Author: Tiffany Poirier

Hello, 4A families!

We hope you enjoy scanning through our recent learning.

In Math, we have been creating math stories, reviewing math facts and are working through a unit on place value. The video below will help students to study the big ideas.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHILD’S AGENDA

Almost every day we send home completed work for families to see as a way to communicate what we are learning and to provide something tangible for students to study. Ask your child to tell you the WOTD (word of the day) and explain what it means and use it in a sentence.

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In Social Studies, we have now wrapped up our Social Studies unit on Orange Shirt Day and the history of residential schools, which connects to our grade 4 Social Studies curriculum on “the impact of colonization on First Peoples in BC and Canada”.  

Students explored for themselves what has been reported through historical sources, read age-appropriate picture books selected by the school, completed reading comprehension activities, shared dialogue, and wrote personal reflections. 

They approached the learning thoughtfully and respectfully, considering the topic first through the teachings of Jesus and our call to treat all of God’s children with dignity.

Students brought up important questions inspiring critical thinking around rights, evidence, impact, and the role individuals, communities, and our government have in creating a just society. 

When there is a difference in viewpoints in class, we encourage students to keep questioning, researching, and dialoguing with their families, and to consider their questions through Scripture and prayer. 

I have been delighted by the maturity, care, and curiosity students have shown in this unit, especially in connecting this learning to our first memory verse of the year: “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you” (Romans 15:7). 

Our next Social Studies unit explores The Fur Trade! 

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In Physical Education, we are enjoying a unit in soccer.

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In Science, we are learning about the “scientific method” and what distinguishes a scientific question verses other kinds of important questions.

We are also learning about states of matter (solids, liquids, gases). Coming up next week is a science and art inquiry with some pumpkins, squash and gourds.

And can you imagine a more adorable way to consider the grade 4 Science learning standard that “living things sense and respond to their environment” than observing kittens!? Wow!

Thank you much to our classmate and family who generously foster kittens to give them a better start to life—they brought these precious felines in and everyone was amazed and had cuteness overload!

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In Career Ed. and Art, students have made beautiful progress on their Learning Coats.

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In Language Arts, we continue with our novel, Babe, learning about good paragraph structure, spelling strategies, WOTD (word of the day), and now some FSA preparation to help students get ready to do and feel their best during the Foundational Skills Assessment next later this month.

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FSA PRACTICE LINK…

In the next couple weeks, students will be supported to take the Foundational Skills Assessment, a province-wide initiative that helps give schools, teachers, students and families a standardized evaluation of core literacy and numeracy skills. We have been practicing taking the online and paper-and-pencil portions of the assessment and using copies of previous years’ FSA booklets. As well, the province has made available a model of the online portion available to give students practice in that format. We are exploring these links in class, and feel free to see what the FSA is like at home by using these links.

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO THE GRADE 4 ONLINE FSA SAMPLES: https://bced.vretta.com/#/en/bced-landing/fsa/sample/grade-4

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Parent-Teacher Conferences

Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 8^th from 3:30-5:45pm and Friday, October 9^th from 8:30am – 12:30pm.  There are no classes on Friday, October 9^th. 

Please note: This time is set aside for parents to connect with the teacher, this is not a time for students to attend.  Childcare is not available.

The Online Registration Form is NOW OPEN and will close Tues, Oct 6^th at 9am.

Elementary booking link:  https://schoolinterviews.ca/code/nnndr

We ask you to keep a few key points in mind: 

1.    Registration is on a “first come, first served” basis – if you have several children or limited availability, please book early.

2.    Please book 1 appointment per child, per family only (not as individual parents for one child).

3.    If the conference times are fully booked or you need to make arrangements for another date, please contact the classroom teacher directly.

4.    Confirmation emails will include the google meet link if Online was chosen

5.    Confirmation emails often end up in email SPAM folders. Please check there if you have not received the confirmation. 

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Hello 4A Families,

Here is a recap of some of our learning this week! 

(In the future, I look forward to sharing more vivid multimedia weekly recaps on our class blog. Until I have had a chance to meet with families to understand everyone’s comfort and specifics of photo permissions, we will stick with text.)

Learning Coats

How wonderful it is to see students thinking creatively to express who they are and their learning through words, doodles and symbols on their Learning Coats!

Math
Today, students are bringing home a check-in quiz on reading analog clocks. They also wrote an assessment on patterning and 3x tables that will come home on Monday.

We have been learning to create “math stories” and math enrichment began this week both with Mr. Rathburn and in our class for any interested students with a discussion of exponents and order of operations with BEDMAS. 

Language Arts
We have been reviewing compound words and expository writing structures, and today we began our novel study of Babe: The Gallant Pig, a novel selected by PCS for Grade 4 classrooms.

It is a charming story and already proving to be a wonderful springboard for conversations about character, plot, language, dialect, and even the origins and changing meanings of words. We have read through the end of Chapter 2.

A note for families: one of the characters speaks in a regional dialect with “grammatical errors”—so we consider those as we go to promote clarity. As well, the early chapters also contain a traditional technical term for a female dog that, over time, has acquired a different and inappropriate meaning in some contexts today. 

I chose to substitute the word as female dog and used this as an age-appropriate opportunity to discuss how language changes over time and how the meaning and appropriateness of a word can depend on its context. ***We also discussed what students can do when they encounter unfamiliar, confusing, or concerning language in books: seek the perspective and guidance of a trusted adult. This is a lesson we return to when students encounter words they find surprising in the Bible as well. 

This week we also did a spelling diagnostic, which will help inform our personalized spelling instruction.

We completed our School-Wide Write to get a baseline of strengths and needs of the writers in our class. Students responded to this prompt:

What is something you enjoy doing? Think of a time when you did it and write about that particular time. What did you see, hear, feel, and think? What made this time special?

Students were supported in build up lessons to think about the structure of their writing, incorporating sensory description and specific details, and bringing their personal narratives to a thoughtful conclusion.

Here are some of the recent Words of the Day (WOTD):

Science
We have begun our unit on matter, starting with the three states of matter.

We are also learning about the scientific method and brainstorming scientific questions that we could investigate through experiments. Students are beginning to distinguish questions that can be tested scientifically from other interesting and important questions we might ask about the world.  

Bible & Chapel
We had a beautiful chapel experience this morning in the newly renovated Numan Centre, including worship music and a focus on our school’s Bible verse for the year:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 (NIV)

In Bible, we are beginning a chronological journey through some key stories of Scripture, starting in the Old Testament and moving into the New Testament over the three terms. Today, we explored the Creation story and considered different ways we might bring Bible stories to life and explain them for different audiences.

We are learning more about how the Bible is organized, how to navigate it, and how its many books come together to tell God’s story. We are growing in our understanding of Scripture as God’s Word—true, trustworthy, and our ultimate written authority for faith and life—as we seek to know God, understand His purposes, and live faithfully in His world.

Much of our work during these opening weeks has been about building our class culture—getting to know one another and creating the kind of safe, joyful, caring community in which every student can learn and thrive.

In Career Education, students have new “class jobs” assigned and we discussed how they can use even these smaller responsibilities to practice leadership and how Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

There are so many wonderful things ahead for our 4A students! I look forward to meeting with you in person or by video conference during our upcoming conferences. (PCS will send out further sign up info soon.)

Please continue to send in those earthquake kits, PCS gym shirts, and Learning Coats—and reach out if any help is needed with these or other school supplies.  

Reminder that if you are interested in ordering hot lunch for Thursday, the order deadline is Sunday night. 

Thank you for all you work getting your children off to a wonderful start this school year! Blessings to you and your families! 

Tiffany Poirier, 4A teacher. 

“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

Welcome to 4A! It was wonderful to see so many of you at Meet the Teacher Night, and I am so grateful for the thoughtful questions, conversations, and information you have already shared with me about your children. For those who couldn’t make it, we missed you—but I’ve got you! Here is a summary of some of the big practical details as we settle into our year together.

Reminder:
PHOTO DAY is Wed., Sept 16th
WELCOME BACK BBQ is Thurs., Sept. 17th

Getting Settled: The Nuts & Bolts

We recognize that much of these first couple of weeks involves housekeeping, forms, supplies, and learning new routines. This is necessary groundwork, but it is certainly not the most exciting part of what Grade 4 will be!

Over the weeks and months ahead, this blog will become a richer window into what we are learning, how we are learning, and why. I’ll share glimpses of our projects and thinking, useful learning tools and videos, photos when appropriate and consented to, and conversation starters to help you connect with what is happening in our classroom.

For now, thank you for helping us get these foundational details sorted out so we can get down to the joyful business of learning together!

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Our Memory Verses

Our first classroom memory verse of the year has been: “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” — Romans 15:7

This year, our school-wide memory verse is John 15:5, which we will be practicing and studying, and returning to throughout the year:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5

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Agendas & Growing Independence

Students have now received their agendas. Soon, we will begin using them regularly to record important reminders and our daily fancy vocabulary word. Please get into the habit of checking your child’s agenda and adding a quick initial when requested.

Our goal is bigger than remembering tomorrow’s details: we are helping students gradually develop the habits of organization, responsibility, independence, and communication that will serve them throughout their lives.

Please also return any outstanding student verification and technology consent forms. I will take care of keeping students’ emergency identification bands updated based on the information provided to the school.

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Learning Coats

Our Learning Coat Project is beginning! Each student needs a second-hand or used, washed button-down shirt or lab coat that is a little too large and can be worn over clothing. Old, stained, imperfect, or holey is absolutely fine—perhaps even better! There is no need to purchase anything fancy.

These coats will grow and change alongside our learning throughout the year. More to come!

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Everyday Things Students Need

Please help your child arrive prepared with the following:

• School supplies: Please continue sending in the supplies from the Grade 4 supply list as soon as possible. If you are having difficulty finding something, reach out—I may be able to help.
• Indoor shoes: Every student needs a pair of indoor shoes that can remain at school.
• Water bottle: Please send a labelled, reusable water bottle every day. Students need easy access to water throughout the day, and my emergency stash of paper cups cannot last forever! 😊
• PE strip: Students need non-marking athletic shoes, comfortable athletic bottoms, and a red PCS sport shirt. Students who still need the shirt have been offered Mr. Low’s order form; shirts are $20.
• Earthquake Kits: Please send one in with your child asap. See the info below. You can order a premade kit here: https://mypcs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Total-Prepare-PCS-Letter-2025.pdf

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Allergies & Food

Thank you for helping us care well for everyone in our classroom community. Please remind children to not to share food at school. We have dietary and allergy considerations in our class (gluten and dairy), so any shared treats or special food should be coordinated with me in advance.

Our goal is for every child to participate safely and comfortably without being unnecessarily singled out.

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Homework & Learning at Home

My homework philosophy is simple: I do not want Grade 4 homework to become homework for parents. Home is also for family, play, activities, connection, and rest.

I will frequently send completed and marked math work home so you can see what we are learning and, if useful for your child, provide some extra repetition or review. Please use your judgment. When life is busy, we’ve got it at school.

One of the most valuable things you can do is simply talk with your child about their learning. This blog will hopefully help when the answer to “What did you do at school today?” is the ever-informative “Nothing.” 😊

Sometimes I post tutorial videos to help support students’ reviewing concepts at home. For example, here is a video to help reinforce skip counting by 3s.

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Volunteering

All volunteers who are working in the school or on field trips must have a Criminal Record Clearance.  These remain valid for 5 years.  Please request an application link from the office or email crcrequest@pacificchristian.ca.  

If parents will be driving students for field trips, we also need:

• a copy of their valid driver’s licence
• a Driver’s Abstract report (check at the office)
• a copy of their insurance coverage indicating they have a minimum $2 million third party liability coverage

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Hot Lunch

We offer Hot lunch on Thursdays alternating between pizza and hot dogs.  This is a fundraiser for various activities and equipment on site.  We also raise funds on the Munch-a-Lunch platform for our World Vision sponsor children.  Orders can be placed for the entire year, or week by week (there are processing fees for each time parents place an order so bigger batches are preferred).  Orders must be submitted by 11:59pm on Sunday evenings. The first order is for Thurs., Sept. 24–so the order deadline is due Sun., Sept. 20th. Order here: https://mypcs.ca/hotlunch/

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Building Our 4A Community

Alongside academics, we are intentionally building the kind of classroom we want to inhabit together: a peaceful, cooperative, creative, safe, joyful, and focused learning community.

In Crew and Bible, we have begun establishing practices for individual, small-group, and whole-class prayer. We are learning simple ways to quiet and prepare our bodies and minds so that we can give focused attention to prayer, Scripture, and the Lord.

Academically, we are beginning to establish routines, review foundational skills, learn how we each learn best, and stretch our thinking. There will be plenty more to share about our approaches to inquiry, creativity, challenge, deep thinking, collaboration, leadership, and joyful learning as the year unfolds. Something special coming up is planning yearlong personal interest projects.

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Communication & Partnership

Email will remain my primary way of communicating time-sensitive or need-to-know information, while this blog will provide the broader window into our classroom and learning journey. I aim to update it approximately weekly.

Please keep me informed when there is something happening with your child’s learning, friendships, confidence, worries, family circumstances, or experience at school that would help me understand and support them better. I genuinely value what you know about your child.

One principle I try to carry into communication with both children and adults is:

Seek first to understand, and then to be understood.

Thank you for your patience as we get through the beginning-of-year nuts and bolts. Soon enough, the forms will be filed, supplies will have homes, routines will become automatic—and we can spend much more of our time sharing the interesting stuff: what these remarkable young people are wondering, creating, discovering, practising, wrestling with, and becoming.

I feel incredibly blessed to teach your children and grateful to have you on our team.

Here’s to a joyful year of growing and learning together!

Blessings,
Tiffany Poirier
4A Teacher

Are you called to share God’s message? In what ways could you share the Good News of Jesus? What is a sermon and how is it different from other expressions of faith? What is the journey like for people who write and share sermons? This term, the 4A students worked hard and prayed to find answers to questions such as these.

In our Bible and Language Arts classes, students work through their own sermon creation process. There are many ways to approach a sermon writing journey and some preparation activities we explored together were guided and informed by resources including “The Art of Teaching” and the “Wycliffe Bible Storytelling Course” and our reflection and dialogue about our collective years of experiencing great sermons as listeners.

The students moved through studying scripture, reflection, and prayer to writing and doing their best to preach an original, thoughtful, Bible-based message from the heart.

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Along the way, students practiced skills for deeply studying God’s Word, identifying biblical truths, making personal connections, speaking with courage, and trusting that God can use young voices to encourage others.

The goal was not to try to create mini pastors—but certainly the future of church leadership is looking bright and can be seen here!

Rather, the goal was to help students discover that God’s truth is not only a profound gift to be received—it is also a gift they can faithfully pass on and share…now! (And, of course, greater reading, writing, and speaking skills have been developed along the way!)

While our students are children, they are already disciples, and disciples are called to tell others about what God has done and is doing.

As Jesus commanded, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

– Mark 16:15

Sermons Examples…

Below you’ll see the process we used, examples of student work, and the remarkable sermons that emerged when young people were invited to take God’s Word seriously and speak about it with faith, wisdom, and joy.

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What was our process?

The following images summarize (but just scratch the surface of) the path we followed. Students were supported over six stages and asked to check in with me and their classmates at the end of each “checkpoint” to encourage deeper reflection.

NOTE: We repeatedly discussed that there is no “formula” for preparing an impactful sermon, but the practices students explored were intended to give them a broader perspective on how some sermons could come together when we proceed in prayer, Bible study, dialogue and reflection.

**** The graphics alone were created with AI based directly on my instructions and content as I thought best (after prayer and research) to summarize for you.

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Our Speakers’ Bureau for the Week of June 15-18…

If you would like to have one or more of our grade 4 students come deliver an impassioned, practiced, original sermon for your students this week, please email your request to Tiffany Poirier at tiffany.poirier@pacificchristian.ca

Each sermon is between 1.5 to 5 minutes long. Be sure to state the date and time you would like the speakers to arrive and how many sermons you would like.

You can also request specific topics/students and we will do our best to make that happen if possible.

Please refer to the menu of sermons and preachers below if you are making specific requests—or leave it up to us to send you the right speaker.

Hello, 4A families!

What natural resources are all around us? Observant students noticed a tall, striking, spiky plant growing beside our portable classroom.

Curious about what it might be, we carefully examined the plant and used the iNaturalist app to help identify it as milk thistle, a remarkable flowering plant known for its striking purple flowers, distinctive white-veined leaves, and long history of use as a natural resource.

As we learned more about milk thistle, we discussed how plants that might initially seem prickly, unfriendly, or even unwanted can still have important purposes in the natural world.

Milk thistle has been studied for centuries because of compounds found in its seeds, and it provides food for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. This led us to reflect on how God has filled creation with incredible diversity, beauty, and purpose.

Our observations also connected to our learning from Term 2 about animal adaptations. Students recognized that just as animals have special features that help them survive in their environments, plants have adaptations too. We discussed how the sharp spines of milk thistle help protect it from being eaten by animals. Living things throughout creation have unique characteristics that help them survive and thrive.

After spending time observing the plant, students applied their watercolor painting skills to create detailed botanical illustrations. Like scientists and naturalists, they carefully studied the shapes, colours, textures, and structures of the leaves, flowers, and stems before transferring their observations to paper.

Through this process, students practiced both artistic techniques and scientific observation skills.

We can uncover fascinating stories hidden within God’s creation—even in a spiky plant growing beside our classroom.

“How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”

— Psalm 104:24

Further Research: Here is more scientific information about the use of milk thistle: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7140758/

Hello 4A families,

Congratulations to students at the VISAA Track Meet!

Thank you for representing our school and demonstrating perseverance, sportsmanship, and school spirit! We hope you enjoyed the experience, made great memories, and learned from the challenges and successes of the day.

In Social Studies, we have been going deeper into our study of Canada’s natural resources and exploring ideas related to sustainability, renewable and non-renewable resources, and stewardship.

This connects closely to the BC curriculum as students learn how Canada’s land, forests, water, minerals, and energy resources shape our country, economy, and communities.

We have also been reflecting on our responsibility to care wisely for God’s creation and thinking critically about how natural resources can be managed for different goals and values.

Students are encouraged to research using a variety of sources, ask thoughtful questions, and begin developing their own informed perspectives about the balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and responsible stewardship.

These discussions are fascinating as we recognize and honour that different families and communities hold different perspectives and values around the use of Canada’s natural resources.

Our bigger picture goals in S.S. class are to empower learners to explore a variety of viewpoints and sources, think critically, and develop informed, thoughtful perspectives of their own as they consider the complex relationship between economic growth, environmental stewardship, and responsible resource management.

As always, I encourage students to bring these conversations home and deepen their learning with their parents, who are their first and best teachers.

Students have participated in group dialogues, done a self-quiz, and written a detailed paragraph to show their learning so far in this unit—and tomorrow they will do another quiz and some students will present a play on the topic.

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In Language Arts and Bible class, students have now completed Checkpoint 4 of their sermon-writing project: the first draft. You are going to be so inspired and blown away by the meaningful work our grade 4 students have done!

Students have finished their handwritten sermon copies and have been supported to create a typed version using either keyboarding or voice-to-text technology. (Students were encouraged and monitored to use digital tools as needed to support grammar, punctuation, spelling, and the accuracy of scripture references, but not to generate content.)

The greatest value of this learning project comes when the ideas, insights, and wording of each sermon remain the students’ own—family and friends were welcomed to discuss and provide guidance, but it was important that I supervised the writing of the first draft in class so I could understand the origin and development of each child’s ideas.

This stage of the project has sparked rich conversations about authenticity and the purpose of a sermon itself. We have emphasized that a sermon is an opportunity to faithfully communicate God’s truth to others and to help listeners better understand and apply His Word. For that reason, students have been encouraged to draw their ideas from thoughtful Bible study, prayer, and reflection.

At the same time, we have discussed how revising and polishing a sermon with the help of available tools, as well as feedback from family and friends, can be an important part of learning to communicate clearly and effectively.

We are excited to share the sermons with you soon!

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In Math, we have been reviewing perimeter and measurement concepts.

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Congratulations to all of our 4A students for their wonderful, heartfelt, creative, and diverse contributions to our chapel presentation today.

Over the last several weeks, students have worked hard on and off-screen to help dramatize the Bible story “Jesus Heals the Paralyzed Man.”

Along the way, they engaged in creative problem solving as they explored how to use simple costumes, found items as props, the natural setting of our school, and green screen technology to bring this powerful account to life.

In this production phase, there were many laughs, memorable moments, and exciting “light bulb” discoveries.

One thing that especially moved me was watching the students grow in their understanding of performance with purpose—not just for entertainment value. For young children, it can be a journey to understand how storytelling and acting can be used not simply for drawing attention to oneself, but to communicate meaning, emotion, and truth—to humbly let the story be central and work as a team. The 4A students did that!

I was deeply inspired the maturity students showed with memorable, sensitive and at times moving portrayals of the characters. Our goal was to keep the central focus on communicating God’s Word and teaching others about Jesus and His ministry through storytelling.

It was also incredibly special to see students share their progress in their Learning Coats and see their originality, creativity, and sweet personalities shine through in ways that encouraged and inspired others.

Thank you, 4A families, for your support throughout this special project.

Here was the main script for the performance…

Hello, 4A families!

Our Grade 4 students had an exciting and hands-on learning experience during our visit to the Saanich Public Works yard!

Students explored how local infrastructure systems help communities function safely and efficiently, connecting to the BC Grade 4 Science, Social Studies and Career Ed. curriculum.

Through demonstrations and interactive booths, students learned about hydraulics and simple machines used in excavators, garbage trucks, sewer maintenance vehicles, and road construction equipment.

They also explored water systems, recycling, underground utilities, traffic systems, invasive and indigenous plant management, and the important role public works employees play in caring for our environment and community.

Students gained insight into workplace safety, technology used to locate underground services, and the many careers involved in maintaining roads, utilities, green spaces, and transportation systems.

This field trip helped students better understand how humans use science, technology, and cooperation to solve problems and build sustainable, connected communities.

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In other news, our class continues to make strong progress in Math as students work through our units on probability and visualizing data.

In Language Arts and Bible class, students are thoughtfully developing their sermon-writing projects and learning how to communicate important ideas with clarity, structure, and purpose.

Tomorrow will be an especially exciting day, as our 4A class will help lead chapel by sharing our film production of “Jesus Heals the Paralyzed Man.”

Students will also showcase the creativity and meaning behind their personalized learning coats, which reflect their identities, interests, growth, and learning journeys throughout the year. We look forward to sharing a special blog post tomorrow featuring photos and videos from the presentation!

Hello, 4A families,

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This blog post is to introduce our current phase of the sermon project Checkpoint 2: Create a Storyboard (due Thursday, May 7th)—we taught this skills in class on Monday.

Students learned how to take the outline of a Bible story and turn each step into a simple illustration—using basic stick figures and images and/or symbols.

The goal is not to artistic detail, but rather to create a visual memory guide that helps students understand, organize, and remember their story.

This storyboard acts as a memorization tool, allowing students to “see” the sequence of events and anchor the story in their minds.

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Looking Ahead…

Our next step will be Checkpoint 3: Exegesis. We will work to have a draft of this done by Tuesday, May 12th.

Exegesis is the process of carefully studying and explaining the meaning of a Bible passage.

In this upcoming stage of the project, students move beyond simply retelling their Bible story and begin asking and seeking to answer deeper questions. They will identify the main lessons and truths in their story and explain them clearly in their sermon. They will write a detailed paragraph (or a few paragraphs) to teach others about the main lessons of the Bible story.

Students will be thinking about:

• What are the big ideas in this story?
• Why is this story in the Bible?
• What is God teaching us through it?
• How does this apply to our lives today?

We will spend 3 days in class working on this.

If you would like to support your child at home, you could begin having simple conversations about the Bible story—reading it together, praying for understanding and wisdom, and discussing what it might teach us.

Thank you for your continued support at home!

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IMPORTANT NOTES:

Please note we have the Grade 3–5 track meet at on Thursday, May 14th.

More information was shared by email from athletic director, Mr. Brett Low. Students will have an opportunity tomorrow in class to sign up for their preferred events, and we will spend time going over the different events and expectations together.

Please also note that the following day, Friday, May 15th, is a Pro-D Day, meaning there will be no school for students.

NOTE: Please contact Mr. Low at brett.low@pacificchristian.ca if your child has lost his/her red PCS gym shirt to arrange a replacement—this shirt is needed for the track meet.

Hello 4A families,

As I shared in a previous post, your children have begun a meaningful journey of writing and sharing a Bible-based sermon.

Students are asked to choose a Bible story and focus on two key elements:

• Retelling the story accurately and clearly
• Discussing the meaning and lessons of the story

Some students may choose to include personal connections or experiences, but that is not required at this stage. Our primary goal is that, with structured support over the next few weeks, each student is able to faithfully and engagingly communicate a Bible story and identify its key learnings.

To support learners, I am breaking this project into a series of checkpoints with due dates, so I can guide students closely and ensure everyone is on track at a healthy pace.

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📍 Checkpoint #1 — Due Tuesday, May 5

Students have been asked to:

1. Choose a Bible story
2. Identify the Scripture reference(s)
3. Create a story outline

This week, we discussed how some Bible stories appear in multiple books of the Bible, and why it is important for students to return to Scripture and read it for themselves. They are also welcome and encouraged to explore other supports such as children’s Bible storybooks, conversations with parents, or input from pastors and trusted adults.

Students are encouraged to choose a story that is manageable in length. For example, rather than covering the entire life of Moses, it may be best to focus on a specific part of their story (such as the story of baby Moses).

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What is a “story outline”?

A story outline is:

• Not the full Bible text
• Not a detailed retelling

Instead, it is a simple breakdown of the key events, in order—almost like a traffic incident report of what occurred.

Students should aim for:

• 8–12 key points (perhaps up to 20 for longer stories)
• Clear, sequential steps that capture the main events

Keeping the outline simple will help them significantly in the next phase.

Here are two examples:

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What comes next?

Once students have their story outlines, we will begin working on memorization techniques, including:

• Creating simple stick figure drawings for each step (storyboard)
• Acting out the story with exaggerated actions to build a kinesthetic connection
• Speed retellings for automaticity

This approach to breaking down a Bible story was inspired by a Bible storytelling course I took called the Story the Bible Online Comprehensive Course (STBOCC). It had a profound impact on how I learn, remember, and communicate Scripture, and I’m excited to bring these strategies into our classroom.

If you’re curious to learn more, here is the course link: https://wycliffe.org.au/events/stbocc/

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Below, you’ll find an example:

• A video of me telling the story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man
• Followed by a story outline of the same passage, showing how it is simplified into key steps

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Example of briefly retelling a Bible story…

Example of the Bible Story Outline…

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PREVIEW: Coming up next week, checkpoint #2 will teach students to make a simple stick figure storyboard for their Bible Story…

No need to start this storyboard yet—I need to teach the full lesson on this first. But I thought it could be helpful to see what the story outline will be used for next.

“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvellous deeds among all peoples.”

– Psalm 96:3