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Choice School
20451 Westminster Highway,
Richmond, B.C. V6V 1B3
NEWSLETTER No. 17-22
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Principal’s Message
The past week has reminded me of several key attributes that make learning at Choice unique and engaging.
We all carry within us the memory of our own school experience; for us as teachers, this memory can shape our
approach to teaching. The staff was discussing this recently as we watched Mr. Thomas prepare the Grade 6 & 7
Science unit on Energy. In this unit, the catalyst for scientific inquiry is a go-kart that Mr. Thomas, with Mr.
Sargeant’s help, will have the students test for its efficiency, rebuild, and convert to electrical power to provide a
meaningful comparison. We smiled picturing these gentlemen as young students, and concluded that innovative
educators are often inspired to teach the way they would have liked to be taught: with hands-on experiences and
intellectual challenge. We believe the students at Choice benefit from the imaginative teaching that ensues because their teachers are passionate about their profession. Every day, we strive to bring meaning, relevance and
excitement to our students’ learning.
A second attribute that signifies Choice is its sense of community. Last week our practicum student, Ms Jaclyn
Chow, returned to Queens University to complete her final term. Yesterday, as had been previously arranged,
Ms Chow read a story to Classes A and C over Skype, and took them on a visual tour of her residence on campus.
The students were thrilled and are eagerly awaiting Ms Chow’s return to our Choice community at the beginning
of May.
The community spirit is clearly evident in the planning for the Ladner Day Parade. The idea originated with Mrs.
Machi Skopelitis and with the help of our families from Ladner, it is becoming a reality. Our application has been
accepted by the parade committee, and plans are underway. Please put Sunday, May 24 th on your calendar, and
stay tuned for further information. Also in the forecast is a school community fundraiser hosted by Mr. and Mrs.
Manji at one of their theatres, to be followed by a family picnic on Sunday, June 14 th. Details will follow, but
again, please save the date.
This Friday from 9:00 – 11:00 we are holding our second Open House of the year. Please pass an invitation to
any parents whom you think would be interested in learning more about the Choice experience. May will also
bring our fifth and final Gifted Lecture of the year with the return of Ms Sue Jackson on Thursday, May 14 th.
Please pass the word about this event.
This afternoon students welcomed the beginning of the third term’s Choice Major and Minor programs, and tomorrow we will be introducing the topic for our final Focus Week, Images of Greatness. Read on to learn more
about the engaging activities of this past week.
Best wishes,
Lynn Chartres
Class A & B participated in a Science workshop this week called, "Sea Ya Later".
Students were given the opportunity to look at and observe octopus and squid, learn
about the life under the sea, and observe sea stars and shells. It was a exciting way
to learn at Choice School. Thank you to HighTouch HighTech for
presenting this workshop.
This week Class A & C participated in a
Gallery Walk of Shoes! Students paired up
and observed various shoes in different colors,
styles and sizes. They talked about what they
liked and which ones were their favorites. The
two classes then discussed what we can tell, or
assume, about a person by the shoes they
wear. Students read the poem If Y ou Could
Wear My Sneakers which brought out the main
idea of Empathy. Each class then designed
shoes which represented themselves. It was a
great Life Skills activity as well as a wonderful
activity for both classes to integrate.
Class A and C - A Skype Visit with Jaclyn
Jaclyn, our student teacher, “popped” into our class this week to read to the students using Skype. Jaclyn is
now in Kingston, Ontario at Queen’s University. The students were surprised to see and hear from her
“almost” in person.
Talent Show
Choice School will be hosting the annual Talent Show on Friday, May
15th. All students who would like to participate and showcase their
talents are encouraged to contact Mr. McLaren or Ms. Malinowska.
We will hold auditions every Tuesday at recess and lunch starting
Tuesday, April 28th.
Choice School Uniforms
Please find attached information on the new Choice School Uniforms that
will be phased in during the 2015-16 school year.
Class D Math Challenge
Here is a problem that was introduced to class D by Mrs. Harker and Mr. Thomas as a logic challenge.
Cheryl's birthday challenge was meant to test the better high-school students competing in the Singapore and
Asian Schools Math Olympiad, held April 8. See how well you do and look for the answer in next week’s
newsletter. Several members of Class D were able to solve this in 30 minutes. Well done, Class D!
“Albert and Bernard just became friends with Cheryl, and they want to know when her birthday is. Cheryl
gives them a list of 10 possible birthday dates: May 15, May 16, May 19, June 17, June 18, July 14, July 16,
August 14, August 15 or August 17.
Cheryl then tells Albert and Bernard separately the month and the day of her birthday respectively.
Albert: I don’t know when Cheryl’s birthday is, but I know that Bernard does not know too.
Bernard: At fir st I don’t know when Cheryl’s birthday is, but I know now.
Albert: Then I also know when Cher yl’s birthday is.
So when is Cheryl’s birthday?”
Jeans Day 2015
This year's Jeans Day will held on
Thursday, April 30, 2015. Should you wish
to wear jeans on that day, please bring in
your $5.00 for a pin to Mrs. Walli before
Tuesday, April 28, 2015.
All proceeds will go to the BC Children's
Hospital.
Pins also available for purchase at London Drugs and Save On Foods.
Yearbook
This year's Choice School Yearbook needs a unique and
catchy name. Send Mrs. Walli your suggestions anytime
before May 15, 2015. Remember, the yearbook is a
representation of our school and community. The name
will be announced in the newsletter that week.
Mrs. Walli is still accepting pictures for the yearbook.
Forest
- by Kaleb - Class D
As I crunch through this golden paradise the sun begins to fill the
sky, leaving a bright yellow residue in the rich trees below. The
ground is coated in red leaves past their prime, which crumble in a
satisfying crunching sound on the soles of my shoes, like a carpet
made out of potato chips. The bold color of the forest seems to
blanket the land over, with vivid greens, yellows and reds covering
the brown forest floor. Large brown trees stick out of the carpet
like pillars of a castle, holding up the golden leaf canopy that fills
the background. A strong woody smell fills the air in my nose, with
an after scent of sap. A faint fragrance of cherry blossoms lingers in
the distance, playful and flowery, a memoir of spring long ago.
An aura of fall covers the forest, golden and beautiful, nature at its
finest.
Upcoming dates to remember
April
May
20-24
24
29
11
14
15
19
24
June
2-4
10-12
14
Choice Major and Minor begin
Open House
Jeans Day
Panorama Photo - uniforms mandatory please
Gifted Lecture, Susan Jackson, ‘RISE’
Talent Show, Parents’ Appreciation Tea and
Mother’s Day Celebration
PD Day
Ladner Day Parade
Camp Potlach
Focus Week
Family Movie fundraiser
You Are Invited
to join our Gifted Lecture Series
on Thursday, May 14 at 6 – 8PM
at Choice School
20451 Westminster Hwy. North, Richmond BC, V6V 1B3
“RISE”
with Susan Jackson
Gifted children are a highly variable group, and learning to identify them, especially
when they are underachieving or not engaged, requires a deeper understanding of the
ways that gifted kids can be inherently different. Susan Jackson will be showing her
last documentary, “RISE”, and then will lead an in-depth discussion. “RISE” lays bare
some of the struggles and behaviours that gifted children experience and exhibit, to
promote understanding and identification.
About Susan Jackson
P. Susan Jackson in the Founder and Therapeutic Director of “The Daimon Institute for
the Highly Gifted” in White Rock, BC. This international institute offers service to
highly and profoundly gifted children and adults supporting the learning needs and
overall development of this exceptional population. Ms. Jackson’s clinical work spans
25 years, comprising over 40,000 hours of psychotherapy. She is the author of
numerous articles and chapters in the gifted education literature. Her Integral Practice
for the Gifted™ model addresses multiple aspects of human functioning – cognitive,
emotional, spiritual, physical and talent based dimensions – and explains how advanced
cognition influences all of these elements, the Self and the expression of talent. Sue is
the past chair of the Counseling and Guidance Network and a member of the advisory
board for Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG).
Admission and childcare are free.
RSVP
by May 12, 2015
604-273-2418
[email protected]