SES NEWS -- It is so much fun to tour Stettler Elementary School on any given day, and to see all of the excitement, fun, and neat activities that are happening. Last Wednesday was a sea of pink as the staff and students were out in full force wearing pink to show support for tolerance and understanding during this annual national anti-bullying day. We were also pleased to welcome students from Wm. E. Hay Stettler Secondary School who presented to all of our Grade 4, 5, and 6 students. The Y-CAT group has been presenting to our students for the last few years on "Pink Day" and we were once again thrilled to hear what they had to share with us.
Also on that day, we were fortunate enough to have Anthony and Crystal Day Chief come into the school and share stories and artefacts from the First Nations culture with some of our kindergarten, Grade 2, Grade 3, and Grade 4 classes. The presentation was not long, but was certainly very informative and we appreciate them taking the time to set everything up and to share with us.
Other presentations from this past week included having Grace Fix come to talk to the Grade 6 leadership class about community volunteerism and her passion for the environment. She shared a slide show on some of the things that the Heartland Beautification Committee and the Environmental Action Committee have implemented in our community in recent years. The students also had an opportunity to learn that one person, can indeed, make a difference.
Several months ago our grade 5SN and 4NN classes applied for, and received grants to trial the Reflex math program in our school. Since that time these students have been busy using the program to enhance their curriculums. Reflex math is a program that assesses the students' basic facts knowledge and then helps them to increase the number of facts they know automatically and it helps to increase their speed as well. Both classes are now on multiplication and division and are most certainly enjoying the learning. As well as Reflex, all classrooms have a subscription to the Mathletics interactive, web-based program. This program is also used to enhance math skills as well as to challenge students at their own levels. It also allows them to compete with students in their grade from around the world. Our 1:1 ratio of Chromebooks has been very educational, but it is also allowing for learning in a fun and interactive way.
SES is privileged to have two student teachers presently working in our school. We have Miss Aimee Roste working with Mrs. Fox in 5CF, and she has been busy teaching these students a unit on weather. Last week these Grade 5 students made their own anemometers, which they are currently in the process of testing. They are hopeful that we will have more windy days. Our other student teacher is Nicole Konrad, who is teaching with Miss Watts in 4LW. These Grade 4 students have been enjoying a number of interesting experiments and playing some fun science games. Nicole is teaching both 4LW and 4NN about light and shadows in her science classes.
Our kindergarten students also had another fun and exciting day as they celebrated their favourite storybook character, Pete the Cat. On Friday, Feb. 26, children and staff dressed in blue and participated in crafts and fun activities based on Pete the Cat storybooks.
On Monday, Feb. 29, our students learned about farm safety with our annual Farm Safety presentations, and tomorrow, Thursday, March 3, our Grade 2 SG students will be performing their fairy tale plays in the drama room for their parents. These Grade 2 students have also been busy writing their own fairy tales. Stay tuned next week for news on how our young thespians performed.