Homework
Colonel Sanders School is a proud Traditional Learning Centre (TLC), which has specific understandings that parents are aware of prior to expressing interest in the program. Families sign the acknowledgement showing their understanding of these agreements and their commitment to the TLC Program and these are reviewed and signed by families each year.
One section of the Parent Acknowledgement of Understanding for Traditional Learning Centre Program states: Daily homework expectations are in place for Grades 1-9. Parents are encouraged to support child’s homework on a nightly basis.
Colonel Sanders Staff have taken much time to discuss the quality of homework, necessary engagement from students and family members, as well as the research connected to the impact homework has on student learning. Based on the above, we have made changes to the homework component of our program.
At Colonel Sanders we understand that a student’s job is to come to school each day and engage in lessons and activities which build understanding of ideas and concepts, which then lead into transferring these learnings into deeper connections or in new ways. As family members, you need to be aware of what your student is learning to be able to support the building of this knowledge. To build knowledge, does not mean having repeated practice of the same type of work over and over. It also does not mean that students should be sitting completing worksheet after worksheet (sometimes practicing incorrect penmanship or skills incorrectly).
Building knowledge means engaging in the sharing of learning, applying the learning in a new setting, and finding examples of this learning within the home environment. Thus, this year you may see homework which looks more like game play, sharing a task that was completed at school, and/or reviewing something that was completed at school for the purpose of setting a goal to be worked on.
Character Education
At the beginning of each school year Colonel Sanders staff and students focus on the Three Pillars of Respect (self, others, and environment). Within the Seven Sacred Teachings, the Buffalo represents respect.
Respect for Self
Each student will strive for academic excellence. Students and parents recognize that diligence, effort and scholastic achievement generate self-esteem. Students understand that they are to abide by a code of conduct and that they are a main contributor to the school climate and culture.
Respect for Others
This comprises of respect for human and property rights of others, respect for roles or legitimate authority in home, community and country, and respect for the contributions of those more or less capable than oneself in given areas.
Respect for the Environment
Students are expected to care and nurture the school environment and the resources made available to them. Students are to take an active role in preserving the environment by reducing, reusing and recycling.
Seven Sacred Teachings
At Colonel Sanders TLC we proudly and intentionally celebrate our connectedness by learning the Seven Sacred Teachings. Each animal represents a specific virtue which is explored through embedded and explicitly taught lessons, selected literature, and videos. Students use their visual journals to demonstrate their conceptual understanding of these character virtues. The character board evolves throughout the school year with the board being used as a specific learning tool, as well as a place to display what has been learned. Grade levels will share their learnings and active practice through announcements for the school to hear. This year, we have also decided to use the Holistic Lifelong Learning Framework as a guide to our teachings and understandings of self.
Our virtual Character Celebrations will be held on the dates listed below. Each celebration will begin with the Acknowledgement of the Land, singing O Canada, an introduction into all the 7 Sacred Teachings, followed by Character Award presentations. Next is an introduction to the next virtue and the listening of our school song.
2022-2023 Dates- Important Assemblies and School Events
- Thursday, September 1 | Introduction to Turtle (truth)
- Friday, September 16 | Terry Fox Run
- Thursday, September 29 | Celebrating Turtle (truth); introducing Buffalo (respect) and Wolf (humility)
- Thursday, November 10 | Remembrance Day
- Friday, December 2 | Celebrating Buffalo (respect) and Wolf (humility); introducing Bear (courage) and Sabe (honesty)
- Wednesday, February 22 | Pink Shirt Day
- Wednesday, April 17 | Celebrating Bear (courage) and Sabe (honesty); introducing Beaver (wisdom) and Eagle (love)
- Tuesday, June 27 | Celebrating Beaver (wisdom) and Eagle (love)
