Keeping P.A.C.E. | May + June 2023
THE PACE OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
This year has come and gone so quickly but the imprint will last forever here at P.A.C.E.! We’ve shared so many challenging and exciting learning experiences these past few months–thank you for always giving it your all P.A.C.E. students! Below we have recapped all the significant and exciting things that took place in May and June!
And let’s take a minute to acknowledge our amazing group of grads! Congratulations to our graduating class of 2023 – we are confident as you move forward on your education journey that you will find success as long as you stay true to yourself! We will miss you, however, we will be cheering you on in your next adventure!
MAY + JUNE HIGHLIGHTS
Inspired by the story of “The Dot“, our grade 1 artists created their own stunning dot artwork. They used oil pastels to create such vibrant colours! Our students learned that everyone makes their own mark in the world and that no mark made is ever too small!
From May 3 to 5, our grade 5s visited Albion Hills Field Centre, where they had the opportunity to enjoy a nature-themed overnight field trip! Students participated in activities such as practicing wilderness survival skills, nature hike, thick tread mountain biking, ephemeral nature art, eco Jeopardy, campfire and a guided night walk!
You may have been wondering what all the “racket” was about this May–our very own Yannis and Bradley finished in 1st place in boys doubles at the SSAF U14 Badminton Championship!
To complement their Unit on the Middle Ages, our grade 4s traveled to Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament to observe the reenactment of Feudalism during that period of European history. It was a ‘Knight’ they will surely never forget!
To finish their Theme Unit on Ancient Egypt, grade 3 students had the opportunity to be the teacher for the class! Each group collaboratively worked together to pick an Egyptian god/goddess, conduct research, put together a presentation, and share their findings with the class and teach their peers. The students were excited to compare what they learned in class to their findings on their field trip to the Royal Ontario Museum!
The P.A.C.E. community was treated to a special evening of music and dance on Wednesday, May 10th at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. After four years, students and staff returned to the stage to host the 30th Annual P.A.C.E. Music Festival.
The memorable evening of music could not have happened without the hard work and dedication of our talented music students, and support from P.A.C.E parents. Thank you for being a part of this musical tradition.
A heartfelt “thank you” to our Production Manager Ms. Reay; Stage Managers Ms. Taft and Mr. Obradovic; Assistant Production Managers Mr. Rovet and Ms. Abela; and Stage Crew Members Eleanor, Rohan, Polina and Matteo. Each of you helped from start to finish and assisted behind the scenes to create smooth transitions for an amazing performance.
A special thanks to our Choral Director Ms. Fuller and our Music Director Mr. de Lara for teaching and inspiring all students to embrace the art of music and performance.
Finally, thank you to our producer and director Ms. Gruchy for providing the guidance and leadership with all of our programs and supporting all of our music endeavors! It was simply extraordinary to see P.A.C.E. return to the stage!
Our grade 6s worked diligently on creating their very own products and business plans. The teams presented their inventions to a panel of judges at our Panther Pit Competition (inspired by the hit TV shows Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank). We are so proud of their amazing creativity and innovative designs.
Our grade 3s went on a field study to the Royal Ontario Museum. Students explored the Ancient Egypt exhibit through a group scavenger hunt, had a private tour throughout the exhibit to learn more about the lives of Ancient Egyptians, and participated in a lab where they identified the ancient culture from which various artifacts originated.
On Tuesday, May 23rd, 80+ students consisting of grade 7, grade 8 and concert band music students returned to the stage and performed live at the annual Canada’s Wonderland Festival of Music.
Adjudicated by Garry Page, Mr. Page complimented all the students on their sense of music interpretation and attention to detail while performing all musical selections with true style and enthusiasm.
Thank you to Mr. Hosein for his assistance with supervision throughout the day, and to our Music Director and Conductor Mr. De Lara for sharing his guidance, knowledge, and gift of music to all P.A.C.E. students.
On May 26, our drama and music students came together to present P.A.C.E.’s 2023 school show, The Addams Family. This wonderful musical showcased our students’ talents in acting, singing, dancing, choreography, piano playing, costume and set design, and tech. It was a product of several months of hard work that truly paid off. This show had everything: enchanting costumes and make-up, captivating choreographies, quirky characters and incredible singing, all supported by stunning back-drops and effective sound and lights cues.
Thank you to to Mr. de Lara for his indispensable tech expertise that elevated the entire production; to Ms. Niece for her dedication in helping with everything from set and costume design to recording the show; to Ms. Fuller for her dedication to helping our singers improve and excel at their craft; and to Mr. Obradovic whose vision and stage mastery gave us another unforgettable theatrical experience.
A performance like this is a true celebration of P.A.C.E.’s talent and creativity and as we congratulate all the participants, we also thank them for sharing their artistry with us.
Cathy’s Crawly Composters brought vermicomposting to our grade 1 classroom! In their theme unit, The 4Rs, the grade 1s have been learning about our impact on the planet. They learned about the importance of red wiggler worms and composting. Students also had the option to have their own worm kit to continue vermicomposting at home!
SETTING THE PACE
We have had a very successful school year and are so proud of you! As we look ahead to July and August we are excited for:
- Camp fires & S’mores
- Swimming
- Movie nights
- Beach days
- Great times with friends and family
We wish all the same and more for our P.A.C.E. Community! Have a wonderful summer break!
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.
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