800 Juliana Drive, Woodstock, Ontario

Phone: 519-539-1492

     

May 2019

Field Trips

The Benefits Of Field Trips
 
What do you remember from school? Chances are, a group project, a special speaker, or a field trip helped you decide. Every student comes to the classroom with a different world experience. We know that students who have been exposed to many different things do better in school. In order to be successful readers, students need to relate what they read to what they've experienced. To think broadly students need to have a variety of experiences.
As teachers, we know that field trips are important, but why specifically? There are a number of significant benefits. As teachers, a field trip is one of the best tools that we can use to provide every student with real-world experiences. Whether that's a trip to the local grocery store, waterfront park, a library, a museum, a theater, each experience that a student participates in contributes to their understanding of the world. They begin to see that what they learn within the walls of the classroom can help them solve the problems they see in the world around them.
Field trips and hands on learning make concepts more memorable. Just think back to what you learned in school, the field trips you took, and what you learned on them are still some of the clearest concepts. By seeing real-life application of the lessons that they are learning in school, children might be more likely to understand and appreciate the importance and relevance of what they are learning. Students are exposed to new experiences that hopefully broaden their horizons. Educational trips encourage the development of social, personal and study skills. It has been observed that students appear to come out of their shell on field trips, becoming creative and displaying leadership qualities.
At WCS field trips are an important part of the curriculum and I am sure your child will agree that it is something that they wouldn’t want to part with. 
Mrs. J. Hickey
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The effectiveness of PBL projects

Every teacher longs for student engagement in their learning. Most teachers covet this because it means less behaviour issues which equals an easier time teaching. However, there are more reasons: teachers want their students to hit the curriculum targets for the year and gain important skills for later in life. But they also want their students to have fun at school and go home satisfied at the end of each day.
In my recent experience as a teacher, I've experimented with a concept that you may be familiar with: Project Based Learning (PBL). The Buck Institute for Education describes it as "Students working on a project over an extended period of time… a project that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by developing a public product or presentation for a real audience."
In my experience, PBL units have allowed my students to hit the curriculum requirements and be engaged in their learning, especially when it's a hands-on project. In my last PBL, students were learning about medieval history in social studies. They were required to research a medieval person/occupation (i.e. blacksmith or serf) and the structure associated with that person (i.e. blacksmith workshop and serf's cottage). Students eventually built a miniature structure as well. Having students show this project off to parents and friends at our 1st Annual Celebration of Learning night was a highlight for myself and many of my students this year. Many teachers at WCS are now using PBL units as part of their teaching methodology and I'm excited to see more in the future!
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Physical Fitness & Health

Physical Fitness and Health
If you were at our Celebration of Learning, you would have seen, heard, and perhaps participated in the Daily Physical Activities which took place in the school gym. Our 6th grade students researched, wrote about, and presented the case for regular physical activity, as it is good for the body, the brain, and for our well-being. God has gifted us with beautifully designed bodies - bodies ready to move! As educators, we have commented that our students at WCS generally make excellent use of our playground and outdoor activity centres. Students are shooting hoops, playing soccer and four-square, climbing, sliding, playing baseball, practising their gymnastics skills, skipping, and playing GaGa ball. They are an active and lively bunch and embrace the opportunity for exercise. In just a few weeks, we will have our school-wide track and field day. Students are spending phys ed classes outdoors in preparation for this event. Please note that this is a school day and that we expect all students at school to be able to participate in this opportunity to run, jump, throw and to socialize with classmates and family. Parents and grandparents are most welcome to join us as well as we celebrate the gift of movement and physical abilities. We praise God that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made". 
C. Verbeek, Principal
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