From the beginning of language, humans have told stories to communicate the past and current learnings, to explain the world around us, and to connect and comfort.
They tell others who we are, where we are from, what we believe, and about the experiences that shape us. We learn empathy, lessons about friendships and possible dangers. Our stories teach and inspire.
The secondary schools in Burnaby have been starting their parent information evenings and getting ready to welcome a new crew of grade 8s in September!
Our grade 7s are gearing up to start our visits to our catchment high school, Burnaby Mountain Secondary. Our first visit is on the morning of February 23, where students will get to tour the building, meet some of the staff, and get a sense of the different electives/programs available at BMSS. More information about courses and electives can be found here. School information from the open house night can be found here.
If you are planning on attending a different high school, you will receive course selection information upon acceptance. Until then, we will have all students fill out course selection for BMSS.
What is something you’re looking forward to exploring in 2023?
Wishing everyone a cozy, safe, and recharging winter break. Enjoy your time with friends and family, and if you are celebrating, I hope you have a blast! See you again in 2023! 😊
Kamui Mintara Playground of the Gods, Burnaby Mountain, 2017
As mentioned in the previous post, Division 3 arranged and recited the poem “In Flanders Fields” during UHE’s Remembrance Day assembly. They performed in front of the whole school, and should be commended for their effort and focus during this assembly. As some of the eldest students in our school community, they led by example and helped set the appropriate tone for our gathering.
Yesterday Division 3 had our first Roots2Grow session of the year. We helped prune back plants and bushes, picked oregano, harvested corn, and planted garlic. We also got to take home some dried oregano and lavender from our school garden.
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While we were harvesting, we noticed that the rose hips were out and ready to be picked and so we harvested some. Indigenous communities have long used rose hips to stay healthy through the winter months. Rose hips are packed with vitamin C (good for your immune system), vitamin A (for cardiovascular health), and zinc (also for immunity). They are also a source of calcium, magnesium, and iron which benefit our cardiovascular and bone health.
Today we used the rose hips to make a tea with freshly gathered mint, and honey. Have a look in the forest around you–you can make your own tea at home, too! Some people add lemon juice or ginger to their rose hip tea as well. Our rose hip tea was quite weak as we were trying to make a big batch with a limited supply of rose hips.
Division 3–what did you think of your first experience with rose hip tea? Will you try making it again? What will you add to your version?
Learning to work together to complete tasks and achieve a common goal is part of a skillset that underlies all aspects of curriculum. Throughout our first couple of weeks together, Division 3 has been working in small randomized groups on a variety of tasks to practice our communication, thinking, and interpersonal skills. When working in groups, we need to remember the “big 3”:
Division 3 discussed how sometimes we need to take breaks to regulate ourselves when getting frustrated because our brains can “shut down” when overwhelmed, that communication requires sharing AND listening, and that taking risks requires trust of everyone else in the group.
Today students got some practice with the big 3: they worked in small groups with an elastic and string to move cups into various formations according to the instruction cards provided. They had to use verbal and non-verbal communication and teamwork to complete their task.
Division 3 — What was something that made you feel successful today? What was something that was the most challenging for you?
Dear Div. 3 & Families,
Thank you for being with me during my first year here at University Highlands–it’s been an adventure! I’ve very much enjoyed getting to know all of you, and watching you grow and learn. You have worked hard and so I hope you get a chance to rest and (finally) enjoy some sunshine.
I really enjoyed reading the messages you wrote, and I appreciate the effort put into those handmade cards. Wishing you all an amazing Summer break! Stay safe, stay hydrated, and stay active 🌞
❤ Ms. Coutts 😁
This year, Division 3 were pen pals with the Division 3 class from Confederation Park. Students learned the (“old fashioned”) art of letter-writing as a form of communication, including how we greet the recipient and how we sign off, how we address an envelope, and the general kind of social chatter we engage in when meeting new people.
Yesterday, we took the bus down the mountain to finally meet the people with whom we have been exchanging letters! We had a fabulous day in the sun at Confederation Park playing in the spray park, the playground, and the tennis courts. At one point there was even a big soccer game happening! We even made portraits of what we though each other would look like and exchanged them–some were pretty close to reality, and others… not so much! The students from Confederation Park brought out some sports equipment, and we brought bracelet-making supplies, and card games so there were a variety of options.
Some new friendships were formed and old friendships strengthened. I hope everyone had a great day!
Division 3–what was your favourite part of your day?
This was an exciting time for Division 3 since they have not been able to experience Sports Day since they were in Grades 2 and 3! (And the weather couldn’t have been better! 🌞) We had a lot of fun participating in all the amazing games and activities organized by the Grade 7s from Division 1 and 2.
Division 3, comment below: what was your favourite activity or the highlight of Sports Day 2022?
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