Beyond The Desk

Dear Grade 5/6 Parents,

I hope this message finds you well and looking forward to the Christmas season fast approaching. There are some exciting updates and events happening in our class that we’d like to share with you.

1. Novel Study: “Holes”

I’m thrilled to announce that we’ll be starting a new novel study, and the chosen book is the timeless classic, “Holes.” This engaging and adventurous tale has captivated readers of all ages, and I am so eager to explore it with your children. Reading will be a collaborative experience, with students and teachers delving into the story together. Alongside our reading sessions, I’ve planned a variety of assignments, some of which will even integrate elements of science!

To enhance the accessibility of the book, we’re providing audio versions of each chapter on our start page. You can access these recordings here:

https://www.protopage.com/mrhancock#Hancock

We encourage you to listen along with your child and perhaps engage in discussions about the story at home. Here is a book trailer to watch:

2. Memory Verse: Colossians 3:13

Our memory verses continues with the memory verse for next week, Colossians 3:13.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

This verse encourages forgiveness and understanding, virtues that are particularly relevant for our grade 5 and 6 students. We suggest discussing the verse with your child, exploring real-life situations where forgiveness can make a difference, fostering empathy and compassion.

3. Skating Day Reminder: Friday

As the weather cools down, our next skating day is just around the corner—this Friday! We extend our gratitude to all the parents who joined us last time. We’re looking forward to another fun-filled time on the ice. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for skating and that they bring their helmets for safety. Please free to also bring some skates and join us!

4. Half Day on Friday

A  reminder that this Friday is a half day for students. Due to our skating event, we may return a little later than usual.

5. Chapel Involvement for Tomorrow

Tomorrow’s chapel promises to be another great one, with the following students taking on key roles:

• Keys: Grayson
• Drums: Bentley
• E guitar: Jun
• A guitar: Maelle
• Bass: Julie
• Vocals: Jack, Bethel, Alyssa, Indiana
• Tech: Bianca, Daniella
• Percussion: Ezra
• Stage Manager: Kael
• Door Greeter: Audrina, Ethan

Let’s show our support and enthusiasm for our talented students as they contribute to the spiritual and creative atmosphere of our school.

As always, I appreciate your ongoing support and involvement in your child’s education. Here’s to a fantastic week of learning, fun, and growth!

Howdy partners! We hope this message finds you and your young wranglers in fine fettle. We’ve got a lasso full of news to share with you, so saddle up and let’s ride through the exciting events coming up for our cowpokes. (Sorry, I know how cheesy that sounds!)

1. Western Day Roundup: Tomorrow’s Dress Code

Get ready to dust off those cowboy boots and don your best western gear because tomorrow is Western Day at school! Students have the choice to dress in their cowboy and cowgirl finest or stick to their regular school uniforms.

2. Skating Into Thursday: Lace-Up for Ice Time

On Thursday, we hit the ice for some skating fun. Thanks to all the parents who’ve offered to lend a helping hand! Our ice time is from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and we’ll be leaving the school around 10:30 a.m. Don’t forget to bundle up and bring proper skating attire (gloves, helmets, warm coats).

3. Chapel

Tomorrow’s chapel will be a toe-tappin’ affair with the musical talents of our students. Here’s the lineup for the musical roundup:

• Keys: Indie
• Bass: Julie
• E Guitar: Adelle
• A Guitar: Alyssa
• Drums: Bentley
• Vocals: Scarlet, Anna, Sophia, Mrs. Van S
• Stage Manager: M Collin
• Tech Support: Cohen, Noah
• Door Greeter: Ezra Kael

They’ll be playing “My Lighthouse,” “Rest on Us,” and “Waymaker,” all in the key of G. Students should mosey on in by 7:45, and our door greeters will be on duty during regular school hours.

4. Hoedown on Friday: Class Party and Snack Roundup

We have finally earned our next set of class stars to get our next party. Our party will be on Friday! If you’re able, please send in a snack to share with the class. Remember, we’ve got some students with peanut allergies, so no nuts of any kind, please.

5. Bible Memory Verse and Values in Action

Our Bible memory verse for next Tuesday is Colossians 3:12. It goes,

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

How can this verse be lived out in the boots of a Grade 5/6 student? Perhaps by showing compassion during group projects, kindness on the playground, humility in accepting mistakes, gentleness in words, and patience when facing challenges.

6. Wrangling Words and Numbers: Classroom Updates

In Language Arts, we’re in the midst of our second personal narrative story, focusing on effective endings. Our young authors are sharing their worst day ever. We have also been working on finishing up our Visualization projects which is a Map of Good Memories. There is some lovely work being done and I can’t wait to see the final product.

In math, we’ve been rounding up our look at place value with addition and subtraction. After a break from the tough first unit, we’re gearing up for the multiplication rodeo.

Socials has taken us on a journey exploring discrimination in residential schools. We’ve concluded that section with a project using memory pouches, and our next part of the unit will shine a light on discrimination towards Chinese Canadians.

Y’all, it’s been a rootin’ tootin’ ride in Grade 5/6, and we’re looking forward to more adventures in the days to come. Thanks for being our partners!

Hey everyone,

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks with me being out of the classroom quite a bit recently. That should calm down now. However, that means that ahead is the mad dash to report cards and Christmas!

First of all, thank you to everyone who came in to the interviews. I always appreciate the insights and conversations we can have. It really emphasizes the strengths of the partnership that parents and teachers share. If you did not get a chance to meet with me, please feel free to stop by after school or email me to set up a time.

Bible Memory Verses:

This week is Proverbs 3:8:

This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

As we have been doing, students will share the verse with me on Tuesday as well as sharing how this verse is relevant to your child. Here are some tips of connections you can discuss with your child:

• Emphasizing the Importance of Health:
  • The verse encourages the idea that following certain principles or guidelines and God’s word can lead to good health. You can explain that just like eating nutritious food and exercising are good for the body, following God’s wise and positive principles can also contribute to overall well-being.
• Connecting Physical and Emotional Well-being:
  • You can discuss with your child how being emotionally and mentally healthy is connected to physical health. Encourage them to think about how positive actions and attitudes can have a beneficial impact not only on their bodies but also on their feelings and thoughts when we focus on God and less on ourselves.
• Relating to Personal Experiences:
  • Encourage your child to think about situations in their own lives where making good choices and depending on God has led to positive outcomes. This could be in terms of friendships, schoolwork, or personal habits.

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to send out a note about tomorrow’s activities. Students will be heading to the gym in the afternoon to view the Remembrance Day assembly tomorrow afternoon.

Students will be provided with poppies tomorrow. While not necessary, the school is taking donations for the poppies. Donations can be brought to me tomorrow in class.

I always appreciate this assembly. Every year I am reminded of my grandfather. He never fought in the war but was an airplane mechanic in England working on the fighter planes. He lost many of his friends during the war and, despite my many questions, would never talk about his experiences. He told me that he never wanted to bring that sadness into my life. I wish he had though. It is important to talk about these things. I remember visiting the London War Museum in England. One of the best things they had there were war survivors from WW2 volunteering at the museum and sharing their stories. It was an incredibly moving experience and one I will always remember.

Hello to all my wonderful families!

I wanted to share some upcoming events going on this week into next week.

• • PD Day: Nov. 10: School will be closed for students on Friday for professional development.

• • Remembrance Day: School will also be closed on Monday for Remembrance Day.

• • Parent Teacher Interviews: Interviews are coming up on Nov. 15. If you were not able to set up a time to meet, please let me know and we can arrange a time after school.

• November 22^nd – Western Dress Up Day! Dress up in your favourite Western attire. Maybe leave the horse at home, though!

• November 23^rd – Our first skating date.

• Grade 6 Immunizations: Just a reminder to parents of Gr. 6 students to return your Immunization forms to the school before Nov. 14th.Please return them whether you intend to have your child immunized or not.

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

Whether you have had children going trick or treating or not, I would like to just suggest that students limit the amount of candy they bring to school tomorrow. The bonanza of candy is so tempting, I know. 🙂 However, it is hard to regulate when at school and, in the past, students have gotten overexcited and had a hard time focusing with so much sugar going through their system.

Hey there, awesome Grade 5/6 families!

We have lots of great events coming up to help support our school’s Missions Team.

Monday, November 6th – Pay to Wear Casual & Hot Lunch
It’s Pay to Wear Casual Day on November 6th. Remember, a contribution of just $2 not only lets you wear your favourite comfy clothes but also supports our Missions Team’s endeavours. Additionally, don’t miss out on the delicious Hot Lunch available on the same day.

Order Your Missions Team Lunch by TOMORROW, October 30th
Quick heads up! If you’re planning to order the Missions Team lunch, make sure to get your orders in by tomorrow, October 30th.

Poinsettia Fundraiser – Closes on November 14th
The holiday season is fast approaching, and what better way to celebrate than by purchasing beautiful poinsettias! You can place your orders online through the school store until November 14th. Flowers will be available for pickup on November 30th & December 1st.

Crazy Hair Day: Casual Dress on Tuesday
Get ready for a wacky, wild, and absolutely crazy hair day! On Tuesday, students can wear their wackiest hair with casual clothes.

Memory Verse Recital: Proverbs 3:5 on Tuesday
Don’t forget to practice reciting Proverbs 3:5! Take some time to ponder over what this verse teaches us about following God’s guidance. It’s not just about memorizing the words; it’s about understanding the wisdom and love behind them.

Pumpkin Math Photos and More
We had a great time at our annual pumpkin math! Lots of great learning along with some fun getting our hands dirty! Here are some photos!

Get Involved and Have Fun!

These events are not just about fun and games; they’re also about supporting a great cause. By participating, you’re contributing to our Missions Team, helping them make a real difference in the world. It’s a fantastic way to come together as a community, have a blast, and do some good at the same time.

So mark those calendars, get those casual clothes and crazy hair ideas ready! Let’s show our enthusiasm and support our Missions Team in the best ways possible!

We are excited to have the opportunity to meet with you on November 15th. To facilitate the scheduling process, we have provided a link below where you can sign up for an interview slot. If you are unable to attend on that specific day, please inform us of an alternative day that would work for you. Additionally, if you are unable to physically come to school, we are open to conducting the interview online. We look forward to connecting with you soon.

Mr. Hancock’s Parent Teacher Interviews

Hey there Grade 5/6 Parents,

As the leaves change and the air gets crisper, I’ve got some cool stuff to share with you. Check out what’s coming up and what’s happening in our class:

1. Pumpkin Math Day – Wednesday, October 25th

It’s that time of year again – Pumpkin Math Day with Mrs. Goosen’s class is almost here! Our students are in for a treat as they dive into math through the world of pumpkins. To make sure they don’t get their regular clothes messy, please have your child bring an old shirt to wear on Wednesday.

2. Calling All Parent Helpers – Wednesday, October 25th

We can’t pull off Pumpkin Math Day without a little help from our friends – you! We’re looking for parent volunteers to lend a hand between 9:30 AM and noon. If you’re available, please let us know. Your support makes a huge difference in creating a memorable day for the kids.

3. Parent-Teacher Interviews – November 15th

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for November 15th, when we’ll be hosting parent-teacher interviews from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. It’s a great opportunity to chat with your child’s teacher, ask questions, and discuss their progress. You can schedule a convenient interview time using this link: Parent-Teacher Interview Scheduling. I’m looking forward to connecting with you!

4. Crazy Hair Day – Monday, October 31st

Get ready for some hair-raising fun! On Monday, October 31st, we’re celebrating Crazy Hair Day. Encourage your child to get creative and go wild with their hair. It’s a day for them to show off their unique personalities and have a blast.

5. Chapel List – Wednesday, October 26th

For those interested in our Wednesday Chapel service on October 26th, here’s the list of students participating:

• Keys: Grayson, Indie
• Vocals: Anna, Scarlett, Layla, Mrs. Van Santen
• A. Guitar: Alyssa
• E. Guitar: Adelle
• Percussion: Spencer
• Tech Team: Bianca, Daniella
• Stage Manager: Ezra
• Drums: Bentley
• Bass: Julie
• Door Greeters: Kael, Jack

We’re grateful for your continued involvement in your child’s education and our school community. If you have any questions or need more info, don’t hesitate to reach out.

This is for those participating in the chapel tomorrow: