It’s been a great couple of days. Lots of great things happening already. I will post more about what’s happening later.
I just wanted to send out a quick note regarding nut allergies. As we do have some students with nut allergies in our class this year, please do not send food items containing peanuts or any other nuts in your child’s lunches. I appreciate your cooperation in this.
Welcome and congratulations! If you are reading this on the blog, it means you got the newsletter and found your way here. We hope that you had a wonderful summer and that you are looking forward to this school year.
This blog is a very important part of our class. I believe that this blog is not just for parents but also for the students. It is a place where the learning that happens in the classroom can continue at home. There are lots of resources here for both parents and students. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the site. As the newsletter says, there will be no more paper newsletters coming home. To make sure you do not miss any important announcements, you can sign up for the blog using the subscribe option in the top right corner of the blog. We will also be signing parents up automatically to the blog so that important notices are not missed.
What a great first day! It was so wonderful seeing excited faces and all the brand, shiny new school supplies rocking the desks! We had a great day today learning about each other, playing games, creating our class mission statement and having lots of fun. The half day went by very quickly!
The children were very excited about the homework they had today. Well… they were excited because the homework was mostly for you! Your child should have a newsletter in their planner. At the back of the newsletter, there is a questionnaire that I would kindly request you fill out and send back with your child as soon as possible.
In addition, there is some math homework that students need to complete by Thursday. Don’t worry! It’s not hard! We just want to learn your families thoughts about what your family thinks math is. There are 2 rules. You can not use your phones or computers to look up the answers. I just want to know your real thoughts. Also, you need to ask and record the answers of at least 2 people. Students can ask their sister, call their grandma or uncle, go across the street and ask their nosy neighbour. On Thursday, we will ask students to report back what they heard.
If you have any questions, please let me know. You can talk with me after school, email me or phone the school. Thank you so much for a great first day! I am so looking forward to this year with your child!
I know it has seemed awhile since I posted last. It is a busy time of the year with lots of moving pieces. However, we are now on the last week of school and we are looking to wrap things up.
That doesn’t mean that there are not things still happening!! And I wanted to let you know of the events still happening this week and give you some more information.
Where: Cultus Lake Waterslides
Time: Leaving School at 8:30pm. Returning to school at approx. 3:00.
Cost: There will be no cost to HRA Grade 4, 5 and 6 students. Parents are welcome to join us and will pay $25 at the gate.
On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the Grade 4, 5 and 6’s will be going to the Cultus Lake Waterslides for their year-end fieldtrip. We will be leaving at 8:30 and returning at approx. 3:00.
Parents and small children are welcome to come along for the day, but due to the high number of students, we will not be able to provide transportation. Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 have already paid for this fieldtrip through their fieldtrip fund. Parents and siblings 4 and under who wish to come along may pay $25 at the park. In order to respect our grade specific fieldtrips, please do not pull other school age children from class to go to the waterslides. Students who go to the waterslides on the bus must return on the bus.
In bathing suit selection, please refer to our non-uniform standard. Please err on the side of modesty to help make staff, parents and students feel comfortable. In the event that a child’s bathing suit does not meet these standards, they may be asked to wear a t – shirt.
This will be a rain or shine fieldtrip so please have students come prepared!
Students should have the following items:
· Sunscreen
· Hats
· Swimwear
· Clothes to change into
· Towels
· Money (optional – for the canteen)
· Backpack
· Lunch/snack
Thank you for everything this year and all your support.
As part of our poetry unit, we are having a class poetry recital on Thursday, June 15th.
We would like to extend an invitation for you to share in this event by joining us for tea and cookies and live performance. The recital will start at 2:00 pm. Please come to our classroom and join us for this end of year event.
Students are invited to dress in costume, if appropriate for their poem, or to dress in their “Sunday best.” If you have any questions, please email me (Mrs. Willms).
If you would like to donate cookies for our poetry recital please send me an email as well. Thank you for your support.
Spring is in the air, and our school is buzzing with excitement as we prepare for our highly anticipated Spring Concert. This event brings together our talented students, showcasing their musical abilities and the hard work they have been doing in Music. In addition to the concert, we have been engaged in a variety of exciting activities across different subjects. Let’s dive into the details of what our students have been up to lately.
Art Gala
Thank you to everyone who came out for the Art Gala. It was a wonderful evening. I know you were all just as impressed with the art as we were! The magic of the evening is being able to showcase the amazing art that students do. The evening also gives purpose to our students as a venue for the hard work they do in class.
Spring Concert Details
The Spring Concert is just around the corner, scheduled for May 29th in the school gymnasium. It promises to be a memorable evening filled with delightful melodies. To ensure a smooth experience for everyone, we kindly request all students to be in their classroom between 6:15 and 6:25 pm. Following the concert, parents are requested to pick up their children from their respective classrooms. This arrangement allows for a safe and organized conclusion to the event. All K-6 students are encouraged to wear spring-colored t-shirts without any writing or graphics paired with jeans or casual bottoms (excluding shorts, sweatpants, skirts, or dresses) and either sandals or running shoes.
Memory Verse
Just a reminder that on Monday, our students will recite the second half of the verse from Ephesians 6:12: “…against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This verse speaks to the challenges we face in life, reminding us to stay strong in the face of adversity. By memorizing and reciting these words, our students demonstrate their resilience and determination to overcome obstacles.
Music of the Week: Loreena McKennitt
As part of our music of the week, we have been exploring the captivating sounds of Loreena McKennitt. Loreena is a Canadian singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist known for her enchanting fusion of Celtic, folk, and world music. Her compositions are often inspired by historical events, myths, and folk songs. Loreena’s music takes listeners on a magical voyage, evoking a sense of wonder and introspection. Through her captivating melodies and poetic lyrics, she invites us to explore the depths of our imagination.
Exploring Science and Creativity
In our science classes, students have been engaging in a hands-on project: building Moon Landers. Working in groups, each team has been allocated a budget of “10,000,000 dollars” to purchase supplies for their lander. The challenge is to design a lander that can safely support a raw egg (“human”) during a simulated moon landing. The culmination of their efforts will be an exciting test, as the landers will be dropped from the second-floor window of our school building. This project not only fosters creativity but also encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Language Arts and the Art of Poetry
Creativity has been flourishing in our language arts classes, where students have been exploring the beauty of poetry. Through various writing exercises, our students have been honing their skills in crafting evocative poems. These poetic endeavours have allowed our students to tap into their imaginations and develop a deeper appreciation for the written word.
Math: Reaching the End of Our Division Unit
In our math classes, we are nearing the conclusion of our division unit. Our students have enthusiastically tackled various division strategies, building a strong mathematical foundation along the way. Through real-life scenarios and engaging activities, they have discovered the practicality and magic of division. We will be planning an end of unit assessment in the next few days.
To end, just a reminder that as we near the end of the year, we will be working on finishing up units, quizzes and tests. Student attendance in these last few weeks of school will be very important. Please avoid taking students out of school as much as possible. While we will be doing fun activities and field trips, there is still important school work and assessments being done and it is crucial that students are at school. Thank you for all your help.
Should you have any inquiries or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the school office. We eagerly anticipate sharing this remarkable evening with you, as we honour and celebrate the artistic efforts of our students.
For the field trip tomorrow, we encourage all students to bring a book to read and/or a sketchpad and pencil. This will help pass the time and keep your mind engaged during the journey. And of course, don’t forget to bring an abundant lunch and water bottle. We want to make sure everyone is well-fed and hydrated.
The weather looks favorable for our trip, but we continue to pray for it. We want to make sure everyone is safe and comfortable during the journey. We ask that you check the weather forecast for tomorrow and plan accordingly.
Please ensure your child is here at 7:45 am for an 8:00 am departure and dress in Knight Wear.
On Wednesday we will be attending a field trip to the Fraser River Discovery Center in New Westminster.
Please have your child at the school for 7:45 on Wednesday morning, we will be leaving at 8:00. Also, please ensure that your child has a substantial lunch packed, a full water bottle and is dressed appropriately for the weather.
As of right now the weather looks to be sunny with a slight chance of rain. Regardless of the weather part of our day will be spent outside, including eating lunch, so if it looks like rain, please send a waterproof jacket. We have asked that students where Highroad Gear for the field trip. We are planning to return to the school for 3:30. If you have any questions, please email me at swillms@highroadacademy.com.
Thank you for your support.
It’s finally here!!!!
It’s May the Fourth and you know what that means! It’s Star Wars day! (Get it? May the Fourth be with you?). I was almost late getting this out!! We got some wonderful costumes happening here and our friend, Boba Fett even showed up with his daughters!
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!
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!