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The kids at Block 8 kicked off the summer with a fantastic afternoon hanging out with an Aboriginal Youth Group at the Port Moody Art Centre. They learned lots of new games and tricks and topped off the day with a kids-against-grown-ups Tug of War!
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Learning Which Shapes are Strong
Sampling of Bridges at the Competition
 On Friday afternoons, we focus on music. Miss Cindy, a BC certified music teacher who is known for her innovative techniques of combining games and stories to teach children music, leads the charge. Cindy has her ARCT from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music and uses Orff and Kodaly methodologies combined with folk songs to engage and inspire the children. Miss Cindy brings a wide variety of instruments from xylophones to gongs, guiros to glockenspiels. The children learn to appreciate and respect the instruments and treat them not as toys, but as mediums for expression and learning. Basic theory and principles are taught through rhythm while the children are encouraged to create their own sounds, songs and musical games. Through the music program, the children are exposed to different cultures and sounds; they gain confidence and control while learning to work not only as a team but also in positions of leadership. 
Here are a few pictures from our super spooky Halloween fun! The children had fun playing team-building games, learning new Halloween songs and creating fun monster art!  One of our favourite features of Block 8 Academy is having an in-house art gallery for the children to explore. During the month of October the Port Moody Art Centre Art Gallery hosted the "Art 4 Life" exhibit. From the Art Centre Website: "This multimedia exhibition features work by professional visual, performing and literary artists. It is designed to teach, inspire and engage young people, as well as raising opportunities for active participation, discussion, cultural awareness and lessons on art appreciation. The benefits of an arts education affect every area of life and we want it to be a lifelong journey." The children of Block 8 were invited by the gallery director for a private tour of the Art 4 Life exhibition. During the tour, the children were shown paintings, puppets, collages and many more fun and interesting works of art created by adults and youth.   One of the highlights of the exhibit was from Coquitlam artist, Ahmad Reza. Ahmad and his family fled from the Taliban in Afghanistan in the late 1990s and he now uses a canvases and oil paints to express a message of hope.  The children then had an opportunity to experience some interactive pieces and show off their own ideas and artistry. They were also invited to choose which piece they found the most inspiring. Sneak Peak! The children of the Block 8 Academy Entrepreneurship Program have been working very hard on their own art projects! Stay tuned for more exciting details!  On Monday, October 17th, Block 8 Academy checked out the Compassion Experience in Burnaby. The Compassion Experience is a traveling exhibition that profiles the lives of children living in extreme poverty.  The Compassion Experience is an immersive exhibit that allowed the children to experience other cultures. As they walked through the exhibit they learned of Yannely and Jonathan who are both from the Dominican Republic. They saw and heard how extreme poverty, sickness and poor education could stifle their dreams.  The children of Block 8 then learned how those children used their strength and creativity to change their lives and the lives of their communities for the better. It was an eye opening and inspiring experience!
 And then a scavenger hunt looking for things in nature ... a blooming flower, something shiny, a beautiful bug, something gross (most found slugs), a rockin’rock, a lovely looking leaf...
He gave us the opportunity to look closely at the birds through his scope (adjustable for bird watchers of all heights!). He also taught us the difference between a bluejay and a stellar's jay (bluejays are smaller, have white stripes on their chests, and are rarely seen in this area - only once in the last 10 years!) And have you wondered why you see fewer stellar's jays this year than in past years? The numbers really are declining. Speculation is that increased pesticide use has reduce the available insects (their food source) We were also lucky to be able to participate in some crabbing off the dock. Students got to take part in measuring the crabs and throwing back the ones that were too little!
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This BlogThis blog tracks recent highlights from Block 8 Academy. It includes events that occurred during care time as well as special events attended by students and their families. Archives
February 2021
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