Welcome to Grade 4
Hello Grade 4 Parents and
Students, and Welcome to Grade 4!
I hope you all had a fantastic
summer. My family most certainly did! My name is Sara Di Mascio and I am one of
the Grade 4 teachers for this upcoming school year. I have been a teacher at
SJA since December of 2018 and have always taught grade 4. I currently reside
in Mississauga with my husband Michael. Together Michael and I love to travel,
this year we took a vacation to Portugal for a month and had a chance to spend
time with my family who lives in the Porto area, we had a chance to visit the
capital city Lisbon, travel south to the Algarve and enjoy the sunny beaches
and even had a chance to watch a live soccer match! Michael and I are both big
soccer fans and try to catch as many games as we can when travelling to Europe!
Blog/Agendas/Specialists
I will be teaching language,
math, art, and of course the Units of Inquiry (UOI)! Our new room is room 14
(next to Ms. Chiappetta’s classroom and across the hall from Ms. Hughes
classroom). I invite you to check out my blog on a daily basis at https://mrsdimasciogr4.blogspot.com/ . On my blog you will be able to see what your child did that day, homework, weekly
spelling words, important dates, the Grade 4 schedule, specialist teacher
information, as well as other important items. My blog will be updated on a
daily basis. Daily agendas will also be filled out by each student andare
expected to be signed by parents/guardians on a nightly basis. Mr. Oliver will
be teaching music, Ms. Hayward is our librarian, Mr. Orr will be teaching
Physical Education, and Mme. Rawan will be teaching French. Physical Education
will take place on Days 1, 3, and 5 for 50 minutes, beginning at 12.50 (the
Grade 4s will be bussed over to the SJA Athletic Centre). Music takes place on
Days 2, 4, and 6 for 40 minutes. French takes place everyday for anywhere between
40 minutes to 70 minutes, depending on the day. You can find the links to all
of the specialists blogs on my blog. This year your child will experience some
changes to their class schedule on Wednesdays due to a new program for the
Upper School called, Speaker Series. Every Wednesday (start date to be
determined), Upper School students will have the opportunity to attend a
seminar about necessary life skills presented by the staff at SJA. In order to
coordinate with this program, our class schedule will change slightly. I have
created two class schedules that reflect a normal daily schedule, and one that
reflects our day that falls on a Speaker Series session. Thank you for your
understanding and cooperation.
Units of Inquiry and Other
Subjects
Grade 4 is a big year for
students as we prepare them for Grade 5. Everything is done independently again
this year, such as the SJA Science Fair and Oral Presentations, where the Grade
5s write and memorize a persuasive speech. We will continue with our weekly spelling
lessons and tests, International Day, Spelling Bee, Arts’ Night, and our
Christmas Concert. Our first Unit of Inquiry will be Oh Canada (we will learn
about physical regions of Canada). Our other Units of Inquiry are World
Religions, Medieval Times, Rocks and Minerals, Arts Alive, and Light and Sound.
Please be reminded that UOI summative work is to be completed in class only,
unless otherwise stated, and that all work is to be completed by the student
only. You can find out more information about our Units of Inquiry and SJA’s
Program of Inquiry on my blog. Our novel studies will be Anne of Green Gables,
Ghosts in the Churchyard, and Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in it.
If students have already read those books, it is no big deal! Students will
re-read the novel in class. Physical Education classes for students in Grade 3
and up will take place at the SJA Athletic Centre on alternate days of the
6-day cycle (please see schedule above).
Uniforms
From September until
Thanksgiving, students are able to wear the summer uniform, which consists of
grey pants/shorts/skirts, navy socks, a white SJA crested polo t-shirt, and
plain black dress shoes. From Thanksgiving until after Easter, students are
required to wear the winter uniform, which consists of grey pants/skirts, navy
blue socks/tights, a white SJA crested button up long sleeve shirt, a tie, an
SJA crested long sleeve sweater/sweater vest, and an SJA crested blazer.
Students must wear their blazer during assemblies, to and from class during
transitions, and of course during field trips/workshops. After Easter, students
switch back to their summer uniform. Black dress shoes are also required, as is
a house colour tie to wear on Fridays. Black shoes must be polishable and there
should be no detail. Black running shoes/athletic shoes will not be accepted.
The SJA Physical Education uniform consists of navy blue SJA crested
sweatpants/shorts, an SJA
athletic shirt or house shirt, white socks, and proper indoor running shoes.
Outdoor shoes are not to be worn in the SJA gym or at the Athletic Centre. For
Physical Education, students should come in their regular SJA uniform and bring
the SJA gym uniform and running shoes to change into. Students will change into
their school day uniform at the school once Physical Education class is over.
It is also recommended that all students keep their Physical Education uniform
in a bag. House colour Physical Education bags are available through Ms. Alpa. Please label all pieces of the uniform.
**All uniform pieces must be
purchased through Alpa and Multiform Canada. Uniform violations will be sent
home to students who do not have the proper uniform pieces. The first violation
is a warning and the second violation will require the parents/guardians to
send the missing uniform piece to school. After the second violation, students
will be sent to acquire the proper uniform piece, from Alpa, at the parents’ expense. Alpa can be reached at alpa@multiformcanada.ca.**
Trips
In Grade 4, there are a few
extra trips that students will have the opportunity to participate in, on top
of our UOI field trips/workshops. As always, we welcome parent volunteers.
Please note that all volunteers will need to have a current Vulnerable Sector
Check on file at the school. If you have already provided the school with one
within the last five years, please sign the annual offence declaration form to
continue volunteering with our school. We know how much fun these trips can be
and that is why we will share the opportunity for all willing parents to join
us on a field trip or workshop here at the school. **Please note that trips may
change throughout the year.**
Homework
Homework is given on a nightly
basis and is expected to be completed by the following day, unless other wise
noted. I do understand that life does get in the way of homework being
completed, but it should not become a habit. If homework is not completed, students
may miss a recess to get caught up. Math will be given on a nightly basis and
spelling on Monday, if it has not been completed in class. Other language and
UOI homework may also be given at times. Test dates will be noted on the blog,
in advance, as well as summative due dates.
A note from our Librarian, Ms.
Hayward
Hello! I hope everyone has had a great summer
and is excited for back to school. I am looking forward to a great third year
in the St. Jude's Academy Library.
We accomplished a lot last
year in the library. We catalogued over 2,300 books in our
collection. We had successful Recess Readers sessions. We started out LIT
Club (library helpers). Our Enchanted Forest Book Fair was a huge success
allowing us topurchase over $2,400 worth of new books and resources for the
library. The Library also held some fun contests and we checked out a lot
of books for the voracious readers at SJA.
I hope to continue all these things and more.
Please check out (and follow) the library blog at www.sjslibrary.wordoress.com for all things library and literacy related. See you soon!
Hot Lunch Program
Ms. Gandy is taking over the hot
lunch program from Ms. Yustin. All hot lunch orders are be done online, using
the website posted below. All payments are to be made online. **PLEASE BE SURE
TO ORDER LUNCH UNDER THE CORRECT TEACHER AND GRADE. For example, Mrs. Di Mascio
and Grade 4.**
Please be reminded that all
lunches sent from home, must be peanut and nut-free.
Please know that the website
will be closed at 3:00 PM on Friday, August 30th and is unable to reopen for September ordering. Lunch
payments are due no later than September 13th, after this date it
will begin to collect interest.
Below are the instructions for returning families:
*If you have a sibling joining SJA this year please
keep in mind you can only use one email per child.
Step 1 Logon to website http://mydigitalmailroom.com/sja - if you forgot your password or email used please
contact bsmith@stjudesacademy.com
Step 2 Across the top menu bar you will see several
options, please scroll over MY ACCOUNT, change grade and teacher to reflect new
year. Select SAVE
Step 3 Across the top menu bar you will see several
options, please scroll over MANAGE LUNCH, a drop-down menu will appear, select
ADD NEW LUNCH FORM.
*Don’t forget to select payment method BEFORE ordering
Below are the instructions for new families:
**If you have more than one child you will need to use
different email addresses for each child. Only one child can be registered and
ordered for under a single email address.
Select register an account
Select grade
Select class
Select teacher
Enter in student information
Accept terms and conditions and select
Register
Repeat for additional students.
Step 2 Across the top menu bar you will see several
options, please scroll over MANAGE LUNCH, a drop-down menu will appear, select
ADD NEW LUNCH FORM.
*Don’t forget to select payment method BEFORE ordering
Kinderlime is our online app for aftercare. Please see below the
instructions on how to register.
New Parents
•
You have
been sent an email to sign up with a pin
•
Please
download the FREE Kinderlime app via APP Store, Google Play etc. Or Visit the
website https://www.kinderlime.com<https://www.kinderlime.com/>
Complete MUST HAVE information
about your child(ren) on APP/Website
•
Phone
number(s)
•
Updated
pick up permissions
•
Allergy/Medication
information
•
We strongly
suggest you set up automatic payments through the app/website to ensure you
will not incur late fees for monthly invoices.
•
You can
also choose to pay monthly through the app/website.
•
Through the
app/website you will be able to digitally access monthly break downs (printed
copies will not be available)
•
View
App/Website daily to see sign in/out times.
Returning Parents
•
Update the
MUST HAVE information about your child(ren) on APP/Website
•
Phone
number(s)
•
Updated
pick up permissions
•
Allergy/Medication
information
•
If you have
not already done so we strongly suggest you set up automatic payments through
the app/website to ensure you will not incur late fees for monthly invoices.
If you have any
questions/comments regarding this new addition, please contact the Students
Services Coordinator at bsmith@stjudesacademy.com
A few other key items:
·
Orientation
Night is Wednesday, August 28 from 5-7 PM. It will be in our new Grade 4
classroom (room 14). Parents and students are invited to visit the school, meet
the teachers, see the classroom and school, and ask any questions they may
have.
·
All SJA families
are required to purchase a key fob. This will allow you to enter the building
at the side door between 7:30-8:45 AM and then again from 3:45-6:00 PM. The key
fob is a $40 deposit and you can see speak to Ms. Kaitlin Padua, at the front reception, about ordering
one.
·
Morning
Kiss and Ride will continue this year as it did last year.
·
Dismissal
for Grades 2-6 will be in the gym, as it was last year. Please be reminded that
all parents are to remain outside until 3:30 PM, when the doors open for dismissal.
With parents permission, older siblings may pick up younger siblings and bring
them to the gym. In order to have an older sibling pick up a younger sibling, a
permission form must be filled out.
·
Microwaves
will be used only for students in Grade 3 and up. The microwaves are intended
to warm up food, so please do not send meals that need to be cooked, such as
frozen dinners. Please also ensure that you are sending everything your child
may need for their lunch, such as condiments, utensils, and plates for
microwavable meals if applicable. We will no longer be handing out plates,
bowls, cutlery, and condiments, as they are strictly for those who order hot
lunch.
·
As for our
birthday policy, you will see in the Family Handbook that we are refraining
from sending in food related items. If you would like to send in something, a
book with your child’s name can be added to the library or a loot bag with
pencils, erasers, notebooks, etc. can be sent home with students.
·
A kind
reminder that we are a peanut and nut-free school. Please do not send in items,
which ‘may contain.’ This especially applies to bake sale items. Any items that
'may contain,' will be sent back home with the student.
·
All
parents/guardians that would like to volunteer for field trips or activities in
the school must provide a current vulnerable sector check.
August/September Dates
·
Wednesday,
August 28 is Orientation Night from 5-7 PM in room 14. All specialist teachers
will be in Room 29. Ms. Alpa (uniforms), Ms. Anna (bussing), and Wynn Fitness
will be in Room 28. There will also be a basketball presentation taking in the
gym.
·
Friday,
August 30 at 3:00 PM is the last day to order September lunch.
·
Wednesday,
September 4 is the first day of school. All students are required to be in full
summer uniform.
·
Week of
September 4-6 is Neophyte Week with Friday, September 6 being our first house
colour spirit day. Please dress in your house color: Kappa Iota Pi (orange),
Theta Sigma Psi (blue), or Zeta Beta Pi (green)! All teachers should have a
list of student houses, so if you are unsure of your child’s house, please ask!
·
Friday,
September 13 is when September lunch payments are due. Our Terry Fox run is
also taking place this day.
·
Thursday,
September 19 is our SJA/Oakwood Welcome Back BBQ,’ from 4-6PM. Tickets will be
sold during this first week of school. This is a great opportunity to connect
with teacher and friends.
·
Friday,
September 20-Friday, September 27 is our Fall Fundraiser.
·
Wednesday,
September 25 will be our first Casual Day. Students will be allowed to dress
down if they have paid the $20 casual day fee.
·
Tuesday,
September 25 and Wednesday, September 26 will be our first bake sale of the
year. We will be responsible for hosting one of the bakesales this year, I will
pass that information to you as soon as we have a date. Please be reminded that
all bake sale items must be peanut and nut free. Please do not send in ‘may contain’ items. Items at contain or may contain peanuts or
nuts will be sent back home.
·
Monday,
September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, a day where we remember and pay tribute to
those who were forced to attend residential schools.
Please find attached a copy of
the SJA Family Handbook, SJA Code of Conduct, the Grade 4 daily schedule, the
Grade 4 POI (Programme of Inquiry), and flyers
regarding both Lower School and Upper School orientation nights and our Welcome
Back BBQ. Please take the time to carefully review each attachment and then
sign and print off the last page of the SJA Family Handbook and return to me no later than Friday,
September 13, 2019.
I apologize for the information
overload! I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday, August 28.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Mrs. Sara Di Mascio
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