Here we are about to jump into last week September. Routines have been established and we are now starting to get heavy into our learning. As workloads in some courses may increase and summative assessments begin, everyone is reminded to take advantage of the supports available, both at school and at home, whenever they need them. These include extra help at lunch hour and Google Classroom.

This week will be a very short week here at Gulf Shore. As we mark Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30th, there will be no classes for students. Students are also encouraged to wear orange shirts on Wednesday, September 29. Additionally, Friday, October 1st is a Professional Development Day for teachers and staff, so there will be no classes.

Finally, our picture day that was set to take place on Friday, has to be rescheduled. The new date is October 26th.
Now here is a snapshot into what will be happening during our three days together this week….

French- We will continue to participate in activities and games that will get everyone speaking French as much as possible. Our work will also continue discussing some common errors that second language speakers often make because of directly translating from their first language. Finally, as we take the time to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Week, many of our readings and discussions this week will focus on learning more about residential schools and their impact on our indigenous communities.

Science-It is hard to believe, but we have already finished up our learning of the first few outcomes of the year. Thus, our next few classes will be spent preparing for our assessment on Chapter 1 (atoms, molecules, elements and the periodic table) which will take place on Day 5 (Wednesday, September 29th). We will then begin to explore Chapter 2, beginning with a review of the physical changes in matter, which were studied in Grade 7.

Grade 9 FI Science-This week we will wrap up discussions on how matter is organized and dive deeper into solutions and their components; identifying solutions that surround us, especially those found in the human body, and taking note of their solvents and solutes. We will also begin discussions around the properties of matter and how they can used to identify substances. This work begins with a review of the properties studies in Grades 7 and 8, before we move into looking at some new properties not previously explored including density and solubility and how to calculate them.

Grade 7 Science- This week we will wrap up our look at changes in states of matter. In the lab late last week, we had the chance to watch these changes in action, as we experimented with changing water between its three states. Today students will write a quick check-in quiz on section 1.1, before we move into looking at mass and volume later on in the week.

Grade 9 English Science- Over the next few days we will continue to look deeper at the steps of the scientific method. Students will work in pairs to find an experiment of their own and explain what is happening at each step in regards to the scientific method. Today they will also write a check-in quiz on the words of science we have been studying these past few weeks.

Have an amazing week!

Mme MacNevin

School pictures will take place on Friday, September 24th. A notice went home last week outlining the details. Please also refer to our webpage if you need any additional information.

Our Hot Lunch program is now up and running for milk and pizza orders. Please refer to the Milk and Hot Lunch Sales tab on our school’s website for more details. This is in addition to the PEI School Food Program run by the province.

There are also still a few students in my homeroom who have not yet paid their $25.00 student fee. Please send this in as soon as possible.

With all those housekeeping announcements out of the way, now let’s take a look at what we will be learning during our classes together this coming week…

French- Our auto and peer evaluations for our oral presentations entitled “Je me presente à l’aide des images” will wrap up early this week. These presentations provide a great starting point for us to identify areas for improvement when it comes to our individual short-term oral language learning goals.

This week we will continue diagnostic testing in both written and oral comprehension and production. Following that, we will take a look at some common errors immersion make that often result from direct translations and gain some useful strategies to help correct them.

Finally, as we look towards Truth and Reconciliation Week, many of our readings and discussions later on this week will focus on learning more about residential schools and their impact on our indigenous communities.

Science-We are now fully immersed in our first unit: “L’univers materiel.” This week we will continue to discuss atoms, molecules, and Dalton’s atomic theory. We will also begin to examine the Periodic Table of the Elements and discuss how matter is organized and grouped on the table. Students will work on a project where they will each research a different element to highlight their understanding of how we can use the periodic table to find important information about a specific element.

Grade 9 FI Science-This week students will further explore how matter is organized, as they define and discuss the differences between elements, compounds, atoms, molecules, mixtures and solutions. In the lab, they will work for “GS Industries” as they attempt to separate a mixture and discuss its different components; identifying at each stage of separation if what they see before them is an element, a compound, a mixture or a solution.

Grade 7 Science- Late last week we kicked off the first unit of our Science program on matter. This week we will define and discuss the three states of matter, and look at how particles behave in each state. Students will even become solid, liquid and gas particles, as we act out “the dance of the atoms” to explain the properties of each state. We will then begin to look at how changes in temperature influence that behavior, as we explore how substances can move from one state of matter to another.

Grade 9 English Science- Our focus this week, as we continue to work through our explorations on the nature of science, will be on defining, explaining and using scientific vocabulary including the “words of science”-theory, law, model, hypothesis and fact. We will also continue to look at what “doing science” means, as we further explore the steps of the scientific method.

Have a fabulous week!

Mme MacNevin

Ps. We’ve been having a lot of fun over the past few weeks, as we get into our routines in both the classroom and the lab. Here are a few pictures of us in action 🙂

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend! Fall is definitely in the air and the days are getting shorter, but it is still nice to soak up the last few days of what is officially the summer season 🙂

I know the news of cases in our Island schools over the weekend was hard to digest, but as we have before, we will get through this together and many measures have been put into place to ensure your child’s safety.

Just a couple of quick housekeeping notes for my homeroom class…

1. There are still a few students who have yet to pay their $25.00 student fee. If you could kindly get that in as soon as possible, it would be greatly appreciated.

2. Due to COVID restrictions, our annual “Meet the Staff Night” will not take place this year. However, stay tuned to the website and my blog for some “virtual” versions over the next few weeks. Here is a look at what we will be exploring during this first full week of school…

French-This week we will continue our “Bootcamp” and diagnostic testing, as we prepare to set our learning goals for the coming months.
As we continue to promote our improvement as speakers, each French period we will engage in oral language activities that will work to develop and improve our French speaking skills; fixing common errors and becoming more at ease in our second language.

One of the first activities we will work on is a presentation containing only pictures. Students will create a slideshow using Google Slides and present it to the class later on this week. Their presentation must contain no long text: only images and single words. They will present or film themselves explaining their projects without cue cards, using their slides as their talking points to present on their family, friends, the weather, their likes and dislikes, school and their community.

Science-Now that everyone is all set to go with their etext and Google Classroom, we will dive deeper into our first unit entitled “L’univers matériel.” This week, we will wrap up our review of lab safety, states and changes of matter, and the properties of solutions and mixtures that we studied last year. We will also begin to look at the how matter is organized, define atoms, and begin to explore how they combine to form molecules.

Grade 9 FI Science- This week we will wrap up our review of the chemistry concepts we studied last year and in Grade 7, and officially begin looking at the Grade 9 outcomes related to “L’univers matériel”. Students will explore the particle theory in detail, define the three states of matter and explain the behavior of particles when matter changes state. Each student will assume the role of a particle changing from one state of matter to another and tell their story in written paragraph, a comic strip, or by creating a short video or scene.

Grade 7 Science- During our Science classes together this first cycle, we will spend time continuing to get acquainted with the lay of the land in the Science Lab; exploring new vocabulary, the scientific method, as well as our “etext”, before beginning to discuss the three states of matter. There will be a short check in evaluation on rules and vocabulary related to the lab on Wednesday, September 15th. Students have been provided review sheets to help them to prepare both in class and on Google Classroom.

Grade 9 Science- We will continue exploring the nature of science together-looking at the scientific method and exploring the vocabulary needed to talk like a scientist.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Have a marvelous week!!!

Mme MacNevin

Happy first week of school!

I’m so excited to be back in the classroom with my students. I’m sure it will take us no time at all to get back to the routines. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I’m always here to help 🙂

Today, there will be many forms and papers travelling home with your child. Please take the time to review each one and sign any forms that may require your signature. Our goal is to have as many back tomorrow morning as possible 🙂 Students will also need to pay a $25.00 student fee to cover the costs of their industrial arts and home economics classes, as well as their beautiful new agendas. This can be paid by cash or cheque (made payable to “Gulf Shore School”).

Now here is a snapshot of the learning that we will dive into over this four day week…

French-This week we will take the time to get our brains “thinking in French.” This means lots of activities that will get students speaking in their second language. We will also spend some time doing some diagnostic testing to allow me to fully understand the specific needs of each student.

Science-Our first unit in Science will be “L’univers matériel.” This is our study of chemistry. We will begin with a review of the concepts we studied during this unit last year, talking about the differences between solids, liquids and gases and discussing matter as well as safety protocols while in the lab. Additionially, some time will be spent setting up our online textbooks and Google Classroom.

Science 7- Much of this week will be spent getting to know each other and discussing the importance of safety in the Science Lab. We will also set up our online textbook accounts and our Google Classroom, before diving into our first unit “L’univers matériel.” This unit will begin with a brainstorming activity around what science is and how it surrounds us.

FI Science 9- Students in Grade 9 will begin this year with “L’univers matériel” as well. After setting up our online accounts, we will quickly dive into a review of the chemistry outcomes from Grades 7 & 8, before beginning our discussions around atomic theory.

ENG Science 9-I’m super excited to be teaching Science to both our English and French Grade 9 classes this year. We will be spending the next few weeks exploring the nature of science together, including discussing what is and is not scientific, lab safety, the scientific method and some vocabulary and terms that will help us to speak like scientists 🙂

I’d like to wish everyone a fantastic first week of school! Bonne rentrée!!!

Mme MacNevin

Bonjour!

Welcome to Grade 8 Mid-Immersion at Gulf Shore Consolidated!
I am very excited be your child’s homeroom teacher this year. I appreciate your participation as we journey through the 2021-2022 school year together.

Like last year, this school year will look and feel a little different than in the past, but I can assure you every effort has been made to give your child as normal a year as possible. I will do my very best to ensure that your child is safe, and that they will continue to learn, grow, and be loved and supported each and every day inside my classroom. I am blessed to be part of the fabulous Gulf Shore family and I know that we will get through this together.

I welcome any questions or concerns that you may have. You can reach me by by email at arwalker@edu.pe.ca or by phone at the school (902-963-7810).

Our team works together to ensure that your child receives the best education possible. The following subject teachers will be guiding your son/daughter this year:

• French and Science-Mme April MacNevin
• Math-Mme Paula Arsenault
• Social Studies-Mme Kim Arsenault
• English-Ms. Claire Caseley Smith
• Industrial Arts-Mr. Robert Holmes
• Band-Mrs. Kirsten MacLaine
• Heath and Physical Education-Ms. Erin Coady
• Home Economics-Ms. Michelle Silliker

I keep a classroom blog. At the beginning of each week, you will find updates on what is happening inside our classroom and around the school as well as details about any homework, tests, or projects that are assigned.

Your son/daughter will be using Google Classroom in all of their classes again this year. Class codes will be provided during the first few days of school. They can access their account from home through any Google web browser by placing their username in front of @cloud.edu.pe.ca. There, they will have access to online resources and assignments. This is the go-to place for students both here at school and if they are absent from the classroom. I would encourage you to remind them to check this site on a regular basis.

Have a wonderful long weekend! I’m really looking forward to welcoming everyone on Tuesday morning 🙂

Here’s to a happy, healthy, safe and successful school year!

Mme April MacNevin