LSK Newsletter December 2014

December, 2014 Page 1

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES…

1st to 5th – Scholastic Book Fair

4th – Scholastic Book Fair OPEN until 6pm8th to 12th – Christmas Bazaar11th – Christmas Concert (15th – Storm Day)19th – Last day of classes before the break25th – Merry Christmas!!

Jan. 5th – Return to school

December Birthdays…5th – Conner (Grade 4) 7th – Kayli (Grade 2)12th – Titus (Grade 2) 13th – Isabella (Grade Primary)18th – Sierra (Grade 8) 20th – Dallas (Grade 10)21st – Diamond (Grade 9)24th – Lillian (Grade 2)

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGEMrs. Sarah Doucet

November has come and gone and now we are entering the fun filled month of December at L’nu Sipuk Kina’muokuom. Snow is in the air and the sounds of Christmas music fill the halls as the Primary to Grade Six classes prepare for the LSK’s upcoming Christmas Concert on December11th.

Students anxiously prepare for their performance. Along with the classroom music each class prepares for a song in Mi’kmaq. The concert is LSK’s gift to parents and community members. The songs, stories and skits shared in both Mi’kmaq and English make the annual Christmas Concert memorable and participants and spectators leave filled with the Christmas Spirit.

The Christmas spirit continues as classes have parties and the staff prepares to share a meal and gifts with each other. December 19th is the last day of school before Christmas Break, students and staff return to work in the New Year on January

The winter season also brings the highly anticipated “Snow Days”. LSK follows the local CCRSB for most school closures that are snow related. LSK is closed if the following announcements are on the radio: all schools in CCRSB are closed, schools in Hants County are closed, or the Nova Family of schools are closed.

L’nu Sipuk Kina’muokuom would like to wish every one a safe Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wela’lioq

Grade PRIMARYMrs. Sheri Julian-Brooks

The primary students had a busy month throughout November. They worked very hard on their Remembrance Day posters and were very respectful during our annual Remembrance Day ceremony. The students have been working on their numbers in math, they have been noticing numbers everywhere, and have been counting everything!

They have been busy reading as many books as they can each day for the Adopt-a-library reading program. We encourage everyone to read at home with our students and be sure to record the books on the forms sent home each night.

The Primary students had a wonderful tea party last week. We have been talking about rules, and why we have rules in Social Studies. After reading a book called Tea Party Rules, we decided that a tea party was in order! We borrowed a tea set and had an enjoyable time, drinking tea/hot chocolate, and eating biscotti and cookies. The kids used their manners and ate their treats daintily. We are looking forward to our next tea party.

The students have been practicing for the upcoming Christmas concert, we are hoping that friends and family members are able to join us for a wonderful evening of singing and dancing. The count down is on for Christmas; we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We would also like to wish a happy birthday to Bella on December 13.

Grade ONEMs. Angela Maloney

Wow December already! That means for us it is getting close to Christmas concert time. We will be busy practicing for the concert over the next few weeks.

We have started the annual reading challenge and are keeping account of all books read. Please fill out the reading logs.

Make sure your child is dressed for the cold weather; the playground can be windy and cold.Please Pack extra pants and socks in their book bags for wet days.

We will be starting new units in Math and Health. Our new math unit is on measurement and our

new health unit is on healthy teeth.

Book fair is coming up soon, if you would like to send in money for the book fair early. You are more than welcome to do so.

Grade TWOMrs. Tabetha Stephens

November…The first two months of school were a busy one, which made the months fly by. The grade 2’s have settled in and have the classroom routines down pack. 

November will surely be another great month of learning and fun activities. Remembrance Day will be the major topic of interest. We will be starting off with many books on the topic and we will participate in the annual Remembrance Day Poster Contest & our annual Remembrance Day Ceremony, which takes place on November 7th at 10:30am. All family and community members are encouraged to come and celebrate as we acknowledge our Smáknisk (Warriors/Soldiers).

This month we will start recording all the books we read at school and at home, for the Adopt-a-Library WOW Reading Challenge at LSK. Please help your child to fill out their reading log sheet by having them read nighty. 

More important Days for November: Parent teacher night is on November 20th, 2014; hope to see you all then.  We would like to wish Makara a

December, 2014 Page 2

“Happy Birthday” on November 24th, 2014

We would like to Congratulate the Student of the Month for our classroom for September was Michael & Lillian and for October was Peter & Kayli Rae. Keep up the hard work!

December…Wow, can you believe it is December already? Before you know it, it will be Christmas Break. We are having a great time learning about other cultures and how they celebrate Christmas. The grade 2’s are excited and waiting patiently for our class, Elf on the Shelf to appear. He will be keeping a close eye on the students to check if they been naughty or nice.  We have been busy practicing our songs for the Christmas Concert, which will take place on December 11th. 

We are still working on our Numbers to 100 in Math and will be starting Addition and Subtraction to 18 soon. Some other topics that will be covered this month:Health: Unit 2: Impulse control and Problem solving English: Writing recounts & DescriptionsScience: finishing up Air and WaterSocial Studies: finishing up on People. 

We would like to send out Birthday wishes to Kayli-Rae on Dec. 7th, Titus on Dec. 12th and Lillian on Dec. 24th. Happy Birthday to you all, we hope you enjoy your special day!

We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Grade THREEMrs. Amy Maloney

December has come so fast before we know it, we will be on Christmas break. We are sending Best wishes to all during this upcoming holiday season.

Ms. Eleanor will be doing our fundraiser for our end of the year trip; this will be drawn as soon as

the tickets are sold.

We would like to send holiday wishes from us to the following:

Charlize: Merry Christmas to my cousin Ashlyn and my family!

Keythan: Merry Christmas to my god mom Angie and to my godson Laythan!

Cole: Merry Christmas to my Auntie Dawn!

Rita- Rose: Merry Christmas to Cheyanne and Peter Spiller, and to my dad Greg Francis.To mom and brothers and sisters. And Marmee.

Royce: Merry Christmas to Mom and godfather. Gram and my sisters and dad, and step mom. And my Grammies.

Dawson: Merry Christmas to my auntie Aurora, and my mom.

Robert: Merry Christmas to my Papa in Boston, hope you have a great Christmas.

Ms. Eleanor: Merry Christmas to my Mom and to all her Children and grandchildren.And great-grandchild.

Ms. Amy: I want to wish a Merry Christmas to my Mom Gloria, Ms. Eleanor and family, and to all my family.Also a big hug to all my students, hope you all enjoy your holidays, and to Roger & Hayley. To my son and his wife and to my grand daughters Melaina and Miley, Halle and Rhonda.

Grade FOURMs. Kelly Oliver

NO SUBMISSION

Grade FIVEMr. Robert Watson

Seasons Greetings everyone. The Grade 5 class and the Grade 4 class have both been busy this year with a variety of topics. Grade 5 Language Arts students have been learning about mystery stories and mystery writing. Using the new Nelson Literacy System, students have been practicing the skills of predicting and observation to solve mystery texts within the student

December, 2014 Page 3

handbooks. This has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience so far.

The grade 4 class has been focusing on what goes into the creation of a story, using the Grade 4 version of Nelson Literacy System. This too has been a success, as students seem to be enjoying the stories and text found in the student handbooks.

Music 4 and 6 have taken on an interesting task of creating their own didgeridoos, an Australian Aboriginal instrument created by using the hollowed out limb of a eucalyptus tree. With the lack of such trees in our country, students have created their own instruments using PVC pipe. The sound the students are creating continues to improve and will be featured in the upcoming Christmas concert.

Grade SIXMs. Erika Hilchey

Happy Holidays to everyone! The grade 4, 5 and 6 classes have been working hard this month to wrap up a few things before the holiday season sets in.

The grade 4's are finishing up their Habitat unit by creating a diorama of an animal habitat of their choice. They are learning how to research about their animal and then taking that information and making a display. We invite all parents in to see these when they are complete.

The grade 5's are finishing up their Properties of Matter unit with a centre-based activity where they will try to determine the “Mystery Powder”. This should be lots of fun!

The grade 6's are finishing up their Diversity of Life unit with a project on Endangered Species and will present their information to their classmates.

All three grades will be making tree ornaments during Art class. Each group of students will be creating at least 3 different ornaments to bring home. We hope you hang them up and enjoy!

Dance and Drama are still hard at work. We have finished choreographing the dance and are now polishing it. Also, we have been working on a short skit/song to sing at the Christmas Concert as well. The students are really hoping everyone can make it to the concert!

Dance and Drama are also doing two fundraisers

beginning December 1st. There will be tickets sold on a TOY STOCKING, which will be drawn for on the last day of school. Tickets are 1.00 each and can be purchased from any student in Dance and Drama. Also, we are selling tickets on a CHASE THE ACE – you need to see either Erika or Autumn at the school to purchase these. Tickets are 20.00 with a chance to win 520.00. Draw will happen when all tickets are sold. GOOD LUCK and THANK YOU for your support. All proceeds will go towards costumes and props for future performances.

STUDENT COUNCILMr. Sutherland Greer, President

This is Sutherland, and I’m back to give you some student council news. I talk about movie nights last month, well it’s still going to happen, but for now we are having it for the younger kids, just to see if people are actually willing to go. Another thing that was brought up was having something that just the older grades could do, like hang out, play some games, do anything that would seem interesting for people that age. 

Grade SEVENMrs. Monique MacIntosh

English 7: In grade 7 English, we are continuing on with our novel study of Freak the Mighty. This book is an award-winning novel about a two boys who become best friends. It is a critically acclaimed book and is often featured in scholastic book fairs and catalogues. 

English 8: In grade 8 English, we are finishing up our novel study of the Outsiders. This is personally one of my favourite books of all times. We will be wrapping it up shortly and moving

December, 2014 Page 4

back to our Grade 8 Nelson Literacy textbook.

Health 9: We are busy wrapping up a unit on food and nutrition. By examining the impact of proper nutrition and exercises, we are looking at promoting healthy life styles and change in our diet and exercise routines. 

Life Skills 10: We have been learning about money skills this month, including budgeting, knowing the value of money and using counting skills. The next unit we are going to work on is on personal hygiene.   

English Problem of the Month

What word am I?

A synonym for the first syllable of my name is ace.

You could say that I am easy to replace. 

I have 2 syllables.

I stand for many people.

I am personal and possessive at times,

Can you guess what I am by my little rhyme? Grade EIGHTMr. Greg Marr

Grade 7 – Social Studies

Economic Empowerment: This Unit we will be exploring the impact of Economic Systems on individuals and groups including Aboriginal Peoples and European settlers into what is now known as Canada.

Grade 8 – Social Studies

Geographical Influences on Identity: (Chapter 3 – Canada’s People)

We will be exploring where Canada’s people live and why they chose to live there namely First Nations & Inuit and all other people who choose to live in Canada.

Grade 9 – Social Studies

Theme: Physical Setting

Locate places & features of the Atlantic Region from a different range of perspectives

Mapping Skills, environment, weather and human activity in a particular region.

Grades 7 & 8 PDR

Unit: My Body, My Self

Students in Grades Seven and Nine will be focusing on the self-image for Healthy Living

Grade 8 – Science

Water Systems on Earth

Chapter 11: The Oceans

Our class will be finishing up this Unit by examining the Oceans.

Grade NINEMr. Stephen DeLisle

All the junior high school grades have been working on their mental math and problem solving skills this month.

The grade 7 & 8 math classes have been busy working on fractions this month. They are learning how to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions using materials, pictures and symbols. They are also beginning to discover the relationship between fractions, decimals and percent.

The grade 9 students completed graphs and organized the data from the 2014 Sipekne’katik Band election and are continuing to learn how to learn the skills they need to find, collect, display and make sense of data.

Math Problem of the Month

Billy ate 11/4 pizzas and John ate 12/3 pizzas. How much more pizza did John eat than Billy?

November’s Solution

Lee has a 10 on her shirt. (Two hands have 10 fingers.)

Max has a 6 on his shirt. (10 – 4 = 6)

December, 2014 Page 5

Bud has a 16 on his shirt. (10 + 6 = 16)

Jan has a 12 on her shirt. (6 x 2 = 12)

Tara has a 13 on her shirt. (13 is the only number left)

Math/ScienceMr. Morgan MacDonald

NO SUBMISSION

Grade ELEVENMr. Robert MacIntosh

Merry Movember|! Another month has just about come and gone and we are now entering into the Christmas holiday season. The past month has been very productive for the students in the three sections I currently teach. Coming up in December Law students will study the topic Ethics morality and how these two concepts shape the current human experience. Tourism students have begun a project, which has them designing the Indian Brook of tomorrow. This project is on going and is structured around their day-to-day classroom activities.  Last but not least Economics students have been working on a continuing project, which follows a product from its inception through the different stages it would take until the product would reach the store shelves. Once the product is ready for the shelf the students will begin the Business Plan section then finish with a balance sheet and annual report to shareholders. 

Thanks and lets get ready for the holiday season.

Grade TWELVEMrs. Nikki Maloney

Well it is hard to believe that November is almost over. This semester has been extremely busy and has flown by. Our graduating class has been meeting regularly. The grads have been fundraising for their end of the year trip and their LSK Graduation Rings. Each student has pre-designed what their ring will look like. Our current fundraiser is a Gift Card Christmas Tree. Our graduates are looking for any donations of gift cards and will be selling tickets starting November 29th on this tree full of gift cards. Thank you in advance for your donations. We would also like to thank everyone who supported us for our 649 Bingo and to congratulate Shannon Oliver-Sack who was the big winner; she won on

two out of three lines.

A reminder of our High School Attendance Policy, each student will be allowed to have a total of 25 unexcused absences. Once they exceed this amount they will no longer be eligible to get that credit, so lets make sure we all work together to make sure this doesn't happen!

Classes are off to a great start this semester. We have a large number of kids in our classes and it is great to see! In English 12, we have finished up our unit on the Crucible Play, and we are working on our Independent Novel Study and a Poetry / Creative Writing Unit. In Global History we have finished a unit on The Cold War and have been assessing our world dynamics of how the North / South are defined. Lastly, in English 10 we are just finishing up a Play Unit on Romeo & Juliet and will be soon beginning a Creative Writing / Poetry Unit.

SENIOR HIGHMs. Carol Howe

NO SUBMISSION

ATHLETICSMr. Smith

LSK hosted the Jr. High Dodgeball MASH on October 29th; Schools from Waycobah and Potlotek attended this event. 

Morgan MacDonald recently coached a high school girls volleyball team. The team travelled to Hants North to compete against Hants North, Parrasboro and Pugwash high schools. The girls

December, 2014 Page 6

played well and had a great day of volleyball. 

Looking ahead, the last MASH for the 2014-year will be hosted by Eskasoni on December 3rd. The event is Junior High co-ed volleyball. Students interested should see Mr. Smith in the gym to get a permission slip to attend. 

Also there will be an after school Badminton club beginning the last week of November and continuing for several months until the competitions in April. Students interested should see Mr. Smith to sign up; space will be limited to 12. 

GUIDANCEMs. Mary Davies

“'Tis the season to be jolly”, as the old song says. While this is the goal of most people, there are some of us for whom it is difficult. As much as Christmas is a special time of year, it can also be one of the most stressful times of year. It can be stressful for all the most well known reasons such as difficult financial times, inability to be with family or friends as well as the anniversary of something that made us sad in our life, such as the death of a loved one. What does not surface as quite a stress for our children is the break in a well-established routine of school. Please remember that our students can feel uprooted and confused in the absence of routine at this time.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the very best of love and health in the New Year!

RESOURCEMs. Leanne Foster

NO SUBMISSION

LEARNING CENTREMrs. Sarah Yorke

In November, the Upper Elementary LSK Learning Center staff was able to take part in the week long TEACCH Autism Program that runs out of the University of North Carolina. Founded by Dr. Eric Schopler in 1972, this program has been providing training for teachers nationally and

internationally so that they are able to work within best practices. The group learned how to incorporate visual schedules and routines for structured times as well as free time. Picture Exchange Systems are very useful for people who have autism. This program is a strength-based approach to assisting people with Autism and their families across the lifespan. It is based on cooperation and collaboration as well taking a holistic approach to teaching students who have Autism. I would like to take a second to thank everyone who made this training possible on behalf of my students and myselfFAMILY STUDIES/TECH ED.Mr. Walter Palethorpe

In the shop, we never stop, what with a class of one or a class of twenty. The lessons of the day are theory, notes, demonstrations or videos viewed on the smart board.

Our grades 4, 5, 6s are finishing up their artwork, made with paper, paint and wood. For the next project, they will be using leather and making moccasins.

Grades 7, 8, 9s are now finished with their introduction to drafting and now working with wood to make toys, birdhouses, bird feeders and small tables.

The senior high class is working on home maintenance this term. First they made a toolbox, a model shed, and are now learning the basics of electrical wiring and plumbing.

All and all, John and I have helping our students to learn and grow in a safe work environment.

LIBRARYMrs. Sharon Culbertson

December, 2014 Page 7

Merry Christmas!!! My favourite time of the year is almost upon us and many things are happening in the library.

First of all, our annual Scholastic Book Fair is scheduled for December 1st to 5th. The first day (Monday) will only be open to the elementary students. This will give them an opportunity to take a look at the books and write up their wish list(s). After that, the Fair will be open to all students, and to the community. Once again, I am going to be open until 6pm (or so) on Thursday, December 4th. Please come support our school fundraiser.

Following the Fair, we move right into our Christmas Bazaar. Elementary students will be able to shop for presents for their IMMDEDIATE family members ONLY. Students will be able to shop for extended family members after everyone else has had their chance to shop for their family. The cost is $2 for every person on the child’s list. All monies made last year, have been reinvested back into the Bazaar, so the majority of the items for sale are brand new.

If you would like to make a donation of new or gently used items, then you are most welcome to do so. Unfortunately, we do NOT accept used clothing or soft items (stuffed toys). This is for hygienic reasons.

I would also like to congratulate Ms. Erika Hilchey for winning my little “email” contest. Ms. Hilchey has won $60 worth of books from our Scholastic Book Fair.

Finally, after one month of the Adopt-a-Library WOW Reading Challenge, our students/staff have read 5768 books.

The winners of our Cole’s Gift Cards ($10.00) are:

Top Lower Elementary Reader (Male) – Kingston (Grade 1)

Top Lower Elementary Reader (Female) – Charlize (Grade 2)

Top Upper Elementary Reader (Male) – Donovan (Grade 6)

Top Upper Elementary Ready (Female) – tied…

Shaelyn and Shyanne (Grade 5) Top Staff Reader is Ms. Tabetha Stephens

(Grade 2)

Congratulations to all and keep on READING!!!!

Student(s) of the Month…Lower Elementary

Kirah (Grade 2) Peter (Grade 2)

Lower Elementary Julia (Grade 6) Carmine (Grade 4)

Junior/Senior High Skylar (Grade 7) Madison (Grade 12)

Mi’kmaq Student of the Month… Fiercen (Primary)

Gym Class of the Month… Grade Six

Golden Garbage Can… Grade Four

December, 2014 Page 8

And

See you in the New Year!!!!

December, 2014 Page 9