News from our Elementary Principal, Ben Voborsky
Hello GAA Community,
It has been a fantastic week here at GAA with Erin Kent, Writer’s Workshop Expert, joining us to work with our teachers, students, and even a parent workshop! Erin has really connected with our staff and ask anyone of our teachers, it has been a valuable experience. We are inviting Erin back in the spring to continue to collaborate with us.
On October 22nd, the G1-G5 Transition Reports and end of Unit of Inquiry 1 feedback went home. Our student were very excited to share their learning with their parents. Today, KG1 and KG2 Transition reports went home and KG2 end of Unit of Inquiry 1 feedback. I hope you enjoyed discussing with your child the Transition Report and end of Unit of Inquiry feedback. I am sure you do this everyday but this type of feedback helps in focusing conversations. We are always looking for your suggestions and feedback. If you could please complete this short google form so we can hear your comments and suggested improvements.
Three Way (Student-Parent-Teacher) Conferences are scheduled for November 11th and 12th. We will use the same sign up system as last year and the teacher signup pages will be available next Thursday. Conferences will be 30 minutes in length. The first 20 minutes will focus on your child’s learning and collaboratively setting educational goals with the final 10 minutes with just the parent and teacher.
Have a great weekend with you family,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
It has been a fantastic week here at GAA with Erin Kent, Writer’s Workshop Expert, joining us to work with our teachers, students, and even a parent workshop! Erin has really connected with our staff and ask anyone of our teachers, it has been a valuable experience. We are inviting Erin back in the spring to continue to collaborate with us.
On October 22nd, the G1-G5 Transition Reports and end of Unit of Inquiry 1 feedback went home. Our student were very excited to share their learning with their parents. Today, KG1 and KG2 Transition reports went home and KG2 end of Unit of Inquiry 1 feedback. I hope you enjoyed discussing with your child the Transition Report and end of Unit of Inquiry feedback. I am sure you do this everyday but this type of feedback helps in focusing conversations. We are always looking for your suggestions and feedback. If you could please complete this short google form so we can hear your comments and suggested improvements.
Three Way (Student-Parent-Teacher) Conferences are scheduled for November 11th and 12th. We will use the same sign up system as last year and the teacher signup pages will be available next Thursday. Conferences will be 30 minutes in length. The first 20 minutes will focus on your child’s learning and collaboratively setting educational goals with the final 10 minutes with just the parent and teacher.
Have a great weekend with you family,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
The PYP Perspective
with GAA PYP Coordinator Mike Hopaluk
This last week and a half have been very exciting in Grade 5 as the initial process of selecting the 2015-2016 GAA Elementary Student Council was introduced and the final elections were held. At first, all students in Grade 5 were introduced to the following purpose of this year’s student council:
Students then had the application process explained to them. This year’s application was focussed on potential candidates recognizing IB Learner Profile attributes that they feel they embody and how these would benefit them if they were to be elected into the student council. Please enjoy a few of these compelling responses:
“I show the caring Learning Profile because if somebody is in a bad situation I would put myself in their shoes and understand their concerns"
“I will be a communicator by talking to my peers to make sure we’re on the same page!"
“I think being a thinker is really important so you can get new ideas and solve problems to make GAA an even better school."
“Being open-minded is a trait for a leader because a leader has to be open-minded so he can take in suggestions and make them reality."
“Knowledgable will be important because when you know a lot of things, you can turn that information into benefits that can help GAA become even better than it is now."
“I will demonstrate being principled by doing the right choices and helping others do the same."
After the applications were submitted, they were analyzed to determine which students would be suitable candidates for the rigorous, responsibility-filled role of Student Council representative. As it turns out, all the applicants were found to be the model students we would be proud to have on the council this year- all 28 of them!
- to encourage school responsibility and spirit
- to promote international mindedness
- to help organize student activities
- to make recommendations to the school administration regarding matters
- important to student life
- to learn through the experience
Students then had the application process explained to them. This year’s application was focussed on potential candidates recognizing IB Learner Profile attributes that they feel they embody and how these would benefit them if they were to be elected into the student council. Please enjoy a few of these compelling responses:
“I show the caring Learning Profile because if somebody is in a bad situation I would put myself in their shoes and understand their concerns"
“I will be a communicator by talking to my peers to make sure we’re on the same page!"
“I think being a thinker is really important so you can get new ideas and solve problems to make GAA an even better school."
“Being open-minded is a trait for a leader because a leader has to be open-minded so he can take in suggestions and make them reality."
“Knowledgable will be important because when you know a lot of things, you can turn that information into benefits that can help GAA become even better than it is now."
“I will demonstrate being principled by doing the right choices and helping others do the same."
After the applications were submitted, they were analyzed to determine which students would be suitable candidates for the rigorous, responsibility-filled role of Student Council representative. As it turns out, all the applicants were found to be the model students we would be proud to have on the council this year- all 28 of them!
These students gave short speeches to their homeroom classes on Thursday morning. The speeches were followed by a secret ballot vote and we are pleased to announce the results of the vote and the members of the 2015-2016 GAA Elementary Student Council.
5A Representative- Jennifer Cardenas
5B Representative- Sienna Sexson
5C Representative- Nicolo Cuglianich
5D Representative- Caelan Scriffignano
5E Representative- Rania Aziz
5F Representative- Leah Tamasker
The first part of the IB Mission Statement is:
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
I believe we have a wonderful group of young leaders who will help our school on its continued journey fulfill this mission and l am very excited to begin collaborating with them next week.
Mike Hopaluk
PYP Coordinator / Elementary Student Council Supervisor
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
I believe we have a wonderful group of young leaders who will help our school on its continued journey fulfill this mission and l am very excited to begin collaborating with them next week.
Mike Hopaluk
PYP Coordinator / Elementary Student Council Supervisor
Dear Families,
As a learning community, GAA values the diversity of its members. Our aim is to provide a supportive learning environment whereby the unique strengths and needs of each student are nurtured and developed. As a Learning Support Team, it is our role to support children’s academic development through an inclusive co-teaching approach.
At GAA, emphasis is placed on an inclusive co-teaching model where the classroom teacher and learning support specialist teacher work together to plan and deliver instruction to a diverse population in a general education setting. Educators collaborate to facilitate students’ access to the PYP curriculum and Units of Inquiry. The Learning Support team work collaboratively with homeroom teachers in the gathering of data surrounding student needs and the planning and teaching of curriculum content that is appropriately differentiated to meet the needs of students. Differentiation is the process of tailoring the instruction or activities to suit the varied learners in the classroom, including those who are advanced, needing extra support, or have English as an additional language.
So far this year, the Learning Support Team have been establishing relationships with students in order to build the foundation for a successful year of learning! We look forward to meeting with parents during the November conferences and discussing how we can best work together as a team to meet the needs and goals of your child.
If you would like to speak to the Learning Support Teacher within your child’s grade level, please feel free to contact him or her directly or email your child’s homeroom teacher.
Sincerely,
The Elementary Learning Support Team
As a learning community, GAA values the diversity of its members. Our aim is to provide a supportive learning environment whereby the unique strengths and needs of each student are nurtured and developed. As a Learning Support Team, it is our role to support children’s academic development through an inclusive co-teaching approach.
At GAA, emphasis is placed on an inclusive co-teaching model where the classroom teacher and learning support specialist teacher work together to plan and deliver instruction to a diverse population in a general education setting. Educators collaborate to facilitate students’ access to the PYP curriculum and Units of Inquiry. The Learning Support team work collaboratively with homeroom teachers in the gathering of data surrounding student needs and the planning and teaching of curriculum content that is appropriately differentiated to meet the needs of students. Differentiation is the process of tailoring the instruction or activities to suit the varied learners in the classroom, including those who are advanced, needing extra support, or have English as an additional language.
So far this year, the Learning Support Team have been establishing relationships with students in order to build the foundation for a successful year of learning! We look forward to meeting with parents during the November conferences and discussing how we can best work together as a team to meet the needs and goals of your child.
If you would like to speak to the Learning Support Teacher within your child’s grade level, please feel free to contact him or her directly or email your child’s homeroom teacher.
Sincerely,
The Elementary Learning Support Team
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KG CORNER
KG1D
We are really enjoying having some extra time in the playground now that the weather has cooled down.
We are really enjoying having some extra time in the playground now that the weather has cooled down.
This week we went on our first field trip. We went to see The Cat in the Hat Seussical. It was so much fun, we loved all of the color and the music.
Hello KG Parents and families! KG1 E just celebrated their first dress down day at school and started their first Unit of Inquiry “ Who We Are”. The central idea of this unit for the students is everyday I learn about myself. We created our own little people, and the children are learning how they are the same and different, what they look like and their individual interests. Terrific work girls and boys!
Greetings KG1 Families!
Last week the children dressed up as superhero’s and princesses for Friendship Week. They all had an enjoyable time talking about their different costumes and characters. We discussed how we show we are kind to our friends. Take a look at us in action…
Last week the children dressed up as superhero’s and princesses for Friendship Week. They all had an enjoyable time talking about their different costumes and characters. We discussed how we show we are kind to our friends. Take a look at us in action…
In KG2E we have been revising phonics in our centres. Students played a variety of phonics games to improve their knowledge of phonics. This has helped us improve our reading and writing skills.
KG SPECIALISTS
In Dance and Drama Kg1 have been learning how to cooperate as a group using whole class musical games. These include ‘Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush,’ ‘Here We Go Looby Loo’ and ‘Ten Little Pumpkins. ’We have also been learning to move just one body part at a time as well as simple miming skills. Kg1 have been adapting to using the space in the Dance and Drama room (84) instead of in their own classroom
In Dance and Drama Kg2 have been tying in with the PYP unit ‘ All About Me.’ We have been learning that how we look, as well as how we move can tell others what we are feeling. Through this we can learn to recognize the feelings of those around us. We have also been problem solving through drama by recreating familiar scenarios of things that can go wrong when playing with friends. Through discussion and then by acting out our ideas with a partner, we have discovered ways that the situations could be resolved. Kg2 have also been adapting to using the space in the Dance and Drama room (84) instead of in their own classroom.
In the Kitchen-Lab the children have been learning about making healthier choices. Last week we all enjoyed sharing what we like while making Friendship Fruit Kabobs. This week, we made Carrot Chocolate Muffins, which contain carrots and whole wheat flour. The children are strengthening their fine motor skills as they grasp carrots for grating, hold the spoon and bowl while mixing, pinch paper cup liners to separate them, and squeezing to put the muffin batter in the cup liners.
Please visit the Kindergarten Launcher pages (tiny.cc/gaa-Kg2 or tiny.cc/gaa-kg1) for the recipe and more photos. Also stop by and take a look at our bulletin board outside the kitchen to see the children’s Reflections on their favorite fruits and our new QR codes which take you “into the classroom” for our Sandwich Swap lesson. Happy cooking, Ms. Erin
Please visit the Kindergarten Launcher pages (tiny.cc/gaa-Kg2 or tiny.cc/gaa-kg1) for the recipe and more photos. Also stop by and take a look at our bulletin board outside the kitchen to see the children’s Reflections on their favorite fruits and our new QR codes which take you “into the classroom” for our Sandwich Swap lesson. Happy cooking, Ms. Erin