Last week, most of us visited the Coquitlam Watershed on an exciting field trip. Despite the rain and hail, we enjoyed hiking in the watershed and learning about the ecosystem.

Our guides explained the concept of “Forest Bathing”. One of our brave students volunteered to take part! Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-yoku in Japanese, is a process by finding relaxation and calm in the midst of a forest environment, focusing on using one’s senses to connect with the natural environment. It is believed to have many therapeutic benefits.

We enjoyed seeing wildlife. Can you spot the black bear in the video?

BlackBearVideo

We are so lucky to live in a region that has lush old growth and temperate forests. There are different types of Watersheds, and we learned that the Coquitlam Watershed is a different type than Seymour, which we visited last year. We played a Watershed Game that identified the Water Cycle and the amount of snow melt from each watershed.

This week with Growing Chefs, we made a delicious teriyaki stir fry! We harvested the radish greens we grew, sliced zucchinis, grated carrots, cut broccoli and made the teriyaki sauce.  It was an amazing community effort and a wonderful meal shared with all.

Everyone went home with the recipe, so please enjoy this at home!

We also did some work in our school garden. We planted a variety of veggies, so we learned about transplanting. We were able to get a grant to equip our garden with an irrigation system and other supplies. This will ensure our hard work will extend into the summer when we are not here to tend plants as regularly.

The primary cohort has been enjoying entertaining their classmates with Reader’s Theatre. Our focus was reading fluently with expression.  We also discussed how to be an active listener. Many Language Arts components tied into one activity! We will continue Reader’s Theatre throughout Term 3.

Next week, Portfolio Meetings will start. There will not be any blog updates during that time. We will be receiving our butterfly larvae, so when you come to your meeting you can see the larvae, and be surprised by their growth when you return to school the week of June 8^th!

Before we head to the Coquitlam Watershed on an exciting field trip, we will be learning more about what watersheds are. These ecosystems are vital, as ultimately water flowing through this area ends up becoming the water we use for drinking, washing our hands, cooking and bathing. This week we looked at satellite maps of our area and located different landforms and landmarks. We found mountains, rivers, lakes and cities.  We even found Trout Lake using the SkyTrain line as a reference!

We are exploring the following in conjunction to the watershed visit:

• Monthly water use versus water demand,
• Daily water use within our household,
• Water cycle,
• Studying satellite maps to see how water travels from our mountains to our rivers, lakes and watersheds,
• Seeing how water travels from our watershed to our homes and buildings.

Metro Vancouver has implemented Stage 2 water restrictions already in our area. This is because we had very little snow over the winter, especially in the local mountains, which will reduce the amount of water ending up in the reservoir for local use. We must greatly reduce our water use now so that we can conserve water for the hot, dry summer months.

https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/understanding-watering-restrictions.aspx

It’s hard to believe that an area with so much rain can be short of water! Can you think of one thing you can do in your home to conserve water?

This term both classes are learning more about 2D and 3D shapes in our Geometry Unit. We are learning to name the shapes using a fun game. This week, the intermediates also tackled word problems in geometry. Check out some of our work!

We welcomed “Growing Chefs” back in our classroom. The radishes we planted last week are already sprouting! We learned about food preservation, local and global food, and expanding our palates by trying new food.  We tasted several preserved items such as pickled onions, dried apples, and mangoes.

After, we learned about knife safety.  Discuss “claw” and ‘bridge” cutting with your child. We used these skills to grate carrots and cut cucumbers for pickling. See our process in the photos.

We also welcomed Brian from “Let’s Talk Science” back to our class. This week we learned about electricity – currents, circuits, and electrons that move through a conductor. We discussed the need for creating a “circle” for our circuits so that electricity can flow. We learned the difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit. Then, we had a chance to make several electric circuits. After experimenting with circuits, we were tasked with several challenges. It was a fun, hands-on way of learning about electricity!

Other Learning Opportunities:

Join Sierra Club BC for their “Learn to Draw” to kick off summer! For this webinar, they will be diving in the deep end to talk about incredible migrating marine mammals. Together, you will learn all about humpback whales!

Join scientific illustrator Dr. Julius Csotonyi and Sierra Club BC for a guided art lesson where you’ll learn how to draw these whales and discuss the pressures that they face throughout their ocean travels! If you register, you can watch the webinar at a later time.

Register here to weave art and science together on Thursday, May 21 at 1 p.m. (PT)!

On Friday we had Brian from Let’s Talk Science to teach us about forensic science.  We were given a scenario and a suspect.  We had to use science to find out who was the main suspect. Can you see who this was when you analyze and compare our notes?

This week with Growing Chefs, students had the hands-on experience of planting their own radish seeds in mini planters. They learned to prepare the soil, how to carefully place the seeds, and understand what plants need to grow. Students also learned how to care for their radishes by checking them daily and keeping the soil lightly moist.

During our visit to the Wetlands, students explored the community garden with its variety of plants, herbs, and vegetables. We learned about the Indigenous Women Rise Society and the 216 Memorial Garden, a space for reflection that honours Residential School survivors and their families. Students also visited the pollinator garden, explored the berry patch, and learned about native and invasive plants.

The class made thank you cards for Terra Breads to show our gratitude for our field trip and lunch. All students were amazed at the size of the machines and were very interested to learn about the time it took to make sourdough. It sounds like everyone made some very tasty bread and had a memorable experience!

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Canadian Mental Health Week is May 4-10

Canadian Mental Health Week is from May 4 to 10, 2026. This year’s theme, Come Together, invites Canadians to strengthen mental health through small, everyday actions of connection. Feeling connected and supported at work, at school and in our communities, helps reduce isolation and fosters well-being for everyone. The Canadian Mental Health Association offers free, practical resources to support this work, including toolkits with quick activities, conversation starters, posters and virtual resources that can be used in-person, remote or in hybrid settings.

The ministry continues to support student and adult mental health and well-being throughout B.C. schools, with resources available through the erase (Expect Respect and a Safe Education) Mental Health and Substance Use web page.

Last week, the intermediate class visited Terra Breads Baking Facility for a hands-on bread-baking experience! We had a tour of the production facility and learned how bread and granola are made. We also got to meet the two owners of Terra Breads. They answered our questions and joined us for part of the tour. They told us how they came up with the idea for the company 33 years ago. They are both still passionate about baking high quality products for our community.

We each made two loaves: one demi-baguette and one round loaf. While our bread was baking, we walked down to the cafe where there was a long table reserved for us. We were treated to a meal, complete with a drink and cookies! What delicious treat!!! Thank you Terra Breads for your generosity!

After lunch, we returned to the production facility and picked up our bread to take home. We are truly grateful for this opportunity!

On Monday, both classes visited Camosun Bog within Pacific Spirit Park. We had two Interpreters from Metro Vancouver, Christopher and Lori, who led us through the Bog and explained the “Biodiversity Connections” nature program as it pertains to this ecosystem.

The Bog was formed about 2000-5000 years ago, after a post-glacial lake filled with sediment and became a nutrient-poor, acidic, and wet environment. The Indigenous peoples used the Bog for traditional medicines and materials. Development in the early 1900s saw the destruction of parts of the bog by the installation of drainage systems and the planting of invasive species of trees. Restoration of the bog began in 1982, and it is now a protected, restored ecosystem, featuring a boardwalk where visitors can safely explore this unique environment.

Yesterday, we had Brian from “Let’s Talk Science” visit us again. During this visit, we built Ozobots through coding. Our goal was to code our Ozobots to “dance”. See the video. IMG_5213

We also made 3D shapes with toothpicks and marshmallows for our Geometry Unit in Math. We used these shapes to identify the number of corner points, edges, and faces in each structure.

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

The VPL has a “STEAM Buddies” program available to Vancouver residents. This ties into our work with coding: https://www.vpl.ca/program/steam-buddies-kids

The Walkathon was a success! We walked for 100 minutes at Trout Lake and our class raised $123.00 (not including online donations) towards new iPads for our school. Thank you to all the families who were able to help our fundraising efforts!

We brought our Local Flora and Fauna booklets on our walk, to refresh our memory about the outdoor learning we experienced last year. We identified invasive and native plants, observed ducks on the lake and named various trees and plants along the way. We like to multi-task and make everything a learning experience!

The intermediates started gardening last week. They tilled the soil, weeded the garden and planted a variety of vegetable seeds. We will be tending to our garden all of third term.

Yesterday, we had our final day with “Zero Waste” and made TrashFormations – where we upcycled “trash” into new things. Check out our creations!

We also went on a walk to Beaconsfield Park Wetlands. Our talk concentrated on pollution, water quality, biodiversity and habitat. The key takeaways were:

• Rain is like a sponge – it picks up what is on the ground,
• Every drop of water in this neighborhood ends up in Still Creek,
• The wetland at Beaconsfield Park filters rainwater as it soaks into the ground – this creates healthier water in Still Creek for different kids of aquatic life, including salmon,
• Wetlands are home to many kinds of plants and animals, creating a unique ecosystem.

Community Events

BC Youth Week is approaching. Check out many events in the City of Vancouver: https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/youth-week.aspx

In particular, book your free tickets to a live play, “Glitch”, written by a Vancouver Playwright. Shows are Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, at the Roundhouse Theatre. “GLITCH is a bold new work inspired by young people’s urgent concerns about societal expectations, anxiety, and phone addiction.” See a trailer, and get free tickets here: https://someassembly.ca/

We have continued to monitor our potato seedlings by adding more soil and taking measurements. Do you know why we need to “hill” potatoes? Mounding soil around potato plants ensures the stalks are supported, and protects the growing potatoes from light, which makes them turn green, and helps to encourage the growth of more potatoes. Secondary benefits are that it improves drainage and weed control. We will be hilling our potatoes in the coming weeks.

During our visit from “Elements Society” students learned how to recycle everyday household goods properly. Using the City of Vancouver’s “Van Sort” game on iPads, they can guess how various items get recycled in a fun way. They have been learning that we all need to do a better job recycling, so that we have “Zero Waste” going into our black bins. Now when students have something to throw out, they are asking questions, confirming where things should go, and are being mindful to put things where they belong. You wouldn’t believe how much this has reduced our classroom waste! Our black bins are much emptier after a full day of school and all kids in attendance! (See photo below.) Why don’t you try implementing a sorting system at your house?

This week, we also got creative with eco-friendly packing puffs! These puffs are made from natural starches that dissolve in water. This keeps extra paper products and non-recyclables like Styrofoam out of our garbage and landfill. Our goal was to create a 3-Dimensional shape. Check out our creations!

We added the final touches to our Emily Carr inspired art. This week we learned how oil pastels can add a bit of texture, and they can be used to tidy up some paint lines. Check out our final products!

Our early learners are discovering ways to make ten using cuisenaire rods and Power of Ten cards.

We have also started our Geometry unit. We will be exploring 2D and 3D shapes over the next few months. Can you start to find these shapes all around you?

We have started our Badminton unit in PE! We will be practicing how to serve and rally over the next month. Did you know that a “birdie” (aka “shuttlecock”) can travel at over 300 km/h when hit really hard by a professional Badminton player?

EDUCATIONAL EVENTS:

VSB Summer School Registration – There is a wide variety of courses offered at Summer Learning. There is a link to the program catalogue below.

Registration for Elementary Programs:

• opens on Thursday, April 30 at noon (12:00 PM)
• closes on Wednesday, May 20
• Elementary Program Dates:  July 7 to July 24, 2026 **All courses require in-person attendance.

Elementary Program Locations:

Dickens Elementary – 1010 East 17th Ave                  Sexsmith Elementary – 7410 Columbia Street
Kingsford-Smith Elementary – 6901 Elliott Street   Kitchener Elementary – 3455 King Edward Ave W
Maple Grove Elementary – 1924 West 45th Ave       Van Horne Elementary – 5855 Ontario Street
Renfrew Elementary – 3315 East 22nd Ave                wək̓ʷan̓əs tə syaqʷəm Elementary – 3150 Kitchener Street

Please Note:

• Due to the high volume of registrants accessing the summer registration website on the first day of registration, there may be system delays on April 30 and May 7. Thank you in advance for your patience.
• Course information can be found in our catalogue: 2026 Summer Learning Program Catalogue 
• Current Kindergarten to Grade 11 students who are attending a BC school are eligible to register.

If you have any questions, please email the Summer Learning office at: summerlearning@vsb.bc.ca.

Last week, the intermediates learned about the BC artist, Emily Carr. We noticed many of her paintings were inspired by our temperate rainforest and Indigenous culture and people.

As we studied her art, we saw Emily was able to create movement in the trees and sky. We used this as inspiration as we painted our own rendition of “Blue Sky.”

What do you know about Emily Carr? See if you can research more about this important Canadian artist.

With the warmer weather here, we have been out in our garden tending to our potatoes. We’ve also been using the outdoor classroom to write about our potatoes and what we noticed.
Since the potatoes are growing so fast now, we have been “hilling” our warba potatoes. Please ask your child about the hilling process.

The primary class will be attending a “Wetlands Tour” in our local park! This is going to be an exciting walk since important topics such as water cycles, pollution and water quality, biodiversity and habitat, and stewardship will be discussed and presented in a meaningful way. It will be interesting to learn how these topics impact us on a very local level.

Many of you are following the Artemis II Mission for a bit of Science/Astronomy at home. Last week’s historic launch was exciting and the astronauts are sending some amazing photos to us from the other side of the moon. They are already preparing to return to Earth, which is happening Friday evening. You will be able to tune into the landing into the Pacific Ocean on NASA’s site: https://www.nasa.gov/ Another interesting article is here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/nasa-update-artemis-ii-april-7-9.7155305

Community Events:

With the weather improving, we hope you are getting out to enjoy the sunshine and Vitamin D! Here are some free things you can do out and about our city!

• Stanley Park
• Granville Island Public Market
• Canada Place
• Jack Poole Plaza
• Vancouver Chinatown
• Queen Elizabeth Park
• Beaches

Before the break, the Young Entrepreneurs counted their sales and recorded their profits from the Big Sale! They also completed a survey about the program in order to provide their feedback and experiences. All in all, it was a fun and productive activity, where the process trumped profits!

This week we observed the potatoes we planted before spring break. They are already growing and sprouting! We also planted the remaining potatoes outside in our school garden. Spring brings many opportunities for growing our own food.

We also recorded the growth of our daffodils and drew and coloured pictures while outside!

Show and tell… One student brought in a black bear pelt for the class to see. They shared facts about black bears such as:

• They are omnivorous (they eat both plants and animals)
• They grow to 5 or 6 feet
• They can weigh between 200-600 pounds
• They can live 20 years
• Around this time of year, they emerge from their dens

We also learned that if we encounter a black bear while hiking, we are to stop, stay calm, and slowly back away.

Thank you again to our Homelearner family for sharing this with our class, and teaching us what to do if we come across a black bear in the forest!

The primary cohort had the Elements Society visit this week. They will be teaching the importance of reducing the amount of garbage we produce through four Zero Waste workshops. In the first lesson, we learned about compost, the green bin, and what we can and cannot put into it. Did you know all 100% compostable bags and plastics CANNOT actually go into the compost bin? Instead of using compostable bags you can use weekly flyers to line your compost container. Save your money and the Earth at the same time!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Granville Island Children’s Market: Hop, Hunt & Play: April Adventures Begin! 🥚✨

Ms. Baker, our former teacher, wanted everyone to know about this fun event happening on the Sunshine Coast. It’s the Salmon Release Festival – A Family & Community Day, with Free Admission! The Sunshine Coast is a quick ferry and this is the May long weekend! Plan ahead! More info: https://www.facebook.com/Sunshinecoastsalmon/

Young Entrepreneurs

Friday was the Big Young Entrepreneurs Sale. What an extraordinary day it was! The energy in the room was amazing! There was a feeling of pride, excitement, and nerves. It was wonderful to see so many Homelearner families come and support the intermediate class. Some brought grandparents, neighbours, and friends too, and we thank them for their support!

The students kept busy selling their products, telling customers about their businesses, and making change for those who purchased their products. As students reached their “break-even” points, you could see the relief on their faces. From there, they knew they were making profits, so their confidence grew as they bustled to make more sales. It truly was an amazing experience that the students will cherish and remember forever.

We want to remind you that the aim of this program is the PROCESS of building a business, and all that entails, NOT just making profits. In light of this, all students experienced success. Everyone should be extremely proud of the work they did.

Spuds in Tubs

This week we learned about potatoes and planted seed potatoes in bins. We were hoping to do this outside, but we had unexpected snow yesterday! We measured our potatoes, described how they looked, and removed the largest sprout before planting. As they grow, we will be able to make observations and record progress through the Spring.

*Have a wonderful Spring Break. Look for the next Blog on April 1 (no kidding)!*

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Vancouver Art Gallery: Free First Friday Nights. Free Admission on the first Friday of every month, from 4-8 pm.

https://www.chatterblock.com/events/417931/free-first-friday-nights-at-the-gallery/?utm_source=chatterblock&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Vancouver+Newsletter+-+March+5+2026

Young Entrepreneurs

Our Young Entrepreneurs are gearing up for their BIG SALE on Friday! They have been working all term on creating their own “business”. It has been an extraordinary learning experience. We look forward to parents and students coming out to support them. Check out photos of their marketing displays and posters!

Cartooning

This week, the primary class continued with their cartooning. We used “Winston”, our classroom Squishmallow, as inspiration. Check out our budding cartoonists!

Young Actors

Ms. Allison worked with the Intermediate class last week. We learned how improvisation uses the audience’s suggestions to guide the actor’s quick thinking into the next scene in the skit. Some of the most valuable lessons we learned were to think quickly, be decision-makers, and act with confidence.

Learn more about….

Healthy by Nature is an organization transforming schoolgrounds and empowering youth to learn about nature in nature. Many Vancouver schools participate. The organization has many initiatives locally, provincially and nationally. Subscribe to their site to see the benefits of being in nature!

https://www.healthybynature.ca/learning-by-nature

Community Events

VPL – Spring Break Events: Squish: Grossology | Events | Vancouver Public Library

Welcome back to school!

Just before the Portfolio break we had a field trip to Arts Umbrella. We spent the whole day exploring the world through art. We played drama games, drew animals and habitats with oil pastels, and used watercolour paints to represent nature.

It was such a wonderful experience for us to try new things, be brave and silly, and discover new hidden abilities hiding within us. Being open to the experiences around us allows us to learn so much about ourselves.

We are incredibly grateful to Arts Umbrella for having us! We are also grateful for the lovely goodies that one of our families brought to share. Look at these yummy and colourful macarons! Thank you for this special treat!

We continue to observe and measure our daffodils in the school garden. The growth is amazing, and we had to figure out how to measure the tallest ones, which are more than 30 cm, the length of our rulers! Luckily, we are problem-solvers, and we took this challenge in stride!

The primary cohort had their workshops this week with Young Actors who taught them that acting is “finding the truth in the moment”. We used a known object and turned it into a variety of other possibilities. We learned to stretch our imagination and turn everyday normal objects into something completely different. So, a squeegee turned into a lawn mower and a rake, a ruler turned into a moustache, and tongs became a tennis racket and flippers.

We also learned about puppeteering where we used our whole bodies and emotions, and not our voices, to become new characters. Another acting feature we learned was to embellish our stories piece-by-piece with others in an improvisational exercise. The intermediate class can look forward to working with Young Actors later this week!

Scientist/Engineer Brian from “Let’s Talk Science” came and taught our class about robots vis the “Code & Go Mice” program! Through coding, we had to guide our “mouse” to a piece of cheese, dodging traps and cats along the way. Students had to code their way through the maze!

The students really enjoyed this workshop. Perhaps they can check out programs available at the Library over Spring Break: https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?q=coding

The intermediate class has been working hard to create their own businesses with the “Young Entrepreneurs” Program. We look forward to seeing what they have been working on over the portfolio break!

District Activity:

Magee Secondary’s PAC is hosting a talk on the Teenage Brain. Join the Magee community for an insightful presentation by internationally renowned expert Kim Barthel on the fascinating world of the teenage brain. “ADOLESCENCE MATTERS: THE TEENAGE BRAIN” will explore the unique developmental changes and challenges faced by teens, providing valuable understanding for parents, educators, and anyone interested in youth development.

Location: Magee Secondary

Address: 6360 Maple St, Vancouver https://maps.app.goo.gl/kHJVXuazESYUTRWX9

Date: April 21, 2026                   Time: 7:00-9:00pm

Speaker: Kim Barthel

Information: https://www.mageepac.ca/event-details/kim-barthel-adolescence-matters-the-teenage-brain

Tickets: https://vsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/182293/196/False/True

• General Admission tickets: $25
• Early bird tickets: $20 (before March 1st, 2026)
• *Youth admitted free with accompanying adult

Community Events:

The PAWS Book Series is a big hit with our primary class, and you can meet the authors! Kidsbooks is hosting the authors on the evening of March 5. You can ask questions about their stories, and get a signed copy of their latest book! Here are the details: https://kidsbooks.ca/events/4531120260305

Please consider getting involved in a Neighbourhood cleanup at Beaconsfield Park. It’s happening on Saturday, March 14, from 10 am to 12:30 pm. See flyer below:

Mike’s Critters

A special thank you to our PAC and parent community for bringing “Mike’s Critters” to our school! Over the last two Fridays, our students had the opportunity to learn about and observe a wide variety of animals. The Home Learner class had the unique opportunity to get up-close to several different animals!

Baby Chicks

One of our students brought her baby chicks to school for show-and-tell! Did you know that hens only lay eggs for about 1-1/2 years? Also, the eggs we eat are laid by chickens that do not live with roosters. We learned a lot about chickens, and we got to cuddle the soft, fluffy chicks!

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year begins February 17, and it will be the Year of the Horse. Every 60 years, there is a special occurrence, and 2026 is the “Year of the Fire Horse”. This year should be an extra-special year of intense energy, speed, independence, and bold, transformative action!

Growing Chefs

This week was our last session with Chef Maria. We put all our skills to the test! We cut, sliced, measured and snipped fresh vegetables into a delicious stir fry.  Our room was filled with the most amazing aroma! The students gobbled it all up, and there was nothing left over!

We also had the chance to try the pickles we made from last week.  It was wonderful to see everyone being so open to trying new food.  This allowed several people to discover new things they liked.  Check out the pictures of our food adventure!

Community Events

BIG BANG Festival – this event was recommended by one of our students!

https://www.musiconmain.ca/event/big-bang-festival-2026/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23486455804&gbraid=0AAAAABaJnXRU1pMm-X7KH_Czwv7c8QOA2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIue38zsK7kgMVPZ3uAR2bpDWGEAAYASAAEgLEA_D_BwE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026
12:00PM to 5:00PM
THE ROUNDHOUSE | 181 ROUNDHOUSE MEWS | Google map
Doors at 11:30AM | Festival starts at 12:00PM
Adventurous music for young audiences ages 5 and up

TICKETS | Entry to the Festival is free + $5 events!

Chinese New Year

The 52nd Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration is happening on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year:

When: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. (parade start), 2 to 4 p.m. (fair)
Where: Various locations throughout Chinatown
Parade Route: Millennium Gate → Pender Street → Gore Avenue → Keefer Street

Cost: Free for parade and fair

This popular event is expected to draw over 5,000 participants and more than 100,000 spectators to the historic neighbourhood, with family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and more for everyone to enjoy!

https://activevancouver.ca/events/vancouver-chinatown-spring-festival-parade/

Writing Contest (intermediate students)

Are you interested in writing or story-telling? Kids Write 4 Kids Writing Contest is Now Open! If you’re in grades 4–8 and have a tale to tell — whether you’re a budding novelist, a poet, or an imaginative storyteller — this is your moment to shine! Deadline is March 31. Click for more information: https://kidswrite4kids.ripplefoundation.ca/

Growing Chefs

This week, we learned about food preservation.  Preserving food allows us to enjoy it all year long.  During this week’s lesson, we learned about freezing, fermenting, smoking, salting, and drying food.  These methods take out the bad bacteria, so the food can last longer.

We also had the chance to try some dried mangoes, kimchi and sauerkraut.  What a delicious treat!

After, we cut and grated carrots and cucumbers to put into a homemade brine. We can’t wait to try our pickled vegetables next week!

Here is the recipe for Fridge Pickles:

Young Entrepreneurs

We have been learning so much about building our own businesses.  We learned entrepreneurs are innovators, creators, problem solvers, and critical thinkers.

We also learned we need to build up our communication skills before the Big Sale day.  We will be practicing and developing these skills when we give out Community Bread.  We will work on greeting the customers, learning their names and starting small conversations.

Now that we have clear goals for our businesses, we dove into Section 2 – Market Research.  We practiced asking questions and gathering data, so we can get to know our audience.  This data helps us make products that people want. Next week, we will be going into a few classrooms and asking questions about our products.

Planting a Promise

The daffodils we planted in the fall have started to sprout! We couldn’t believe they were poking out of the ground in January! We took our rulers out and started measuring their growth. Some are already close to 10 cm tall! We will continue to measure, track and graph their growth.

Other Fun Events

Wed. Feb. 11 1 pm – Sierra Club BC – Draw Carnivorous Plants

During this session, we’ll not only be making art, but also learning how these plants support their ecosystems, the pressures bogs and wetlands are facing from industry and climate change, and what we can do to help protect them. This event is open to learners of all ages and skill levels.

Registration Link: https://sierraclub.bc.ca/our-work/re-connecting-with-the-lands-waters/webinars/learn-to-draw-carnivorous-plants-in-bog-ecosystems/

Spring Break & Beyond – Let’s Talk Science – STEM Series

Our popular Daily Discovery Series is back this Spring with fun, daily activities that will keep kids entertained during Spring Break and beyond. The hands-on activities can be done in classrooms or at home and require only a few easy-to-find materials.

Suitable for 9-11 year olds (Grades 4-6), these activities will introduce concepts by involving learners in exciting demonstrations of the world of STEM. You will receive a daily email with a video demonstration and a written description of a fun, hands-on STEM activity. This activity series will be available weekly between the weeks of February 22 and April 19.

Registration Link: https://letstalkscience.ca/events/program-timetable/spring-daily-discovery-series

Growing Chefs – Chef Maria came in to teach us about food. We learned what kinds of food are grown in our province. Did you know the stickers on our fruit and vegetables tell us if it has been grown locally? You can buy local produce by looking for signs and displays. We also learned about how food gets picked at a farm, travels to grocery stores, and then to our homes.

Young Entrepreneurs – This week we focused on Section 1 of our Business Plans. We set goals for our businesses and discussed what we would like to learn as we build our business from the ground up. The date for our Big Sale has been set for March 6^th.

Gladstone Dance Performance – The intermediate class was lucky to be invited to watch the Gladstone Dance Team perform last week. They did an amazing job putting on an impressive show titled “We Got Rhythm”. We saw everything from hip hop, salsa, contemporary, tap and more!

Affirmations are powerful and empowering messages we say to ourselves daily to create a more optimistic mindset. We have been working on saying our affirmations every day in class. This helps us build our self-esteem and positive neural pathways in our brains.

This week we took it one step further.  We created our own affirmation cards that we can use at home. Please help your child find a spot for their affirmation cards. Pick a place where they can read their message several times a day.

Our Research Presentations are completed. Students should feel proud of all their hard work. We learned so much from each other, from the solar system, Newton’s 3 Laws, the muscular-skeletal system, Sui Dynasty, Simple Machines, and Cheetahs!

The primary cohort have been continuing their Canada research. We have been learning new facts about each province and territory. Lots of the students have also been enjoying the capital city game. Can you name all the capital cities within our country with your child? Have fun!

Both cohorts have also started spelling lessons at school. We are learning how to piece chunks of words together. For example, when we focused on “ar” we learned to spell words like “apartment” by clapping out each syllable and writing each chunk we hear: “a-part-ment”.  Try using this technique to help you spell long or complicated words.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

• Saturday, January 24 – 10am – 1pm

Bring your used light bulbs, household batteries and more to our FREE mini pop-up recycling event at the Roundhouse Community Centre. Click the link for a list of accepted items: https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/calendar-of-events.aspx?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D195165915

Check out FREE events in the Lower Mainland on this site: https://vancouver.kidsoutandabout.com/content/free-things-do-weekend-and-around-vancouver

Check out “Budget” places to visit in Greater Vancouver here:

https://vancouversbestplaces.com/best-places/on-a-budget/

Explore Healthy Food & Fun for Metro Vancouver Families:

JANUARY 2026 FAMILY EVENTS IN METRO VANCOUVER – Healthy Family Living in Metro Vancouver

This week, the Intermediates started a goal-setting assignment for personal goals. We learned that tiny changes done every day can have a huge impact and create real change in our lives. Every day, we will be assessing how well we are working towards our goals.

The Primary Class started a new math unit. We are learning how to think like Mathematicians. Every morning, we will estimate how many items are in our “Estimation Jar”. From there, we empty out the items and count them in groups, reinforcing “skip counting” by 10s, 5s, and 3s.

The Primary Class continues to study the provinces and territories of Canada. They are learning research skills and mapping skills as they explore the different areas of Canada.

Both cohorts are also doing spelling lessons. We are learning spelling rules, word endings, and how to spell words using syllables.

Community Events

Family Movie Nights- Killarney Community Centre

https://vancouver.kidsoutandabout.com/content/family-movie-nights-killarney-community-centre-3

Carousel Theatre for Young People

This Family Day long weekend just got more fun as they present their 1st Annual Family Forward Festival. Families of all kinds are invited to gather on Granville from Saturday, February 14 to Monday, February 16 for a weekend of by-donation events, plays, documentaries, live music, drag, storytelling and dance parties, there’s something for everyone!

Carousel’s Co-Artistic & Managing Director, Dave Deveau explains, “The idea behind this festival has been years in the making, and we’re thrilled to finally share it with audiences! What better way to celebrate Family Day long weekend than by being surrounded by our shared love for the live performing arts with family of all kinds – biological and chosen alike! My household is intergenerational, and we love being able to show up with everybody (in my household’s case, ages 2-85) and for everybody to have a great time. That’s what this festival is all about. And since tickets are by donation, we hope to see you at many events!”

https://www.carouseltheatre.ca/season/the-family-forward-festival

We are happy to be back to in-person learning after a well-deserved break for the holidays!

We spent some time before the break completing some Winter writing and art. We used our senses to describe and depict our winter scenes.

The intermediate cohort explored Simple Machines before the winter break. We learned that “Simple Machines” are devices that transfer forces and energy, in order to make tasks easier and reduce work. Some examples of simple machines are levers, wheels and axles, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges and screws. Students built a pulley system using kits donated to us from a HL family. We had a great time learning how to build a pulley, and the importance of this simple machine.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

ONE to ONE Program

ONE TO ONE is collaborating with the Vancouver Public Library to host a Parent Reading Workshop for grade 1 and 2 families at the Central Library on Saturday, January 31, during Family Literacy Week. It will be a unique set up as kids will enjoy a facilitated library program while their parents are in the workshop. There are a limited number of seats.

Registration Link: Parent Reading Workshop with ONE TO ONE Literacy | Events | Vancouver Public Library

• Saturday, January 31, 2026
• 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Central Library – Downtown

This week, we created a winter scene using watercolour and acrylic paints, and salt. We learned how absorbent watercolour paper is, and we added texture to our artwork by sprinkling salt on our pictures. The outcomes were beautiful winter landscapes!

Continuing with our winter theme, we baked snowmen cupcakes! We mixed, measured, scooped, baked, iced, and decorated these delicious treats. Check out our winter desserts!

In January, the intermediate cohort will be starting the Young Entrepreneurs Program. This is an opportunity for each student to set up their own “business”.  Students will be asked to come up with a product, create a business plan, market their product, and then they will have the opportunity to sell their products to the school community. More information will be forthcoming.

This is our final week of in-person classes before our Winter Break. Have a restful and joyous holiday season! We will see everyone back at school in the New Year! Looking forward to fun and learning in 2026!

‘Tis the season for Gratitude and Thankfulness. This week, we learned how to write letters. We talked about starting with a date and opening. Next, we discussed the body of our letter. Finally, we added a closing message and signature.

We took this information and wrote thank you letters to the amazing community members who have supported the Home Learners. From Mr. Romano, Terra Breads, Paul our Youth and Family Worker, to the Ceramics class at Gladstone, we have so many people helping us reach our full potential and supporting the wonderful work we are doing.  We hope our letters make our community feel valued, seen, and appreciated.

Keeping up our writing skills, we are also continuing with our 4-Square Writing. This is helpful for organizing our thoughts and creating a well-organized essay.

Skating is continuing this week and next. Please remember your warm clothes and skates/helmets if you have them.

This week we read the “Book of Mistakes”. The story enriched our conversations around embracing our mistakes and owning them. Mistakes are how we learn and grow, so embracing them helps us develop a growth mindset.

Community Events:

Everett Crowley Park does important work in Environmental Stewardship, Ecological Monitoring, and Nature Education. Check out their website for the important urban work they do: www.ecpcstewards.ca/  Here is a link to the upcoming free events noted below (registration is required): www.ecpcstewards.ca/events

• Dec. 14              8:30 – 10:30 am Bird Walk
• Dec. 20              8:30 – 10:30 am Christmas Bird Count

The primary class had their first day on the ice this week. Everyone had a great time skating with their friends. The improvement from last year is significant! We are looking forward to getting both cohorts on the ice several times this month.

We’ve started research projects this month. The primary cohort is researching the provinces and territories of Canada. Every student has their own passport that gets stamped once they’ve learned about an area in Canada. We are also playing a fun capital city game at the start of each Social Studies lesson, so be sure to review these at home too.

The intermediates have chosen their research topics based on a topic from the B.C. curriculum website. We are learning how to find reliable sources, take notes, organize our notes under headings, and create paragraphs. From there, we get to present our research through posters boards or PowerPoint presentations.

Our clay has been fired thanks to the lovely ceramics teacher and students from Gladstone Secondary School. We are grateful to be making a connection with the high school community. We also had the help of my daughter and her friend. The girls both took a ceramics class in high school, so having their support and expertise was wonderful!

Our next step will be glazing our products then off to the kiln they go for a second round of firing.

Ms. Francis’ daughter also led an Orgami lesson this week. She taught some of the students how to make intricate boxes from a piece of paper. It was a combination of math angles and art! She also donated all her Origami paper to the class, so students can continue to explore this amazing art form!

Community Events

You can now practice your skating skills away from school at these two local venues!

Robson Square skating rink is now open (there is a fee for Skate Rentals). Helmets are mandatory for Children 12 and under, and highly recommended for everyone else. https://www.robsonsquare.com/

The Shipyards skating rink is now open (there is a fee for Skate Rentals). Lower Lonsdale – North Vancouver — Shipyards Skate Plaza Opening

The Shipyards in North Van is also hosting a Christmas Market until December 24. Lower Lonsdale – North Vancouver — The Shipyards Christmas Market

Last year on a Pro-D Day, Ms. Francis attended a clay workshop through the VSB. This allowed her to learn about clay, and it gave our class access to a clay kit. The clay kit arrived this week, so both classes spent some time exploring this new art medium. Look at some of the things we made!

The primary cohort had two special guests helping them with this activity: Ms. Francis’ daughter and her friend volunteered to assist the Home Learners and two other classes with their clay projects. We were very grateful for their help and expertise.

Part of our clay explorations involved making a “pinch pot”. After rolling the clay into a ball we stuck our thumb in the middle and gently pinched the sides. We repeated this motion as we spun the ball around until we formed a little pot!

On Monday, there was a Remembrance Day Assembly. Beaconsfield’s Grade 7s shared a special presentation about the unsung heroes from various wars. They brought to light the important jobs Indigenous, Chinese, Japanese, and People of Colour had during the war. They also spoke about the contributions of women. The Grade 7s did a wonderful job highlighting all the people who fought for peace.

This week, both classes learned more about Daffodils. We even had the chance to dissect a bulb and look at a cross section under the microscope. We noticed the bulb looked like an onion with all the protective layers. See the diagram that shows what is happening to the daffodil bulb underground during the winter.

Community Events:

MetroVancouver has several K-12 resources that follow BC’s curriculum. Check something out at your grade level! https://metrovancouver.org/school-programs/k-12-resources

Burnaby Village Museum will have their holiday lights up starting November 22! Grab a hot chocolate, and stroll through the village and holiday lights. Ride the carousel and tour the railcar. This is a fun site during the festive season, and is free (except for the carousel). If you can’t get there in person, Burnaby Village Museum has online activities that you can do at home! https://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca/EN/main/what-s-on/online-activities.html

REMINDER: There will be no blogs during Portfolio Meetings the next two weeks. See you again in December!