What an October we have had! Our Wax Museum turned out well, and we enjoyed presentations of some famous people all morning! Well done students, and thanks to those who came out to see them.
Some lovely folks from TRACKS (TRent Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge and Science) came to visit, and shared some teachings around Medicine Wheels. We learned, of course, out in Burnham Woods with the fall colours all around us. Do you know what the colours mean? Your child does, now. We also learned about the hemlocks in the woods, how to identify them, and how they got there. Do you know what a drumlin is? We do! We also know how Canada geese fly — and many details about the sounds they make and the turns they take on their great migration. Group work in nature…
The Grade 5s learned about all of the different early humans, and worked in pairs to present their findings to their classmates. We learned that sometimes it’s tricky to work with a partner on something. Deciding, communicating, reading, researching, summarizing, drawing, compromising… working with a partner is trickier than it looks. It’s always great practice to share what we learned with others by doing informal presentations with others! Other cultural classroom learning has involved researching Early Civilizations, Structures, and of course learning about and presenting party platforms for the recent election. Busy month!
Joe has once again started up the Ukulele club, where UE students who are interested can learn basic chords and strumming patterns in a medium – sized group. We have some returning members, which really helps, and everyone is really enthusiastic!
Please join your child November 6th at the Open House to see exactly what we do all day here. There will be a time right after school that Wednesday where you can come in with your student and have them show you what they are accomplishing! If Wednesdays are difficult, another night is alway a possibility. Just email the teachers! Life does get busy but coming to see your child’s work lets them know you are invested and involved. It’s hard to make the time, but “The Hard Thing is the Right Thing to Do.”
Here are 5 reasons you should get involved in your child’s education (though there are many more than just these):
- Cognitive gains – Studies of parents highly involved in the educational process showed that their children were more likely to improve in their academics.
- Increased confidence – When students feel supported at home and school, they develop more positive attitudes about school, have more self-confidence, and place a higher priority on academic achievement.
- Better behaviour – Kids develop better social skills and show improved behaviour when their parents are involved at school.
- Improved community – Research shows that parent involvement can help improve the quality of schools, raise teacher morale, and improve a school’s reputation in the community.
- Parents benefit too – When parents become involved in their children’s education, they become more comfortable in the school building, gain confidence in their parenting skills, and feel more capable of helping their children learn. They’re also more likely to continue their own education.