I hope you all enjoyed your summer. My family most certainly did! My name is Savaira Khan and I am one of the Grade 5 teachers. This is my first year here at St. Jude’s Academy but my fourth year teaching. I love to travel and teach, and I have had the privilege to teach in Canada, USA, and the UK. I currently reside in Burlington with my husband Mohsin, where we enjoy hanging out by the lake. I am excited to meet everyone and get started on this amazing year.
Blog/Agendas/Specialists
I will be teaching language, art, math and the Units of Inquiry (UOI)! Our new room is room 17. I invite you to check out my blog on a daily basis at https://mskhangr5.blogspot.ca . On my blog you will be able to see what your child did that day, homework, weekly spelling words, important dates, the Grade 5 schedule, and other items as well. My blog will be updated on a daily basis. Mrs. William-Jacobs will be teaching French, Mr. Oliver will be teaching music, and Mr. Beresford will be teaching Phys. Ed. Daily agendas will also be filled out by each student and they are expected to be signed by parents/guardians on a nightly basis.
Technology
As part of the grade 5 curriculum, students will be taking part in a coding unit. This unit will take place closer to the end of the school year, May 2018. As a compulsory component of the UOI, your child is required to bring in a laptop; this laptop is also a mandatory requirement for grade 6.
Uniform
From September until Thanksgiving, students are able to wear the summer uniform, which consists of grey pants/shorts/skirts, navy socks, and the white polo t-shirt. 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 button up shirt, a tie, a long sleeve sweater/sweater vest, and the blazer. Students must wear their blazer during assemblies, to and from class during transitions, and of course during field trips. Black dress shoes are also required, as is a house colour tie to wear on Fridays. Black shoes must be polishable! **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.** Alpa can be reached at alpa@multiformcanada.ca.
Unit of Inquiry
Our first UOI is What’s the Matter, where students will be using the scientific method to investigate matter. This task will serve as the summative task for this unit of inquiry as well as their submission to the science fair, held in November. On this blog, you can find a link to SJA’s Program of Inquiry, as well as more detailed information about our first UOI. The UOI’s for the upcoming school year have been attached in this email.
Trips
In Grade 5, we hope to have some exciting trips and events. We hope to give ample notice for when trips/events may take place. Please keep in mind that hot lunch will not be provided during trips and that no reimbursements will be given for hot lunch. Reimbursements will also not be given if your child is absent on the day of the trip. Volunteers are more than welcome and we will do our best to accommodate all volunteers.
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.
Hot Lunch Program
Ms. Bancud is taking over the hot lunch program from Mrs. Smith. All hot lunch orders can be done online. Payments can be sent to the school via cash or cheque. I will send reminders about the final day that you can order lunch and when the payment is due.
Please see note from Ms. Bancud - HOT lunch program is back online and ready for you to place your order for the month of September. Please know that the website closes off end of day Aug 31st and is unable to reopen for September ordering. Please ensure you get your orders in as soon as possible! We have some new options featured on our menu please keep your eye out for those! Lunch payments are due to homeroom teacher or reception no later than September 8th, 2017. For Further information regarding set-up for the lunch program.
A few other key items:
· Orientation Night is Monday, August 28 from 5-7 PM. We will begin in the Grade 5 classroom (room 17) and then we will move to a general session in the auditorium.
· All SJA families are required to purchase a key fob. This will allow you to enter the building at the side door between 7:30-9:00 AM and then again from 3:45-6:00 PM. The key fob is a $40 deposit and you can see speak to Dawn about ordering one.
· As stated in the email sent from Ashley at reception, microwaves will be used only for students in Grade 3 and up. The microwaves are intended to warm up food, so please refrain from sending 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, as you will see in the Student Handbook to please refrain 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 avoid sending in items, which ‘may contain.’
· Please note that afternoon Kiss and Ride has been cancelled. The new dismissal procedures can be found in the SJA Parent and Student Handbook attached to this email. The new procedures will also be explained at the orientation evening next week.
· Daily early dismissal procedures have been cancelled. Parents will still be able to pick up their child/ren for appointments. Please notify you child’s teacher as these events occur.
August/September Dates
· Thursday, August 31 is the last day to order September lunch
· Wednesday, September 6 is the first day of school· Week of September 6-8 is Neophyte Week with Friday, September 8 being our first house color spirit day. Please dress in your house color: orange, blue, or green! All teachers should have a list of student houses, so if you are unsure of your child’s house, please ask!· Friday, September 8 is when September lunch payments are due· On Saturday, September 16, our SJA Parent Guild is hosting a SJA Annual Back to School Kick-off. This event will take place from 11:00-3:00 and will be held in the back playground area. The cost is $30 all-inclusive. This event is sure to be an amazing time!· Tuesday, September 26 will be our Terry Fox Run.· Wednesday, September 27 will be our first Casual Day. Students will be allowed to dress down if they have paid the $20 casual day fee.· Tuesday, September 26 and Wednesday, September 27 will be our first bake sale of the year and we are one of the grades who will be in charge of running it. Please bring in nut free and peanut free baked goods to the classroom. Please also avoid ‘may contain’ items.
Please check your email for a copy of the SJA Parent/Student Handbook, SJA Code of Conduct, and the SJA 2017-2018 Calendar. Please take the time to carefully review each attachment and then sign and print off the last page of the SJA Parent/Student Handbook and return to me no later than Friday, September 15, 2017.
I apologize for the information overload! I look forward to seeing you all on Monday, August 28. If any questions arise in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Enjoy the rest of your summer,
Savaira Khan
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