-PA Day

10th-14th-March Break

19th-Officer Rich visits Grade 5 and 6

27th-1-8 Sharing Assembly

28th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

April-Co-operation

24th-1-8 Sharing Assembly

25th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

May-Integrity

19th-Victoria Day

26th-EQAO Begins

29th-1-8 Sharing Assembly

30th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

June-Perseverance

6th-PA Day

18th-1-8 Sharing Assembly

19th-Kindie Sharing Assembly

23rd-Report Cards Sent Home

27th-Last Day for Students; Lunch on the Lawn (Last Pizza Day)

Friday, November 22, 2013

Today, we ended our week with our monthly Pizza Lunch. It's always a good way to end the week. 

Thank you to all the parents who attended the Parent Council meeting on Tuesday. We had a chance to share our SIP. You can also see our school's goals on last week's blog and the website. 

This week, staff also had the opportunity to look at our EQAO results in detail. We will continue to work on areas where the students haven't done as well as expected: namely 

A) Continue to explicitly teach how to answer "open response" and "multiple choice" type questions. 
B) Continue to teach students how to make connections with text. 

C) Teachers will review Long Range Plans and create an action plan to review units taught to the children in the fall, to better prepare them for Spring EQAO Assessment. 

D) Teachers will continue to teach multi-step problems. 

Finally, the TDSB has published the Years of Action 2013-2017 under the new direction of Director Donna Quan. It can be viewed on the TDSB website for your reference. It will be the foundation for LKS, and all schools, to use when creating their School Improvement Plans. 


November-Empathy 
25th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Jr Girls BB Tournament 
26th-1-8 Sharing Assembly; Grade 4-8 Eco-Club at lunch 
27th-Sr Boys Vball @ LKS-afternoon
28th-Jr Boys VBall @ John English 
29th-Sr Girls BB @ Portage 
30th-Choir sings "O Canada" at Marlie's Game

December-Kindness and Caring
9th-Grade 8s visit ECI
11th-Scientist in the School-Grade 8
16th-Grade 6-8 Middle School Concert @ 6:30 p.m.
17th-Carol Singing-morning 
18th-1-8 Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day
19th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Carol Singing-afternoon 
20th-Holidays Begin

January-Teamwork
 6th-School Begins
9th-Author Visit
15th-Officer Rich visits Grade 1 and 2
24th-PA Day
30th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Primary Concert
31st-1-8 Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

February-Fairness
27th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
28th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

March-Honesty
7th-PA Day
10th-14th-March Break
19th-Officer Rich visits Grade 5 and 6
27th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
28th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

April-Co-operation
24th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
25th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

May-Integrity
19th-Victoria Day
26th-EQAO Begins
29th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
30th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

June-Perseverance
6th-PA Day
18th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
19th-Kindie Sharing Assembly
23rd-Report Cards Sent Home
27th-Last Day for Students; Lunch on the Lawn (Last Pizza Day)

Thursday, November 14, 2013

What did you learn today? Yesterday, I asked this question to one of our students and I got a blank look. This didn't surprise me as I got hundreds of those looks in my own home over the children's schooling. I know you know what look I'm talking about. I'm sure you are also familiar with the accompanying  verbal response of "nothing". Good news! It's pretty typical in many households (and schools)!

I did a little research on this topic and  Valerie Strauss, an education writer, said some kids are tired at the end of day, just like you and I, and they may be too tired to talk anymore. Sometimes they may feel that they are being "tested" on what they've learned. I agree with her advice when she said to ask your child one or two specific questions to illicit a response, for example, "How was your spelling test today?". You may get a short answer, but at least it's something, and not "nothing".

On Monday's Parent Council meeting, we will be presenting our School Improvement Plan. Staff will be working on the following goals:

Literacy and Numeracy: Teachers will continue to use common diagnostic assessments; Teachers will continue to use a variety of assessments/evaluations across students' program
Pathways: Teachers will identify students with whom they have academic and/or social concerns and monitor progress throughout the year through in School Team Meetings
Community, Culture and Caring: Teachers and Parent Council will collaborate to promote students' personal and social well being through initiatives like Safety Reps, Peer Mediation, Eco-Club, LIVE, Springfest, Holiday Gift Baskets, Clothing Drives etc

This week, Mr. Lanis and the intermediate teachers had to address some concerns of inappropriate Internet behaviour. In light of this situation, you may want to have conversation at home regarding appropriate usage of the Internet, especially social media sites.  In addition, it is wise to review "Streetproofing"  tips with your children; they can be found on our website.

Please remember tomorrow is a PA Day. Have a nice weekend!

November-Empathy
15th-PA/Interview Day-No School
18th-Scientist in School-Grade 1; Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m. in the library
19th-Author Ted Staunton visits Grade 4-8; Scientist in the School-Grade 1; Football Teams on Breakfast Television; Grade 4 Eco-Warrior meeting @ lunch
20th- Officer Rich visits Grade4, 7 and 8  K-3 Author Visit
21st-Sr Vball @ LKS-afternoon
22nd-Pizza Lunch
25th-Kindie Sharing Assembly
26th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
27th-Grade 5 to City Hall/Queens Park; Sr Boys Vball-afternoon
30th-Choir sings "O Canada" at Marlie's Game

December-Kindness and Caring
9th-Grade 8s visit ECI
11th-Scientist in the School-Grade 8
16th-Grade 6-8 Middle School Concert @ 6:30 p.m.
18th-1-8 Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day
19th-Kindie Sharing Assembly
20th-Holidays Begin

January-Teamwork
 6th-School Begins
9th-Author Visit
15th-Officer Rich visits Grade 1 and 2
24th-PA Day
30th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Primary Concert
31st-1-8 Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

February-Fairness
27th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
28th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

March-Honesty
7th-PA Day
10th-14th-March Break
19th-Officer Rich visits Grade 5 and 6
27th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
28th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

April-Co-operation
24th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
25th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

May-Integrity
19th-Victoria Day
26th-EQAO Begins
29th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
30th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

June-Perseverance
6th-PA Day
18th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
19th-Kindie Sharing Assembly
23rd-Report Cards Sent Home
27th-Last Day for Students; Lunch on the Lawn (Last Pizza Day)

Friday, November 8, 2013

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome Ms. Plumley to our staff. Ms. Plumley will be working on the grade 6 team including Resource support. Ms. Plumley has strengths in a variety of areas including technology and early childhood education.

I'd also like to invite you to our Remembrance Day Assembly on the 11th in the gym at 10:30 a.m.

Report cards come home on Monday. The Report Card "season" can be very stressful and the following link may provide some support when discussing your child's progress at home: : 

  http://www.teachervision.fen.com/report-cards/teaching-methods/3673.html

I'd also like to point out that as we head into the winter months, stress and anxiety can play a toll on everyone, including some of our students. I've included the following link that may help you navigate through this with your child. If you see any changes in your child's social well being, please do not hesitate to speak to your child's classroom teacher as both home and school can provide support to each other. Here is the link: http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/seasonal_affective_disorder_sad_help_kids_beat_winter_blues

Have a great weekend everyone!

November-Empathy
11th-Remembrance Day Assemblies; Report Cards Go Home
12th-Grade 4 -8 Eco-Club at lunch
15th-PA/Interview Day-No School
18th-Scientist in School-Grade 1
19th-Author Ted Staunton visits Grade 4-8; Scientist in the School-Grade 1; Football Teams on Breakfast Television
20th- Officer Rich visits Grade 8 and 4; K-3 Author Visit
22nd-Pizza Day
25th-Kindie Sharing Assembly
26th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
27th-Grade 5 to City Hall/Queens Park
30th-Choir sings "O Canada" at Marlie's Game

December-Kindness and Caring
11th-Scientist in the School-Grade 8
16th-Grade 6-8 Middle School Concert
18th-1-8 Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day
19th-Kindie Sharing Assembly
20th-Holidays Begin

January-Teamwork
24th-PA Day
30th-Kindie Sharing Assembly
31st-1-8 Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

February-Fairness
27th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
28th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

March-Honesty
7th-PA Day
10th-14th-March Break
27th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
28th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

April-Co-operation
24th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
25th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

May-Integrity
19th-Victoria Day
26th-EQAO Begins
29th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
30th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

June-Perseverance
6th-PA Day
18th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
19th-Kindie Sharing Assembly
23rd-Report Cards Sent Home
27th-Last Day for Students; Lunch on the Lawn (Last Pizza Day)