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November 2018

Dear Parents,
 Winter is here!  I am often asked if I would like to be back in Australia.  The answer may surprise you, but no.  Being away for the year made me realize how Canadian I am.  However, if you were to offer me a free trip to someplace warm, I would definitely take you up on the offer.
Please say a little prayer for my Roughriders as they enter into the CFL playoffs this month. 
Read on to find out what is taking place in our classroom. 

Language Arts
We completed our Monster Menus.  The students had fun completing this assignment as they were allowed to gross me out.  We are continuing on with our Narrative writing unit and are now focusing on developing Suspense which leads up to the Main Event of our story writing. 
Reading and writing are so closely linked.  The students who read each night, often have good writing and spelling skills and find it easier to develop original ideas for his or her writing.  I strongly encourage you to make reading a part of your child's daily routine. 

Math
We are working on our Whole Number unit.  We are learning how to represent numbers to 1,000,000 in standard, expanded and written form.  It is important for them to learn Place Value.  They should understand that each digit in a number represents a value.  In the number 23,487, the '4' represents '400'.  We will also be learning how to develop our estimation skills when working with large numbers. 
Some students are making great progress with his/her basic facts while others show little improvement.  Make a point of having your child memorize the two tables that they must write each night.  You can do this by quizzing them when they are finished.  You can also ask them addition and subtraction questions up to 20 (4+9=, 15+4=, 17-8=, 15-9=).

Science
Our next unit in Science will be Mechanisms Using Electricity.  This will take the knowledge learned from our previous unit and apply it in a practical manner.  We will be using electricity to make simple devices or setting up slightly more complex circuits. 

Social Studies
The chapter on the Atlantic Region is almost complete which means we will be having a test soon.  Our next chapter focuses on another region in Canada: The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands.  As we read about each region in Canada, we learn about the First Nations people who originally inhabited the area, the affect on them when Europeans settled into the area, the quality of life and natural resources specific to that area. 

Religion
This unit, we will be focusing on various aspects of our faith.  In a few weeks we will be heading into the Advent season and will learn about the Jesse Tree, the significance of the colours seen at church and preparing our hearts by living out our baptismal mission.  We will also start reading various passages in the Bible to learn about the parables and the meaning behind some versus in scripture. 

Art
Our unit on Drawing has been completed.  We refined our drawing skills and worked a lot on experimenting with lines and shading.  We will now begin a unit on painting for the next two months.  We will learn how to use paint to create various effects, create feeling and depth by incorporating the shading techniques learned in our drawing unit. 

French
Mrs. Howe is continuing to work on simple phrases with the Grade 5 students.  Her focus is using the curriculum to help the students develop his/her conversational French as opposed to just memorizing vocabulary words.  She does this through classroom activities and games.  The students often come back from her class telling me how much fun they have with her. 

Drama
Mr. Johnson is continuing to work with the students on developing his/her improve skills.  He also had the students perform a Tableau.  This is a simple play in which the students tell a story by arranging themselves in 'still life' scenes for the audience.  Please ask your child to explain this to you and tell you what story they told. 

Hungry Hive
Monday                                     Subway or Pita Stop Donairs
Tuesday                                     Yum Yum BBQ
Wednesday                                Extreme Pita or Costa Vida
Thursday                                    Edo
Friday                                         Pizza Hut

Important Links
Study Ladder                             www.studyladder.ca
Mathletics                                  https://community.mathletics.com/signin
Duolingo                                    https://www.duolingo.com

Important Dates
Parent/Teacher Interviews (No School)                                                             November 30th

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