Shana Tovah to those who celebrate Rosh Hashana! This cultural holiday (September 25-27) marks the beginning of the New Year for those who practice Judaism. Many cultures have their own New Year traditions, foods, events, etc. One of the amazing things about having a more globally connected community is the merging of cultures, especially through fusion food. Watch the video above to learn about two chefs who created Japanese-Jewish fusion restaurant!

If you’d like to continue the discussion at home:

-Are there any New Year celebrations in your culture or family?

-Have you ever tried fusion food before?

-What are some other important holidays and cultural events that we should learn about in school?

-Ms. Ward

Picture day is tomorrow! We also have Orange Shirt Day (Thursday), Early Dismissal (Thursday @ 2PM), and Welcoming Conversations (Wednesday/Thursday). If you were not able to sign-up for Welcoming Conversations, please reach out to myself or Ms. Palmer for support signing up!

Our book fair also continues this week! Please feel free to come by the library before/after Welcoming Conversations.

Are you someone who skips breakfast? Do you always make time for a meal in the morning? And why do a lot of us say ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’?

Today, we discussed some PROs and CONs to eating a big breakfast in the morning. Some of us appreciate the extra energy breakfast can bring, while others would rather press ‘SNOOZE’ a few more times instead. What do you think?

Check out the video above to see some examples of what different people across the world might have for breakfast.

Hello families of our Div. 3 learning community!

Here are some important reminders for the upcoming week:

-There is a Pro-D Day on Friday, Sept. 23 [no school]

-our Terry Fox run will take place on Monday. Dress for the weather and bring a water bottle!

-Photo Day is coming up! Tuesday, September 27th

-Welcoming Conversations will take place Sept. 28th and 29th. Please reach out if you need an alternative date/time!

-Our Book Fair kicks off next week!

Thanks for your support!

-Ms. Ward

Do black cats give you the creeps? Do you always pick up a lucky penny? Do you avoid travelling on Friday the 13th? Most cultures across the globe have different superstitions (routines or beliefs that supposedly lead to good or bad luck).

Below are a few of the superstitions we discussed in class. Do you recognize any of them? What superstitions do you believe in?

Superstitions (1)

Do you ever drink tea? Our class discussed how many different cultures participate in ‘tea time’. We also each had a cup of chai and discussed different ways this special tea is prepared. Chai has a complex history in many communities across Asia and the rest of the world.

My Chai Formula

For more information on the ‘perfect’ cup of chai, click the link above for an article, or watch the video below:

Micro-Photo Challenge

Click the link above to participate in our ‘micro-photo challenge’!

Today, our class learned about the specialized Art of ‘micro-photography’! Using a variety of lenses, photographers can take still images/videos of tiny particles, bacteria, single-celled organisms, etc. Did you know the microscope was ‘invented’ in the 1600s using similar technology to the telescopes used by Galileo? See an image of one of the early microscope designs below:

 

Hello to our Division 3 learning community!

This week, students have been sent home with:

-a 2022-2023 school planner (fee payable through school cash online)

-a school supply list for Grade 6/7

-a short note/overview including a QR to a survey for parents and guardians.

If you have trouble accessing the survey, the link can also be found here:

https://forms.gle/AsHRmbynZdBArVwZ8

Information about our upcoming ‘Welcoming Conversation’ evenings will be send via e-mail in the next few days. I am so excited to connect with our amazing families, parents, and guardians of our Div. 3 students!

Thanks, as always, for your support!

-Ms. Ward

 

 

September 13th and September 14th are both days where we can think about hair (or lack thereof)! Our class discussed ‘Bald is Beautiful’ Day and why some people may not have hair. We learned that some people shave their hair for religious reasons or when grieving, some people feel more comfortable/confident bald, some people lose their hair as a result of chemotherapy or alopecia, and some people may lose their hair as they age or due to stress, pregnancy, or medications/health.

The video below is an interview between a person with alopecia and kids of different ages. Feel free to watch to learn more about how alopecia can impact someone’s identity, health, etc.

We also explored the origins of ‘Afro Day’! We learned that an afro hairstyle is one of many culturally-significant hairstyles. Below, the Guinness World Record holder for ‘largest afro’ discusses how her hair helps her feel connected to her Black heritage:

We will continue to explore how our hair can represent our culture, identity, and history this week!

Hello and welcome to all of our new (and returning) members of our classroom community! I am so excited to be a part of your Grade 6 and Grade 7 learning journey this year. I know that this change might be unexpected, but we are flexible, resilient, and enthusiastic learners who can handle anything!

Some important notes for this week:

-school supply lists and parent/guardian information forms will go home this week

-please familiarize yourself with how to pay school fees through Lochdale’s website

-‘Welcoming Conversations’ (‘meet the teacher night’) will be taking place soon! More information to follow

-our classroom (room 22) is now your ‘home base’ for pick-up and dismissal

-parents and guardians, please check your e-mails for more information from Ms. Redmond (our principal)

We also want to welcome our other Grade 6/7 teachers, Ms. Ramen, Mr. Miotto, and Ms. Hennesy!

Best,

Ms. Ward