A Community of Learners

 What is a community of learners?
 A community of learners is a group of people who support each other in their joint and individual learning.

They are cooperative and can work productively together.

A community of learners can include all levels of learners because everyone is learning.

A school community of learners allows students to teach other students as well as themselves.

Thank you to Mr. V's Grade 7/8 Drama class for sharing their dramatic versions of Alfred Lobel's Fables!
 

 We have learned together as a school again today!

Sharing Joy with Our Neighbours

This morning our Grades One through Five classes walked over to Tabor Manor down the street.

We wanted to share some of the joy of Jesus' birth with those right in our neighbourhood. The students practiced over the last several weeks with Mr. T. during music class.

We were eagerly welcomed by many residents there who gathered to hear us sing. The staff were glad to have us come share some joy with the residents who live there.

 The students did a wonderful job of singing with great gusto! The smiles on the faces of the residents was wonderful to see! Many commented on how much they love seeing the children and listening to them sing. We were glad to be a blessing to our neighbours today!

Remembrance Day Reflections

Remembrance Day Poem

Fighting through blowing dust

It gets nastier everytime I shoot

I try harder but it’s not enough

Tears descend when I lose my group

We never knew how hard it was

We never knew

We never knew

I must keep crawling through the sand dune

With a loaded gun in my hand

The bombers are coming soon

Villagers hide throughout the land

We never knew how hard it was

We never knew

We never knew

I try to keep strong

With my death almost near

But I do know, this is where I belong

I bid you goodbye as I shed my last tear

We never knew how hard it was

We never knew

We never knew

By: Lauren T

Remembering those who fought and died for our peace is something important for us to pass on to our children. We strive to honour our peacekeepers, both past and present, in a meaningful manner.

 

The Royal Canadian Legion holds an annual Remembrance Day Contest. Students can choose to enter posters, poems or essays exploring the theme of Remembrance. Our Grade 7 + 8 students particpated again this year.

The students read stories about all the wars including the ones that involve Canadians today. A moving visit to the cenotaph on Remembrance Day gave new meaning to many of our studets of what it means to remember.

Our students again had some poignant entries and 8 of our students' work was honoured with a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place.The winners progress to the zone level and continue potentially all to the national level.

It started one day in the year September 1, 1939, all different troops from all over the world had come on a long journey, to fight in the war. They didn’t know what to expect. Whether they would live in a trench or not, what food they would eat, and whether they would ever see their family again. They all marched in and the war had begun. From the very first day, the battle field was a disaster.

From the shooting of bullets, to the sounds of bombs, these sounds were normal to the soldiers who heard them every minute of every day. Even though they were hidden, didn’t mean they were safe.
 
As they were fighting, some saw their best friends fall to their death.  As the tears rolled down their faces, cleaning the dirt off their face, they knew they had to keep fighting or they might be next. They would think about all the good memories they had, had. From the time they first met to the last good-bye. And in less than a minute, it was all over.

As families pray that their loved one will be safe, they are out fighting all day and all night hoping that the next day would be the day to go home and see their family!
     
Every year on November 11th, we remember the ones who gave their life for us to live in freedom. We wear a poppy to symbolize our appreciation toward the ones who fighting for us. We take two minutes to appreciate them and all their hard work - Sabrina V.

Living Victoriously Without Fear or Worry

Today we shared some time together in praise, worship and learning at our monthly school chapel. Our school theme this year is Living Victoriously. Each month, we will look at how we can live victoriously for God. Today we learned about living victoriously without fear or worry.

Mr. K. and Mr. V. introduced us to the idea of how our fears and worries can feel like weights. Sometimes they seem heavy to carry. After putting several weighted balls in a box, they had a Grade Two student lift the box.

It was quite heavy and so they recruited some help for the student. Having someone work alongside made the load lighter to lift. However, after putting many more weights in, the 2 students needed much more help. While others helped make it a little easier to bear, our leaders reminded us that God can help us carry our load of fear and worries if we will bring them to Him. As we repeated several times throughout the chapel, God promises us over and over again that..."I will be with you." 

Several Grade 7 + 8 students gave us a dramatic reading of Luke 12:25 (Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?)

After a time of song and prayer, our student body met with their GIFT groups. (Growing In Faith Together). These are cross-graded groups that meet together after chapel to discuss and re-inforce the theme of chapel.

Today our students had a picture of two hands in which they wrote some things that people might worry or fear. The hands symbolized bringing our worries to God and thereby Living Victoriously.

Thank you, Grade 7 + 8 for a challenging and inspriational message!

The Beacon Museum

Where can you find didgeredoos, rainbow boa constrictors, bobotie, and a mongulu? 

At the Beacon Museum!

 

The grade 7/8 students have been working hard this month on a Beacon Biome Museum culminating in exhibits shown to the Grades 1-6. 

 The biomes studied were the arid lands, rainforest and grasslands.The first part of the term was used to examine the four elements of each biome: the location, climate, flora and fauna.   

After that each of the eleven groups were assigned a specific part of the biomes studied in class this term such as the Kalahari Desert, the Indonesian rainforest or the Australian grasslands. 

 

Students then practiced research skills and created powerpoints, models, books, food and murals to give answers to the following two basic questions:  "How do people affect the biome?" answered by the environmentalists and "How does the biome affect people?"  answered by the anthropologists.

  Some great work was produced!

These students then presented their museum displays to Grades 1-6.

These younger students were engaged in every presentation, which included a variety of food and drink and interesting information displayed in a variety of ways.

Much learning occured across all grades!

   
Thank you and well done, Grades 7 + 8!

Grade Two Meets the Mayor!

Our Grade Two class took a trip to city hall on Monday in connection with their Creation Studies Unit "One Body Many Parts" . The students are learning how every person is an important part of our community body and though different, we are all precious in His sight. (1 Corinthians 12: We Are God’s People. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; And though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12)

In connection with this idea, each student wrote a letter of encouragement and thanks to a councilor, the mayor, the fire chief or another member of our local government and promised to pray for her or him in his work as the head of our community. These cards were delivered to the mayor. He was very grateful for our promise of prayer support and thankful for the notes for the council members. Mayor McMullan said he would deliver the cards and mention them at the city council meeting that evening.

Marlene Bergsma reports on Municipal Government in Wednesday, November 23rd Standard (p. A7). Mayor McMullan quoted one of our student's note during the city council meeting, saying, "I'm glad we have playgrounds, libraries and pools.... I am thankful for the work you do. I will pray for you in your work." Mayor McMullan concludes, "Thank you...I will need your prayers."

Young hearts at service for the Lord!

Volleyball and More Volleyball!

This weekend, some of our students were fortunate to attend the John Knox Volleyball tournament in Bowmanville. This huge tournament is organized and run by many volunteers in the Bowmanville Christian School community who have a love for the sport. Around thirty schools, both Christian and Catholic schools, attended this tournament.

Beacon sent both a boys and girls teams made up of Grade 7 and 8 students. Opening devotions were followed by two games for each team on Friday evening. Both teams won one match and lost one that evening. Friday night was spent camping out in two respective churches (thanks for the hospitality!). The girls enjoyed an evening of "Sardines in the Dark" (only one minor injury), Knots (otherwise known as "Doctor, Doctor!") and a few other games. It is rumored that the boys watched a movie and laid low. Minor amounts of sleep were had by all.

Saturday began bright and early with a pancake breakfast and followed by a day of very exciting volleyball. Both teams faced tough opponents but continued through quarter and semi finals. The finals for both teams kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Both teams won one game and lost one, leading them to a final game. The boys pulled out a 16-14 victory, while the girls pulled out a 15-11 victory. Great sportsmanship was shown by both Beacon teams and their opponents.

Thank you to Mr. Pot and Mrs. Campbell for all the time, effort and expertise afforded these teams!

It was wonderful to see the students work together.

It was wonderful to interact with many different parents, students and coaches from schools around Ontario (the girls' final opponents being from Windsor!).

It was wonderful to see teams win and loose gracefully (after the final, the Windsor team applauded our girls and said "Good game".)

It was wonderful to be blessed with safe travels and parents willing to drive.

It was wonderful to see the fruits of the labour of hard work.

It was wonderful to see students blessed with health and talent.

To Him be the Glory!

Remembrance Day 2011

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lt. Col. John McCrae

On Friday our grade seven and eight students will be attending the Remembrance Day service at the Centotaph in downtown St. Catharines. A wreath will be placed at the foot of the monument by a Beacon student in honour of Canadian soldiers who gave their life in service to their country.

Also, on Friday, at 11 AM, the students in grades JK-6 will participate in a short Remembrance Day service in our multi-purpose room. The students will hear about the poem, “In Flander’s Fields” and the significance of poppies for Remembrance Day. After a short presentation on “why we commemorate Remembrance Day” we will have a moment of silence and sing “O Canada.”

Poppies will be available for all of the students on Remembrance Day. Please consider having your child contribute some change to the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund on that day.