Science Unit Wrap-up

As a final project in our "Interactions Within Ecosystems" students completed three tasks as part of a design challenge:

- a garbage reduction strategy
- a replacement for plastic packaging
- a model landfill

Students presented their work today, and their projects are on display in the hallway (hopefully until 3-way conferences.)  Many hours went into their planning and production.

Please stop by to have a look at their hard work!

Unit 1 Math Test - Patterns and Relations

With our first math test just around the corner, (Monday, October 5) I thought I would send our a reminder about the "Extra Practice" sheets available through the link at the bottom of this page.  There is a review sheet for all eight lessons in unit 1.  It is not necessary to do all sheets, or ANY if all skills are mastered.  We will be doing review in class, which may be adequate for many students, and should also highlight to others the areas that may require additional review.

Room Parent

Would you be interested in being our class's Room Parent?

Duties are pretty limited in grade 7...

We have a hot lunch scheduled for November, and near the end of June, we are responsible for the coffee/squares portion of the Grade 8 Farewell.

Please let me know if you are inclined to help out!

Message from Matthew, Parish Life Director

In this week’s gospel (Mark 10:2-16) we hear Jesus being questioned about the married state. Jesus responds by reiterating the importance and indissolubility of marriage. 

Whenever I read this passage I always ask myself the question, what makes a strong marriage? Every marriage has difficulties. Two people living together and balancing life is difficult enough. Throw in a few rambunctious children and you have a recipe for disaster. Tension is inevitable. But how do you strengthen your relationship and navigate rocky patches before real trouble strikes?

(1) Create a budget together. Statistically, money is the number one cause of fights among couples. A fruitful marriage is one where couples manage their money wisely. Jesus says, “If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11). Your spouse is your greatest treasure. Include him or her in your financial plans and avoid the conflict in the first place. (2) Remember why you fell in love. What qualities attracted you to your spouse? Focus on the good things. (3) Repent and ask for forgiveness. The word repent in Greek means to take a different perspective on the situation. Saying “I’m sorry” goes a long way. (4) Invest in your relationship. Make an effort to show your spouse you love him or her. Marriage is hard work and love is often a choice. The grass is not greener on the other side. It is greener where you water it. Work on staying in love. (5) Play together and have fun. Don’t let your marriage become monotonous. That’s part of the reason Jesus likens the kingdom of God to children. Children have fun, they play together and play relieves stress. Give it try. Invest in your relationship by doing something fun with your mate. (6) Pray together. When you aren’t right with God you won’t be right with your spouse. Put God first and take time to grow spiritually as a couple.

Marriage can be difficult at times. That is why God wants husbands and wives to work together in order to build a loving marriage. He desires that couples have healthy and fruitful marriages. That was his plan “from the beginning”. 

Discipleship Challenge: This week, take your spouse on a date or spend quality time with a friend. 

Welcome to a new school year!

Just a note to keep you up to date with what is going on in our 7 class…

Math:

We have recently started the “Patterns and Relations” unit. There will be a test on the first unit’s material near the beginning of October.  (Check the calendar for the exact date, as it approaches.)  In preparation for the test, students are encouraged to review the lessons, particularly the Assessment Focus questions.  This should give them insight as to their areas of strength and weakness.  Additional review materials can be found on CD-ROM available for loan from the school.  I would also recommend signing up for the materials available through our division (I will try to link the info here when I have it.)

            There are links to various math sites linked to this blog and the St. Dominic website if you are looking for additional resources.  Many of them are actually fun!  Also, among these links is the Math Makes Sense website that includes "Extra Practice," a review sheet for every lesson that we do in grade 7.  A very useful tool for test preparation (or just practice when the textbook doesn't provide enough.)

Language Arts:          

We are currently working on a unit called “Fears and Phobias”.  Students are reading from the Nelson Literacy anthology.  Two of the important ideas in this unit include summarizing and word choice.

Social Studies:

            We have begun the “Living Together” unit.  We will focus on the questions “How do interactions with our neighbours lead to conflict, cooperation, and interdependence?” and “How does globalization affect people and the environment?”

            We will also be working on monthly current events, with the information going out in the first week of the month, the assignment due in the third, and the quiz in the last week.

Science:          

We have started the “Interactions Within Ecosystems” unit.  We will be incorporating our learning into a landfill design at the end of the unit.

Health:

            We will be starting the Fully Alive program.  Please see the separate blog post for parent letters and other information.

Religion:

Unit 1 “I…We” is our current unit.  We are exploring the themes

                                                Who am I?

                                                Am I normal?

                                                Do I belong?

Finally…

It is probably wise to subscribe to this blog.  Subscribing through the RSS link seems to send updates immediately, the email subscription has been known to be a little delayed...

I don't send home notes on paper very often.  If I need a signature for something... but that's about it.

Please take a minute to email me with your name and your child’s name, so that I can add you to my contact list.  This is probably the most efficient method of communication for most things, though phone calls will work better for some things too…

Dan Gallays

dgallays@scs.sk.ca

(306) 659-8451(voicemail)

Fully Alive information

We will be starting the Fully Alive program this week.  There are a few things that, as parents, you might be interested in.

Letters are to be sent home in anticipation of each unit.  I won’t be wasting the paper, but the letters can be found here.

With the recently renewed program, there are no longer Family Edition books.  All resources are available online.  If this is a problem, please let me know.  It is available in its entirety here.

Message from our Room Parent

All parents need to contact me with their response to the memo I sent home last week. Money and note was due Monday and I've only had 9 responses. All grade 7 parents need to help with the grade 8 grad tea. If they did not get the memo or would like to contact me directly instead my email is tamaralucas@shaw.ca or 306-290-9800 or they can send home with Carter.

Thanks

Math - Final Tests

This year, following our last unit exam (June 12) there will be final exams in three math strands:

Number (Chapters 2,3,5) is on June 17
Patterns and Relations (Chapters 1,6) is on June 18
Space and Shape (Chapters 4,8) is on June 19

The remaining strand, Statistics and Probability, was already assessed this term, so a final will not be necessary in this area.

Note today - Grade 8 Farewell Tea

Tammy Lucas, our room parent, is sending home a note today that requires a response.  It is about the role the Grade 7s play in the Grade 8 Farewell Tea.

If you do not receive the note, you can email Tammy and she can send it directly.
tamaralucas@shaw.ca

Swim Excursion

In the note that I sent home about the swim trip next week, I wrote that we are going to the Lawson Civic Centre. This is a mistake. It is the LAKEWOOD centre that we are going to.

Locker tokens need to be pre-ordered. $0.50

Science

**Science lab reports- good copy due tomorrow

**Amber, Olivia and Erika will write their science exams tomorrow

Science News

Students who would like extra test time for the science exam written today may arrange to bring a lunch and come to Mrs. Redpath's room during the lunch hour tomorrow (Wednesday). This is the only additional test time that will be allotted, as we need to be moving along in the curriculum.

Regards,
Mrs. Redpath 

Spring Roll Orders

The second round of spring roll orders goes in at the end of Tuesday.

Fun Night

The St. Dominic CSCC is still looking for volunteers for Friday's Fun Night.

Cake Decorating Contest (for Fun Night Cake Walk)

ü All cakes must be brought to the office on Friday April 17, by 12 pm.

ü Judging will take place at 12:30 pm. All Cakes must have name and grade of child.

ü Cakes must be decorated by the student (Parents can bake cakes)

ü All items on cakes must be edible.

ü We are a nut free school, so we ask that you consider this while you are decorating your cakes.

ü Cakes will be used for Cake Walk at Fun Night!

Happy Decorating!

Thought this might be worth reposting...

GSCS Parent, Guardian and Student Mathematics Learning Community

Join the Mathematics Learning Community for GSCS parents, guardians, and students and gain access to the student textbooks (Grades 3-9) and Student Practice and Homework books (Grades 1-9).

To register for this learning community, visit the cyber school website: www.scs.sk.ca/cyber and scroll down to the bottom of the page.  Under "Stuff" select "Math Learning Registration".  Scroll down on this page and select "I Agree".  Fill out the registration form and within a few days you will be emailed a user name and password.

Once you have your user name and password, you can access the learning community by going to the cyber school website: www.scs.sk.ca/cyber and logging in under WebCT Log In.

Video Production Unit and Film Premiere

Our video production unit in Practical and Applied Arts is drawing to a close.  We still have some work to do with our reflections and reviewing, but the technical stuff is over, and the kits have moved on to the next school.

For those who are looking to see our work and have the "big-screen experience," we are having a film premiere Tuesday, March 31, at 12:45, in the gym.  Anyone is welcome to join us.  Movies are at about a PG to PG-13 level.

In previous years, students have received a DVD copy of their work.  We have been informed that this practice is in violation of privacy standards.  I am hoping that it can be resolved with a simple parent waiver.  I will send one home shortly if this is in fact the solution.

Spring Roll Fundraiser

Order forms for the Spring Roll fundraiser went home today.  Judging by the number of forms still in the classroom, you may have to prod your child a bit if you haven't seen the form.

There will be two order deadlines (outlined on the form): March 26 (April 1 pick up) and April 14 (April 23 pick up.)

3 dozen for $30. Original OR spicy.

Easter Basket fundraiser

Tickets for the Easter Baskets raffle are available at the office at a cost of 2 for $1.  Thanks to everyone who donated and made our technology-themed basket so desirable!

Math: changes

Because of a fairly obvious need, the Unit 4 math test that was scheduled for tomorrow will be postponed until next Tuesday.  More than half the class has requested additional review sheets, and I want them to have time to work through this review before the test.

Fully Alive

Starting this week, we will be working with the Fully Alive program in both Religion and Health classes.

Parent letters and the complete family Fully Alive resource can be found here.

Teen Aid

Monday and Tuesday, the grade sevens will be treated to presentations by Shauna from Teen-Aid.