Week 5 - Oct 5 - 9

Here we are, well and truly underway with the school year. School schedules and expectations are becoming familiar. We have things underway in each of our academic subjects. Clubs and sports are getting up and running. In what ways do you plan to be involved?

I'll meet with your parents on Tuesday this week. (You get to go home an hour early.)

Fun Foods lunch orders begin on Wednesday this week.

This is the plan for the week ahead:

L.A.: Refugee continues this week. We'll begin the second set of activities related to the story. While we read this week, keep an eye and ear out for more touchstone artifacts (like Josef's yellow star and Isabel's trumpet).

Social Studies: We will present our Human Rights mini-posters this week. This work relates to Refugee. Keep an ear out for ways in which the Landau, Fernandez, and Bishara families human rights are not respected while on their journeys. Also this week, we will investigate what's up with all those lawn signs that have popped up on folks' front lawns and boulevards. 

Writing: October is all about story writing. Our goal this week is to build characters and a setting for your short story. At the same time we'll begin plotting a story idea. What will happen to the characters in your tale? How will the story end? More to come on this task throughout the month.

Math: I was impressed by the flexible thinking that many of you showed in last week's quizzy. Well done! This week we'll launch into math group learning. Learning together in small groups can be really effective. Let's tackle some more basic numeracy strategies through small group discovery and thinking together. 

Science: let's get going with this subject. First up, we'll look at the excretory system of the human body. What are your kidneys for, anyway? Expect class demonstrations, and to learn how to write and doodle a scienctific report.

Have a great week, everyone!

Week 4 - Sept 28 - Oct 2

Hi team. We're into our 4th week together, and the calendar is going to turn over into October before the end of the week. Time's flying! This week is a little different: Wednesday is a holiday; National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. If you have one, wear an orange shirt on Tuesday.

Despite the broken-up four day week, we should still make some progress. Here's what to expect:

Math: we've been working through a variety of visual and mental addition strategies. Expect a quick quizzy by the end of the week. I'd like to see what you have learned, and how you show your thinking. 

L.A.: We have begun a read-along book study. Refugee, by Alan Gratz is an absolutely great grade 6 book. While you each have a copy of the book to read, I ask that you don't read ahead. As tempting as that is, some of the activities I have planned depend on you not knowing what happens next in the book. Note: if you are absent from a block when we listen and read along, you will be responsible for catching up on the part you missed. Two options for this. One, take your copy of the book home with you and read. Or two, listen to the part you missed through the audiobook version. I use Spotify Premium to access this for our classroom.

Writing: October will be upon us before the end of the week. That means only one thing for Writing! It's storytime. This is your chance to launch a short, spooky story. Every year I write my own bone-chilling tale, and I really enjoy reading the stories you will write in October. More to come on this later in the week. 

Social Studies: Your posters are looking great! Let's finish and present the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the end of the week.

Science: We will work toward beginning our first unit in Science before the end of the week. Before we do, though, let's discuss STEM.

PE: many thanks to all for showing up prepared for PE. Many of you are keeping a pair of PE shoes in your locker. This is a great idea! That way, you will always have them here, even if you forget that we have PE on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Lates and Absences: A reminder to all that classes begin at 8:40. Please be here on time... it can be disruptive if you arrive late. Thanks.

Absences are inevitable. There's a nasty cold going around. Please stay home if you are not well! Family events, special sport or performance opportunities, and travel are other great reasons to miss out on school. Parents, I do appreciate a quick note telling me if your child will not be here. Please be sure to copy emails to the school office, too. Thanks. 

That's all for this week. 

Week 3 - Sept 21 - 25

Hi Division 3 students and families! Welcome back to the blog. Thanks for tuning in. You may have noticed that this week's post has been published on Tuesday - that's your first day of the week this week because of Monday's Pro-D day. One of the things our staff did on Monday was to talk about how we as a school can promote STORM. It is an acronym for:

keep SAFE

think TEAM

         OWN YOUR ACTIONS

show RESPECT

         MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We'll get into this a little this week. In the meantime, answer this: in what ways is it important to be, and to feel, safe while you are at school?

Photo proofs went home on Monday this week.

Our Terry Fox campaign is underway. With the Terry Fox run scheduled for Thurday, now is a great time to remind your parents to consider making a donation. Thanks!

Here's what we'll try to get to before end of day Friday:

Social Studies: We will explore the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You'll each be tasked with highlighting on basic right, and with creating a unique and colourful image to represent it.

Language Arts: Let's get started on our first novel study of the year. A little preview hint: the characters in the novel are placed in situations where their basic human rights are not respected. Expect a variety of activities related to the book.

Writing: Please complete the Animal Instrument in the next couple of days. We'll begin developing an idea "base" - a place where all our writeable knowledge, interests and imagination resides. We'll come back to this base throughout the year, seeking ideas that serve as launch-points for great writing. 

Math: Let's begin exploring some computation strategies, and really look at what we do when we add or subtract without a pencil and paper. Your mental numercy is a key trait that can be developed with practice. You'll get the chance to show what you can do, what strategies you know, later this week.

To wrap up this week, it's a good time to check in. Have you got everything you need at school? Is there a water bottle that lives here at school? Are you taking steps to stay healthy? Are you getting enough sleep? What have you done to make yourself feel welcome here in the classroom? How have you helped others feel good about being here?

Have an awesome week, everyone!

Week 2 - Sept 14 - 18

Welcome the blog. Thanks for visiting. 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 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. This is a work in progress and will become more detailed as September progresses. 

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

About Music... an informal poll with the students showed some 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 or strings or choir 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:

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.

Language Arts: Let's work toward beginning a novel straight out of the gate! Perhaps as early as the beginning of this week we will begin a novel study. More to come about this.

STEM: The Help Harry engineering challenge will get us thinking in different and collaborative ways. It will also lead us into a quick writing task. 

That's it for this week, folks!

Week 1 - Sept 8 - 11

Hi Everyone! This is the official blog of Division 13 at Monterey Middle School for 2026 - 2027. Y

It is really great to see that you have found my blog! Much more to come next week.

For now, please bookmark this site. I'll be asking you to check in weekly on this space. Typically, my weekly update will be published on Monday afternoons. This is the post for week 1, so your job is done for now. 

Parents, I hope to meet you all on Tuesday, Sept. 15 for our Meet the Teacher evening. See you then.

Week 39 - June 22 - 25

Hi All,

It's a fun-packed week to wrap up your year. Here's the plan:

Monday - Willows Beach Day

Tuesday - Victoria Film Festival presentation and Windsor Park (and Parachute Ice Cream!)

Wednesday - Classroom clean up. Movie time in the MPR. Odds and ends. Walkies, Yearbooks and more.

Thursday - Last day activities. Year-in-review. Report cards and good-byes.

Okay team. Here is your opportunity to contribute to the blog. Here are your last words:

TB - Don't eat rat poo. I learned that the hard way.

GB - Trallelelo tralala.

LB - John Pork

BD - I don't know what to do!

CF - Uh. I don't know.

AF - Hockey is not better.

JH - W Miles.

BH - 

WH - Hockey is better.

SL - Let life unfold.

JM - Nah. That was my only idea. Please Mr. Pite, I need extending. I'm cooked. 

LM - The saxophones kept getting louder.

CM - My name is Theo Moore.

EM - Do you remember when "6 - 7" was cool?

ON - W Miles.

NP - I'm a potato.

RR - W Tom

SS - Ballerina cappochina

SS - This has to be generational rage bait.

NV - Have fun.

LV - Tung tung tung sahur.

TW - Ronaldo is better than Messi.

GW - 

AZ - My name is Miles.

MZ - My name is Allen.

Week 38 - June 15 - 19

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 wrap up our look at solving single-step equations this week. Then, we'll extend our exploration of coordinate geometry.

PHE - Your Health Goal Graphics are looking great! I wonder, what steps have you already taken toward your goal? What obstacles have reared up to get in your way?

L.A. - The podcast project continues this week. Try to wrap things up on Friday, okay? We will also begin working on a little note for next year's grade 6's.

HarbourCats Baseball - We will walk to Royal Athletic Park, so please remember to wear your best walking shoes. Don't forget to wear a hat and sunscreen. 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, along with Ms. Grigor, have been hard at work to put on an awesome afternoon for the entire school. Remember to purchase tickets in advance through SchoolCash Online. For reference: 

• 1 ticket: Obstacle course, Plinko (with prizes), popcorn, dunk tank (3 throws), raffle (for prizes)
• 1-2 tickets: Food - cold treats, snacks, possibly leftover pizza by the slice  Enjoy!

It looks like 5 - 10 (or 11) tickets should be plenty to keep you snacked up and entertained!

Have a great week, everyone!

Week 37 - June 8 - 12

Hiya! We're into the home stretch, gang. Keep your mind focused; we have a few things left to do:

Recognition forms: These were distributed last week. Be sure collect teacher/adult signatures for those extra curricular activities that you participated in this year. 

June Events Newsletter and Field Trip slip: Parents, please sign the field trips form on the second sheet of the packet I sent home on Friday last week. I've asked for $10, too. Send both the permission form and the cash in this week please. 

Music Concert: best of luck to those of you participating in Tuesday's show! 

Thursday - Sports Day! Wear your sports jerseys, or any other sporting kit you have, to school on Thursday this week.

Friday - Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina kicks off at noon. There will be watch parties in a number of spots in the school. Be sure to earn your ticket to one of the watch parties. Stay focused, stay respectful, and work hard!

What else to expect this week:

Math: Let's see how much you know about the algebra we've explored so far. We'll run a little quizzy on Monday, and follow up with some simple one-step equations to solve as the week goes on.

WCNMPP: please aim to finish your mini-poster by the time the World Cup gets underway on Thursday this week. We'll track the group stage game results and post your posters in the hall for all to learn from. 

Podcasting: make it a goal to collect all of the audio tracks you'll need for your podcast in one place (your Drive is best). Then, begin constructing your piece using the online audio mixer. I'll run through how to do this again if you aren't sure...

PHE: let's turn the goal you set for yourself into an action plan. Build the steps you'll need to take to accomplish your goal. Then, create a graphic (a comic, a vision board, a goal-setting journey map) to illustrate your goal. Be sure to include the reason for your goal, the steps you'll take to achieve it, the pitfalls you face in your journey, and a visual of what success will look/feel like.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Week 36 - June 1 - 5

Hi folks! We are officially into our 10th month together. That's right, it's June - a very exciting and wild time of year. June can be exhausting, too. Long, long days can take us out of our sleep routine. End-of-year events disrupt schedules. And looking forward to the summer months can make us lose sight of the here-and-now demands of schoolwork. So, let's to do the best we can to stay healthy and keep our heads in the game. Stay respectful, work hard, and be happy.

On this week:

Math: we're looking at some fundamental algebra concepts this week. Some new vocab for you to learn includes: variable, constant, coefficient, term, expression, equation, substitution, and more. 

Science: we will put the finishing touches on the Friction Forces of Surface Materials lab that we conducted last week. Then, we'll start reviewing all that you've covered in this physics unit.

Social Studies: thank you for presenting your group's Climate Action slideshow. Well done! You'll get a chance to self-assess your presentation this week. As well, we have begun the World Cup Nations Mini Poster Project. What soccer-crazy nation will you research and present on a poster?

Writing: let's finish up your sandwich recipes this week. You have a few peer revision jobs to do, too. Remember to carefully read your peer revisors' suggestions. You may be surprised at the depth and clarity of your peers' advice! Turn the good stuff to your advantage; be willing to make significant changes to your recipe writing!

Podcasting: We'll finish writing our Intro scripts early this week. And I will show you how I like to produce a simple podcast using a basic online mixer. Pay close attention to the technical steps; building your soundscape can be a little tricky. Is your podcast introduction something you'd be willing to share with classmates? With our parents? Have fun with this one!

Enjoy the week, everyone!

Week 35 - May 25 - 29

Hi All,

It's the final week of May already, and it feels like we've still got tonnes of learning to do. But it is important to realize just how much learning we've accomplished so far this year. As we set forth into the final five weeks of the year, know the following:

- you are competent, intelligent, and wonderful

- you have learned a great deal of stuff this year; you've grown as a student

- we aren't done yet; commit to finishing with strength and resilience 

Here's the plan for the week ahead:

Math - we will continue our look at finding volume of some 3D objects, and (related), the capacity of containers. Let's also examine Surface Area of regular 3D shapes, and develop a formula or two to help us calculate this.

Social Studies - you've been building a digital slideshow about a pretty interesting climate action or invention. Be sure to develop a thorough script for your presentation. These will hopefully begin on Friday this week.

Science - expect a new lab about friction forces to come your way this week. I'd also like to collect and assess your science work this week.

Writing - we've been building a sandwich recipe. How is yours coming along? If it were a person, what character traits would they possess? This task has some pretty specific peer revision elements to it. Tune in carefully to the in-class instructions about how to use your peers as effective revisors for your piece. 

L.A. - this week we will begin to build a podcast introduction. These are fun, but there's a lot that goes into creating an effective soundscape. How will you hook your audience? What will be your topic? 

Enjoy your week, everyone!