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Discover our latest achievements! Every day brings new opportunities to grow and move closer to our personal goals. In Division 17, we focus on progress over perfection. Stay tuned—exciting developments are on the way!
26 September 2025
Hello Families and Students!
Division 17 has had a fantastic start to the year, filled with learning experiences that stretch across subjects and connect to the world around us. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from our classroom.
Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship
We’ve started our Digital Citizenship unit, where students are diving into what it means to use technology in safe, thoughtful, and responsible ways. Our conversations have sparked lots of interesting ideas as we’ve talked about protecting personal information, communicating kindly online, and finding a healthy balance between screen time and offline activities. It’s been great to hear the different perspectives students bring from their own experiences with technology!
These lessons connect directly to Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies as well as the Personal and Social Core Competency, guiding students to see how their choices with technology affect not just themselves, but also the people around them. By building strong digital habits now, students are setting the stage for confident, ethical, and positive use of technology in the years ahead. It’s such an important conversation—one we return to often as part of our learning. See photos below!
Bike Safety with Capital Bikes
Bike Safety with Capital Bikes
Last week, we were fortunate to host Capital Bikes for a practical and engaging bike safety session. Students practiced fitting helmets, learned about hand signals, and discussed how to share paths and roads responsibly. Beyond bike skills, this work supports the goals of Physical and Health Education, where students are encouraged to develop lifelong habits of active living, safety awareness, and healthy decision-making. The students left the session not only more confident in their riding but also more aware of how their choices can keep themselves and others safe. See photos below!
Mathematics: Place Value
Mathematics: Place Value
In grade 5 mathematics, our focus has been on place value up to one million. Students are reading large numbers aloud, writing them in expanded and word form, and beginning to see how numbers are structured and related. This unit ties into the Mathematics curriculum’s focus on reasoning and analyzing, as students strengthen their number sense, patterns, and prepare for more complex problem solving in operations later this year. We will conclude this unit with a short assessment next week, giving students the chance to demonstrate their growth and allowing us to plan next steps.
Literacy: Seven Dead Pirates
Literacy: Seven Dead Pirates
Our novel study of Seven Dead Pirates has captured the attention of Division 17. As we read together, we are learning to identify story elements such as character, setting, conflict, and theme—key learning standards in English Language Arts. The story has also sparked meaningful conversations about bullying, shyness, and friendship, helping students connect literature to their own lives. To support comprehension, we are applying Adrienne Gear’s Strong Readers strategies, which encourage students to make personal connections, ask thoughtful questions, and visualize as they read. This blend of literacy and social-emotional learning helps students become more thoughtful, engaged readers and community members.
The Arts: Card Project
The Arts: Card Project
In art, students are creating original pieces for The Card Project, where their designs will be turned into professional-quality greeting cards. This project connects to Arts Education, which emphasizes the creative process and the ability to express ideas visually. Students are experimenting with design, colour, and composition, and showing perseverance as they refine their ideas into finished products. It has been inspiring to see each student’s unique style emerge, and we’re excited to share their creativity with families when the cards are complete.
Trail Walks are a Go!
Trail Walks are a Go!
This week we set out on our first community trail walk, learning how to safely share paths with walkers, runners, and the increasing number of e-bikes. Along the way, we practiced staying aware of our surroundings, walking together respectfully, and supporting each other on the trail. The highlight was climbing the hill to see the view from PKOLS (Mount Douglas), where we were surprised to find a family of vultures resting nearby!
We learned that turkey vultures are nature’s clean-up crew, playing an important role in the ecosystem by eating what others leave behind. Just like vultures work best together, our class “family” is learning to support each other and care for the spaces we share. Experiences like this connect to Physical and Health Education, encouraging students to develop safe habits, healthy choices, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world around us. See photos below!
Professional Learning
Professional Learning
On Monday’s non-instructional day, I attended a full-day professional learning workshop at Claremont Secondary called How Do We Move Forward? led by Dr. Tsnomot Brad Baker (Ed.D.). Through storytelling, Dr. Baker highlighted how Indigenous and Western perspectives can come together to enrich the learning environment. He emphasized the importance of educators knowing themselves and reflecting on the perspectives they bring into the classroom. This learning connects to the BC Curriculum’s commitment to fostering inclusive, culturally respectful learning spaces, and I am excited to bring these ideas into our daily work in Division 17. See photos below!
Division 17 is off to a strong start, and students are showing curiosity, creativity, and care in their learning each day.
>>>> Mr. O'Connor
11 September 2025
Over the past couple of weeks, Division 17 has been busy settling into routines and learning how to work together as a class community. We’ve been practising turn-taking, asking thoughtful questions (one at a time to Mr. O!), and building collaboration through activities such as our STEM newspaper tower challenge, where students had to show ingenuity, handle setbacks, and rebuild with a new plan. In the gym, we’ve enjoyed many cooperative games, while in the classroom students have been writing in their Book of Thoughts journals (please check backpacks for these today). We’ve also started playing math games and reviewing basic facts to see where everyone is at.
A highlight in our room has been the growing Family Photo Wall—thank you for sending in 4x6 photos to make it feel more complete. Alongside these activities, I’ve been getting to know each student’s interests, strengths, and areas for support. Together, we are beginning to build not only independence but also the grit to stick with challenges and see them through. One of our ongoing projects uses a big puzzle as a metaphor for the year: with patience, persistence, and a growth mindset, we can take on complex challenges one step at a time.
We are also very fortunate to have the support of Mrs. Houston in the mornings and Mrs. Schure in the afternoons—their help has already made a big difference. Coming up next, we’ll begin using Mathletics (generously funded by LEPAC—thank you!), complete our district reading and writing assessments, and continue adding more experiences to our year of learning. I also appreciate families sending in forms, indoor shoes, and other supplies—it makes a big difference as we get started.
Wishing you a great weekend,
>>>> Mr. O’Connor
09 September 2025
Just a quick update with the biking form, and my newsletter in case it became misplaced.
Bookmark this page and check back regularly—we’ll be adding important info, reminders, and helpful links throughout the year.
Glad you’re here—let’s make it a great year together!
>>>> Mr. O’Connor
03 September 2025
Welcome to Division 17’s class website! This is your go-to spot for updates, resources, and everything you’ll need to stay connected with our learning this year.
Bookmark this page and check back regularly—we’ll be adding important info, reminders, and helpful links throughout the year.
Glad you’re here—let’s make it a great year together!
>>>> Mr. O’Connor
P.S. To keep Division 17 learning strong, check out the supply list below.
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