Science World Field Trip Friday, May 31st

Hi Parents:

Tomorrow will be our Science World Field Trip.  Thank you to our parent-drivers and chaperones (Mrs.Tam, Mrs.Santos, Mrs.Zetina-Naidu, Ms.Anderson) who will supervise our students.  Please re-read the important information about our field trip tomorrow.  This experience connects well to our study of the human body in class.  Please contact me if you or your child have any further questions or concerns.

Blessings,

Mr.Wu

Grade 5 Teacher

Science World Field Trip- Important Information

Dear Parents:

                   

The grade 4/5 class will be going to Science World on Friday, May 31^st to take part in a number of activities related to our science studies in class. This is primarily a wrap-up event to our “Intermediate Science Adventure” about the human body, but students will also be learning about a variety of other topics related to our science units in grade 4 & 5.

Our class will be doing the following activities while at Science World:

1]   Omnimax movie: “Human Body”

From the Science World Website:

The Human Body takes a look at the biological processes that go on without our control and often without our notice. Throughout the film, we follow a family as they go about their daily routines. But this is no ordinary story. It’s a tale of what takes place beneath the skin—a tale that allows us to see the extraordinary accomplishments of our everyday lives.

2]   Body Worlds Exhibit:

From the “Body Worlds” Website:

The BODY WORLDS exhibitions are first-of-their-kind exhibitions through which visitors learn about anatomy, physiology, and health by viewing real human bodies, using an extraordinary process called Plastination- a groundbreaking method for specimen preservation invented by Dr. von Hagens in 1977.
            Each exhibition features more than 200 real human specimens, including whole-body plastinates, individual organs, organ configurations and transparent body slices. The specimens on display stem from the body donation program that Gunther von Hagens established in 1983.
            The exhibitions also allow visitors to see and better understand the long-term impact of diseases, the effects of tobacco consumption and the mechanics of artificial supports such as knees and hips. To date, more than 36 million people around the world have viewed the BODY WORLDS exhibits.

**This exhibit is very graphic in nature, and parents are encouraged to read more about it so that they can fully understand what it is all about. Grade four teachers will be posting links on our class websites, so parents can read more about it. You are also welcome to google “Body Worlds” for more information as well. We are providing parents with this information because we know that this exhibit might not be suitable for all students. 

From a Christian perspective, we feel that this exhibit will, in a very real way, demonstrate to our students that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made" by God.   We want our students to gain a greater insight into God's amazing creation of the human body, and to see that our bodies are temples we are called to take care of.  This exhibit specifically focuses on the importance of taking care of your body, and many of the displays show what happens when we don't treat our bodies in the way God intended.  

If, after reading more about this exhibit, you feel that you do not want your child to view these exhibits, they are still welcome to come on the fieldtrip!  There will be lots more opportunities for science learning and exploration through the other galleries. (While groups of students tour “Body Worlds”, students who do not wish to participate will be lead through other exhibits instead).

3]    Other exhibits and galleries – there are a wide variety of exhibits that all students will be lead through in small groups that apply directly to the grade 4 & 5 curriculum. These include:

--- Grade 5:  “Creativity in Motion” – pulleys, springs and sprockets! -Simple Machines

---Grade 4:  “Eureka”- Light & Sound

---Grade 4: “Travesia”- Journey of a Blue Whale -Habitats, migration

---Grade 4 & 5: “Our World”- Sustainability & Stewardship

….and more!  (check out the Science World website for even more great exhibits!)

Thank you,

from the intermediate teachers!

5W French Play

Dear 5W Parents:

5W will be performing their French play "Louis la Grenouille" on Wednesday June 19th between 10:45 and 11:45am.  If you are free at that time, we'd love you to come and watch our performance.

Students should, by now, have learned their lines thoroughly. Please take some time this week to ask your son/daughter to say their lines to you. If they are not confident in their lines, please encourage them to spend some time each evening this week working on memorizing their lines.  If they have any hesitation with pronunciation, it would be helpful if they read their lines along with the DVD.

Thank you for support,

Julie Kawa

Sports Day Grade 5 Responses

Here are some samples of what Grade 5 wrote about this year's Sports Day:

"I will never forget all the years that I have been in Sports Day in VCS that I have had."  --Josh L.

"...this was the BEST  Sports Day ever..." --Hanna

"My favorite memory was being in first place."--Daniel

"This Sports Day was awesome!"--Rebekah

"This is the best year because it was my last year and I won."--Odelia

"What I liked the most about Sports Day was eating the chips and frezzies."--Angelica

"After my team won first place, we were so happy."--Andy

Upcoming Events and Fieldtrips --Swangard, Victoria, and Science World

1.) Swangard Track Meet – this is an all-day event on Tuesday, May 28.  Usually only about half of the students in Grade 5 qualify and participate in this event; however, due to our small classes this year, the majority of students will participate in at least one event this year, and there would only be about a handful of students staying back at VCS. Therefore, we have decided that all Grade 5 students will attend the Swangard Track Meet, whether they are participating in an event or not.  

Those not participating in an event will either be helping me or Mrs. Gysbers with running an event and/or they will be in the stands cheering on their classmates and school.  A letter with more information was sent home this week.  Students have been told if they are participating and wrote this in their planner.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

2.)  Chaperones for the Victoria field trip on Friday, May 31st – Thank you for returning all of the permission forms for this field trip.  We stated that we will be taking 5 parent chaperones for each class, and so here are the parents that will be coming along:

• 5W parents – Mr. Deo Santos, Mrs. Stephanie Huynh, Mr. Deepk Hayre, and Mrs. Eva Lau, and Mrs. Ragina Naidu

• 5G/H parents – Mrs. Amanda Ho, Mr. Tom Tsang, Mr. Dave Port, Mr. Sam Leung, and Mrs. Rebecca Janke

We have sent a more detailed informational letter home regarding the Victoria field trip last week.

3) Walkathon--Friday, May 24th--Parent-Volunteers are needed from 12:30-2:30.  

4)Science World Fieldtrip--Friday, May 31st--A detailed permission letter will be sent home this week.  Please return the signed permission form by Monday, May 27th.   We will need parents to drive and supervise students on this fieldtrip.  Thank you.

Blessings!

Mr.Wu

Upcoming Events in May and June

Dear Parents and Students:

Here is an overview of important events that may affect Grade 5 in the next two months:

May 6th      Grade 4/5 Science Adventure Begins (Human Body)

May 7th       7:30-9:30 Town Hall Meeting at VCS (Amalgamation Update)

May 8th       Intra-school Track and Field Meet

May 9th       Grade 5 Reading Club Begins

May 13th     Student Vote BC

May 14th     Provincial Election

May 15th     Photo Day

May 17th     K-5 Sports Day    (1/2 day only, students dismissed by noon)

May 20th     Victoria Day Holiday

May 24th    VCS and JKCS Walkathon  

May 28th   Grades 4-7 Track and Field Swangard

May 29th   Early Dismissal

May 30th  3-School AGM

May 31     Science World Fieldtrip

June 6th    Spring Music Concert

June 7th    Final Grade 5 Reading Club

June 13th   Victoria Fieldtrip

June 21     Last day for K-5 Students (1/2 day)

Hope this helps you plan your calendar.

Blessings,

Mr.Wu

GRADE 5W NEWS FOR MAY

Dear Parents and Students:

We have had an exciting and interesting time learning about government.  In Science class students examined the issue of open-pit mining in British Columbia.  Students researched about the advantages and disadvantages of open-pit mining and then expressed their opinions.  I was impressed by their knowledge and enthusiasm about the subject.  During our discussion, students voiced their positions for or against open-pit mining with much conviction.

Yesterday, the NDP MLA Mable Elmore visited our class to talk with students about the upcoming provincial election.  Last week the Liberal candidate Gurjit Dhillon spoke with our class.  My students asked a number of thoughtful questions to both politicians about issues such as Christian Education, employment, economy, and the environment.  We thank both candidates for taking time out of their busy schedules to visit our class.

As part of our study of government, both grade 5 classes will be going to Victoria on June 14th.  A parent-letter was sent home this week and should be returned by May 7th.

Blessings,

Mr.Wu
Grade 5

P.S.  May is an extremely busy school month.  Please check your child's planners and read the weekly school news letter  Thank you.