Celebrating Aboriginal Day at ICS

“National Aboriginal Day takes place on June 21 each year. It is a special day to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada” (http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100013718/1100100013719). At Immaculate Conception, we are blessed to have a strong Musqueam heritage including many families who share their cultural wealth with us. Today, in celebration of Aboriginal Day, The Coastal Wolf Pack performed traditional Coastal songs and dances in their full contemporary regalia.

Joseph Paul and the extended family of three students in our school, shared the traditional teachings about each piece of regalia, in addition to the history behind the songs and actions. The children were enraptured by the beauty of the music and dance, and the resonance of the drums brought neighbours out to view the performance! Thank you to the Kenoras-Paul family for giving so generously of their time, love, and respect for their culture.  

Thank you to the Coastal Wolf Pack for celebrating Aboriginal Day 2015 with ICS!

Primary Students Visit the Vancouver International Children’s Festival

On Friday, May 29th the Grades Ones and Twos went to the Vancouver Children’s Festival at Granville Island to listen to Inuit poet, storyteller, and throat singer Taqralik Partridge, who brought lively stories and tales from Canada’s north to this year’s Festival stage.

She recounted an Inuit legend, The Owl and Raven, as well as two of her own stories, The Little Boy and The Giant and There’s a Whale in That Puddle. The stories were about children in the north who found extraordinary treasures in ordinary places. After the show, the classes spent the afternoon exploring the various activities at Sutcliffe Park. It was a fabulous afternoon shared with friends in the warmth of the sun.

Sharing Musqueam Culture

Nora S. spent several weeks teaching Grade Four how to weave in the traditional Musqueam style. She told us about the Musqueam people and how they wove quarter bags. The quarter bags held quarters that would be given to people who helped during ceremonies and Potlatches.  Quarters would be given to people who cooked or sang for the ceremony.  Four chiefs of different tribes promised that they would remember the Potlatch day and would tell their children and grandchildren and anyone who asked. They also were given $ 0.50 –  it was quite an honor to be given that!

Instructions for Weaving a Quarter Bag:
Begin with a base for the quarter bags which has fourteen, one centimeter cuts. Tie a knot and weave down and straight back up and keep repeating the same action. After that weave in the opposite direction.  The yarn is always woven from left to right. When you are done a row you would twist the yarn and keep going until the end.   Next you take the little loops at the top and take them off and slide it off but it will be inside out you just put it right side out then you’re done.

Above Blog Post Written By Grade Four Students

When the quarter bags were all completed, each Grade Four student invited a special person to attend a Sharing Ceremony in which he or she would give the quarter bag to the attendee as per the Musqueam tradition, in which the first of anything one makes is given away. Nora led the Ceremony and we had many wonderful speakers, including Deborah Sparrow, who shared Musqueam history and song with the students. We are so grateful for the opportunity to learn and grown in our knowledge about Musqueam tradition – thank you Nora for leading the way!

All Stars at CISVA track meet

On Wednesday, June 3rd, the ICS track team took part in the annual CISVA Track & Field Meet at Swangard Stadium. After Day 1 of the track meet, ICS is in 11th place out of 36 teams.  We earned two firsts, two thirds, two sixths, one seventh, and one eighth place finish.   We also had one 4×100 relay team and one 100m runner qualify for the finals next week.

Kindergarten Scientist for the Day!

Each week in Kindergarten, two children have the opportunity to be Scientist for the Day! After preparing at home, the children bring their equipment to school, put the lab coat on and share their experiment and research with the class. We have learned so much from our classmates! Some of the experiments that we have enjoyed:

• oil and water fireworks •  float or sink? • density • transfer of energy • erupting volcanoes • Ooblek • jumping pepper
• lava lamps with alka seltzer (seen in photo) • static electricity • circuits • growing our own crystals

Here’s what some of the Kinders have to say about Scientist for the Day:

Spectacular!

They were just like a real Scientist!

Calling up classmates to help was fun!

Awesome!

Spectacular and wonderful!

They were surprising!