It's never too early to start preparations for graduation and yearbook!
We make use of baby and childhood photos at the end of the year. We ask that you look through your old photos to find 3 or 4 that we could use. Photos from various ages are ideal, so that we can see your child's growth over time.
Please note that any photos you send in will be scanned and returned promptly.
If you would like to send photos electronically, they can be sent to me through your child's school e-mail account.
Thanks for your cooperation!
2016-09-19
Fundraiser
Our fall fundraiser begins today! Students should be bringing home a package with two catalogues and their order forms. The fundraiser runs until October 3rd, when all money and orders should be submitted.
The biggest perk of the fundraiser for the Grade 8 students is the opportunity that they have to pay off their graduation trip through the profits of their sales. 40% of each Grade 8 student's total sales will go towards paying for their trip. This is a great incentive for our graduating students! It's no wonder that the Grade 8s have been the top-selling class for two years in a row.
Good luck with your sales!
The biggest perk of the fundraiser for the Grade 8 students is the opportunity that they have to pay off their graduation trip through the profits of their sales. 40% of each Grade 8 student's total sales will go towards paying for their trip. This is a great incentive for our graduating students! It's no wonder that the Grade 8s have been the top-selling class for two years in a row.
Good luck with your sales!
2016-09-07
September Homework
2016-09-30
- Geography quiz on Chapter 1 - Wednesday
- Science - Chapter 2 vocabulary
- Day 4 reading responses due (Skylar, Stefani, Bianca, Shaheer, Aidan)
- Picture day on Wednesday
- Gym on Monday
- Fundraising orders and money due Monday
- Geography quiz on Chapter 1 - next Wednesday
- Day 3 reading responses due (Kerra, Alexis, Muhammed, Abdi, Nedal)
- Fundraising - orders due Monday
- Math test on circles tomorrow
- Geography - What Influences Where People Build Settlements? - begin note
- Day 2 reading responses due (Shayla, Juwan, Shane, Leah, Kutaiba)
- Fundraising - orders due Monday
- Math - pg. 41: #16-19, 21, 22
- Math test on circles - Thursday
- Geography - Understanding Population Patterns chart
- Science - Chapter 1 quiz tomorrow
- Day 1 reading responses due (Obadah, Justin, Andy, Sheila)
- Fundraising - orders due Monday
- Math - pg. 40: #7-15
- Math test on circles - Thursday
- Geography - pg. 31: #1-4
- Science - Chapter 1 quiz on Wednesday
- Day 5 reading responses due (Zahriaa, Mahnoor, Madison, Nicky)
- Fundraising - orders due next Monday
- Geography - choropleth map of South America
- Science - Chapter 1 quiz on Wednesday
- Math - pgs. 39-40: #3-6
- Math test on circles - Thursday or Friday
- Day 4 reading responses due (Skylar, Stefani, Bianca, Shaheer, Aidan)
- Fundraising!
- Geography note: Where Do People Live?
- Science - Chapter 1.4 summarized and questions answered
- Science - Chapter 1 quiz next Wednesday
- Day 3 reading responses due (Kerra, Alexis, Muhammed, Abdi, Nedal)
- Fundraising!
- Geography note: How Is Earth's Population Changing?
- Math - pg. 32: #3-6
- Science - Chapter 1.4 summarized and questions answered for Thursday
- Science - Chapter 1 quiz next Wednesday
- Day 2 reading responses due (Shayla, Juwan, Shane, Leah, Kutaiba)
- Fundraising!
- Gym tomorrow
- Science - Chapter 1.2 summarized and answer questions #1, 2, and 5
- Math - pgs. 28-29: #3-10
- Day 1 reading responses due (Justin, Sheila, Andy, Obadah)
- Fundraising!
- HPV immunization forms due Monday
- Day 5 reading responses due (Zahriaa, Mahnoor, Mahad, Madison, Nicky)
- Science - Chapter 1.2 summarized and answer questions #1, 2, and 5
- $3 for agenda
- Math - pgs. 24-25: #4-13
- HPV immunization forms signed and returned
- Day 4 reading responses due (Skylar, Stefani, Bianca, Shaheer, Aidan)
- Science - Chapter 1.2 summarized and answer questions #1, 2 and 5
- Student verification sheet signed and returned
- $3 for agenda
- Creative font art due tomorrow
- Biographical poem due tomorrow
- Gym tomorrow
- HPV immunization forms signed and returned
- Science - Chapter 1.1 summarized and answer questions #1-4
- Day 3 reading responses due (Kerra, Alexis, Muhammed, Abdi, Nedal)
- Creative font art due Friday
- Biographical poem due Friday - last chance to work on it in class is Thursday
- $3 for agenda
- Student verification sheet signed and returned
- HPV immunization forms signed and returned (yes or no)
- Math - Circus of Circles worksheet, textbook pgs. 19-21: #1-15
- Science - Chapter 1.1 summarized and answer questions #1-4
- Day 2 reading responses due (Shayla, Juwan, Shane, Leah, Kutaiba)
- Creative font art due Friday
- Biographical poem due Friday - time in class to work on it throughout the week
- $3 for agenda
- Student verification sheet signed and returned
- Gym tomorrow
- Science - Chapter 1 vocabulary
- Day 1 reading responses due (Justin, Sheila, Andy, Obadah)
- Creative font art due Friday - no more time in class for work on it
- Biographical poem due Friday - time in class to work on it throughout the week
- $3 for agenda
- Student verification sheet signed and returned
- Math - pgs. 13-15: #1-11, 13, 15, 16
- Science - Chapter 1 vocabulary due Tuesday
- Reading responses start on Tuesday
- $3 for agenda
- Student verification sheet signed and returned
- I Am Math poster due tomorrow
- Science - Chapter 1 vocabulary due Tuesday
- $3 for agenda
- Student verification sheet signed and returned
- Gym tomorrow
- I Am Math poster due Friday - time to work on it in class on Thursday
- Student verification sheet signed and returned ASAP
- $3 for agenda
2016-09-05
Welcome Back!
It's great to be back, feeling refreshed, for another school year. I am excited to begin my fifth year at William G. Davis and my nineteenth year as a teacher. My name is Mr. Dawson and I will be one of the Grade 8 teachers at Davis this year. In the past, I have taught many of our Grade 8 students or their siblings, so I have met many of you already. If this year will be our first meeting, I hope to see you on our Meet the Teacher night, which will take place on September 22.
I have already gotten to know many of this year's graduating class of Grade 8 students and I am confident that they are going to embrace the opportunity to be positive leaders in our school community. It's hard to believe that the students I first met four years ago as new Grade 4s are now ready to begin the last chapter of their lives in elementary school. Mr. Hodgson and I hope to offer many chances for our Grade 8 students to shine and to give back to Davis. I am certain that our creative and motivated students will initiate many more of these opportunities on their own.
Please check this blog regularly for updates and (hopefully) some photos of the events of the school year. I am not much of a photographer, so I'm counting on the students to help me out with the last bit. I have already posted a few notes about graduation, homework, and technology that should be helpful as we start our school year. Please check the previous posts in the blog for this information.
Throughout the year, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the school at 519-945-1147.
I have already gotten to know many of this year's graduating class of Grade 8 students and I am confident that they are going to embrace the opportunity to be positive leaders in our school community. It's hard to believe that the students I first met four years ago as new Grade 4s are now ready to begin the last chapter of their lives in elementary school. Mr. Hodgson and I hope to offer many chances for our Grade 8 students to shine and to give back to Davis. I am certain that our creative and motivated students will initiate many more of these opportunities on their own.
Please check this blog regularly for updates and (hopefully) some photos of the events of the school year. I am not much of a photographer, so I'm counting on the students to help me out with the last bit. I have already posted a few notes about graduation, homework, and technology that should be helpful as we start our school year. Please check the previous posts in the blog for this information.
Throughout the year, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the school at 519-945-1147.
Graduation
Grade 8 is here! This is the most exciting year of a student's elementary school career, with achievements to celebrate and big changes looming. Questions often arise throughout the year about the various events associated with graduation. Information will be passed on to you via this blog as details are finalized. There are usually a number of costs associated with graduation. Here is some general information that may help with planning:
High School Application and Orientation
We will be assisting the students throughout the year as they prepare to make the transition into high school. As we are a feeder school for W.F. Herman Academy, the transition activities will be facilitated by the student success and guidance team from the school. These activities will provide a solid foundation of information and experience for Grade 8 students, even if they plan to attend a different secondary school.
Option sheets and registration packages for Herman will be distributed to the students at school and brought home from discussion and completion with you. Recommendations for course selections will be made by teachers in advance of option sheet completion.
If a student is planning to attend a high school other than Herman, additional paperwork must be completed. Registration packages are usually picked up at the high school. Information on when to do so will be forthcoming. Registration at any public high school will be easily facilitated.
Application to specific programs, such as the Arts program at Walkerville's WCCA program, or the Enriched program at Riverside or Massey will also require additional paperwork. Students must meet certain criteria to qualify for these programs.
Graduation Ceremony
The ceremony traditionally occurs within the last week or two of school and commences about 6:00 pm. In the past few years, we have moved towards the practice of having the dinner after the ceremony, for the graduating students only. In this way, we have been able to keep the cost for each graduate for the ceremony to a minimum.
The graduation is paid for, in part, by the fundraising efforts of the Grade 8 students throughout the school year.
Planning for the ceremony usually begins in January and is undertaken by a committee of parents and educators. Topics such as location, food, theme, and decorations are discussed by this committee. If you are interested in helping us out and serving as a member of this committee, please let me know.
Graduation Photos
Graduation photos are usually taken at school in the Winter. The date will be communicated to you as soon as we know it. If you wish to purchase a class composite (all of the graduates' head shots, in a decorative folder), you will need to provide payment for this on the day of the photos. The cost is usually in the neighbourhood of $25. As with regular school photos, proofs will be sent home several weeks after the photos have been taken, with an option to purchase picture packages. While this can be somewhat expensive, it is usually cheaper than you would pay going to a photographer outside of school.
Graduation Trip
The location and date of the trip will be determined early on in the school year, in order to ensure that a bus can be booked. Discussions about possible destinations will occur with the Grade 8 students. We have selected Niagara Falls as our destination for the past three years, due to its proximity to Windsor and the large number of activities available in the city within walking distance. The trip usually occurs a few days prior to the graduation ceremony.
This is traditionally the greatest expense of the school year. A small deposit of $10 - $20 is usually requested up front, once the trip has been booked. Full or partial payments can be made towards the cost of the trip at any time during the school year. Final payment is usually due about a month before the trip takes place.
The cost of the trip can be reduced or covered entirely by students' fundraising efforts. During our first catalogue fundraiser, all profits from the sales of individual Grade 8 students will be directed towards paying off his or her graduation trip. Participation in this fundraiser can save you a lot of money down the road, so we strongly encourage all Grade 8 students to participate to the best of their ability.
It is important to note that the graduation trip is a privilege and is a reward for a student's successful school year.
High School Application and Orientation
We will be assisting the students throughout the year as they prepare to make the transition into high school. As we are a feeder school for W.F. Herman Academy, the transition activities will be facilitated by the student success and guidance team from the school. These activities will provide a solid foundation of information and experience for Grade 8 students, even if they plan to attend a different secondary school.
Option sheets and registration packages for Herman will be distributed to the students at school and brought home from discussion and completion with you. Recommendations for course selections will be made by teachers in advance of option sheet completion.
If a student is planning to attend a high school other than Herman, additional paperwork must be completed. Registration packages are usually picked up at the high school. Information on when to do so will be forthcoming. Registration at any public high school will be easily facilitated.
Application to specific programs, such as the Arts program at Walkerville's WCCA program, or the Enriched program at Riverside or Massey will also require additional paperwork. Students must meet certain criteria to qualify for these programs.
Graduation Ceremony
The ceremony traditionally occurs within the last week or two of school and commences about 6:00 pm. In the past few years, we have moved towards the practice of having the dinner after the ceremony, for the graduating students only. In this way, we have been able to keep the cost for each graduate for the ceremony to a minimum.
The graduation is paid for, in part, by the fundraising efforts of the Grade 8 students throughout the school year.
Planning for the ceremony usually begins in January and is undertaken by a committee of parents and educators. Topics such as location, food, theme, and decorations are discussed by this committee. If you are interested in helping us out and serving as a member of this committee, please let me know.
Graduation Photos
Graduation photos are usually taken at school in the Winter. The date will be communicated to you as soon as we know it. If you wish to purchase a class composite (all of the graduates' head shots, in a decorative folder), you will need to provide payment for this on the day of the photos. The cost is usually in the neighbourhood of $25. As with regular school photos, proofs will be sent home several weeks after the photos have been taken, with an option to purchase picture packages. While this can be somewhat expensive, it is usually cheaper than you would pay going to a photographer outside of school.
Graduation Trip
The location and date of the trip will be determined early on in the school year, in order to ensure that a bus can be booked. Discussions about possible destinations will occur with the Grade 8 students. We have selected Niagara Falls as our destination for the past three years, due to its proximity to Windsor and the large number of activities available in the city within walking distance. The trip usually occurs a few days prior to the graduation ceremony.
This is traditionally the greatest expense of the school year. A small deposit of $10 - $20 is usually requested up front, once the trip has been booked. Full or partial payments can be made towards the cost of the trip at any time during the school year. Final payment is usually due about a month before the trip takes place.
The cost of the trip can be reduced or covered entirely by students' fundraising efforts. During our first catalogue fundraiser, all profits from the sales of individual Grade 8 students will be directed towards paying off his or her graduation trip. Participation in this fundraiser can save you a lot of money down the road, so we strongly encourage all Grade 8 students to participate to the best of their ability.
It is important to note that the graduation trip is a privilege and is a reward for a student's successful school year.
Homework Overview
Please check the website regularly to see what we have been working on in class. Guidelines for the core academic subjects are described below. Please note that there are several resources available for students to get extra help outside of school time with their homework. Access information for online homework help will soon be forthcoming. Our local secondary school, W.F. Herman also traditionally offers free after-school homework assistance in their library for elementary school student. I encourage students to take advantage of these resources whenever they are able.
Literacy
Independent reading at home is always recommended. It is important that students read books that spend time reading books that are at the right level for them, in order to help them improve the use of the reading strategies (e.g., making inferences) that are taught in school. Once during each five-day cycle, students are responsible for writing about what they have read in their Reading Response journals. In this way, I am able to assess each student's use of the reading strategies. A complete reading response should be approximately one single-spaced page, consisting of (1) a summary of what was recently read and (2) a reflection of the thinking that the student has done before, during, or after reading the summarized portion.
It is not necessary to summarize every chapter or event from the story that is being read. Only the portion being commented on for the reading response is required. Reading should not be viewed as an onerous task. It should be enjoyable for students, which is part of the reason that they are only required to complete one reading response per week.
The bulk of writing assignments will usually be completed at school. It is important that I am able to see the processes of brainstorming, writing, revising, and editing in action. At times, students will have the option to type up a good copy of a piece of writing, but typing is not always necessary. If a typed final copy is required for an assignment, the option to use computers at school will always be given.
Mathematics
On some days, work will not be completed in class and should be finished at home. In other cases, practice questions will be assigned to help reinforce concepts that have been taught in class. The textbook provided to each student will help them with repetitive practice with these concepts. While the textbook work is not considered as part of the overall final grade of the student, it will be critical for the success of many students. Answers to odd-numbered questions can be found in the back of the textbook. When homework questions are assigned, students are encouraged to work through them independently as best they can before asking for assistance from others. Returning to school with inquiries about the homework questions and any challenges encountered is strongly encouraged.
Students will have access to a "Key Ideas" book when writing tests in Math. This books can include anything written down by the student that s/he will find helpful, such as a definition, a formula, or an example of how to solve a particular type of question.
It is expected by Grade 8 that students will proficient in mentally multiplying numbers from 1-12, without reliance on a calculator. We have found in recent years that this is often not the case. Therefore, independent practice at home with learning multiplication facts for those who need to do so is highly recommended. Multiplication is a foundation for most of the concepts that will be taught in Grade 8 and beyond. It is important for students to not have to overcome an additional hurdle when tackling difficult Mathematics problems.
Science, Geography, and History
An organized notebook is critical to students' success in these subject areas. Open-notebook quizzes will sometimes be given in order to assess students' understanding of the concepts that have been taught. These quizzes are not simply the regurgitation of facts; if students do not understand what is in their notebooks, it will be difficult to be successful. Therefore, in addition to review questions or projects that may be assigned in these subjects, continuous review of notebooks is extremely important. An accurate table of contents will greatly assist students in managing their notes. Students should also ensure that they catch up on any notes that they may have missed while absent from school.
Student e-mail
All students of the Greater Essex County District School Board have been provided with e-mail accounts for academic purposes. This account, through Office 365, is a powerful academic tool that will give students the ability to collaborate on work with their classmates from the comfort of home. Anywhere students have access to a web browser, they will be able to access their e-mail.
At times, outlines or rubrics for assignments will be shared with students through their e-mail accounts. This will allow students to have constant access to the success criteria for their work.
Documents and files can be uploaded and shared through the One Drive feature of the students' e-mail. Any documents that might be needed for school but were not able to be printed at home could be uploaded in this manner and then printed at school.
Students are encouraged to make active use of this tool, whenever possible. These e-mail accounts are intended for educational use and should not be utilized as a personal e-mail account. Students should be aware that content on GECDSB e-mail can be monitored at any time.
Instruction will be provided to students at school as to how to access their e-mail accounts and the associated applications at home. For your reference, brief instructions are provided below.
To access student e-mail accounts:
At times, outlines or rubrics for assignments will be shared with students through their e-mail accounts. This will allow students to have constant access to the success criteria for their work.
Documents and files can be uploaded and shared through the One Drive feature of the students' e-mail. Any documents that might be needed for school but were not able to be printed at home could be uploaded in this manner and then printed at school.
Students are encouraged to make active use of this tool, whenever possible. These e-mail accounts are intended for educational use and should not be utilized as a personal e-mail account. Students should be aware that content on GECDSB e-mail can be monitored at any time.
Instruction will be provided to students at school as to how to access their e-mail accounts and the associated applications at home. For your reference, brief instructions are provided below.
To access student e-mail accounts:
- go to the school board's website: www.publicboard.ca
- hover over or click on the Students tab, which will provide a drop-down menu
- click on the Office 365 link
- use the Students section on the left side of the page
- in the username field, students should enter their student number
- in the password field, students should enter the same password they use to log on to computers at school
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