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It is a joyful task to greet our students at morning drop-off as they arrive full of anticipation and excitement for the day ahead. We have observed many learning highlights this week, including: SKs heading to Norval for a day to extend their learning about worms; Year 1s participating enthusiastically in French to earn tickets for a special toy draw; Year 2s sitting on the carpet together sharing their writing about nature; Year 3s reflecting in HLS about what they observe in the games, movies and TV they engage with and the impact it has on them; Year 4s asking curious questions at the beginning their biome inquiry; Year 5s diligently putting the final touches on their Exhibition projects, taking action on their learning and designing games to teach others at our community event on Friday; Year 6s preparing for their book club meetings on Alan Gratz’s Refugee; and Year 7s writing beautiful poetry about birds!

This week’s PPO/PO spring luncheon was a wonderful event that offered parents and school staff an opportunity to be together to celebrate the year and acknowledge the many contributions our parent volunteers have made to strengthen our community and support transformational experiences for students. We are blessed to have so many dedicated and talented parent volunteers and would like to extend special gratitude to our Prep Parents’ Organization for their ongoing partnership and support. 

Your partners in learning,

Julia Kinnear, David Girard and Gareth Evans

The Prep Leadership Team

We have been busy discussing problem solving strategies in math to help solve new challenges. Students have been practising re-reading problems as well as double-checking their calculations and counting. In our measurement unit, we used a variety of math manipulatives such as counters, cubes, paper clips and string to solve measurement problems. We are currently studying money with a focus on coin and bill values and their names. We look forward to learning more about our Canadian currency. 

The students are engrossed in our current unit of inquiry, structures. Throughout this unit, students explore the unique features of communities, both local and global, and the needs they support. Students have relished the opportunity to explore different types of houses around the world. Students will soon design their own structure that meets a need that they have identified within our community. Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome parent volunteers into our classroom to tell us a bit more about how their job supports the creation of various structures. 

In writer’s workshop we have been focusing on procedural writing. Students were tasked with creating detailed steps to teach SK students how to use VR goggles. 1C has been fortunate to have several experiences with the VR goggles this year! Students are currently publishing their work using Pic Edu to display for SK students. 

Many thanks to the Year 1 families for your continued support,

Paige Daoust
Year 1 Teacher

PYP Exhibition update 

We are excited to host our 21st Year 5 PYP Exhibition tomorrow, Friday, May 10 between 1–3 p.m.
We hope you can attend. You can expect an interactive and lively afternoon of learning.

The format will be:

1–1:15 p.m. — Opening Ceremonies in Weston Hall

• Welcome speeches and Year 5 musical performance

1:15-2:45 p.m. — Exhibition Hall 

• Student displays and informal sharing of learning in Weston Hall and Bitove Lounge

• In addition, group presentations will be scheduled in classrooms for virtual access and small-group enjoyment

2:45–3 p.m. — Closing ceremonies in Weston Hall

• Thank yous, tear down and a treat in classrooms for students

Should you have any questions about the PYP Exhibition, please contact your child’s form adviser or Dianne Jojic, the PYP Coordinator.

Primary music update

In SK to Year 3, students continue to work on the spring concerts, which will take place on Wednesday, May 29 at 2 p.m. (general audience) and Friday, May 31 at 1 p.m. (Generations Day). Students are practicing projecting their voices loudly and clearly so the audience can hear their parts. They are also working on remaining quiet on the stage and waiting patiently for their cues. Currently, students are learning to sing their songs with movement involved and will perform this material fully memorized! Year 3s, in particular, have been busy attending extra rehearsals on Mondays after school.

Year 4 students have been playing their recorders. They were introduced to performing 2-part and 3-part music. They are learning to read the grand staff and how to play with partners while keeping a steady tempo. Students are highly encouraged to take their recorders and binders home to practice their individual parts.

Year 5 students have been progressing on their ukuleles, learning how to read chord diagrams, and use a variety of different strumming patterns. They have also been working on singing together as a class choir. Students just finished rehearsing for the Exhibition opening ceremony. They worked on maintaining a steady tempo and projecting their singing voices loudly while playing with 66 other students.

Year 5–7 Prep choir had a wonderful opportunity to rehearse and perform at Roy Thomson Hall for the Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival (CISMF). It was a wonderful experience for the students to showcase their vocal abilities while interacting with students from other independent schools. Special thanks go out to parents and families for their support of the students and especially our chaperones, Ms. Boyce, Ms. Chambers and Mr. Rossi. Congratulations to the Year 5– 7 singers for your fabulous performance!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Musically,

Caroline Heo

SK–Year 5 Music Teacher 

Year 6–7 Choir Director

SAVE THE DATE | Prep Prize Day June 3

This year's Prep Prize Day will be held on Monday, June 3 at the Prep School in Weston Hall at 8:30 a.m. 
We hope that parents of prize winners will be able to join us at the celebration, you will be notified by email during the week of May 13 if your student has won as award. 

REMINDER | Used Uniform Sale on May 22 and 23

Support shopping sustainably

The Used Uniform Sale presents the perfect opportunity to stock up on gently used uniform items for SK to Year 7 students. It will be held on Wednesday, May 22 from 2:30–4 p.m. and Thursday, May 23 from 8–9:15 a.m. at the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex. We have a great selection of pants, polo shirts, dress shirts, ties, sweaters, physical education uniforms and blazers. While we will have bags at the sale, we ask that families bring their own reusable bags if possible.

Donations

Please drop off gently used uniform items in the used uniform blue box which you will find under the main staircase of the lower level of the Prep. Donations are always welcome, but please do not drop off stained, ripped or non-UCC clothing.

Volunteers

The Used Uniform Sale committee is looking for volunteers with a couple of hours to spare, to help sort and organize donations prior to the events or to take a shift at one of the sales throughout the year. Please click here if you can help out. Your time is greatly appreciated! 

REGISTER | Generations Day