Welcome to Grade 4 with Ms. Arcenas!

Inspire. Challenge. Succeed. 

Every Student... Every Heart... Every Mind... Welcome parents and students to a new and exciting year in Grade 4! I'm looking forward to meeting you this week and to begin creating many wonderful learning experiences with you.

The first few days of school we will spend some time learning about each other and how we can contribute positively and meaningfully to our classroom community. Taking risks will become part of our classroom actions, and in doing so, we will learn to support each other, persevere and reach for our goals, both as individuals and as a group.

I wonder, in what ways could you connect these words and actions to our Graded mission statement? How could these actions inspire us, challenge us, and help us to succeed as learners?

Who is Ms. Arcenas?

As you have learned from my welcome letter, I am from Toronto, Canada. I had a wonderful holiday spending quality time with my family and friends. I also had the chance to explore the breathtaking nature of Ireland, the beaches of Miami, as well as push myself further as a learner at the Project Zero Classroom - professional education for teachers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

Take a look at the photos below... 

• What do you see-think-wonder about Ms. Arcenas? 
• What makes these photos important to who I am?

This week, we will have the opportunity to explore these questions as we begin to get to know each other! Be prepared to share a little about who you are and what makes you unique! 

Last year's Grade 4 class

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Friendships made from teaching abroad

Celebrating Canada Day at the Toronto Blue Jays' game

South Beach, Miami

Gutman Library, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Sharing in the learning journey at Project Zero with Graded's parent community

Family!

Who am I as a TEACHER?

My passion for cultures and learning have led me into international teaching, and it is without a doubt that my experiences and adventures have helped shape the teacher I am today. 

Rwanda - A Lesson in Forgiveness and Hope: It has been 10 years since I first step foot onto African soil, feeling the warmth of the Zambian sun and seeing the beauty of its land and people. I have never been to Rwanda, but as I stepped off the plane, I was suddenly aware of a certain familiarity about my surroundings. Seeing the landscape before me sparkle brilliantly in the afternoon's sunlight, I was in sheer awe of the country's effortless beauty. Rwanda is Maracujá.

Grade 4 is Maracujá!

Maracujá is an idea that needs to grow... Being open-minded to new experiences will help us grow in our learning. Exploring our passions will motivate us to be successful learners, both in and out of the classroom. I wonder, what does passion mean to you? In what ways does passion drive our learning? 

During the course of our learning journey in Grade 4, we will explore topics that spark our interest in order to learn more about our maracujá. Remember to open our minds to different experiences and make meaningful connections to the new learning that is taking place. When we embrace a growth mindset, we can learn anything!

Having a growth mindset is having a passion to learn - not only from our successes, but also from our failures. 

As we start the new school year, keep in mind the following key questions as they connect not only to our maracujá process, but also to our learning journey. 

I wonder, in what ways do you...

... take risks by facing new challenges?
... practice, improve and feel successful in your learning?
... inspire others?
... grow as a person and as a learner? 

Impossible is not a fact, it's an opinion... Take the time to review the video below. I wonder, as you watch and listen closely, could you connect his story to the key questions and the Graded core values of intellectual curiosity, perseverance, respect, integrity and kindness?

Create a culture of thinking at home!

Parents, make your thinking visible... Learning to be flexible in our thinking allows us to reflect and make meaningful connections to the world around us; therefore, a culture of thinking for active, healthy and mindful living is created! 

Parents, I encourage you to take a look at the following PDF that lists and explains ten applications to help make your and your child's thinking visible.

Together, we can make our thinking visible so that we can grow as learners!

One School. One Community. One Graded.

Grade 4, share your thinking! I wonder, what are you excited for in Grade 4? Feel free to write a comment in the box below...