Litterless Lunch Initiative at WEJ

How you pack your child’s lunch every day can really make a difference!

All classes at WEJ are encouraged to take on a waste-free (litterless) lunch initiative. We have talked about this initiative as a class already during the first few days of school. I encourage active and regular participation from all students and parents in reducing waste in our classroom and school. Remember…foods high in sugar (candy, pop, etc.) are discouraged. Healthy choices are encouraged!

What is a Waste-Free (Litterless) Lunch?

A lunch that contains no throwaway packaging and produces no waste. Food and drinks are packed in reusable containers, avoiding, where possible, the use of prepackaged foods. Note: If there IS any packaging in your child’s lunch, it should be brought back home.

Many schools across Ontario have adopted Waste-Free Lunches as a way to make a positive impact on our environment. The primary objective of this program is to encourage parents and students to reflect on and consider the way they prepare and package lunch foods. It also teaches students about the environmental consequences of waste and allows them to apply their knowledge in their daily lives.

Tips for a Waste-Free Lunch:

• Ask your child to participate in packing their lunch (there is less chance of wasted food if the child has a say in what they want to eat)
• Pack drinks, sandwiches, and snacks in reusable containers
• Use a cloth napkin
• Use non-disposable cutlery (stainless steel)
• Bring a reusable lunch bag or box to school
• Pack fruit that comes in its own “natural” packaging (i.e., clementines, apples, bananas). Your child can put these peels in the empty reusable containers, which can then be placed in your green bin at home.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks for helping to make a difference!

My name is Shaw Jackson, and I am excited to be your child’s Grade 3 teacher this year. I’m happy to have the opportunity to work with your child and you. This is my 15th year teaching at the grade 3 level at W.E.J. and my 27th year at this fantastic school! Last year, some Grade 3 classes were relocated to portables (mine included). I’m excited about returning to my portable (#6) this year! The students will soon learn of the many benefits of having our little ‘schoolhouse’ outside! I’m also very excited to welcome Mr. Kneebone into my classroom as my student teacher. He will be with us until early November. In my classroom, I offer a very structured program that ensures students know what to expect each day, and my goal is always to provide the best learning environment for all students. The emphasis over the year will be on helping your child become a happy, independent, resilient, and responsible student. Our first week will be spent on classroom and school routines, procedures, and safety protocols. Wellness will also be focused on as we learn about each other and build a community of learners in our room. This year, Mme. Sullivan will be teaching French to my students. Mrs. Christie will be working with my ESL students. Ms. Milks is our Spec. Ed. support teacher. Ms. Crosier will teach our class one period of Outdoor Phys. Ed. each week. We will share our indoor Phys. Ed. periods with Ms. Lewis’s Grade 3 class.

I will set up a Google Classroom that students can access, especially when they are absent from school. By now, the students should be familiar with accessing Google Classroom. Look for an email invitation for your child to join my Google Classroom in the coming days.

To receive regular class blog updates, please subscribe to my class blog. Simply enter your email address in the space “subscribe by email” section in the blog main page’s lower right-hand corner (scroll down). It’s that simple!

Please complete the blog consent form and the parent questionnaire sent home today and return them to me as soon as possible (by the end of this week!). Thank you.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns throughout the school year. For a quick reply, your best bet is to email me. You can reach me at Shaw.Jackson@ocdsb.ca. I check my email regularly and will respond promptly to the best of my ability. I am very much looking forward to working with you and your child!

Again, welcome to my class!

Sincerely,

Shaw Jackson

I hope that everyone enjoyed their summer!

For those of you who are still subscribed to Mr. Jackson’s class blog from last year… If you no longer wish to receive updates, please click on the link in the email you received for this blog post. You will no longer receive email updates from my blog.

I wish you all a fantastic school year!

Sincerely,

Mr. Jackson

Dear Parents,

School is out—and what a year it has been! I want to take a moment to thank you for the pleasure and privilege of teaching your children this year. It truly has been a wonderful journey, and I am so proud of the progress each student has made throughout Grade Three.

This particular group of students was something special—one of my favourite classes in over 26 years of teaching! Their curiosity, kindness, and enthusiasm made every day a joy. I will genuinely miss them.

I hope to see your child again next year—whether it’s in Chess Club, out in the yard, or popping by for a quick visit. I’ve shared a special video/slideshow with the students this afternoon, capturing some of our favourite Grade 3 moments. It’s now available on Google Classroom for you to enjoy as well.

Wishing you and your family a relaxing, joyful, and well-deserved summer break. All the best as your child heads into Grade 4!

Warmly,
Shaw Jackson

Dear Parents,

Earlier this week, our class had the opportunity to participate in an engaging egg-drop STEM workshop led by members of the Spark Youth Robotics Club—a student-run organization whose robotics team has competed at national and international levels.

After the session, several of my students expressed interest in joining their FIRST Lego League program. If your child would like to learn more or get involved, you can find registration information on their website: https://www.syrc.ca/join-our-team

It was a great hands-on experience, and I’m so glad the students were excited by it!

Best regards,
Mr. Jackson

Today, the students enjoyed our end-of-year talent show! I am so proud of our young risk-takers in the class who were brave enough to get up in front of their peers and share their special talents! It was so nice to see! We had a bit of everything: dancing, magic, violin, art samples, etc. Well done, everyone! Here are just a few photos…

Grade 3 students enjoyed designing and building their own ultimate treehouses this week. By following a set of design instructions, the students created 3D treehouses based on their imaginations. Today, the students were excited to share their models with the other grade 3 classes, and we enjoyed seeing their designs as well!

This afternoon, our class had the exciting opportunity to participate in a hands-on STEM Challenge led by a dynamic group of high school students from the Spark Youth Robotics Club — a student-run, Kanata-based robotics team with an impressive track record, including appearances at international competitions such as the World Championships in Texas.

During the workshop, Spark mentors guided our students through the engineering design process — discuss, brainstorm, design, and create — as they tackled a thrilling challenge: designing and building a device that could protect an egg from a high drop.

Adding to the challenge, students had to carefully track the materials they used and stay within a set budget, just as real engineers working on a project with constraints do. This extra layer encouraged thoughtful planning, teamwork, and resourcefulness.

The portable was buzzing with creativity and problem-solving as students tested their ideas and made adjustments. We’re proud to report that every egg survived the drop!

A huge thank-you to Spark Youth Robotics Club for inspiring our young engineers with such a well-run, engaging, and authentic STEM experience.

At WEJ, we learn and play,

We cheer for Canada every day!

We wear red and white with pride,

We love our country, big and wide!

 This Friday, we will smile with glee,

As Canada is the place to be!

Hip hip hooray,

Let’s celebrate this special day!