Student of the Week

Congratulations Cole!

Students of the Week

Congratulations Ben

and Nilia!

A Busy Week

We had a busy week!  On Tuesday the students participated in the YAP program (see previous post) and we had a visit from Roxie who taught us about export and import in Vancouver Harbour.  On Thursday, Tariq's sister presented a powerpoint and a game in her lesson about organization.  Many students have already learned the importance of and are practising organizational skills.  These will help equip them for life.  As well, the students participated in the dance festival.  They performed really well.  I hope some of the parents were able to come watch.  Thanks to Mrs. Swartzbach for her energy and expertise! Here they are waiting for their turn to perform.

On Friday we enjoyed a beautiful sunny day on fairly smooth water on our harbour tour.  A huge thank you to the drivers, Rose (Dede's mom), Pat (Cole's mom), Ahmed, (Nilia's dad), Sarah, (Lukas A's mom), Yolla, (Tariq's mom), Allison, (Campbell's mom), Paul, (Oli's dad), and a special thank you to Josh's grandma, (Maria) who was our back up driver and was on standby to the very last minute.  

Young Actors Program (YAP)

We have enjoyed two of our three sessions with Jarod.  As a class, in groups, and with partners, the students have been challenged to create tableaus, act with and without scripts, improvise etc.  They are looking forward to using masks in the final session.

Reading Awareness Week (RAW)

Highlights of the week included a story written by the whole school, dressing as book characters, presenting poems to our Grade 1 buddy class, a teacher swap, book and comic shopping, and of course reading and listening to stories.

I was most impressed when, on the day of a school wide assembly, I asked for volunteers to present the poems they had memorized, and four students volunteered. Gracie, Zephan, Aidan, and Ben were amazing!  They knew the poems, spoke with expression, used gestures effectively, and captivated the audience.

Guided Boat Trip in Vancouver's Harbour, Burrard Inlet

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is this program?

Working Waterfront is a school program that will introduce students to what happens on the waterfront in North Vancouver. It will explore connections between the North Vancouver waterfront and the rest of the world and focuses on international trade, Canadian geography, renewable and nonrenewable natural resources, transportation, local, national and world economies and waterfront careers. All of these elements are significant components of the grade five curriculum.

What does the program consist of?

The program consists of a 60 minute in-class visit (Introduction to the Waterfront), a 90 minute guided boat tour of the harbour (Harbour Tour) and a follow up visit by a representative from one of the waterfront industries (Representative Visit).

Who can participate?

This program is offered exclusively to students in the City and District of North Vancouver. The program is targeted to students in Grade 5. Other grades may participate if space is available.

Is there a cost to participate?

No. The program is completely sponsored by the North Shore Waterfront Industrial Association.

Who is the North Shore Waterfront Industrial Association?

In 1999, major waterfront industrial users located in North Vancouver formed an industry association. Together, these companies employ about 3,000 employees and have a total payroll of about $200 million. NSWIA members have identified a mandate for the association to: improve both the economic viability and community understanding of the importance of waterfront industries on the North Shore. For more information about NSWIA please contact Debbie Tardiff at 1 855 738 0188, info@nswia.com or visit the NSWIA website at www.nswia.com.

What is the harbour tour?

The Harbour Tour component of the program is a field trip where students are taken aboard a boat for a guided tour of the inner harbour of Burrard Inlet. The 90-minute trip starts at St Roch Dock in North Vancouver (at the foot of St Georges and Lonsdale Avenues) and loops around the inner harbour between the Lions Gate Bridge and the Second Narrows Bridge and returns to St Roch Dock.

What will the students be doing during the harbour tour?

The students will be actively engaged throughout the tour with commentary and a workbook they are expected to complete during the voyage. Along with the teacher and parent volunteers, a museum volunteer will guide each class through the activities and onto the outer deck.

What boat are you using?

The MV (Motor Vessel) Harbour Princess has been chartered from Harbour Cruises Ltd. Launched in 1992, the vessel is designed to be a comfortable and spacious vessel with two interior decks and one large exterior deck. With a capacity of 220 people, washrooms and enclosed interior decks, Harbour Princess is an excellent vessel for this excursion and is the vessel used for this program for many years.

Harbour Cruises provides a vessel and crew which meets the applicable safety, crewing and insurance requirements. Harbour Cruises will also provide children’s life jackets (one per child), a safety briefing and demonstration on how to don lifejackets. Safety instructions include instructions on what to do in case of an emergency, who to contact with question about the vessel, the location of washrooms and what behaviour is not allowed on the vessel (running, roughhousing, not listening to instructions etc).

Will the students be wearing lifejackets?

No, the students will not be wearing lifejackets during the tour. MV Harbour Princess is a large vessel and the experience is similar to that of being aboard a BC Ferry.

How many people will there be on the boat?

Four classes are invited to participate in each harbour tour (maximum of 130 students). Teachers have been asked to provide at least one adult per 8 students to supervise the students during the trip. There will be at least four museum staff and volunteers onboard to assist teachers and students. 

Who is responsible for the students during the harbour tour?

The Captain is ultimately responsible for the operation of the vessel and the safety of the passengers and crew. However, teachers and parents are still responsible for the behaviour of the children and ensuring that they follow the instructions of crew members.

Where is St Roch Dock?

The St Roch Dock is located in the City of North Vancouver on the waterfront just east of Lonsdale Avenue and the Lonsdale Quay. It is a floating drydock on the west side of the landmark Burrard Drydock Pier and can be reached by foot from the food of Lonsdale and by car from Esplanade Avenue. 

Where can I park my car?

There is parking adjacent to the site and at the Lonsdale Quay.

Where do I drop off or pick up the children?

If you are dropping off or picking up children, there is a roundabout at the foot of St Georges Avenue where you are able to stop to unload or pick up children. Discuss this with your child’s teacher.

Time Tunnel or Parachute

The students created 3D and movement effects with lines and shading.  You decide whether these are time tunnels or parachutes.

Heart Art

Last week students brought home the cards they created.  I hope you thought they were as beautiful as I did.

Book Study

The students have received an assignment which is to be completed in April.  Please see below.  They have a paper copy in their Book Talk duo tangs. Please read through the assignment with your child, help him/her complete the time management calendar on the back, and sign in the section above the calendar by Monday April 10th.  Note: the complete report is due Friday April 28th.

Please feel free to see me with any concerns or questions.  The students also know they can do this.

Thank you for your support.

FEAT Field Trip

We enjoyed youth aged 9 to 20 talk about their adventures, accomplishments and the events (winning and losing) and hard work that led to them.  Their inspirational speeches were accompanied by exciting slide shows.

Thank you to Christine (Carter's mom), and Rose (Dede's mom) for walking there and back with us.  The weather even cooperated.  And thank you to Cristine (Marco's mom) and Susan (Mike A's mom) for delivering hot lunches to us.

Student of the Week

Congratulations Carter!