It is an exciting week at BBS as we prepare to hit the slopes for our first Ski and Ride day. Although the snow is minimal, the enthusiasm from the students is through the roof. Thanks to all our families for supporting this opportunity on the home front. 

It is school board appreciation month and I want to give a big thank you to our amazing board that works behind the scenes to support our school. Much of their work isn’t glamorous, but it is vital to the student experience. We had our monthly board meeting yesterday and were able to thank them in person. There is currently an opening on the BBSD board. If you are interested in learning more about what it takes to serve on the school board please reach out to Jane or myself to learn more. Thank you Bear, Karen, Jenni, and Siobhan!

In Field Study class we began our Astronomy unit this past week. We started by asking where does space begin? We then took a brief tour of our solar system and built a scale model of it outside in the forest. This week we switched gears and spent Monday working on our yearbook and Wednesday preparing our fish tank to raise rainbow trout this winter.

In P.E. class we are studying the human body and how to take care of it. Older students are focusing on the brain/nervous system and learning how it works to control our bodies.

In Humanities, the Blue Bay Classroom is hard at work studying for their test on Ancient India tomorrow. We have explored the Indus Valley civilization, and have taken a look at the beliefs and customs of Hinduism and Buddhism. Students are also working on understanding and practicing their use of the ‘Comma’ in writing.

In Math, we have gained an assistant teacher! Ms. Tammy’s daughter, Riley, is a senior at Sisters High School and is volunteering some of her time in the mornings to help out in the Blue Bay classroom here at BBS. 4th graders and 5th graders have been getting into a routine with her in the mornings to review some key concepts. 4th graders are working with place value concepts and continued multiplication, 5th graders have been reviewing decimal operations. 6th graders just finished up their unit on ratios and are starting unit rate and percentages. 7th graders just took a test on proportional relationships and are moving onto geometry: Circles and Pi. Our 8th grader just finished up a short unit on slope and is beginning Linear Relationships. 

Buddy Time has been a success lately. On Friday, students created a snow creature with their buddy and we all walked to see each other’s creations (and back story). On Monday, we had literacy quizzing time in which older buddies quiz and coach their younger buddies on letter names and sounds, or reading common English words. Younger buddies then got to quiz their older buddies on some trickier multisyllabic words. Then they got a chance to do some reading practice with their buddies in the library.

Rose Hips are so excited about reading! Please remind them if they have finished their BBS library books they can return them and check out new ones. 

In Math we have been using the math vocabulary compare, difference, and sum. We have been focusing on comparing numbers and finding the difference in word problems using more and less. 

In Literacy we are focusing on blends and have started to introduce a bigger focus on ending E/(VCE)/ vowel consonant e words (make, cute, words. We find blends in both the start and end of words like bl and nd in blend. We are still focused on short vowel sounds. 

Games & Activities to try at home

• Math- Try some compare games. Play “war” but students only get to keep the cards if the difference is above 4

• Literacy- Have students revisit some of their work they are bringing home, or past work already brought home to see how they are growing in their reading and writing skills! Find a way to make books and reading JOYFUL.

In Science we started a new picture book biography of Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei that focuses on his Safe Passage exhibit at Konzerthaus Berlin called “On the Tip of a Wave”. Through this book and past ones, we are focusing on how characters react to challenges both through their feelings and actions. We see how some people use art to help them express themselves and give insight to others’ perspectives.