One More Pre Christmas Blog

Zephan wrote his own version of Jingle Bells which he recited to the class.  It is humorous but entirely fictitious.  Ms. R never yells, and the children are all always angelic.  Thanks for the laugh, Zephan!

Happy Holidays

It's hard to believe four months have passed this school year.  I have truly enjoyed working with all of the children. Each has made a unique contribution to our class.  Thank you parents for all of your support.  I feel very lucky!

Enjoy a few more pictures of Santa's elves.

Have a wonderful holiday with your friends and families!

L. Reichert

More Happy Holiday Messages from Division 5 Students

Happy Holidays to Division 5 Families from the Children of Division 5

Compassion Is...

Student of the Week

Congratulations Arianna!

Division 5 Students Want to Help Others

Hello Parents,

At this time of year, children are dreaming about what Santa will bring them. Through discussion, I always find that children also care about others and want to help them.  

My neighbours, Liz and Len, who a few of you know, travelled to Nepal a few years ago and were touched by the kindness and generosity of the people there in spite of the difficult living conditions and poverty.  In an effort to help in a sustainable way, they, and a Nepalese family, established a small business.  The company is Jackets for Jasper (J4J).  Down jackets are produced in Nepal and sold here.  Almost all of the profits are used to help children in Nepal get an education. Jasper was the first to have his complete education paid.  Some of the profits were used to help families repair their homes after the earthquake last year.  For more information, the website is located at WWW.JACKETSFORJASPER.COM

The students in our class have decided they would like to earn money by doing extra chores, and perhaps by giving shoulder massages, etc.☺ With the money, we will buy a jacket and then donate it to Sage Transition House in North Vancouver.  In this way we will be making a small difference internationally and locally.

The cost of a jacket is $123.20 (including taxes).  If each child is able to raise approximately $ 4 to $5, we can purchase a jacket.  Liz has offered to speak to the students about life in Nepal and the resilience of the people there. The children will decide on the colour of the jacket. 

I know families are on a budget and many of you have already made charitable donations.  Please do not feel any pressure to support this cause.  I understand and the children do too.    

Thank you for your generosity, now and always.

Laurie (Reichert)

Class Pets

The students were happy to welcome their new class pets - mealworms!  After observing them (and yes, naming them), we conducted experiments to see which kinds of habitats they prefer - wet or dry, light or dark.  Next the students designed their own experiments to see if they preferred warm or cool habitats.  During iPad time, they researched mealworms, learned about their life cycle, looked at magnified images of the different stages, discovered that they are edible to people as well as lizards etc. and finally they learned how to create a habitat for mealworms.  With your permission, the students are welcome to take a pet mealworm home on Friday!

Student of the Week

Congratulations Scarlett!

Compassion Is

Division 5 Earned a Party

Thank you to the parents who contributed treats!

How Many Grade 5s Fit in 1 Metre Cubed?

A lot!

How Many Grade 4s Fit in 1 Metre Cubed?

All of them

Goodbye and Good Luck Giulia! We'll Miss You!

Adaptation Posters

The Grade 4/5 students created posters about interesting structural and behavioural adaptations of plants and animals to their habitats.  Did you know walruses use their tusks to haul themselves up on ice, dung beetles use the Milky Way to navigate, lichens don't need soil for nutrients, meerkats can close their ears to keep dirt out of them, and much much more?  The students were keen and many opted to wow me with extra effort!