Abstract Collages in the Style of Alma Thomas

Last week, the students created bright abstract collages inspired by the artist, Alma Thomas, using coloured paper with glue. Alma Thomas was a special artist! She was an art teacher and worked in a school. She didn’t start her painting career until she was in her 70’s! She was the first Black female artist to have her work displayed in the White House and the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art. Just like Alma Thomas, the students used line, pattern, and repetition to show movement.

The Magic of Munsch

The students have started delving into the depths of effective storytelling and how to captivate an audience when reading aloud. Beginning this week, students will be exploring different activities based on books by the renowned children’s author, Robert Munsch. There are reading and listening activities, a media literacy activity, and assessments related to identifying the main idea and examples from the text to support their BIG IDEA claim. The students have sampled several books by this author, and have chosen a book that they feel a connection to or has sparked their interest level.

Throughout this unit, the students will rehearse their chosen book at home with parents and at school with peers, practice their oral fluency skills, and hone their presentation skills. The unit will wrap up with each student getting up before the class dressed as one of the characters from their book selection and reading the story to the class. Students may even want to memorize their chosen Munsch book! The students should use the next two to three weeks to prepare for their Robert Munsch book presentations which will take place AFTER March Break on Mar. 20th, 21st, and 22nd.

The students have been given a booklet of stapled activity sheets for this project. This booklet will be sent home this Friday (along with your child’s chosen Robert Munsch book) and must come back to school every day starting next week until the presentation date. Parents are asked to fill in the Practice Log at the back of this booklet regularly to indicate that their child has been practicing the reading of his/her chosen book! There is also a spot at the very back of the booklet for parents to give their children constructive feedback as the students prepare.  Any work that is not completed in the time given in class at school during the day should be finished at home. (Again, please ensure that your child brings this booklet back to school each day next week). You can also help your child with the planning of his/her costume and prop ideas to enhance the presentation. 

Here is the rubric for the presentation. A hard copy is also in your child’s booklet.

Last week, Mrs. Lewis and I organized for a guest presenter to come in and perform a few of his original stories for the grade 3 classes in the gym – very much in the style of Robert Munsch. He was absolutely FABULOUS! The students were engaged and many laughs were generated! Daniel the storyteller also spoke about the importance of using sound effects, onomatopeia, different volume levels of voice, and hand gestures when telling a story!

Here are a few pictures from previous years of students enjoying our Robert Munsch storytelling activity:

Support Toonie Tuesday: Give A Little, Help A Lot!

$2 can be the difference between nothing and something. The OCDSB’s Toonie Tuesday campaign has kicked off, and we’re ready to make 2024 our best year yet! Did you know that requests for support have increased by 35%? Ottawa families need our help! Every dollar raised will support students’ access to food, clothing, and meaningful activities. You can invest in a student’s potential! On Tuesday, February 27th, we all come together to support students in need within the OCDSB. But you don’t have to wait until then. You can donate right here, right now! Let your toonie be the stepping stone to student success.

 

Beach / Tropical Day – This Friday!

Spirit days are a great way to show our WEJ pride. This Friday, we will show our summery side!

Let’s bring summer into our school,

But remember there will be no pool!

We will imagine that we are on a beach,

While our teachers continue to teach!

Bring on sunglasses, dresses and a floral skirt,

Shorts, straw hats, and maybe even a T-shirt.

Let’s all cheer,

As summer will soon be here!!

Aluminum Foil Sculptures

Last week, the students worked on a cross-curricular activity involving art and science. As part of our Science unit on forces and movement, the students learned that the muscles in your body are attached to bones. Muscles pull on these bones. This is called muscular force. It allows you to move in many different ways. The students were challenged to create a sculpture using three pipe cleaners and aluminum foil strips to show how athletes use muscles! Check out their fantastic sculptures below!

 

Middle French Immersion (MFI) Follow-Up…

Good afternoon parents,

I hope that those of you who attended the Middle French Immersion (MFI) information session last night found it informative and helpful. I am missing a few green forms (pictured below as a reminder) for our class. Once you make your informed decision regarding the programming for your child for their 4th-grade year, please be sure to send it in. The deadline is approaching quickly (by Friday, Feb. 9th)

Thanks,

Mr. Jackson

 

Busses Cancelled Today – Thur., Jan. 25th

The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) announced this morning, January 25th, that all school buses and vans are cancelled today due to inclement weather. All Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) schools will remain open. If parents choose to send their children to school, they will be responsible for transportation to and from school.

Valentine’s Day – Feb. 14th

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! To help celebrate the special occasion, your child may want to give cards to his/her classmates on Wednesday, Feb. 14th… but with a twist! While children love giving these cute cards, they love receiving them just as much. With that said, I just thought that I would provide parents with a list of the names of the students in our class this year. We’ll celebrate the special day on that Wednesday with a card exchange, some activities and a short video!

Here are the students in my class:  Idrees, Sophia, Ryan, Leon, Adrian, Morire, Marwah, Maryam, Tesla, Roan, Jocelyne, Kavya, Roohal, Parker, Om, Manaal, Miriam, Aarush, Ziyi, Jade, and Akram.

I would like students to bring a Valentine for each student in our class. Please do not leave anyone out! The cards can be store-bought, printed off the computer, or homemade. Here’s the twist: I am encouraging students to also write one kind sentence for each person they are giving a Valentine. Here are some examples:

– You always put a SMILE on my face :)

– You are always so helpful in our class!

– You are a great, caring friend!

– You are a great JUST DANCE dancer!

– You are a superstar soccer player!!

– You are such a great Chess player!

– You are an amazing artist!

– You’re the best teacher in the world!   :-)

Get CREATIVE and make someone feel good about themselves!! :)

WEJ Spirit Day #4: Cultural / Heritage Day – This Thursday

Our school, like our country, is made more beautiful by the many different cultures and traditions we welcome and enjoy. WEJ Wildcats are invited to take part in a Multicultural Spirit Day this Thursday, Jan. 25th. We invite all students and staff to showcase our school’s wonderful diversity by wearing the traditional clothing of their culture to school that day. Don’t have anything? That’s okay! Wear colours that represent your country by wearing the colours of your flag!

New Year’s Resolutions/Goals

Happy Belated New Year! The students and I talked about making New Year’s resolutions when we returned from the winter break last week. I wanted to share with you their resolutions for the new year. Discuss with your child how best your child can achieve his/her goals!