During the month of November, several of Holy Cross teacher Tania Fay’s grade 2 students asked why they were seeing so many men with moustaches, and what the term Movember meant. Fay thought this would be a great learning opportunity for her students to discuss the importance of community initiatives. As the school often has different fundraisers throughout the year, several for cancer organizations, the class talked about how important it is to makes those in their own community happy by always trying to be supportive however they can. This discussion led to their own Movember initiative. Fay asked students in the grade three class to help the grade two students write stories about how they all suddenly grew moustaches. On Thursday, November 28, the two classes got together and shared their stories with each other – all while touting their own Movember ‘staches. “It was a great teaching opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” explained Fay. “Our students are so observant of the world around them – and when they began noticing many moustaches sprouting on their dads’ faces, we were able to turn that into a fun discussion, a peer-to peer learning moment and a great way to show them the important of giving back and supporting one’s own community!”
Peace Rainbow at Holy Cross
Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School students created a Peace Rainbow during Bullying Prevention Week. At Holy Cross School, they focused on the positive and proactive strategies that students can use to prevent and to resolve conflict. For the Peasce Rainbow, students were asked to use their five senses to describe what Peace means to them. Then, each student was asked to indicate, either by drawing or writing, what Peace feels like to them on a coloured dove. Each dove corresponds to a colour of the rainbow and to one of the senses. The Peace Rainbow is displayed in the main foyer so that parents and visitors can easily see what peace means to students at Holy Cross School.
Castle Builders at Holy Cross
The children in teacher Mirella Fleury Early Childhood Educator Deborah Huneault’s FDK French Immersion class had a blast building a castle using 3D shapes recently. This was a real lesson in teamwork, collaboration, planning and revising. What a success! Now they can read their favourite stories in their dream castle.
Remembrance Day at Holy Cross
The students from Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School teachers Mme Thiessen’s FDK French Immersion class and Mme Toivonen’s grade 4/5 French Immersion collaborated to present a Remembrance Day celebration on November 11 Mme Fleury and Ms Beaton’s FDK classes presented a tribute of Remembrance as well. Each class in the school also prepared a wreath or cross of remembrance that will be displayed at the entrance of the school for the rest of the month. Students honoured all of our Canadian soldiers who fought for freedom with a moment of silence and a moving video tribute. The gathering was a wonderful way to give thanks to our troops and their families.
Postcards for Peace
The Grade 2 students at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School sent their Postcards for Peace to veterans to thank them for having served in the past wars. The students recognized that many of Canada’s service men and women continue today, to leave their families and friends, in order to bring peace to many countries around the world. The children discussed how they are all peacekeepers here in Canada. They learned that they can all help with “peacekeeping missions” by respecting and helping each other in the school playgrounds, at home, and in their neighbourhoods. One of the biggest lessons learned is that It’s so important to learn from the past.
A Beary Scary Halloween
On October 31’st 2013, students from St Benedict Catholic Secondary School visited Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School. Student Council president Brendan Sullivan, vice president and student trustee Mackenzie Connelly, and beloved mascot, Benny the Bear represented St Benedict as they read to grade 1 and 2 students in both English and french. “We thought this would be a great opportunity to bond with the students who share our campus and spread some Halloween cheer,” said Connelly.
After reading the books, Benny and the students donated them to Holy Cross and gave out Halloween stickers and high fives from Benny. “This experience has been very rewarding for us. We were able to practice our bilingualism and meet the students who will become future Bears,” stated Sullivan. “I look forward to continuing to connect our two school communities.”
Paper Airplanes and Space
On Friday, Oct. 18th, students at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School joined Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield in kicking off National Science and Technology Week by participating in a Canada-wide Science lesson. The Gr. 2 students folded 3 sets of airplanes and adapted the wings for each model in order to simulate gravity and atmosphere on Earth, the Moon and Mars. Each student then had an opportunity to test all three paper airplanes and compared the flight distance for each model. This was a day when making paper airplanes in class definitely did not break the class rules!
Praying for Animals at Holy Cross
On Wednesday, October 2nd, the Holy Cross School community gathered to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi in a liturgy with Father Jim Hutton. Students were asked to bring along a favourite stuffed animal, as a symbol of the animals of the world. St. Francis loved animals, calling them his brothers and sisters. During the liturgy, students held their animals up for a special blessing and prayer for all of the animals of the world.
Egg-citing Learning Happening at Holy Cross
Grade 2/3 Holy Cross Catholic Elementary students in teacher Shanna Whalen’s class were given an “egg-citing” experiment. As the class has been discussing gravity and how it affects solids, liquids and gases, the students were given the challenge of protecting eggs from the strong force of gravity. On Wednesday, September 18th, as part of their study on Forces and Movement and Properties of Liquids and Solids, the students were given a variety of materials, as well as bringing in some from home, and their mission was to protect their eggs from breaking when dropped from a high level. According to Whalen, the students were quite creative with their projects as some used grocery bags as parachutes and covered their eggs with sponge. Nine out of the eleven launched eggs survived their fall, but the best part is that none of the class ended up with “egg on their face” and all had a great time learning about gravity!
Holy Cross Students Take Music Monday Global!
Students from Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School teacher Ginette Toivonen’s grade 4/5 FI class have taken Music Monday global! The Holy Cross class has been blogging with students from Buenos Aires, Argentina over the last few months and on Monday, May 8th they sang along with them via Skype. The song “Is Somebody Singing” collaboratively written by Ed Robertson and Chris Hadfield is being shared with the world in hopes of uniting everyone through their love of music. Students in both countries feel very strongly about the importance of music education in their schools. Music Monday is an annual event that brings together thousands of students, musicians, parents and community members across the country to celebrate the gift of music in our lives, on the same day at the same time.