Chess Club Celebration

Ribbons, medals, popcorn, juice and applause for all ... Coal Tyee's Chess Club celebrates another successful year! A huge thank you goes to Mr. Skala, our Chess Club Coordinator, as well as Mrs. Mize and Mrs. Chapotelle for making this club possible.

The club met every Wednesday afterschool in the library and if I'm not mistaken, not a Wednesday was missed! Something new this year was the opportunity for students to view and learn from instructional DVDs narrated by Polgar, a four time women's world champion. One of the things that struck me as an observer, is just how inclusive and supportive the members of this group are.  The game of chess brought students from all the grades together to share their passion for the game.

Twenty of our students took part in this year's tournament. Special recognition goes to ...

Primary Division
Tyler R.  - 1st place
Devon C. - 2nd place
Dorian B. - 3rd place

Intermediate Division
Liam K. - 1st place
Wenddy B. - 2nd place
Devin C. - 3rd place

Alliah M., a member of the chess club shares, "I like that all the students in chess club got along and had fun.  The most important thing is to have fun,  I am really glad my my mom helped out with everything."  Briana M., also a member of the club believes, "Chess club is a very inspiring club and I think it might even change people's lives because it is a difficult game to learn and you have to believe in yourself and not give up when you are learning how to play."

Aboriginal Cultural Day from a Students' Perspective

On Aboriginal Cultural Day, I started the drumming in front of the school leading the dancers.  I really liked that I got an opportunity to drum.  I wore the vest that I made with Ms. Walls' help.  I chose the design of a bear for the back of my vest.  Then I went outside to help at the fish table.  I put salmon on crackers for the classes to sample.  After that I was rewarded by having pizza for lunch. It was a wonderful day. ~Owen~









On Aboriginal Cultural Day, we got to play the Bone Game in the gym.  We learned that they used this game to teach young Aboriginal people how to go out on the ocean.  We ate bannock and fish.  At the beginning of the day, we all joined the dance and danced around the gym. We really liked making the bracelets.  We loved being able to see and touch the animal pelts.  Thank you Mrs. Walls for organizing this wonderful day for us.  ~Kolten and Lucas~

                  

Coal Tyee's 2nd Annual Aboriginal Culture Day

On Thursday, May 17, Coal Tyee held its second Aboriginal Culture Day coordinated by Ms. Linda Walls, our Aboriginal Education Assistant.  It was a fabulous day that began with a school wide assembly which included drumming and dancing by some of our students.  They wore the amazing vests and shawls they had made.

Smoked Salmon and Bannock

Following the assembly, classes rotated through various stations which were led by community volunteers.  The students experienced bead making, listening to stories, playing the Bone game and eating bannock and smoked fish.

Storytelling

It was a great day that was enjoyed by all.   A very special Coal Tyee thank you goes out to all those that helped make this day possible!

Making Bead Bracelets

Press Play to view artwork completed by Mrs. Patterson's and Mrs.

DenOuden's Classes

Mrs. Patterson's Class: Our Provincial Flower Experts

Mrs. Patterson's class used a free online tool called VoiceThread to showcase what they have learned about our provincial flowers. (One of the technical things we are trying to sort out is how to make the volume louder. You may notice the first slide is quite a bit quiter than the others. Hopefully speakers plugged into your computer will help). Enjoy!



 

Congratulations Maranda!!!

This past weekend, Maranda, one of our grade two students here at Coal Tyee, represented British Columbia at the Bowling Nationals!  Read on to hear all about Maranda's experiences.  We are so VERY proud of her accomplishments!!!! Way to go Maranda!

Maranda, Can you tell us about your weekend?

Maranda: I bowled in St.John's Newfoundland.  I had to take four planes to get there and five planes to get back.  We flew from Nanaimo on a float plane to Vancouver, from Vancouver to Calgary, Calgary to Toronto,  Toronto to Halifax, and Halifax to Newfoundland.   I was bowling for all of Canada. I came second!  The girl who came first was from Prince Edward Island and she was undefeated until she came to me.  Going into day two we were tied for gold.  It was quite exciting because it was my first time trying out for singles and I made it that far.  Next year, nationals will be held in Vancouver and I hope to make it that far again.   I was the youngest girl competing in Nationals.   The girl who won, was 11.  I beat a girl from Quebec by two points.  It was my first time going to Newfoundland and my first time taking a float plane.  One of my favourite things I saw were Newfoundland Dogs. They were black, fluffy, cuddly and big! I am really glad that my family was there with me to cheer me on. I saw a huge iceberg.  It was cracking a little on the side and it broke into two. There was a little tiny piece washed up on the rocks and my cousin touched it! He was the junior boys singles representative for B.C.

Spring Has Sprung in Mrs. Kraft's Class

Check back often ... our spring poems are popping up daily!

Releasing Our Salmon Fry into Millstream River

Last Tuesday, Mrs. Patterson's and Mrs. Brayden's classes travelled to Bowen Park to release the salmon fry.  Watch the YouTube video to hear what some of the Grade Twos had to say about what they did and learned ...

Read on to hear some of our Grade Five's reflections ...

Written by grade five students: Delano and Isaac

Yesterday we released Coho fry with Mrs. Brayden’s and Patterson’s class. We released them in Bowen Park. The weather was pretty nice, but it was sort of cold. We went past an amazing water fall and let the salmon out in a calm pond with lots of rocks and logs to give them a place to hide. We all named our fish, Isaac and I named ours: Nemo, Dori and Bubbles! We hope all these fish will make it through their full life cycle.

Our group got to see an owl sitting in a tree and everyone was looking and taking pictures. There were lots of different plants and animals. We also saw four totem poles and smelled skunk cabbage. The skunk cabbage smells bad so it can attract bugs for the animals to eat.

There were lots of streams and water throughout the park and we saw a side channel for the salmon to swim up. We learned lots of facts about fish and nature. There was also another pond with lots and lots of ducks.

There are six different species of salmon: Steelhead, Chum, Coho, Chinook, Sockeye, and Pink.

After the eggs hatch they turn into alevins. Then the alevins eat out of their yolk sacs for food. Next they change into fry. The fry’s then search for insects and other food. Next the salmon turn into smolts and begin adapting to salt water. Then the salmon change again into adults and migrate.  When they return home they will be swimming upstream, fighting rapids and waterfalls, until finally they make gravel nests and spawn. The salmon die after completing their task of having their babies.

 

B.C. Boy's Choir Hits the Stage at Coal Tyee

   

On Friday May 4, the students at Coal Tyee were treated to a wonderful, musical performance by the B.C. Boy's Choir.   One of our very own, Grayson, a member of this choir performed in perfect harmony with the rest of his choir.  We are so very proud him!  Here is an interview I recently had with Grayson ...

• Mrs. Reynolds:  How long have you been a part of the Senior Boys Choir?
• Grayson: One year.
• Mrs. Reynolds: Do you forsee yourself carrying on another year with the choir?
• Grayson: Yes and next year I will be joining the touring choir.
• Mrs. Reynolds: What are some of your favourite things about being in the choir?
• Grayson: Personally, my favourite part is the singing.  But I must also be honest and say that I enjoy the fame aspect of performing in front of large audiences and hearing the applause.
• Mrs. Reynolds: Do you ever get nervous?
• Grayson: Sometimes, but usually I just feel okay about it?
• Mrs. Reynolds: Is it challenging to learn so many new songs?
• Grayson: Somewhat, but most of the time I just remember it as I go and sing with the rest of the choir.
• Mrs. Reynolds: Have you travelled to many places with the choir?
• Grayson: I haven't left BC yet, but next year I hope to travel across Canada with the touring choir.
• Mrs. Reynolds: How often do you have to practice?
• Grayson: I practice for an hour every Monday.
• Mrs. Reynolds: Is there anything else you would like us to know?
• Grayson: This is a great activity for kids that don't enjoy aggressive sports and activities. Anyone who is interested in joining the choir should visit http://www.bcbc.com/ to see the Boys Choir website.

Five Chicks and Counting!

        "It's hatching! It's actually hatching! Come and see!" Students, parents and staff quickly gathered in Mrs. Smoker's classroom, circling around the little incubator with anticipation.   Four chicks hatched through the night, but there we were about to witness it first-hand for ourselves!  Peck, peck, peck ... crack, crack ...  and then there it was.  Wet, exhausted and likely overwhelmed by the noise of our excitement, a little newborn chick emerged into the world.  Mrs. Smoker, confident and calm,  thankfully knew exactly what to do!  She carefully removed a piece of shell that was stuck to its head, encouraged us all to whisper and manuevered it safely inside the wall of the incubator so she could replace the top to keep it nice and warm.  What excitement!

Egg-citing News from Mrs. Smoker's Classroom

May 1,2012

Our chicks are about to hatch! Here is what we have to say...