Dec 19th, 2025

Hello Grade 9 Families! 

This week, students wrote tests for all the units they have recently wrapped up. We are working on getting them graded, and marks will be posted on PowerSchool when they are. We are looking forward to having students back in January and diving into new units! 

ELA: Students will work on learning how to write a business letter and new literature circle novels where students will get to pick a novel of interest to work on for the next month. 

Social: We will start a brief study of the Youth Criminal Justice Act unit, followed 

Math: Students will dive into an exciting unit on the study of surface area! 

Science: Students will begin a biology unit where they study genetics and species! 

We had a really fun day today with students celebrating the last day of school for the calendar year. We hope you have a wonderful holiday break!

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns :) 

Best, 

The Grade 9 Team

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December 12, 2025

Hello Grade 9 Families! 

This week in ELA, students put together an exciting book study project where they were able to hand-make paper from recycled paper from the classroom and use it to bind together a book of all their learning. It was awesome to see kids being hands-on with their learning, and really digging in to everything they have learned about The Marrow Thieves novel. To cap off this learning, students will be writing a test to demonstrate their understanding of the novel on Tuesday. We will spend Monday’s class reviewing. In Social Studies, students wrapped up their learning of the Individual Rights section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms with a presentation on groups of Canadians who have previously been oppressed. If they haven’t presented this week, they will present on Monday. We will review this unit on Monday and Tuesday, and students will write their unit test on Wednesday. 

In Math, students learned how to calculate and estimate the square roots of decimals and fractions. They will have a math test on Monday. In Science, students learned how different chemical factors can affect the quality of water. They wrote a paragraph on why Bob the Fish is sick. Ask your student about Bob! Next week, students will write a science test on Thursday. 

As you can see, this is a big week before our Winter Break. We would like to stress the importance of attendance and encourage kids to come just to show us what they have learned. 

Monday: Math Test 

Tuesday: ELA Test 

Wednesday: Social Test 

Thursday: Science Test

All review booklets are posted on D2L. 

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns :) 

Stay Warm!

Grade 9 Team

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December 5, 2025

Hello Grade 9 Families, 

This week in ELA students continued to work through The Marrow Thieves novel. We are so close to finishing the novel, and we will wrap up on Monday! We will also start a project to wrap up the book and work on that throughout the week. Check in with your student to see if they have read up to the last chapter; if they haven’t the PDF of the novel is on D2L to read. In Social Studies, students worked on a research project about groups of people in Canada who have historically been oppressed and how the Charter of Rights and Freedoms could protect them. 

In Math this week, students started a unit on rational numbers. Students learned how to place positive and negative fractions on a number line. Next week, they will learn how to find the square root of fractions and decimals. In Science, we did a lab on acids and bases and learned about water quality and how to determine if water is safe to drink. Ask your student what the PH level of the snow outside is and if it’s safe to eat! Next week, they will do a writing task on Bob the Fish and why his water quality is so poor. 

Next week, students will get copies of the Sex Ed consent forms. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. 

Have a great weekend and enjoy the snow!

Grade 9 Team

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November 28th, 2025 

Hello Grade 9 Families! 

This week in Social Studies, students continued to learn about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We worked through some case studies in which students applied what they had learned to real-world scenarios and decided whether there was a violation of someone’s rights. In ELA, we continued working on The Marrow Thieves and are almost done with the novel. The student wrote a theme paragraph, and we will continue to work on written responses to the novel next week. 

In Math, students wrote a test on linear relations. Students will get them back next week and have an opportunity to rewrite on Tuesday at lunch. In Science, we started a new chemistry unit, and students learned about the science behind nutrition. They also learned about acids and bases, and students will have a lab to apply this knowledge on Monday. 

We had a great trip to Wisewood yesterday, and are continuing to learn about High School during our homeroom time. 

Friday, December 5th, is photo retakes day!

We had a great time meeting with parents last night and this morning, and discussing students. If you were not able to come in and meet, but would like to, feel free to reach out. 

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns :) 

Grade 9 Team

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Hello Grade 9 Families! 

This week in Social Studies, students learned all about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We went through each section, how it applies to them, and how it has altered major laws in Canada. Next week, students will work through the War Measures Act, the Emergencies Act, and start a project on what Canada would look like without our Charter. In ELA, students continued reading the novel, completed another literature circle, and wrote a listening quiz. Next week, students will work on discussing the theme and applying Indigenous knowledge to the novel. 

In math, students learned how to create equations from graphs. They also began a study of making predictions from information gained from graphs. Students will write a test to demonstrate their learning on Wednesday.  In Science, students wrote their unit final on chemistry on Thursday. Grades are posted on PowerSchool. If students are not happy with their grade, they are encouraged to come in on Tuesday at lunch to rewrite their test. Next week, students will start their unit on Environmental Chemistry. 

Today in Homeroom, we also talked about High School, and we are excited for our Trip on Thursday. Please check with your student to ensure they have brought their form in and arrive at school on time so they don’t miss the trip. 

We are looking forward to Parent Conferences this Thursday and Friday. Bookings are open and we would love to see you to discuss your students progress, high school concerns, and how we can best support your student through their grade 9 year! 

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns :)

Grade 9 Team

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Hello Grade 9 Families! 

During this very short week, we reviewed the Social Unit test. Grades have been posted on PowerSchool. If your student is unhappy with their grade, they are welcome to come in on Tuesday at lunch to retake it. In ELA we continued reading The Marrow Thieves. Please check in with your student to see if they have read up to The Long Stumble, page 137. If they haven’t the novel is on D2L for them to catch up. 

In math, students continued to work on the Linear Relations unit. In Science, students are finishing up their Chemistry Unit. They will write their Unit final on Thursday. They received a study guide today, which is also posted on D2L, and they are encouraged to spend time studying this weekend.

Please ensure your student returns their High School Tour form on Monday if they haven’t already! 

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns :) 

Grade 9 Team

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Hello Grade 9 Families!

This week in Social Studies, we wrapped up our unit on the federal government with a competitive Kahoot game and our unit test. After the fall break, we will start our next unit on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In English Language Arts, we worked through another section of The Marrow Thieves, with another literature circle to end the week. We also wrote our School Wide Write, where it was great to see students write a narrative about the importance of Learning. 

In Math, students wrapped up their polynomial unit with a test, and marks have been posted on PowerSchool. If students would like to rewrite this test, they should speak with Mr. Castagne to schedule a time. Students also started a unit on linear relations and looked at patterns and how variables can be used to create equations. In Science, students learned about different types of reactions and how the speed of them can be increased or decreased. They did a lab to demonstrate this understanding. 

We handed out High School tour field trip forms to students this week. Please sign and return this form as soon as possible. 

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns :)

Grade 9 Team

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Hello Grade 9 Families, 

This week in ELA we reviewed our novel study The Marrow Thieves, and continued reading. Students should have the novel read up to page 90. A copy of the book is posted on D2L. Please check in with your child to see if they are caught up, and if not, encourage them to do so over the weekend. We also worked on editing our land acknowledgements, which we will continue on next week. Additionally, next week, students will write their fall School Wide Write. In Social Studies, we reviewed and wrapped up our Government Unit. Students will review more on Monday and Tuesday and then write their unit test on Wednesday. 

In Math, we finished up our unit on polynomials. Students will write this unit test on Tuesday. After that, we will start linear relations, looking at patterns and relationships between variables. In Science, we continued our chemistry unit. Students learned how to name a variety of chemical compounds. Next week, we will be looking at chemical reactions, and students will complete a lab where they will learn how to speed up and slow down reaction rates. 

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns :)

Grade 9 Team

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Dear Sherwood Families,

We are so happy to see familiar faces today, considering the circumstances.  Thank you to those families that have reached out with kind words of welcome and support.  This means the world.

I know that there are many questions about classes and extra curriculum and what these will look like moving forward.  CBE principals are scheduled to meet tomorrow and will receive more information then.  We will then pass along the same information to Sherwood families.  In the meantime, should you have any questions, please consult the CBE Labour Action Page.

As we move forward together, our focus is to reconnect, reassure and refocus on supporting learning and wellbeing for all.

A quick update for Halloween this Friday-we welcome costumes so long as the following expectations are met:

·       No masks covering the face

·       No weapons or toy weapons

·       No mocking of other cultures

·       Costumes should be in good taste

Grade 9 Team

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Hello Grade 9 Families, 

This week in ELA students participated in another literature circle discussion. It was great to see students engaged in the novel and contributing insightful ideas to discussion. In Social Studies, students participated in a debate as part of the Third Reading of their law, and then they voted on if they wanted to pass them or not. We also went on a walk to Beaver Dam Flats and wrote personalized land acknowledgments in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

In Science and math this week students worked on prefixes and how they apply to naming chemical compounds and algebraic expressions. 

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns :)

Grade 9 Team

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Hello Grade 9 Families! 

This week in Humanities, we worked through the research process investigating the laws students are wanting to pass in our parliament simulation. Students also used the information they found to support their writing in a persuasive paragraph they wrote today. Next week, students will have their in class debate about these laws. We will also finish up our second literature circle discussion. Please check in with your student about if they are ready for these and encourage them to catch up if needed. Students should have up to and including chapter eight read. There is a PDF of the novel on D2L along with our role sheets if students need them. 

In math this week students explored line and rotational symmetry, and they wrote a quiz. In science, students wrote a mid unit test and learned about the atom. Next week, students will learn about how to name chemical compounds and polynomials. Students will do a study on prefixes to increase their understanding of these concepts. 

A reminder, there is no school on Monday or Tuesday. Please enjoy the fall weather and time with each other!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns

Grade 9 Team

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Hello Grade 9 Families! 

This week in Humanities, we started our novel study, The Marrow Thieves. We read the first four chapters as a class and students are really seeming to enjoy it. As we move through this novel, students will be completing a different role sheet each week and participating in a literature circle every Friday. As always, attendance is especially important for these literature circles as they must be present for students to receive a speaking and listening grade. The novel and role sheets are posted on D2L, and if students are absent, they are encouraged to read a chapter and work on their role sheet at home. We read the first four chapters this week (pages 1-41). In Social Studies, we went over how laws are passed in parliament and formed political parties. Next week, students will go through all seven stages of passing a law in our government simulation. 

In math, students wrote an exponents test and started their unit on symmetry. In Science, they did a chemical reaction lab and learned about the periodic table. Next week they will be learning about the atom and will write a mid unit test near the end of the week. 

We had a great time at the Terry Fox run today! It was so great to see students out and participating in this community event. 

We are looking forward to seeing everyone next Thursday at Sherburger (Sher-dog?)! You will find the grade 9 team outside ready to chat about their upcoming year! 

Lastly, Picture Day is next week on Tuesday (Sept 23rd).

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Grade 9 Team

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Sept 12th, 2025

Hello Grade 9 Families,

This week in Humanities, we wrapped up our study of “How to Make a Friend” by analyzing figurative language and collaboratively modelling a grade 9–level paragraph about the theme. In Social Studies, we explored the structure of the federal government, and students began reflecting on their own political beliefs. Looking ahead, next week we’ll begin our novel study, The Marrow Thieves, in ELA and launch a government simulation in Social Studies.

In Math, students learned about exponent laws and completed a short concept check. Next week, we’ll finish the unit on exponents and write a test toward the end of the week. In Science, students kicked off the chemistry unit with a lab investigating the physical properties of various substances. Next week, they’ll continue with another lab on chemical reactions and begin learning about the periodic table.

In Homeroom today, we focused on Terry Fox. Sherwood’s Terry Fox Run will take place next Friday—it’s always a meaningful and fun day, and we’re looking forward to it!

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Grade 9 Team

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Sept 5th, 2025

Hello Grade 9 Families! 

We had a great first week with your students! We will be sending out/posting a weekly update on behalf of the grade 9 teaching team. Please see the chart below if you need to contact your student’s teacher!

Grade 9 Team Email Contacts: 

This week in ELA we read the short story, “How to Make a Friend,” and reviewed the plot diagram and reading comprehension strategies. Next week, we will continue to examine this story as a means to review figurative language and theme. Near the end of the week, we will be ready to introduce our first novel study, The Marrow Thieves (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-marrow-thieves). In Social Studies, we introduced our year plan of Issues for Canadians by exploring our community and identifying problems and services provided by the government. Next week, we will introduce students to the structure of the federal government and start our government simulation!

In Science this week, students learned about lab safety and WHMIS, and they put these skills to the test by completing a penny drop experiment. Next week, students will start their first unit on chemistry, discussing how they classify matter and describe its physical properties. There will also be a lab to apply these concepts in. Students received a lab safety contract this week; they need this signed by both themselves and their parent/guardian before they can participate in labs. In Math this week, students started learning about exponents and how to calculate their values. Next week, they will learn how to understand negative numbers with exponents and what laws apply. 

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns :) 

Grade 9 Students Exploring our Community