Together Learning

We Excel

Lochearn Elementary

June, 2011

When parents and schools work together, they make an unbeatable team.

Dear Parents, Its hard to believe that the school year is at its end. I am reminded of a quote about endings and beginnings:
Though we generally think of the word "end" as a conclusion, we should keep in mind it comes from the Greek word anti, which means "before." While we might think we're concluding the school year, we are reallymuch more importantlysetting students, and ourselves, up for what comes next (Unknown Author).

There is no question that Lochearn School is a great school community and our logo: Learning Together, We Excel exemplifies the energy, enthusiasm and commitment that you see at Lochearn! Our School Goal: Facilitating a Culture of Engaged Learning This past year we focused on 21st Century Skills and incorporating technology into our daily learning. Students engaged in Smart Learning strategies and Inquiry Based Learning (Galileo) and we saw students go deeper and deeper with their critical thinking skills and their learning. Snapshots of the Smart and Galileo Learning are evident as we saw Kindergarten students watching in wonder baby chicks being hatched; Grade One students building towers to the ceiling, Grade Twos exploring different sizes, shapes and kinds of boats; Grade Threes creating their own song called Something Beautiful; Grade Fours developing a toy for the Mattel Toy Company and witnessed in excitement objects being propelled through the air with a simple machine; and the Grade Fives as archeologists and anthropologists excavating the land and uncovering artifacts. Students were engaged in their learning and next year we will be going even deeper with our school goal of Facilitating a Culture of Engaged Learning to increase student achievement. On behalf of all of the Lochearn School Staff we wish all of our families a very happy, relaxing and safe summer. To the families of our Grade Five students, we wish you all the very best. To everyone else, well see you in September! 2011-2012 Lochearn Staff Kindergarten (K1/K2) - Ms. Bargholz Kindergarten (K3/K4) - Mrs. vanTol Grade 1 - Mr. Keough Grade 1 - Mr. Seely Grade 1 - Mrs. Soppit Grade 2 - Mrs. Carbino Grade 2 - Mrs. Sinclair / Mrs. Spencer Grade 2 - Mrs. Nichol (Miss Stzym) Grade 3 - Mr. Armitage Grade 3 - Mr. Foote Grade 3 - Mrs. Kalev Grade 4 - Mrs. Barrett Grade 4 - Mrs. Davies Grade 4 - Ms. Henderson Grade 5 - Mrs. Milford / Mrs. Wedman Grade 5 - Mrs. von Hollen / Mr. Milford Gym - Mr. Milford / Mrs. von Hollen Sharpen the Saw/Identity Day, Monday! Classroom Updates for 2011-2012 We will have three Grade Four classes next year and no split class. We will have two Grade Five classes. The current Grade Four classes will be looping to Grade Five. In other words, they will stay with their classmates from this year to further their learning together in Grade Five. There is substantial research on the benefits of looping and we have taken the opportunity with these two classes to loop. Here are some sites to understand why we decided to loop this years Grade Four classes to Grade Five. http://www.openeducation.net/2008/01/06/looping-ineducation-time-to-make-it-a-fundamental-practice/ http://ozpk.tripod.com/00loop http://www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/ic/looping/ looping.pdf If you have any questions, please come and talk with me at the office.