$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.

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!

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

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.

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!

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!

In Math, we will be having our end-of-unit Patterning Test on Thursday of this week. To review for the test, the students can do the following:

• Complete the following online quizzes at Nelson Math 3 (click here): Chapter One –  Lesson 1: Repeating Shape Patterns; Lesson 2: Exploring Patterns, Lesson 3: Patterns in 100 Chart; and Lesson 4: Patterns in T-Charts.
• Complete the Patterning 1 Mission in Knowledgehook if they have not done so already.
• Complete the questions under Patterns in Math 3 Under the Sea

As you can see, there are many ways the students can review for this test! We have also been spending some time this week in Math class reviewing for the test.

Our focus in math will next switch to 3-D geometry and 3-D measurement. Students will compare, describe, identify and measure 3D objects and space. They will examine the relationships among prisms, pyramids, cylinders, and cones and their attributes. Later on, we will look at the concept of measurement involving mass (the amount of matter in an object) and capacity (the amount a container will hold).

In addition to our weekly Math work, here are some other related activities you and your child may like to try at home over the next little while (these are optional!):

• Your child can look around the house for examples of prism and pyramid shapes (for example, tissue boxes, milk cartons, cookie containers, and so on). They can name the shape and count the number of faces, edges, and vertices. They can also practise drawing the net (the flattened shape) that would make that 3-D shape.
• You and your child can play Name that Shape, where they either give or receive clues as to the shape and try to guess the name.
• Your child can find various containers of different masses in grams (g) or kilograms (kg). They can estimate the mass of each, and then check the mass of the container.
• Your child can also estimate the capacity of various containers. They can compare the sizes and units of measure in millilitres (mL) or litres (L).
• Show your child some recipes, and discuss the measurements that are listed. Encourage your child to measure the ingredients.

Also, look for a new assigned mission in Knowledgehook on Geometric and Spatial Reasoning – coming soon!

If your child is currently in grade 3, you have the choice of having your child continue in the English program or join the Middle French Immersion (MFI) program in grade 4.  Both programs are excellent and follow the same curriculum, but the MFI program has more French instruction.  Students in both programs receive French instruction. Students do not need to be approved for admission into the MFI program, and it is entirely a parent’s decision. If you have questions about the MFI program, please reach out to your child’s grade 3 teacher.  The information session is voluntary and parents do not need to sign up. Please join us in the library on Tue., Jan. 30th from 6:30pm-7:30pm for the MFI Info Session!

We will be sending home a paper form on January 18th for you to fill in with your choice and return to your child’s homeroom teacher by February 9th.