Turtle Island Tribute

We acknowledge that we live and learn on Turtle Island, the traditional homeland of Indigenous Peoples. We honour the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples who have cared for this land since time immemorial and continue to do so today. We recognize our responsibility to learn from Indigenous knowledge and to move forward together with respect and reconciliation.

January 16-30 - High School Exam Break

February 2 - Semester Two Begins For High School

February 9-13 - Teacher's Convention/Professional Development

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 begin the month of January, I would like to extend warm wishes for a very happy New Year to all of our parents, guardians, and students. I hope the winter break provided time for rest, reflection, and meaningful moments with family and friends as we start the year refreshed and ready for the months ahead.

January marks an important transition for our high school students as they prepare for the end of the semester and upcoming final exams. This is a busy and often demanding time, and we encourage students to stay organized, manage their time carefully, and reach out to their teachers if they need additional support or clarification. Families play a vital role during this period, and your encouragement and support are greatly appreciated.

We look forward to a strong finish to the semester and wish all students the very best as they move toward the end of the term. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to support student success.

Each year, Third Schools selects a unifying theme that guides learning across our community. Throughout the year, students and staff intentionally explore this theme through lessons, discussions, projects, and shared experiences, using it as a lens to deepen understanding, spark curiosity, and make meaningful connections across subject areas. This shared focus helps create a sense of cohesion in our learning while encouraging thoughtful exploration and reflection.

This year’s newsletter theme, America, invites us to explore not only the history of the continents as we know them today, but also the stories and perspectives that existed long before modern borders were drawn. We chose the title Turtle Island Tribute, as our newsletter name, to honour the Indigenous name for North America and to recognize the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples who have lived on and cared for this land since time immemorial. By using this name, we acknowledge that the story of America begins with Indigenous knowledge, culture, and connection to the land—and we offer this newsletter as a tribute to those enduring histories and voices.

Happy New Year and Welcome back to class.

In ELA, we are going to be continuing to build on what we have learned already. Working with stories to identify different key elements and noticing when in the storyline they are generally introduced, such as characters and setting at the beginning, a problem arises, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. The different grades will be working with these story parts in different ways over the next few weeks. A great way to continue this learning at home is to play story games in the car or before bed. You can do one-word stories, where you alternate going back and forth (or around a group one at a time), and each person gives only one or two words to the story. Or build a one like story, in the same way, going back and forth, coming up with the next line of the story, while encouraging your child to think about what can be introduced next in the story. Often, these types of stories can get quite silly and unravel quickly, but it is a fun way to build creativity and awareness of story creation without writing anything down.

In math, we have been doing some fun review while solving math mysteries, helping save others from selfish elves and hackers. Next up, we will be working on our skip counting skills through songs and moving our bodies, so make sure you have some space to move around by your computers. If you need some reminders of what the skip-counting songs are, feel free to go back into Canvas to where your classes meet on Zoom and review the lesson videos.

It seems like a fitting time for the science class to start exploring light and sound, with the return of light after the winter solstice and having just experienced one of the largest supermoons this month. Reflection, refraction, and absorption will all become household words as we learn about how light and sound travel around us.

What is New Year's without a New Year’s resolution or two? In health, we are looking to the year ahead and considering what we want to try with our New Year's Bingo. You can create your own bingo card with 3x3, 4x4, or 5x5 spaces and fill in things that you would like to achieve. You can fill it in all at once or over a while as you cross completed goals off and set new ones as you go. It could be a new food you want to try, a new sports skill you want to master, a new book you want to read, or anything really that you need that extra little bit of motivation to do. See the attachment for templates you can print out to get started.

Here is to a wonderful 2026 to all of our ursa families.

ELA 3-4

Returning from a school break can sometimes hinder your child’s reading progress. To quickly get back into routine, have them try the reading BINGO (attachment at top). How many days before they can get a blackout?

Math 3-4

Soon, our class will be learning how to multiply and divide numbers. Practicing their math facts quickly is extremely helpful when it comes to multiplying and dividing. Have them continue to work on this skill every day.

https://webmathminute.com/

Social 2 – Time and Place

In our next few lessons, the Grade 2s will focus on the Earth and its environment. Have them use this Bingo board over January—what can they all cross off?

file:///Users/tinaparish/Downloads/EnvironmentBingoBoard-1.pdf

Grade 3/4 – Time and Place Review

Do they remember the provinces and territories of Canada? Take this quiz as a review.

https://www.geoguessr.com/vgp/3006

Grade 5/6 – Ancient Civilizations

Before our break, our class was looking at a variety of ancient inventions. In the coming months, we will be looking at different civilizations around the world—China being one of these civilizations. Use this website to look at a variety of ancient inventions that were invented in China. What do they still use? Are some obsolete?

https://www.historyforkids.net/ancient-chinese-science.html

Grade 7 – European Colonies

The grade 7s will soon be finished with a fur trade project. Students had to explain the 5 phases in some sort of presentation. Some have done storybooks, and others have done art/sculpting. We will be sharing these shortly, and I am very excited to see all their hard work!

Grade 8 – Edo Japan

Art in the Edo period in Japan was meaningful because it reflected everyday life, social values, and beliefs during a time of peace and stability. Have your child share with you the 3 pieces of art they chose to research. What was the meaning behind the painting?

Grade 9 – Creation of Mars

Before the break, the Grade 9s used what they had learned about our Canadian government and applied it to creating their own colonization of—Mars.

Have them show you their newly created civilizations. What was the same as Canada’s government? What did they change or create?

Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a restful and refreshing holiday break and is off to a positive start in 2026.

Safety is an essential part of everyday life and plays a key role in helping young people make responsible choices, build confidence, and care for themselves and others. Students in Grades 7–9 Health are developing essential safety knowledge and skills to help them make responsible decisions in everyday life. Through age-appropriate discussions and activities, students explore personal and social safety, risk awareness, injury prevention, and strategies for responding to unsafe or challenging situations. Emphasis is placed on building confidence, critical thinking, and respect for self and others, empowering students to recognize hazards, seek help when needed, and contribute to safer school and community environments.

Lessons emphasize online safety, recognizing risky situations, and understanding personal boundaries. Students will learn strategies for staying safe in digital spaces, communicating concerns, and identifying trusted adults and support systems when help is needed. We will learn how to navigate digital spaces safely by understanding privacy, respectful communication, and potential online risks. Lessons support students in recognizing unsafe online behaviour, protecting personal information, and knowing how and where to seek help.

We will also examine the influence of peers and social situations on personal safety. Lessons on personal boundaries help students understand consent, respect, and self-advocacy. We will learn how to recognize uncomfortable situations, communicate boundaries clearly, and respect the boundaries of others in both in-person and online interactions.

Take a look at the following "Supporting your teen in the digital world" from AHS:

https://schools.healthiertogether.ca/en/get-the-latest/resources-for-families/articles-for-families-with-teens/supporting-your-teen-in-the-digital-world/

ELA 7

Our novel study has just begun!

Refugee

Three different kids.

One mission in common: ESCAPE.

Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world…

Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety and freedom in America…

Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe…

All three young people will go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers—from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But for each of them, there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, surprising connections will tie their stories together in the end.

Learn more about Alan Gratz here: https://www.alangratz.com/writing/refugee/

High School English

We are wrapping up the term with an exam review. Students will write two exams; the first is the written component, where students are asked to use their knowledge of class materials to answer a globally applicable essential question. The second exam is reading comprehension, where students are asked to critically read a variety of texts, assessing understanding of text elements, themes, and, the author's purpose.

Students were given study guides last week, and we will run through a series of practice materials and suggested tips and tricks.

ELA 8/9

In December, our ELA 8/9 students wrapped up their novel study of Touching Spirit Bear and then jumped into a fast-paced Shark Tank–style unit. During this mini-unit, students pitched original products or services to the class while learning and applying persuasive language and marketing techniques. It was a fun and engaging way for students to practice speaking, critical thinking, and audience awareness.

As we move into January, we will begin a media literacy unit, where students will continue to build on their understanding of persuasion by learning how to analyze media messages and detect false or misleading information. This unit will help students become more informed, critical consumers of media—an important skill both in and beyond the classroom.

A reminder that book reports are due on January 12th. Please encourage students to plan ahead, and reach out if they have any questions.

Math 10C – Semester Update

I hope all students and families enjoyed a restful and refreshing holiday break. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to pause, recharge, and return ready for the final stretch of the semester.

As we move forward in Math 10C, I am pleased to share that all new course content was completed just prior to the Christmas break. From this point onward, our class time is dedicated entirely to reviewing and reinforcing key concepts from throughout the course. This review period is designed to help students consolidate their learning, strengthen their confidence, and prepare effectively for upcoming assessments.

Students will write a unit test on January 12, covering the final unit of the course. The last day of classes is January 15, and we will continue focused review activities right up to that point. The Math 10C final exam is scheduled for January 23.

For any students who still have outstanding work, submissions will be accepted until January 16. I strongly encourage students to take advantage of this time so they can approach the final exam feeling organized, prepared, and as stress-free as possible.

It has truly been my pleasure working with this group of students throughout the semester. Their effort, perseverance, and willingness to engage with challenging material have been commendable. I sincerely hope I am fortunate enough to work with many of them again in a future course.

Thank you to families for your continued support and encouragement—it makes a meaningful difference in student success. If students or parents would like to connect outside of class time, meetings can be easily booked using the Calendly link in my email signature. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Here’s to a strong and confident finish to the semester.

As we continue through to the end of the semester, it has been wonderful to see students settling into strong learning routines across Math 20-1, Math 30-1, Math 30-2, and Math 31. With most assessments now behind us, students have a clearer picture of expectations and are increasingly confident in explaining their thinking and showing full mathematical reasoning. We are now in prep mode for finals.

In Math 20-1 and Math 30-2, we are strengthening core algebra skills and applying them to real-world problems, with a growing emphasis on clear communication and persistence. Math 30-1 students are engaging in deeper problem-solving in trigonometry and sharpening their analytical skills, while Math 31 students are continuing to build a strong foundation in calculus concepts through careful reasoning and graphical understanding.

It has been a pleasure watching students support one another, ask thoughtful questions, and continue sharing their interests and personalities during class. Consistent practice and steady effort remain the key to success, and I’m proud of the progress being made across all my courses.

Turtle Island is an Indigenous name used by many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to refer to what is now commonly called North America. The term comes from Indigenous creation stories and worldviews that emphasize relationships, responsibility, and balance with the land.

Meaning and Origins

In many Indigenous creation stories, the world was formed on the back of a giant turtle. While details differ among Nations, a common theme is that land was created through cooperation between animals and humans, symbolizing:

• Interconnectedness of all living things
• Respect for the natural world
• The land as living and sacred, not something to be owned

Because of this, “Turtle Island” is more than a geographic name—it reflects a way of understanding the world.

The Turtle as a Symbol

The turtle is deeply symbolic in many Indigenous cultures:

• Longevity & wisdom – turtles live long lives
• Stability – the turtle carries the world on its back
• Time & cycles – some teachings link the 13 scutes on a turtle’s shell to the 13 lunar months

January Highlights: Math 10-3, 20-2, 20-3 & Explorers Monthly Update

“Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.”-Robert Collier

As we begin the month of January, I would like to provide an update on recent learning and upcoming assessments in our mathematics courses. This semester has been a productive and positive one, with students demonstrating commitment, perseverance, and growth in their learning.

Students across all mathematics courses have recently completed key instructional units. In Math 10-3, students concluded the Similar Figures unit, developing skills in identifying similar shapes, comparing corresponding sides and angles, and applying scale factors to solve real-world problems, thereby strengthening their understanding of proportions and spatial reasoning. Math 20-3 students completed the Personal Budgets unit, which focused on income, expenses, savings, and financial decision-making through practical applications that support financial literacy. In Math 20-2, students studied Quadratic Equations, learning multiple methods to solve them and making connections between algebraic representations and graphical models, with an emphasis on problem-solving and mathematical reasoning. In addition, students participating in Online Science Explorers on Wednesdays have been engaging in hands-on Invisible Forces experiments, exploring concepts in electricity and magnetism through interactive, inquiry-based activities.

As we move into final exam preparation, the scheduled exam dates are January 23 for Math 20-2, January 26 for Math 10-3, and January 27 for Math 20-3. Students are required to attend class before beginning their Proctorio exams to have their attendance recorded. I would like to thank both students and parents for their continued support and collaboration throughout the semester, and I look forward to supporting students as they complete the term and prepare for their future academic pathways.

ELA

Grade 5 and 6 students wrapped up an engaging ELA unit by completing a novel study of Island of the Blue Dolphins, exploring themes of resilience, survival, and character development. Students also proudly presented book reports on independent novels they read, strengthening their speaking skills and sharing their love of reading with peers. These activities encouraged thoughtful discussion, critical thinking, and confidence in oral communication. As we begin the new year, we are excited to dive into narrative writing, where students will craft creative and meaningful stories of their own. We wish all our students and families a Happy New Year and look forward to a wonderful start to 2026.

MATH

Grade 5 and 6 students have been working hard in math, strengthening their skills in multi-digit multiplication and beginning to explore division strategies. Through practice and problem-solving, students developed accuracy, confidence, and perseverance with more complex calculations. As we move into the new year, students will begin a new unit focused on metric conversions, learning how to convert between units of length, mass, and capacity. We will also be exploring perimeter and area, helping students connect math concepts to real-world applications.

Our monthly High School Homeroom Block will take place on Monday, January 12th, at 1:00 pm. This session will focus on academic resetting and preparing for final exams, providing students with strategies to reflect on the semester, organize their workload, and plan for a strong finish.

All Grade 10–12 students are expected to attend their homeroom block, as this is an important opportunity to receive guidance and support during a critical point in the semester. We appreciate families helping ensure students are available and ready to participate.

As we move into the Semester One Final Exam period, we would like to remind parents/guardians and students that the last day of live classes is January 15th. Shortly after, students will transition into the final exam break.

All final exams are scheduled to begin at 9:00 am on their assigned exam dates. Students are required to log in at the start time for attendance and instructions, after which they will be allocated the appropriate amount of time to complete their exam.

As exams are written virtually, students will use Proctorio for each exam. This requires a working camera and microphone, as well as a quiet, interruption-free workspace to support focus and ensure exam integrity.

When students are not studying or writing their exams, they are encouraged to continue working on their option courses. Thank you for your continued support as we move through this important assessment period.

Parents and guardians of students in Grades 10–12 are advised that Semester One report cards will be uploaded to SchoolCloud on Friday, January 30th. Families can access report cards by logging in to SchoolCloud using their existing account information.

Semester Two schedules will be emailed to parents/guardians and students shortly. We encourage families to review schedules carefully to ensure all courses are correct.

If any course changes are required, please contact Tracy Gilluley at tgilluley@thirdschools.ca as soon as possible. The first day of Semester Two classes is Monday, February 2nd, and timely communication will help ensure a smooth transition into the new semester.

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