TEACHERS: MR. ADAMO, MISS BRIDGEFORD
We wish to welcome you and your child to Grade Five at Josyf Cardinal Slipyj School. We hope your child will have a productive, successful and fun-filled year. As well as focusing on the curriculum, we will be working towards creating a positive atmosphere in our school community by developing responsibility and confidence in our students. Both teacher and parent will play an important role in helping your child reach his/her maximum potential. By working together, we hope to bring out the best in your child.
We believe that ongoing communication between the school and home is essential to supporting student achievement and progress. The following information is intended to outline our expectations for students and how we will be communicating student progress.
SUBJECTS
Your child will be studying the following subjects this year:
1. Religion
2. Family Life
3. Mathematics
4. Language Arts: Reading, Writing, Oral and Visual Communication and Media Literacy
5. Social Studies
6. Science and Technology
7. French
8. Ukrainian
9. Visual Arts/Drama
10. Physical Education/Health
11. Vocal Music
TEACHERS
Your child may have many different teachers this year. It is important that the student understands the need to be cooperative with all teachers.
HOMEWORK
Regularly assigned homework improves academic results, skills and attitudes. It serves many purposes:
● reinforcing skills and concepts taught during class time
● providing extra drill in areas where a student is weak
● helping students to develop self discipline and self motivation
● allowing students to gain experience in research techniques
● providing an opportunity for students to develop study habits, including organization of time and materials
How can a parent/guardian help?
● Make sure that there is a quiet, regular place to work.
● Help the student organize time for assignments and homework; prioritize work according to difficulty.
● Provide an “audience” for oral reading and skills that need drilling.
● Be a resource, providing helpful hints about where and how to locate information.
● Be a proofreader.
● Provide words of encouragement.
● Monitor visitors and phone calls to avoid unnecessary interruptions.
However, we remind you that, “while all these actions can help students, remember that too much help can prevent a student from developing healthy independent study habits.”
(The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association)
STUDENT AGENDA/HOMEWORK PLAN
As you know, each student has a student agenda. The purpose of this planner is to assist students in developing organizational and time management skills relating to homework completion and assignments. It will also provide a link between home and school.
The agenda is expected to be signed by a parent on a daily basis to ensure completion of homework and parent knowledge of due assignments. Each day, homework is written down on the “Homework Board” in class and the students are given the opportunity to copy down the homework. Agendas are checked by the teacher daily and we ask that parents do the same at home. This ensures that you and your child are aware that all homework has been completed. According to the TCDSB guidelines, Grade Five students should have approximately 30 to 50 minutes of homework per night. This does not account for class work that becomes homework because class time was not utilized appropriately. It is essential that all students keep up with their work and come to school prepared. Students will be asked to complete any unfinished homework during morning or afternoon recess whenever necessary.
EVALUATION
Evaluation is based upon the following: daily work, homework, quizzes, tests, assignments, projects, participation and effort. Teacher, self and peer assessment will be conducted. Evaluation is ongoing, and will include both process and product. The following marking scheme will be used:
| 1- |
D- |
51 - 53 |
| 1 |
D |
54 - 56 |
| 1+ |
D+ |
57 - 59 |
| 2- |
C- |
60 - 63 |
| 2 |
C |
64 - 66 |
| 2+ |
C+ |
67 - 69 |
| 3- |
B- |
70 - 73 |
| 3 |
B |
74 - 76 |
| 3+ |
B+ |
77 - 79 |
| 4- |
A- |
80 - 83 |
| 4 |
A |
84 - 89 |
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
All of our classroom rules focus around respect. Students must demonstrate respect for their teachers and other staff members, their peers, their school, other people’s property as well as themselves. Please be aware that if there is a note in the agenda about a behavioural issue, it is serious or the steps taken to address the behaviour have not been successful. We ask for your support when dealing with these situations.
* Please ensure that your child is prepared for Physical Education on the appropriate days (running shoes and proper attire
* Students should be reading daily and take advantage of their Library period
* Please ensure that your child wears the school uniform every day and label clothing in case it gets lost
EXCURSIONS
We know that education is not confined to the classroom, so we will schedule excursions throughout the school year. You will be notified when these take place.
If you have any questions regarding this information, please do not hesitate to contact us at the school.
We also suggest a few helpful websites that you may find useful for you or your child:
The Ministry of Education website, where you can find grade expectations:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/elementary.html
CURRICULUM
RELIGION & FAMILY LIFE
Texts: May We Be One; We Are God’s People; Fully Alive
The religion text explores the life of Jesus Christ as revealed to us in the gospels of the New Testament. Much of the time will be devoted to showing the students how to use a bible for reading, study and prayer.
The family life aspect of the curriculum is guided by the Fully Alive text, which was written, produced and approved by the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops for use in the Catholic school system. The themes covered this year are:
Theme One: Created and Loved by God
Theme Two: Living in Relationship
Theme Three: Created Sexual: Male & Female
Theme Four: Growing in Commitment
Theme Five: Living in the World
MATHEMATICS
Text: Nelson Mathematics 5
The following strands will be studied repeatedly throughout the year:
1. Number Sense and Numeration
2. Measurement
3. Geometry and Spatial Sense
4. Patterning and Algebra
5. Data Management and Probability
If you would like extra exercises for your child to work on, you may use the Nelson website as a support. There is a “Parent Centre” as well as a “Student Centre”.
http://www.mathK8.nelson.com
LANGUAGE
Text: Communicating Skills; Nelson Literacy 5; various other novels and resources
Students will develop thinking, listening, speaking, writing and reading skills in order to increase their appreciation of literature and language. These skills are part of all areas of the curriculum and will be evaluated across the curriculum. These skills will be strengthened through the study of:
Literature: novel studies, book reports, poetry, independent reading, process writing
Grammar
Spelling
Vocabulary Development
Oral and Visual Communication
SOCIAL STUDIES
Resources: Many Gifts; Blackline masters from various sources
This year we will be studying:
1) Canadian Government, including the levels of government, electoral process and aspects of government and immigration
2) Ancient Civilizations, including Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, etc.
SCIENCE
Text: Addison Wesley Series
The Science curriculum is organized into five strands, which are the major areas of knowledge and skill. We will work through the strands in the following order:
Energy & Control: Conservation of Energy
Life Systems: The Human Body
Matter & Materials: Changes in Matter
- Structures & Mechanisms: Forces
We have booked two “Scientist in Schools” presentations to support some of the curriculum strands. These allow us hands-on experience, which is very beneficial to the learning process.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH
Students are asked to be prepared for physical education. This means each student must have appropriate clothing and shoes. The strands to be covered are:
• Fundamental Movement Skills
• Active Participation
• Healthy Living
VISUAL ARTS
The visual arts program focuses on self-expression and the ability to communicate through visual images. The students are encouraged to develop their powers of observation and the ability to understand a variety of art works. The students will have the opportunity to explore various mediums, focusing on line, colour, texture, form, shape and space.
DRAMA/DANCE
Drama will, at times, alternate with visual arts. Drama and dance will also be incorporated into other areas of the curriculum (e.g. family life, language, physical education, reading response)