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!

This week we started planting our daffodil bulbs. We learned we needed to dig the holes 15cm deep. We also learned about the bulb coat and roots. The coat protects the bulb from the cold. The roots will grow slowly over the winter.

This week we took our graphing to the next level! We created our own graphs and collected data from our class. We formed our own question, added a title, and choices for each bar. After gathering our data, we then used the math language chart to write about what we discovered. Look at the photos to see what we learned!

This week, we started Four Square Writing. This is a method for helping us to organize our writing. Four Square writing teaches us how to start with a topic sentence, add three details about the topic, and end with a closing sentence. Here’s a glimpse of us exploring this new writing strategy.

Community Events

Join the Everett Crowley Park Committee for our fall planting event to help plant native shrubs and learn more about the unique history and ecology of Everett Crowley Park. Gloves, tools and light refreshments are provided. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes. Weather permitting. Please pre-register. Meet at the front entrance to the Champlain Heights Community Centre (3350 Maquinna Dr).

• Saturday, November 8 – session full, but you can be added to the waitlist
• Saturday, Novembre 22 – open for free registration

The Stanley Park Ecology Centre hosts many events in the Park. Check out their events page at https://stanleyparkecology.ca/events/

The City of Vancouver has a Biodiversity Strategy. Read about it on their website, where you will also find links to your local park or beach. https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/biodiversity.aspx

We found two ways to make math delicious!

Take a look at this jar. Can you estimate how many candies are in it? What’s your strategy for figuring this out? Discuss your plan and be prepared to make your estimate this week!

This week we extended our graphing skills with Skittles! We each graphed our own Skittles package and used math language to analyze the data. Yum!

Can you try this at home and use the following math words to describe your graph? Here are some examples.

• Most (Most of the candies are red)
• Least (I have the least number of purple candies)
• More ….more than… (I have more yellow candies than green. How many more yellow candies than green?)
• Less (I have less purple candies than green).
• Equal (There are equal numbers of yellow and blue candies.)
• Total (How many candies in total?)

The primary cohort was inspired by our intermediate class, and wanted to try creating silly self portraits too. They did a fantastic job persevering, being funny and creative. Can you find your child’s silly portrait?

This week we picked up our pumpkins and did many fun activities. We measured the circumference and weight. We also did a pumpkin poem and learned how to draw a 3 dimensional pumpkin!

Last Thursday, the intermediates attended the Writer’s Festival, and listened to David A. Robertson speak about writing the last book in his six-part series called “The Misewa Saga”.

After, they all had the chance to meet him and ask him questions. Here is part of the Q&A:

Class: How do you become a writer?
Author: Two words….. You begin. You just need to start writing.

Class: Do you ever want to stop writing even though you are part way through a book?
Author: Yes, sometimes I get stuck and don’t want to write, but I always keep going. I never give up, and I never quit. (David A. Robertson clearly has a “Growth Mindset” like us!) Even when things are hard we lean into the challenge and we keep going.

Class: What tips would you give us to be better writers?
Author: Read, read and continue to read as many books as you can. Great writers read many, many books.

Community Events:

Vancouver Public Library Programs – There are many programs and events available at your local branch. Check out this project to send cheer to those in Care Homes: Caring Cards | Vancouver Public Library

In preparation for our trip to the Writer’s Festival we’ve been exploring books by one of the author’s we will meet. David A. Robertson is an award-winning Indigenous author who has written several books for young readers.

Yesterday we met three amazing authors at the Writer’s Festival. It was a special experience to hear them read their newest books and for the authors to share how these books came to be.

We learned “Shark Girl” written and illustrated by Kate Beaton was inspired by her hometown of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Living by the Atlantic Ocean inspired her to write about sustainable fishing practices in this children’s book. Kate has been cartooning since she was a child. This has inspired us to keep cartooning in class!

“Lena the Chicken But Really a Dinosaur” was written by Linda Bailey who is a local author.  Her story came to be when she helped take care of her friend’s chickens. Her love of chickens and dinosaurs are combined in this story about bravery and being yourself.

Lastly, David A. Robertson’s story called “Little Shoes” was inspired by his son James. James always asked questions and one night he asked his parents who hugged the kids at residential school when they were scared. That one questioned resonated with David, and he wanted to answer it in this book so everyone would know.

David asked the audience for a show of hands if they had learned about Residential Schools. He was moved to see every hand up! It made him feel proud that we are all learning about this important piece of Canada’s history. Some of his family members attended Residential Schools, and it was part of his family’s story growing up.

The three writers at the Festival gave us some tips for our own writing. We learned that professional writers read and write every day! They encouraged us to do this as well.

Ms. Francis noticed that all their stories were linked to a real experience they had. Can you and your children make an event in your lives into a story? If so, bring it to class! We can have our own Writer’s Festival!

This week we received our bread donation without wrappers. This gave us the opportunity to put our Growth Mindset to the test. We discussed how to solve the problem as a group, decided to use gloves and brown paper bags, and voila….it worked! We are learning to lean into new challenges because this gives us the chance to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions.

Do you remember we mentioned that students wanted to improve their wacky self-portrait art by implementing some tweaks in the process? Last week, we spent some time making new portraits. We are learning to love mistakes because they teach us how to grow and improve. We know that mistakes happen to everyone, and they are not a reason to panic! Ms. Francis also learned how she could take better photos of her students, so she is learning too!

The intermediates also had the chance to work on computers. We talked about riddles as a form of writing, and typed out a riddle to go with our art. Can you figure out who these home learners are?

Community Events / Home Learning

**Sierra Club BC: “Join us for our spookiest Learn to Draw of the school year! For this webinar, we will talk about the only true venomous snake species in British Columbia: the western rattlesnake.

Join scientific illustrator Dr. Julius Csotonyi and Sierra Club BC on Wednesday, November 5th at 1 p.m. (PT) for an art lesson where we will learn how to draw these spicy slithering snakes that are one of many threatened species in the Okanagan!

These snakes thrive in rocky outcrops in the valleys of British Columbia. Despite popular belief, these rattlesnakes are non-aggressive in nature. And it is very rare for humans to die from an attack by a western rattlesnake.

Scientific Illustrator Dr. Julius Csotonyi will walk us through a detailed drawing of these snakes, while talking a bit about the importance of this species to their ecosystems. We will learn more about rattlesnakes and form deeper understandings of the pressures they face. This event is open to learners of all ages.

Register here to join us as we weave art and science together on Wednesday, November 5th at 1 pm!

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

Here is another Link: Learn to Draw: Western Rattlesnakes – Sierra Club BC

**Let’s Talk Science: “In celebration of the International Year of Quantum we’re helping you to introduce the mindset and skills that set students up for future success in quantum and beyond with:

• Hands-on learning that sparks imagination
• Activities that build critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration
• ‍ Events that connect classrooms with world-leading Canadian researchers

The future belongs to those who can think differently. Solve problems no one’s solved before. Imagine what’s possible if we think outside the box.”

Link to activities: Quantum Science – Let’s Talk Science

Art in the classroom has started! The intermediates have been exploring silly self portraits using acrylic paints and clear film paper.

The primary cohort has been busy cartooning. So far we have learned how to cartoon people and a dog. We will build on this by adding more characters throughout the year.

Some of our students have been doing their own work in exploring Indigenous authors. This is one of the books they brought in to share. Shawna Davis is an Indigenous author and artist. Her beautiful beadwork is showcased throughout her book.

This year we are focusing on having a Growth Mindset.  “A growth mindset is the belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents can be developed through dedication, hard work, and persistence.

This is in contrast to a fixed mindset, which views these traits as innate and unchangeable. People with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges, see effort as a path to mastery, learn from setbacks, and be open to feedback.” (AI)

 Photo source: lifehack.org

“Research has shown that having a growth mindset can lead to better academic performance. Students who believe that their intelligence and abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication are more likely to put in the effort and persist through difficult tasks.

But it’s not just in academics where a growth mindset can be beneficial…

Beyond personal benefits, a growth mindset can also have a positive impact on society as a whole. When individuals believe that their abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication, they are more likely to take on challenges and work towards making a difference in their communities. They are also more likely to embrace diversity and seek out new perspectives, leading to more inclusive and innovative solutions to societal issues.

It’s important to note that developing a growth mindset is not always easy, and it requires intentional effort and practice. However, by embracing challenges, seeking out feedback, and persevering through obstacles, individuals can cultivate a growth mindset and reap the many benefits that come with it.”

Source: Mentorloop https://mentorloop.com/blog/growth-mindset-vs-fixed-mindset-what-do-they-really-mean/#3

Having a growth mindset will allow us to seek out challenges, understand life is about learning from our mistakes and about continually shifting our thoughts and behaviour from lessons we learned.  The intermediate cohort has already been showing signs of developing their growth mindsets.  Last week when we did our art project, one of the students said we should do it again because they noticed some ways to make improvements.  So, this week we will do the art activity again and implement the changes.  Learning from what went well and what didn’t go well helps us shift our practice and learn from our mistakes.

The intermediate group also made several changes to the Community Bread Program after experiencing chaos on the first day.  We discussed what went well and what we needed to change. Before the second week of our bread program, we reminded each other about the changes we wanted to make.  This was so successful!  We went from complete chaos to a well-run program just by noticing what changes we needed to make.  We will continue to shift what we do throughout the year, so we are constantly building on what we’ve learned.

Community Events:

• Robert Burnaby Park Volunteer Opportunities November 6 (Registration Open & Required):

https://iscmv.ca/events/robert-burnaby-park-planting

• Home Depot Workshops:

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

We have been busy with our in-class learning!

The primary cohort is working through a “Book About Me”, and the intermediates are learning how to write a written response using a variety of transition words.

In class, we have been reading and discussing Indigenous books. The primary group has been focusing on books written by Monique Gray Smith, while the intermediates have been learning more about life in residential schools.

Both cohorts have been diving into math everyday they’re at school. We’ve been focusing on math language. The primary cohort has been using math language when analyzing graphs, and the intermediates have been looking at math terms (sum, difference, product and quotient) in word problems.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The Harvest Celebration at Freshroots Farm! (TODAY!)

Wednesday, October 8th from 4–7 PM at the Vancouver Technical Secondary Schoolyard Farm (2600 East Broadway – behind the school)! This is a free community event, so bring your friends, family, and neighbors!

Fort Langley Cranberry Festival

October 11 – 30th Annual Fort Langley Cranberry Festival – Celebration, Outdoor Events – Tourism Langley

Free (or Inexpensive) Skiing/Snowboarding!

SnowStart Kidz Pass™ – GoSkiingGoSnowboarding

Epic SchoolKids – Whistler Blackcomb | Whistler Blackcomb (Deadline TODAY!)

Diwali Festival

October 18 – Diwali at Marine Gateway • Diwali Fest • Light Your Spirit

Family Movie Night – Cineplex

Cineplex.com | Family