How does the Pythagoras Academy library approach a topic like international mindedness?
The shelves are full of books about the continents, counties, and cities in our world. You can find books written in Chinese, Spanish and Japanese in the nonfiction sections. Now there is a PAPO sponsored Parent Resource Bookshelf to support the families at school.
Stop by and check out the books for young learners to encourage learning English. You can find health books in Chinese to read with students and have discussions about growing up and learning to be safe online. There are language building games to check out and play at home. Being internationally minded includes having parents support listening, reading, speaking, and playing. There are many books to show ways to support the emotional side of learning at school too. Come and visit the library. The parent volunteers will be happy to help you locate the materials you need to be internationally minded.
Mrs. Lois Powell
Director of Literacy
Teacher Librarian
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Messages from Across the Grades
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Junior Kindergarten "JK"
Junior Kindergarten students explored Christmas around the world by investigating music, dance, and literature! They also hosted a JK party where staff and JK families were invited to participate in the exploration of Christmas traditions and winter celebrations. Fun was had by all!
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Grades K/1
In Kindergarten, students spread Christmas cheer by sending cards to a senior home in Pierrefonds, Quebec. They learned some Christmas French vocabulary and put a lot of effort into decorating the cards. Students hope that the cards will bring lots of smiles and warmth during this holiday season. In Grade 1, students have been busy reading Christmas stories, such as “Santa’s Sleigh is on its way to My House” and “Just a Snowman”. They also baked and decorated cupcakes which looked great and tasted scrumptious.
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Grades 2/3
Winter is a time for celebrations and festivities. In grade 2, students had the opportunity to learn about the different holidays people celebrate this time of year. After visiting the Richmond Museum and learning about many different winter festivals, we focused on Hanukkah, the festival of lights. We made a Star of David to feature on our Christmas trees this year to show our appreciation and love for the diversity of our community. Grade 3 participated in a "Christmas Around the World" inquiry in Social Studies where they learned about how Christmas is celebrated in different countries.
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Grades 4/5
Grade 4 students explored Winter celebrations around the world and participated in class activities and lessons. Grade 5 investigated global issues and looked through a lens of inquiry about the ongoing problems that people all over the world are affected by today. They used the UN SDG's targets, actions, and goals to research their guiding questions, such as: What is poverty? What are the basic needs of humans? Is access to clean water available throughout the world?
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Grades 6/7
Grade 6 students have been exploring thinking classrooms, a space where students are thinking as individuals and collectively while constructing new knowledge and understanding. Through discussion and activities, this philosophy of learning commits to building thinking classrooms where students consider how to think about their learning and how to collaborate and build these skills with others. Grade 7 students have been exploring blogging and podcasts, where they connect with others internally, looking for feedback on their work and providing crafted feedback for their peers.
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In the Success Centre, students work on a wide range of communication skills that help them express themselves and learn about others. This includes working on ways to communicate about their family’s cultures and ideas. Considering where students come from is important in helping them develop their own English voice and reach their personal and academic goals. Some activities that students engage in are developing communication skills, research skills, and writing skills.
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One activity that some fifth grade students recently completed was doing a country research project in which they practiced researching a country their families were from and wrote about why a person may want to visit it, including important demographic, cultural, and historical information that may be both important and interesting for a future visitor to that country.
In the spirit of fostering global awareness, the students at the Success Centre engaged in learning about the different ways we celebrate the winter season. A special focus was dedicated to students who are newly acquainted with the Canadian way of celebrating Christmas. Students actively participated in a festive tradition—decorating gingerbread men cookies. The room was filled with creativity as the children embraced this quintessentially Canadian activity, providing them with a firsthand experience of our cultural festivities.
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Wellness at Pythagoras Academy
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The holiday season is a special time for many people. It is a time to connect with our friends and families and care for yourself inside and out, as well as others around you!
One way to connect with our community is by giving back to those who need it most—even in the smallest way—can bring happiness to those who might need a little extra love and support. The smallest gesture can make a huge difference! One way to give back this holiday season is by donating goods to those in need. You can even start a donation drive in your community!
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At Pythagoras Academy, the community participated in various forms of giving back to the community from the Toy Drive to the Food Bank. In the classroom, teachers explored and discussed different perspectives of the community and the importance of gratitude.
At Pythagoras Academy, students and staff explored a variety of cultures from listening to Indigenous Stories and participating in Diwali celebrations. In the classrooms, teachers read stories about various countries and their different ways of celebrating the upcoming holidays and arranged a variety of hands-on activities.
Ms. Una Miljevic
Vice Principal of Student Life
Grade 4-7 Team Lead
Grade 4 Homeroom
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Unique Celebrations at Pythagoras Academy
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The recent Winter Concert and Breakfast with Santa events were a heartwarming showcase of community spirit and joy. The school's gymnasium was abuzz with excitement as families gathered to witness the magical performances by our talented students. Their renditions of classic holiday tunes and creative skits left everyone in awe, truly capturing the essence of the season.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, the much-anticipated Breakfast with Santa was a hit among the children. Our dedicated PAPO “Pythagoras Academy Parent Organization” offered their time and efforts towards the great success of this event, where students eagerly lined up to meet Santa Claus and snap memorable photos. The event was not just a celebration but a beautiful testament to the close-knit bond within our community, as parents, and teachers came together to make it a success. The smiles, laughter, and cheer spread throughout the day were a reminder of the joy and warmth that the holiday season brings.
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Celebrating Student Achievement at Pythagoras Academy
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Congratulations to PA’s Artificial Intelligence Exploration and Investigation after school club, led by Ms. Briana Bolt, whose grade 5 students Chloe, Jasper, Vivian and Julie, won First Place in the "WAICY" World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth!
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Congratulations to the three FLL teams from Pythagoras Academy, led by Ms. Yanina Vihovska, who participated in FIRST Robotics British Columbia Explore Festival hosted this year at the Wonderland Kids Indoor Play Center and took home medals and awards!
*Please let teachers know of achievements for your chance to be showcased in an upcoming newsletter edition!*
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Upcoming School Events and Important Dates
January 4/5: Pro D Day (No School)
January 8: First Day Back, Term 2 Starts
January 26: Elementary School Assembly
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