Our seeds have arrived, so we started preparing the school garden. The intermediate students tilled the soil, weeded the garden, made signs, and built a barrier to protect the seeds. As the weather warms up, we will have both cohorts planting more seeds in the school garden. Stay tuned….

Staying with the gardening theme, our primary class ventured out in the rain yesterday to Fresh Roots farm. Once we were there, we planted cosmos, lettuce, and beets. We also learned how to paint using nature as paintbrushes. We painted with flowers, leaves and petals! Check out the interesting paintings we created.

We also had the chance to see the garlic we planted in the fall.  Our garlic is sprouting tall, and it will hopefully be ready for us to harvest at the end of June!

Lastly, our field trip was a perfect day for us to practice positive self-talk.  We started our day with having an open mindset knowing that we were about to walk in the rain.  As the day went on, many of us were freezing and wet, so we used our positive self-talk to remind ourselves how lucky we are to live in a temperate rain forest, or how fresh the air is when it’s raining, and how we can do this!  As we were walking home, I overheard one student reminding their friend that we have to use our positive self-talk, and that they will be ok.  It was such a wonderful day for us to practice this amazing tool!

In the classroom, we continued our exploration of open and closed circuits. As we build and try new circuits, we are discovering what works and what doesn’t. Each attempt teaches us more about how electricity travels. When something doesn’t work it gives us the opportunity to try something else. This is helping us build an open mindset!

Circuit_Whirl

We have started “Number of the Day” in some of our grade groups. We are using manipulatives to represent and understand the number. We will be doing this every day. Feel free to try this at home too!

Community Events

Watch Fisheries stock Rolley Lake in Maple Ridge with 1600 trout! On Thursday, April 10 (tomorrow) from 10 to 10:30.

Research Projects

The Intermediate students chose a topic of interest from their grade core competencies. They learned how to take notes, organize their notes, form paragraphs, edit, publish and present their work.  The projects were creative and informative! Great job!

Social-Emotional Learning

This term, we will be learning about Zones of Regulation. We will focus on naming our emotions and positive self talk. 

Letter Writing

We are learning how to write letters using the date, greeting, a body, a closing, and signature. We used this format to write letters to Terra Breads to learn more about how they distribute extra bread to our local community. Over spring break, they wrote us back! It was fascinating what we learned!

• Did you know Terra Breads donates 10-15% of all the bread they produce every day?
• Did you know that walnuts turn the bread purple during the sourdough fermention process?

Thank you, Terra Breads, for writing back to us and teaching us more about your products. 

Circuits

One of our students led the class in a lesson on open and closed circuits. They provided the supplies and instructions to build models to demonstrate how circuits work in a fun way. We appreciate the thoughtfulness and leadership shown! (See video clip of the models in action – we hope it works! If not, there is also an image to view.)

Video Clip: Circuit_Fun

Math & Science Contest/Workshop

Elementary Math Contest – Elmacon – May 3rd at UBC – registration until April 18

Elementary Math Contest (ELMACON) ELMACON_School Poster

ELMACON is one of Canada’s most exciting and prestigious math competitions for students in Grades 5, 6, and 7. Each year, hundreds of bright young problem-solvers gather at UBC to take on one of the most challenging—and rewarding—math contests at the elementary level.

Date: May 3, 2025
Location: University of British Columbia
Registration is now open and closes on April 18, 2025.

More information can be found here: https://elmacon.org

Community Events:

Cherry Blossom Festival https://vancouver.kidsoutandabout.com/content/richmond-cherry-blossom-festival-0

Kids First is an opportunity for families of all kinds to create an in-house art project, based on the exhibitions being shown in the Gallery. Kids First takes place on the first Saturday and Sunday of the month. The projects are geared towards children ranging in age from 5 to 12 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is by donation

https://vancouver.kidsoutandabout.com/content/kids-first

Today we celebrated Pi Day with a special treat!

March 14th (3rd Month, 14th day = 3.14).

We had a mini contest to see who could memorize the most digits in Pi. In less than 24 hours our Home Learners memorized up to 70 digits! How many do you know? Way to go, class!!

Arts Umbrella

The Intermediate class was incredibly lucky to spend an entire day at Arts Umbrella. Our instructors were kind, caring, and encouraged us to step outside of our comfort zone and just go for it. We learned drama games called Shark, Mirror, and Play Doh. They taught us how to move like ocean animals, say our name loud, and own who we are through these games. By the end of drama class, we were brave, confident, and laughing with our new friends.

Then we took a lunch break and were treated to delicious macaroons from one of our families. Their kindness and generosity is always appreciated because they are always taking care of the entire class, and not just their own family.  This shows their commitment to community, which is what the Home Learners are all about!

In the afternoon we were split into two fine arts groups. Some of us learned water colour painting and others did oil pastels. It was an extraordinary day of art!

David Suzuki Presentation

Ms. Francis attended Dr. Suzuki’s presentation. His message was that Nature teaches us to slow down, and how to re-evaluate how little we really need. Nature is able to correct environmental problems, but it will take up to 10 million years to recover. Human time is too short for nature time!

Indigenous people have learning stories of elders teaching younger generations about their errors so we can all do better in future generations.

Youth can help by using their voices. Speaking up is making a difference. Build the dream and expand what is possible. All across communities, solutions are happening. At the small scale, community gardens, and planting native species, are examples of solutions. Tell your story. What are you doing to be part of the solution? And are you acting on your solution? Be the change!

Ms. Francis purchased Dr. Suzuki’s book “Bompa’s Insect Expedition” for the classroom, and he signed it for us!

Our classroom has received another book donation from one of our families! They attended a book signing and had the author sign a book for our library! Thank you for thinking of the Home Learning Community! The book is a hit with the students!

Total Lunar Eclipse

Our region will be experiencing a total lunar eclipse tomorrow! The moon will start crossing into Earth’s shadow around 9 p.m. on March 13 and the total eclipse – when the moon is fully obscured – lasts from 11:26 p.m. to half past midnight. The event ends by 3 a.m. on March 14.
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/weatherhood-local/viewing-total-lunar-eclipse-march-vancouver-2025-

March 14 is Pi Day!

https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/pi-day/highlands-school/

Home / Spring Break Learning Opportunities:

A webinar hosted by Sierra Club BC: “Old Growth is Awesome”
Wednesday, March 26, at 6:00 PM

Registration link:  https://sierraclub.bc.ca/old-growth-is-awesome/?mkt_tok=Nzg4LVlCRi0yOTYAAAGZJcRcrkOJi-mIN6CZs6rSHgnO1dXKSMeeellLPGFYs_4-_omfIgZCXdqem4uTz2TRKH9dH0qTFnBmJx0p6S_12BunNtpr9aSju5cJEjS5

PBS has many opportunities to learn at home. Check out their many subjects and lessons online! https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/search/

Visiting Vancouver Island over Spring Break?

Kids & Teens can visit the Malahat Skywalk for free!

https://malahatskywalk.com/plan/spring-break-tickets/

Here are some other ideas for March:

https://letstalkscience.ca/events/program-timetable/stem-storytime-stretch-lab

https://letstalkscience.ca/events/program-timetable/stem-storytime-march-mushrooms

https://champlainheightscc.ca/programs/everett-crowley-park-programs/

https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/674504638fc0a328000e4cba

https://kidsmarket.ca/#welcome

Refer to past blog posts for some Spring Break ideas offered at local libraries.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

In-Class Art Projects

Our intermediate class had another art lesson, where we learned drawing techniques for Cones & Spheres. Our drawing skills are improving!

Our primary class learned about the art of British Columbian, Emily Carr. Carr’s work is world-renowned, and is characterized by atmospheric movement and vibrancy in nature.

Ramadan

The class read the Book, “Ramadhan and Eid-ul-Fitr” by 8-year-old author, Azra Jessa. This year, Ramadan is from February 28 to March 29. This celebrates the lunar calendar and is marked by the new moon or crescent moon. During Ramadan, people fast during the day, which means they do not eat or drink from sun rise to sun set. During this time, people concentrate on goodness and kindness. Jessa writes: “Our hands should only do good by helping others, our mouths should only be used to say kind words, and our ears should only listen to good things.”

Here is more information about the book and author.

On the last day of fasting, they look for the new moon or crescent mood, to indicate the end of Ramadan and the time for feasting, which is called “Eid-ul-Fitr” or “Eid”. At Eid we celebrate our month of discipline and promise to continue our goodness for the rest of the year.

Work at Home

You might be interested in The Spring Daily Discovery Series from the folks at “Let’s Talk Science”. See the links below:

Join us in learning about biodiversity! Check out our activity instructions as well!

Community Events (Spring Break & any time)

https://fraserriverdiscovery.org/spring-discovery-days/?mc_cid=abdadc28c1

https://fraserriverdiscovery.org/?mc_cid=abdadc28c1&mc_eid=fec1884a32

Classroom Learning

Our daffodils are starting to sprout from the bulbs we planted in the Fall! We were excited to see them sprout out of the ground.  We measured and graphed their growth.  We will continue to do this for the next few weeks.

We are continuing to practice our cartooning skills. This week we learned how to add speaking bubbles to our characters.

On Friday, we went to BC Place for the Rugby 7’s with some other classes from Beaconsfield, and other schools in the area.

While we were there, our region experienced an Earthquake. We didn’t feel it inside the thundering stadium! This is a good opportunity to plan your evacuation plans at home, and create or re-stock your emergency supplies.

The City of Vancouver offers free classes that might be helpful. Or simply view the video linked here: https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/emergency-preparedness-education.aspx

Black History Month

We have been reading several books and having discussions about Black History, Black leaders, Equality, and Diversity.

At Home Learning

• Deep Ocean Ecosystems with Sierra Club BC:

Wednesday, March 5 at 10 am

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 ecosystems! The diverse marine life that thrives in these ecosystems live their lives amongst unique environments like hot hydrothermal vents or cold-water corals.

Registration Link: https://sierraclub.bc.ca/learn-to-draw-deep-ocean-ecosystems/?mkt_tok=Nzg4LVlCRi0yOTYAAAGY3M9Dm5YAMnEtyzb8KKvFH8dOHM1rxUzlJE7xHmgLPpqCLkwGBd2keOHh-Z9aJIi0BMM6SD7jKXWUNp7KOT0rwxm41PiCClrTOy0YnA9r

• VPL Stop Motion Animation Workshop

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

3:45 pm – 4:45 pm

Marpole Branch

 Description

Bring your love of movies and stories to life on library iPads. This sessions we will be animating with white boards. For Tweens in Grades 4-7. Please contact the branch to register.

Community Events

• VSB TREK (Outdoor Education) Program Presents Dr. David Suzuki!

In-person Q & A with Dr. Suzuki
https://www.trekoutdoorprogram.ca/events

• Thursday, March 6, 2025
• 6:00 m.9:00 p.m.
• Prince of Wales Secondary School Auditorium

Topic: Humans are an Invasive Species – Why TREK Matters

Tickets:
https://vsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/153264/196/False/True
Students $15; Adults $25

Here are some Spring Break ideas to keep up with learning!

Community Events at the VPL

Kids Writing and Book Clubs    https://www.vpl.ca/program/kids-book-clubs

Make your own book                   https://www.vpl.ca/program/get-your-book-library

STEAM Buddies (Grades 2-4)   https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?q=steam%20buddies

Chess Club       https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?series=674104a654a602ae2c3abb0f

Events at the North Vancouver Community Library

Sew a Light-Up Button               https://www.nvcl.ca/events/sew-light-button

Make a Birdhouse                        https://www.nvcl.ca/events/make-birdhouse

Build your own Boba Tea            https://www.nvcl.ca/events/build-your-own-boba-tea-1

Teen filmmaking camp               https://www.nvcl.ca/events/teen-filmmaking-camp-9

Make a Tie-Dye Shirt                    https://www.nvcl.ca/events/make-tie-dye-t-shirt

Bicycle Mechanics                      https://www.nvcl.ca/events/beginner-bike-mechanics-0

Make your own Stamps              https://www.nvcl.ca/events/make-your-own-stamps-0

Complete Calendar                    https://www.nvcl.ca/calendar

Classroom Learning

We are enjoying being back in the classroom! The students are enjoying our new reading nook.

At our Mammoth presentation, we learned that Mammoths were herbivores that adapted to the extreme tundra environment of the Ice Age by growing a woolly coat and developing tusks and teeth to help with food foraging through the ice and snow. Scientists surmise that tusks kept growing throughout the Mammoths life, and their teeth were replaced often throughout their lives, possibly molars were replaced 6 times. This makes sense if plants they ate were frozen! They may have eaten up to 600 lbs of food per day. Their coats had long guard hairs on the animals’ back and sides to protect from ice and snow. The underneath hair was more woolly and thick to provide insulation and warmth. They became extinct about 10,000 years ago, at the end of the Ice Age, probably because the climate became too warm and they were unable to adapt. Or, they could have been hunted to extinction by earlier humans. A combination of both factors is also a possibility.

We also had Fresh Roots visit our class.  They taught us about seeds, read us a book and brought in seeds for us to examine. We learned that some seeds are edible and some are not, and compared lima bean seeds that were dried with ones that soaked overnight. We even had the chance to dissect the seed where we discovered the parts of a seed: the seed coat, shoot, roots and cotyledon. Dandelion seeds can travel 160 kms from the parent plant!

Other seeds can travel by spinning, floating in the wind, clinging to animals, or being deposited with scat.

The scientific vocabulary we learned were hypothesis and estimation.

Science Challenge: https://www.chatterblock.com/events/382179/lets-talk-science-challenge/

Community events:

Black history month:https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/history/barbara-howard-trailblazing-black-athlete-vancouver-canada-10239296

BC Wildlife in the Classroom

This week, the primary cohort had the chance to learn so many new facts about BC wildlife.  Please ask your child what they learned about animals that are found in our province.

Mule Deer : Ask about their antlers and why they shed them every year.
Mountain Goats: Ask how their horns and skull grow.
Barn Owls: Ask about their ears.
Wolves: Why do they hunt in packs?
Peregrine Falcons: How fast can they dive?
Mountain Lions: How high can they jump?
Black Bears: What is an omnivore? Describe their teeth.
Bald Eagle: Why do they always look angry? Can they “swim”?
Orca Whales:  Are they a whale or a porpoise?  Tell me about the three type of orcas:  Resident, Transient, Offshore
Sea Otters: Talk about their fur and diet. (It is the densest fur in the animal kingdom!  It helps keep their skin dry and keeps them buoyant.)

What are the top three things we can do to help wildlife?
1. Do not feed wildlife.
2. Put garbage and recycling where it belongs, so no wildlife can get it.
3. Keep your distance from wildlife, so they stay wild.

What is diurnal and nocturnal?

The Secret is Revealed!

While students were away from the classroom during Portfolio week, we created a Reading Nook in our Classroom! Under twinkle lights, students can cozy up and read their favourite books! It’s a magical place!

Mammoth Presentation

Our Mammoth Presentation will take place next Tuesday. We are excited to learn more about Mammoths and the Ice Age.

https://learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Meet-the-Mammoth.pdf

Super Seeds Workshop

Next Tuesday, we are also having a workshop about seeds with Fresh Roots Farms. We will be choosing seeds to plant at our next visit to the Farm in April! More from Fresh Roots……

Fresh Roots Farm

A SNEAK PEEK OF WINTER ON THE FARMS

While the fields may be resting under the snow, winter is a busy season on the farm! At Millside Centre in Coquitlam, our team has been hard at work pruning fruit trees in the orchard and tackling a big challenge: removing invasive blackberries. With gloves on and pruners in hand, we cleared a tangled mess of blackberries, freeing up benches and “Carrie’s Corner” to be enjoyed again by youth in the Spring.

Winter may be cold, but the work keeps us warm—and so does the vision of a thriving farm ready for spring!

Discover everything that’s growing for the 2025 season!

https://freshroots.ca/

SUMMER CAMP FRESH ROOTS – EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Camp Fresh Roots is the best place to grow this summer!

Every day will be full of play, learning, good food, great friends, and caring staff to make sure your camper has the best camp experience ever.

2025 camp registration will open soon – on February 14th at 9am! 

Still hesitating? Get a glimpse of a typical camp day, and hear what past campers have enjoyed!

Sierra Club BC

Their first online drawing lesson of 2025 will dive in the deep end to draw one of our most unique ecosystems – deep ocean ecosystems!

Join scientific illustrator Dr. Julius Csotonyi and Sierra Club BC on Wednesday, March 5th at 10 a.m. PST for an art lesson where we will learn how to draw anglerfish and more!

Hydrothermal vents, and underwater reefs are often underappreciated compared to some of our other charismatic ecosystems. Despite this, they are some of the most important and endangered ecosystems on this planet. In B.C., these ecosystems can be found right off the coast of Vancouver Island and are home to unique marine lifeforms who rely on them.

Not only will we be making art, but we’ll also learn about these incredible ecosystems and the beings that call them home, while discussing the effects of human intervention and climate change. This event is open to learners of all ages.

Registration: https://sierraclub.bc.ca/learn-to-draw-deep-ocean-ecosystems/?mkt_tok=Nzg4LVlCRi0yOTYAAAGYlLYdO5ZJlXVck–8UHGoYiLJHjdppwQnLXByY-8Md8rcw9ybw8NFI9uCxXlSZrur7zPwc1j29wkoVRlK3Pc08vSmnZqvnF87tfSKtQwH

CONTEST ALERT! Attention Budding Artists: Great news!

We’re thrilled to invite young artists to share their creativity for Pink Shirt Day 2025!

Thanks to our presenting partner, Fortis BC, we are offering one lucky artist a chance to win a $500 OPUS gift card.

This year’s theme, “Let Kindness Grow” celebrates the power of kindness to bring people together. Your artwork could inspire others across Canada—and perhaps even beyond!

Selected pieces may be featured on our social media channels and website as part of this year’s campaign.

You can check it out here: Submit Your Artwork.  Deadline for submissions is Feb. 26/2025 and draw date is Feb. 27/2025

Thank you for helping us spread kindness and creativity! Good luck!

We are continuing with Portfolio Meetings this week and we are impressed by the work everyone is doing at home.

Hopefully, you are enjoying the snow, which fits in with our theme for the term. We encourage students to draw, write, or create winter art. They can describe the outdoors, write about their favourite snow activities, or complete procedural writing about how to make hot chocolate or a warm meal.

If you have any special work that you’ve completed at home over the Portfolio break, please bring it in to share with the class next week when you return.

As a surprise, we have a new space to reveal to students next week! We hope it is a special and motivating addition to our classroom!

Community Events

Too Cute Pop Up Market

Get ready for a day filled with adorable handmade goodies from local artisans. Join us on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Heritage Hall (Main & 15^th) for a unique shopping experience. Discover one-of-a-kind items that are TOO CUTE to resist! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support small businesses and find the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one.

Expect to find ART, PINS, STICKERS, APPAREL, TOYS, PLUSHIES, FIGURINES, HOME DECOR, STATIONERY, PLUSHIES, JEWELRY, COOKIES, COFFEE and MORE!

Tickets: $3 | kids 12 and under are free | 50% of ticket proceeds to benefit 2025 charities of choic

https://www.chatterblock.com/events/408596/too-cute-pop-up-market/?utm_source=Main+ChatterBlock+List&utm_campaign=fc8824683e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_23_11_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-fc8824683e-304192077

Family Day at the Vancouver Maritime Museum

This event, right in the heart of beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, promises a day filled with excitement that will entertain and educate family members of all ages.

Monday, February 17th All day – from 10am Admission: FREE – Donations welcome.

https://www.chatterblock.com/events/363870/family-day-at-the-vancouver-maritime-museum/

In keeping with our Winter Theme, we will be attending an online workshop by the Royal BC Museum about Woolly Mammoths! “Learn about the Ice Age and the Woolly Mammoths who lived there. Using images, video and objects we will learn about how Woolly Mammoths adapted to survive in the Ice Age. There are lots of opportunities for questions and interaction.”

We had an informative presentation about Coding & STEM last week. Our intermediate class learned that coding is all around us, involves logic and computational thinking. Websites should be thought of as Lego blocks. If you’re interested in Coding, Engineering and Computing Sciences, you should put a lot of emphasis in math.

Here is a useful STEM resource for home: https://letstalkscience.ca/topic/stem-at-home

Let’s Talk Science Challenge! https://letstalkscience.ca/

A free national STEM competition that encourages students in Grades 6-8 to learn about new STEM topics and show what they learned in an exciting, supportive environment.

This free program (available in both English and French) helps kids explore eight different STEM fields through engaging quizzes and hands-on activities.

Families can register their children to participate as individuals—no need for a team or classroom! Dive into exciting STEM topics, learn critical thinking skills, and prepare for the virtual Grand Finale competition all from home.

Community Events:

Granville Island Kids Market has several events for February, including something for the Pro-D Day on Friday, February 14:   https://www.kidsmarket.ca/#welcome

Lunar New Year:

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/lunar-new-year-events-vancouver-2025-10120808?utm_source=Vancouver+Is+Awesome&utm_campaign=d19b27b8e0-VIA+Daily+012925&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-d19b27b8e0-97626118&mc_cid=d19b27b8e0&mc_eid=2735bde3b2

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/lunar-new-year-events-vancouver-2025-10120808

In keeping with the Winter Theme, our classes have been improving their skating skills. Thank you to all the parents who helped at the ice rink.

Also, the intermediates attended a Winter Dance Performance at Gladstone. They were very helpful with the Grade 1 class and did a great job showing leadership and patience. It was also a great opportunity for the class to see some options for high school classes that they might like to take, and to explore the high school environment.

The Winter Theme also continues with classroom read alouds and discussions. This week we discussed what BC animals do in the winter:

• Hibernate / Torpor (and if you have never heard of “torpor” before, look it up!)
• Migrate Elsewhere
• Tough it out

Our Intermediate class started a research project (on a topic of their choice). This is to practice nonfiction writing. We have published winter poems that we have been working on for weeks.

Unfortunately, our Wildlife in the Classroom was postponed. We look forward to this workshop next month.

Lunar New Year begins January 29, based on the lunar calendar. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, which represents adaptability and resourcefulness. It is an important time to explore different cultures and cultural practices, so you might want to attend some of the events in the community to learn more. Gung hay fat choy!

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/lunar-new-year-events-vancouver

https://vancouversbestplaces.com/events-calendar/festivals-and-events/chinese-new-year/

School Event: Chess Club is going to be held every Friday. All skill levels are welcome to attend.

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