| A big thank-you to Orissa H. for magnificent photos on our Low Tide Biology Transect Study at Cattle Point next week. Enjoy a few pics here! |
A big thanks to the adult helpers who came on Ms. Cook's successful Plankton exploration day last week at Pearson College!
Many exciting things will be happening in our classroom from April onward. Kayak Overnight Expedition: Our trips offshore will be an important focus for the Ocean Studies classroom in Term 3.
Sea Kayaking: Please note that in 2 weeks students will be kayaking for 1/2 day on the morning (Green group) or on the afternoon of Monday April 18. Green Group, please meet at the launch site at Turkey Head (Oak Bay marina parking lot) at 8:30 AM and be prepared to walk back to the school with Ms. Thornton after eating a packed lunch. Blue Group: please bring a pack lunch and be prepared to walk to the launch site at lunchtime; as an option you may have your families pick you up at Turkey Head at 3:00pm, or walk home from there--given you have a written note from parent guardian ( and if the kayaks have been put away by then).
Which group?
Green Group: Blue Group:
Nate Alex McC
Brandon Joaquin
Finn Ethan
Henry Sebastian
Annika Brianna
Natalie Sela
Zoe Tate
Gabi Sophie
Raphaella Seoyoon
Kayla Claire
Zofia Alexa
Jocelyn Alexandra
Emily Sydney
Paige Andrea
Green Group paddles for a full day, 8:30 - 3pm at Oak Bay on Monday May 9. Blue Group, same, on Monday May 16.
For our overnight expeditions on Friday June 3-Sat. June 4 (Green Group) and Sunday June 5-Monday June 6 (Blue Group) our offshore destination will be Portland Island, in the Gulf Islands National Park, off Swartz Bay. We will launch and return from the government wharf at Barnacle Road/Dolphin Road, a service lane to the right (east) of the BC Ferry terminal (maps and directions to follow). On those dates we will help make carpool arrangements.
Please look for an equipment/clothing list to come home soon.
We will also be working out a tent-sharing arrangements; if you have a camping grade tent (rainproof, separate complete fly, 3 person size) please consider lending it to this school trip. We recommend practice setting it up, and look for more information from me soon.
First Nations walk with Songhees teacher Mr. Mark Albany on the morning of Friday April 29. Students will take BCTransit. Please send a bus pass if your child has one, otherwise bus fare will be paid out of our MOSP funds. Please dress for hiking in any weather.
Next year's Ocean Studies Classroom: for the next 5 mornings I will be asking a team of 4 or so students to help us promote our MOSP in Grade 6 classrooms during Advisory (the 1st 20 minutes of each day). It is optional. Please have your son/daughter let me know is he/she wishes to be part of our teams visiting Ms. Rud, Mr. Barnes, Ms. Baird, Dr. Connelly and Mr. Gybels classroom (in that order, each morning,Tuesday April 5 -- Tuesday April 12)
Math field trip! Working with my colleague at Victoria High School, Dr. Robert Ammon, students have a unique opportunity to work with Gr.9 math students who will visit our classroom on Tuesday April 12, block 1. We visit the same Grade 9 math class at Vic.Hi the next day, morning of Wed. April 13. Transportation will be provided by the high school both days. The trips take place within our schoolday schedule.
Academic Notes:
What-in-the-World (current events) assignment on Concussions/SanJose shipwreck/Air Pollution in China / GM Foods: Most students successfully completed this assignment (perhaps making good use of the Spring Break to do careful work and research. Bravo!) The following students (by classroom #) have not yet handed the work in: 14, 28. The following students have not yet completed the work to "straight ahead" level (the work does not yet meet expectations at a minimum level) (by classroom number): 6, 17, 24. Please hand in complete work before the next Curriculum Completion afternoon.
Social Studies to look forward to: Ancient civilization study of Egypt; Nautical chart interpretation for the Gulf Islands area. Math: area of circle models + 3D models in a House Project...
P.E. next Oak Bay Recreation SWIM afternoon Fri. April 22 will include capsize/recovery training with single kayaks in the pool (following up on our pool session, last November). We welcome Mr. Andrews again. Parent supervisors for the walk to/from the pool (and who wish to join us for the kayak pool session) are most welcome!
Low Tide study: We continue our outdoor field work on the seashore of Oak Bay with a lowtide transect study at Cattle Point on Monday April 11. Leaving at lunch time and returning at 3pm students will look for which animals live where on the rocky seashore. Parent volunteers enthusiastically welcome! See the document below for more details and to let us know what you prefer for dismissal.
transects_cattlept_2016.pdf |