Awkward Turtles: Welcome to the Cavern (Room 311/312)

The Cavern...the Great Hall...Room 311-12, call it what you might, but for the upcoming school year this is going to be our base of operations for the learning adventure we are all about to embark on. This year I will be working with you to create opportunities to learn, and develop the academic skills that will help you as you move on to the next level. At first glance this year might not look the same as previous years at Churchill, but I am confident that we will work together to build a community of learners and enjoy success at many levels in the months ahead.

As you can see from the photos I have attached, I am in the process of moving into the conjoined rooms of 311 and 312, on the third floor. We have removed the dividing wall between these classes to allow for maximum space to spread out and socially distance. We are very lucky to have this option available, and I plan to take full advantage of it. Our support team (Kathy and Heather E, as well as Shellie for French, and Megan for music) will be coming to our room to help out, and we plan to use the large space in our room to allow for more flexibility when we need to support students, and their needs, while still maintaining distances and following new protocols.

Which brings me to what we can expect as we prepare for our first days back at school. Students need to come to school with a large (full) water bottle, and a nutritious lunch (we are a nut restricted site). These they will keep at their desk with them all day, along with their weather appropriate outdoor gear. I would encourage students to bring a book from home to read during reading periods for the first few days, until we get prepared for book related protocols with our class library. No other items, unless absolutely essential, are needed at school. We are trying to limit contact points for safety's sake, so a modestly sized backpack to carry these items in would be a good idea. I would last like to mention that we are going with one set of footwear for the time being. No separate indoor shoes are needed, as they will just wear their outdoors in to their desks, until further notice.

In terms of desk space, our large room has allowed me to space everyone out quite well. Each student has their own separate desk or table space, where they will engage in the majority of their learning opportunities for the immediate future. This is not the way we have been used to organizing ourselves at Churchill, but I know that we can be successful with making this transition work for our students. My hope is to get the class outside, and moving, as often as possible.

This will be the 19th group of students that I have worked with during my time at Churchill, and I am looking forward to the adventure ahead of us. This will undoubtedly be a school year to remember, from many points of view! There will be many questions as we move forward. I don't know if I will have any of the answers right now, and with so many things changing on a daily basis, I would recommend that you wait to see what other information comes your way in the days ahead. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any concerns. To recap...students need to come to school with;

lunch

water bottle

outdoor gear (ie rain coat if its raining, jacket or sweater if its cold)

reading book

outdoor shoes only

Finally...each student is going to need to wear a mask, so it is recommended that students come with three masks for the day so they can change them. Cloth masks, that can be washed each evening, are advised, but I am sure more information on that will be coming in the future.

More to come...

Welcome to grade 6!