Council – Funded Initiatives
Each year, the school council fundraises and uses the money to enhance the classroom and educational experience at Adam Beck. This school year, council funds were used to provide the following for students:
- Sewing: On March 26, the junior grades participated in a sewing workshop, learning how to use sewing machines to complete a personalized project from start to finish, gaining confidence, motivation, inspiration and further developing a growth mindset
- Space – Scientist in the School: on May 5, room 10 students learned about space – planets, stars and moons. The students were given hands-on materials to illustrate the solar system and how planets orbit the sun. They learned about Canadian contributions to space exploration and re-created the Canadarm (used on the ISS) using cups and string. The hands-on activities reinforced what they have been learning in class.
- Kindergarten – Scientist in the School: all four kindergarten classes have had the opportunity to have a ‘scientist in the school’
- Chess: grade 3 classrooms, including those with split classes, attended chess class for an hour each week. The lessons incorporated many mathematical concepts such as coordinates, moving in grids, flips and turns. Throughout the lessons, they enjoyed learning about the game, rules, strategies and moves. Every class, students had a chance to play with a peer, where they learned to focus and demonstrate good sportsmanship.
- Math manipulatives: the school purchased an assortment of math manipulative items such as fake money, base ten blocks, and linking cubes to be used in all classrooms.
- Math-Up: junior grades got the Math up program and activity books paid for by council.
- Yoga: all kindergarten and most grade 1/2 classes had mindfulness and mindful movement sessions. These were extremely helpful in introducing and practicing calming strategies and relaxation techniques/stress management with the youngest students.
- Robotics: room 3 used coding to solve various Lego challenges and build structures, with students working in small groups to carry out these fun tasks collaboratively. These three sessions allowed the students to apply their new knowledge of coding.
- Kindergarten hands-on program: Kindergarten project funds were used for photos, cooking, clay and art, as well as outdoor equipment like shovels and rakes. The kindergarteners also learned about butterfly and caterpillar larvae science.
- New trumpet and instrument repair: a new cornet trumpet was purchased for junior students to use in the itinerant band program, and the remaining funds will be used to help pay for instrument repairs as they arise.
- Choir music: funded multiple pieces of music for the choir which were performed at both the Winter and Spring concerts, allowing our singers to perform a current repertoire of interest to them, and in arrangement and keys achievable for their voice types.
- English language curriculum: English kindergarten to grade 2/3 classrooms used council funds to support the implementation of the new Language curriculum with decodable books, manipulatives, and materials that support structured reading and writing instruction.
- Clay art: kindergarten students worked with artists to make clay art on April 22 and 23
- Knitting: Grade 6 French Immersion classes bought crochet and knitting needles, as well as micro bits that should be arriving soon.
- Author visits: For some or all classes
- Stop-motion animation: grades 1 to 3 and the 3/4 split classes will participate in a stop-motion animation workshop on April 22 and 28 as well as May 5
- Nature drawing: other grades 1 to 3 and the 3/4 split classes will participate in a nature drawing art session on April 22 and 28 as well as May 5
- School performance: hosting a school-wide performance of “How Raven Stole the Sun” by 3 Crows Productions on May 30
