THE PACE OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

HELLO to 2023! We’ve had so many intriguing learning experiences to kick off the New Year! We cannot wait to see what’s in store for the remainder of the year, but first let’s dive into January and February highlights.

JANUARY + FEBRUARY  HIGHLIGHTS

Our grade 7 science students have been learning about how elements in the periodic table bond with one another. Using molecular kits, they created 3-D models of molecules. This was also an amazing team bonding experience.

Our grade 8 science students observed electrons in an atom becoming excited. When atoms are heated, the electrons in the outer shell will move so quickly they will jump up to another energy level. This process converts heat energy to light energy, producing different colours of light. Two of the favourites were lead nitrate, which produced a beautiful green colour of light, while lithium nitrate produced a dark red flame. It was an ionic experience for sure.

Students experienced exciting live music and insightful video documentary, while learning about the challenges musicians encounter in practice, rehearsal, and performance. How do musicians prepare themselves and handle the pressure? Students had the opportunity to meet TSO musicians, learn how they mentally, emotionally, and physically prepare and cheer them on as they perform in their moments.

In their Oceanography unit, grade 3 students made predictions about the effects of salinity on the buoyancy of two different objects – an egg and old pennies. Students hypothesized, recorded observations through drawings, analyzed their data in charts, and drew final conclusions.

The grade 1 students went on a field trip to the Ontario Science Centre to participate in a workshop on strong and stable structures. There was no “tension” between these teammates while they engineered their strong and stable bridges, towers, and arches!

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Our grade 7 science students have been learning about mixtures in their chemistry unit. Following the procedure, they created mixtures, made observations on their physical properties and classified them as either a solution, suspension, emulsion or a colloid.

As part of their unit on forces, our grade 3 science students created arcade games using mostly recycled materials! Students created arcade style games and identified what forces would be used in the project and how Newton’s laws could be identified throughout.

Our grade 1 students read the story Enemy Pie, written by Derek Munson, and discussed the meaning of friendship and how people can quickly become friends, even if they were unsure about them at the start. After reading, they created their very own Enemy Pie Recipe to guide themselves in making new friends, especially new friends who they might not have thought could be their friend. The students were very thoughtful and creative in coming up with “ingredients” and images to match.

SETTING THE PACE

What a fantastic start to 2023! We have achievements to be proud of but still have work to do. As we look ahead to March and April we are excited for:

• March 1 – Cultural Event (grades 1-5)
• March 3 – School Closes at 12pm for March Break
• March 20 – School Resumes
• March 23-24 – Parent-Teacher Interviews (school closed)
• March 27 – Graduation Photos
• March 30-31 – P.A.C.E. Model UN
• April 7 – Good Friday (school closed)
• April 10 – Easter Monday (school closed)
• April 12- Senior Reach for the Top Tournament
• April 14 – Science Odyssey (grades 6-9)
• April 18-21 – Quebec City (Grade 7)
• April 19-21 – Montreal Space Camp (Grade 8)
• April 25-28 – East Coast of Canada (Grades 9-12)

Keep pace with what’s going on with our students with our bi-monthly blog updates. For an insider’s view into your child’s enriched learning experience, join the P.A.C.E. community on Instagram.

THE PACE OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

As we say Goodbye to 2022 and a Big HELLO to 2023 we just wanted to take a quick minute and look back on our students’ final learning lessons, achievements and personal successes of 2022!

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

The grade 11 students presented their French work about the effects of social media on friendship. The presentations were excellent and very informative.

Les élèves de la onzième année ont présenté leur travail en français à propos des effets des médias sociaux sur l’amitié.Les présentations étaient excellentes et très intéressantes.

The grades 7-11 Music students visited Roy Thomson Hall  to experience MOMENTS – a live concert performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Students experienced exciting live music and insightful video documentary, while learning about the challenges musicians encounter in practice, rehearsal, and performance. How do musicians prepare themselves and handle the pressure? Students had the opportunity to meet TSO musicians, learn how they mentally, emotionally, and physically prepare and cheer them on as they perform in their moments.

Our grade 5s prepared themselves for their Science Odyssey which took place on November 29th. Students were required to follow the scientific process to either create a working model or conduct an experiment on a topic in science. 

In order to help them prepare for this endeavour, the grade 11s and 12s mentored them by listening to their progress and giving them feedback on their projects. Many of the grade 11s and 12s have also participated in the Science Odyssey, which gives them a wealth of knowledge to give to the budding, young scientists.

Our grade 3s are learning how to code! Students have been practicing a hands-on approach by using code to navigate through a maze of their own creation.

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Our grade 2s had a wonderfully ‘pawsitive’ and exciting learning experience meeting a wide variety of interesting and unique animals from Pawsitively Pets! They enjoyed holding the animals, petting them and learning about each one and their unique characteristics.

And congratulations to the U20 dodgeball team in their nail biting finish against TCMPS to clinch the finals and win the championship! Fighting back from an 0-2 deficit in the sets, the team persevered and fought back to win the next 3 sets. The team showed commitment, sportsmanship and teamwork. Thanks for making your coach and your school proud!

Our grade 5s went on a field trip to The Community Safety Village located within Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area! They participated in three workshops run by first responders – Emergency Preparedness, CPR Basic Training, and Internet Safety.

After creating their own sequels for their novel study on The Summer of the Swans, grade 3 students had the opportunity to share their new books at their class book fair. From designing a new title and front cover, to writing a persuasive “trailer” and critic quote for the back cover, students warmed up by the fire to share their creations.

Just before the holiday break our grade 7s had started their chemistry unit! Their first experiment involved the students mixing together different substances to determine if a physical or chemical change took place. They used precision and accuracy when collecting the data from each reaction. Well done Grade 7s!

SETTING THE PACE

What a fantastic end to 2022! We have achievements to be proud of but still have work to do! As we look ahead to January and February we are excited for: 

• January 3 – School Resumes
• January 24 – Cultural Event (grades 6-7)
• January 27 – Festival of Words at the RHCPA (grades 1-7)
• January 30 – Session 2 Extracurriculars Begin
• February 1 – Musical Theatre Performance
• February 2 – UT MUN
• February 8-10 – Albion Hills (grade 6)
• February 9 – Graduation Photos (grade 12)
• February 15 – Canadian Computing Contest (grades 10-12)
• February 15 – CPR course (grade 9)
• February 20 – Family Day (school closed)
• February 22 – Cayley, Fermat, and Pascal Contests
• February 23 – P.A.C.E. Innovation Challenge

Keep pace with what’s going on with our students with our bi-monthly blog updates. For an insider’s view into your child’s enriched learning experience, join the P.A.C.E. community on Instagram.