Students in Division 5 are gearing up for their University Highlands Student-Led Conferences this week! They are coming up on Thursday May 15, from 2:15 to 6:30. These conferences take place in an “Open House” format, where several students are in the classroom with their families at the same time for their 15 minute meetings.
As it is a “student-led” conference, your child’s role is to take the lead to guide you through the learning they have done throughout the year and share evidence of growth. Ms. Coutts worked together with the class to brainstorm some things students might want to share with their parents. We put together a long list of options! From the list, students self-select what they will show you, and may share their learning in a variety of ways: written form, explanation, or demonstration. During your visit, it’s a great idea to ask your child questions to clarify, challenge, and help them crystallize their thinking. You can also offer feedback that they can build on.
Some questions to prompt student reflection are:
- What is something from your learning that makes you proud?
- What are you still working on? What skills are you still growing?
- How can you practice the skill you’re growing in?
- How do you contribute to a group task? What does it mean to be a productive group member?
- What is one way you self-regulate throughout the day? What helps you focus?
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday in Room 118!
Last week, University Highlands held their Terry Fox Run. This year we scheduled our run to happen around the same time Terry started his run. The theme for the Terry Fox run this year is “Finish it.” Terry wasn’t able to finish his run across Canada, but Canadians (and people around the world) have laced up to continue running to fundraise for cancer research. Below is the 2025 video from the Terry Fox Foundation.
Division 5 watched the 2006 film, Terry, to learn a bit about Terry Fox’s life around the time he decided to do his Marathon of Hope. Through the film, we also learned about some of the people who supported Terry in his fundraising quest, such as his brother (Darrell), parents, and best friend (Doug). The Marathon of Hope happened because of Terry’s determination and resilience, and the care and support of his friends and family.
Next, we combined our learning about lines and patterning in art from term 1 with our watercolour skills in Neurographic Art. This project combined the flow of lines, zentangle patterns, and watercolour washes to create abstract pieces. Students decided on how they wanted to use colour to create a cohesive image–warm or cool colours, a colour family, etc. Students were encouraged to experiment with mixing and layering colours to create different effects. I will add more photos as students finish.
In Term 2, students have had many opportunities to work together in pairs or small groups. Thinking bigger picture, EVERYday we work together as a whole to help the classroom run smoothly. We often talk about how our actions contribute to the safety and comfort of everyone, and that learning to work together takes practice and reflection. There are times when we might have disagreements or frustrations, and how we decide to get through those challenges has a learning curve. Emotions can be big! Adults know that when they go to work they aren’t going to be friends with everyone, but they do have to work together to achieve common goals. In school, when children are still developing their self-regulation strategies and social skills, group work can feel very intense. We continue to build our resilience, communication skills, and self-regulation strategies as we learn together in groups.
Last week Division 5 learned a bit about the history of the Métis sash, or ceinture fléchée. We tried our hand (or rather our fingers) at a textile technique called “finger weaving,” used by Indigenous peoples all over North America. Here is a video about some of the history of the Métis sash.
