Marching Forward

What a wonderful month full of Arts-Centred Learning at Belfast!
We welcomed our artist in residence Sarah Smith to our school to work with all students and staff. Her expertise in both theatre arts and natural science made for some rich and authentic learning experiences for our students. Through the work Sarah did in our classrooms, students were able to experience learning at all stages of the learning process. Their performances and galleries at our Celebration of Learning on February 28th reflected  final products of a residency that was actually very  process oriented. We know that our students had fun and were engaged and we also know that through that engagement their learning will endure! This is what arts-centred learning is all about!
 
We continue to work on our School Development focus of improving our functional writing throughout the school. Functional writing shows up in many all subjects – math, science, social studies. The type of writing that students are asked to do is based in observations and research and will help them to develop their learning across subjects.
Please be sure to visit our school website, and specifically our classroom websites for ongoing celebrations and updates about learning at Belfast School.  Grade 1 and 2 students have been honing in on using their senses and observational skills to describe small moments. Grade 3 and 4 students have been writing persuasive writing related to issues that are discussed in science and social studies. Ask your grade 3 and 4 students about OREO writing! Grade 5 and 6 students have been forming their own opinions and informing those opinions with research that backs them up! This has been a shift in focus for us at Belfast. We know that our students, as creative as they are, are very good a developing imaginative stories. Our expanded focus on functional writing helps students to be successful with the many ways we communicate through writing.
 
Looking forward to March each grade team will take up a new focus in functional writing that will focus on Social Studies. Grade 5 and 6 students will spend a week at Canada Olympic Park where they will learn to ski or snow board. This is a wonderful experience for our students who are able to have exposure  to a new life long sport! http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b203/classroom.htm
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