Newsletter #3
November/2016
Div 5- We Are All Different
Meadowbrook Elementary
A Reggio Influenced Learning Community
900 Sharpe Ave Coquitlam, B.C. V3C 3M3 Phone 604- 464-5813
Principal: Ms. Dawn Holden
New B.C. Curriculum Update
As many of you know we have a newly redesigned BC
curriculum. Full implementation of the curriculum began
this year. Many teachers at Meadowbrook have been
using the draft curriculum for the last couple of years, so
you might not notice too many differences. Each subject
in the curriculum can be broken down to:
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Big Idea
Core Competencies
Curricular Competencies
Content
A. The Big Idea is the main concept. It’s the overall
global understanding that we want our students
to get. That’s why we call it The Big Idea
B. Core Competencies are the foundations of your
intellectual and emotional development. It’s at
your very core. It’s the way we think, act and
communicate. Core Competencies are
measured on a continuum that spans all grades.
It’s quite possible that we may have a Grade 2
learner who is further developed than a Grade 5
learner. They are measured on the same scale.
Core Competencies are made up of Thinking,
Communication and Personal and Social.
Upcoming Events
November 15th
Snack with PAC -9:15am
Strong Start Room
November 17
Hot Lunch
Odyssey of the Mind @ lunch
in Library
November 18
Photo Retake Day – 9am
Winter Market 5pm -8pm
Nov 22/ 23
Early Dismissal Days for
Learning Conferences (2pm
Dismissal time both days)
Newsletters/ Notices
School Newsletters and
Notices will be sent to
parents via email and
published on the website.
We will have copies
available at the office if you
would like a paper copy of
any newsletter or notice.
C. Curricular Competencies are the skills, strategies
and know-how that learners have in order to
complete a task or project. It helps them reach
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The Big Idea. Think of it as their tool kit. Curricular
Competencies measure what learners “do”.
D. Content represents what students know. These
are items that learners may be able to memorize
or learn from reading a book. For many adults,
learning content is what we usually associated
with school in the past.
Core competencies, Curricular Competencies and
Content all support our learners’ understanding of The Big
Idea.
-
Thanks to Mr. Mah at Walton for sharing the above
summary of the components of the new curriculum ;)
For more info follow the link below:
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum-info
Communicating Student Learning
As mentioned in last month’s newsletter the new reporting
template is a revised version of last year’s template. Our
Team Leaders, with feedback from teachers and support
from our district have tweaked the template to better
reflect the new curriculum. This is in keeping with the
Ministry of Education’s interim reporting order for this year.
Please note that reporting may look different in 2017-2018
as we enter the second year of the revised curriculum.
Stay tuned - I will have more info on the new template in
the next newsletter.
Pokemon / Soccer Card Update
Pokemon and Soccer cards have been the hot topic at
school since September. The cards have proven to be a
big distraction for our learners both in the classroom and
outside. Cards have gone missing from binders and
backpacks left out in the cloakroom areas. There have
been trades that at first were acceptable but on further
thinking led to upset and hurt feelings. Since the start of
school we have tried to moderate/work with the students
MDI – Middle Years
Developmental Index
Over the next several weeks
our Grade 4 learners will be
participating in the MDI
survey. A notice was sent
home last month about the
survey. The MDI is a
population -level research
tool. It looks at 5 categories:
Physical Health
Connectedness
Social and Emotional
Development
School Experiences
Use of After School Time
More info can be found at:
http://earlylearning.ubc.ca/m
di/
Documentation Wall – A
reminder that every month we
update our documentation
wall in the hallway leading
from the office to the library.
Please look over all the
amazing learning that is
happening at Meadowbrook
when you are here. Below
are a few samples:
Braille – Div. 2
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as they have enjoyed sharing their cards and knowledge
with their peers. We have spent a lot of time and energy
trying to sort through the facts and fiction and repair the
harm that has happened. Unfortunately, we are seeing
more and more issues. Our staff are particularly concerned
about how this is impacting our learners’ ability to focus
and concentrate on the learning.
This past week I have gone into several classrooms to
discuss the cards with whole classes and groups of learners.
We also discussed possible solutions at our November staff
meeting.
Kindness Matters – Div. 8
Counting Collections – Div 7
As a result, we as a staff have decided that we are going
to have a two week cooling off period. This means that NO
POKEMON or SOCCER CARDS should come TO SCHOOL.
If your child is interested in Pokemon or Soccer cards and
has brought cards to school at any time please talk to your
child about the above message.
Colour Inquiry – Div. 6
I will update you at that time.
Thanks for your understanding and patience.
-
Dawn Holden
Rock Inquiry - Atelier
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