Story Time with the Principal

Each month students from each classroom come together to enjoy a story and a snack with Mrs. McDonald.  Over the course of the year, each student will have a turn. In February, the following students participated: Elliot, Leif, Wesley, Jessie, Damhee, Evelyn, Landen, Atley, Lasmi, Xander Q., Jaylen, Tajha, Keane, Makayla, Samuel, Blake, Kieran M., Braedan, Avirey, Ayla, Tiffani, Noah C., and Tyler.

Fubuki Daiko Drumming Residency

Last week our Music Room was transformed into a Japanese Taiko Drumming Dojo under the highly-talented and internationally-acclaimed drumming ensemble Fubuki Daiko. For three days our grades 4 & 5 students received 55 minute classes in Taiko Drumming where they learned different drumming techniques, rhythmic patterns and Japanese culture. Each room learned a different piece and they were also given time to work in small groups where they composed their own line in the music!

 

On Thursday all three classes (Rooms 15, 16 & 18) performed their pieces (including their composed lines!) for all the students and staff at Linwood School as well as family members who were able to join us. The performance was capped off with a drumming performance by Fubuki Daiko!

 

Thanks for coming to Linwood, Hiroshi and Naomi, and a special thanks to Manitoba Education and Training for awarding us with a Manitoba Music Month grant to help us bring Fubuki Daiko to Linwood!

 

Please visit http://www.fubuki.ca for more information about Fubuki Daiko!

Basketball Action

Congratulations to the Linwood School basketball teams. Both teams (Grade 4 and Grade 5) had a great season working on basketball skills and teamwork. Throughout the season the students had the opportunity to practice and participate in after school games against Brooklands, Stevenson and Assiniboine. Both teams finished off the season at the Friendship Tournament. Thank you to Mrs. Rogala and Mr. Young for coaching the teams.

Grade 4 Team

Grade 5 Team

Celebration of Learning

On Thursday, March 16th we will host our second term Celebration of Learning with an open house from 4:30-7:00 PM.  Our goal is to have all families participate.  Please mark your calendar now!  This is a wonderful chance for our students to share with their families all of the learning that has taken place during the second term of our school year.  More details will come home with your child's report card on March 8th.

We Love to Read!

We will be celebrating our love of reading all week long with special activities planned from Monday, February 27 to Friday, March 3rd.  Keep reading to learn the highlights:


Marvelous Math and Music Monday- Featuring guest readers from St. James Collegiate with musical accompaniment and special stories which connect numbers and literacy!


Bookmarks and Bookworms Tuesday - Our wonderful librarian, Mrs. Branco, will have the students diving into reading this day.  Ask your child all about it!


Winning Wednesday - A day of story-related guessing for the students; which staff "selfie" goes with the "shelfie"?  How many items are in the "story jar"?


You Be You Thursday - Literature and art will be connected with all students participating in a community building activity.  Ask your child about the story You Be You and about our new "school".


Flashlights and Forts Friday - Who doesn't love cozying up with a good book inside a fort?  Students are invited to bring a flashlight from home.  Fort building supplies will be provided.

Save the Date!

Attention all families of Grade 5 students.  Our annual Grade 5 Farewell ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 27th in the morning.  Your child's teacher will provide more details as the event gets closer.  For now, please save the date and plan to join us!

Indigenous Education and Curricular Connections

Dear Linwood Families,

At Linwood, we are working to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into our classrooms in a variety of ways. Many classrooms are learning about the Seven Sacred Teachings (respect, love, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility, and truth) through literature and art, including our divisional program known as The Integrated Arts, where professional artists work in the school. The Social Studies curriculum also addresses various aspects of citizenship as a core concept across all grades. The concept of diversity, including Indigenous perspectives, is integrated throughout the curriculum.

 

Some of our classrooms hold teacher led Sharing Circles as a format for class meetings.  Others are fortunate enough to participate, at different points during the school year, in a Talking Circle program led by a member of the division’s Indigenous Education Department.  The Talking Circle is part of divisional programming held within the classroom, for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to learn and benefit from.

 

Talking Circles create a safe space where all learners have a voice, and feel honoured, respected, and valued. The Talking Circle is used to build community, foster respect, develop public speaking skills, develop listening skills, and extend understanding.  It is also used to integrate Indigenous perspectives into the school culture.

 

As part of the Talking Circle program, classrooms may be invited to participate in a smudge.  Teachers will send home more specific information and a permission slip with students who are invited to participate.  All families will be informed in advance of the date that a smudge will be lit and plans will be made for students with severe allergies/ respiratory issues.

 

Some of our classrooms are also learning about the history of Residential Schools in Canada.   This learning will be incorporated into the English Language Arts program with a particular focus on reading, writing, and critical thinking.   Information will be delivered in an age-appropriate manner, often using children’s literature as a springboard for discussion.  Teachers will provide classroom specific information to families ahead of time via the classroom newsletter or blog.

 

We anticipate that learning about Residential Schools may lead to some interesting conversations at home.  We would invite you to contact your child’s teacher directly if you have any questions or concerns.  We look forward to working with your son or daughter as we explore together this important piece of Canadian history.

 

For more information about the St. James-Assiniboia School Division Indigenous Education Department, please visit their website http://abedsjasd.blogspot.ca/.  Manitoba curricular documents are available here http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/.

 

 

As always, we value your participation in your child’s education.  Please feel free to contact us at any time,

 

Sincerely,

 

The Linwood Teaching Team