November 15 - November 17

Learning Outcomes

Wellness 

- Students reflect and relate life experiences to perseverance and well-being

- Students analyze responsibility and consider the impact on well-being

            

What Did Students Do?

This week was our second, and sadly, our last week at City Hall School. Some of the activities we have been involved in this week are as follows:

1)  Presentation by Boyen from Fair Entry - Boyen shared The City of Calgary's application process for Fair Entry which gives families living in poverty a discount on many progams and services in Calgary.  Students asked excellent questions and were very attentive during the presentation. 

2) Visit to The Homeless Memorial - We walked to The Homeless Memorial.  Students had a chance to sketch and reflect while we were at the memorial.  This is a spot that is not well known in our city but is well worth a visit.  It is located at 107 13 Ave SE and is a collaboration between The Client Action Committee, Calgary Homeless Foundation, University of Calgary, and the City of Calgary, with the support of Canadian Artists Against Poverty, and homeless-serving agencies in the city.  It consists of three four sided painted pedestals and a shorter one with a bronze backpack that was modeled after an actual backpack of a person experiencing homelessness.  

3)  Presentation by Alice Lam - Alice Lam can be well described by the student's words for her; inspiring, creative, amazing, kind, caring, entrepreneur, helpful, funny, and thoughtful.  Alice is truly an incredible Calgarian who is working hard to make a difference in our city.  She has created Vollyapp.com for people who want to find volunteer opportunities in our city.  She started Good Neighbour which is Calgary's first "Pay What Your Can" community market.  She also started The Community Fridge which is a place people who need food can go to get free food.  People who have extra food fitting the program's criteria can also donate and leave food.  Alice has created community markets and has done so much more.  What an incredible role model for all of us.  

4)  East Village Bounce Park - We took a walk to the Bounce Park in East Village.  It was covered with snow but that didn't stop students from "Skating" around the area on the snow and playing a game of basketball.  They were a bit disappointed that it wasn't a giant trampoline park like they imagined.  We explained that the city lawyers would not go for a public trampoline park.  We discussed how people living in the many high rise buildings needed places to play as they didn't have backyards like we did.  We were able to look at the buildings around us and talk about their various uses.  We also discussed historic "Ghost signs" and how they were protected by the city.  

5) Trip up the Bow Tower - Students were given a special privilege when they got to go up to the 54th floor of the Bow Tower.  A special thank you to Doug Radke who worked to get us permission to have this experience and took time out of his day for us. We were the first school group to be allowed up the tower since COVID began and the only grade five group allowed up to the 54th floor.  Normally grade 5 only gets to go to floor 24 but we were given special permission.  Students (And adults) were amazed at the view.  The Calgary Tower was so small.  Students described the people as ants.  Everyone was able to push past their fear of heights and enjoy the view in some way.  

6) Central Library Visit - We divided into our small groups and explored the Central Library.  Students took place in a scavenger hunt around the library to find certain spaces and to explore the uses and purposes of the library.  We finished our day in the Questionarium where they were able to play and explore. 

One group was even given the privilege of being invited into the Elder's room by Elder Miiksika'am.  He shared his experience of residential school but chose to focus on what he and others did to find happiness in a terrible situation.  He encouraged the students to find happiness in every situation no matter how difficult it is.  What an amazing message.  Elder Miiksika'am gave us a special gift in his story he shared. 

7)  Visit with Councillor Demong - Councillor Peter Demong came and spoke with us.  He is our Councillor for Lake Bonavista.  Students were each able to ask the question they had created for Councillor Demong.  They were surprised by how funny he was and that he was just a normal person like you or I.  Councillor Demong answered their questions and impressed students with his honesty.  He also brought pens, note pads, and pins for our students.  

8)  Walk through City Hall - This was a quick visit to the 8th floor of City Hall as well as a chance to look at artifacts from our Sister Cities.  We also had a chance to view the artwork on the pillars by Kalum Teke Dan.  This was very exciting as we had his paintings in our learning commons as part of the TREX Exhibition.  

Wow!  What an amazing experience this has been.  Our students have learned so much beyond our regular grade five curriculum.  They have learned to become citizens and to see people for who they are, not how they appear.  They have shown caring, empathy, wonder, and amazement.  They have learned that they can make a difference and I can't wait to see how these students change our world as they move forward.  Alice Lam taught us to take small steps and that the small things make a big difference.  This group of grade five students did a great job of representing Andrew Sibbald School at City Hall School.  They should be so proud of themselves.  

Ask your child:

-What was the highlight of your week?

-What surprised you?

-What did you learn at City Hall School?

-How has this week changed you? 

Coming Up:

November 21 - Fun Lunch

November  23, 24  - Parent Teacher Conferences & Scholastic Book Fair

 

October Nov. 6 - November 10

Learning Outcomes

Wellness 

- Students reflect and relate life experiences to perseverance and well-being

- Students analyze responsibility and consider the impact on well-being

            

What Did Students Do?

This week was our first week at City Hall School. Some of the activities we have been involved in this week are as follows:

1) Visit to the Residential School Memorial - Students had a chance to see the monument and discuss how they felt looking at the many pairs of little shoes.  When we return to school we will take part in the survey about what we think should be a part of the permanent memorial which will live at Fort Calgary. 

2) Sketch mapping through The Arts Commons - We were able to spend time in the colourful Plus15, listen to the Soundscape, check out the prop workshop, and examine the art display FEM ASSEMBLY: When We Circle. 

3) Olympic Plaza Redesign - We did an empathy walk through Olympic Plaza and discussed what was good and what wasn't good about it.  We then did our own mini-designs of what we feel should be in Olympic Plaza based on the perspective we were given.  

4) City Council Infrastructure Planning Meeting - We joined a council meeting in progress.  Our students were introduced and everyone clapped for them.  The councillor then explained what was happening in the meeting to them.  This was an excellent opportunity for our students to see how decisions are made regarding Calgary's infrastructure.  

5) Meeting with the Mayor - Students met with Mayor Gondek in Old City Hall.  They asked her questions about how the City of Calgary is dealing with homelessness, polution, safety on the C-Train, global warming, and lack of affordable housing.  Mayor Gondek answered our questions and was so kind to us.  She is a great example of 'The Power Of One' for our city so we left her with a signed book from all of the grade 5s at Andrew Sibbald School.  

6) Tallest Buildings - We explored the Bow Tower and the statue in front of it named Wonderland.  It was designed based on the head of the artist's daughter named Alice.  We also looked at Telus Sky building and sketched it.  We will be visiting Brookfield Place on Thursday.  

7) Taking Time To Remember - We took time to reflect and remember those who gave their lives and fought for our freedom, surrounded by hand crocheted poppies.  It was a beautiful experience for us.  

Ask Your Child:

-What was the highlight of your week?

-What did you learn last week?

-What surprised you?

-What did you think of Mayor Gondek?

Coming Up:

November 15-17  - Mrs. Sampson's class to City Hall School

November 21 - Fun Lunch

November  23, 24  - Parent Teacher Conferences & Scholastic Book Fair

 

October 30 - November 2

Learning Outcomes

Math - Students multiply natural numbers within 100 000 (Focus on Basic Facts)

Wellness - Students reflect and relate life experiences to perseverance and well-being

What Did Students Do?

Math

Students began the week with a multiplication fact fluency assessment.  They began learning about effective and efficient math strategies for specific fact families (0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 10).  They practiced their facts through games and individual work. 

Wellness

Students read the book, "The One With The Scraggly Beard."  They were engaged in small group discussions, large group discussions, and an individual writing task.  Students were asked to think about their previous thoughts and understandings about people experiencing homelessness and to challenge them with the new learning they had done.  They completed a written task based on the book and their thoughts and understandings.  We also read a book called, "It's A No Money Day."  Students were engaged in discussions about poverty and how many people in Calgary were not able to meet their basic needs.  This took us back to our earlier discussion on what are our basic needs.  Students were challenged to come up with a way that we could help people who were going to the food bank aside from bringing food for them.  Many students are interested in writing letters to include in food hampers to let people know they are valuable and cared for.  

Students were then engaged in some learning around point of view.  We read, The True Story of The Three Little Pigs and then compared it with the original fairy tale.  We discussed how the original was told from the point of view of the pigs and the second was from the point of view of the wolf.  They compared and contrasted the points of view.  We then read the story, Voices In The Park.  We looked at how a visit to the park was very different from the point of view of each of the characters in the story.  We then discussed who should be allowed to use parks downtown in Calgary.  We talked about hostile architecture from the point of view of a person experiencing homelessness and from a family visiting the park with their kids, and from a business person wanting a quiet lunch break in the the park.  Students have begun to see that there is no right answer to some of our questions - it depends on point of view.  This will help to facilitate some of the learning we will do when we are downtown next week.  

Ask Your Child:

-Why do we say, person experiencing homelessness rather than homeless person?

-What have you learned about point of view?

-What are some basic needs of people?

-Show me the website, multiplication.com

-What questions do you have for the mayor?

Coming Up:

November 7th & 8^th Mrs. Sampson’s class to City Hall School  

November 8th Photo Retake Day (We will have Mrs. Sampson's student's photos taken before we leave)

November 8th Last day of classes for students before fall break 

November 8th Remembrance Day Assembly 10:45 a.m. (Gr. 3 & 6 parents invited to attend) 

                            -Sampson's Grade 5s will not be in attendance for this assemble due to City Hall School

November 9th PD Day - No School for Students

November 10 - 14th - Fall Break

November 15-17th Mrs. Sampson’s class to City Hall School 

November 21st Fun Lunch