Monday, February 28th

 Reminders

1. Spelling Test Friday 

2. Read previous blogs about SJAM music program 

3. Black History Month presentations all week.  We did 5 groups today.

4. Paren teacher interviews March 10 and 11. 

5. No school March 11th 

Today we did more transformations, music, reading / went over how to curl for gym.  We did curling in gym, rhen had recess and snack.  After snack we did our spelling sentences and word list.  Then we did our black history month presentations.  We ended the day learning the 3 things that make a celestial body a planet.  Then learned about Mercury.  The rest of the time the students started their big space research project which I will post tomorrow to the blog.

We hope everyone has a Mars Monday! 

Spelling test #11

Spelling List #11

Spaghetti

Struggling

Rehearse

Heroes

Acquire 

Squawk

Mammal

Inquire

Jealous

Hyphen

Mechanic

Disastrous

Desperately 

Courageous 

Mischievous  

-In your spelling books please use these words properly in a sentence that contain 6+ words. 

Want to join Band in SJAM

 There are a few ways that I can think of that might help: 

 

1.     Share this information about band with your grade 6 students: 

• Band is back, and if offered at SJAM next year! 
• No previous musical experience is necessary! 
• It’s fun to learn a new instrument and play in a band! 
• There are a variety of instruments to choose from, and we learn to play a variety of styles of music! 
• We hope to resume all band activities that we normally do, covid/pandemic permitting, which includes performances, field trips and band camp!  
• Safety first! If we are still amidst a pandemic next school year, all safety protocols will be carefully followed!  
• Please show all grade 6 student this video about playing in band: 
  
  “Be Part of the Band” 
  
  https://youtu.be/QR3w3S5-7Zo 
  
   

2.     Send out an invitation to the parents/guardians of your grade 6 students, on my behalf, inviting them to join band at SJAM through messenger:  

 

Dear Parents and Guardians of Grade 6 students, 

 

I am the music teacher at Sir John A. Macdonald School, and would like to invite your child to join band!  

 

SJAM has a long history of a full and flourishing band program! We would love to see your child become a part of it! There is a variety of instruments to choose from, and we learn play a variety of styles of music! There are many activities that SJAM band students enjoy too - performances, field trips, and (covid/pandemic situation permitting) band camp!  

 

In addition to being fun, many studies have proven the benefits of learning to play a musical instrument! Learning music enhances brain development, fosters creativity, helps develop skills in team work, and also helps improve learning in academic subjects!  

 

I am attaching a couple of video links that might help you learn a little more about the benefits of music and what is band: 

 

“Be Part of the Band”: https://youtu.be/QR3w3S5-7Zo 

 

“How playing an instrument benefits the brain”: https://www.ted.com/talks/anita_collins_how_playing_an_instrument_benefits_your_brain?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare 

 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at mlarmstrong@cbe.ab.ca. Please call (403) 777-7670 or email the school  sirjohnamacdonald@cbe.ab.ca to request enrollment in band at SJAM for your child, or select band on the option request form. 

 

Thank you for your consideration of band, and I look forward to working with you and your child at SJAM next year! 

 

Michelle M. Armstrong 

Music Specialist 

Sir John A. Macdonald School 

Email: mlarmstrong@cbe.ab.ca 

Wednesday, February 23rd

 Reminders

1. SJAM open house this Thursday, see previous post

2. We will mark basic facts tomorrow together 

3. Black History Month project, Presentations start next Monday, Feb 28th 

4. Parent teacher interviews are March 10th and 11th.  Sign ups are now open.

5. No school March 11th 

6. Pillars of Care assembly this Friday 

Today we read and practiced for our basic facts quiz.  Then we did the quiz.  After the quiz we did graph coordinates battle ship type of game.  After math we explored pink shirt day and anti-bullying strategies.  Then we made pink shirts for my class door with anti-bullying messages.  After that we continued our dialogue work.  Today's focus was how to summarize dialogue so we don't use it too much! Then we worked on our Black History Month project.  Some students finished, they need to practice their scripts and especially working on their tone

We hope everyone has a whimsical Wednesday! 

Twosday, February 22nd

Reminders

1. SJAM open house this Thursday, see previous post

2. Basic Facts quiz tomorrow

3. Black History Month project, Presentations start next Monday, Feb 28th 

4. Parent teacher interviews are March 10th and 11th.  Sign ups are now open.

5. No school March 11th 

6. PINK SHIRT DAY TOMORROW 

Today we started our new math unit, graphing coordinates on a Cartesian Plane. Once we can label and move around coordinates we will start transformations on the grid with shapes.

In LA we worked on the rules of dialogue and will continue this for the next few days.

In science we learned the difference between meteors, meteorites, meteoroids, and asteroids. 

In social we worked on our Black History Month project that are due Monday! 

In gym we are doing a teacher choice week.

We hope everyone has happy 22222222222uesday! 

Pink Shirt Day info! ...IT IS TOMORROW!!!

 

Tomorrow is Pink Shirt Day! Remember to wear your favourite pink clothes and use our Zoom background in your meetings to show your support for inclusive, welcoming and safe environments. This year’s Pink Shirt Day focus is on being kind and making an effort to build healthy relationships. Together we can #BeKindAB and prevent bullying. If you’re looking for some inspiration, try these ideas: Learn what you can do to prevent bullying Learn how to stay safe if you are being bullied Share Pink Shirt Day resources and raise awareness on social media using #PinkShirtDay and #BeKindAB Let’s be kind, take care of one another and make Alberta a safe and healthy place to live. We all have a role to play.  Sincerely, Julie Peacock Executive Director Prevention of Family Violence and Abuse Alberta Community and Social Services

Feb Pillars of Care Winners

 Feb Pillars of Care winners

Care for Others: Carman -  If ‘care for others’ was a term in the dictionary, Carman’s picture would be beside it.  We are so grateful and lucky to have you in our class this year Carman, thank you so much for all the help! 

Care for Learning: Eddie - He has put a great focus this month on catching up on past due work, like his social city.  He is showing students that there is still time to get all your work in and to do a great job on it. 

Care for Place: Adam - He has been, without asking, helping clean laptops, plug in iPads + keyboards, and overall taking really good care of the classroom. 

Care for Self: Ethan - He has been doing excellent research on his Black History Month project. 

Pillar of the Month:  Cydney - She greets everyone she meets with a big smile and brings cheer and joy wherever she goes.  Our class is going to miss her warm presence.

Tuesday, February 15th

 Reminders

1. Feb 24th 5pm. SJAM open house, check their website for link

2. No School Thurs, Fri, Mon --- Feb 17 - 21

3. Black History Month presentations start March 1...so get it done before then 

4. Cities need to be completed during the time away from school please.  Students will be brining them home tomorrow.

5. Science quiz sent home to be signed and returned

6. Math quiz sent home to be signed and returned

7. Social quiz sent home to be signed and returned

8. Basic Fact quiz 

Today we read / prepped for social quiz.  We did the quiz and marked it.  We marked the math quiz too.

In LA we did the plot mountain for some Pixar shorts.

In gym we did hockey.  

In social we worked on our black history month project.  Students NEED to finish these and from what I saw today I am nervous.  

We hope everyone has TV Tuesday! 

SJAM OPEN HOUSE FEB 24th 5pm

 SJAM Virtual Open House

Please join us on February 24th at 5:00pm to learn about Sir John A. Macdonald School, meet some of our team, and our course offerings.

Click here to join the meeting

The Virtual Open House will:

v Provide information about our CTF option courses

v Video of a virtual school tour of SJAM by our students

v Provide information and support with the Elementary to Junior High transition

v Provide general information and expectations regarding Junior High

Questions

Please call 403-777-7670 or email sirjohnamacdonald@cbe.ab.ca for more information.

The Teams meeting is best viewed on a laptop or PC instead of a cell phone.

Thursday, February 10th

   Reminders

1. Moon and ROAR quiz ...for people who missed it today, you can't escape it just like Earth can't escape its revolution

2. Edmonton Spelling Test part 2 ...Friday for those who missed....those who did it today it will be sent home

3. Angles and Triangles quiz Friday ....use mathletics at home for review 

4. Local Government Quiz, next Tuesday... see other post for review, I will send them a mini review sheet Friday too.  

5. Black History Month Research Presentation due March 1st 

6. Reading...Give it a Shot ... 60mins = 1 card in grade 6, ends end of March ...we will give cards out every Friday. 

7. Social cities need to be done by next Tuesday, the 22nd too.  These were due a while ago and will be used in our next unit about the provincial government. 

8. Monday is Valentine's Day.  We have 23 students in the class if you are planning something. 

Today we read / studied for science test to start.  Then we did the science test, library, and made typing.com accounts if they had time. 

In math we did a review for the unit test tomorrow.  Students who didn't finish were told to finish at home. tonight.

In LA we did the Edmonton Spelling test #2, this doesn't count for their report cards until the sixth Edmonton Spelling test.  You can look all 6 up online if you wish, but grade 6 students are suppose to get around 32-25/50. 

In gym we did floor hockey puck handling skills.

In the afternoon we watched the video of the art project we will be doing tomorrow.  Youtube "walking in the rain" if you want to see it.  It is ambitious, but I think we can pull it off.  We picked out our 4-paint colour scheme too. Then we got our painting canvas ready to go for tomorrow.

After the art prep we continued to work on our Black History Month project to end the day. 

Tuesday, February 8th

  Reminders

1. Moon and ROAR quiz Thursday ... see other post for review 

2. Edmonton Spelling Test part 2 ...Friday 

3. Angles and Triangles quiz Friday ....use mathletics at home for review 

4. Local Government Quiz, next Tuesday... see other post for review 

5. Black History Month Research Presentation due March 1st 

6. Reading...Give it a Shot ... 60mins = 1 card in grade 6, ends end of March 

7. Social cities need to be done by Monday too.  These were due a while ago and will be used in our next unit about the provincial government. 

Today we started with math.  We went over different angle types and how to use a protractor again, and some tips for measuring reflex angles.

After music we read and talked about reading give it a shot.  In gym we did floor hockey drills before a 2 on 2 mini game.

During snack we talked about their behaviour at lunch time to the lunch room supervisor.  We hope that will change it moving forward.

In science we learned about the differences between a solar and lunar eclipses.  

In LA we continued our journey about writing a great a story.  

In social time, we went over whats on the science test this week and the social test next week.  Students were also given study guides.

Then they had about 40mins to work on their Black History Month project.

We hope everyone has a toonie Tuesday! 

Monday, February 7th

 Reminders

1. Moon and ROAR quiz Thursday ... see other post for review 

2. Edmonton Spelling Test part 2 ...Friday 

3. Angles and Triangles quiz Friday ....use mathletics at home for review 

4. Local Government Quiz, next Tuesday... see other post for review 

5. Black History Month Research Presentation due March 1st 

6. Reading...Give it a Shot ... 60mins = 1 card in grade 6, ends end of March 

Hey all, sorry I was out with Covid last week, but I am back in action.

Today we read then reviewed angle types, and triangle types on peg boards. We learned about how to start our narratives.  My degree is in literature so I will be turning your child into a pro creative writer by the end of this unit! 

In science we reviewed what they did when I was gone, about the moon phases.  We will be starting eclipses tomorrow.

Then after gym we setup the whole school for reading give it a shot.

In the afternoon we studied for our science quiz by doing kahoots, then picked what person we will be researching for our Black History Month project. 

We hope everyone has a marvellous Monday! 

Local Govt Test Review Notes

https://gradesix.mrpolsky.com/ewExternalFiles/Chapter%205%20Notes.pdf

These were printed and sent home Tuesday, this week! 

Moon and ROAR Quiz Info

 

Sun – Earth - Moon Links

http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/learning-activities/science/the-earth-and-beyond/the-phases-of-the-moon/

http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/learning-activities/science/the-earth-and-beyond/sun-moon-and-earth-orbits/

Moon Phases

https://matchthememory.com/BESLclass

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/oreo-moon/en/

https://games.legendsoflearning.com/games/WyJnYW1lcyIsNTg5XQ==

https://games.legendsoflearning.com/games/WyJnYW1lcyIsNDk0XQ==

Lunar and Solar Eclipse

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/eclipses/en/

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