INSPIRED STUDENTS

The Grade 4 class took advantage of some nice weather to explore plant and animal habitats at the Blue & Silver Farm. Students were excited to search for examples of fungi and evidence of animal life. 

The Grade 1 class explored the effects of seasonal changes on humans. During their Reggio inquiry, students discussed how the changing of the seasons impacts the clothes they wear and the activities they choose to do outdoors. Students shared their favourite outdoor activities through a game of charades and then sorted their activities into the seasons to which they belonged. They also explored the concept of identity and completed self-portraits.

Pickering College kicked off Take Me Outside Day with an outdoor education fashion show led by our Kindergarten students, who demonstrated the proper attire that should be worn when participating in outdoor adventures. They also participated in a live inspirational talk and Q&A with Dr. Jane Goodall, ethologist and environmentalist, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Take Me Outside Day is an annual event that encourages children and youth to spend more time learning about, playing in and exploring nature. 

Students and staff observed the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. We honoured the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities by wearing orange as a public commemoration of the painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. The Junior and Middle School students reflected upon how they can take meaningful action on that day and throughout the year. 

In October, the Junior and Middle Schools hosted a virtual presentation of Mistatim, a collaboration between Red Sky Performance, a leading company of contemporary Indigenous artists, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The Grade 4 class attended a live Q&A session with the actors, directors and musical creators, and were thrilled to have the panel answer their question about the Cree words in the script. 

Outdoor education specialist

Ms. Hunt found some milkweed on campus, a favourite food of the monarch butterfly. Since this species’ numbers are low, she asked the Grade 2 class to help disperse the seeds to encourage more butterflies. The students learned about this important food source while making our campus more beautiful. 

The Grade 1 class visited the apple tree that sits on South Field and spent time looking closely at its different parts. They even discovered a small pine tree growing out of the apple tree. Using natural materials such as leaves, tree bark, wooden beads and string, students demonstrated their understanding by creating their own tree artwork. 

Sherry Liu in Grade 5 attended a fencing competition in Ottawa where she placed first in the 11-year-old group category and second in the 13-year-old group. 

While visiting Blue & Silver Farm, Grade 2 students participated in an inquiry activity that asked them to analyze the environment and discover evidence of different types of animals. Students compiled their information with the physical evidence provided by outdoor education specialist Ms. Hunt to solve the puzzle of “Who ate the corn?” Once their predictions and strategies to test their hypotheses were complete, they watched trail camera footage to confirm once and for all who ate the corn! 

Grade 1 students connected virtually with the Grade 10 French class as French learning buddies. The older students read French stories to their buddies and made conversation, encouraging the younger students to demonstrate their Frenchspeaking skills. 

Grade 4 and 5 students spent significant time researching and listening to French music. Once they found a song that they loved, they wrote a script in French and presented the song on our radio station 102.7 CHOP FM. 

During the fall Co-curricular Program, the Grade 4 class discovered how the arts can be part of a healthy and active lifestyle. Led by Mrs. Wells, students enjoyed lessons in drama