Galt​ ​Collegiate​ ​Institute 

ESL/ELD NEWSLETTER 
June 2020 

How do we do school now? 

Message from Mrs. Lowes (ESL/ELD Department Head):

To all the ​parents and caregivers​ who are striving to support your family and trying to get your children to carry
on with school online (and without their peers), we see your challenges and thank you for the hard work you do.
Your children and their education and well-being are very important to us! We hope to be able to work with you
as a team to help your child grow and develop the skills they need for their future.

Teachers will post announcements and assignments in Google Classroom and you are more than welcome to see
what your child is learning through this lens. You can add your email to the classroom and get updates on how
your child is doing. We hope to keep you informed and if you ever have any questions for us, please send us an
email. You can send it through your child’s email address if you need to and you can send it in your first language.
That is what Google Translate is for!

To all of our students:

We appreciate all the hard work you have done online and the support you have given
your teachers during our switch to Distance Learning. And to those who could not
participate or were challenged by this shift, we are here for you to help you re-engage
anytime. The ESL / ELD Department at GCI wishes all of you good health and well-being,
and trust that we will all get through this!

The ESL/ELD Department has compiled this ​newsletter​ for you to share support for online
learning, to help students keep up with English over the summer and to provide access to
community resources. ​You can access this newsletter in Google Classroom, on School Day or on
the GCI website so you can click on the​ links​ provided.
Take control of your learning!

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Ways to Keep Up Your English Skills Over the Summer

Tips & Tricks
● You could do some ​Google Hangout Meets​ with students/classmates who don't
speak your language because you would have to speak English.
○ Google Hangouts Meet Guide​ - this is a video to show you how to get
started.

● Try watching ​English movies or shows​ with the ​English subtitles​ on.
That way you'll see AND hear the words in case you miss something.
Click on Closed Captioning (cc) or “Subtitles”.

● Also, take a look at this video on how to choose an ​audiobook​ through the
GCI website: Novel Choices

● Read various text​: ​How to Read Challenging Texts Like a Pro

Summer School ESL/ELD Courses (all online) - June 29-July 24, 2020
● Media Literacy​ (Course Code: EMS30Z)
● English Literacy​ (Course Code: OLC40Z)
*If you are interested, please e-mail our ESL/ELD Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Ropp
stephanie_ropp@wrdsb.ca

Websites to practice English

● 14 Websites to Improve Listening Skills for Teens and Adults
● Online Dictation​ (this is an example from the above site)
● BBC courses​ ​are also great
● Epic​ - Read online books (reading from levels A-C). Sign up
and read for 30 days for FREE!
● Idea Exchange​ (public library resources)
● Facebook online virtual cooking/art classes
● Scrapbook online ​https://www.canva.com/

Apps to practice English

● Hello Talk & Free Rice Apps
Hello Talk ​Download​ Free Rice ​Website

● Duolingo​ - if you would like to learn more English vocabulary OR another

language

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You don’t need a Chromebook to practice your English skills!

● Play karaoke
● Write a poem inspired by the outdoors
● Read and follow a recipe (or translate a
family recipe into English and share it
with your teachers ;)
● Make a poster. Share hope
encouragement and kindness through
your words
● Cut out letters from flyers to make
words
● Make labels for items in the home.
Example: fridge, drawers, handle,
flipper, counter, broom.
● Write a story about anything, great
stories are waiting to be read.
● Keep a journal or a diary
● Send an email, write a letter

“Low Tech, No Tech” Activities

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How to be better engaged online

We may see a second wave of this pandemic and schools might have to close again next year but we can
BE PREPARED ​for it! Your teachers are here to help you!

● Check your WRDSB Gmail account daily when school is in session.

● Check Google Classroom (each of your classes) daily Monday to Friday.
● Participate in Google Hangout Meetings (you do not have to show your
face).
● Stay connected with your teachers, friends and peers.
● Remember, you are NOT alone! ​You can do this!

Click on the links below to see video tutorials to help you with your online learning:
● Google classroom tutorial for students and parents  
● Parents guide to google classroom in 2020 
● Guide to Google Hangouts Meet for Students and Parents 2020 
● Google Meet for Parent/ Students

Community Supports
● Langs Youth Wellness Hub ● YMCA ● Faryal Anwar - Settlement
● Langs - Facebook ● YMCA - Facebook Worker ​(519-575-6710)
● Langs - Instagram ● Wrdsb@home​ has a great list (​faryal.anwar@ckw.ymca.ca​)
of resources for students

From the GCI ESL/ELD Teachers and Staff,

Mrs. Lowes Ms. Faryal Mrs. Ropp Ms. H.B
Ms. Este Ms. Vuong & Mrs. Ruvinov