Saturday, June 28, 2014


"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
Nelson Mandela

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

“Be the change you want to see in the world”
Ghandi

“The graduating class of 2014 Rocks”
Ms. Tavares

I would like to thank our parents, guardians, family and friends for your continued support in the McMurrich community over the years and for your support in overseeing your child’s education and well-being.  

Each year, I am honoured to work with the students in our McMurrich community.  With each cohort of learners, comes a collection of strengths, talents, charisma and passion.  They also come with challenges; that we all work together to overcome and to allow us to move forward as learners and contributing members in our class community.  These should never be obstacles but an opportunity to strive and persevere.

This year, I have been fortunate to work with a dynamic group of Grade 6 students who are driven by learning and making a difference not only in their community but in the lives of others locally and globally.  

Thank you for the great pleasure of teaching and learning with you.  I hope all your future endeavours are meet with excitement and that you continual looking for opportunities to strengthen your talents and build upon your knowledge.

Your gifts, tokens of appreciations, written messages of thanks & reflection are reminders to me of how much of what I do is making a difference in the lives of children and student leaders.  THANK you again for all that you do to support your children and my students.

Friday, June 27, 2014


Thank you all, students and parents for another wonderful year of learning at McMurrich!!!

It is hard to believe that only 10 months ago we embarked on this journey in the Grade 6 group in Room 308.  We have all built upon many of our strengths and overcome many obstacles.  Thank you for inspiring me and each other to move forward in our learning community and to continue to make a difference by starting with ourselves.

Enjoy your summer time with family and friends, at home or away.  May you face new challenges head-on and continue to build upon your voice, because each of you has something of value to share with others. Perseverance and selflessness are two words that come to mind when I think of our class community.


Good luck on your Grade 7 journey! I look forward to whatever the next school year brings  :o)

Thursday, June 26, 2014


The 2014 - 2015 Yearbooks have been distributed.  A special thanks to all the members of the Yearbook Committee for putting together this archive of memories.

The Provincial Report Card has been distributed.  Please connect with your child.  


We will be spending a portion of the day outside tomorrow.  Please bring plenty of drinking water and dress appropriate for the weather.


Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Dress for Success:  wear your Be The Change t-shirts tomorrow (especially BTC members)

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Attitude Survey (POST) focussing on writing & blogs

Monday, June 23, 2014

Grade 6: Thank you for helping out with the PlayDay events today!
Dress for Success for tomorrow's activities.

SCIENCE: bring in all materials for your kite build.  We will be building throughout the morning. 


PLEASE RETURN:  as the year is coming to a close, there are several items that have been borrowed throughout the year that need to be returned.  PLEASE look through your home for textbooks, novels, graphic narratives, clipboards and any other school supplies that belong to Room 308 and/or the school library.  Bring in these items over the next few days as they need to be shelved or packed away.

Friday, June 20, 2014

NOTE: bring in all materials for your kite build on Monday. We will be building your kites on TUESDAY morning prior to our planting session.
Of course... we are not done yet!
The Grade 6 students will be leading various activity stations during Monday mornings PLAYDAY organized by our one-and-only, Mr. Perretta.
Yet another leadership opportunity for our students to help bring our school community together.  PLEASE bring a hat, dress for success, use sunscreen and bring along a refillable bottle of water (put tape on it with your name).

Please bring in your field trip forms on Monday for Tom Thompson Park.  No funds are needed for this last (of many) class field trips.
GRADE 6 GRADUATION was an up-close and intimate celebration of the great things students have accomplished this year and during their time as a student at McMurrich.  Thank you to the families who were able to bring in food and other items to make the event even more special.  A special thanks to the teachers and parents who helped out with the decorations, and to Ms. Rambaran for creating a memorable year-in-review video for the graduating students.  

To quote Dr. Seuss:
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

And my personal favourite from Dr. Seuss:
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

Continue to persevere and move forward in your adventures (little or large) within your learning and throughout your lives.  "Be the change you want to see in the world" (Ghandi) as you have already started to make a difference in the lives of those around you and those you may not ever meet; you have inspired me and I look forward to when our paths will cross again, this year and next  :o)


I can't wait to see what next week brings :o)



PLEASE RETURN:  as the year is coming to a close, there are several items that have been borrowed throughout the year that need to be returned.  PLEASE look through your home for textbooks, novels, graphic narratives, clipboards and any other school supplies that belong to Room 308 and/or the school library.  Bring in these items over the next few days as they need to be shelved or packed away.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Our students stepped up again today as they were invited to attend Staples Canada and Me to We's launch of a new product line. It was especially an honour to be there today as our students were nominated for the Me to We Impact Awards.  Although we did not win, the nomination itself is a testament that the wonderful work, commitment and passion demonstrated by our students this year is making a difference not only in our community but in the lives of others locally and globally.  CONGRATULATIONS to all of our Grade 6 students.

Enjoy the FunFair tonight... the sun is shining and the energy is definitely high for coming together as a community to support McMurrich!  Thank you to all our parents who are volunteering tonight to make it even more special for our students.

I look forward to one of our biggest events tomorrow: GRADUATION
Please ensure that you arrive at school for a regular morning start OR promptly at 12:30pm.  Parents, as you arrive for the ceremony, please bring in your food/item donations to the gym and place along the tables at the back of the gym.


Wednesday, June 18, 2014

FUN FAIR is tomorrow after school.  Please join our McMurrich Community coming together to enjoy great fun and good company :o)
Please arrive at school lined up outside Room 308 at 8:15am.
Dress for Success tomorrow... wear your Business Day t-shirts or BTC t-shirts.
Please sign and resubmit the media release form for Free the Children Impact Awards. (Business Day Staples Event on June 19, 2014)


NOTE: if you are a new McMurrich student and not with us during your Senior Kindergarten year, please bring a photo of yourself (5 years old) so that I may scan it for end of year activities. Or scan and save to your usb key and bring in asap.


SOCIAL STUDIES:  open a google doc and share with your team to co-write your script, plan props for your one-run take infomercial on your global issue.  Video cannot exceed 1:30 minutes.  Filming time will be provided tomorrow for groups needing to film outdoors.

SCIENCE: bring in your materials on Monday for your kite build next Wednesday.
*summing up the four forces of flight on your kite design. gather information for your group research within a google doc (share with team).  Begin to consider designs for a kite that your team will be building.
* Space student-lead activity centres are planned and designed within the class day.  Due to technical difficulties, we will postpone the presentations to next week.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

NOTE: if you are a new McMurrich student and not with us during your Senior Kindergarten year, please bring a photo of yourself (5 years old) so that I may scan it for end of year activities. Or scan and save to your usb key and bring in asap.

Please sign and resubmit the media release form for Free the Children Impact Awards. (Business Day Staples Event on June 19, 2014)

SOCIAL STUDIES:  open a google doc and share with your team to co-write your script, plan props for your one-run take infomercial on your global issue.  Groups will be filming throughout the day next Wednesday.  Video cannot exceed 1:30 minutes.

SCIENCE: summing up the four forces of flight on your kite design. gather information for your group research within a google doc (share with team).  Begin to consider designs for a kite that your team will be building.
* Space student-lead activity centres are planned and designed within the class day.  Be prepared to host your lesson in-class next Wednesday.

ARTS: Artist Study using timetoast and kidblog PAST DUE
*** bring a colour copy/print out of the painting reproduction you will be working on for tomorrow

Monday, June 16, 2014

Our day started cool & damp and ended hot & humid BUT this did not get in the way of the creativity displayed in the students artwork... wonderfully done everyone!

Tomorrow we will be taking part in painting reproductions throughout the day.  Please ensure that you are dressed for success as the paint is permanent on clothing.

  

 


SOCIAL STUDIES:  open a google doc and share with your team to co-write your script, plan props for your one-run take infomercial on your global issue.  Groups will be filming throughout the day next Wednesday.  Video cannot exceed 1:30 minutes.

SCIENCE: summing up the four forces of flight on your kite design. gather information for your group research within a google doc (share with team).  Begin to consider designs for a kite that your team will be building.
* Space student-lead activity centres are planned and designed within the class day.  Be prepared to host your lesson in-class next Wednesday.

ARTS: Artist Study using timetoast and kidblog PAST DUE
*** bring a colour copy/print out of the painting reproduction you will be working on for tomorrow

Friday, June 13, 2014


GRAD: Graduation invitations and information have been sent home with your child.  Please complete forms and submit. 

SOCIAL STUDIES:  open a google doc and share with your team to co-write your script, plan props for your one-run take infomercial on your global issue.  Groups will be filming throughout the day next Wednesday.  Video cannot exceed 1:30 minutes.

SCIENCE: summing up the four forces of flight on your kite design. gather information for your group research within a google doc (share with team).  Begin to consider designs for a kite that your team will be building.
* Space student-lead activity centres are planned and designed within the class day.  Be prepared to host your lesson in-class next Wednesday.

ARTS: Artist Study using timetoast and kidblog PAST DUE
*** bring a colour copy/print out of the painting reproduction you will be working on next Tuesday

Thursday, June 12, 2014

FIELD TRIPS: please bring in all forms signed asap

GRAD: Graduation invitations and information have been sent home with your child.  Please complete forms and submit. 

SOCIAL STUDIES:  book jacket designs PAST DUE
* open a google doc and share with your team to co-write your script, plan props for your one-run take infomercial on your global issue.  Groups will be filming throughout the day next Wednesday.  Video cannot exceed 1:30 minutes.

SCIENCE: summing up the four forces of flight on your kite design. gather information for your group research within a google doc (share with team).  Begin to consider designs for a kite that your team will be building.
* Space student-lead activity centres are planned and designed within the class day.  Be prepared to host your lesson in-class next Wednesday.

ARTS: upload your research onto Timetoast, embed it into a post in kidblog.  Include your write-up within the same post.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

FIELD TRIPS: please bring in all forms signed asap

GRAD: Graduation invitations and information have been sent home with your child.  Please complete forms and submit. 

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
*book jacket designs and write-up is due tomorrow

ARTS: upload your research onto Timetoast, embed it into a post in kidblog.  Include your write-up within the same post.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.


sent on behalf of the Fun Fair Committee

Due to a poor weather forecast  for June 12, the Funfair committee has decided to postpone the Funfair to our rain date, Thursday, June 19.
We are busy rescheduling all of our great activities and we look forward to seeing you and your families next week! If you were kind enough to volunteer your time on-site, please confirm with Lee Mendelsohn-LiVolsi asap that you are still available.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

McMichael Gallery field trip is coming soon! This field trip will wrap up much of our learning in visual arts and will set us up for our reproduction painting session in-class on Tuesday of next week.
A special thanks to the wonderful negotiating from teachers as we have a free school bus ride for the day, our School Council enrichment committee for covering the cost of one of the studio sessions and an extended thank you to Ms Anthony, one of our parents for donating and covering the cost of the second studio session.  The day will be awesome but all of this support will make it even more special.

GRAD: Graduation invitations and information have been sent home with your child.  Please complete forms and submit. 

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
*students received peer feedback on their summary paragraphs for their book jacket cover design.  Begin to organize images and bump up your writing within the template provided.

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.





Monday, June 09, 2014

Business Luncheon: Dress for Success in company t-shirts

GRAD: Graduation invitations and information have been sent home with your child.  Please complete forms and submit. 

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
*begin to write your first draft of the inside flap, connecting your images on your global issue to PEEPS

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.

Thursday, June 05, 2014

GRAD: Graduation invitations and information have been sent home with your child today.  Please enjoy the wonderful "graduating class photo"!  Submit forms with information and support asap so that we, along with volunteer parents can organize the grad to ensure all is smooth and wonderful on June 20th.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
* begin to save images onto a your drive or usbkey to use for your PEEPS book jacket design
*have your graphic organizers completed for Monday, along with the first draft of your summary paragraph

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Great to see students smiling as Booklet 3 of 3 is completed.  
Thank you for your positive attitude and for taking pride in your learning by sharing it in another way/format.
We will have a few students still writing tomorrow. 

EQAO: please come in rested and with a refillable bottle of water.
Bring in all materials needed: 3 sharpened pencils, erasers, a ruler, calculator.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
begin your research to the guiding 'big idea' question within the SS Citizenship Wiki(timelines & due dates are tight)
PAST DUE
view the video "World in a Village" and respond to the guiding question within the comments section of the post

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Great to see students smiling as Booklet 2 of 3 is completed.  
Keep up the wonderful effort and positive attitude.

EQAO: please come in rested and with a refillable bottle of water.
Bring in all materials needed: 3 sharpened pencils, erasers, a ruler, calculator.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
begin your research to the guiding 'big idea' question within the SS Citizenship Wiki(timelines & due dates are tight)
PAST DUE
view the video "World in a Village" and respond to the guiding question within the comments section of the post

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.

Monday, June 02, 2014

Great to see students smiling as Booklet 1 of 3 is completed.  
Keep up the great work and enthusiasm.

EQAO: please come in rested and with a refillable bottle of water.
Bring in all materials needed: 3 sharpened pencils, erasers, a ruler, calculator.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
begin your research to the guiding 'big idea' question within the SS Citizenship Wiki(timelines & due dates are tight)
PAST DUE
view the video "World in a Village" and respond to the guiding question within the comments section of the post

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.

Friday, May 30, 2014

EQAO: please come in rested and with a refillable bottle of water.
Bring in all materials needed: 3 sharpened pencils, erasers, a ruler, calculator.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
view the video "World in a Village" and respond to the guiding question within the comments section of the post
begin your research to the guiding 'big idea' question within the SS Citizenship Wiki(timelines & due dates are tight)
PAST DUE
* respond to the guiding questions on your assigned organization (Red Cross/FTC/UNICEF) in the comments section of the social studies blog post
* complete the anticipation guide in google docs, then share with me 
* share your global detective item and respond to guiding statements
* complete the global issue research topic choice sheet

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.

Thursday, May 29, 2014


SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
view the video "World in a Village" and respond to the guiding question within the comments section of the post
begin your research to the guiding 'big idea' question within the SS Citizenship Wiki(timelines & due dates are tight)
PAST DUE
* respond to the guiding questions on your assigned organization (Red Cross/FTC/UNICEF) in the comments section of the social studies blog post
* complete the anticipation guide in google docs, then share with me 
* share your global detective item and respond to guiding statements
* complete the global issue research topic choice sheet

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.

EQAO review: students will receive a package in Language & Mathematics of which in-class time was provided to work on INDEPENDENTLY but they will need to complete the packages at home.  This will allow for us to take up writing, reading and math thinking ideas throughout this week.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
view the video "World in a Village" and respond to the guiding question within the comments section of the post
begin your research to the guiding 'big idea' question within the SS Citizenship Wiki(timelines & due dates are tight)
PAST DUE
* respond to the guiding questions on your assigned organization (Red Cross/FTC/UNICEF) in the comments section of the social studies blog post
* complete the anticipation guide in google docs, then share with me 
* share your global detective item and respond to guiding statements
* complete the global issue research topic choice sheet

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is due Friday June 13th.

EQAO review: students will receive a package in Language & Mathematics of which in-class time was provided to work on INDEPENDENTLY but they will need to complete the packages at home.  This will allow for us to take up writing, reading and math thinking ideas throughout this week.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014


SOCIAL STUDIES:  Visit the Social Studies Blog: 
view the video "World in a Village" and respond to the guiding question within the comments section of the post
begin your research to the guiding 'big idea' question within the SS Citizenship Wiki(timelines & due dates are tight)
PAST DUE
* respond to the guiding questions on your assigned organization (Red Cross/FTC/UNICEF) in the comments section of the social studies blog post
* complete the anticipation guide in google docs, then share with me 
* share your global detective item and respond to guiding statements
* complete the global issue research topic choice sheet

ARTS: artist study outline has been assigned, begin your research on your selected artist in a Google Doc.  Please share with me.  Finalized project is Friday June 13th.

EQAO review: students will receive a package in Language & Mathematics of which in-class time was provided to work on INDEPENDENTLY but they will need to complete the packages at home.  This will allow for us to take up writing, reading and math thinking ideas throughout this week

sent on behalf of the Fun Fair Committee

PARENTS: We STILL Need YOU!
 
The 2014 McMurrich Fun Fair needs 100+ volunteers 
(and we only have about 12 so far)
Can you be one of them?
JUNE 12, 2014
Rain date: June 19, 2014
 
Please email Lee (LEELML3@GMAIL.COM) with the following information:
a.      Your name
b.      Time you are available between 3:30 – 8:30 PM (a minimum of one hour – or more - would be most appreciated)
 
Be a part of McMurrich's annual end-of-school tradition AND one of our school'sBIGGEST fundraising initiatives.
 
***If you wish to make a monetary donation to the Fun Fair to offset the costs (which means more funds to McMurrich) please see the attached donation form.***
We can't do it without YOU!