Friday, April 5, 2019

Vivo Open Minds group & Mr.Kelly's Telus Spark Science Centre Open Minds group stayed at Eric Harvie School.

During Wonder Time, students explored various activities using many materials. Ask your child what they tried today: bouldering, free play in Thunder Dome, Lego, Tapagami (Tape & Origami), maps, math materials, loose parts, Zentangles, newspaper, drawing, construction & building, and outdoor exploration.

Vivo group 'played' at the bouldering wall this morning. Bouldering made our fingers, arms, and legs stronger. 

We 'played' one game that one student created and this game was called 'Fish, Fish, Chomp'. On Monday, we will play a game that another student created called 'Shark and Fish Tag'. 

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Open Minds Inquiry Field Trips-Volunteer Sign-Up

• Telus Spark Science Centre Open Minds Inquiry group has finished making a visual dictionary and beginning to design a mini golf course.  Mr. Kelly will be taking his group to Telus Spark Science Center April 8-12th.  Forms will be coming home soon but here is the sign up genius for volunteer opportunities... https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4EACAF2DA5FA7-science1

• Vivo Open Minds Inquiry group  has been discussing "how does our body work when we play?" and "how does our mind work when we play?" Ms. Chang will be taking her group to Vivo Center June 10-14th.  Forms will be coming home soon but here is the sign up genius for volunteer opportunities... https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4EACAF2DA5FA7-vivo

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Hello EHS Parents!

We will be having our first Parents Night Out coming up at the Last Straw. Book your babysitters and come out for some Tune Trivia with KISS Entertainment. There will be prizes, a 50/50 draw and food and drink specials. You can make your own team, or meet some new people and have a great time with them!

Sign up at the link below. $10/ online ticket. April 7th, 5:30-9:00pm. All proceeds go back to the school! Prospective parents, current parents, and friends are all welcome. Buy tickets from the convenience of your laptop/phone. Unfortunately, no payments at the office will be accepted. Here is the ticket link!

If you have any questions please email Julie at ehsspecialevents@gmail.com.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9JM9tfWHzF622OsS0X6aqZIikFHioi_kub4jyvmmbcbNQ_Q/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

 

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Volunteer Opportunities in April and May

We are always open and happy to welcome volunteers into Joy Pod.  If you are available Monday - Thursday mornings we would love for you to visit the link below and sign up.   All volunteers must have a current Police Clearance on file at the school.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4EACAF2DA5FA7-volunteer

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Encourage a love of reading with these tips:

1. Let your kids read what they like.
2. Don't censor books (especially graphic novels).
3. Read broadly and endorse diverse books. 
4. Enjoy summer reading!

Find out more in this article via Washington Post: A new report shows reading for fun declines between ages 8 and 9.  How can we stem the tide? http://bit.ly/2CLltqF

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Important Dates and Reminders

April 8 - 12: Telus Spark Science Centre School - Mr. Kelly's group
April 9: Fun Snack (Tim Horton's)
April 19: No School (Good Friday/PD Day)
April 22: No School (Easter Monday)
April 25: Spring Picture Day

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Vivo Open Minds group & Mr.Kelly's Telus Spark Science Centre Open Minds group stayed at Eric Harvie School.

Vivo group learned about some food that contains fat (lipids) and why fat is essential for our body & play. We reviewed what 'essential' means!  If your child is in this group, ask them. 

Vivo group also learned two new journaling techniques: one using water colour and one using markers and water color. If your child is in this group, ask about these journaling techniques.

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Important Information About Wonder Time Friday

Students who are dressed appropriately for inclement weather and potentially wet ground will be given the opportunity to go on a community walk during this Friday's Wonder Time.  If you do not wish your child to join us on the walk for any reason (e.g. if they will need to be signed out early) , please ensure that your child (rather than their responsibility teacher) is aware of this, as their responsibility teacher will likely not be accompanying them on the walk.

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Hello EHS Parents!

We will be having our first Parents Night Out coming up at the Last Straw. Book your babysitters and come out for some Tune Trivia with KISS Entertainment. There will be prizes, a 50/50 draw and food and drink specials. You can make your own team, or meet some new people and have a great time with them!

Sign up at the link below. $10/ online ticket. April 7th, 5:30-9:00pm. All proceeds go back to the school! Prospective parents, current parents, and friends are all welcome. Buy tickets from the convenience of your laptop/phone. Unfortunately, no payments at the office will be accepted. Here is the ticket link!

If you have any questions please email Julie at ehsspecialevents@gmail.com.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9JM9tfWHzF622OsS0X6aqZIikFHioi_kub4jyvmmbcbNQ_Q/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

 

**************************************************************************

Volunteer Opportunities in April and May

We are always open and happy to welcome volunteers into Joy Pod.  If you are available Monday - Thursday mornings we would love for you to visit the link below and sign up.   All volunteers must have a current Police Clearance on file at the school.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4EACAF2DA5FA7-volunteer

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Encourage a love of reading with these tips:

1. Let your kids read what they like.
2. Don't censor books (especially graphic novels).
3. Read broadly and endorse diverse books. 
4. Enjoy summer reading!

Find out more in this article via Washington Post: A new report shows reading for fun declines between ages 8 and 9.  How can we stem the tide? http://bit.ly/2CLltqF

****************************************************************

Important Dates and Reminders

April 5 Wonder Time

April 5: Last day of Glenbow Museum School (Ms. Ross) & Week 1 of Telus Spark Science Center School- Mrs. Sigurdson's group

April 8 - 12 Telus Spark Science Centre School - Mr. Kelly's group

Day Four Open Minds Week 1

Joy Pod

Telus Spark Science Center:

Today was a day packed full of building.  Students spent sometime in the morning adjusting or adding to their initial planning design of their play-space which led us to building after snack.  The students have not yet tested their play-space with "Dash-the-Robot" which they will be doing tomorrow.  We are looking forward to bringing these play-spaces back to school tomorrow.  


We do have plans to continue working with these play-spaces before they will be coming home with interested students.

Thank you to all the parents who have taken time to support us this week on our Open Minds field trip.


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Glenbow Museum:
At the Glenbow Museum today, we had the special privilege going into the archives and behind the scenes looking at artifacts that aren't seen by the general public.  This involved our volunteers greatly because we had to keep our hands to ourselves and walk single file between lines to ensure that many breakable items remained on the shelves.  Thank you.  We spent some time sketching from memory what we saw.  After eating our lunch, we went and played in the grass. In the afternoon, each small group got to decide where they wanted to go back to within the museum and spend some more time.  Please ask your child where they went and what they saw.

Day Three Open Minds Week 1

Open Minds

April 3

Telus Spark Science Center:
We continued to explore a variety of exhibits today.  We had "Green Fool" work with us on exploring play through juggling.  The students were given a variety of materials to use to juggle (big and little hula goops, Diablo materials, balls, peacock feathers and juggling pins).  

Later in the morning students explored a variety of ideas using the technique "Picture Ideate" where students were given a variety of pictures and were given the opportunity to plan what they could make in each play-space.

The afternoon was filled with student planning in a group what they would like to build to contribute to one class play-space.  Here are some of the designs that the students have planned in their initial phase.  Tomorrow we begin to build.

Glenbow Museum:  Wow... we were busy yet again today.  We started the day in a circle reflection talking about what we have learned and liked so far with our days at the museum.  We spent the morning learning about the Indigenous People, specifically the Blackfoot.  We learned about treaty 7 and the land that is included in this area.  We thanked the land and talked about what we need to do to protect the environment.  We learned about many symbols and shapes that are important to the Indigenous people.  We did this by completing a scavenger hunt.  We listened to amazing stories about the past told to us by our new friend Sheldon.  We had an amazing time at Olympic Plaza eating our lunch and running around.  After lunch, we had the opportunity to look at Indigenous artifacts.  We then put on our special gloves and held and turned and touched them, followed by sketching them.  We then went back to Albertine Crowshoe's gallery and looked for similar artifacts to the ones we sketched.  We spent a little bit of time in the Christian Dior gallery.  We learned that for each dress it started with a sketch.  These were available for us to look at and many of us made this into a game.  We looked at the sketch and then tried to determine which dress did it become. A special thanks to Candice, Kristina, Rachel, Meghan and Sharon for volunteering today.  Thanks


Important Information for Friday Wonder Time
Students who are dressed appropriately for inclement weather and potentially wet ground will be given the opportunity to go on a community walk during this Friday's Wonder Time.  If you do not wish your child to join us on the walk for any reason (e.g. if they will need to be signed out early) , please ensure that your child (rather than their responsibility teacher) is aware of this, as their responsibility teacher will likely not be accompanying them on the walk.

Wednesday, April 3

Things going on in the pod today, 
Vivo group learned about some food that contains protein and why protein is essential in our body & play. We talked about what 'essential' means!  If your child is in this  group, ask them. 

We learned four different journaling techniques using water colour. Ask about this as well.

Important Information About Wonder Time Friday
Students who are dressed appropriately for inclement weather and potentially wet ground will be given the opportunity to go on a community walk during this Friday's Wonder Time.  If you do not wish your child to join us on the walk for any reason (e.g. if they will need to be signed out early) , please ensure that your child (rather than their responsibility teacher) is aware of this, as their responsibility teacher will likely not be accompanying them on the walk.

Volunteer Opportunities in April and May

We are always open and happy to welcome volunteers into Joy Pod.  If you are available Monday - Thursday mornings we would love for you to visit the link below and sign up.   All volunteers must have a current Police Clearance on file at the school.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4EACAF2DA5FA7-volunteer

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Encourage a love of reading with these tips:

1. Let your kids read what they like.
2. Don't censor books (especially graphic novels).
3. Read broadly and endorse diverse books. 
4. Enjoy summer reading!

Find out more in this article via Washington Post: A new report shows reading for fun declines between ages 8 and 9.  How can we stem the tide? http://bit.ly/2CLltqF

****************************************************************

Important Dates and Reminders
April 4 Fun Lunch
April 5 Wonder Time

April 4-5: Glenbow Museum School (Ms. Ross) & Week 1 of Telus Spark Science Center School- Mrs. Sigurdson's group

April 8 - 12 Telus Spark Science Centre School - Mr. Kelly's group

Day Two Open Minds Week 1

Open Minds

April 2

Telus Spark Science Center: Today we were visited by Vince, the exhibit designer, who worked with us on the planning and thinking stage when creating and building an exhibit or play-space.  We spent time discussing and exploring why some people can and can't enjoy and participate in a play-space.  For example, students spent time discussing and building a play-space where all people can enjoy and participate.  We also spent time discussing "diversity" and "inclusion" using the play-space as the lens. 

      

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In the afternoon we were able to explore play through technology using dash robotics.  This was a very engaging time of our day as we explored this tool.  We plan to test the play-space we will begin to build tomorrow using these dash robotics.  The goal is to use the dash robotics as an example of someone with mobility difficulties and see if our play-space honours diversity and inclusion.  Here are some pictures of the play-space structures we were exploring today.







Glenbow Museum: 

Today at the Glenbow museum we started our day off working with Charmaine.  We worked with her in the Modernist Gallery and collectively wrote a poem on a piece of art that was the size of large wall.  It was called "Glass City".  We then each chose a piece of art that spoke to use and wrote our own poems.  These poems were simple but very moving.  We picked a colour we saw in the art, then in one word named the thing and picked one word to describe its movement...  Here are some examples of our lines of poetry:

"yellow banana boomeranging"

"green bush blooming"

"red line dashing"

"brown hill standing"

"blue sky floating"



Then we moved into the Discovery Classroom and used these poetry lines to create our own masterpieces using paint and special paper and brushes.  Soooo much fun.

After lunch we spent more time in the Warriors Gallery and tried to answer the questions, "What would it feel like to be a warrior?" or "What might it feel like to be a knight?" by studying knight artifacts like shields and gloves.  But the highlight of this study was getting to try on three different styles of knight helmets... Pictures to come.

We ended our day at the Meryl McMaster Exhibit looking at very interesting photographs.  Meryl McMaster is the artist as well as the person in each of the pictures.  Red is a colour that appears in all of her pieces in different ways and forms.  The students spent time writing and sketching and adding a touch of red to their work. 

What a great day.  Special thanks to Jeff and Meghan for joining us today.  Thanks.

Day One Open Minds Week 1

Open Minds

April 1

Telus Spark Science Center: Students were able to visit and explore a variety of exhibits today.  We began our day with an exploration in the Open Exhibits which then led us to the Circus Exhibit.  Students were able to compare the two different exhibits and realized in our discussion that what one person found to be interesting and fun might be very different from what another person found to be fun and interesting.  

We spent the rest of the day exploring Brainasium and the Creative Museum using a new app called "Picture Dots."  We look forward to exploring this app further when we return to the classroom next week.

Thank you to Michelle and Chris our parent volunteers for hanging out with us today.  We appreciate all of your help!

Tomorrow we get to meet and work with an actual exhibit designer as he teaches us the design process and the planning around designing an exhibit to be inclusive.

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Glenbow Museum:  Today we had an amazing time but sure were tired when it was time to leave.  We started our day discussing the land and the buffalo that lived on this land before us.  We talked about the stories that the plants, animals, land and people of the past all have for us to learn.   We talked about the roles museums play in our lives and why they are important.  Students then had a snack and we went on a walk about.  We explored a few different galleries and went to the New Sun Gallery, which has many different Canadian Aboriginal artifacts on display.  We got to analyze different artifacts by holding and looking at them.  We then had to act out how the artifact was used for other groups to try and guess what it was.  We explore other exhibits and then had lunch.  We took a break at lunch and went to Olympic Plaza to get some fresh air and run around a bit.  The students enjoyed making different poses in the different coloured shapes in the center of the plaza.  After lunch we explored a few other exhibits.  One was jewelry made by a Indigenous Artist named Albertine Crow Shoe.  We walked through the Christian Dior exhibit and learned that all of the beautiful dresses were made for Canadian Women.  We spent some time sketching airplanes in the Mavericks Exhibit  and looking at the Warriors Exhibit.  On our way back to the classroom we walked through the Mineral World Exhibit.  We got a glimpse into many different things which will help us focus where we want to go when we have some free time later in the week.  Just a quick thank you to Jeff, Dallas and Vy for volunteering with us today.  Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

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Mr.Kelly's Telus Spark Science Centre group and Ms.Chang's Vivo group stayed at Eric Harvie School.
Vivo group began to explore how food/nutrients connect to play and healthy living. We learned about carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, vitamins, fats and water and how each of them contributes to healthy living and play.