Welcome to Grade Three!

Welcome parents and/or guardians,

I am very excited to be teaching grade 3 this year!  I hope everyone had an amazing summer vacation and is ready and excited to start school again. I know I am eager to get to know all of my amazing new students! For those who do not know me, let me introduce myself. This is my third year of teaching and my second year at St. Jude’s Academy. Previously I taught children age 3-11 in Cleethorpes England. I completed my undergraduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University in Sociology and Psychology. My second degree was in a Master’s in Education specializing in Inclusive Education from McGill University. Finally I completed teachers college at Trent University. My specialty is working with children with disabilities and I have a lot of experience working 1:1 and in small groups. I have a great understanding for academic and social struggles in the classroom and I strive to ensure that my students feel that they can come to me regarding those needs. I am willing to put in the extra effort to help any student. I am a life-long learner and I hope to help your children develop a love of learning. I believe that communication is key for your child’s success and to a great parent/teacher relationship so I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at any time. Please know that every day is a new day and we continually start fresh and with a great attitude!   

Important Dates and Information:

August 30th - orientation night 6pm

September 7th - First Day of School

September 9th - Spirit Day - come dressed in your house colours

September 15th - Welcome Back BBQ 4:00-6:00 pm

September 28th - Casual Day

September 29th - Terry Fox Run

October 7th - PD Day No School

October 10th - Thanksgiving No School

Uniform

A gentle reminder to parents that the changes to our school uniform have now fully taken place.  Primary students (JK - grade 3) will no longer be able to wear the white, Oxford style, button-up shirt or the belted tunic.  These uniform pieces have been phased out over the last two years, and will no longer be acceptable.  Primary student must be dressed in either the short sleeved polo shirt (spring/summer) or the long sleeve polo shirt (fall/winter).  Appointment can be made with Alpa during the summer months to purchase your child's school uniform.  alpa@multiformcanada.com

Students are asked to have three pairs of shoes at school: outdoor, black indoor, and gym shoes (we will be having gym every day)

Secured-Access Entry Point

Starting in September, SJA will have a new secured-access entry door that will be the only entry point to the school during before and after care.  This door will only be able to be accessed with a specialized key.  Keys will be provided to all parents during Orientation week (deposit required).  Please keep your eye out for more information on our new secured-access entry point.

Homework

Students will have math homework every day that is to be completed in their math workbook. This will reinforce the work that we did in class that day.

Spelling tests happen every Friday. Students will be given a new list of 15 words each week that they will record in their agendas. You will also be able to find this list on the blog.

Students will also be required to read for 20 minutes every day. Reading consistently has been shown to help their writing, spelling, imagination and decoding abilities.

Action

Action is an important part of the IB program.  Action is when a student applies what they have learned during our Unit Of Inquiry outside of school. For example, if we are learning about emergency safety and your child organizes a fire drill at home, they are performing action. If your child performs action at home I would love to know about it! In my classroom I want to celebrate when the students take action. They will become an action star and will be celebrated on a board in our classroom and on the blog. At St. Jude’s students can also be nominated to be an action star each month!

Blog

Please ensure to check the blog daily so you can take a peek into our classroom and enjoy videos and pictures of your child at school. I will communicate daily about what we have done and any important information.

Hot lunch program

Hot lunch program will be limited the first week back. In place of this students will be able to bring money to school on the 7th, 8th, and 9th to purchase pizza. (Please send this money in the agenda, and let your child know as well, also please indicate in a note cheese or pepperoni). One slice is $2, Two slices $4. Hot lunch program will begin on Monday September 12th. We are excited for our new hot lunch program to roll out with some tasty new options. With this being said forms for hot lunch program have already been sent through the email you provided and will be due back with full payment by Sept. 9th by 4pm. IF you miss the due date unfortunately you will not be able to participate in the lunch program until the next program order form goes home. With the new cafeteria and cooking staff we cannot make any exceptions for late forms this year.

Student Handbook 

Please read the attached document to your welcome email then sign page 30 and return to school in the student agenda by Friday September 9th.

See you all on Tuesday, August 30^th for Orientation night!

Have a great and sunny rest of your week!

Ms. Ross