Staff had a terrific PA Day last Friday. We worked in teams to plan for the remainder of this year, and next. It proved to be a very productive and collaborative experience. We've been using google docs and sheets to complete many of our plans and collection of data. This is new software to some staff, and I applaud their efforts in learning new skills. We really do have a terrific staff willing to attempt new strategies. We know we have to keep abreast of new technologies so we can teach and facilitate the work that we do with our students.
On that note, five of our staff had the opportunity to attend a workshop by Google on Scratch. Thanks to Mr. Hodgson for giving us the workshop information. Some of the teachers have already tried it with their own class this week and they seem to like the potential of the application. Interested staff, including the ones who attended this workshop, met on Monday at lunch to discuss strategies that we could use to begin incorporating coding into our LKS Information Technology Curriculum Plan. Thanks to Mr. Littlejohn, Mr. Kuru, Ms. Moser, Mr. Ross and Mr. Bracht for attending.
A big thank you to Ms. Chandra for organizing a 3D Printing workshop for 30 of our grade 8 students. Ms. Kee, the presenter, taught the students how to design either a plant or animal cell using specific software. After completing the design, they will be printed using the 3D printer over the next couple of weeks.
Today, we had a great presentation from the ROM on the history of Earth Day and the focus of this year's day being, "TREES". Thank you to Parent Council for funding the guest speaker and to Mrs. Clarke for working with Ms. Moser on the planning. We are looking forward to the school yard and Shale Pit clean up tomorrow.
Good luck to all the grade 4-8 students who will be trying out for Track and Field next week. The grade 3 students going to the meet will be chosen by Mr. Blais during physical education classes. All grade 1-2 classes will participate in a Play Day on the 18th. Grade 1 and 2 students do not attend any Board meets. Next year, all meets will be restricted to grade 4-8; similar to the new direction of Cross-Country.
The following is next year's school organization (the number of classes):
Kindergarten-4 classes; Grade 1-3 classes; Grade 1/2-2 classes; Grade 3-3 classes; Grade 3/4- 1 class; Grade 4-8-2 classes each
Finally, please remember to park only in the "legal" areas around the school, especially Marquis. Not only is it illegal to double park on the street, but it creates a wholly unsafe environment as emergency vehicles cannot get through.
Happy Earth Day!
April 2016
26-Primary Sharing Assembly
27-Junior/Intermediate Sharing Assembly
28-Kindergarten Assembly; Forest of Reading Breakfast and Voting; Grade 1s to Kortright; Badminton Finals at Silverthorn ; Folk Dance
29-Pizza Lunch; Grade 6-8 House Event; Author Visit (K-3); Grade 6-8 House Event
May 2016
4-Grade 3-8 Track and Field Meet
5-Folk Dance Club
7-Springfest
9-13-Dental Screening
9-Ms. Moser to Outdoor Education Center
12-Folk Dance Club
17-Free the Children Presentation (Grade 6-8)
18-Primary Play Date (afternoon)
23-Victoria Day
24-27-Book Fair in Library
25-Grade 1-3 Track and Field Day
26-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Folk Dance; Pizza Lunch; Grade 6-8 House Event
30-Junior/Intermediate Assembly; Parent Council at 7:00 p.m.; Parent Guest Speaker at 6:00: Debbie Gordon on Internet Safety
31-Primary Sharing Assembly
June 2016
1-Folk Dance Festival (7-Rain date)
10-PA Day
14-Primary Assembly
15-Junior Assembly
17-Grade 8 Graduation
20-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
23-Kindergarten Sharing Assembly
27-Report Cards Go Home!
29-Pizza Lunch ; Last Day for Students
