Meet the Teacher and Meet Each Other

This Thursday, September 21, from 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm, there will be an opportunity to meet other University School families while enjoying some music and frozen treats outside before heading inside to meet your child(ren)’s teachers and see their classrooms. We are hoping to have all 358 students and their families attend.

Please note, this is not a conference and there is not time allotted to speak one on one with your child’s teacher about your child and their learning. If this is required, please email your child’s teacher to set up a meeting at another time.

Beginning at 5:30 pm there will be music playing on the compound/playground area and we will be providing frozen treats to students and any adults that would like one.

At 6:00 pm, we will announce that families can begin heading inside. Teachers will be introducing themselves and sharing a little bit about the magic that happens each and every day in their classrooms. To accommodate families with multiple children at the school we will be offering two identical sessions. The first session will be at 6:10 pm, and the second session will be at 6:30 pm. You are also welcome to tour the school and visit the gym and Learning Commons during this time.

We look forward to seeing everyone out on Thursday, September 21 from 5:30 to 6:45 pm.

Returning Forms

Please return all forms that were part of the Welcome Package sent home this past week. All forms that needed to be returned were printed on coloured paper. If something is not applicable, such as a medical form, we ask that you still sign and return it so that we can confirm it has been viewed.

Thank you for your help with this.

 

Terry Fox Run

University School is participating in the Terry Fox School Run! We are so proud to be a part of this Canadian tradition in the fight against cancer. Please support the student’s fundraising efforts and donate today at: https://schools.terryfox.ca/University #terryfoxschoolrun @theterryfoxfoundation

School Council & Parent Association Meeting

We would love to see all University School families represented at the first School Council and Parent Association meeting of the 2023-24 school year. The meeting is on Wednesday, September 27 @ 6:45pm.  The meetings will again be held virtually as it allows for more of you to join and participate.

Mr. Lang and Ms. Bonanno will also be sharing some of the plans and structures for the 2023-24 school year and the path forward, as well as some general updates regarding the school.

It is a great opportunity to find out more about University School, ask questions, and be a part of something bigger. You can be an active participant in the meeting or just listen to what is being said, all from the comfort of your own home! It is with the support of University School Families and the community that we can provide such wonderful learning opportunities for

A Note from School Council,

School Council is looking to expand this year! We know there are many people in our community looking to get further involved with the school. School Council provides everyone with the opportunity to have their input into community events, fundraisers, etc. We will be meeting on Wednesdays, approximately every six weeks this year, and we invite everyone to attend virtually. In these meetings, you have a chance to hear school updates from the UES admin team,  as well as contribute to conversations around event planning and ways to both raise and spend Council/Association money. We would benefit from input from the different families at our great school. Police Clearance is NOT required to be a part of School Council. Thoughts/comments/questions are always welcome at our email: universityschoolcouncil@gmail.com

We look forward to meeting new faces and hearing new ideas for the 2023/24 school year.

 

Take a Book, Leave a Book – the University School Book Shelf -

The University School Book Shelf was created last year as a result of the many incredible books that were donated from University School families and the desire for students to have greater access to books at home.

There are numerous studies that support the notion that children who grow up with an extensive home library tend to have higher reading comprehension and better mathematical and digital communication skills as well as a higher overall level of educational attainment.

The University School Book Shelf allows all students to take books home to keep and to their own library as well as share books they may no longer want with other students. The books have all been labelled with a green sticker so they are easily identifiable and are different than books from the classrooms or Learning Commons.

 

Supporting Learning at Home

Did you know that University School has a Board Game Library where you can sign out literacy and numeracy based board games to use at home. The purpose of the Board Game Library is to provide resources for parents to support student learning at home in a fun way while enhancing family relationships.

To see what is available and to sign out a game please click on this link and fill out a quick form. Board Games will be signed out for one week. They will be sent home on Tuesdays and returned on Mondays so that we can prepare them for the next family. We ask that you please look after the games and ensure all of the pieces remain with the games when they are returned. If something goes missing, please leave a note with the game so we can try to replace it.

Currently, we have 15 games and two copies of each to sign out. Though the resources are being categorized into either Literacy or Numeracy games there are elements of both literacy and numeracy in the majority of games. We plan to add even more games to the Board Game Library including cooperative games where everyone has to work together to win.

Literacy games include:

Apples to Apples - making comparisons and connections between words (contains some mature words)

Apples to Apples Junior - making comparisons and connections between words (less complex and more child friendly words)

Boggle - find as many connected words as possible

Boggle Junior - teaches letters and spelling in two games of increasing difficulty.

Bananagrams - players work independently to create their own 'crossword'

Spot It! Basic English - matching sight words to illustrations

Sequence Letters - is the traditional Sequence game retooled to help children learn their letters and letter sounds.

Zingo Word Builder - use letters tiles to complete three-letter words

Quiddler - create words from an ever-increasing number of letter cards

Numeracy games include:

Spot It! 1, 2, 3 - number and shape recognition

Blokus - abstract strategy game using different shapes

Qwirkle - matching patterns and shapes, identifying patterns

Mobi - play numbered tiles and symbols to create simple equations

Yahtzee - classic dice game trying to score in 13 categories

Sleeping Queens - players need to use strategy, quick thinking, and some math skills to awake queens from their slumber

Prime Climb - players use four basic arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to progress around the board

This Week

Tuesday, September 19

• Grade 4 Room 18 – Field Trip

Wednesday, September 20

• Grade 4 Room 16 – Field Trip
• Grade 6 – School Nurse Presentation

Thursday, September 21

• Meet the Teacher and Meet Each Other Evening (5:30 pm)

Friday, September 22

• No School – Non-Instructional Day 

Month Ahead

Sept 25 - School Photos – Lifetouch

Sept 27 – School Council & Parent Association Meeting

Sept 28 - Orange Shirt Day - Every Child Matters

Sept 29 - No School - Truth and Reconciliation Day

Oct 2 – 5 – Grade 5 & Grade 6 Students Camping 

Oct 6 – Terry Fox Run @ University School

Oct 9 - Thanksgiving Day - No School

Oct 20 – No School – Non-Instructional Day

Oct 26 – School Photo Retakes

Oct 26 – Fall Ball – School Dance