Beyond The Desk

A few weeks ago, one of the students in the class came up with the idea of having a Christmas themed day before the break. The rest of us thought that would be hilarious and so tomorrow, we will be having Christmas in June. I have asked permission from Mrs. Goosen to allow us to wear Christmas colours tomorrow if students would like to. Anyway, I thought I would post this in case you got some strange story from your child about Christmas on Wednesday. We’re not doing anything too big; just some Christmas music playing throughout the day and Christmas colours.

 

It’s hard to believe how quickly June is moving along! There are several important updates and reminders to keep on your radar as we head into the final stretch of the school year.

🌟 Chapel This Week

A huge thank you to our wonderful chapel team who leads with energy and heart. We are always so proud to see our students using their gifts in this way. Our last chapel team for this week will be:

• Visuals: Elora, Danna

• Keys: Mrs. van Santen, Alivia

• Drums: Jayce

• Bass: Kyara

• Electric Guitar: Olivia, Averi

• Acoustic Guitar: Neariah

• Percussion: Manny

• Vocals: Kayleigh, Alexis, Avery, Nick

Your leadership brings such a sense of joy and worship to our school community—thank you!

🛶 Kayak Field Trip – Thursday, June 12

Our Cultus Lake kayaking adventure is coming up quickly! We’re looking forward to a safe and exciting day of learning with the CCE Paddling Club. The forecast is looking good, and we’re thrilled that students will get to build confidence on the water while learning essential paddling skills.

Trip Details:

• Date: Thursday, June 12

• Departure from school: 8:30 AM

• Arrival at Cultus Lake: 9:00 AM

• Return to school: Between 1:00 and 1:30 PM

• Location: CCE Paddling Club Boathouse, 76 Sunnyside Boulevard, Cultus Lake, BC

What to Bring:
All students will be getting completely wet—including going underwater during a capsize drill. Please help your child be prepared with the following:

✅ Essentials for Everyone:

• Bathing suit or swim shorts

• Towel

• Shoes that can get wet and stay on (no flip-flops or Crocs)

• Dry clothes to change into afterward

• Water bottle and snacks

• Waterproof sunscreen

• Glasses strap (if applicable)

☀️ On a Warm, Sunny Day:

• Lightweight synthetic long sleeve or windproof layer

• Sun hat

🌧️ On a Cool, Wet Day:

• Thermal base layer and fleece

• Rain jacket or windproof layer

• Wool socks

• Neoprene/wetsuit (optional – some items are available at the boathouse)

Volunteers Welcome!
If you’re still interested in helping out, we’d love to have a few extra hands to help supervise, prepare snacks, or assist with launching boats. Please let me know if you’re available!

⏰ Grade 7 Transition Meeting – Time Change

Please note the updated time for the Grade 7 Parent Transition Meeting:
New Time: Tuesday, June 10: 2:50 – 3:10 PM
This brief meeting will offer important information about the transition to Grade 7 and what to expect next year.

📆 Reminders

• Friday, June 13 – Half Day for Teacher Professional Development (dismissal at 11:30 AM)

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we journey through these final, exciting weeks of Grade 6!

Good morning!

There is so much happening as we enter the final stretch of the school year. Here are a couple of important updates for the Grade 6 class:

Parent Meeting Invitation: Transitioning from Grade 6 to Grade 7

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to invite you to a special parent meeting focused on helping your child transition from Grade 6 to Grade 7. As your child prepares for their next big step into high school, we want to provide valuable information and resources to support this exciting change.

Meeting Details: Date: Tuesday, June 10th
Time: 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Chapel

We look forward to seeing you there and collaborating to make this a smooth and positive experience for your child.

———————————————————-

Grade Six Grad – Friday, June 6^th

We are just one week away from our Grade 6 graduation celebration.  Since it’s been a while since information on this event has been sent home, I wanted to give you a quick overview of what to expect on Friday:

• Church doors open at 5:30
• Grads arrive no later than 5:50 and meet in the chapel hallway.  Parents and guests can find seats in the chapel
• The grad ceremony begins at 6:00 and will last approximately 45 minutes
• After the ceremony, please join us in the church foyer for refreshments and dessert, and take some photos of your wonderful graduate
• Graduates will board the bus at 7:30 for Castle Fun Park , where they will stay until 10:00.  They are welcome to go to stay dressed up, or change into comfortable clothes before boarding the bus
• We expect to be back at HRA and ready for pick up by 10:30

We will have three teacher chaperones at Castle Fun Park to ensure the students are safe and that everyone has a fantastic time!

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Goosen.  Her email is pgoosen@highroadacademy.com

Dear Parents,

We have an important update to share about our upcoming Kayaking Field Trip with the CCE Paddling Club.

🚨 New Field Trip Date: Thursday, June 12

Please note that our kayaking trip has been rescheduled to Thursday, June 12.
All other details remain the same – we will leave the school at 8:30 a.m., begin our paddling lessons at 9:15 a.m., and return to school by 1:00 p.m.

The change was made to ensure students were at school for the last chapel time as we will be giving out our final certificates and many of the students are on the worship team. Students will take part in a group kayaking lesson and enjoy outdoor activities including time at the playground, volleyball, and a shared snack by the lake.

🙋‍♀️ Volunteers Needed – We’d Love Your Help!

While we’ve included a space for volunteers on the field trip permission form, we want to emphasize how important and appreciated extra help will be on the day of the trip.

We’re looking for volunteers to assist with:

• Supervision throughout the field trip

• Snack preparation and setup

• Hot dog grilling and serving (hot dogs have been kindly donated—thank you!)

Even if you can only join us for part of the morning, your help will go a long way in ensuring the day is safe, smooth, and fun for everyone.

If you’re able to volunteer, please send me an email or write a note in your child’s planner, or make sure to check off the box on the permission form.

Thanks so much for your continued support! We’re looking forward to an exciting day at the lake.

Dear Parents,

I hope this message finds you well! As we head into the final stretch of the school year, our Grade 6 classroom continues to be filled with energy, creativity, and plenty of exciting learning opportunities. I hope you loved the “brain hats” the students brought home for our unit on the Nervous System.

Here’s a look at what’s happening this week:

🎶 Chapel This Week

We’re looking forward to another student-led chapel this week! Our class has taken on many important roles in this week’s presentation, and we’re so proud of their leadership and talents. Here’s who is involved:

• Percussion: Nathan

• Acoustic Guitar: Isaac D

• Bass: Kianna

• Vocals: Avery, Jordan, Jayna, Neariah, and Mrs. van Santen

• Keys: Grace, Alivia

• Drums: Jase

• Electric Guitar: Olivia

• Stage Manager: Maxi

• Front of House Crew: Danny, Maddox, Evan

• Tech Team: Elliott, Ari

Thank you to all the students who have stepped up to make our chapel time meaningful and memorable.

🌸 Spring Sing – This Friday!

Our Spring Sing concert is coming up this Friday, and students have been working hard in preparation. Please ensure your child comes dressed in the following:

• A cream or white top

• Dark blue or black jeans

This performance is a wonderful celebration of music and the joy of singing together. We’re excited to see you there!

➗ Math Update

We are continuing our unit on Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers. The students are building their skills through hands-on activities, models, and visual strategies to develop a strong understanding of the concepts.

A Math Newsletter is coming home today that explains what we’re learning and how you can support your child at home.

📚 Kindie Mystery Books Project

Our Kindie Mystery Book project is nearly complete! Each student has created a fun, creative story designed especially for our Kindergarten buddies. Over the next couple of weeks, we will visit their class to read our books aloud and gift them a published copy for their classroom and our school library. The kids are so excited to share their work!

As always, thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I am os proud of your children and the creativity, kindness, and leadership they bring to our classroom each day.

Just a couple of notes as we come out of the May long weekend.

Puberty & Sex Education Afternoon:  Just a reminder that a couple of weeks ago, families received an email and letter about the upcoming puberty and sex education afternoons for Grades 5 & 6 students. The school is offering information packages at the office for those who want to learn more.

The Puberty and Sex Education afternoon is happening this week. Attendance is not mandatory, and parents can pick up their child at noon on Wednesday, May 21^st, if they prefer.  Grade six students will attend the sex education session run by myself for the boys and Mrs. Goosen for the grade 6 girls. Please feel free to email myself or Mrs. Goosen if you have any questions.

Chapel this week: The following students are participating in chapel this week and should arrive at the school early to prepare:

 

Just a reminder about the Pay to Wear Casual day tomorrow. It is a fundraiser for our fabulous library to help us acquire more fabulous materials for the students. The cost is $5. Those students not wishing to participate can wear their regular uniforms.

Also, a reminder about the Grade 6 Grad that is coming up soon.

As we continue planning our graduation evening, we need your help! If you have not done so already, please take a moment to fill out the jot form linked below, and kindly attach two photos of your child:

• One recent photo
• One baby photo

Additionally, there’s a section where you can upload any class photos you have from previous years. These memories will make our graduation celebration even more special!

Important Update: The time for our grad ceremony has changed! Please note the new details:

• Date: Friday, June 6th
• Start Time: 6:00 PM
• Pick-Up Time: 10:30 PM

Photos are due by Friday, May 16th. Please note that there is also a spot on the form to add the number of family members you would like to bring with you to the ceremony. 

Thank you once again for all your support. We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with all of you!

Link to Jot Form: https://highroadacademy.jotform.com/251115018602948

What a heartwarming day we had today for Grandparent’s Day! It was truly special to see so many grandparents and special visitors filling our classrooms and hallways. The joy on students’ faces as they showed off their work, shared stories, and spent time with their loved ones was unforgettable. Thank you to all the families who helped make the day meaningful. It was a beautiful reminder of the strength of our school community and the generations that support our students every day.

Chapel Reminder – Wednesday

A reminder to parents of the following students that they will be participating in our upcoming chapel on Wednesday. We are so proud of their leadership and willingness to share their gifts:

• Tech – Ari, Elliot

• Vocals – Jordan, Sina, Alexis, Danna

• Keys – Alivia, Grace

• Bass – Kianna

• Drums – Jace

• Acoustic Guitar – McKena

• Electric Guitar – David

• Percussion – Nathan

• Door Greeters – Thomas, Emilie

Please ensure your child arrives on time and is prepared for the morning. Thank you for supporting their involvement in this important part of our school life!

Important Dates

• Friday, May 16 – Professional Development Day (No School)

• Monday, May 19 – Victoria Day Holiday (No School)

I hope your family enjoys the long weekend ahead!

Dear Parents,

I hope this post finds you well as we move into a very full and exciting stretch of our school year. With spring in full bloom, our classroom is buzzing with learning, special events, and new units of study.

Bible Focus
This Tuesday’s memory verse is Psalm 139:7 (NIV):

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

This verse has encouraged meaningful reflection among our Grade 6 students. Many of them are starting to face new experiences and responsibilities, both socially and academically. We’ve been talking about how God is always with us—on the sports field, during a tough test, in a difficult conversation, or even when we feel unsure or anxious. This verse reminds us that no matter where we are or what we’re facing, we’re never alone.

Upcoming Events & Dates to Remember

📅 Monday, May 12 – Grandparents Day
We are so excited to welcome grandparents to our school! All grandparents (or other members of the family if grandparents are not available) are invited to a special assembly beginning at 12:30 PM, followed by a lovely afternoon of visiting and classroom activities and continuing until the end of the school day. We look forward to celebrating these wonderful members of our families.

👕 Wednesday, May 14 – Pay to Wear Casual Day ($5)
Students can dress casually on Wednesday with a $5 donation. All proceeds go to support our school library, helping us refresh and update our collection of books. Thank you for supporting a love of reading!

🧠 Wednesday, May 21 – Puberty Education Afternoon
Grade 5 students will take part in separate boys’ and girls’ sessions to learn about puberty in an age-appropriate and respectful way. Participation is optional. If your child will not attend, you are welcome to pick them up at 12:00 PM. More details are available in the info packets at the school office.

📌 Friday, May 16 – Pro D Day (No School)
📌 Monday, May 19 – Victoria Day (No School)

🎭 Thursday, May 22 – Ignite Theatre Performance
We’re excited for an engaging performance through Ignite Theatre!

🎶 Friday, May 30 – Spring Showcase at 1:00 PM
Join us for a celebration of student learning and creativity at our annual Spring Showcase. We hope to see you there!

In the Classroom

✍️ Language Arts
We’ve just begun a new unit on writing mysteries. Students are working hard to write and design their own short mystery books to share with their Kindergarten Buddies. Writing for a younger audience is a creative challenge—they’re learning how to simplify plot, use strong clues, and keep their readers guessing!

🧬 Science
We’ve launched our unit on the nervous system! Students will explore how our bodies send and receive signals, how reflexes work, and how the brain and spinal cord play a role in everything we do. Expect some fun experiments and investigations coming soon!

➗ Math
We recently wrapped up our unit on Volume and Capacity and are now diving into Fractions. Our focus is on improper fractions and mixed numbers—how to convert between them and model them in different ways. Hands-on materials and visual models will help students make sense of these sometimes tricky concepts. You should see a newsletter on the new concepts very soon as we start this new unit.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.

It’s finally here!!!! It’s May the fourth today! May the fourth be with you!

Just a reminder that even though May the fourth is today, students can still dress up as their favourite Star Wars character or superhero tomorrow. Students not wishing to dress up can wear their normal uniforms.

It’s May the Fourth and you know what that means! It’s Star Wars day! (Get it? May the Fourth be with you?).

In honour of the day and the cool factor, I have put a bunch of my favorite Star Wars videos on the blog today! Have a great day!

 

 

 

 

What If Dr. Seuss Wrote Star Wars!

Here is a fun Star Wars video I found made entirely out of paper!

Finally, here is a great lego stop motion of one of my favorite scenes from The Empire Strikes Back along with a bunch of great Star Wars videos!