Week of December 1st to 4th, 2025

Sunday, November 30th marks the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is the season of waiting and preparing for the birth of Jesus Christ. Throughout Advent, we will participate in weekly Advent liturgies and enjoy special activities that highlight the special meaning to this season. This week, we fill our hearts with hope as we prepare for Jesus' birth.

St. Gabriel Christmas Market

Our annual Christmas Market is returning! Students will have the opportunity to choose special gifts for their family members using donated items from our community. A minimum of $2 donation is required to participate. This contribution supports our Advent outreach project, helping families in need during the holiday season. We kindly request that donations be submitted by December 17th in order for students to participate. 

For the market, we are collecting gently used or new donations of items such as candles, decorations, jewelry, hats, scarves, books, toys, puzzles, mugs, kitchen gadgets, bath products, and wrapping supplies. 

Donations accepted in the front foyer until December 13th.

Parent volunteers are also needed for gift-wrapping on December 17th (morning & afternoon).  Sign up here

Thank you for helping us spread Christmas joy by supporting our Advent initiative!

Our Learning

Math:

We are beginning our unit about addition and subtraction. In Grade 2, we will begin by ensuring the students understand the meanings of addition and subtraction. Addition is the process of putting numbers together to find a sum. Subtraction is the process of finding how much is left or how much more is needed. We will then work on recalling and demonstrating our understanding of addition facts for numbers up to 20, and their related subtractions facts. We will practise using a variety of strategies such as using doubles, doubles plus one, doubles minus one, making ten, counting, etc. Here are some ways to show our strategies for adding smaller numbers:

Link to Grade 2 Parent Summary Letter about The Meanings of Addition and Subtraction here 

Link to Grade 2 Parent Summary Letter about Using Doubles to Add  here

Link to Grade 2 Parent Summary Letter about Making Ten here

In Grade 3, we will begin by reviewing strategies for adding and subtracting numbers less than 100 (e.g., using a number line, hundred chart, manipulatives such as counters or ten-frames, drawing objects, and using mental strategies). Later on, we will learn how to add and subtract larger numbers. We will also begin to work on solving word problems that involve addition and subtraction. We will focus on how to communicate and show our thinking (How did we determine our answer? What strategy did we use? How can we explain our strategy?). We will also learn the steps to solving a problem, including writing the final answer in a complete sentence when solving a word problem. Please have your child practise adding and subtracting at home, with an important focus on encouraging your child to explain his/her thinking. Many students find this very challenging. 

Link to Grade 3 Parent Summary Letter about Addition and Subtraction Strategies for Numbers Less Than 100 here 

Supporting Your Child in Math:

By Grade 2, students should be solidifying their memorization of doubles addition facts to the sum of 20 (e.g., 4+4, 5+5, 6+6, 7+7, 8+8, 9+9, 10+10), as well as the related doubles subtraction sentences (e.g., 8-4=4, 10-5=5, 16-8=8, etc.). Please help your child review these skills to ensure they achieve this expectation.

Language:

In Writing in both Grade 2 and 3, we will continue to practise different types of descriptive writing, using adjectives and interesting vocabulary to paint a picture when describing something or someone. In Reading, we will work on visualizing to help us comprehend what we read.

Our next UFLI phonics lesson is about the long u vowel sound as in the word use. The long vowel sound is the same as the vowel's name, u. 

The vowel u says its own name, u, when there is a silent E at the end of a word, like in the words cube, mute, and cute and also words such as flute, rule, tube, duke, and tune. The E at the end of the word does not make a sound so we say it is "silent" ("silent E" or "bossy E"). 

This week's new heart words are: one, once

Please have your child practise the heart words we have learned so far in class: the, I, a, said, to, do, of, see, he, be, me, from, you, what, have, look, book, are, was, your, want, go, no, so, goes, says, they, their, were, talk, walk, could, should, would, or, for, who, by, my, *one, *once.

New Homework: Reading Practice Folder

Beginning this week, your child will bring home a Reading Practice Folder. This folder will contain the phonics homework practice sheets that they have been bringing home since September. They will be kept on the right side of the folder. The Grade 3 students also have an additional decodable text reading practice sheet in it. The folder will also contain an additional book for your child to read with you. Please refer to the suggested questions for you to discuss with your child after reading the story together. The folder will be due back at school each Monday. Thank you for supporting your child with their reading practice. 

Visual Arts:

We will continue our exploration of warm and cool colours and the feelings which can portrayed by the use of certain colours when creating works of art. We will also learn about different types of lines and how they can be used when creating art.

Health:

Over the next few weeks, we will continue our discussions about healthy eating and the students will "create" a balanced meal.

Important Dates:

Sunday, Nov. 30 - First Sunday of Advent

Tuesday, Dec. 2 - Photo Retakes

Thursday, Dec. 4 - Library books due

Thursday, Dec. 4 - Magic show (K-6)

Friday, Dec. 5 - P.D. Day