Please welcome our Grey Fox Class with today's Blog Post in honour of 'Random Acts of Kindness Day', which is coming up on February 17th! Our Grey Foxes are in grade 3 and 4 and wrote this together with the help of their teacher, Ms. Zoe. Way to go, Foxes! What do you think - can you help add to their list? February is a time to celebrate love, friendship, and family. It is a time to give thanks for the wonderful people in our lives, and to think about how we might share love with others. With ‘National Random Acts of Kindness Day’ soon approaching on February 17th, the Grey Fox class has been looking into ways to spread kindness all around. After all, kindness is infectious! Let the kindness challenge begin! Here is the list that we came up with; let’s see how many of these you can practice this month!
-Offer to help someone -Hold the door for someone -Listen to others -Show respect for others -Practice GRATITUDE! (give thanks for the people in your life and show your appreciation) - If someone drops their things, help them to pick them up! -Help to cheer someone up if they are sad -Hugs!! (with permission) -Buying a meal for a stranger -Babysitting for adults so they can have a night out -Offering to take a photo for someone -Giving to charity -Manners…”Please” and “Thank-you” -Cleaning up the house (before being asked!) -Helping a sibling with something -Helping to cook dinner -Sharing -Giving someone a bus ticket or paying their bus fare -Giving compliments -Practice EMPATHY! -“Comfortation” (term coined by the Grey Foxes that’s means: to have a comforting conversation or moment with someone) :) Can YOU think of any others?
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Please welcome a post from our oldest student, Charlotte Jones. She came to us at the start of grade nine looking for something different, not sure what she had gotten herself into here at Via Vita. It didn't take long for Char to become everyone's big sister. Winning this year's student-choice award for kindness and strong moral character, Char is a true role model for all of our students. She sent us a little note to post on the blog that we hope you'll enjoy reading. A true leader and inspiration for all of our students. We enjoyed every minute of being your teachers, Char. Have a wonderful summer! Hey, My name is Charlotte. I am a grade nine student that loves Via Vita. Next year, I will be in grade 10. I don't want to go to public school because you don't form the same relationship that you do with the teachers at Via Vita. They make sure you are caught up and that you understand everything you're doing. I have had more laughs than ever this year. I have developed so many memories and made so many long term friends coming to Via Vita. It makes for an unforgettable childhood. I wouldn't change or trade my grade nine school year for anything. I have never not wanted to leave school at the end of the year. I love my second family. Something I will never forget is being called up onto the stage because I won the student choice award and bursting into tears because I realized I was around so many people that I love and so many people that love me. I never knew what it was like to have a big family. I do now. (From Left to Right: Helen, Charlotte) Helen and I, with the help of our classmates, created a list of interesting stuff you might want to know about Via Vita Academy!
1. We are a big family. 2. There are 11 different grades but it feels like one. 3. We learn off of each other. 4. We cook and do physical activity everyday. 5. We have performances and cook for the families at the end of every term. 6. Grade 7 and up get to walk to Tim's or Avery's at lunch. 7. We get a lot of one-on-one learning. 8. We call our teachers by their first names. 9. We laugh a lot. 10. At Via Vita it feels like you leave your home in the morning and to another home. Please welcome our guest blogger, Ms. Kaylea. She joined us for a day last week to observe our teachers, gather ideas, and learn what we do! As a teacher in a small school as well, Ms. Kaylea was hoping to gain insight into how she might be able to apply some of our philosophies to benefit her students. We were overjoyed to offer Ms. Kaylea some professional development that she could immediately apply to her own teaching. After her visit, she wrote us this little note to post on our blog. that we were eager to share with you! Enjoy the read! Hi! My name is Kaylea and I am a classroom teacher at a small school in rural Nova Scotia. I am currently teaching a class of students from grade primary to grade three. I contacted Adele for the opportunity to visit Via Vita Academy to learn how they run their multiage classrooms.
When I walked into the school I was greeted by the warm, smiling faces of the staff members. I could tell right away that they were oozing with passion as they engaged with students and parents. We started the day with a morning meeting. All teachers should run their mornings this way! There is a bullet point agenda written by the students on the front board. What makes it unique is that every person has an opportunity to add their thoughts, ideas and concerns to the agenda. I noticed immediately that teachers didn't have to waste time ordering students to pay attention and listen to one another. I couldn't help but smile while I watched all of the students sitting around comfortably. After we sang Oh Canada every student dispersed and knew exactly where to go and what to do. While I floated around for the day, I was able to see students bake, do yoga, read, write, complete individualized math activities and work on their term projects. I had the pleasure of watching a presentation from a student in grade 8, a theatre class, chore time AND I enjoyed delicious cupcakes to celebrate the April birthdays! I was amazed by the teachers’ abilities to question. They let their students draw their own conclusions and only ask more questions to allow them to dive deeper into their thinking. It made me realize how much more questioning I could be doing in my own classroom! As a public school teacher visiting Via Vita Academy, I left the school feeling jealous but also inspired. They're on to some big things and will be graduating students who will be ready for life beyond school. I can't thank the staff and students of this wonderful school enough for the inspirational experience! |
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