Class+Newsletters

April 21, 2010

Attention parents: I wanted to send out a brief note to inform parents of some issues which there seems to have been some confusion about recently regarding field trips. These apply to any field trip in general:

-Food is not to be purchased without prior permission from the teacher. Students must bring lunches / snacks from home. -Parent drivers must not stop anywhere (eg. fast food restaurants) on the way there or back, since it is unfair to other students, teachers do not know their whereabouts, field trips are during class time, and it is a liability issue .-Rules that apply at school also apply on field trips. This means no hats, gum, cell phones, etc. -students must not leave the group without a buddy and permission from the teacher.

By grade 7, students should know these rules very well and should not have to be reminded of them. They are for the safety and well-being of the students. Students who disobey rules wil not be invited to come on future field trips. Please discuss these matters with your child, as we want to make sure that we will not have any problems regarding these issues on future field trips.Thank you for your help and understanding. Sincerely, Mrs. Weitzel

April 2010

Dear parents, We hope that you had a nice Spring Break, and enjoyed the 2 weeks off! Third term is sure to go by quickly, and there are many events coming up to look forward to! __ Library Research Project __ Our class has been assigned a research project on Ancient Greece. We have not assigned a due date as of yet, but it will likely be around the end of April. Please see our class website ([|www.mrsweitzelsclassPH.wikispaces.com]) for the outline or ask your child to see it. Most students have partners for this project, but can choose to go on their own if the partnership is not working out. Work should be divided equally and each student is responsible for doing their share as best as possible. Students are being given a good amount of library research time for this project, as well as class time. __ Planners __ We have had a number of incidents with students not handing in their work on time, and relying too heavily on the website for homework. Students MUST take responsibility for recording homework and keeping track of deadlines, as this will not be done for them next year! The website should only be used as an extra tool for parents to check homework, or for students who are away to see what they have missed. We have asked that students get in the habit of using their planners again, and get them signed every night. There are a few students who have done this regularly all year without reminders, and those few have been excused from getting them signed. __ Incomplete / Missing Assignments __ Please encourage your child to get their assignments in on time without reminders from their teachers. It is extremely difficult for us to chase them down for missing work! Missing assignments are also kept track of on a poster in the classroom. Please feel free to stop by and check it out if you are curious. __ Grade 7 Fundraisers __ Please continue to use your Thrifty Foods gift cards for paying for groceries, as 5% will be go to our grade 7’s for end of the year activities. __ Beauty & the Beast at ____ EMS __ Please note that our field trip to see Beauty and the Beast at Earl Marriot is April 20th. We were very lucky to get tickets, as they went very quickly. However, there are also evening performances for anyone else who is interested! Sincerely, Mrs. Weitzel & Mrs. White

March 2009

Dear parents, We hope that you have enjoyed the last 2 weeks of the Olympics and found some time to watch our Canadian athletes win a record number of gold medals! Division 1 did a wonderful job on their Olympics presentations, and we were quite thrilled with the quality of the work overall. Many students were right or at least very close on their predictions about who would win which medals! __ Report Cards __ Report cards will go home this week on Friday, March 5th. Please ensure that you read the comments carefully and sign the back of the folder and return it and the envelope as soon as possible. Please keep the enclosed report card for your records. Please feel free to make an appointment for Thursday, March 25th. Mrs. Weitzel will be available from 2:50 until 4:30. If this time does not work for you, please let us know another time that would and we will do our best to accommodate you. __ Grade 7 Fundraisers __ We have been keeping track of students who are able to contribute to any grade 7 fundraisers, to ensure that money earned is allocated fairly. Please check the class website ( [|www.mrsweitzelsclassPH.wikispaces.com] ) for updates about fundraisers, and participate if you can. On Tuesday this week, students received a Thrifty Foods fundraiser. Parents are asked to use the gift card and upload it, and then pay for their groceries using the card. 5% of money spent on the cards will go to our grade 7’s, simply for buying groceries! (There is a new Thrifty Foods located near Grandview Corners) Sincerely, Mrs. Weitzel & Mrs. White

February 2010 Dear parents & guardians, What a busy month so far! We hope that you are enjoying the wonderful weather and taking time to enjoy the warm temperatures. **__Notes from home __** If your child is unable to participate in P.E., or has not had time to complete any assignments for any acceptable reason, please make sure to send a note from home. Mrs. Weitzel has been unable to edit our class website the last few days, and has emailed all students the homework instead. However, it is important for them to remember any other homework for other teachers, as this is not Mrs. Weitzel’s responsibility to remind them, or to keep track of. Homework is recorded on the website for parents to check, or for students if they were away. It is not to be used in place of students’ planners, as they should also take responsibility for recording their homework as well. Report cards will be issued on March 5th. Students should be paying special attention to all deadlines for assignments coming up to ensure that they receive full marks. **__Hoops for Heart __** Hoops for Heart week is February 8-12. Please bring a donation! **__Grade 7 Parent Meeting __** Just a reminder that the Farewell meeting has been changed from February 10 to February 17, in Mr. Issel’s room. All parents are welcome to attend. Please make sure to also check the website for info on newsletters/notices that have been sent home and ask your child for them if you have not received them.
 * __Homework __**

Sincerely, Mrs. Weitzel & Mrs. White

January 19, 2010

Dear parents / guardians,

A concern has been brought to our attention involving inappropriate physical contact and language between the grade 7 boys and girls. This behaviour has been occurring on the school playground during recess and lunch over the last two weeks. We have met with the boys and girls to separately to discuss these matters. During these discussions, we defined appropriate interactions between boys and girls and focused on why appropriate interactions are important. We encourage you to discuss these issues with your child at home. In addition, we would like to ask that parents take some time to review what is considered appropriate clothing and accessories as outlined in the student planner on page 5. Please contact Mrs. Weitzel, Mr. Issel, or Mrs. White if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you.

January 2010 Dear parents & guardians,

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s!

Our class website has proven to be very useful in keeping parents aware of homework and deadlines. Mrs. Weitzel has written a few small notes lately to parents there as well. Please make sure that you check this as much as possible, as it is an easy way for us to keep parents “in the loop”! Also, if you are unsure about anything written in your child’s planner, or if your child is away, you or your child can check it at: www.mrsweitzelsclassph.wikispaces.com/homework. You can also email Mrs. Weitzel at weitzel_l@sd36.bc.ca.

Missing Items Last Friday, one of our students had a cell phone and her pink iPod taken from her backpack. The cell phone was later found smashed on the walkway near the south field. Students are aware that they are not allowed to bring electronics to school, and by bringing them to school, they are risking them being stolen. However, this is something very upsetting that has happened that should not have, and we do not want to make any accusations of who did it. All we are asking is that parents be aware of items their child may be taking home, and to let Mrs. Weitzel or Mrs. White know if something has been found that did not belong to the child. In the future, the classroom will be locked at all times when there is no one in the room, and anyone entering the room alone or without permission will receive a behavior strike.

Homework As students come closer to entering grade 8, they should be starting to become more independent with keeping track of deadlines and ensuring work is handed in on time without reminders. If students are busy because of family events or activities, please write one of us a note so we are aware of this, and we will give an extension when possible. If there is no note, students will receive a homework strike. If assignments are not handed in one day after the strike, students will receive a zero on the assignment. We have decided this because it is much too difficult for us to chase after students that have incomplete assignments.

Important Dates

January 27 – Family Math Night

Sincerely, Mrs. Weitzel & Mrs. White (604)531-2828

December 2009

Dear parents & guardians,

December has been a very busy month so far. We hope that you are keeping warm and enjoying the season!

Report Cards & Interviews First term report cards went home Friday, December 4th. Parent teacher interviews are on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, please book a time if you have not yet, and would like to. Mrs. Weitzel is available until 4:30. If these dates do not work for you, please feel free to call the school and book a time any other day (except Friday).

Homework Please continue to check homework and other deadlines on our class website (www.mrsweitzelsclassph.wikispaces.com/homework), as we are expecting that most students are responsible enough to record all work in their planners, and do not often check them anymore. Parents can ensure students are completing the assignments required by checking the website daily. This is also a great resource for students who are absent.

Math Expectations A quick note about Math homework: students MUST show their work when completing Math assignments! They must then mark their assignments themselves using the answers at the back of their workbook and/or textbook, and then correct any questions that they have done wrong. This is part of their homework mark, and if any of the steps listed here are not completed, they will receive a strike for incomplete homework.

Christmas Concert Our Christmas concert is coming up on December 16th (afternoon) and December 17th (evening). Please make the necessary arrangements to ensure that your child will be here for the evening concert as well. If they will be away, please let us know as soon as possible, as some students have speaking parts and it is essential that they are there!

Food Bank / Hampers Thank you for your generous contributions to our food bank and hampers so far! The schedule is on the attached calendar as well. You will notice that in our school’s hallway there are some beautiful trees on the walls with gift tags on them. On the tags are specific items needed for the hampers. Please come take a look and see what you are able to contribute, and bring the item(s) back with the gift tag, and they will be put in the corresponding hamper. They are starting to fill up, but there are still many gift tags left!

Please see calendar (attached to hard copy of newsletter) for upcoming December events.

Sincerely, Mrs. Weitzel & Mrs. White (604)531-2828

November 2009

Dear parents & guardians,

We hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween!

Mrs. Weitzel has begun posting homework online, on our class website. If you are unsure about anything written in your child’s planner, or if your child is away, you or your child can check it at: www.mrsweitzelsclassph.wikispaces.com/homework. You can also email Mrs. Weitzel at weitzel_l@sd36.bc.ca.

As grade 7 teachers, we do expect the quality of students’ work to be at a grade 7 level. However, we feel that many students are not putting as much effort and thought into their work as possible. For example, when answering any question, students MUST answer in complete sentences! Work that is not done in this way will be expected to be redone. This is because when students need to study for a test, they need to review their assignments. If questions are not written in complete sentences, they likely will not know what the assignment was about. Work is also expected to be legible, and with proper spelling and use of grammar. Marks will be deducted for mistakes. If students are confused about an assignment, they must take an initiative to ask for help. Mrs. White and Mrs. Weitzel are here to help, and are available most days before and after school. Our role as educators is to do our best to see our students succeed! However, in order for this to happen, students MUST take personal responsibility for their learning, and do everything they can to ensure that this happens! Nothing makes us happier than having a student ask for support when they need it.
 * Assignment Expectations**

Please let the school know first thing in the morning if your child is going to be away. If he or she will be away for an extended amount of time, please either check the website for homework, or let Mrs. Weitzel know, and she will put together a homework package to be picked up at the office. Students will be required to complete any work they have missed, and hand it in as soon as possible. If they are absent for one day, they will have the assignment deadline extended for one day. For longer absences, we will decide on an acceptable due date with the student.
 * Absences**

Any test taken at school will be sent home and will require a parent’s signature. Please do this and return it to school ASAP, as we need it in order to assess the students. If you need to keep a copy for some reason, please let us know and we will make an extra for you. Tests not returned by the deadline will require a homework pass from students, or it is a strike.
 * Tests**

Thank you to parents who have been able to volunteer to drive our students for field trips. These trips would not be possible without your help!
 * Drivers**

Sincerely, Mrs. Weitzel & Mrs. White (604)531-2828

__October 2009 Dear parents/guardians, Happy October! Things are getting underway for Division 1, and so far we have had a great start to grade 7. Divisions 1 and 2 have been learning square dances for our annual Harvest Day, October 9th. We would love to have you join us and look forward to seeing you there! We would like to say thank you to parents who have volunteered to drive or help out during our field trips to the Grouse Grind, Semiahmoo beach, and those who volunteered during the Terry Fox Run. Without you, these events would not be possible! Students are working hard to turn in assignments on time, and are learning how essential their planners really are in ensuring this happens. Mrs. Weitzel or Mrs. White are signing planners at the end of every day, and we hope that parents are doing the same. Students are only responsible for recording homework that they have not yet completed, so if it is in the planner, it is not yet done! Also, assignments must be handed in the morning of the day they are due (without reminders!). However, Spelling and Math do not need to be handed in, since we mark these as a class. Spelling work is always due on Wednesdays, and tests are always on Fridays.

We have started using a strike system, to ensure that students hand in their homework on time, and demonstrate their best behaviour during school time. They have been given 3 homework passes (and only 3 for the whole year), which can be used to give them ONE extra day to complete their homework. If they run out of passes, incomplete homework or work not handed in on time will count as a “strike”. Three days of having an unsigned planner is also a strike. Also, inappropriate behaviour is counted a strike. Three strikes will result in a phone call home, and 5 strikes will result in that student missing the next class event, such as a party or field trip. After 5 strikes, we begin counting at 1 again. Students should only have a maximum of approximately 1 hour of homework per night, on average. Many days they will not have any if they have completed it during class time. They should not be spending much more than this, otherwise they may be finding the work too difficult, in which case, Mrs.Weitzel should be contacted. Students are always given class time to work on all assignments, and should ask for help during that time if they are confused or do not understand.

Please continue to check your child’s planner for letters or notices, and sign it every night. You can always contact us by writing a note in the planner, or at the school at (604)531-2828. Dates to remember for October:

October 9 – Harvest Day October 12 – Halloween Parade October 23 – Pro-D day October 30- Halloween Parade Sincerely, Mrs. Weitzel and Mrs. White (604)531-2828__ _

September 2009 Dear parents & guardians, Welcome back to a wonderful new school year! Mrs. White and I have the privilege of teaching your child this year, and are looking forward to getting to know them better. Mrs. Weitzel will be teaching Monday through Thursday, and Mrs. White will be teaching on Fridays. Here are a few things we would like you to be aware of for this year:

Homework Expectations Students are expected to use class time wisely, and any incomplete assignments will be assigned as homework. If you notice that your child seems to be getting a large amount of homework, it is likely because they are not using their class time effectively. If there are extenuating circumstances as to why your child cannot complete their homework on time, please be sure to write a note to us and let us know why this is. Students are responsible for recording homework into their planners and handing it in first thing in the morning on the day it is due. Incomplete homework or assignments not handed in on time will receive a "strike". Three days of unsigned planners also count as a strike. After 3 strikes, either Mrs. Weitzel or Mrs. White will phone home to make sure parents are aware their child is not completing assignments. After 5 strikes, the student will miss the next class event or field trip, and will be assigned extra work to complete during that time. We believe that homework and due dates are extremely important in grade 7, and find that this is an effective method for making sure they are completed.

Gym Clothes Students are expected to wear pants or shorts without zippers or buttons, t-shirts, and non-scuff running shoes. Forgotten gym strip will be counted as a strike, and students will not be allowed to participate if they do not have proper shoes. Gym strip should be brought home every weekend to be washed!

Missed school School is in session 8:35am-2:35pm. If your child will be absent from school, please call the office before 8:30am. If there is something you need us to know, please write us a note in your child's planner, as we will be checking them every day. If you need to see us for any reason, please call the office for an appointment or write a note in the planner. Mrs. Weitzel is usually available Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2:45-4:00. If your child has missed more than 1 day of school or if you know they will be missing school, please let us know, and if possible, have a sibling or friend pick up their homework for them. We invite you to come and visit us on September 17th for “Meet the Teacher”. If this date does not work for you, please feel free to call and let us know another date when you are able to stop by for a few minutes and meet us.

Sincerely, Mrs. Weitzel & Mrs. White (604)531-2828