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The Importance of Risky Play
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How do you build a confident, growth mindset? You take risks. In education, we teach students to take risks in their learning and to be prepared for a variety of outcomes, favourable or unfavourable. We teach them to embrace the outcome no matter what and to use reflection during the process. This often involves asking questions to challenge their mindset, searching for solutions or examining how to do something better or differently. At Pythagoras Academy, we teach this in a classroom setting, but it is also important for students to experience risk-taking in other ways too.
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For example, hanging from the monkey bars, upside down and proudly waving to your friend or a teacher can have negative consequences. In fact, those consequences run through our minds almost immediately as adults and caregivers. On the flip side, the positive outcomes or possibilities are enormous! When we allow students the chance to engage in risky play, we give them the opportunity to perceive their world from a different perspective, set boundaries and enforce limits. It builds positive self-esteem and coping skills in knowing how to deal with failure.
Students experience success in achieving the balance needed to sway back and forth without falling. When students participate in risky play, we help build them up and support a healthy development of the child as a whole. To learn more, visit: https://outsideplay.ca/
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Messages from Across the Grades
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Junior Kindergarten "JK"
Rain or Shine, our Junior Kindergarten classes are so excited to learn outside. Students had fun with their teachers and friends in water fights and watching their class projects involving seeds germinating and growing! They learned through predicting and observing plants inside the classroom and are ready to transplant the seedlings into soil and take them home. Hooray!
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Grades K/1
In Kindergarten, spring is all about plants and baby animals. We have ventured outside to do our spring scavenger hunt in search of any other signs of spring. And now that it’s warmer outside we are having lots of fun learning and building together in the sandbox. In Grade 1, we have been taking a closer look at plants. We planted bean seeds and examined the life cycle of plants. We also compared the plant life cycle to the life cycle of animals. This month, we took our learning outside and hunted for bugs when we were learning about invertebrates. As the weather gets warmer, we will be spending more and more time learning outdoors.
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Grades 2/3
Grade 2 students have been exploring chemical and physical changes in science. They incorporated art into their unit by painting with Epsom salt dissolved in water. When the water dried, they discovered that the salt was still there. Grade 3 students learned about creative writing using poems, slogans and letters. Meanwhile, in social studies, students learned about symbols used by global Indigenous cultures. So, for this Mother’s Day celebration we collectively decided to incorporate both ideas together by creating a symbolic rustic frame and writing an accompanying short poem.
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Grades 4/5
Students in grades 4 and 5 have recently finished their project focusing on self compassion leaves. Learning self compassion is vital in promoting health and wellbeing, establishing meaningful connections and effective problem solving. By putting aside judgment and focusing on challenges or obstacles at hand with kindness and empathy, students are making the world a better place to live in and interact within for all.
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Grades 6-8
Grade 6 students continued to work on their well-being by participating in structured brain breaks outdoors, visiting the gazebo with a book, mindful colouring with a partner, or playing soccer with peers. Participating in weekly structured brain breaks allows students to get moving, let oxygen and blood to the brain, and learn essential life skills such as conflict resolution and communication. The Grade 7 and 8 students explored patterns and symmetry in the outdoors. Students created Manadal-inspired rocks using various practices, acrylic paint, and dotting techniques. Students had to apply patience and hands-on skills to create symmetrical patterns.
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5 Chairs, 5 Choices: Literacy and Music
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How can we distinguish between productive and unproductive behaviours? By tracking thinking, analyzing different perspectives and behaviors of others to form strategies, solutions, we build empathy and understanding for one another. Our Director of Literacy, Mrs. Lois Powell, and Music Specialist, Ms. Welk, have been busy collaborating on techniques, tools and resources to help students towards this path of understanding.
Students in grade 4 have examined characters in books, charting where they believe them to be in the context of the 5 Chairs, 5 Choices and how their behaviours and attitudes transformed during the book. This critical thinking exercise allowed students to experience the story from a character’s perspective, to recognize where they may be behaviourally and how they react and change throughout each plot point.
Meanwhile, grade 3 students were composing poems that reflect the internal and external characteristics of the 5 Chairs, 5 Choices and transposing them into jingles. Establishing a variety of ways we can connect to and make sense of behavioural and communication modalities. Through partnering with world renowned experts, like Louise Evans, and intertwining these models purposefully in our lessons, we know PA students have the necessary tools in their toolkit to help determine their success and help establish positive and healthy relationships with themselves and others.
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Behind the Scenes: High School Musical
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Pythagoras Academy proudly showcases annual Musical Theatre performances to its school family and broader community. This fun and meaningful event, where students build confidence while working on communication and performative skills, lasts many months. In past years, students have performed internationally; however, this year we reached our global community online via zoom and youtube. Students and staff dedicate much time and various talents in preparation for this event. The production timeline involves: preparing for try outs, practicing at rehearsals during and after school, posing for professional photoshoots, designing marketing materials, getting into hair and make-up prior to the production, performing and celebrating the efforts of all with a pizza party!
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Health, Wellbeing and the Outdoors
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As Pythagoras Academy’s wellness coordinator, I am always on the lookout for activities to help promote positive mental health and well-being in our community. From personal experience, spending time in nature and outdoors does wonders for your mental health and well-being and I feel grateful living in a place where I can do this regardless of the season. One of my favourite outdoor activities to do is to take a nature walk through local parks such as the Campbell Valley Park or Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest. There is something peaceful about strolling through the forest, mindfully being aware of the sights and sounds of nature’s beauty. Additional favourite outdoor activities involve going for a walk along the White Rock pier or visiting Crescent beach. These are some of the benefits of living close to both places and I appreciate them immensely. From the moment I walk onto the beach, smell the sea and feel the warm sea breeze, it brings me into a place of peace and relaxation. In conclusion, there are many benefits of adding outdoor activities to your schedule, so why not take a break and get active outdoors? It’ll get your endorphins flowing, which will leave you feeling a little more on top of the world.
Ms. Una Miljevic
Grade 6 Homeroom Teacher and Wellness Coordinator
Further reading for families:
Harvard: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/a-prescription-for-better-health-go-alfresco
Time: https://time.com/5539942/green-space-health-wellness/
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Upcoming and Important Dates
June 1: Dance Workshop
June 3: K-2 Garden Party
June 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week
June 7: Class Rep. Appreciation Lunch
June 9: Fire Drill
June 10: Sports Day (Half Day)
June 12: RBC Run for the Kids
June 15: French Play
June 16: JK Closing Ceremony
June 17: Picnic at the Beach Family Day
June 21: Report Card Day
June 21: Last Day of School- Closing Ceremony (Half Day)
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