September 22, 2023
We can be Heroes!
We come from good people. At ST’a7mes school we use our strengths to support one another; we are all connected. We show kindness, treat others with dignity and respect. We care for people in need. We are connected to and we represent our family, ancestors, and community. We work with exertion and diligence.
Ha7lh Skwayel Families -
We had another great week of learning adventures! As I’ve been out and about in the school, I have spotted an abundance of learning stories popping up. I see students working together to create water reservoirs and systems. Everybody has a job and does their part. They are committed to each other and the task. These are great examples of the competencies of collaboration and contribution that we are aiming for.
Students have been engaging with stories and reading through play. They are making connections by setting up characters from their ‘real life’ in the story. Making connections is a literacy strategy that helps solidify understanding and creates pathways for long term memory. Also, students are learning about sentence structure by composing silly sentences. Using humor is a wonderful and highly effective way to acquire knowledge.
Students learn about shape and space by engaging in puzzle making, and sensory play. Completing a puzzle with a peer is good practice for completing tasks and also working together. Sensory play helps students meet tactile needs in learning.
Students have been climbing, jumping, exploring the logs we have on site for our long house. They build muscle tone, coordination, and space awareness with big body play. Most importantly they have been filling these materials with great learning energy: exploration, discovery, persistence, interdependence, responsible risk taking, wonder, awe and JOY. This is the exact energy we want for our outdoor learning space, and so they are doing good work by preparing it well.
Partners in the Learning; Family Homework and reminders from the Principal:
Communicating student learning – You may have heard that the Ministry of Education has put a new reporting order for schools in province of British Columbia. This year our school will be using the platforms of See Saw and Spaces (like Facebook for learning), as well as having school events and sending home artifacts to tell the story of your child’s learning.
Creating rapport and esteem for your child as a learner – Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do as a caregiver when we get work sent home or see a picture on see saw. Here are some tips for effective ways to engage with your child and their teacher when you get a piece sent home:
1/ Have your child tell the story of what that picture/ piece is . . .Storytelling is a way to strengthen and anchor ideas and concepts into the mind.
2/ Express to your child what delights you about this artifact. Focus on the positive. Affirming your child’s learning builds their esteem as a learner and builds safety and rapport with you as their biggest cheerleader.
3/ Share where you see your child engaging with similar concepts in their play and life outside of school. Making connections builds pathways for memory and foundations for new skills and ideas to emerge. Perhaps your child is demonstrating understanding outside the classroom that they are unable to show in the confines of the school. This is where you can team with your child’s teacher in a co-assessor of their learning.
4/ Supportively go over the feedback for next steps with your child. Learning is a journey, constantly evolving. When your child sees themselves as an agent over their own learning, validating moving at their own pace, they build a disposition as a learner that will serve them for life.
This type of engagement will be enjoyable for you and will create rapport with your child and esteem and motivation for your child as a learner.
Reminders:
It is cold and flu season – remember to go over health hygiene with your child (washing hands, catching coughs). If your child has a fever, or is feeling too unwell to be at school, please support them at home. Otherwise, if they are feeling well enough to attend school, please send them.
Bussing – Please make sure your child has been registered if they are riding the bus. They must be using their bus pass. Bus passes not being used will expire after a certain amount of time, so that bus passes can be made available for those on the waitlist. Using the bus pass ensures your child’s safety in case of an accident. It logs your child’s presence on the bus and notifies emergency personnel in case of an emergency.
Attendance – Please make sure you contact the office when your child is away. You can call 604 – 892- 5904 to leave a message or email [email protected]
Outside Attire – Much of our learning happens out on the land. Please make sure your child is prepared with weather appropriate clothing, footwear and consider sunscreen and a hat if applicable.
As you go into this weekend, I hope your family is able to enjoy some relaxation and down time, reconnecting after such a full week.
Most Sincerely,
Alysa Patching, Principal.
ST'A7MES ATHLETICS - GR 3 - 7
Hello cross country athletes! We have had a lot of interest in cross country this year. Most meets start at 3:30pm. Here are the dates for the meets:
Sept 28 - Spring Creek (whistler)
Oct 5 - Signal Hill (Pemberton)
Oct 12 - EGHE or Squamish (unknown yet)
Oct 19 - Brackendale
Next week is our first meet! September 28th.
Please email Ms. Kye at [email protected] to let her know the following...
- If you will be attending
- How you will get there (parent or need a ride). Bussing is not available.
We are in need of parent drivers. Please let Ms. Kye know if you are able to drive and how many children you can take. If you would like to drive, please note that you will need to complete a criminal record check and a volunteer driver application form. This process can take up to one week. Please contact Gayle in the office for assistance at [email protected] or 604-892-5904.
LEARN TO CURL
Looking for something to do or a new sport to try and learn once you drop kids off at school? Come to the Howe Sound Curling Club and learn to curl! Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9-11 starting October 10th . Equipment supplied. The curling club is located next to the Squamish Valley Golf club. We’d love to see you there!