Week 3 - Sept 15 - 19

Hi again! We're into our third week together. We're beginning to get familiar with classroom routines and expectations. We know each others' names and are learning about each other. We are ready to dive deeper into the curriculum. Thank you all for bringing the best of yourself to Division 13 each day. Keep up the great work!

Language Arts - Last week we looked at "inferencing" as a reading strategy (we were "reading" pictures). This week you'll get to show what you know about inferencing through study of both pictures and written language. We'll also begin to tie L.A. with Social Studies as we launch into a study of the novel Refugee. 

Writing - You'll be introduced to a "Gist" - a writing framework that limits you to just 20 words. These precise little summaries can be challenging to write, and are a great thinking and writing exercise. We'll also continue to build our Writing Territories.

Social Studies - Your Universal Declaration of Human Rights posters are looking great. We'll finish these this week. Unfortunately, basic human rights are not always respected. Over the next weeks we will be exploring the situations that people find themselves in that force them to seek asylum outside of their home countries. Learning about efugees' experiences can really shake up our comfortable, peaceful suburban lives. Come into this with an open mind, be prepared to speak up and share your thinking. 

Math - A few number concepts are coming your way this week, including how to read and "speak" whole numbers. And let's explore number lines, comparing and ordering whole number values (>, <, =), and writing and reading numbers in expanded form. And let's also begin reviewing or exploring new ideas in addition strategies.

Science - I am hoping to get our first Science unit underway this week. Stand by for more info about this as the week goes on. 

The Terry Fox fundraiser continues. Online donations can be made here. Cash and coins can come in any time, or you can collect at home and bring in money all at once. We're off to a good start, folks. Keep that money coming in so we can reach our class fundraising goal of $1200. 

That's all for this week. Enjoy!

Week 2 - Sept 8 - 12

Welcome back to the blog. Thanks for visiting again. We are settling in and getting to know each other. I've learned your names. Have you learned everyone's names? (If you haven't, please set this as a goal for the week. It is super important to know who you'll be sharing the classroom with for the year ahead!) 

We are getting organized, and will be kicking off a few things that look like schoolwork this week. Most of you have arrived with close to a full complement of school supplies. If you haven't yet, please bring  what you need as soon as you can. It is really helpful to start off the year organized and prepared. I've included a new tab here on the blog with a list of items we will use this year.

While you're exploring the tabs at the top of the page, check out our class timetable. 

Parents, please consider making a donation to our Terry Fox Foundation fundraiser. Find our class page (Division 13) to make it count toward our class fundraising goal. Thanks!

Tuesday is Monterey's Meet the Teacher event. Our PAC runs a social outside from 5:30 - 6:30. Parents, I'll meet you in the classroom from 6:30 - 7:00. And our school's music program teacher will run a presentation 7:00 - 7:30. See you then!

About Music... an informal poll with the students showed only limited interest in our school's music program. Band 6 gets underway soon - it is not too late to join. But it will be important to make the decision to join the band this week if that's the direction you would like to go. Taking advantage of the (free) music lessons now could set you up for a lifetime of music-making! Send your parents to the info session Tuesday night after Meet the Teacher...

Here are a few of the things we're going to try to accomplish this week:

Language Arts: Our first term looks at reading skills like inferencing, sequencing, determining cause and effect, and differentiating fact vs. opinion. We will begin with inferencing using pictures to identify and practice the skill.

Writing: I love writing. I love teaching writing. And I love to see student-writers develop their confidence and skillsets. We'll play around with language a bit this week, and begin building an inventory of ideas for future writing tasks. 

Math: We'll ease into some basic ideas in math this week, including subitizing, estimation, and graphing. You each now should have a math binder, divided into four sections ("notes", "sheets", "data" and "results"). Please do your best to keep this binder organized throughout the year. 

Social Studies: We will begin to explore human rights this week. We'll build our understanding of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

That seems like a lot. I'll wrap this post up for now. Enjoy your week!

Week 1 - Sept 2 - 5

Hi Everyone! This is the official blog of Division 13 at Monterey Middle School for 2025 - 2026. Your blog author is Mr. Pite.

It is really great to see that you have found my blog! This week all I am going to offer is a huge WELCOME ABOARD! to you. 

Notice the tabs at the top of the page. Currently, the Timetable is a work in progress. The Daily Agenda has been cleared and stands by ready to keep you up-to-date. We'll chat with you about what "agenda" can mean for you, and how to decide on an agenda system that will work for you.

For now, please bookmark this site. I'll be asking you to check in weekly on this space. This is the post for week 1, so your job is done for now. Be on the lookout for Week 2's post on Monday, Sept. 8. In the meantime, please consider donating to our classroom's Terry Fox Foundation fundraiser.

Parents, I hope to meet you all on Tuesday, Sept. 9 for our Meet the Teacher evening.

That's it for now!

Week 39 - June 23 - 26

Hi All! It's our final week together. Congratulations! You've completed grade 6 - your first year at Middle School. That went fast, didn't it?

Look at this space later in the week for your own contributions, your final good-byes.

No academic stuff to report on. But here are reminders for the week:

Monday: Yearbooks!

Tuesday: Windsor Park day! 

Wednesday: Willows Beach day!

Thursday: Last day assembly and Walkies.

Bring a little cash on Tuesday and Wednesday if you'd like an ice cream at the park, and a tea house goodie at the beach.

And now, for your final words:

AA -

CB - Byeeee! 

IB - Corrupt Nature!

AC - SGA is him.

EC - Don't be sad that its over, but be happy that it happened.

KC - Follow your dreams.

ND - Be like a pineapple

OD - (*shrugs*)

JD - If life gives you lemons, throw them at your enemies!

JE - I want a pink car.

CF - Round 2 is over. Cuz its my second. No! No! I didn't mean Its fine. Keep it.

WF - I don't know.

JH - San Andreas is still the best GTA game.

MH - School ends but memories don't 

DL - 

BMcD - I don't know what we're doing.

BMcK - Even though school's over there's still more to come.

WM - We had a Peter Griffin Fortnite collab before GTA 6 came out.

MN - Peace out!

JR - I'm not sure.

FT - Life is good.

EVDH - I don't know.

AW -

MW - In a world where you can be anyone, thanks for being yourself.

AY - 

Thanks for tuning in to the blog this year. I hope it has been useful. Have a great summer and we'll see you in September!

Week 38 - June 16 - 20

This is the penultimate week of school for your grade 6 year. You're almost there! We'll put in a good solid effort on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week. Then, we're all off to the baseball game on Thursday (Go, HarbourCats!), before Storm Fest on Friday.

Math - We'll explore coordinate geometry this week.

Writing - Let's finish up the Sandwich pieces and turn them in by Wednesday, okay? 

L.A. - The podcast project continues this week. Try to wrap things up on Friday, okay?

Science - we'll get a chance to show what you know about Newton's Laws on Monday, and we'll play around with Newton's laws on Tuesday.

Social Studies - this week, we'll watch and respond to a film called On the Way to School. In it, four children are followed as they head out on epic journeys to school. For some, it takes a monumental effort to exercise their basic human right to an education. It is a beautiful film, and hopefully you will come to appreciate your own experiences with school, and with the many advantages you have by living in an affluent part of the world. You'll be asked to respond to the film.

HarbourCats Baseball - We will walk to Royal Athletic Park, so please remember to wear your best walking shoes. We should arrive with enough time to hit the concession (bring some cash if you'd like to buy something). I will communicate the plan for returning to the school to your parents closer to the day of the game.

Friday Storm Fest, our leadership students have been hard at work to put on an awesome afternoon for the entire school. A bit of pocket money will help you out with the snacks, treats, and ice cream that will be available. Enjoy!

Have a great week, everyone!

Week 37 - June 9 - 13

Hello you wonderful peanuts! Here's the plan for the week ahead:

L.A. - you'll get some tech time to produce your podcast this week. Do your best to figure out how to use the software efficiently. Working with Chromebooks on this makes it difficult to save works in progress. Aim to complete each editing task before the end of each block. Once done, you'll get to plan, rehearse, and record your first episode!

Writing - The Art of the Sandwich writing piece continues this week. Yum! Remember that the aim is to write with your voice - that is, to make the words on the page sound like you. Are you recognizeable and distinctive on the page?

Science - we'll work toward a quiz on Newton's Laws and friction forces. Be sure your binder section is squared away and complete.

Math - Trapezoids are interesting little shapes! We'll learn to identify them, and to find their area. We'll also review what you've learned about classifying triangles before we begin to look at coordinate geometry.

Year End field trip #1: This week's event is our big trip to Wild Play and Esquimalt Lagoon. Lots of info about this day will be sent to your parents. Remember, the adventure course that you will undertake is meant to challenge you. This is your chance to seek that sense of accomplishment that you feel when you overcome a difficulty. Those who seek adventure will be rewarded! Check in with your parents about the day's packing list, okay?

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Week 36 - June 2 - 6

This is our 36th week together. While it may be June, the message from our school administrators, from classroom teacher, and from all of the staff here at Monterey is to stick with us. Remember what you did, and who you presented to the world, that got you to this point. I get it: sometimes we can lose focus as the light at the end of the tunnel begins to shine brighter. But... we have four weeks to go. That's lots of time to get a whole bunch accomplished. So be sure to continue to bring your best each and every day, mind your manners, keep the needs of others top of mind, and follow through with learning tasks. Let's finish strong, team!

Math: We'll begin using algebra in geometric contexts while we explore how to find the perimeter and area of various 2-D shapes. We'll also begin to classify those shapes by the measures of their sides and of their interior angles. 

L.A.: this week you'll get to produce your podcast introduction. Fun! Check Classroom for further details about how to do this on a Chromebook here at school.

Writing: We'll begin a new writing piece this week. Let's explore "Voice" as a writing trait. This is where your audience will recognize you - the way you speak and write, the words you choose, and the shortcuts and rule-breaks you include in your writing. 

Science: Let's finish up the lab report from last week's "Friction" lab. Then, we'll begin a review as we work toward a test in this subject.

This is the final week for library book exchanges. All library books will be due back after this week. If you need a new book for the next few days, ask to head to the library during quiet reading this week. 

Enjoy your week everyone!

Week 35 - May 26 - 30

Hi! We are into our 35th week together already. Can you believe it? Ms. Scherr has departed: her practicum is complete. You were fantastic kids to learn with. Thank you for making her time here successful and fun. Here is the plan for the week ahead:

L.A. - Reading. We'll finish up your look at The Skeleton Tree with a couple of creative and reflective pieces. I love this novel. It has rich language and a compelling storyline. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?

L.A. - Writing and oral language. This week we'll launch into a short unit on podcasting. We'll begin to learn what goes into producing an engaging show, and we'll begin planning our own little podcast project.

Math - Let's take what you've learned about algebra and apply it to new learning about geometry.

Social Studies - We'll pick up where you left off with Ms. Scherr and explore the unequal experiences of children around the world. 

Science - It is lab week. We'll work together to gather data about friction forces. Expect your lab report to be due early next week.

CC Day letters will go home on Thursday. Next week - June 5 - is CC day.

Parents, please look for an email update about our June 12 field trip: we still need parent drivers to volunteer for the day. Thanks for considering!

Week 34 - May 20 - 23

Hi Everyone. We have a short week this time around. It is also Ms. Scherr's last week with us. She has done a great job so far. Let's help her finish strong. There's lots to do!

Social Studies: This week's focus is on learning about an organization committed to helping local people meet their needs. You'll put together a mini-booklet to present your learning.

Language Arts: The dramatic conclusion of The Skeleton Tree awaits! Enjoy! You will complete another Writing-In-Role piece, and finish your sketch and caption booklet. 

Writing: Your pen pals have sent back a letter. You'll get to respond to theirs one more time this week. Check Classroom for details.

Math: You'll interpret number stories this week, creating algebraic expressions and equations to tell the tales. By week's end, you'll get an equation, and begin working on solving for an unknown value.

Science: Be on the lookout for something that changes direction or speed. Consider the forces at play, and try to describe these as an "action-reaction" pair. We'll finish our look at Newton's 3rd law before launching into an exploration of friction forces. 

June Events: This is for your parents. Hi Div 1 parents, At this point I don't have commitment from enough drivers for our event at Wild Play/Esquimalt Lagoon. Please do not wait to let me know if you are able to help us out. At this point, I'm getting a little worried we'll have to make changes to our plans, which would be disappointing. If you can help, I need you! Thanks.

That's all for this week! Enjoy.

Week 33 - May 12 - 15

Wow! Can you believe that we'll see the middle of May this week? Time is marching on, folks. This is the first of two consecutive short weeks (you've got a four-day weekend coming up). And these two weeks are the final two of Ms. Scherr's time with us. Here's the plan for the week ahead. 

Social Studies: You'll look at the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights this week. It is an important document! 

Language Arts: The Skeleton Tree is nearing its dramatic conclusion. Congratulations! You are on pace to complete the book and its related activities before Ms. Scherr leaves us. Strive for your best with the next Writing-In-Role piece: you should have a pretty great idea of what is expected of you with these tasks at this point. Keep up with the reading if any is assigned to you. And, if you are away for any reason, please be sure to get caught up quickly. 

Writing: Your pen pal replies have been sent away. Expect a follow-up later this week.

Math: Your look at algebra continues. You'll begin to build multi-term expressions based on geometric shapes, and you'll learn to simplify these by collecting like terms. 

Science: We will extend our look at Newton's 3rd law this week. Expect in-class demo's with write-ups and diagrams. And you will begin to think about how else you could demonstrate this action-reaction relationship.

Thursday pm is our District Orientation Day event, when you get to play host to a grade 5 student. Fun!

Friday is a Pro-D day. Next Monday is a holiday.

This week, you will bring home a calendar of events and information packet about our year-end plans. 

Enjoy your week, everyone!