We attempted to harness the power of the sun and made several interesting discoveries about light and shadow along the way. We discovered that the temperature of the air does not affect the heat generated when focused on a small area. We used this concept to focus our attention AND a beam of light onto slices of cedar and alder to create art. Ask you kids to show you their first project competed this week. Later we will create game boards and other small objects to sell at our “Kids Helping Kids” craft sale in June. We’ve also been conducting experiments with levers and fulcrums. Ask your kids about our Balancing Acts.

Curiosity plays a pivotal role in learning. Both groups have had some deep and philosophical discussions about allowing our curiosity to ‘get the better of us’ when we might otherwise try to avoid a challenge. Overheard several times this week “This is more fun than I thought it would be!”

I collected a “Cold Write” from each group in recent days. During a “Cold Write” everyone writes or draws about the same topic for 15 minutes but without discussion or rehearsing. I collect this writing sample three times a year to get a ‘snap shot’ of individual student progress. At the start of the year most kids produced a few words or sentences. This time I could not get them to put their pencils down!!

PARENT RESOURCES: You may already have received an email from the main school office. If you are interested in Summer School learning and activities, registration for the Elementary Summer Learning Program begins on Monday, April 24.    https://www.vsb.bc.ca/page/5211/summer-learning

Also, the department of Kinesiology at UBC reached out on behalf of “UBC Active Kids” They are a community outreach program of the School of Kinesiology with a variety of physical activity programming aimed at Home Schoolers of all ages and abilities. Check out their website to learn more if you are interested. UBC Active Kids School of Kinesiology Outreach Programs  https://kin.educ.ubc.ca/outreach/active-kids/

As this round of Portfolio Meetings winds down I would like to say once more how delightful it is to celebrate your children’s efforts and accomplishments. It is marvelous to see how many students are using Reflection Journals, prediction & observations and other strategies to lift nature walks, and arts & crafts etc. to become S.T.E.A.M. activities. (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math)

Several parents also used a highlighter on their child’s SLP to track completed outcomes for specific academic areas as learning happened at home. I thought I would pass along that idea as it made it very easy to connect at home activity to the child’s SLP.

Class  Picture Day is tomorrow (Thursday March 9).  This is a group photo. Both groups will have a photo taken, so Mon/Tues students are included in this invitation.  Mon/Tues students will be dismissed as soon as their class photos complete.  Please arrive to school promptly as our classes are scheduled to go first.

The Grade 7s in the main school are having a snack sale at recess tomorrow (Thurs) to raise money for their trip later in the Spring. Most treats are $1-2.

Spring Break begins Monday and goes until Friday March 24th. Don’t forget to bring your Animal Diorama or Influential Canadian research to share. (Thurs/Fri group will hand in research March 30/31 and bring costumes on April 6th.)

We are now at the midpoint in the schedule for the second round of Portfolio meetings. I am constantly impressed by the outstanding efforts families are making on the days you work from home.

I look forward to seeing the Thursday/Friday group on March 9. And look forward to seeing the Monday/Tuesday group right after Spring Break on March 27. Please bring your Dioramas on that day. I will email a suggestion for an animal and/or Influential Canadian to those students I have not yet heard back from. Let me know as soon as possible if your child wants to choose a different subject for their Diorama or Influential Canadian.

The Thursday Friday group will work together to build a “Rube Goldberg Machine”  early in the next term. Consider saving up some cardboard, string, plastic containers, and other intriguing materials we might incorporate.

CLASS PHOTO DAY IS Thursday March 9. ALL students are welcome, including the Monday/Tuesday group. I will bring the students in for their photo and then return any Monday/Tuesday students to their parents immediately after the photo is done. If you would like your child to be in the class photo, please  arrive at school promptly at 9:00 as our class is going first.

Portfolio season is now well underway. I am thrilled to celebrate your children’s efforts and accomplishments. It is indeed inspiring to see how much energy and creativity you are putting into supporting your child’s learning!

Thanks to so many parents spreading the word about our program, the Primary Cohort is no full for September, and only a few spots remain for grade 4-7! However, please encourage interested parents to still apply, as there are sometimes changes over the Spring and Summer months.

If you have not already done so, please send me your child’s chosen topic for their Animals of BC Diorama (Primary) or Influential Canadian (Intermediate) projects. These will be due on the students first day back after Spring Break.

Parents of Intermediate students (Grade 4-7) please remember that your child is required  to submit substantial evidence in the period between portfolios meetings as well as at portfolios. The next deadline for submissions is April 6^th and their “Influential Canadian Project” can form a significant portion of this submission.

The final date for spending this year’s Allotment may be approaching sooner than you think! Please keep tax and shipping costs in mind, and that our office holds back a small amount for field trips and special materials. This year the hold back is approximately $30

I am including several recently discovered online resources I thought you and your kids might finds interesting. If the link does not work, try entering the URL manually.

Drawing with AI   https://scribblediffusion.com

Link to Free audio books https://www.facebook.com/reel/588439786037528?sfnsn=mo&s=F5x8gs&fs=e&mibextid=6AJuK9

Lastly, many of the bulbs we planted in the autumn are poking out of the ground! I invite the students to  drop by our garden box on your way to or from the Portfolio meeting.

Thank you to those who sent along fruit and other seasonal treats as we celebrated in advance of Family Day with the sharing of a collaboratively constructed Friendship Fruit Salad! The many ingredients and flavors  all came together to make a unique and wonderful dish!  One student in the older group proudly sent along homemade ‘stained glass cookies’ as well! On Tuesday we joined the mainstream school in an afternoon of activities celebrating Heroic Hearts in our community. I was absent on Tuesday. However, the  Teacher On Call left me a lovely note saying how much they enjoyed their day with our kids, and how friendly and helpful they were! Later in the week, the older group conducted an exploration of Chance and Probability. This helped us  realize the difference between Chance, and Likelihood, and how “the odds” work. Then we used those  principles to create some funny “Randomly Generated Art”

Important Dates to Remember: There are no classes for students during Portfolio season: February 23 to /March 7. Spring Break is March 13 to 24. The Intermediate group’s research project presentations will be on March 31; and their Influential Canadian Tea Party will be on April 6^th. The outline for the project was sent/emailed home on Thursday February 16^th. Please discuss the project with your child and send me the name of their chosen research subject by noon on February 24^th

Well, that week went by so fast that I am a bit late with this newsletter. It’s been a jam packed week of  Science, Social Studies, and Art! We painted with sponges over stencils. We made our own stencils in the shape of animals that are important to Indigenous people of Canada including Bear, Salmon, Raven. The older students tried their hand at cutting more intricate stencils and using oil pastels as well.

During Black History month we have shared literature by Black Canadian authors and learned some uncomfortable facts about certain aspects of Canadian history. In age-appropriate ways we explored some hard truths. We learned that we all need to play a part in ensuring that all people feel respected and safe in our community. The older group went deeper with a discussion about micro aggression, how to recognize it, and how to address thoughtless or unkind words. You would be proud of their maturity and openness.

We decided that trustworthiness and truthfulness can help us determine the difference between someone who is a good friend and someone who is an acquaintance. The older group also spent some time coming up with problem-solving strategies for when someone doesn’t treat us with respect.

For Science we had some fun messing around with things that Sink or Float and building boats from tinfoil to see how much weight they could carry. One boat managed to hold 92 marbles! We played with the ideas of Chance and Probability and learned how to graft our predictions and the actual outcomes.  The older students built several cityscapes which were then subjected ‘earthquake’ forces. We noticed that lower wider structures withstood more force than tall thin structures.

In anticipation of Family Day, next weekend is a long weekend! No instructional time on Monday February 20^th. On Tuesday Feb 14 and Thursday Feb. 16, please a contribution of chopped fruit to be combined into a Friendship Fruit Salad. Feel free to send along other treats as well for Valentine’s Day if you wish. On the afternoon of Tuesday the 14, the younger group will briefly join other classes for a dance in the gym. Then we will return to the classroom for games and puzzles and ‘stations’ activities. Please remember that Friday Feb 17 is a professional day.

Portfolio Time and Spring Break are almost upon us. There are no in person classes during this time. But I will be sending home an activity for family’s consideration over those days. Additionally, look for a activity outline coming home with the Intermediate Thursday/Friday cohort. This History project is to be worked on over the next 5-6 weeks. It will culminate in a “Tea party” on April 6th in which we all pretend to be the Influential Canadian we studied.

This past week we have learned about the importance of clean water to all living things and how it cycles through the environment. We discussed what we can do as individuals to protect this precious resource. And we made some surprising discoveries about what floats and what sinks; and why. We saw how sugar can be invisible when it is mixed with water, but can reappear as crystals when the water is boiled away. Many amazing insights were revealed when we shared our thinking with Reggio Emilia inspired Story Mats. If your child was in attendance on those days, I hope you enjoyed the photos I sent of your child’s creation.

We’ve been learning how to take our pulse and measure our heart rate. We discovered that our heart rate is different if we are still and quiet from how it is when we are active or Very Active. All these numbers made for some interesting math calculations.

Our print making art explorations activities continue this week as we learn about ‘negative space’ through the use of animal shaped stencils. If you haven’t already done so, please send along an art smock or oversized T Shirt. This smock should remain at school for whenever we do messy art in order to protect clothes from paint and ink.

In the next few days, we will begin some archeology. We will dig for objects hidden in plaster. Who knows what will emerge!

Thank you for spreading the word about joining our program for the coming school year. We are close to full at the primary level, and a few spots remain at the Intermediate level.

Report cards go home this week. Please check your child’s backpack. The report is yours to keep, but I would appreciate the return of the envelope to use next term.

Portfolio time is upon us once again. They will take place from February 23 to March 7. Please remember that there are no on-site classes during portfolio time. Unfortunately, the Blog calendar is out of commission, so I am not able to update it to show which time slots get taken. Please send me three different dates, and whether you prefer a morning or afternoon time slot, and I will do my best to accommodate your request.

During Science this week we have been exploring how crystals form. And, as part of our discussions about reducing food waste we wondered what we could do with peels from fruit and vegetables. Well, naturally those two ideas collided. And it turns out that the pith of a pomelo, which might otherwise be destined for then compost pile, becomes a very tasty treat when it is cooked in syrup. And when syrup is cooked long enough all the water is removed and crystals form. And, according to our research, Pomelo pith it is full of Vitamin C. So much crunchy goodness wasn’t garbage after all!

The first report cards of the ear will be sent home next week. Please enjoy reading about your child’s progress. There is so much to celebrate! Please keep the report but return the envelop to be used again later in the year.

It’s cold and flu season. Parents are reminded to keep students’ home if they are not feeling well, have a sore throat, are coughing, or have a fever.

Although this school year is only halfway gone, we are already looking ahead to the 2023-24 school year.  Over the next week or so I will be asking parents if they intend to keep their child in the program for next year. Current students and their siblings have priority over new applicants.

Thanks to those who are spreading the word about the program our remaining spaces are filling up quickly! At tis point in time there are only few openings in the Primary cohort, and just a few spots in the Intermediate cohort. Please encourage those who are ‘on the fence’ to reach out soon. Invite folks to email me at lbaker@vsb.bc.ca

The disappearance of the snow has led to the brave return of some of our bulbs in the garden. Take a look and a listen on your next nature walk and encourage your children to notice (and reflect upon) these early signs of Spring. Several guest teachers have spent time with us recently. It speaks volumes about your children’s increasing independence and maturity when guest teachers and resource people enthuse about the depth of insight and quality of response they receive to new literacy and science activities. Flexible thinking, creative expression, and critical thinking skills are what we are all about!

Several parents have asked me for ideas for online social studies resources. I don’t actually endorse sites, but I am happy to pass along names/locations of resource I find interesting. I recently came across Amazing Maps on Twitter at @amazingmap and don’t forget about CBC for Kids which is found at https://www.cbc.ca/kids

The waitlist for enrollment for next year is now open for Kindergarten to Grade 7. If you know parents  (with students at any grade level), who may be interested in their child joining our program in September, feel free to invite them to check out this blog to get a sense of our approach to learning. Please pass along my contact email  lbaker@vsb.bc.ca if they would like more information or to apply to the wait list.

This past week has been an exploration of happy surprises. We had a special guest VSB Literacy Mentor come and read with us, and help us to think about ways we find joy in our lives. First we used Reggio Emilia Inspired materials to develop a an artistic “Story Mat.” Next we shared our art piece with our classmates. Then we began to draft a story about our creation.  Hopefully the photos I sent by email came through.

Later in the week we had some fun with a chemistry activity that was full of fun surprises. First we made some predictions about some “Invisible Art. Next we used baking soda and water to create an ‘Invisible Painting’ Once our paintings were dry we painted over with turmeric, and suddenly, there was our picture! Then we learned about the chemistry that made the baking soda react with the turmeric to change the colour of the paper. Lots of great predictions, discovery, and procedural writing involved.

As we approach ‘report card season’ I have been holding individual self-evaluation and reading conferences with your children. The depth of their self-awareness is most inspiring. I have emailed home the conference template to those families who were not in attendance last week. Please keep an eye out for it and return it to me a soon as possible.

Please remind your children about the safe use of cell phones and digital devices at home and at school. Unless they are being used under the direct supervision of a teacher, these personal devices are to remain in the child’s backpack. A site that has some resources for families about the safe use of technology may be found at commonsense.org

This is a reminder that Monday January 16^th is a professional day. There is no school for students on that day, but classes resume Tuesday Jan 17.

Believe it or not, it is time to start thinking about the 2023-24 school year! I am now opening up our wait list for new families who may be interested in joining the program. Kindergarten to Grade 3 will continue on Mondays and Tuesdays. Grade 4 to Grade 7 on Thursdays and Fridays.  If you know of families who may be interested in joining us in September 2023, please pass along my email address.

I hope you have enjoyed a fulfilling and replenishing holiday season. Thank you for sending along those wonderful treats and goodies for our end of year celebration. We finished the last term exploring science through the arts. We will kick off the new term delving into how to plan an approach a new task, solving logic puzzles, creating logic puzzles, discovering how gravity works….and how it might be overcome. Lots of fun science ahead! In the next few weeks, we will also introduce Print Making and symmetry into our fine arts explorations. This could get messy! Later in this term your children will be invited to do some research about an “Eminent Canadian.” To conclude the project students will be invited to attend a “tea party” dressed up and interacting with classmates in the character of their chosen eminent Canadian. It should be a fun and informative ‘meeting of the minds.’ I will be sending home a rubric for this project in the next few weeks. I will also send a list of suggestions for a person to research. Feel free to discuss this project ahead of time and suggest to me a figure for your child to research. The research subject can be a figure from the Arts, Sciences, Sport, Literature, Politics etc. BUT should be someone who is not alive today. Details to follow.

Thank you to those of you who sent along treats for Camp Read, and our end of term party on the last afternoon. On Tuesdays the younger group enjoyed relaxing in our PJ’s with board games and books while we snuggled with our blankets and stuffed animals and filled up on hot chocolate and goodies! The older group will enjoy the same on Friday! Thank you also for the kind cards and gifts sent along for me and my family.

REMINDER: Our first day back to in person classes will be on TUESDAY January 3^rd.

I have sent home a booklet of seasonal ‘paper and pencil activities. We dipped into them here and there over the last week or so. We don’t do this sort of ‘work’ very often, but sometimes it is fun to have a few puzzles and colouring pages to offset the (often) over stimulating energy that can build at this time of year. I’ve sent them home with your kids with No Expectation. They Do Not need to be completed or returned. Feel free to use them, enjoy them or recycle them!

Who knew there was so much math and science involved in having fun in the snow, or doing seasonal art projects? We have been using our skills in Applied design, and our understanding of Ratio and Proportion to create some amazing art. We have used colour theory and our understanding or how solvents behave to colour dough, and paint some gorgeous ceramic tiles, snow murals. We have used our understanding of geometry to create geometric solids with novel materials as well. The older students are about to explore how compressed air can be used to move an object. (There is a hint in a video attached below)

The main school had an opportunity to work with a Hip Hop Dance instructor. Our younger group was  invited to join in the first two days of the program. Some of our students preferred to watch, but several joined in and enjoyed learning some HipHop moves and even impressed the instructor by incorporating cartwheels and jujitsu moves!

Are you looking for an idea for some silly fun on a rainy indoor day. How about an indoor snowball fight?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/516581437020812?sfnsn=mo&s=F5x8gs&fs=e&mibextid=6AJuK9

As this is the last blog of the calendar year, let me share with you some art created by VSB students including some from Beaconsfield:

Holiday Card Video.mp4

This week we have enjoyed catching up with friends and settling back into familiar routine after two weeks of portfolio meetings. And we have been busy. We have been discussing how to build new friendships, and what people need in order to feel safe and happy. We spent time outside in the snow to create and paint snow sculptures in the school yard. We used non-toxic food colouring in spray bottles for the paint. Then we mapped out many tropical islands so we could pretend we were in on vacation somewhere warm. Perhaps some mythical snow beasts will make an appearance after future snowstorms. The younger group has been busy in the kitchen making salt dough creations. There was a lot of interesting math and new vocabulary discovered through this work. We even discovered that sometimes a K can be silent if you are writing about kneading dough!

We will be enjoying several fun theme days between now and the start of the Winter Break (December 19 through January2 First Day back is Tuesday Jan 3) You will have seen the notice form the PAC about the Pancake Breakfast on Friday December 9. That is also Pajama Day for the whole school!! The Thur/Fri group is invited to wear your cozy PJs! Next week Mon/Tues group will have Pajama Day on Tuesday December 13.

Both groups will also have fun at “Camp Read” and a year-end party on their last afternoon before the break. December 13 and 16   Bring a blanket and a stuffie and get ready to have fun with board games and books over hot chocolate. Please feel free to send along some snacks\finger food” to share at the party. I will provide the hot chocolate and marshmallows and some small treats.

Those of you who enjoy science and astronomy might be excited by the Martian Eclipse taking place this week. Even if the night sky is too overcast to observe the eclipse, the public is able to watch it on virtualtelescope.eu.

As we approach the end of this term many Allotment requests are coming for the purchase of materials and activities. Please keep in mind the criteria outlined in the parent handbook. Expenditures need to have a clear connection to your child’s Student Learning Plan (SLP). Remember to account for shipping and taxes, and that the teacher will be spending a portion of the allotment on group presentations and field trips. Feel free to email me with questions about allotment spending.

As winter deepens our thoughts turn to those who are less fortunate. You may have seen on Global News that a group of Fire Fighters on the north shore had success sending emergency supplies to Ukraine earlier in the conflict. Several firefighters went along to help unload and set up distribution in Ukraine. They are now collecting cold weather clothing for another shipment later this month. Adult and children sized, gently used parkas, sweaters, leggings, gloves, toques, scarves etc. are welcome. I have access to a pickup truck to transport to the fire hall any items you may care to donate before 3:10pm on Tuesday December 13^th.

Portfolio meetings are nearing completion. We will return to in person learning on December 5^th. The last two weeks before the Winter Break are packed full of excitement! We will have a chance to sing seasonal songs with other classes from 9-9:15. There is a PAC pancake breakfast on Friday Dec 9: See the main school newsletter/website for information. We will enjoy Pajama Day, “Camp Read” and some silly winter theme special clothes days. We will end the term with a little Winter Theme party as well.

Pajama/Camp Read: This is a fun and silly day when we wear PJs to school and bring a stuffed animal, a book, and a blanket (or towel) to get cozy while we enjoy hot chocolate (I will provide this) and some books and board games. Friday Dec 9 and Tuesday Dec 13.  We will have an additional of end of term party as well. Please feel free to send some seasonal goodies to share. I will provide hot chocolate. Tuesday December 13 and Friday December 16.

What to do if you wake up to snow on a school day:   School Closure for Snow and other Emergencies   Information regarding school closures in the event of snow, or other emergency situations, will be provided to the following radio and television stations by 6:00 a.m. on the morning of the closure: CBC (690 AM or 105.7 FM), CKNW (980 AM), CKWX (NEWS 1130 AM),FAIRCHILD Radio (CJVB AM 1470/CKHG FM 96.1), BCTV (Global) (cable channel 11), CITY TV (cable channel 13)You can also check the Vancouver School Board website for updates. Please do not call the school to see if it is open.

This week has been full of wonderful moments. During the individual Portfolio Meetings, students have an opportunity to celebrate their efforts and progress on the work they do from home. Many inspiring stories and amazing artifacts have been shared that demonstrate the creativity and effort our students and their families put into their learning activities on the days they work from home. It is gratifying to see how the activities we do together in class influence the learning that happens at home, and vice versa! Such is the beauty of this interdisciplinary program. Portfolio Meetings continue until December 2. We return to in-person learning on December 5^th.

Our focus this past week has been on appreciation and gratitude for being able to live in such a safe and peaceful country. We read “Feathers” which was written by Phil Cummings and had some deep conversations about the idea of borders, and what it can mean to be “lucky.” After noticing how something as simple as a fallen feather can become a toy to bring joy to someone who has very little, we used a button, a piece of string, and a piece of paper to make some simple toys for ourselves. We have also been thinking about what it means to have self-awareness and self-evaluate. We have discussed what it means to set realistic goals. We have also been coming to realize that collaboration takes more than just having ideas…it takes cooperation too. These are BIG concepts, but these mighty minds are demonstrating a real willingness to explore and grow! The VSB is inviting students of all ages to contribute ideas for a VSB Holiday card to be used for the Superintendent, Trustees, Employee Services, and International Education’s holiday e-cards. If your child would like to submit a piece of artwork for consideration, please send a scanned image/photo/digital copy to me by noon on November 23^rd. The artwork can be for ANY holiday you choose. The student whose art is chosen will receive a token of appreciation All entries will be incorporated into a holiday poster that will be featured on the VSB website. Did you hear that NASA launched Artemis last night? You can see more at nasa.gov   Another site for spacy stuff is  www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/student-science-tech   The Beaconsfield PAC has organized a  free T-Shirt for every student who wants one through a Fundraising project. Please visit www.paddlevancouver.ca/collections/beaconsfield-pac   password: FREETEE2022 enter the child’s name, Division Number (we are 13) size for your child. Orders need to be in by November 20. One separate order form per child, please. Forms for the PAC’s Purdys order need to be completed by November 28^th. Please feel under no obligation to participate in either fundraiser.

Over the past week, we continued to explore chemistry. We chopped up and cooked our Pumpkins in several ways. We baked some in an oven and boiled some in water. We observed that baking it made it taste slightly fruity and sweet while boiling it made it taste more like a vegetable. Lots of research ensued! We also discovered that if close our eyes and plugged our noses it can be tricky to know if we are eating apples or potatoes! As the days get shorter and the clocks turn back, we discussed the advantages or disadvantages of changing the clocks. Some of us noticed that we get hungry even though the clock says it is not time for lunch! Many of you will be proud to learn that the Thurs/ Friday group received the ultimate compliment last week: Mr. C. was here as a guest teacher while I was acting as Head Teacher for the school on Thursday and Friday morning. On Friday morning Mr. C told me he was excited to be coming back for a second morning with this group of smart, friendly, creative kids! That filled my heart with pride too! Over the last few days, we have been talking about the importance of learning to solve problems in peaceful ways while still standing up to bullies. Some of us wrote a song about how we can keep things peaceful. Some of us wrote a note to thank a Canadian veteran who stood up against bullies on a global scale. We will also participate in a Remembrance Day assembly with all the other classes here at 11:00am Thursday, November 10^th. Were you surprised by the snow that fell earlier this week? To know if the schools will be closed due to snow, please listen to CBC radio. The school district will inform the media by 6:00am IF they intend to close the schools. More information can be found on the school’s website. Please send your younger kids with a toque and a pair of dry warm socks and gloves in the event of wet toes and cold noses when it snows! Do you enjoy arts and crafts? You may enjoy Make It Vancouver happening at the PNE grounds in early December. Hundreds of artists and crafter vendors will be on-site, and there will be some fun food trucks there too. Do you enjoy Space Science? NASA is set to test launch the Artemis rocket in the next few days! Google NASA.gov for more information. Recently there have been issues updating the blog calendar. Please email me if you have questions about upcoming events while I work to sort out this issue. Next week is our last week before Portfolio meetings begin. Please remember that there are no in person classes from November 21 to December 2.

So long to our carved pumpkins! When we realized that a carved pumpkin is in fact a vegetable, we decided to practice our science observation skills to explore what can be done with a pumpkin when it is no longer a decoration. We explored what happens to a pumpkin that is chopped up and cooked in an oven with butter and brown sugar or is boiled up with onions and spices. The results were a science lesson that was full of math language, procedural language and delicious!  Thank you to those of you who sent along goodies to share for our Halloween festivities. Division 1 (grade 7s) showed tremendous leadership this week. They hosted a very fun Halloween event in the gym. We attended for 45 minutes. During that time, we enjoyed games and silly dances. One of our students won the grade 1 costume contest. One of our students won the grade 6 coloring contest. Thank you to those who collected and donated some thick rubber bands last week. They are well on the way to becoming whistles, harmonicas and other musical instruments. As we approach Remembrance Day, we have been having deep conversations about the importance of solving problems in peaceful ways. We are realizing that peace begins at an individual choice level. And the choices we make as individuals do make a difference in other people’s lives. So much openhearted kindness in this community! You would be most impressed by the level of thoughtful insights shared by many of children. We will gather as a whole school community at 11:00am on Thursday November 10th for a Remembrance Day assembly. At that time, we will acknowledge the impacts of war and the sacrifices of those who served on behalf of Canada during military conflicts and peacekeeping operations across the decades. Schools are closed on November 11th. If you have not yet done so, please email your time preferences for the Portfolio meetings take place from November 21 until Dec 2.

This week we have been doing Social Studies and Science galore. We have been learning about how various plants and animals adapt to the changing seasons. We used Venn Diagrams to learn how to conduct a comparison of two similar technologies and two different animals. We discussed how various cultural groups within our community acknowledge the changing seasons. For more information about Diwali, a major festival in the South Asian community: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali  The younger group even did some of our work by the light of small oil lamps called Divas. You will be pleased and proud to learn how well our kids conducted themselves during our recent Earthquake and Emergency drills. Both groups did the drill perfectly and exited the building in a quiet orderly fashion. We even received compliments from other staff! Very impressive. If you have not already done so, please complete and return the yellow Emergency Reunification page sent home this past week. Only the oldest child in the program would have received it. On Friday our Intermediate group will have some fun with Halloween themed activities. Please send along some treats/goodies to share. Free to come in costume. The Primary Group will have a party on Monday, including a costume parade through the whole school! Please send along some treats/goodies to share. Now that the rains have returned it becomes more difficult to keep our classroom carpet clean. It is common practice in Primary age classrooms for children to keep a pair of shoes at school that are only worn inside the building. Please send along a pair of ‘inside shoes’ or slippers for your Primary aged students to keep at school.  Portfolio Meeting Schedule is now open to book your appointments. Please refer to the calendar on this Blog. Email me your 3 preferred times and I will do my best to accommodate. Times fill up quickly, so I recommend families with sibling sets try to book early. I am always open to receive/pass along resources you think other families might find helpful. A parent recently forwarded a link to a resource for dealing with separation anxiety and other common behaviors with school aged children.  https://www.goodinside.com/book/   I am still hoping to collect a dozen thick rubber bands for a music project. Especially needed are the big blue kind that come with broccoli! Please and thank you! A reminder that Allotment requests are now open. You may order from a list of approved vendors. Requests get processed by our office staff on Wednesdays. This list is not available in digital form, but if you would like another copy of the list please send along a note with your child. There is still some Owl Pellets available to families that would like to investigate them further at home. Just send along a plastic bag if you would like your child to bring one home.  Adopt a Catch Basin: The City of Vancouver invites people to ‘Adopt a Catch Basin’ and help keep it free of leaves and debris. This helps prevent flooding and helps stop garbage from getting into the ocean through the storm drain system. It’s a wonderful Social Responsibility activity. And its free! The city will even send you a rake and a reflective vest if you so desire. AND you get to give your drain a name! I adopted two catch basins on my street and named them Ebb and Flow 🙂  If you think this would be fun for your kids, here is a link to more information: https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/adopt-a-catch-basin.aspx

In the past weeks we received lots of veggies for our Harvest Soup, a nice bit of $$ through the Walk-a-thon, and a bucket full of Owl Pellets! What are owl pellets you ask?  Owls swallow their prey whole and ’regurgitate’ the bones and fur in a dried-out lump. This is what is known as a ‘pellet’ WE then get to study all the little bones and skulls! There are lots of wonderful photos on the internet if you are interested in your own research. IF you would like your child to bring home their very own owl pellet, please send them to school with a zip lock bag and a small container to prevent it from being crushed on the way home. Hey, they could build their own rodent and bring it back at Portfolio time! Harvest Soup was delicious and plentiful. Kitchen chemistry is so much fun. Language rich, and tasty too! It simmered away for over an hour sending out a most pleasing aroma. We even had a few visitors drop by for a bowl after following their noses to our room! Do you have any Big Thick rubber bands at home? (The kind used for broccoli etc.) I need about 50 for an upcoming project. Any contributions gratefully received. “Show And Tell for the Monday/Tuesday group” We will start each day with this fun and easy way to grow our public speaking skills. Any children who would like to participate may choose to bring an object to show their classmates or talk about a recent adventure. Please help them to be prepared to talk for about 1 minute. Please help them prepare to answer a few questions from their classmates. Please do not send valuable/important items, as the school cannot be responsible for any items that get broken or go missing.  Our Thursday/Friday group did an AMAZING job helping tidy up our bookshelves last week! It looks so organized and inviting now. Many thanks to these helpers!  It is the season for planting bulbs. We were given another donation of daffodils which the students planted this week. We are looking forward the burst of yellow in the spring. October is Safety Awareness month. There will be an Earthquake drill on Thursday (tomorrow). The Monday/Tuesday group held our own separate practice this week as well. Please take a moment to review your families Reunification plan. Dental Screening for Kindergarteners: Free Dental screening for all Beaconsfield Kindergarteners will happen on Tuesday November 29^th. We have Portfolios Meetings at that time, so no in-person classes, but if you would like to bring your child to the school t 9:00am to participate and take them home afterwards, please let me know as soon as possible.  Air Quality Update: Hopefully the coming rains will help clear the air, but until they do, we will be adapting our activities. For more info: Vancouver Air Quality Health Index. Or https://weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/provincial_summary/bc_e.html