Hoppy Easter ;)

Dear Families,

What a terrific week we've had yet again!  Lots of important and key learning about equity, inclusion, and diversity!  All topics near and dear to my heart.  My students are taking such an interest in the issues surrounding bullying, black history, and homelessness.  We are learning to apply compassion, understanding and ACCEPTANCE towards one another each and everyday.  

You will have noticed from time to time that your child comes home to share that he/she has either written or received a 'bucket filling' note for/from a peer.  I provide my students with daily opportunities to express their appreciation towards each other.  

Below, you will find Clara writing several messages of gratitude for her family members and peers.  Thank you boys and girls for taking the time and HEART to express your gratefulness.  When we are in a state of constant gratitude, your life will be filled with JOY!!

I believe one of life's greatest gifts is to give and receive unconditional love!  "To love and be loved" is the key to the world's problems. 

  

National Day of Pink:

Anti-Bullying Day is a day when people wear mainly a pink shirt to symbolize a stand against bullying, an idea that was originated in Canada.  It is celebrated on the last Wednesday of February in Canada. 

As a school family, we encouraged our students to practice kindness and wear pink to show that we DO NOT tolerate bullying.  My students and I have discussed that the message behind this significant day needs to be acknowledged, celebrated, and implemented each and every day in our thoughts, words, and actions.  KINDNESS BEGINS WITH US.

Thank you to all students and staff who wore pink to STAND UP FOR BULLYING PREVENTION.  For those who did not wear pink, that's a-ok, as it's not about the colour, it's a WAY OF LIFE!

Acceptance!  Diversity!  Inclusion!

As part of our learning and 'unlearning' for acceptance, diversity, and inclusion, I shared a heartwarming book called 'The Princess Boy.'  It is about unconditional love.  I have posted the digital copy of it below for you to watch and listen to as a family.

Dyson (the main character) loves the colour pink, and sparkly things.  Sometimes he wear dresses, and sometimes, he wears jeans.  He likes to wear his princess tiara, even when climbing trees.  He's a Princess Boy, and his family loves him exactly the way he is.  

See the video below to gain insight and appreciation for this young boy and a family who adores their son just the way he is.  

This story is inspired by the author's son, and by her own struggles to initially understand her child.  This is one mother's story about unconditional love, and one remarkable family. 

This heart opening book is a call for tolerance and an END TO BULLYING and JUDGMENTS.  The world is a BETTER and brighter place when we accept everyone for who they are.

In order to help our world start and continue conversations about acceptance, WE HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE through our own INCLUSIVE thoughts, words, and actions!!  

As a community, we can accept and support our children for whomever they are and however they wish to look.  To all the Princess Boys in the World:  YOU ARE LOVED. 

Enjoy the story below as a family.  Thank you Dyson for sharing your love for expressing yourself the way you are!  You are an inspiration to us all :-)  Be WHO YOU ARE.  

Language:

To connect to last week's experience with painting bowls for beds and our learning about homelessness, I shared a children's book titled: Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting.  I have posted the story below for you to listen to.  

Please discuss with your child the adjectives that we came up with as a class to describe the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that a homeless youth would be feeling.

We did our best to step into their (homeless youth) shoes to show our empathy and compassion towards what they're going through.  

As students listened to the story in class, I asked them to think about comparing and contrasting the experiences of the main character (Andrew) to themselves.  

We worked on completing a writing activity using a Venn Diagram to compare the life of a homeless person to ourselves and noted the similarities / differences.  Please take some time over the weekend to discuss this with your child.

Each student wrote a message at the bottom of their t-shirt to offer homeless youth in our area HOPE.  I know you will be touched by their messages just as I was!!

Jamie:

On Thursday during second recess, Jamie found $5.00 on the field and came running to the portable to hand me the money.  She said, "Miss Gill, I found this money on the yard.  I want to return it to the person who it belongs to."  

This isn't Jamie's first time she's displayed this type of random act of kindness.  She's done this before when she found a toonie on the yard at Byng. 

As a class, we discussed this thoughtful and HONEST gesture.  We decided that if the person whose money this is doesn't come forward, we will donate it to Home Horizon.  This obviously melted my heart as my students are now looking for opportunities to GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.  No act of kindness is ever wasted.

Thank you Jamie for being an inspirer, your peers and I truly value YOU!

Math:

This week, students learned the terms EQUATION and VARIABLE.  Before revealing the posters (photograph), please ask your child what these mean :)

Students completed the word problem posted below.  As always, I am looking for the 4-Block Problem Solving.  We are getting the hang of this!!  

Please discuss the strategies your child used to solve this question and try out the AT HOME ACTIVITY below!

Go outside.  Measure the distance between two objects using steps or metres.  Make up 3 different equations to represent the distance between them.  

Science in the Snow:

What a beautiful Friday we had!  The sun was out and the temperature was just right.  Is spring in the air?!  Maybe ;)

Thank you to Mrs. Johnson who is the teaching us all about strong & stable structures for science!  Today, students worked in groups to build the tallest free standing structure.  The goal was to build a solid foundation (base) and for it to be tall.

Check out the kids below basking in the sunshine and having a blast with this activity!

Leah Denbok:
I have been sharing Leah Denbok's book "Nowhere to Call Home" and it has really peaked the interest of my students, so we have been reading more of the stories presented in volume 1.  

I came across this interview below and it may give you more insight into who Leah is and the incredible work she is doing to create awareness and support for the homeless!  She is a wonderful person who displays true character in her empathetic ways.

Two years ago, I had the privilege of listening to a panel discussion Leah held at our local library.  For such a young woman, she has made a remarkable impact and truly has worked hard to hear the stories of the homeless.  Leah genuinely cares about their plight.

It is people like Leah who inspire me as an educator to teach my students ways to GIVE BACK.  For me, the foundation of a solid education is one in which you take what you learn at school, think of ways to make a positive difference, and apply your new found knowledge to help your community.  My class is doing just that, and I am so, SO PROUD OF THEM.

Mindfulness:
Finally, I would like to thank the incredibly talented Leah Denbok for capturing these images to help us understand that being homeless doesn't mean you're not human.  All these individuals have thoughts, feelings, and emotions like everyone else.  They deserve to be acknowledged and HEARD.  Here is a touching tribute :)

In the past as I've shared videos and books about the homelessness, my former student Adalyn thoughtfully said, "Miss Gill, when I see a homeless person, I may give money, but I think a smile would mean a lot to them too."  To which I replied, "It certainly would Adalyn, a smile lasts a lifetime in people's hearts."

The next time you see someone who is homeless, please remember ...

Growth Mindset:

"Let your BRAIN SHINE!" - Ryker

UBUNTU :)

Meegwich,

Miss Gill