Last week, the North West Wildlife Preservation Society presented a workshop at our school. We learned about biodiversity, and that BC is the most biodiverse province in Canada. Here are some fun facts about native animals:

• The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal on the planet, and can fly up to 320 km/h in a dive, whereas a cheetah can only run 130 km/h on land.
• A wolf’s jaw is so strong, it can crush a deer antler in half.
• A cougar can jump vertically 5 meters!
• Mountain goats are excellent climbers because they have special grip on their hooves, AND their skull actually grows into their horns (which makes their horns more connected to their skeletons.)
• Talk to your children about what else they learned!

It was extraordinary to be able to hold some artifacts in our hands: animal skulls and a preserved peregrine falcon.

Both classes went skating and we are noticing much improvement in their skating skills! It is wonderful to see students participating, being brave, trying new things, taking risks and showing growth. We are going skating again soon and we can’t wait to see how much they learn with each new session.

Community Events:

Chinatown Storytelling Centre – Join us on the third Saturday of each month from 11am – 1pm for hands-on activities and learn about Chinatown’s vibrant heritage!

Activities and admission are free for youth (17 & under). Youth under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult participation is with admission or free for members.
Registration Link: Chinatown Storytelling Centre

On every Family Saturday, you can expect:

• Guided tours of the Chinatown Storytelling Centre
• Prize draw to win family-friendly prizes
• Special offerings from neighbouring restaurants
• All-day free admission for youth (17 and under)

Healthy Family Living – JANUARY 2025 FAMILY EVENTS IN METRO VANCOUVER

Welcome to 2025! If you’re looking for family-friendly events across Metro Vancouver….. we’ve got you covered with fun, active outings happening this month!

VANCOUVER

• Ongoing in 2025 – Awaken Canada
• January 2nd – March 12th, 2025 – Hawaii From Above
• January 4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th, 2025 – Cineplex Family Favourites
• January 18th, 2025 – A Year of Blessings
• January 18th, 2025 – Neighbourhood Skate Day
• January 19th, 2025 – Discovery Day
• January 21st – 26th, 2025 – Broadway Across Canada Presents Beetlejuice
• January 25th, 2025 – Mini Recycling Drop-Off
• January 26th, 2025 – Classical Kids Live! Vivaldi & the Ring of Mystery
• January 27th – February 17th, 2025 – LunarFest Vancouver
• January 27th – February 19th, 2025 – The Lantern City
• January 29th, 2025 – Harlem Globetrotters World Tour

Welcome back, everyone, and Happy New Year!

This month our classroom theme is “Winter”. We are looking forward to Wildlife in the Classroom workshops, and more Skating! The Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society will be helping us learn about BC Wildlife. Which animals are hibernating right now? Which animals are migrating to or from BC?

We have read the book “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. As we read, we noticed the author’s voice and word choice. We used these writing features as our focus for our winter poem. We will be continuing our winter poems for the next few weeks as we go through the writing process: first draft, editing, publishing.

We have become experts at Square Breathing now, so we will be learning a new Social Emotional tool called 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Our goal is to have several SEL tools that our students can use by the end of the year.

Our Primary Class has been working on Cartooning using Directed Drawing Lessons. So far, our subject matter is cats and dogs. We will be expanding our cartoon characters throughout the term.

Our Intermediate Class has been working on Snowmen Art. We used perspective and built these from a birds’ eye view. We then wrote out the steps for building a snowman as a writing activity. We partnered with a Grade 4 class at the school, and had our students guide and instruct the other class in the process. It was a great teaching opportunity for our students!

Darker winter nights are great for sky watching! There are some interesting planetary events happening this month. Check out NASA’s website for what is visible in our skies: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/whats-up-january-2025-skywatching-tips-from-nasa/

Do you know about the Snow Pass? Students from Grades 1-6 can ski/board for one season at massive discounts! Our younger students may want to file this away for future planning. Here is the link to the details of the program: https://snowpass.ca/snowstart-kidz-pass/ available at Mt. Seymour and Cypress Mountain Resort.

Would you like to support your child’s literacy at home? Adrienne Gear is a former Vancouver teacher, who gives very interesting webinars. Her next Pop-up Webinar is coming up on January 14th! Cost $42.00, which gives you access to the recording until February 15. Effective Primary Reading Instruction – Adrienne Gear Webinars

We are looking forward to a bit of a break, and the chance to get our “long winter’s nap”! We know that some of our Home Learners like to continue learning over the break and will be busy with many educational opportunities despite school being closed. You can mark the Winter Solstice in some way, it’s Saturday, December 21st. There is a lantern-making workshop and event at Granville Island and the False Creek Community Centre. Check out the link for more information: www.secretlantern.org   Make sure you use this time to rest and recharge too!

The Intermediate class went skating last week and also had another art lesson with our talented artistic family.

Here was the drawing for our inspiration:

Here are our in-progress works and final results! We have many budding artists in our class!

Have a restful break and we will see you in 2025!

Cathie & Ms. Francis

This week, we read the book “The Bear’s Medicine” by Clayton Gauthier. This book is about being grateful for what Mother Earth provides.

We used the book as a prompt for our writing on being thankful. Here are a few examples:

This week, the primary class learned about a new artist, Charles Burschfield. He is an American artist who would lie down in the forest at night and draw from that perspective. His art blends fantasy and nature. Here are our works from his inspiration:

Art lesson #2 continues for our intermediate class this week. We are extremely thankful for one of our talented, artistic families returning to teach more drawing techniques.

We spent more time with our Math Mentor. This time, we used cuisinaire rods, ten frames, number lines and counters to help math “make more sense.”

Upcoming Community/Seasonal Events:

Find the Best Family Events in Vancouver, BC | ChatterBlock:

• Fairview Christmas Bazaar – Dec 7
• Ladner Village Holiday Market – Dec 7-8
• Winter Fun Baby Rave – Dec 8
• Carols and Crafts at Aberdeen Park – Dec 8
• Seymour Dance Presents: The Nutcracker – Dec 8-9
• Chinatown BBQ Dongzhi Festival – Dec 9
• Pinocchio – Puppet Detective Show Dec 11-14
• Gingerbread House-Making Social – Dec 12
• Gateway Theatre – Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” – Dec 12-Jan 4
• Winter Wonderland Kids Night Out – Dec 13
• Arts Umbrella Dance Company Presents Mixed Nuts – Dec 13-15
• Winter Festival at the Old Barn Community Center – Dec 14

We invited the District Math mentor in to work with the class this week. Tyler Bruce worked with the primary students on building their Number Sense through math games. On Friday with the intermediate class, he will be introducing games that build computational fluency. We hope that Tyler will be a regular guest to our classroom.

Our literary study was “Once in a Blue Moon” by Danielle Daniel. Taking the expression “once in a blue moon”, her poetry encourages readers to connect with the natural world around them. We used this phrase as a writing prompt.

This is us practising what we learned last week in our art class. We were practising how to measure for proportion and ratio.

Community Learning & Events

Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel

The outdoor site is decorated with lights, live entertainers and carolers. Free entry, $2.75 to ride the indoor vintage carousel. Wheelchair accessible, parking limited.

Free Holiday Adventures in Metro Vancouver https://www.familyfuncanada.com/vancouver/advent-calendar/

Carousel Theatre for Young People presents: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe https://www.familyfuncanada.com/vancouver/carousel-theatre/

Indigenous Studies

We are reading the book, “I Lost My Talk”, by Rita Joe, which is a companion book to last week’s title, “I’m Finding My Talk”. This book also explores how Indigenous Communities lost their native languages because of assimilation measures and residential schools. By understanding past wrongs, we can promote reconciliation and assist Indigenous Communities in reclaiming their almost-lost languages.

Art Class

These photos are from our Intermediate Group’s art class with one of our classmates’ parents and grandmother. We learned the four shapes are the foundation of all pictures. We focussed on sketching a cylinder. We learned how to measure using our pencil and shade using gentle strokes. We were taught about perspective and scale as well. The art is now displayed in our classroom.

Fresh Roots – Year on the Farm

Our Primary Group visited the Farm at Van Tech again. One topic was the differences between perennial and annual plants, and we noticed changes to the garden since our last visit. We noticed that some plants were covered by plastic or hay, which will insulate them from the cold and they will grow again next Spring and Summer. We tasted radicchio and found it was very bitter!

Community Events

Snow has arrived on the North Shore Mountains! Tobogganing at Seymour Mountain is open, and is a fun, family, inexpensive pastime! See the link here: https://mtseymour.ca/winter/tubing-tobogganing

If anyone has family or friends in Langley, this is a fun, seasonal activity. There is a fee, but 15% off on Mondays-Thursdays. Link here: https://langley.glowgardens.com/

Community Giving

Arts Umbrella is looking for donations to fund “scholarships, bursaries, and no-cost programs to the families who need it most.” They also offer a variety of arts classes that you may want to explore. Link here: https://www.artsumbrella.com/support/donate-this-holiday-season/?bbeml=tp-FpPVFJLH9UOzP33EroyMFw.jcsuSQ1grmU-YWrbwIHqHuQ.rWKbpZVKiPkWp3UVXXqilow.lPeKErjCirEGx8uZ0RF0RKw

Fine Art Lesson

One of our families has kindly offered to teach a drawing lesson to the intermediate group. They themselves are artists and teach drawing for a living. We are grateful for this opportunity and excited about what we will learn!

Daffodils

This week, we learned about Daffodil bulbs, and then planted some in the school yard. We cut some in half and identified the parts. We also learned about the lifecycle of the daffodil and bulb. It was interesting to learn the differences and similarities between daffodil bulbs and pumpkin seeds. We could also apply what we learned about apples to this lesson

Skating

Our primary class went skating on Monday. We learned some new skills and had fun.

Indigenous Learning

We are reading the book, “I’m Finding My Talk”, by Rebecca Thomas. Ms. Thomas writes about learning the traditional language and culture of her people. Her father was sent to residential school, and unfortunately forgot much of his language. Ms. Thomas, through the writing of this book, has been learning the spoken word, and in doing so, finding connections with her father and other ancestors.

Reminder:

Thursday, Nov 21           Grade 7s having a snack sale. Bring some money if you’d like to purchase a snack.

Friday, Nov 22                 Pro-D Day. No school for students.

Happening next week:

Sierra Club Webinar

The latest FREE webinar, ‘Signs of Life: Hope in an era of extinction.’ Join them for a panel conversation on November 26 at 6:30 PM with environmental journalist and author Sarah Cox, Spô’zêm First Nation Chief James Hobart, and SCBC Senior Policy and Science Advisor Jens Wieting. The online event will be moderated by SCBC Campaigns Director Shelley Luce.

British Columbia is the most biodiverse province in Canada, but did you know it is also home to the most species at risk of extinction in the country? In this upcoming webinar they will discuss how we got here; the work Indigenous guardians are doing to protect species habitat on their lands and waters, and what gives us hope for the future of the over 1,900 species on the brink in B.C.

If you can’t make it don’t worry, we’ll be sending the recording to everyone who registers.

Register: https://sierraclub.bc.ca/signs-of-life-hope-in-an-era-of-extinction/?mkt_tok=Nzg4LVlCRi0yOTYAAAGW5DzfKh_iZ9qilLbcf_kMZlbbZHv6V8-n9cICRDcyYZ3btkMt07MLLWRPsez1dei2kgvzscaR8ROmvov0HTwNLFY32vYokr01V9mjHS-c

Indigenous Learning

Our school has been gifted a “Reconciliation Blanket”. It has been installed in the foyer at the main entrance, by the stairs. This is a message from the weaver, Debra Sparrow: “These are not just pretty things hanging on a wall.” Reflecting on the intricate and colourful weaving behind her, Debra Sparrow explains, “It has life. I thought about you the whole time that I was weaving this blanket. I thought about history. I thought about weaving your history, my history. Every different culture in this room’s history is woven into this blanket because we’re all weavers, every one of your cultures.”

Here is a link to the story: https://www.vsb.bc.ca/_ci/p/68143 Come in and view the blanket!

Sparrow shares that the designs come from the world around all of us. “We look out into the water, and we find a pattern. We look into the forest, and we find a pattern. And these patterns, as we begin to understand them, are not just pretty. They’re geometric mathematical equations.” The beautiful hanging is more than an art lesson. It can be in a math room for its equations, science with its natural dyes from mushrooms, and of course social studies for its history. “It has responsibilities for telling those stories properly about our families, about being rooted here, our roots planted deeply in the soil that our ancestors are buried all throughout Vancouver.”

This Friday, we will be back to in-person learning after our Portfolio break, and we are planting daffodil bulbs in the schoolyard! We look forward to a sunny garden in the Spring! Photo packages have arrived. If you ordered photos, they will be distributed when classes resume.

We have practiced coping mechanisms in class. When we get challenged or frustrated, we can practice “Square Breathing” in order to regulate and calm ourselves. This is extremely effective in learning, social, and day-to-day situations!

How to Perform the Square Breathing Method

• Sit in a chair with your back well supported.
• Breathe in through your nose as you count to four.
• Then hold your breath as you count to four.
• Then exhale out slowly as you count to four. **Repeat this pattern**

We have secured agendas for all Intermediate students. It is an important organizational task to keep to-do lists and notices to parents. We will be practicing writing in our agendas. Parents, please make sure to check these regularly. As students move into high school, tracking and prioritizing homework and assignments becomes increasingly important. It’s a good skill to learn early!

REMINDER:

*In-person classes resume Friday, November 15 for the Intermediates, and Monday, November 18 for Primaries.

Blog Calendar – Please continue to look at the blog calendar for updates: https://shanei.edublogs.org/calendar/ We are adding new things all the time!

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Cedar & Snow: Indigenous Art Market – West Coast Curated

https://westcoastcurated.com/events/cedar-snow-indigenous-art-market/

Bear Creek Lights (Surrey): https://www.surrey.ca/news-events/events/bear-creek-lights
Ends Nov 16. Free but requires tickets.

Lafarge Lake Lights (Coquitlam): https://www.coquitlam.ca/784/Lights-at-Lafarge 

Starts Nov 22. Free.

In the classroom, prior to our break, we worked on data analysis using terms like more than, less than, most, least and equal to, and charting to generate bar graphs:

We are continuing to hand out “Community Bread” to students in the school.

Portfolio Meetings are Underway!

It’s exciting to see the work being done at home. We’re off to a great start! 🙂

Some activities you may want to participate in are listed below:

Learn to Draw Wolverines with Sierra Club!

“Our final online drawing lesson of 2024 will feature a tenacious being that indicates the health of whole ecosystems: the wolverine! Join scientific illustrator Dr. Julius Csotonyi, special guest Rebecca Watters, and Sierra Club BC on Friday, November 22nd at 1 p.m. PST for an online art lesson where we will learn how to draw wolverines!

This one-hour webinar is open to learners of all ages, so we are inviting teachers, students, parents, and caregivers to participate! All you need is paper, pencils, an eraser and pencil crayons.

Not only will we be making art, but we’ll also get to learn a lot about these beings! Wolverines are mostly known for being carnivores and scavengers. But the success of their populations is also a marker for healthy ecosystems.

To Register:

https://sierraclub.bc.ca/learn-to-draw-wolverines/?utm_source=marketo&mkt_tok=Nzg4LVlCRi0yOTYAAAGWnHXP1zP7DVEClH2RlRr9j0EdGT5OYNxjmzRIbM_IYWiDQT3EiDm6pWZuL3wpdIL0rcEjXGHFuw4jcPXeIEZNKL_fJDYuKtg1kg9-ueXx

If you can’t make it don’t worry, we’ll be sending the art lesson recording to everyone who registers!”

BC Hydro’s Educational Programs

https://schools.bchydro.com/activities/energy

https://schools.bchydro.com/activities/conservation

https://schools.bchydro.com/blog/celebrating-bats-during-bat-week-and-beyond

North Vancouver Educational Programs

https://naturekidsbc.ca/explorer-day/north-vancouver-spotting-salmon/

Metro Vancouver Educational Opportunities:

Super Spawn-tastic Salmon, Ages 9+

Registration Link (there is a fee):               https://metrovancouver.org/events/Event/2477

Public Skating Around Town

https://www.burnaby.ca/recreation-and-arts/events/remembrance-day-toonie-skate

https://healthyfamilyliving.com/outdoor-skating-in-metro-vancouver/

Family Movie Opportunities

https://www.cineplex.com/events/family

Important Dates in November:
Mon. Nov. 11            Remembrance Day ~ No School
Fri. Nov. 15            Return to school for Intermediates
Mon. Nov. 18            Return to school for Primaries
Fri. Nov. 22            Pro D – no school for students

Important Upcoming Dates in December:
Tues. Dec. 10           PAC meeting @ 6:30pm in staff room
Mon. Dec. 16            First term learning updates go home
Dec. 16-18              Hip-Hop dance workshops (Primaries)
Thurs. Dec. 19          Hip-Hop student performance afternoon and evening (time TBA)
Fri. Dec. 20            Last Day before Winter Break
Dec. 21– Jan. 5         Winter Break
Mon. Jan. 6             Students return to classes

Classroom Learning

Northwest Preservation Society came to our classroom. We learned about the history of the Renfrew Ravine, and saw samples of animal skulls, bird nests, and learned more about native and invasive plant species. Can you identify the animal skulls in the photo?

Neighbourhood Walk – We had a practical Science Lesson in identifying some parts of the Lifecycle of a plant, right in our own neighborhood!

We estimated and counted pumpkin seeds. Learning about number groups made up our seasonal Math lesson. How many seeds do you think this small pumpkin contained?

Pumpkin Art:

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Science World – Free Girls & Steam Summit (but registration is required):

https://www.scienceworld.ca/event/girls-and-steam-summit/

Free Friday Nights at the Vancouver Art Gallery:

https://www.chatterblock.com/events/403061/free-first-friday-nights-at-the-gallery/?utm_source=Main+ChatterBlock+List&utm_campaign=c7c270932b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_10_16_12_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-c7c270932b-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

Home Depot Kids’ Workshops. Free, but Registration is Required.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/ideas-how-to/workshops.html

By M.Francis

Our Primary Group visited the Van Tech Farm with the Fresh Roots “Year on the Farm” program. We had fun learning about plant lifecycles, garden etiquette, flowers, vegetables, and got to taste raspberries, broccoli, kale and parsley. We planted garlic and met a worm!

It’s hard to believe that there is such a large, successful garden in the middle of our urban environment!

This week, both classes are visiting the local market to pick up a pumpkin. The first class got to guess the circumference and weight of their pumpkin. Intermediate Class: Please remember $2 and a sturdy bag tomorrow.

Indigenous Book

This week, we read “We Greet the Four Seasons” by Terri Mack, Kay Kwee Kway Kwa. She is a member of an Indigenous Group based in Northern Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. Terri is also the co-founder of Strong Nations Publishing, which is an Indigenous Publishing Group, based in Nanaimo, BC. Check out their listing of books for young readers. https://www.strongnations.com/

We learned that in Indigenous culture, the four seasons are represented by directions on the Medicine Wheel. Fall is associated with the West, and this book tells us to honour and give thanks to “the west which brings us the cooler days of the fall season.”

The Medicine Wheel is significant in Indigenous culture. “The circle, being primary, influences how we as Aboriginal peoples view the world. In the process of how life evolves, how the natural world grows and works together, how all things are connected, and how all things move toward their destiny. Aboriginal peoples see and respond to the world in a circular fashion and are influenced by the examples of the circles of creation in our environment.” [1]

[1] Dumont, J. (1989). Culture, behaviour, & identity of the Native person. In NATI-2105: Culture, behaviour, & identity of the Native person. Sudbury: Laurentian University Press.

Polar Bears

It’s polar bear time in Churchill, Manitoba! “Polar Bears International”’s annual free Tundra Connections webinars are available now for registration.  Topics include conservation, polar bear genetics, moms and cubs, and STEM & tools for living with polar bears.

(Keep in mind that the posted times are Central Time!)

Here is the link to check it out and register: 

Tundra Connections Webcasts | Polar Bears International

There is also an Education Center part of the website complete with K-12 units and lessons.

Check it out!  Units & Lessons | Polar Bears International

“Polar Bear Math and Science”

Science

A rare Comet, Comet A3, is visiting us. Look outside to see if you can see it!

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/vancouver-comet-a3-rare-photos-2024-9672510

Community Events

https://diwalifest.ca/events/diwali-in-vancouver-2024/

https://writersfest.bc.ca/youth (October 21-27)

By M. Francis

Classroom Learning

The classes are continuing their research on Vincent Van Gogh and writing about his life.

Our Fall Theme is continuing. We visited the school garden again to look at changes in the garden from the last few weeks.

We are working on a Fall Poem, using all 5 senses. Some examples are:

• “Fall feels like a cold, colourful sky.”
• “Fall sounds like rustling leaves falling from the trees.”
• “Fall smells like pumpkin muffins baking in the oven.”
• “Fall feels like red leaves in the breeze on the trees.”
• “Fall tastes like juicy apples.”
• “Fall sounds like birds chirping and squirrels skittering.”
• “Fall looks like sunflowers in the garden.”
• “Fall tastes like scrumptious apple muffins and pumpkin pie.”
• “Fall feels cuddly and cozy.”

Indigenous Book

This past week we continued our author study with the book “When We Are Kind” by Monique Gray Smith. This book is about being kind, and what kindness means to different people. We wrote what kindness means to us.

Field Trip

The Intermediates experienced a hands-on event with the Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society regarding invasive plant species, and invited Division 1 (the grade 7 class) to join them. The event consisted of an in-class presentation, then everyone walked to Renfrew Ravine to look for native plant species, invasive species, and learned about the difference between them and their effect on ecological niches.

Reminder:

There is another field trip with the Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society coming up on October 24 for our Intermediate Class.

I hope some families were able to participate in the Invasive Species Removal at Central park last Saturday. If so, please share your experience.

There is another opportunity on Saturday, November 2. You will have the opportunity to plant native species in Central Park. Link: https://iscmv.ca/events/burnaby-stewardship-central-park-native-planting-nov-2024/

Or, with the Everett Crowley Park Committee on Saturday, November 9. Link: https://champlainheightscc.ca/about-the-chca/the-everett-crowley-park-committee/

For other local facts and dangers about invasive species in our region, please see this link: https://bcinvasives.ca/whats-the-big-deal/

Important Dates:

• October 17, 18   FSA’s for Grades 4 & 7
• October 17          The Great Shake Out earthquake drill at 10:15 am*
• October 21          Primary Field Trip – Fresh Roots’ Van Tech farm                                                                                (primary families received an email)
• October 22         Pumpkin Pick up for Primary Class**
• October 23        Photo re-takes (be here by 9 am – HL will go first)
• October 24        Pumpkin Pick up for Intermediate Class**
• October 25        Pro-D Day – School is closed

*The Great Shake Out! Please prepare your child for the mock earthquake taking place tomorrow. It’s also a good time to review your Emergency Plan for home.

**It’s Pumpkin time! We are walking to the market to pick up pumpkins. Please bring $2 cash for a pumpkin, and a sturdy bag. We have many learning activities planned for the pumpkins, such as measuring the circumference, finding the weight, estimating and counting the seeds, learning about the life cycle, and a drawing activity. The primary class will be able to take their pumpkin home with them on the 29^th. The intermediate class will take their pumpkin home with them on 24^th.

Public Speaking

The intermediate class had the opportunity to do some public speaking around our Community Bread Program. They wrote, practiced, and presented information to all classes in the school. Many teachers commented how professional and well-rehearsed the students were. Many are looking forward to more public speaking opportunities!

Classroom Learning

Tying into the Sunflowers in our garden, we had a fun lesson learning about Vincent Van Gogh. We read several stories about his life and paintings. We took inspiration from his Sunflowers painting for our own art!

The intermediate students are walking to Renfrew Ravine with the Grade 7 class on Friday to discuss Invasive Plant Species. The Northwest Preservation Society will be leading our walk and introducing us to local native and invasive plants and discussing their relationship to each other. Please dress for the weather, we will be going rain or shine.

As mentioned in an earlier post, please be sure to sign up for the invasive plant pull at Central Park, which is Saturday, October 12. It’s a wonderful way to help our community.

Indigenous Books

• These are two books that we studied this week. “Stolen Words” by Melanie Florence, of Cree heritage, was written in honour of her grandfather, who went to a residential school and lost his native language. She did not have the opportunity to discuss his heritage with him, and this book was written to help her and her family heal.

• “I Hope” is another book by Monique Gray Smith that we read with the Primary Class. We are doing a mini author study this month. There are many hopes and wishes that the author shares with younger readers, with the added bonus of the sentiments being written in Cree as well as English. It is a hopeful and uplifting book. Ms. Francis took the opportunity to have a class discussion about students’ hopes.

Notices

Please be reminded that our Home Learner Students do not have early dismissal or parent-teacher interviews at the same time as the Beaconsfield mainstream program students. Therefore, the Beaconsfield school calendar is not always applicable to us. Thursday, October 17 is a full day of class until 3 pm. The rest of the school will be dismissed at 2 pm. No meetings with Ms. Francis are necessary until Portfolios.

Community Events / Learning Opportunities

• Learn to Draw Salmon Sharks with Sierra Club!

Pre-Registration required. Please click this link – https://sierraclub.bc.ca/learn-to-draw-salmon-sharks/?mkt_tok=Nzg4LVlCRi0yOTYAAAGWC7nm9i7FbhwZiUjMr3lyOnRseWYd00WAxEfCa9lEDsuCN1LzJVi2leDfBHmjpvTzwYn_2VnNLeW5J6TiAWRqvnmH_i4FnJTEbZzpVv6P

Live Music: “Musical Magic: Disney Edition”

Enjoy “an afternoon of Disney tunes performed by six incredible homegrown talents. Featuring songs from your favourite movies like Frozen, Aladdin, and Moana, this concert will go the distance for the whole family. You’ll want to be prepared to do some of your own vocal work with our finale sing-along song! Costumes are encouraged and candy will be given out!” UBC Chan Centre.

Info: https://chancentre.com/events/musical-magic-disney-edition/

Live Theatre: Enjoy a musical performance of the classic story “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory” this month. Note that tickets start at $38.00. As an aside, CTORA offers various classes to youth, who might be inspired by this production to hone their own talents! Norman Rothstein Theatre, Vancouver.

Info: https://ctora.ca/tickets

….. and you can certainly feel the chilly fall air in the mornings and evenings! We are going to continue with this fall theme as we move through this month.

Our focus has been on our school garden.  Our intermediate students have harvested the apples from the three apple trees.  They washed, cut, cooked, and strained the apples last week to make applesauce.  Everyone went home with a jar of this delicious treat!

The primary students made their way to the garden as well.  After reading a book about fall, we walked through the garden to see the garden beds, apples piled into a compost heap, sunflowers growing taller than us and maple leaves changing colours. We discussed how apples and sunflowers are ready for us to eat in the fall.  We celebrated this by snacking on apple slices. When we cut the apples we talked about cutting them in to equal parts.  We put the number of equal parts on the bottom (denominator), and the number we ate on the top (numerator).

This was our introduction to FRACTIONS! Without even mentioning the word fractions, we just kept talking about the number of equal parts we were cutting the apples into.  See the pictures of our fractions feast!  Please continue to talk to your children about cutting food into equal parts, and when they are ready for it you can show them how this is related to fractions.

We will also be going on plenty of neighbourhood walks this month.  Last week we found a huge hornet’s nest on the sidewalk.  After carefully inspecting it, we noticed there were no live hornets, so we took a bit of the nest back to class. We put pieces of it under a microscope. It was incredible to see how these fascinating insects were able to build such an intricate home.  What can you discover on your next walk?

Indigenous Studies for the week:

This week, the Primary students read “You Hold Me Up” by two Indigenous authors, Monique Gray Smith & Danielle Daniel. This book talks about the importance of Respect and the Cultivation of Compassion.

Ms. Francis read a part of “Residential Schools” to the Intermediate students. It was written by Larry Loyie, an indigenous author who was raised in the Cree tradition. We discussed the importance of Truth & Reconciliation and the significance of Orange Shirt Day.

Community events:

Calling all skywatchers! There is a meteor shower coming to our skies.  See more information in the link below: ttps://www.vancouverisawesome.com/weatherhood-local/meteor-showers-vancouver-weather-2024-9541242

By M. Francis

Our intermediate students are welcomed back to the classroom tomorrow!

For both cohorts, our drop-off and pick-up location is under the flag pole by the front steps of the school, along Penticton Street. Ms. Francis will welcome students and dismiss students from this spot for the entire school year.

Intermediate students will have Library & Gym on Thursdays. Please remember inside shoes to be left at school, and worn in the gym.

Primary students will have Library on Tuesdays, and Gym on Mondays.

On Friday, the Grade 7’s will be hosting a Snack Sale (chips, juice boxes, cookies, everything $1-2 each). Sale will start after students eat their lunch, in Room 207. The Grade 7s are fundraising for their Grad hoodies and activities, and to support various charities throughout the year.

On Friday, our class will be making applesauce with the apples from our school tree. Please dress for the weather (we will be outside harvesting the apples) and send a heat-proof container with a lid so they can bring some warm applesauce home.

Monday, September 30 is the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation and school is closed. We ask students attending school on Friday, September 27, to wear Orange. Here are some indigenous books available at VPL. Explore some of these titles on your next visit to the library!

The Indigenous Spirit of the Children Society is hosting an event for the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation in New Westminster, exploring the theme of “healing through understanding”  while offering speakers, food, dance, crafts and more. This is a free event, on Monday, September 30, from noon to 3:30 pm, at the south field near Queen’s Park Stadium.

There are some Community Events that you might be interested in exploring on your own with the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver Events | ISCMV

• There is an Invasive Weed Pull on October 12. Click the link for more information, as well as a registration form to sign up:  Burnaby Stewardship: Central Park – Oct 2024 | ISCMV

Van Dusen Gardens is hosting Harvest Days weekends from September 28 to October 20. Explore Autumn themes in the garden and seasonal activities. “This year’s displays will feature the works of local artist, Nickie Lewis, who specializes in eco-friendly art created entirely out of natural, organic, and 100% biodegradable materials. Take a walk down Sculpture Stroll to spot her nature-inspired artwork.” (Get inspired and try making your own art using natural materials!) https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/harvest-days.aspx

by M. Francis

Supplemental post to let you know….

Science World is free on September 20^th from 9:30am-5pm. Be sure to check out the inspirational exhibition that explores the impact of our actions on the natural world.  Featuring thought-provoking and interactive exhibits, Earth Matters allows you to immerse yourself in the natural world and find new answers to questions about biodiversity, rising temperatures, and carbon emissions. From exploring a coral reef to visiting an insect hotel, no animal is too small, and no ecosystem is too big! Starting right in our own backyards, everything – air, land, and water – is connected in nature. Learn about your connection with nature and rethink today to regenerate tomorrow.

From, Ms. Francis

I am excited to do some Autumn Activities with the Home Learner classes! We have a very full apple tree in the garden which we will be using for cooking and inspiration for writing and poetry next week.

The Terra Bread donation has started, and we are looking forward to the intermediates taking the lead in advertising and distributing the loaves to Beaconsfield families.  This is a perfect opportunity for the Home Learners to get to know more students in the school, and to further develop their communication and social skills.

Some events happening in our community that you might want to check out include:

– Beaconsfield PAC “Welcome Back” event  – Sept. 19^th in the undercover area from 3-6pm. Come and meet more families and join the PAC.

– Mark your calendars – Burnaby Central Park is having an invasive species removal event on Oct. 12^th from 10am-12pm.  Come out and learn the importance between invasive species and native species. This is something we will be talking a lot about on our nature walks.

– Calling all crafters and creators….Vancouver Etsy Co Fall Pop-Up is on September 21st at 10:00am to 5:00pm at Robson Square Ice Rink, Vancouver, BC. With over 90 makers and designers showcasing their unique, handmade products from one-of-a-kind jewelry, handmade pottery, and beautifully crafted home decor. Get inspired and try creating some of these products on your own at home. Free Admission + Pet-friendly!

– Join The Shipyards District for a day filled with fun, excitement, and activities for all ages. The Shipyard Festival in North Vancouver is on Sat. Sep 21^st from 12pm to 6pm.  Kids can enjoy performances and activities at the Seaspan Family Zone. Get ready to experience the best of live music, entertainment, and community spirit as the Shipyards Festival returns for an unforgettable one-day event!

By M. Francis

Hello Home Learner families,

I am really looking forward to my new role as the Home Learner Teacher! I have been teaching for over 20 years, so this has given me a solid foundation in education. The past nine years I was a District Literacy Teacher where I worked closely with staff and students from Kindergarten to Grade 7.

I have so many ideas of what we can do together this year. I love being in nature, exploring art, doing hands-on activities and science experiments, so those are some of the activities I would like to bring to the Program. So far, it has been a busy start to the school year. The Home Learners have moved into a new room (Room 205), so I have been busy setting up the new classroom. This has given me the chance to see all the wonderful supplies our program has. I am filled with ideas of what we can do. I am incredibly excited to see what’s possible!

It has also been a pleasure meeting the students and families who are enrolled in our program. I am so impressed with the goals and activities you have planned for your children and their learning! I’m looking forward to meeting the other families later this week.**Please remember to pick up the Student Learning Plans and Activation packages. These are a very important part of the registration process. The due date is Sept. 24th, so please place them in the Home Learners bin as soon as possible. I appreciate your attention to this.**

I have several community outreach programs booked for the Home Learners. We will add dates of activities to the calendar on the blog, so be sure to keep checking back. One program the intermediate cohort will be participating in right away is distributing bread to families that face financial barriers. I have partnered with Terra Breads, who have kindly agreed to donate several bags of bread. The intermediate cohort with help distribute the bread at 2:45 pm every Thursday for the entire school year. This will help our intermediates be connected to more people in the Beaconsfield community, and it will help develop a leadership opportunity for our students.

Lastly, I wanted to let our primary cohort know that Home Depot offers free building workshops where children can build a variety of things. Registration for the next workshop is Sept. 16th at 10:30. Once registered, you can build a firetruck on Oct.12th. Enjoy!

By Ms. Francis

Hello Home Learners!

We hope you had a great summer!

For returning students, please look out for an email message for booking  your mandatory in-person meeting to start the year.

Note that our classroom has moved to Room 205 (to the left of our old room).

Activation Assignments and SLPs can be picked up at Beaconsfield School, in the blue bin, next week during school hours: 9 am to 3 pm. Please only take the copies for your child’s grade

Prospective students (i.e. not yet registered) are not permitted to collect documents until your spot in the program has been confirmed.

Thank you!

Cathie on behalf of Ms. Francis

Well, THAT was a fast! After 30 years as a teacher and school administrator I have just “two more sleeps”. Thank you for trusting me with the care and education of your children. It has been a delightful journey together. A few tears were shed over our goodbyes, but we realized together that the memories we created will last forever!

Both groups had perfect weather for their picnics this week. Our new teacher Ms. Francis was able to meet us at the picnic and have some wonderful conversations with students and parents. We all know how lucky we are and that we have so much to look forward to!

When our craft sale ended last Thursday, we were so thrilled we had raised over $563! This will be shared between the UNHCR and the SPCA.

Looking to the future, your new teacher will be in touch in the first few days of September to set up the schedule for your Student Learning Plan (SLP) meetings. Copies of the Activation Assignment (Due Sept 27th) and SLP templates will be available for pick up on Friday, June 28 in the BLUE TOTE near the office. Or if you prefer, the school will also be open 9am-3pm on July 2&3 and again August 29 &30 for you to pick these up ahead of your SLP meetings.

Once again, thank you for the amazing work you do with your children! This made my time with your families such a pleasure!

Warmly,

Lorraine Baker, Teacher