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Project-based learning comes to SES

STETTLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -- Since the spring break, Stettler Elementary School has been busy with preparations for the 2016-17 year.

STETTLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -- Since the spring break, Stettler Elementary School has been busy with preparations for the 2016-17 school year. We held kindergarten information and registration night last Wednesday and now this Thursday, we will be holding an information and registration evening for the Start Right Play School. This Thursday's event begins at 6:30 p.m. and is being held in the playschool area at the school, so parents will be able to see where their three- and four-year-olds will be. If you are unable to attend this evening, or if you missed the kindergarten registration night, feel free to stop by the school to pick up registration forms and to ask any questions that you may have. Although it is the time of year that we begin to look ahead to next year, there are still many great things that we are focusing our attention on this year.

On Wednesday, April 6, our kindergarten classes went on a train and did an elevator tour. These young students were gathering information for their PBL (Project Based Learning) project entitled "Train your Brain." Most of our classes have spent a great deal of time incorporating technology into student learning and creating PBL projects for the students to experience a more hands on approach to their learning. By having students use real-life situations in the classrooms, we are able to make the learning relevant and fun all at the same time.

In Mrs. Lang's Grade 1 class, the students have been learning about building things with a variety of materials, and Sean Nordstrom demonstrates how to build a tower using toothpicks and mini marshmallows. All of the Grade 1 students have been busy exploring and building, and through this experience they are discovering the laws of physics as well as many other scientific explorations.

Inspired by a session at the Teachers' Convention, Mrs. Prehn decided to use part of her Language Arts time to allow her students to tap into their creative side. The students were asked to select an individual project that sparked joy for them. Each student brainstormed and shared their interests, selected their project, planned their process, conducted daily self-reflections, contacted support (which was most commonly, parents - thank you so much!), presented to the class, and recorded their victories and learning opportunities. The creations constructed were fantastic. We saw a variety of pieces, including a farm rap, paper mache, a digital representation of Star Wars using computer programming, wooden carvings, paintings, a music video bringing awareness to OCD, shields, beading, sketches, etc.. The talent and imagination demonstrated was truly exciting and refreshing. Our future is in good hands.

Our 6CR class is working on a PBL that will allow students with excess energy to burn that off on stationary bikes located around the school. However, our upstanding young students have not yet located bikes (or possibly treadmills) to make this a reality. They are going to be looking to solve this issue in the very near future, and therefore, if you have an exercise bike, or a treadmill, that you are no longer using, and it is collecting dust in your basement, please feel free to contact the school. Our Grade 6 students would be happy to make arrangements for us to get it out of your way. Thank you, in advance, for helping to make this plan a reality for our students.

Camp McE Basketball Camp began on Friday, April 8, and runs after school Fridays and on Saturday mornings until Saturday, April 23. At the camp, our students learn a variety of basketball skills and have an opportunity to use these new-found skills in game situations. We have approximately 100 students registered for the camp, and the reports from the students are once more very positive.

Again this year, SES is holding a "Used Book Swap and Sale." The students have been busy bringing books that they are finished reading into the library, and are preparing to be able to pick out "new" books to add to their collection. Wednesday, April 13 is the last day for students to bring their books in, so our organizers will no longer be accepting used books. Swappers (students who brought books in for the sale) will swap on the 18th and 19th and other shoppers can then shop on April 20th and 21st. All books are sold for 25 cents, and new this year the sale will be open to the public from 3:30 -4:00 p.m. on April 20 and 21. We hope to see you at the sale.