WELCOME!!!

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Mr. McDowell's classroom blog. I am very excited to have a classroom webpage and I hope that you will find it useful. The purpose of this blog is to provide a convenient (and reliable) communication link between students, parents, the school and Mr. McDowell. I invite you to check this blog on a daily basis as I will be posting valuable information about the classroom and the school - including daily homework assignments, important dates, classroom/school news, etc.

For your convenience, you can also sign-up to receive "daily updates" from this blog that automatically gets sent to your email every day there is a new posting. Simply type in your email address into the 'submit' box found on the right side of this blog.

More importantly, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your son/ daughter, please do not hesitate to contact me via phone, email, or this blog:

M.C. Knoll School - 786-5540
Email - benson.mcdowell@gssd.ca



Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 22

WOW - it is amazing to think that yet another year has come and gone. Thanks for all of the memories.  Although 2010 has been great, I know that 2011 will be that much better! 

I will be updating the 'online report cards' for the Christmas break.  Hopefully this brings positive conversations over the holidays. 

Enjoy the time off with family and friends!!!

See everyone back Wednesday, January 5!!!

Homework:
Math - Probability Board Game Project (Monday, January 10)

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 21

Last day of school (for 2010) tomorrow!

Ask your son/daughter about the 'snow sculpture' contest.

Reminders:
- We will be watching a school movie tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 22). Students are invited to bring snacks for the occasion!
- Also, students will be dismissed at 2:00 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 22). Christmas Holidays!!!

Homework:
Social - Lat./Longitude Activity #2 (OVERDUE)
LA - Book Talk (OVERDUE)
Art - All Projects (OVERDUE)
Math - Probability Board Game Project (Monday, January 10)

Monday, December 20, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 20

Happy Monday - only 2 days of school left for 2010!

Reminders:
- Students will need to bring a spray bottle for the "Snow Sculpture Contest" tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 21).
- We will be watching a school movie on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Students are invited to bring snacks for the occasion!
- Also, students will be dismissed at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Christmas Holidays!!!

Homework:
Social - Lat./Longitude Activity #2 (OVERDUE)
LA - Book Talk (OVERDUE)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)
Math - Probability Board Game Project (Monday, January 10)

Friday, December 17, 2010

Engineers Without Borders

Last Friday, along with today, our 7M class had some special visitors from the University of Regina - Engineers Without Borders. Ask your son/daughter about the awesome presentations!

Classroom News - Dec. 17

Thanks to everyone who brought baking for the bake sale.  YUMMMMYYY!

Have a great weekend - only 3 days of school left for 2010!

Reminders:
- Students will need to bring a spray bottle for the "Snow Sculpture Contest" on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
- We will be watching a school movie on Wednesday, Dec. 22.  Students are invited to bring snacks for the occasion!
- Also, students will be dismissed at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 22.  Christmas Holidays!!!

Homework:
Social - Lat./Longitude Activity #2 (Monday, Dec. 20)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)
Math - Probability Board Game Project (Monday, January 10)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 16

It was sure nice to be back into routine after a busy couple of weeks with the Christmas concert. Great job to everyone who made the concert possible yesterday.

Reminders:
- The grade 7 students will be responsible for the MC Knoll bake sale tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 17). You are expected to bring individually wrapped baking for the event.
- Students will be able to get a picture with Santa ($0.50) tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 17).

Homework:
French - Numbers Unit TEST (Friday, Dec. 17)
Music - Nutcracker Suite Unit TEST (Friday, Dec. 17)
Social - Lat./Longitude Activity #2 (Monday, Dec. 20)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 15

Our annual Christmas concert is tonight at 7:00 pm. Come on out and enjoy the show.

Reminders:
- $0.25 candy canes will be on sale tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 16).
- The grade 7 students will be responsible for the next MC Knoll bake sale Friday, Dec. 17. They are expected to bring individually wrapped baking for the event.
- Students will be able to get a picture with Santa ($0.50) Friday, Dec. 17.

Homework:
French - Numbers Unit TEST (Friday, Dec. 17)
Music - Nutcracker Suite Unit TEST (Friday, Dec. 17)
Social - Lat./Longitude Activity #2 (Monday, Dec. 20)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 14

Our annual Christmas concert is tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 15) at 1:00 and 7:00. Come on out and enjoy the show.

Reminders:
- $0.25 candy canes will be on sale Thursday, Dec. 16.
- The grade 7 students will be responsible for the next MC Knoll bake sale Friday, Dec. 17. They are expected to bring individually wrapped baking for the event.
- Students will be able to get a picture with Santa ($0.50) Friday, Dec. 17.

Homework:
French - Numbers Unit TEST (Friday, Dec. 17)
Music - Nutcracker Suite Unit TEST (Friday, Dec. 17)
Social - Lat./Longitude Activity #2 (Monday, Dec. 20)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

Monday, December 13, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 13

A newsletter was sent home today in regards to some upcoming Christmas activities.

Reminders:
- Our annual Christmas concert is Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 1:00 and 7:00.  Come on out and enjoy the show.
- $0.25 candy canes will be on sale Thursday, Dec. 16.
- The grade 7 students will be responsible for the next MC Knoll bake sale Friday, Dec. 17. They are expected to bring individually wrapped baking for the event.
- Students will be able to get a picture with Santa ($0.50) Friday, Dec. 17.

Homework:
French - Numbers Unit Booklet (OVERDUE)
Health - Fitness Activity Sheet (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
Math - Exp./Theory Probability Worksheet (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
Math - Probability Unit TEST (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

Friday, December 10, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 10

Good Taste Fundraiser items will be ready for pick-up Monday, Dec. 13.

Enjoy the "cool" weekend!

Reminders:
- The grade 7 students will be responsible for the next MC Knoll bake sale Friday, Dec. 17. They are expected to bring individually wrapped baking for the event.

Homework:
French - Numbers Unit Booklet (OVERDUE)
Health - Fitness Activity Sheet (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
Math - Exp./Theory Probability Worksheet (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
Math - Probability Unit TEST (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 9

Enjoy the afternoon off!

Reminders:
- The grade 7 students will be responsible for the next MC Knoll bake sale Friday, Dec. 17. They are expected to bring individually wrapped baking for the event.

Homework:
Social - Latitude/Longitude Assignment #1 (Friday, Dec. 10)
French - Numbers Unit Booklet (Friday, Dec. 10)
Health - Fitness Activity Sheet (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
Math - Probability Unit TEST (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 8

Tomorrow will be "red and green" day.

Ask your son/daughter about St. Mike's Christmas concert.

Reminders:
- Our next noon hour early dismissal is tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 9).
- The grade 7 students will be responsible for the next MC Knoll bake sale Friday, Dec. 17. They are expected to bring individually wrapped baking for the event.

Homework:
LA - Musician/Band PowerPoint Project (OVERDUE)
Social - Latitude/Longitude Assignment #1 (Friday, Dec. 10)
French - Numbers Unit Booklet (Friday, Dec. 10)
Health - Fitness Activity Sheet (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 7

Continue to work hard for the month of December so that you don't have much homework over the Christmas break!

Reminders:
- Our next noon hour early dismissal is Thursday, Dec. 9.
- The grade 7 students will be responsible for the next MC Knoll bake sale Friday, Dec. 17. They are expected to bring individually wrapped baking for the event.

Homework:
Math - 10.2 Worksheet (Wednesday, Dec. 8)
Math - 10.3 Worksheet (Wednesday, Dec. 8)
LA - Musician/Band PowerPoint Project (Wednesday, Dec. 8)
Social - Latitude/Longitude Assignment #1 (Friday, Dec. 10)
French - Numbers Unit Booklet (Friday, Dec. 10)
Health - Fitness Activity Sheet (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)
Art - All Projects (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 6

Happy Monday...

Gr. 7 students will be going tobogganing for tomorrow's (Tuesday, Dec. 7) Phys. Ed. class.

Their will be a "staff vs student" volleyball game after school tomorrow.  Feel free to come on out and cheer on the staff!!!

Reminders:
- Our next noon hour early dismissal is Thursday, Dec. 9.
- The grade 7 students will be responsible for the next MC Knoll bake sale Friday, Dec. 17.  They are expected to bring individually wrapped baking for the event.

Homework:
Math - Phone Tree Problem Solving (Tuesday, Dec. 7)
Math - 10.2 Worksheet (Wednesday, Dec. 8)
LA - Musician/Band PowerPoint Project (Wednesday, Dec. 8)
Social - Latitude/Longitude Assignment #1 (Friday, Dec. 10)
Health - Fitness Activity Sheet (Tuesday, Dec. 14)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)

Friday, December 3, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 3

We sure had an interesting morning in our 'new' classroom!

If you have signed-up to recieve "email information" from the school, be sure to continue to check your email as you will no longer be recieving paper newsletters.

The December Newsletter was sent home today.

Also, our 7M class will be hosting the next bake sale on Friday, Dec. 17.  Students are encouraged to bring baking for this event.  A newsletter was sent home today with more specific information.

Enjoy the weekend...

Reminders:
- Our next noon hour early dismissal is Thursday, Dec. 9.

Homework:
Math - Page 434 #2, 5-8 (Monday, Dec. 6)
Social - Latitud/Longitude Worksheet (Monday, Dec. 6)
Math - Phone Tree Problem Solving (Tuesday, Dec. 7)
LA - Musician/Band PowerPoint Project (Wednesday, Dec. 8)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 2

Thanks for all of the great conversations we had at the parent-teacher interviews.

Ask your son/daughter about the 'gambling presentation' they listened to today.

Reminders:
- The report card envelope and brown note need to be returned ASAP.

Homework:
Math - Lucky 7 and Math 10.1 (Friday, Dec. 3)
Math - Phone Tree Problem Solving (Tuesday, Dec. 7)
LA - Musician/Band PowerPoint Project (Wednesday, Dec. 8)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Classroom News - Dec. 1

December has arrived!

Thanks to everyone for all of the wonderful birthday wishes!

I look forward to the conversations at today's parent-teacher interviews.

Reminders:
- Parent-teacher interviews will continue tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 2).
- The report card envelope and brown note need to be returned ASAP.

Homework:
Math - Phone Tree Problem Solving (Tuesday, Dec. 7)
LA - Musician/Band PowerPoint Project (Wednesday, Dec. 8)
LA - Book Talk (Monday, Dec. 20)