Category: Pure Magic

Another fun-filled and eventful week in Division 7 is in the books!

A little surprise has gone home with the kiddos today to celebrate all our wonderful, supportive and fun-loving Dads out there! Wishing you all a wonderful Father’s Day this Sunday.

We have loved exploring various genres of poems. This includes Rebus, Lune, Haiku and Acrostic Poems. Ask your author if they can recall each poem’s framework – which poem has a total of 11 lines? Which poem incorporates illustrations? Which poem is structured around the number of syllables?

As mathematicians, we are exploring the world of measurement. We are no longer looking at non-standard measurement or standard measurement using mm or cm, but rather, we are learning to read temperature(s) as well as the capacity of liquids and measuring perimeter (the distance around something).

On Friday in ADST we had a new and exciting challenge, to design and create a kite that could fly in the sky! Our creative thinkers were up to the challenge! Check out some of the marvellous creations below. We worked really hard on showing expected behaviour all day today that we earned some extra outside time, which also served as the perfect time to FLY OUR KITE!

That Friday afternoon feeling – blue sky, sunshine, fresh air and nature, all the perfect ingredients that are good for the soul.

Hard to believe we have one last full week together as Division 7. This time of year is always so bitter sweet. It is tremendously rewarding to reflect on all the growth and learning that has been accomplished together and to see our young learners spread their wings and soar to new heights. However, at the same time goodbyes are always hard to do. We have developed and fostered strong ties in Div 7, so it is not goodbye, but see you soon! I look forward to watching the students of Division 7 grow and flourish here at Parkcrest Elementary. In the meantime I am doing my best to take as many mental pictures as I can to capture these special moments and to get time to slow down so we cherish and appreciate every moment we get to spend together.

Have a beautiful and restful weekend everyone!

~Mrs.Ralph

Today marked the end of a very special opportunity we were fortunate enough to have, that being our time with Ms. Field and participating in Story Workshop.

Although our sessions with Ms. Field have ended, that does not mean that our opportunities for Story Workshop need to end as well. The beautiful thing about Story Workshop is that stories are all around us, they are within us. There are ample amounts of materials in our surroundings that have the beautiful possibility of evolving into something else right before our eyes. These items are used as inspiration to derive our stories from. Do the materials hold meaning or significance to us? Do the materials inspire a creative and imaginative story out of us? Do the materials remind us of an experience or memory that we once lived?

The possibilities are endless…

I witnessed magic during our sessions of Story Workshop. Students that initially were hesitant and or intimidated by the writing process demonstrated consistent engagement, passion, curiosity and ultimately enjoyment for the writing process. They were eager and willing to orally share their story as well as draw and write their story in written communication form. 

I also found that Story Workshop encouraged our young authors to find the beginnings of their own authentic writer’s voice, as the objects within our story studio provided a supportive, interactive and challenging environment. Over time, students also began snapping their ideas together and collaborating their stories.

Throughout the story process, students would select the materials of their choosing (whatever they were drawn to), and would first create their story, then orally share their story with others and if time permitted, began recording their story. This process supported the opportunity for students to develop their reading, writing, listening, speaking, critical thinking, and imaginative problem-solving capabilities. During the share-out process, as an audience, students would ask questions, drawn inspiration from others and or provide thoughtful compliments. Again, the possibilities were endless, as stories continued on to the next day, or next week, listening to others’ stories provided inspiration for other stories to be created as they could add on to the original story etc, the possibilities…. were… endless…. 

What will inspire your next story?

This morning we went to 8 Rinks for our Winter Holiday skate. It was a busy, tiring and magical morning. The kiddos skated to nearly the point of exhaustion. There were so many remarks at lunch time that they were exhausted, hungry, sweaty, boiling hot and having legs that were so tired they couldn’t walk. But following these remarks came the question “WHEN ARE WE GOING BACK?! SKATING IS AMAZING!” All in all this morning was a 10/10 and many of us can not wait to do it again!

I am so proud of the many risk takers in Division 7 who either tried skating today for the very first time, for those who went outside their comfort zone and tried something that they felt they were emerging at, and those who fell and got up and tried again, and again. My heart was overcome with happiness and gratitude when I watched so many compassionate and loving kiddos extend a helpful hand for those that fell, or those that were nervous.

Wishing the children of Division 7 and their families a beautiful, restful, relaxing and magical Winter Break.

See you all next year in 2020!!

~ Mrs. Ralph

Our hallways were buzzing with excitement (and sugar) this morning as we walked down to the gym for our annual pancake breakfast with our big buddies!

We all have full bellies and even fuller hearts! It was a great start to our Thursday morning! A great big thank you to the fire fighters that volunteered their time to make us breakfast and to our lovely parents that organized and hosted a fantastic breakfast. We are full of gratitude towards all of you.

Over the last ten days Division 7 as had the lovely opportunity to have ten days of holiday fun!

Ask your holiday elf what activities they have been participating in the past 7 days in our classroom. Some activities include, cozy story time by the fireplace, candy cane experience, homemade ginger snap cookie, holiday craft and … COOKIE DECORATING!

What is a holiday activity that you enjoy to do with your friends or family?

What are you most looking forward to over the winter break?