Next Wed., the students will take a short Google Form quiz on our Living and Working in Ontario unit in Social Studies. Here are some of the concepts they should know about:

The difference between urban, rural, and suburban communities.
The names of the three landform regions in Ontario and the features of each (landform features, natural resources, climate, and activities to do there).
In which landform region do most people live in Ontario, and the reasons why?
The name of the province we live in and the capital city of our province.
Students are encouraged to review their red duotang notes. Some class time will be allocated for this between now and Wednesday.

Our Grade 3 EQAO testing will take place on Tue., June 2nd,  Thur., June 4th, and Mon., June 8th. Students will complete the assessment online using Chromebooks. They will work on both Language and Math sessions each day.

We kindly ask that parents avoid scheduling appointments on these dates, if possible. Tuesday, June 9th, will be our make-up day for any missed sessions.

To help your child do their best, please ensure they get a good night’s sleep and have a healthy breakfast each day. They’ll have plenty of time to complete each session, so we are encouraging them to take their time and do their best.

Students are reminded to use the online tools available to them—such as the text reader, calculator, split-screen, and highlighter—as well as classroom resources like math manipulatives, thesauruses, and their personal dictionary.

In class, we’ve been preparing by trying practice tests in Reading, Writing, and Math, and reviewing sample answers (exemplars) to help students understand what strong responses look like. Next week, the students will complete the short online sample test to familiarize themselves with the EQAO platform and tools.

If your child would like to do extra review, they can revisit the online sample test and tools (link will be in Google Classroom), try the math review questions I will soon post there, or complete EQAO practice missions on Knowledgehook.

Thank you for your support in helping your child feel confident and ready!

As part of our Social Studies unit on Living and Working in Ontario, students learned about the province’s three major landform regions: the Hudson Bay Lowlands, the Canadian Shield, and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands.

To deepen their understanding, each student selected one of these regions to focus on. Using their duotang notes, they created a personalized “license plate” that included both pictures and written information about the region’s climate, land features, natural resources, and recreational activities.

This project gave students a fun and creative way to apply their learning.

Ask your child which landform region they chose and what interesting facts they discovered!

For a recent media literacy assignment, the students were asked to design a new book cover for their chosen Robert Munsch book. We discussed how a book cover conveys a sense of the story through a combination of text and images and how these elements should be effectively arranged on the page. Here is what the students came up with:

I would like to wish all of the moms (and grandmothers!) a wonderful Mother’s Day! I hope you enjoyed the gifts your child prepared for you. I was very pleased with how the students’ work turned out! I saw some gorgeous creations and heartfelt messages! I hope you enjoyed your day.

Dear Parents,                                                                

We are pleased to announce our annual WEJ Food Drive, which will take place during Education Week next week. It is always heartwarming to see our school community come together for this cause, and each year it proves to be a great success.

Donations will be collected during the week of May 4–8, with the final day of collection on Friday, May 8. The Kanata Food Cupboard will pick up all donations on Monday morning, May 11.

Below is a list of items that are needed for our Food Drive: 

• Canned fish and meats
• Canned vegetables and fruit
• Legumes (beans, lentils; canned or dried)
• Cereal
• Pasta and pasta sauce
• Peanut butter, jam, pudding, juice boxes
• Rice (jasmine or basmati)
• Canned stews, chilli, and soups
• Snacks (granola bars, crackers, fruit cups, applesauce)
• Dried fruit (dates, prunes, figs)
• Baby items (diapers sizes 3–6, baby food, formula)
• Personal care items (toiletries, toilet paper)
• Monetary donations through the fundraising link.

Below is the link for monetary donations: 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/w-erskine-johnston-public-school-food-drive-2/

Thank you for your continued support!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are thrilled to announce that during the week of May 19–22, our entire school will be participating in an immersive STEM experience with the uOttawa Maker Mobile!

The Maker Mobile is a travelling makerspace that brings hands-on learning directly to students. For this visit, our school has selected Robotics Workshops from their specialized elementary catalogue. These workshops are designed to spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and give students a “behind-the-scenes” look at how technology works through building and coding.

Workshop Details

• Who: All students from Kindergarten to Grade 6.
• When: May 19th to May 22nd (Our session is on Wed., May 20th).
• What: Hands-on robotics challenges tailored to each grade level.
• Cost: $5.75 per student.

This fee covers the cost of the visiting instructors from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Engineering and the use of their specialized high-tech equipment. Please pay by School Cash Online or send exact change to your child’s teacher. 

More Information

If you would like to see the types of activities your child will be participating in, you can browse the workshop catalogue on the uOttawa website: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-engineering/outreach/maker-mobile/elementary-school

We are looking forward to a week of innovation, creativity, and “making”! Please ensure all payments are completed by May 19th so we can finalize our schedule.

Sincerely,

Mr. Jackson

Red and black, we cheer all day,  

Go Senators, skate, and play!

With every save and every goal,

We cheer the SENS with heart and soul!

It’s playoff time, and the Wildcats scream,

GO SENS GO, you’re a great team!

Tomorrow (April 23rd), let’s cheer for the Ottawa Senators and wear the team’s colours (red, black, white and/or gold) or a SENS jersey!!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I am excited to announce that Scientists in School will visit our classroom on Friday, May 8th. The ‘field trip that comes to us’ will present a 90-minute session on soil and plants. This interactive and hands-on presentation will complement your child’s learning for our upcoming science units on Soils in the Environment and Growth and Changes in Plants.

Scientists in School was founded on the principle that students learn best when they get to be scientists – doing science rather than just reading or hearing about it. The name Scientists in School does not refer to the science experts brought into the classroom, but to the students themselves. During Scientists in School workshops, your child becomes a scientist in school.

The class will participate in “Get the Dirt on Plants,” a workshop exploring the exciting, interconnected world of soil and plants. Students will investigate soil layers and experiment with water retention to explore the importance of soil. They will also dissect a seed, learn about seed dispersal, and examine plant growth up close!

It should be a wonderful learning opportunity for the students!

Mr. Jackson

This Friday is the day to cheer,
The team that you hold most dear!
It’s time to show off your favourite sports gear,
That you probably bought as a souvenir!

Whether it be a jersey, a t-shirt or a hat,
Even team colours, how about that!
WEJ Wildcats will sport their team,
As they shout and scream!