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.