Turtle Island Tribute

December 17th - Winter Concert

December 22 - January 2 - Winter Break

January 9 - System PD Day - no live classes

January 16-30 - High School Exam Break

ursa Teaching Team For 2024-2025

Melanie Guest – mguest@thirdschools.ca – Elementary ELA, Math, Science, Health

Tina Parish – tparish@thirdschools.ca – Elementary ELA, Math, Social Studies, Junior High Social Studies

Jason Ash – jash@thirdschools.ca – Elementary ELA, Math, Onsite Foods

Sonita Bhavra – sbhavra@thirdschools.ca – Elementary Science, Junior High Math, Science, Health, Genius Hour

Thera MacKinnon – tmackinnon@thirdschools.ca – Junior High ELA, Senior High ELA, Social Studies, Art

Tracy Gilluley – tgilluley@thirdschools.ca – Principal, Junior High ELA

Dean Ingram – dingram@thirdschools.ca – Associate Principal Distance, Senior High Math and Science

Susan Alexander – susana@thirdschools.ca – Senior High Math and Science

Isadore Snook - isnook@thirdschools.ca - Senior High Math and Science

Graeme Ford - gford@thirdschools.ca - Elementary/Jr High Drama

Erin Hiemstra - ehiemstra@thirdschools.ca - Elementary Art and PE

Jeff Watt - jwatt@thirdschools.ca - Senior High Art

Benjamin Howells- bhowells@thirdschools.ca - Music

As we enter the final weeks of 2025, I want to extend my gratitude for the energy, dedication, and partnership our students, staff, and families bring to our hybrid learning community. Whether your child learns with us online, onsite, or both, it has been wonderful to see students engaged, growing, and finding their rhythm as we move into the heart of the school year.

December is a month filled with meaningful learning, celebrations of progress, and the joy of connection. Our teachers have been working hard to create rich learning experiences across all programs, and we greatly appreciate the support you provide at home—helping students stay organized, attending online sessions, and encouraging them to take pride in their learning.

A friendly reminder that winter break begins on December 22. There will be no classes from December 22 to January 2, and the school will reopen with classes resuming on Monday, January 5. We hope this break offers your family time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the season together.

Thank you for being part of our ursa community and for the trust you place in us each day. I wish you and your family a warm, peaceful, and joyful holiday season.

With appreciation,

Tracy Gilluley
Principal, ursa

This is it, December is here, the end of the Calendar year is looming. However, there are some significant events coming up over the next month.

The grade ½ ELA class is wrapping up our focus on the alphabet with some of the most obscure letters there are. We will be celebrating with some fun rhyming and winter word games. The grade 1-4 class has been working on our descriptive writing and grammar skills. One of the favourite class activities is MadLibs. These are a great way to use word descriptors, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, while engaging in discussions on past, present, and future tense and creating silly stories. If you are interested, this website has some fun, family-friendly Mad Libs you can complete online. www.storygaps.org

We will be continuing on this month with looking at how we represent numbers and use them to solve addition and subtraction problems. Families are encouraged to involve their students in everyday math that may require some problem-solving, such as “I have put in the first 3 ingredients in the recipe; how many more do we still need?” or “Can you get me 6 potatoes for dinner and let me know how many are left?”

Science 1-4 have been busy building some amazing space creations and learning about our solar system; this unit will be celebrating the upcoming Winter Solstice by looking at what forces and factors are at play. Explore more about it with National Geographic Kids here: What’s the winter solstice? | National Geographic Kids

As we come to the shortest day, it can sometimes be hard to add physical activity into our days. Here are some fun ways to keep active inside. www.boomeranghealth.com/winter-wellness-5-indoor-activities-recommended-by-physiotherapists-for-kids/

ELA 3-4:

Why are they learning different reading strategies?

*4 reading strategies have been learned and practiced in our reading. Reading strategies boost comprehension, improve focus, increase confidence, and develop reading skills.

*Read a short story together and then ask your child.

*to predict the ending.

*about the characters, setting, and problem.

*to create a summary of the story

Math 3-4:

Why do we need to learn this?

This is a common question kids ask when learning math. There are several reasons math is important.

*Problem-solving: Math teaches children to solve problems logically and enhances critical thinking skills.

*Brain development: Learning math can improve memory, attention, and reasoning skills. It can also strengthen the brain.

*Practical life skills: Calculating change, measuring ingredients, and understanding time.

*Resilience: Mathematical challenges will build resilience in children.

*Curiosity: Math can support curiosity and foster creativity.

Put their creative and problem-solving skills to work… what is the only number from 1-1000 that uses the letter “A”?

Grade 2 Social

Show what you know from November’s learnings…

*What is the difference between a need and a want? Have them give you an example.

*Find a grocery flyer and give them pretend money to purchase a certain number of groceries. What would they purchase? Each time, give them less money and see what they have to eliminate.

Grade 3/4 Social

Show what you know from November’s learnings…

*What does their “immediate” family tree look like?

*If they were to add more leaves to their current tree, who would they add? Help them create a larger tree to understand the many branches that families can have.

Grade 5/6 Social

Show what you know from November’s learnings…

*Have them share their “History Toolbox” storybook. How did these tools help people navigate the world?

Grade 7 Social

Show what you know from November’s learnings…

*We are currently exploring the history and significance of the Canadian fur trade. Through interactive lessons, maps, and investigations, students are learning how the fur trade shaped relationships between First Nations and European settlers

*Ask your child about voyageurs, trading posts, and life in early Canada! Who were the British explorers, and who were the French explorers?

Grade 8 Social

Show what you know from November’s learnings…

*We have gone from the Renaissance era to the Edo era.

*What are some differences between these two eras?

Grade 9 Social

Show what you know from November’s learnings…

*What is their view on the Youth Justice System?

*What is the process of becoming a juror?

We are excited to invite all parents, family members, and special guests to our Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 17th at our East Campus. This special evening will showcase the talents of our Grade 1–8 Drama students and our Grade 9–12 Music classes.

Main doors will open at 6:00 pm for guests to tour the wonderful artwork students have created. The gym doors will open at 6:15 with the performance beginning promptly at 6:30 pm.

All performers are asked to wear black pants and either a red or green top.

We look forward to celebrating the season together and seeing our students shine on stage!

In Health, students have been diving into a unit on nutrition and healthy eating habits. Over the past few weeks, we have been learning how to make informed choices by looking closely at food labels and understanding what the information actually means. Students have practiced identifying serving sizes, comparing nutrient amounts, and recognizing how daily values can guide healthier decisions. We also examined ingredient lists and discussed why ingredients are listed in a specific order, as well as how to spot added sugars, sodium, and other common additives.

Alongside food labels, students have been reviewing the Canada Food Guide and exploring how it can be used to plan balanced, nourishing meals. We talked about the importance of variety, mindful eating, and choosing foods that support long-term health and energy. Students have enjoyed looking at real-life examples and applying these concepts to foods they see at home and in their lunches.

You can support this learning at home by encouraging your child to help read food labels during grocery shopping or meal preparation. They’re becoming confident, thoughtful consumers who are learning to make choices that benefit their health—both now and in the future!

Use the following website from the Government of Canada if you would like to learn more:

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/food-labels.html

ELA 7

The library is not some magical, mythical place from the movies...it's a really cool place, and you likely have access to one near your community. IT'S FREE. By joining the library, you can have access to courses, friend groups, and lots of books and media. This is the link for the Calgary library: https://www.calgarylibrary.ca/your-library/join. Here is the link to Edmonton: https://www.epl.ca/. You should be able to find a library near you here: https://thealbertalibrary.ca/members/.

Did you know that playing mental puzzles can improve concentration, working memory, and problem-solving skills? Check out this article published by The Further Education Society of Alberta: https://bit.ly/48pOPca.

Here are a few little puzzles to play around with:

1. Five pieces of coal, a carrot, and a scarf are lying on the lawn. Nobody put them on the lawn, but there is a perfectly logical reason why they should be there. What is it?

2. A man pushed his car. He stopped when he reached a hotel, at which point he knew he was bankrupt. Why?

3. Of the 100 people at a recent party, 90 spoke Spanish, 80 spoke Italian, and 75 spoke Mandarin. At least how many spoke all three languages?

Answers:

1. They were used by children who made a snowman. The snow has now melted.

2. He was playing Monopoly.

3. 45 - EXPLANATION: 10 could not speak Spanish, 20 could not speak Italian, and 25 could not speak Mandarin. So there could have been 10 people who spoke none of those languages.

ELA 8/9

Our class has had an exciting and meaningful end to our novel study of Touching Spirit Bear. Students wrapped up the unit with a fantastic mock trial where they stepped into the roles of the characters and passionately advocated for their beliefs. Their arguments were thoughtful, well-supported, and delivered with impressive confidence—it was a wonderful culmination of all their hard work and analysis throughout the novel.

To close out December, we’ll shift into a fun and creative mini-project: Pitching to the Dragons. Students will design an original invention or product and prepare a persuasive pitch to present to our “Dragons.” This short project is a great opportunity to build communication, creativity, and critical thinking skills before the winter break.

Over the break, I encourage students to participate in a fun activity that we will share in the new year... Holiday Photo Caption Contest

Students are asked to take or find fun holiday photos and write creative captions.
This can be:

• Humorous

• Poetic

• Dramatic

• Or written from the perspective of an ornament, pet, or snowman

Thank you to all parents for the continued support you provide at home—encouraging your student to stay engaged, helping them manage deadlines, and celebrating their growth. Your partnership truly makes a difference in their learning.

Wishing you all a warm and restful December!

Math 10C Update

Over the past month, students have been working hard to consolidate several key pieces of our Math 10C program. We wrapped up our work with roots and powers, including practice with exponent laws, square and cube roots, and using radicals in problem solving. From there, we moved into relations and functions, where students learned to represent relationships using tables, graphs and equations, and to distinguish clearly between a relation and a function. We also spent time interpreting domain and range, and identifying independent and dependent variables in meaningful, real-world contexts. Throughout, we have been emphasizing careful notation, showing work clearly, and checking that answers make sense.

We are now completing our unit on relations and functions and are beginning our work with linear functions. Here, the focus is on understanding slope as a rate of change, identifying y-intercepts, and writing equations of lines from graphs, tables, and word problems. Students are seeing how linear functions can model situations such as constant speed, savings plans, and other “steady change” scenarios. We only have two units left to cover in Math 10C, and I anticipate starting the final unit just before the holiday break.

For any student who would like additional review or a second look at a topic, I have prepared a complete set of video lessons that covers the entire course. These can be accessed at:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLme_ViKtX8oYti-xZLLIpfdANzkfs1Zlh

The videos are designed so that students can pause, rewind, and work through examples at their own pace, which can be especially helpful as we move toward final assessments.

As we move into the holiday season, I want to extend my very best wishes to all of my students and their families. Thank you for the consistent support you provide for your child’s education—it truly makes a difference. If at any point you have questions or concerns, or simply wish to touch base, please do not hesitate to reach out by phone, by email, or by booking an appointment. When home and school work together, students are the real beneficiaries, and I greatly value that partnership.

It’s been a productive month across Math 20-1, Math 30-1, Math 31, and Math 30-2. Students have been settling into routines, completing their middle to upper units, and showing great growth in their problem-solving skills. We’ve been focusing on strong mathematical communication, consistent practice, and building confidence through regular check-ins and work samples. It has also been wonderful to see students engaging more actively in class—sharing their ideas, asking thoughtful questions, and supporting one another during collaborative activities. Thank you to families for encouraging consistent attendance and steady pacing; it truly makes a difference. As we move into the next month, we’ll continue developing key skills and preparing for upcoming assessments while keeping our emphasis on relationship-building and student success.

December Spark: Math 10-3, 20-2, 20-3 & Explorers Monthly Update

“December brings sparkle, hope, and new beginnings. Let your efforts this month carry you confidently into the year ahead.”

As we wrap up 2024, I want to congratulate every student for the effort they’ve shown so far. December is a wonderful time to rest, recharge, and also stay focused as we prepare for final exams and the exciting learning ahead in January.

Course Updates

Math 10-3

We are completing our trigonometry unit, focusing on angles of elevation and depression, practical right-triangle applications, and multi-step diagram questions. Students will soon begin their review for the final exam. Please make sure all missing assignments and quizzes are submitted.

Math 20-3

Students in Math 20-3 are currently working through Scale Representations, where they are learning to interpret and create scale diagrams, convert between actual and scaled measurements, and apply ratio concepts to models, maps, and real-life situations. We will soon finish this unit and move into targeted review to help students prepare for the final exam.

Math 20-2

Math 20-2 students are exploring radicals, with a focus on simplifying entire and mixed radicals, performing operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and rationalizing denominators. As we wrap up the unit, students will begin final exam review through practice questions, formula sheets, and step-by-step strategies.

Online Science Explorers (Wednesdays)

Explorers students have been enjoying hands-on STEM investigations, including forensics, mystery-solving, and inquiry-based science challenges. December sessions will continue to build problem-solving skills, creativity, and scientific thinking. Thank you to all students attending consistently!

Final Exam Information

Final exams for all math courses will take place in January, and all exams will begin at 9:00 AM. Students must check in and give attendance before the exam begins to ensure they are marked present and allowed to write. Please check school announcements, Canvas, and email for the exact time and location for each course.

Math 10-3 Final Exam: Monday, January 26

Math 20-3 Final Exam: Tuesday, January 27

Math 20-2 Final Exam: Friday, January 23

Scholarship Opportunity

A scholarship opportunity is available to students seeking post-secondary funding. Please review the criteria, deadlines, and application details at the link below:

Scholarship Link: https://studentawards.com/scholarships/moneygenius-scholarship-canada/?mc_cid=217db3a04c&mc_eid=d5f3c6f752

Encourage your child to take a look and apply if eligible.

CTS Reminders – Criminal Law & Textile Arts

For students taking CTS modules with me:
Please continue working steadily in Criminal Law and Textile Arts/Fashion, completing the required activities, quizzes, and project evidence. Finishing all components is important for earning CTS credits.

Thank You for attending parent-teacher meetings.

It was wonderful connecting with families during our recent meetings. Parents are encouraged to create a Canvas Observer Account to stay up to date on grades, assignments, deadlines, and feedback.

Wishing you a warm, peaceful, and festive December and a strong finish to the semester.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Run Santa Run on Wednesday, December 3! It was a wonderful morning filled with energy, laughter, and festive spirit. We are grateful for the enthusiastic participation from students, families, and staff—great fun was truly had by all.

The funds raised through this event will go directly toward supporting our students and enhancing their learning experiences.

A special congratulations to Ethan D, Gabriel T, Vincent S, and Eleanor S for winning prizes at this year’s event!

We appreciate everyone who helped make Run Santa Run a success once again.

Our apologies for the late notice for cancelling the University of Alberta STEM career presentation for our last homeroom meeting. We are working on rescheduling the presentation.

Our next high school homeroom class will be on Monday, December 15th. Students are asked to join their homeroom group at 9:30 am where our topic will be Gratitude and Giving Back.

As students grow into their teenage years, developing connections with peers becomes increasingly important. However, we understand that home-educated teens may not always have access to the same social opportunities as their peers in traditional school settings. That’s why we’re excited to continue our peer-to-peer mentoring program for students in grades 7-12 enrolled in ursa’s Distance, Parent Directed, and Shared Responsibility programs.

This program will provide a fun and interactive space for your child to meet and connect with like-minded students. Using platforms like Kumospace, participants will have the chance to engage in meaningful conversations, share experiences, and make lasting friendships. Our program will be led by a teaching professional who will guide the students through these interactions in a structured and supportive way.

We believe this mentoring program will help your child develop important social skills while giving them the opportunity to make new friends and feel part of a larger community. It's a chance to explore new connections, learn from peers, and build a positive online experience—all while staying in the comfort of home.

Please fill out this form to let us know if you are interested:

https://forms.gle/4qT9CKN2f1kobeN79

We’re excited about the possibilities this program will offer and would love for your child to be a part of it. If you have any questions or would like more details, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our coordinator.

Alisha Brignall BGS, B.Ed M.Ed

Home Education Manager

abrignall@thirdschools.ca

587-703-7942