Language & Symbols: Poetry

Our examination of language and symbols has centered on poetry this week. Please ask your student about one of our daily poetry assignments.

• Haiku (Senses & seasons)
• Free Form Poem (4 lines that break poetry rules)
• Photo Impression Poem (Words and inspiration taken from photos in class)
• Diamante Poem (Comparing two ideas or objects)

+ Analysis of William Carlos Williams' "This Is Just To Say"

+ Poetry Daily Double: Ezra Pound's "In A Station of the Metro"

Wednesday, Sept. 26th

Reminders:
- Terry Fox run on Friday, bring your Twoonies of Terry!
- You should be picking/have picked a novel for your first book report. The reading and project will be done at home. More information will be coming soon.

Up Date:
- Our "20 Minute Homework Challenge" will begin on Monday.  Feel free to get started on the 20 minutes (minimum) per night now.  The tracking sheet will be ready to go soon.
- Our first MIA (Mini Independent Assessment) is tomorrow in Math. This is a mid-point check in to see how everyone is doing with adding and subtracting integers.  Parents, expect to see the assessment coming home on Monday for your signature.

Monday, September 24th

Reminders:
-Your aerial view of the school field/your backyard is due tomorrow.
-There are practice sheets for adding and subtracting integers under "Math-Tasks".

Parents:
We are going to the Coulee in Period 5 tomorrow (1:15-2:15) - we need a few volunteers - if you are able to help us out, please email Ms. Varner. Thanks!

Learning Conferences

Thank you to all of the families who joined us for the first Learning Conferences of the year.  If you were unable to make it in, and were interested in setting up a time to meet in the next couple of weeks, please email us.

September 20th, 2018

Reminders:
-No school tomorrow
-Entertainment Book fundraiser ends on the 28th

Homework:
-Check out the strategies for adding integers under Math-Resources
-Science: Aerial view of the school field or your backyard due Tuesday

September 18th, 2018

Reminders:
-Photo Day was today, look for more information about ordering in the next week or two
-Welcome Breakfast tomorrow at 8AM, on the compound weather permitting
-Conferences are Thursday and Friday this week.  If you were unable to book, and would like to arrange an alternate time, please email Ms. Varner or Mr. Tollestrup
-Early dismissal Thursday and no school Friday

Homework:
Check out the new links under the "Math- Resources" tab. There are sites to review concepts from last year and some games to practice our current work on integers

Humanities: 
-Have a conversation at home about "Why is the heart a symbol of love and caring?"
-Make sure that your reflection on "Not Quite Narwhal" is completed in your Humanities book

Updates:
Math: 
We began our year by tackling different Math problems using logic and reasoning. Using our Problem Solving Template (see link under "Math Tasks") we worked to pull key information, develop a strategy, and justify our answers.

We have now started reviewing how to order and sort positive and negative integers.  We are starting to explore strategies for adding and subtracting these numbers. (see the Extreme Temperatures activity under "Math Tasks")

Humanities:
We started the year off by analyzing Current Events.  Students were encouraged to begin by identifying the basic information (Who, What, Where, When, Why) and then start to consider the scope of the event, the stakeholders, and identify possible bias.  This investigation of Current Events will continue throughout the year.

As a part of our investigation into Identity, we are exploring "Language & Symbols". The students are being asked to critically examine how language and symbols change over time and how they reflect the cultural traditions/values.

Reminders

Band
Grade 7 Band students remember to bring your instrument to school for band class starting next week!
Band B: Monday, Wednesday
Band A: Tuesday, Thursday

Conferences

Learning conferences are next week: Thursday Sept. 20th and Friday Sept. 21st. Thursday is an early dismissal for students and there are no classes on Friday.  Log in through your MyCBE account to book.

School Photos
School photos are Tuesday, Sept. 18th. A handout was sent home with students on Friday.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK FUNDRAISER

We are starting off right away with our first fundraising campaign of the year with Entertainment Books! The campaign will run from September 14-September 28.

Just a quick overview, online apps can be purchased for $20 or a Calgary edition book for $40 (which also includes the online app).  Students can also order online (info how to do this is in the student’s package).  40% of sales come back to TMC!!

Payments can be made via Cash, Cheque (payable to TMC School Parent Council) or Credit Card (information how to do this is in student’s information package).

We will be sending home a book with each child. The books will be delivered to the class on the morning of Friday September 14. Each book is numbered and is assigned to the student. There are student labels on all of the envelopes in the bag so you know which book belongs to which student. If the students bring back their book because they do not want to purchase it, we ask that you return it to us and we can account for that on our end. We will be making rounds in the mornings to each class to check if there are returned order forms and we will be filling the orders on the spot in each class so students will receive their ordered books right away.  We will begin filling orders daily starting September 17, before nutrition break.  

If you have any questions regarding this fundraiser, please contact Lisa McGregor at TMCFundraisingCommittee@gmail.com  

Last year we raised approximately $3500 with this fundraiser alone.  Because of our fundraising efforts last year we were able to fund for the school:

• Curtains, mics & lights for the drama performances
• Offset cost of field trips or bringing in experts (2016/2017 each grade was given $1000 to spend)
• Replacing photos of our magnificent students in the hallways
• Grade 9 Farewell
• Art supplies
• Weight bench with free weights
• Equipment for the foods room
• 3D printer
• Compassion Care Fund (2017/18 $1500), to help students who have financial hardship in paying for field trips
• Digital cameras
• Human torso models
• Ukuleles
• Art graphic tablets
• And more!!

CTF - Course Descriptions

Students, we will be signing up for CTF and Fine Arts courses tomorrow in class.  There is a list of the courses that you will get to rank below.  You will have the opportunity to identify your top choices and class lists will be assembled over the weekend.  As we mentioned in class, your final 2 class assignments could be from any of your top 4 choices, so make sure those top 4 are classes you'd enjoy!  (The only exceptions are Band & French: Band lists are already made, and anyone who would like to take French can).

Courses:

Band
French
Foods
Calligaraphy
Lego-Animation
Media Literacy
Mindfulness/Yoga
Art: Pencil & Colour
Art: Composition & Printmaking
Film making
Videogame Design

More information about the courses is in the email sent to your parents.

Monday, Sept. 10th

Reminders:

• Please bring back your forms ASAP
• Your Name Plate is due to Ms. Varner
• Make sure you have at least one of the math problems fully done, including justifying your answer.

Welcome

Welcome Students of 7-1 & 7-2

We are very excited to have you in our classroom this year. We are sharing classrooms 223 and 224 and hope to create a safe and supportive learning environment together!

A little about Ms. Varner:

I helped open Twelve Mile Coulee school back in 2012 and have enjoyed watching the school grow and develop into the supportive learning community it is today.  My passion is investigating the world we live in and our place within it. I am constantly learning and I look forward to continuing this journey of exploration together this year.

A little about Mr. Tollestrup:

I have been teaching at Twelve Mile Coulee school since 2014 and had the opportunity to meet this cohort of students as a Physical Education teacher. I am passionate about art, reading, writing, and community. I am a dedicated life-long learner, and find meaning in making empathetic human connections, let’s connect and learn together.