November 2 to 6, 2026

Treaties Recognition Week and International Inuit Day:

November 1-7 is Treaties Recognition Week in Ontario. Throughout the week, our school will explore the importance of treaties and increase awareness of treaty rights, obligations, and relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Treaties are formal, legally binding agreements (promises) between two separate nations. Treaties between the British Crown (the federal and provincial governments of Canada) and Indigenous peoples were signed and people were promised land reserves, healthcare, schools, and tools, equipment and supplies for hunting, fishing, farming. In return, the government made promises of peace, law, and order. At school, we will learn about the significance of treaty rights, treaty relationships, and their relevance today. We will learn about International Inuit Day, which is on Saturday, November 7th. We will continue our learning journey throughout November (and throughout the year), as November is Indigenous Education Month at the Ottawa Catholic School Board. For more information about treaties in Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/treaties

National Veterans Week: November 5-11:

We will take some time later this week and next week to read about and determine important information about Remembrance Day and peace. We will discuss national days of significance such as Indigenous Veterans' Day on November 8th and Remembrance Day on November 11th.

Our Learning This Week

Math:

In Grade 3, we continue to work on adding and subtracting two- and three-digit numbers, with and without regrouping. We will also spend some time practising our Math problem-solving skills. Your Grade 3 child will bring home a subtraction practice sheet for homework this week.

The Grade 2 students in our class have finished their numbers unit and will do a brief review before doing an assessment of learning this week. The Grade 2s are also learning about how to solve addition and subtraction word problems. 

Our next math unit for both grades will be patterning.

Language

This week, we will continue to practise our recount writing skills. On Monday, the students will be asked to recount their Halloween experience if they participated, or another personal experience (e.g., a birthday, a special family experience, a time they got hurt, etc.). We continue to  work on adding more adjectives and details to our writing to make it more interesting. 

This week in our phonics lessons, we will learn about adding the ending -ING to verbs. We add the -ING ending to verbs when we are talking about actions that continuously happen in the present or past. When a verb has the -ING ending, a helping verb comes before it such as:

I am going. We are going.

She was going. They were going.

This week's new heart words: been, into

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, use, two, does, many, any, *been, *into.

Spelling Check-In Tuesday, November 3rd:

Our next spelling check-in will be on Tuesday, November 3rd. Please help your child learn how to spell each of the heart words we have learned this year "by heart". One way is to give your child a pencil and lined paper and dictate each heart word and have your child write it without help/looking. Then, use the UFLI Home Practice half sheet sent home each week to dictate some of the words and sentences that follow our weekly phonics rule. The spelling check-in on Tuesday, November 3rd will include words with the spelling patterns we have recently learned: -es, -ed.

Looking Ahead:

November 2 - Halloween Math challenge homework due

November 3 - Spelling check-in

November 6 - Library books due

November 7 - International Inuit Day

November 7 -  P.D. Day (no school for students)

November 8 - Indigenous Veterans’ Day

November 11 - Remembrance Day

November 12: Progress Reports go home

November 15-21: Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

November 19: Parent-teacher interviews

November 20 -  P.D. Day (no school for students)

 October 26 - October 30, 2026

Halloween is an abbreviation of "All Hallow's Eve", which is also known as "All Saints Eve". It is the day before an important day in the Catholic church, All Saints Day. The Catholic origins of Halloween date back to more than 1300 years ago during the vigil of the Feast of All Saints.The day of October 31st is a feast day dedicated to remembering loved ones who have died. Traditionally, families would lay out a feast for the spirits of loved ones who got to return home for this one evening. That helps explain why we give a treat to kids dressed up as ghosts. Here is more information about the Christian roots of Halloween festivities. 

At St. Gabriel, we are having a Halloween Spirit Week starting on Monday of this week until Friday, October 30th. 

Important Message about Culturally Sensitive Halloween dress-up/ Costumes: 

Please make sure to consider a thoughtful approach about whether the costume is culturally sensitive and appropriate. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, cultural appropriation is, “the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect the culture.” Halloween is a fun event and with some creativity and imagination, parents can help their child(ren) choose a costume that aligns with a culturally sensitive Halloween. Being proactive can help all of us to avoid uncomfortable situations at school and in our community and can help us ensure that Halloween is a fun event where all students feel safe and honoured. Looking forward to seeing all the creativity!

Halloween Treats:

In addition, please do not send in edible treats to be handed out to the students due to allergies and many students' dietary limitations. Remember to save your child's candy/treats for home consumption as we will be focusing on healthy eating in class as part of our healthy eating unit. I hope everyone enjoys a safe and fun Halloween! 

Our Learning This Week

Language:

In Writing, we will continue to practise our recount writing skills. Next Monday, the students will be asked to recount their Halloween experience if they participate, or another personal experience (e.g., a birthday, a special family experience, a time they got hurt, etc.). We are working on adding more adjectives and details to our writing to 'bump it up'. 

In grammar and word work, we will learn how to use adjectives. This week in our phonics lessons, we will learn about past tense verbs (used when we talk about actions that have already happened). We will explore the use of the ending -ED to verbs to make them past tense: I jump, I jumped. I yell, I yelled. 

This week's new heart words: many, any

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, use, two, does, *any, *many.

Math:

In Grade 2 this week, we will finish up our exploration of place value and representing numbers in different ways, including using expanded form. 

In Grade 3, we continue to work on adding and subtracting, with and without regrouping.

Spelling Check-In:

For each spelling check-in (Mondays), you can help your child learn how to spell each of the heart words we have learned this year "by heart". The spelling check-in on Monday, November 3rd will also include words with the spelling patterns we have recently learned: -es, -ed.

Reading Homework ideas:

Students are encouraged to read aloud daily to a parent for 10-20 minutes (students can access extra books via Sora on their Student Portal). A good suggestion is for you to "take turns" reading aloud with your child - for example, you read a couple of pages, then your child reads a couple of pages. Your child will benefit from hearing you read aloud as you can model what fluent reading sounds like. 

Looking Ahead:

Monday, Oct. 26: Wear a crazy hat

Tuesday, Oct. 27: Wear mismatched clothes

Wednesday, Oct. 28: Wear a crazy wig

Thursday, Oct. 29: Wear a crazy hairdo 

Friday, Oct. 30: Dress in orange, black, and/or purple

Friday, Oct. 30: Gr. 2/3 library books due

Sunday, Nov. 1: All Saints Day

Sunday, Nov. 1: Daylight Savings Day - Turn back clocks

 October 19 - 23, 2026

Now that Fall has officially arrived and the mornings are quite cold, please check that your child is dressed in layers and has warm clothes like a coat each day. The weather is often unpredictable and some children have not had adequate clothing at recess. Putting an extra pair of socks in your child's backpack is also a great idea for when little feet get cold and wet. If your child doesn't yet have an extra pair of pants appropriate for fall/winter weather, please send some to be kept in their cubby at school.

Curriculum Update

Language: 

In Writing, the children are learning about the features of recount writing and the students are using these features to write their own personal recounts (for example, their Thanksgiving recounts). We will review how to write a good opening sentence when writing a recount. 

The Grade 2 students are also working on "What is a sentence?", including how to write a complete sentence using capitalization and correct punctuation (e.g., a period, question mark, exclamation mark). In addition to reviewing how to write a complete sentence that makes sense, the Grade 3s are also learning how to write a paragraph.

During our grammar and word work lessons, we will review common nouns and proper nouns and begin our focus on adjectives. 

This week in or phonics lessons, we will learn about plurals. The -s ending is used to make nouns plural. Plural means more than one: one cat, three cats. The -s ending can also change the tense of verbs: I run, he runs. 

We will learn about the -ES ending used in plurals. If a noun ends with CH, SH, S, X, or Z, we add -ES instead of just -S, like in the words bunches, dishes, glasses, boxes, and foxes. 

This week's new heart words: two, does

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, use, *two, *does.

Math:

In Grade 2, we continue to work on our addition and subtraction skills. We are learning about how to use a variety of strategies for adding and subtracting small numbers, such as using a partial 100 chart and base ten materials. 

In Grade 3, we continue to work on our place value unit. This week, we will learn to regroup to write numbers as sums of ones, tens, and hundreds in different ways.

For example: 8 tens + 13 ones are regrouped to 9 tens + 3 ones

8 tens + 13 ones = 9 tens + 3 ones

We will then use what we know about regrouping to practise addition with regrouping (tens and hundreds), and subtraction with and without regrouping.

Looking Ahead:

Monday, Oct. 19: Spelling check-in (_ce & _ge endings + Heart Words)

Tuesday, Oct. 20: Pizza lunch

Friday, Oct. 23: Library books due

Friday, Oct. 23: St. Gabriel Halloween dance (see flyer below)

October 26-30 - Spirit week (see flyer below)

 October 13 - 16, 2026

I hope you had a restful, joyful Thanksgiving weekend. This is the time to reflect on and thank God for our many blessings. I am so grateful to have your children in my class.

Our Learning

Math: 

In Grade 3, we will continue to develop our number sense in our place value unit. This week, we will practise plotting numbers on a number line to place them in order and compare them. 

In Grade 2, we continue to work on adding and subtraction small numbers. We will soon practise solving addition and subtraction word problems.

Language:

This week in Writing, we will review how to write a personal recount (recounting a personal experience). We will use an anchor chart/criteria chart for the features of a recount (title, opening, events, closing/conclusion, past tense verbs, time order and sequence words such as first, next, then, after, finally, the next day ... etc.) to write about something we did on the Thanksgiving weekend. At home, you can help by asking your child to recount an event to you using the order and sequence words first, next, then, after that, finally. 

This week's UFLI phonics lessons will include a review of what we have learned about long vowels, as well as the _ce and _ge endings. We will also learn about some exceptions to the silent e rule, such as in the words have, give, live, love, some, done, none, come.

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.

Spelling Check-In:

For each spelling check-in (usually on Mondays), you can help your child learn how to spell each of the heart words we have learned this year "by heart". The spelling check-in on Monday, October 19th will also include words with the spelling patterns we have recently learned: _ce, _ge.

During our grammar and word work lessons, we will continue to review the parts of speech called nouns. A noun is a person, place, thing, or animal. We will be exploring proper nouns and common nouns. 

*Please see this video about common and proper nouns here.

Reminder About Homework:

Please have your child return their homework next Monday, October 19th. The reading homework should be kept at home for the week to practise reading the words and short text (story) more than once per week. Thank you in advance for supporting your child at home by helping them review their phonics skills when the home practice is sent home.

Important Dates:

Tuesday, October 13 - Pizza lunch

Friday, October 16 - School Thanksgiving liturgy 9:30 a.m.Monday, October 19th - Grade 2/3 homework due and Spelling check-in

 

Week of October 5 - 9, 2026

Terry Fox Walk Friday, October 9th:

Once again, St Gabriel is excited to participate in the Terry Fox School Walk/Run this Friday, October 9th at 9:20 am on the All Saints High School track. On this day, students will walk or run the track to raise awareness and help carry on Terry Fox's legacy.

During the Terry Fox Event on Friday October 9th, parents are welcome to join us on our walk to All Saints. You will come in through the office at 9:00 and stay with your child in their classroom until we leave. We will be leaving at 9:20 after morning announcements and returning from All Saints at 11:00. A police check is not required to come on the walk.

Please wear your Terry Fox Shirts (from any year) or grey, white and purple to show off our St. Gabe's spirit!

Also, our school is still accepting donations online through https://schools.terryfox.ca/134710. Even a small amount makes a big difference. Thank you in advance for your support.

Our Learning This Week

Math: 

In Grade 3, we continue to develop our number sense in our place value unit. We are using base ten blocks to represent and compare one-, two-, and three-digit numbers. We will apply what we've learned about using base ten blocks and place value to determine which number is greater. We will also use the greater than, less than, and equals symbols (>, <, =) to compare numbers. After that, we will practise plotting numbers on a number line to place them in order and compare them. 

In Grade 2, we are working on adding and subtraction small numbers. 

Language:

During our grammar and word work lessons, we will review the parts of speech called nouns. A noun is a person, place, thing, or animal. We will be exploring proper nouns and common nouns.

Reading/Spelling: Our next UFLI Phonics lessons (Reading and Spelling) will focus on the -ce ending. We will learn that -ce says /s/ such as in the words rice, trace, twice, space.

No new heart words this week. Last week's Heart Words: 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.

Spelling Check-In:

Please note that the date of our first spelling check-in will be moved to Thursday, October 8th instead of Friday due to the Terry Fox Walk/Run. The spelling check-in will be an assessment of your child's skills in spelling the Heart Words listed above and long vowel a, i, o, e, and u words practised in class (see homework sheets sent home over the last few weeks). If your child has been regularly practising reading and writing Heart Words and the words and stories sent home for homework, they will feel prepared for the assessment.

Religion:

This week we will prepare for Thanksgiving. We will discuss what we are thankful for and how we can use prayer to show that we are thankful.

Physical Education:

We will practise our dribbling and trapping skills in our soccer unit.

In Visual Arts, we will continue our learning about the primary and secondary colours and the colour wheel.

Important Dates:

October 7 - Photo day

October 8 - Spelling check-in

October 9 - Terry Fox walk

October 12 - Thanksgiving day - No school

October 22 - First Subway Day - sign up before October 16th using schoolcash online

 September 28 - October 2, 2026

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Wed., September 30:

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on Wednesday, September 30. On Wednesday, September 30th, staff and students are invited to wear an orange shirt to participate in the day because it is also Orange Shirt Day.

Each year on September 30th, people from all over Canada are invited to wear orange in honour of The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and to remind ourselves that Every Child Matters. Wearing an orange shirt on September 30th is an initiative to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. The inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was recognized by Parliament in partial fulfillment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 80.

The origin of Orange Shirt Day is based on Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her new orange shirt, that her grandmother bought her, taken away on her first day at Residential School. It was replaced by the school uniform.

For more information about why we wear orange on September 30th, see official website:  http://www.orangeshirtday.org/

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation provides an opportunity for each of us to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools. This includes quiet reflection and participation in school and class activities.

Your child will be learning about the Indian Residential School system in Canada and about reconciliation through participating in this week's stories and activities. The Residential School System was an attempt to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian society and to educate them in an environment that removed them from their families and their culture. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission defines reconciliation as “an ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships.” First Nations educator Pamela Toulouse says, “Truth and reconciliation are even more necessary in a world that is challenged and for our children and youth who have inherited it.”

Topics of Learning

Language: 

In Writing, we continue to learn about how to stretch out our sentences and add details, without writing run-on sentences. We also continue to learn about how to put several sentences together on a topic to write a good paragraph. 

In grammar and word work, we will review common nouns and proper nouns. 

Our next UFLI phonics review 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 reviewed 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.

Spelling Check-In:

Please note that we will have our first spelling check-in next Friday, October 9th. It will be an assessment of your child's skills in spelling the Heart Words listed above and long vowel a, i, o, e, and u words practised in class (see homework sheets sent home). If your child has been regularly practising reading and writing the words and stories sent home over the last couple of weeks for homework, they will feel prepared for the assessment.

Physical Education:

We are beginning our soccer unit. We will be practising our dribbling and trapping skills.

In Visual Arts, we will continue to learn about the primary and secondary colours and the colour wheel.

Multi-Language Learners: Things to do at home

Please find below some information and helpful strategies for supporting your child at home, shared by our school board ESL (English as a Second Language) Teachers. Researchers have found that speaking multiple languages at home offers significant benefits to young children. Speaking in your home language to your children from birth helps develop their minds and prepare them for success.

Community Activities:

• Visit the Ottawa Public Library

• Visit the Museums in Ottawa

• Become involved in community activities 

Language Building Activities:

• Reading together and talking about the book, in any language

• Writing a journal/drawing pictures, and adding names of things 

• Talking about things they see/do

Card/Board Games:

• Scrabble

• Bananagrams 

• Pictionary

• Charades 

• Picture BINGO 

• Spot It! 

Online Reading and Games:

Unite for Literacy 

FlyLeaf 

Starfall

ABCya

Games to Learn English

Phonics and Stuff

Duolingo

Important Dates:

September 28 - First WIZE Academy (until Dec. 14)
September 29 - First Pizza day- Every Tuesday

Wednesday, Sept. 30th - Wear orange for National Day for Truth & Reconciliation 

Friday, October 2 - P.D. Day: No school

Monday, October 12 - Thanksgiving: No school