Keeping P.A.C.E. | MAY + JUNE 2026

Keeping P.A.C.E. | MAY + JUNE 2026

THE PACE OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

With the arrival of June, P.A.C.E. reflects on a season of meaningful growth and shared experiences. Our students have embraced opportunities to learn, create, and discover, supported by dedicated educators and families. As we transition into summer, we celebrate the progress made and the strong sense of community that continues to thrive.

MAY+JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

Looking back on the season—From hands-on workshops and cultural celebrations to moments on the field, on stage, and in the classroom, our students have embraced every opportunity to grow, connect, and thrive as the school year comes to a close.  

Spelling Bee
Our young learners showcased their growing language skills and confidence during this year’s Spelling Bee, embracing the challenge with focus and enthusiasm. 

Recognizing the Heart of Our School 
In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day, we recognize our dedicated educators for the care, commitment, and inspiration they bring to their classrooms each day.

Your impact is lasting, and your efforts are deeply appreciated.

Learning Sustainability Through Vermicomposting 
The Grade 1 classroom welcomed a special visit from Cathy’s Crawly Composters to explore the fascinating world of vermicomposting!

As part of their theme unit on the 4Rs, students have been learning about the impact we have on our planet and the importance of reducing waste. They discovered how red wiggler worms help break down food scraps and turn them into nutrient-rich compost.

To extend the learning, the class now has its very own mini vermicomposting bin, giving students the opportunity to observe firsthand how worms digest different foods and help the environment in the process!

Connecting Curriculum Through Culture: A Grade 5 Experience 
On May 7, our Grade 5 students immersed themselves in Japanese culture during their visit to the Japanese Cultural Centre! Through hands-on experiences and engaging activities, students created meaningful connections between concepts explored in their theme unit and traditional Japanese art forms and customs. A day full of learning, creativity, and cultural discovery!

U12 Soccer Tournament
Our U12 team demonstrated teamwork, perseverance, and school spirit as they participated in a spirited soccer tournament. 

From Words to Wildlife: Our Animal Adoption Project 
Our Grade 4 French students became wildlife experts and persuasive campaigners during their Animal Adoption Project! Students researched exotic animals, wrote simple sentences in French using new vocabulary and adjectives, and presented creative campaigns to convince their families to adopt their chosen animal!

Making Music, Making Memories 
P.A.C.E. Elementary choirs, ukulele, and instrumental band students from Grades 1–8 had an incredible time preparing for their performance at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts! From rehearsals filled with laughter to the excitement of taking the stage, it was a joyful celebration of music and talent.

Mathematica Contest
Students from Grades 3 through 8 challenged themselves at the Mathematica Contest, applying problem-solving skills and critical thinking in a supportive and engaging environment. 

Hands-on learning in Grade 2 Science!
Students rotated through interactive stations to explore how different simple machines help make everyday tasks easier. From problem-solving to discovery, the afternoon was filled with curiosity, creativity, and fun!

Teamwork and Determination Lead the Way!
On May 19, our Grade 7/8 soccer team had a fantastic showing! They played incredibly well throughout the round robin, with every game being closely contested — except for one standout 4–0 win! The team advanced to the playoffs and fought hard in a heartfelt 1–0 loss. 

Congratulations to our athletes on an excellent tournament and a strong display of teamwork, determination, and school spirit!

Celebrating Musical Excellence at Canada’s Wonderland 
On Wednesday, May 27, P.A.C.E. music students performed live at Canada’s Wonderland’s Festival of Music!  Our Grade 7 and 8 ensembles, along with members of the P.A.C.E. Concert Band, were adjudicated by Laura Lee Matthie, a respected music educator, board member of the Coalition for Music Education, and leader with the Ontario Music Educators’ Association.

Laura Lee shared positive feedback and expressed how impressed she was to see and hear our elementary students perform such challenging and engaging repertoire. She also joined our students on stage to conduct them, helping enhance their collective and individual musicianship through attention to articulation, intonation, rhythm, and more. Congratulations to our students on another memorable and successful performance!

SETTING THE PACE

May and June have carried forward a strong sense of momentum, creativity, and connection across our school community. From meaningful milestones to everyday moments of growth, our students have continued to shine in so many ways.

As we close out the school year, we do so with pride and gratitude—celebrating all that has been accomplished and looking ahead to a well-deserved summer filled with rest, reflection, and new possibilities. 

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.

Keeping P.A.C.E. | May + June 2024

Keeping P.A.C.E. | May + June 2024

THE PACE OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Summer break is a time for travel and exploration, fun, personal growth and making memories for a lifetime but before we wish you a wonderful break we have to say; we have so enjoyed watching your educational journey throughout the 2023-2024 school year! Before we all hit the road for an amazing summer break let’s reminisce about some of the highlights from the last few months of school.

MAY + JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

Our grade 1 classes continued with their multiplication unit outdoors! They gathered materials after being given a multiplication question and had to show groupings for each and count their answer before receiving their next equation.

From May 1-3, our grade 5 students participated in an overnight field study at Albion Hills Conservation Field Centre. Higher-level learning is greatly enhanced by opportunities to interact outside of the typical classroom environment. Grade 5 students furthered their understanding of scientific concepts linked to ecology, astronomy, and living things, while immersing themselves in activities such as wilderness survival skills, geocaching, nature art, or trail biking. An interdisciplinary and hands-on approach to learning allows our students to make meaningful connections required for problem solving, while supporting the development of healthy leadership and communication skills.

Inspired by the hit TV shows Dragon’s Den, our grade 6s participated in their entrepreneurial culminating activity, Owl’s Hollow, in their Global Perspectives course. We were blown away by our student’s amazing creativity and innovative designs!

Following their visit from their mentor engineer, our grade 8 students took their research, feedback and Climate Science ideas and created a model of a city 100 years in the future. The teams showed their finished products by virtually presenting to a panel of engineers. The engineers were very impressed with our students’ ideas and models, giving them wonderful feedback for their designs. Congratulations to all our teams that put their heart and soul into this endeavour and experienced what it would be like to be an engineer – your future is bright (and well built!).

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Our grade 1s got a visit from Cathy of Cathy’s Composting who provided a fantastic vermicomposting (the processing of organic wastes through earthworms) workshop. The students learned about the life science behind worms and how they are beneficial to our environment. Students even went home with their own worm kit to help start their own composting bins!

From May 8-10, our grade 6 students enjoyed an exciting program at Albion Hills Conservation Field Centre to build upon last year’s experience. Students furthered their understanding of concepts related to biodiversity, predator/prey relationships, cartography, and human interactions with the environment. They enhanced their leadership skills and communication methods while participating in this immersive experience, bringing home memories to last a lifetime!

On May 15, P.A.C.E. hosted its annual Music Festival at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Special thanks to our Choral Director, Ms. Fuller, our Music Director, Mr. de Lara, and to our Producer and school Director, Ms. Gruchy, for putting this wonderful performance together!

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, P.A.C.E. Music Director and Conductor, Mr. de Lara, led 75 P.A.C.E. music students to Canada’s Wonderland and featured our grades 7 and 8 ensembles and our P.A.C.E. Concert Band.

P.A.C.E. music students performed an array of repertoire ranging from concert marches to movie soundtracks, pop and rock songs to iconic classical compositions.

In May, P.A.C.E. convened the U10 track and field meet at the indoor track at York University. There were 22 schools and hundreds of athletes. Some notable results were:

  • Tristan (grade 3) – 5th place running long jump
  • Lucas (grade 3) – 4th place in standing long jump
  • Olivia (grade 4) – 5th place in the 100m and 3rd place in running long jump
  • Sophia (grade 4) – 3rd place in the 100m and 2nd place in running long jump
  • Gloria (grade 4) – 1st place in running long jump

Congratulations to all P.A.C.E. athletes!

Our grade 5s made their way to the Japanese Cultural Centre to create tangible connections between concepts learned in their Theme unit on Japanese art forms and traditions. By engaging in hands-on activities, observing traditional demonstrations, and interacting with knowledgeable guides, students gained insights into the historical, social, and artistic contexts shaping Japanese art. Through the participation in the Tea Ceremony, exploring Japanese cuisine, writing system and the art of Origami, students gained insights into its cultural significance and the rituals involved.

To complement both their Space and Ancient Egypt Units in Theme, our grade 3s visited the R.O.M. where they participated in a guided tour and had the opportunity to hold a real meteorite from space, test their knowledge on the characteristics of the planets, and even venture into a blow-up planetarium to lay under the stars. Students then made their way to the Ancient Egypt exhibit, where they worked together to complete a scavenger hunt as they explored various artifacts from the past!

This year’s House Day was cut short due to a lot of rain, however everyone had a fun and memorable experience! Congratulations to Theta for winning this year’s coveted House Cup!

Congratulations to all grade 7 students for their participation in the Let’s Talk Science engineering competition. For the challenge, students used engineering processes to design a prototype to help test climate change. The students also participated in the Ultimate Quiz which tested their knowledge in general sciences, math and computer technology.

Of the 6 teams that competed, three were recognized for their creativity and innovation. Congratulations to team PACE 2A and PACE 3B for receiving the award of distinction for their engineering design, and to team PACE 1B who placed 3rd in Canada for a combination of an exceptional engineering design along with a high score in the Ultimate Quiz!

Well done Grade 7s!!

Our grade 5s put their financial literacy skills to the test when they were tasked with creating a grocery list for the week. Using various flyers, students worked together to plan out breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for their family’s of four, keeping their budget in mind. With the help of Excel spreadsheets, students planned, organized, and calculated to see if they could stay within budget!

SETTING THE PACE

The 2023-2024 school year was AMAZING! We have a lot of achievements to be proud of and we hope you have a fantastic summer – much deserved! Congratulations!

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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