Our MPP, and Literacy Logs

Today the grade 5/6 students got a special visit from our local MPP, Yasir Naqvi. He spoke to the students about the role of the Provincial government, in relation to the other two levels of government (Municipal and Federal). Our class presented him with letters they wrote regarding a wide variety of issues they feel need attention. Each was written as a persuasive piece, with several points made to support their argument or topic. He was very much impressed by their letters, and by the students in general, who were a very attentive audience, and asked a number of relevant questions. Yasir also explained how he became involved in politics, how the opinions of students are so important in the governing of Canada, and how the students contribute to government through the taxes paid on the items they buy. It was a really informative presentation.
This week the class took home their Literacy Logs for the first time. This will be a regular weekly task, to bring them home Mondays, record what and when they read during the week, and then complete a writing task each week. This week their task is to summarize what they read on one of the days. We have been summarizing in class for a couple of weeks, and we all completed examples in our Literacy Logs on Tuesday, so this task should a straightforward one for the students this week. The logs need to be returned, completed, to class on Friday.
Today permission forms and a cover letter went home regarding a set of African drumming and artwork workshops we have organized for the class through Baobab Tree, to take place at their studio. Look for the forms and letter in your child's agenda. We need them returned by Tuesday.
Our class has had the luck of being the first class to experiment with Churchill's new portable 'Smartboard'. Everyone is very excited to have it in the school, and we have been testing it and finding the 'bugs'. It is a large interactive white board that has touch technology to allow you to use it like a giant mousepad or tablet. One thing is for sure, the class thinks it is pretty cool.