🎢✨ STEM in Motion: Grade 7 Roller Coaster Challenge! ✨🎢 Our Grade 7 students took on an exciting engineering challenge in STEM class: designing a roller coaster that’s not only the coolest and fastest but also uses the least materials! Using paper, tape, and marbles, they applied creativity and critical thinking to test and tweak their coaster designs for maximum speed and thrill. 🛠️🎢💡 It’s amazing to see how these young engineers are using real-world problem-solving skills and collaborating to bring their ideas to life. Every twist and turn is helping them ignite minds and forge futures in STEM! #igniteminds #forgefutures

💗👕 Pink Shirt Day: Spreading Kindness and Taking a Stand Against Bullying 👕💗 Today, students and staff at Senator Gershaw School came together for Pink Shirt Day to promote kindness, respect, and anti-bullying. Our friends from Family and Community Support Services led inspiring presentations, reminding us of the importance of supporting one another, standing up to bullying, and creating a welcoming school community. 💬🤝 Wearing pink shirts was a powerful symbol of our commitment to kindle hearts and stand united against bullying. A big thank you to our guest speakers for encouraging character and citizenship in our students. Let’s continue to show kindness every day! 💗🌟 #bekind #character #kindlehearts

🧪📏 Chemistry 20: Precision in Action with Standard Solutions! 📏🧪 Our Chemistry 20 students dove into the world of solutions in today’s lab, learning the importance of accuracy while preparing standard solutions. Using solutes and solvents, they practiced precise measurements and calculations to create solutions with just the right concentration. ⚗️✨ This lab was a fantastic way for students to build Critical Thinking skills, as they combined theory with hands-on practice. We love seeing how they’re igniting minds and gaining skills that will support them in future scientific studies. #igniteminds #forgefutures

This week's parent update. Have a great rest of the long weekend!

🖨️✨ 3D Printing Innovation at Senator Gershaw School! ✨🖨️ We’re excited to announce that our students are diving into the world of 3D printing with our brand-new printer! 🛠️ From designing models to bringing their ideas to life, students are applying their critical thinking and creativity in ways that ignite their imaginations. This cutting-edge technology is helping them forge futures by developing real-world skills that will benefit them in technology, engineering, and design fields. 💡🔧 It’s incredible to see how these hands-on experiences are not only inspiring their minds but also fostering Collaboration as they work together on projects. We can’t wait to see what amazing creations they come up with next! 🚀 #igniteminds

<p>Three classes of Grade 5 students from Senator Gershaw School and Irvine School are working together on a cross-school project that will culminate in building three trading post next year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The first time the students collaborated was a Google Meet where Irvine students explained to those at Gershaw the process of harvesting corn from the garden of the Agricultural Discover Centre (ADC), removing the kernels from the cob and freezing the corn for later use. At the beginning of October, all classes met in person for the first time at Neubauer Farms to harvest pumpkins.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Students met again on October 18 at Senator Gershaw School, where the pumpkins harvested by Gershaw students had been carved and were on display at the front of the stage. Nichole Neubauer was there to teach the students about companion planting and regenerative agriculture. The day started off with an icebreaker using pinto beans in acknowledgment of Pinto Macbean, the town mascot of Bow Island, and the importance of growing beans for agriculture in SE Alberta.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Regenerative agriculture is managing soil erosion from wind and rain either by covering soil or using cover crops. “It’s important to conserve our soil. Topsoil goes down about six inches, probably only about four inches here in SE Alberta. It takes about 100 years to grow one inch of topsoil, this is where all the macronutrients and micronutrients are, which has all the living things we grow our food in,” Neubauer explained to the students.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Following the presentation, the students headed outside to conduct experiments on soil erosion. Neubauer showed the students what happens to bare soil during a heavy rain, particularly for soil on a slight slope. Students were divided into ten groups of six students each, with each group preparing a tray of soil and then covering it with different combinations of materials, such as leaves, grass clipping, coconut fibre, and sawdust.&nbsp;</p><p>Following lunch, students created a garden using seeds for corn, beans, and squash (the Three Sisters), which thrive when planted together. Students watched a video about the legend of the Three Sisters and the importance of collaboration. Neubauer explained how beans fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into nodules on their roots, which provides natural fertilizer to the corn and squash.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“That is what companion planting and regenerative agriculture looks like and how we can use companion planting and the power of nature to grow more food in a harmonious way. That’s what we will learn about today when we go out later today and create our very own Three Sisters Garden,” said Neubauer.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In late November, students will meet at Irvine School with an architect to have a blueprinting session for the trading post buildings. Weather permitting, the first build is scheduled for January 21, 2025, with two more building days to follow. Students from both schools will also do a fundraiser where they will prepare a hot lunch using crops harvested from the ADC garden and the Three Sisters Garden. Money raised from the fundraiser will go toward an end of year overnight stay in Elkwater for all three classes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Jessica Shigehiro, Grade 5 teacher at Senator Gershaw, said, “the project has been going well on all ends, with students coming up with names, (for their trading posts) and inquiry-based questions and discussions on the fur trade. The students have learned coding on Minecraft Education and developed their trading post on there, which is a part of the Grade 5 science curriculum. Students were very engaged and interacted extremely well with each other on Friday (Oct. 18). The three sisters’ crops are planted, watered and we are hoping for some growth over the winter months so we can harvest our vegetables. My students and all of the parents are extremely excited about this project.” &nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

🌺🇨🇦 Honoring Our Heroes: Remembrance Day Ceremony at Senator Gershaw 🇨🇦🌺 Today, our school community from Bow Island Elementary and Senator Gershaw School came together to pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for our country during a heartfelt Remembrance Day Ceremony. Our students took an active role in honoring Canada’s heroes through powerful presentations, including artwork, songs, heartfelt poems, and thoughtful words from our student Master of Ceremonies. 🎶📜✨ A special thank you to the honour guard from our local Legion for joining us and making this event even more meaningful. Their presence reminds us of the bravery and commitment of those who fought for our freedoms. This ceremony was a moving example of character and citizenship in action, as students reflected on the importance of remembrance and unity. We are so proud of our students for coming together to honor Canada’s past and those who serve today. ❤️ #igniteminds #kindlehearts

Gator of the week - celebrating student character and leadership! Gator of the week for last week was Lucia! Lucia oozes school spirit every day. She consistently is very dressed up for any spirit days, volunteers for numerous in school and out of school events, and always has loads of enthusiasm. She has also volunteered, outside of school time, to be our mascot multiple times for sporting events! Congratulations Lucia! #kindlehearts

Senator Gershaw Remembrance Day Ceremony is today at 10:45am. All parents and community are welcome to join us!

📵📝 Health Class Reminders: Phone-Free Zones! 📝📵 Our health class students at Senator Gershaw School have been busy designing creative posters to remind everyone of the importance of staying focused in class and respecting phone-free zones. 📱🚫 From classrooms to other learning spaces, these reminders encourage all students to practice Citizenship by using technology responsibly. We’re so impressed with how these students are working together to ignite minds and kindle hearts through positive peer messaging! Take a look at some of their thoughtful designs next time you’re in the hallways! 🌟 #kindlehearts #igniteminds

This week's parent update, short 3 day week this week! Have a great Sunday!

Our Jr A Girls are Hosting ZONES this weekend! Come cheer them on tonight at 5:10 & 6:50 and tomorrow morning at 10am. Go Gators!

🧩🌍 Exploring Identity in Grade 10 Humanities! 🌍🧩 Our Grade 10 Humanities students have been working on a unique Identity Project, bringing in meaningful objects that represent who they are. From family heirlooms to hobbies, cultural items, and favorite books, each item tells a story about what shapes their individuality. 🪁📚✨ This project is a fantastic way for students to practice communication and character, sharing and celebrating the diverse backgrounds and interests that make up our school community. We’re so proud of these students for their openness and creativity in exploring what makes each of them unique. #igniteminds #kindlehearts

https://schoolinterviews.ca/code/6z8x2 PowerSchool is LIVE and report card marks and comments can now be viewed. If you'd like to book a time to meet with your child's teacher - click the link to sign up either Monday or Tuesday. (Nov 4/5) Physical report cards will be sent home with students in grades 4-6 and any others who have specifically requested.

<p>Grade 3 students in Jennifer Tiffin’s class at Bow Island Elementary recently completed a project on oral storytelling to share the culture and/or traditions of each student’s family. Over a series of school days, time was set aside for three or four students to give their presentations. On Wednesday, October 9, the three students presenting were Lucas, Spencer and Braden.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Rather than have the students present in the classroom, Tiffin moved the class down the hallway to an open area so they could sit in a storytelling circle. Prior to lining up to leave the classroom, Tiffin and the class reviewed listening and presenting skills. “The person who is speaking is giving us a little bit of their heart and we want to be respectful of that,” explained Tiffin. Presenters were reminded to speak clearly, make eye contact, and engage their audience. Suggestions by the students on how to be a good listener included not talking during the presentation, watching the presenter, sitting still, and waiting until the end for questions along with asking good questions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Tiffin recognized Lucas as being the one student who had asked each presenter thus far a great question. “I love that we are not only listening but are asking questions because that shows me that you are really listening,” Tiffin told her class.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Once the students were sitting in the storytelling circle, with pillows in the middle for the presenter to sit on, Tiffin asked the class to tell her why they had undertaken this project. One student said so they could learn how to listen and speak to an audience. “Listening for me is one of the hardest parts of this but also one of the most important parts because listening is tricky,” stated Tiffin. Additionally, sitting in a circle lets the presenter know the other classmates care about them and want to hear what they have to say.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Lucas was the first presenter and told the circle that each Christmas Eve his grandpa makes yummy Rice Krispie Squares. His mom and dad invite all the family to their house for a gift exchange, which results in the house being full and boisterous. Answering questions from his audience, Lucas said his favourite part of the day was the gift exchange and then he explained how Rice Krispie Squares are made, opening the box he brought to show the class the treats he was planning to share with them.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Spencer brought a storybook of pictures to use his during his presentation and talked about the tradition of feeding their cows using heavy horses hitched to a large wagon load of hay. This tradition has been in his family since the 1980’s, long before Spencer was born. Since Spencer was old enough, a rope has been tied to the back of the wagon so Spencer, along with any friends who are over, can ride in a toboggan behind the wagon. The cows are only fed this way in the winter, Spencer explained, because they can graze in other seasons. When asked his favourite part, Spencer said it was going into the ditches, where the snow is the deepest, on the toboggan, although if he doesn’t manage to steer it onto the tracks, he often tips over.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Braden was the last presenter of the day and explained his family is Mexican Mennonite. One tradition his family practices is to take an annual visit to his grandparent’s house to help with butchering the cows and chickens then making sausages. Another one is travelling to Mexico each Christmas to spend time with family and friends. Braden brought some sausages his family made with him to class for sharing. When asked how difficult they are to make, Braden said he didn’t know because his grandma makes the sausages each year. His favourite part of these two traditions is the travelling.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The class had briefly discussed earlier in the year that making connections is one way we can comprehend the world around us. Tiffin explained to her students that this project is about making connections through personal stories, highlighting how Braden and Spencer shared similarities in their stories. Another similarity is having large family get togethers at Christmas or making Rice Krispie Squares with a family member, which most students in the class could identify with. While the project examined what is unique for each student, it also showed each other what they have in common.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

Gator of the Week - Celebrating student character and leadership. Gator of the week for last week was Korban! Korban stayed and helped with numerous score keeping shifts at our boys volleyball tournament. He volunteered to fill in empty spaces and made sure no spot was left vacant to keep our tournament running smoothly! Great work Korban! #kindlehearts

<p>While enrollment with South Alberta High School (SAHS) is in constant fluctuation, the number of students accessing the online school continues to climb. Some choose to take all their high school courses through SAHS while the majority take one or two courses at a time. Sherry Craven has been involved with SAHS since its creation two years ago. Changes this year include bringing on Corey Steeves as principal along with hiring a math/sciences teacher so all marking can be done in-house.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Our school is tailored to the individual and every student is unique. There was a student last year who realized in the second semester he needed CHEM 30 to get into an education program,” explained Craven. “He didn’t have it, wasn’t registered for it, and couldn’t have completed the course by the registration deadline. He decided to enrol in our school, took CHEM 30 and completed the course in about 90 days. Each student can go through courses as fast or as slow as they want.”&nbsp;</p><p>The benefit for this student was his post-secondary education wasn’t delayed by having to wait another year to complete the CHEM 30 course at an in-person school. SAHS is also ideal for students who are involved in extra-curricular activities that consume much of their time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Rodeo, dance, ballet or hockey, they are totally invested in that, and they need everything else to fit around what is essentially a full-time job. Instead of having to take all the option classes and attend school with required attendance, they are able to choose what they want to take, and the program is individually tailored to what fits them with interest levels, profile, extracurricular, and future plans/goals,” stated Craven.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>For each student who is enrolled, Craven starts a text thread with them as that works better than emails. Each student has access to her phone number and, on initially contacting her, only has to give their name and what class(es) they are enrolled in. As many of the students don’t work on their schoolwork during regular hours, it is expected texts will come in during evenings and weekends.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>As Craven explained, “one student is in ballet five days a week, it’s a huge commitment. We have to expect that sometimes students will text at 10:30 p.m. because that’s when they are doing schoolwork and when they have facilitation or logistical questions, such as how to book a test, or accessing different booklets, links, or grades.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In a regular school, if a student misses a class, they never get that back. With SAHS, all lessons are pre-recorded and have a slide deck with a teacher in the corner of the screen going through the lesson.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Another type of student we get are those who struggle in a physical school setting and find it difficult sitting in a classroom but will thrive online. One student took several classes and at the end provided a testimonial that said when he’s sitting in a normal class and zones out, he never gets that back. In a class of 30 students, if he doesn’t understand something, he’s not going to ask a question because the teacher doesn’t have time to slow down, and he feels stupid asking. The next day it builds and builds, and he would get frustrated along with having increased anxiety.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>With the online lessons, students can do as much or as little as they want. Additionally, they can listen to lessons more than once and complete extra practice problems depending on their needs. The formative work isn’t as heavily weighted as the tests for online courses, so students must do the work to pass the tests.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Craven was teaching high school social studies at Eagle Butte when she got involved with creating online courses during the pandemic, learning from others how to use the platform and create instructional videos. “After teaching for 20 years, I thought it would be a fresh and exciting thing to try something different. For myself, being on the other side of education now, instead of being concerned about improving a student’s writing or get my planning and prep done, or marking essays, now my train of thought is completely different. Now, I’m trying to think of ways to grow and expand and what other opportunities we can create, what else can we provide that students would want to take to better themselves.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>SAHS is continuously developing courses and Craven’s favourite part about teaching is the creating part, either new lessons or new learning. “I was always reading books on pedagogy along with all the latest trends and styles in teaching and now I still find myself excited about that, but it’s different. It’s finding a niche for what students need and trying to make that work.”&nbsp;</p><p>Being a SAHS teacher and course creator is only part of Craven’s job. She is also the Student Experience Designer for the School of Trades as well as secondee for CAREERS The Next Generation. Going into her role with SAHS, Craven was concerned it would be like teaching during the pandemic, where students were disengaged.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“It was painful, and most teachers would agree it wasn’t a good teaching environment. It was forced upon us and a situation nobody wanted to be in,” stated Craven. “This is completely voluntary, the students who choose to take these courses want to be online and they want to do it this way. I would say the biggest thing that has impressed me is how polite and respectful the students are, how considerate they are of my time and how dedicated and driven, and grateful they are. They know exactly what they want, and they are good at asking for what they want and that has been impressive.”&nbsp;</p><p>Learn more about South Alberta High School online: <a href="https://southalbertahighschool.com/">southalbertahighschool.com</a>&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

📐🧪 Physics 20 in Action: Exploring Constant Velocity! 🧪📐 Our Physics 20 students are diving deep into the world of motion with a hands-on lab on constant velocity! Through this experiment, students are learning to collect and analyze data, building their skills in critical thinking and scientific observation. 📊⚖️ From timing moving objects to calculating precise velocities, they’re getting firsthand experience with the scientific method and the power of data analysis. We love watching these young scientists ignite minds as they work together to problem-solve and understand the laws of motion. 🌠✨ #igniteminds

Congratulations Jr. B Boys - Champions of the Swamp on Friday night and Jr. B Girls second place finish on Saturday night! That concludes our Jr. B season, thank you coaches, parents, and athletes!

This week's parent/guardian update - have a great week!