Beyond The Desk

Are you ready for some Math Mayhem? Highroad Academy is hosting an exciting math event on March 4 from 6:30-8, and you won’t want to miss it!

This event, organized by the High School math students, is open to all kids in grades K-9, and it’s the perfect opportunity to have fun while improving your math skills. The High School have promised an evening of math games and activities that are sure to challenge and engage kids of all ages.

But, there’s a catch – parents need to come too! If you’re in grade 6 or under, you’ll need to bring your parents with you to the event. The organizers want to make sure everyone has a great time, but they also want to ensure everyone is supervised and safe.

So, what should you bring? A “ready to play” attitude! Come prepared to have fun and learn at the same time. You’ll be playing games, solving puzzles, and doing other activities that will help you improve your math skills without even realizing it.

Math Mayhem is an excellent opportunity to make math fun and accessible for all kids!

It’s also PTWC to support our missions trip which is coming up very soon.

So mark your calendars for March 4 with PTWC ($2 Missions focus) and Math Mayhem from 6:30-8, and get ready for Math Mayhem at Highroad Academy. Don’t forget to bring your parents, a great attitude, and be ready to have some fun!

Hello Grade 6 Families,

It’s another busy and exciting week in our classroom! Here’s what’s happening:

Podcast Projects & Wrapping Up Mars Patel

We are finishing up our podcast unit, and students are hard at work creating their own non-fiction-style podcasts. They have chosen a variety of interesting topics and are in the process of writing and performing their episodes. It has been wonderful to see their creativity and confidence grow as they explore this engaging form of storytelling!

We’re also wrapping up our exploration of Mars Patel Season 1. This mystery-adventure podcast has sparked some great discussions about character development, storytelling through sound, and how podcasts can be just as immersive as books. As we finish the season, we’ll reflect on what makes podcasts unique and why they are such a powerful way to share stories and ideas.

Multiplication of Decimals – Math Update

Students have been working through our new math unit on multiplying decimals, and overall, things are going well! Most students understand the concept and are applying it successfully. However, some common challenges include:

➖ Knowing and correctly using basic multiplication facts
➖ Slowing down and taking their time to avoid small mistakes
➖ Carefully checking their work instead of rushing through problems

You should have received a newsletter outlining this new math unit. This will be our final unit connected to Tesla, and after that, we’ll shift to a brand-new theme for our story-based math—the Vancouver Aquarium! 🐠🐧🐙 You can help by working with your child at home on their math facts fluency.

Pink Shirt Day – Wednesday

On Wednesday, we recognize Pink Shirt Day, a special day dedicated to kindness and standing up against bullying. Students are encouraged to wear casual clothing with something pink to show their support for this important cause. It’s a great opportunity to remind ourselves about the power of kindness in our daily interactions!

Chapel This Week

This week’s Chapel will be led by a fantastic group of students:

🎤 Vocals: Kaiya, Olivia, Avery, Mckena
🎸 Electric Guitar: Grace
🎶 Acoustic Guitar: Averi
🥁 Drums: Jase
🎹 Keys: Mrs. Van Santen, Alivia
🎛 Tech Team: Ari, Elliott
🎼 Bass: Kianna
🎵 Percussion: Manny
🔊 FOH (Front of House): David, Scott, Danny, Isaac D
🚪 Door Greeters: Thomas, Emilie
🎭 Stage Manager: Nathan

Thank you to everyone helping to make chapel such an amazing time of growing closer to God!

Memory Verse – Philippians 2:8 (Due Tuesday!)

This week’s memory verse is Philippians 2:8:
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

This verse reminds us about the power of humility and selflessness. For Grade 6 students, it’s a great lesson on the importance of putting others before ourselves, showing kindness, and making choices that reflect love and respect—even when it’s hard.

Class Photos – Next Monday

Mark your calendars! Class photos are scheduled for next Monday. Be sure to come dressed in your best smiles!

March 12 – Canada Dress-Up Day! 🍁

We’ve made a change to our March 12 dress-up day! Instead of Career Day, we’ll be celebrating “O Canada” with a red and white theme. Students are encouraged to wear anything with Canada on it—whether it’s red and white clothing, maple leaf designs, or Team Canada/Olympic gear. No other types of hockey jerseys this time, though—those will have their moment on our April Jersey Day!

If students want to add Canada stickers or temporary tattoos to their outfits, that’s encouraged too! Let’s make March 12 a fun celebration of the country we call home.

Looking forward to another great week!

Celebrating 100 Days of School!

Mark your calendars for a very special day! On February 13th, we will celebrate our 100th day of school!  Students are invited to come to school dressed up as their vision of themselves at 100 years old.  We encourage creativity and imagination!

Whether it’s gray hair, glasses, a cane, or a cardigan, there are so many fun ways to bring this idea to life. Need some inspiration? Check out Pinterest for adorable costume ideas or visit a local thrift store to find great items at an affordable price.

To make the day even more festive, we will have a parade in the morning where students can show off their costumes. This will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone to admire the creative efforts of their classmates!

If your child prefers not to dress up, no problem! They can come to school in their uniform as usual.

We can’t wait to see everyone’s amazing costumes and celebrate this milestone together. Let’s make it a day to remember!

Our missions group is working hard to get ready for their trip to Guatemala this Spring Break. They have lots of activities and fundraisers planned to hep towards preparing for this amazing and important opportunity to bring God’s love and word to others. I have listed a few of the things that are upcoming in the next couple of weeks. It would be great to find ways to support the missions group and, in particular, our partner student, Josh Orrell!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! We have a busy and exciting week ahead, so here are all the details you need to know:

Tacky Tourist Day – Tomorrow!

Get ready to bring out your Hawaiian shirts, fanny packs, big hats, sunglasses, and socks with sandals! Tomorrow is Tacky Tourist Day, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone’s creativity. If your child isn’t dressing up as a tacky tourist, they should wear their normal uniform.

Chapel Tomorrow

Tomorrow is also Chapel Day, and several students are involved in worship. If your child is listed below, please ensure they arrive early to prepare:

• Vocals: Sina, Neariah, Jordan, Shiloh
• Front of House: Maddox, Evan, Danny
• Percussion: Max
• Stage Manager: Jayna
• Electric Guitar: David
• Acoustic Guitar: Isaac D
• Drums: Scott
• Bass: Kiara
• Keys: Mrs. van Santen, Alivia
• Tech: Ari, Elliot (with help from Elora)
• Door Greeters: Thomas, Emilie, Lily

Thank you to all our students for their commitment to helping lead worship!

Memory Verse: Philippians 2:4

Our memory verse for next Tuesday is Philippians 2:4 (NIV):
“Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

This verse is a great reminder for Grade 6 students to think beyond themselves and consider how they can show kindness, teamwork, and support to others in their daily lives. Whether it’s working together on a project, cheering on a classmate, or offering help to someone who’s struggling, this verse encourages us to build a community where everyone feels valued and supported.

Lots of Writing Happening in Grade 6!

Our classroom has been buzzing with creativity and learning! Here’s what we’ve been up to:

• Planet Reports: Students are diving deep into their Science projects on planets. These reports are coming together beautifully with lots of research and attention to detail.
• Rants: We’ve also been finishing up our humorous writing and recording project. These rants have been a hit! Students have taken everyday frustrations and turned them into comedic masterpieces—definitely worth a listen once completed.

Basketball Season Is Coming!

Basketball season is just around the corner for interested students in Grades 5 and 6! Here’s the plan:

• Grade 6 students will get priority on the team.
• Boys: Practice on Mondays after school; games on Tuesdays after school.
• Girls: Practice on Wednesdays after school; games on Thursdays after school.
• Practices will likely start in two weeks, and the first games are scheduled for February 18 (boys) and February 20 (girls).

If your child is interested in playing, please have them let me know as soon as possible!

Thank you for your continued support, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s tacky tourist outfits tomorrow!

Mrs. Goosen is excited to head up the track and field team. Check out the info below for Grade 6 students interested in some training.

Pre-Season Track and Field Training

As we gear up for the upcoming track and field season, we’ll kick things off with some cardio training starting on **Monday, January 20th**. Join us for a run at 7:30 a.m. on Monday and Friday mornings! This is open to all grade six students interested in joining the track and field team this spring. If you plan to participate in the early morning runs with Mrs. Goosen, please let your teacher know.

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful and restful holiday season. As we step into 2025, I’m excited for the opportunities this year holds for our Grade 6 class. Here’s an update on what we’ve been up to and what’s coming up in the days ahead.

Morning Devotions

I don’t know if you aware but each morning, we begin our day with devotions. Using a new format, this special time allows us to gather in a standing circle to pray for each other, read a Bible verse, and reflect on how God is working in our lives. Recently, we’ve been discussing how to honour God in our words and actions. These conversations have been heartfelt and inspiring as students share their prayers for family, friends and staff.

Our Bible memory verse for next Tuesday is Philippians 2:2:

“Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

This verse is a powerful reminder for Grade 6 students about the importance of unity, love, and teamwork. Whether it’s working collaboratively on projects or supporting each other through challenges, we can discuss how living out this verse can help us honour God in our relationships.

Chapel Tomorrow

Tomorrow is our first chapel of the year, and we’re looking forward to a meaningful time of worship and reflection. Here’s the list of students involved:

•Tech: Maddox, Evan

•Vocals: Kaiya, Shiloh, Jordan, Olivia D

•Percussion: Nathan M

•Drums: Scott

•Bass: Kyara

•Keys: Mrs. van Santen, Danna

•Acoustic Guitar: Neariah

•Electric Guitar: Danny

•Stage Manager: Elliot

•Front of House: Liliana, Avery

•Door Greeters: Thomas, Emilie

Thank you, parents, for supporting your children as they take on these important roles.

Math: Polygons and Perimeters

We are wrapping up our unit on polygons and finding their perimeters this week. Students have been practicing calculating the perimeter of various shapes and exploring the characteristics of polygons. A quiz on this unit is scheduled for Thursday.

Our next unit will focus on Ratios and Rates. Be on the lookout for a newsletter outlining what we’ll be learning and how you can support your child at home.

Science: Space Exploration

We’ve just launched into our new unit on Space! Students will dive into the wonders of our solar system, including the planets and their relative distances. They’ll also research extreme environments in space and design technologies to solve challenges humans face in these environments. This will be a very hands-on and creative unit complementing the great work students did for their Newtons Laws Carnival projects.

Thank you for your continued support as we partner together in your child’s education. If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

As we approach the holiday break, this final week of school is packed with festive fun and meaningful activities. Here’s everything you need to know to stay up-to-date:

Christmas Dress-Up Week 🎄🎅

Each day this week has a festive theme to spread holiday cheer! Here’s the lineup:

• Monday: Wear Christmas colors! Red, green, and white shirts paired with casual pants.
• Tuesday: Christmas sweaters or shirts – the sillier, the better! Bring on those ugly Christmas sweaters!
• Wednesday: Christmas PJs! Whether it’s a cozy PJ set or just PJ bottoms with a sweatshirt, come comfy and festive.
• Thursday: ALL THE CHRISTMAS! Go all out with a mix of festive attire, accessories, and holiday spirit.
• Friday: Concert Day: Students should wear festive clothing for the performance. Options include Christmas sweaters, Christmas best, or Christmas colors (no uniforms required).

Christmas Concert 🎶🎤

Our annual Christmas concert is on Friday morning:

• Doors open: 9:30 AM
• Concert begins: 10:00 AM
• Dismissal: Students will be dismissed after the concert concludes, around 11:30 AM.

This is always a highlight of the year, and we’re excited to showcase the students’ hard work and holiday spirit!

Novel Study: Wonder 📖✨

We are nearing the end of our first novel study, and it has been a wonderful journey! I’m so proud of the students for their dedication to reading both at school and home.

Here’s what to expect this week:

• Wednesday: Students must have finished reading Wonder and completed all sticky-note tasks. We will have a discussion and culminating activity to wrap up the novel.
• Thursday: We’ll celebrate our hard work with a special viewing of the Wonder movie.

Thank you for supporting your child in keeping up with this project – it’s been a great experience!

Still Collecting Socks 🧦

Our class is continuing to collect sock donations for those in need. Anyone who donates will receive an exclusive sticker as a thank-you for their generosity. We’ll be collecting socks until Wednesday.

Secret Santa 🎁

This year, the students were excited to organize a Secret Santa gift exchange! They drew names last week and agreed on a $5 limit for their gifts. The exchange will take place on Thursday. Please remind your child to bring their wrapped gift that morning.

Season’s Greetings 🎁✨

As the holiday break begins, I want to thank you for your continued support and partnership. It’s been a fantastic start to the school year, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with your amazing kids.

If I don’t see you before the break, I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Warm holiday wishes and blessings,

Mr. Hancock