June 17

The End of the Year!

It’s the end of the year, and it’s been a great privilege to teach these young learners. I wish everyone a great summer break!

Here is some important information as we finish off the year.

Wednesday

Knight’s Day – wear casual with a knight’s logo

Class Party – Mr. Hancock and I will provide the ice cream and toppings. Students will choose between a movie, board games, or a water fight (students bring their own water guns).

Thursday

Water Slides

We will be leaving promptly at 8:30 am and returning at approx. 3:00 pm.  

Parents and small children are welcome to come along for the day, but due to the high number of students, we will not be able to provide transportation. Students in Grades ¾, 4, 5 and 6 have already paid for this fieldtrip through their fieldtrip fund. Parents and siblings 4 and under who wish to come along may pay a school rate at the park. In order to respect our grade specific field trips, please do not pull other school age children from class to go to the waterslides. Students who go to the waterslides on the bus must return unless they have made arrangements with the classroom teacher.  Please note that students may only travel to and from the slides in vehicles with their parents.   

When selecting bathing suits, please refer to our non-uniform standard and prioritize modesty to help ensure staff, parents, and students feel comfortable. Girls are encouraged to wear tankinis or one-piece suits and should refrain from wearing bikinis. If a child’s bathing suit does not meet these standards, they will be asked to wear a t-shirt 

This will be a rain or shine fieldtrip so please come prepared!  

Students should have the following items: 

  • Sunscreen 
  • Hats 
  • Swimwear 
  • Clothes to change into 
  • Towels 
  • Money (optional – for the canteen) 
  • Backpack 
  • Lunch/snack 
May 30

Grade Six Grad

Grade Six Grad

Friday, June 6th

We are just one week away from our Grade 6 graduation celebration.  Since it’s been a while since information on this event has been sent home, I wanted to give you a quick overview of what to expect on Friday:

  • Church doors open at 5:30
  • Grads arrive no later than 5:50 in their Sunday Best and meet in the chapel hallway.  Parents and guests can find seats in the chapel. There will be plenty of seating.
  • The grad ceremony begins at 6:00 and will last approximately 45 minutes
  • After the ceremony, please join us in the church foyer for refreshments and dessert, and take some photos of your wonderful graduate
  • Graduates will board the bus at 7:30 for Castle Fun Park , where they will stay until 10:00.  They are welcome to go, to stay dressed up, or change into comfortable clothes before boarding the bus
  • We expect to be back at HRA and ready for pick up by 10:30

We will have three teacher chaperones at Castle Fun Park to ensure the students are safe and that everyone has a fantastic time!

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Goosen.  Her email is pgoosen@highroadacademy.com

Blessings,

Pamela Goosen

May 22

🕵️‍♀️ Case File #38: Newton’s Notebooks, Percentage Perils & a Chapel Lineup to Remember

This week, the Grade 6 Detectives have been deep in the lab, the ledger, and the chapel sound booth! From decoding the laws of motion to figuring out restaurant tips like pros, they’re on the case with curious minds and steady hands.

Let’s take a look inside their latest investigations:


🔬 Science Report: The Laws of Newton

We’ve launched into a brand-new unit on Newton’s Laws of Motion, and our student investigators are discovering how movement, mass, and force interact in our everyday world. 🚗💥

Here’s what they’ve uncovered so far:

  • 1st Law: The Law of Inertia
    An object in motion stays in motion… unless acted upon by an outside force.
    🧠 Ask your student:
    “What happens to your body if a vehicle suddenly turns?”
    (Spoiler: You feel like you’re sliding sideways!)

  • 2nd Law: F = ma (Force = Mass × Acceleration)
    The more mass something has, the more force you need to move it.
    🧠 Ask:
    “If you swing a bat with the same force, what happens when you hit a small ball vs. a large ball?”
    (Clue: Not everything flies the same distance.)

  • 3rd Law: Every Action Has an Equal and Opposite Reaction
    Push something—and it pushes back.
    🧠 Ask:
    “What happens to you when you push on a wall or a sled?”
    (Hint: Newton’s favorite tug-of-war moment!)

Keep those questions coming—our classroom is practically a mini physics lab.


➗ Math: Cracking the Code of Percentages

Detective alert! Our math mystery this week: How do you quickly calculate a 20% tip at a restaurant?

🧠 Ask your student:
“How can you figure out 20% of a bill?”

Their response should sound something like this:

  1. Divide the total by 10 (to get 10%)

  2. Double that amount to get 20%!

It’s a real-world skill—and your student is ready to pick up the tab (theoretically, of course!).


🎹 Chapel Line-Up: This Week’s Worship Crew

This week’s worship session has an all-star lineup leading us in music, sound, and spirit. Give a high five to these amazing student leaders:

  • Drums: Jayce

  • Electric Guitar: Olivia

  • Acoustic Guitar: Isaac D

  • Bass: Kianna

  • Keys: Grace, Alivia

  • Percussion: Nathan

  • Vocals: Avery, Jordan, Jayna, Neariah, Mrs. Van Santen

  • Stage Manager: Maximus

  • FOH (Front of House): Danny, Maddox, Evan

  • Tech: Elliot, Ari

They’re helping create a meaningful and musical space each week—thank you, team!


That wraps up this week’s chapter in the Grade 6 Detective Files. Whether it’s Newton’s forces, percentages in practice, or harmonies in chapel, our students are staying sharp and solving real-world mysteries with style. 🧠✨

Until next time,
Detective Wolfsen, signing off.

May 15

Case File #37: The Curious Case of the Chapel Lineup, Imaginative Minds, Body Systems, & Graduation Countdown

Another week, another round of clues, clever thinking, and classroom capers. Our junior detectives have been busy—solving internal mysteries of the human body, chasing flying discs, and crafting characters who face challenges of their own. Here’s what’s going down at Detective HQ (a.k.a. our classroom):


📸 URGENT: Graduation Photo Submission

🔍 Evidence Needed Immediately!
Tomorrow is the final day to submit your Grade 6 graduation photos. We’re building our memory wall and can’t complete the case without your child’s:

  • 1 recent photo

  • 1 baby photo

  • (Optional) Any class photos from earlier years

Upload your pics tonight so we can wrap up this piece of the graduation puzzle. Don’t leave us with an unsolved mystery!

>>Photo Upload<<


🗓 May 21 – Puberty & Sex Talk

This Wednesday, Grade 5 detectives will attend separate sessions for their Puberty & Sex Talk. If your family prefers to opt out of this case, you may pick your child up at noon. Info packets are available at the office for those wanting more details.


✍️ Creative Writing: Dreamers, Dominators & Deep Lessons

In our writing unit, students are hard at work creating imaginative short stories. The mission? To build relatable characters in tricky situations—characters who face challenges, learn something, and come out stronger with a lesson to share.
🧠 Ask your student:

  • What’s your story about?

  • Is your main character a dreamer with big hopes, or a dominator who has to learn humility?

  • What challenge do they face?

  • What lesson do they learn?

These tales are full of heart, humor, and detective-worthy detail.


🧬 Science Recap: Body Systems Uncovered

Our biology cases are officially closed… for now.

  • Grade 6: Finished our unit on the Excretory System

  • Grade 5: Wrapped up the Respiratory System

Ask your student:

  • What does their system do?

  • How does it help the body stay balanced and healthy?
    You might be surprised by how much these young scientists have learned!


🥏 PE Update: The Flying Disc Files

It’s all about frisbee this week in Phys Ed. Students are learning to throw with accuracy, power, and control.

Detective Challenge:
🕵️ Ask your student to demonstrate their throws:

  • Forehand flick

  • Backhand spin

  • Trick shots? (Optional but impressive)


➗ Math: Ratios in Real Life

This week in math, we’ve been cracking cases involving ratiosa handy skill when adjusting recipes or planning projects.

Detective Challenge:
🧪 Ask your student:

  • If a recipe serves 4 and we need to double it for 8 people, what would the new measurements be?”

  • How do ratios help us in everyday life?”

Let them show off their problem-solving skills—they’re cooking up some serious math!


🎶 This Week’s Chapel Line-Up

Here’s who’s leading worship this week in chapel:

  • Drums: Scott

  • Electric Guitar: Avery

  • Acoustic Guitar: Olivia

  • Bass: Kyara

  • Percussion: Manny

  • Vocals: Kaiya, Isaac B., Nick, Shiloh

  • Tech: Danna, Elora

  • Door Greeters: Thomas, Emilie

Applaud these students for their leadership and heart in worship.

Until next time, keep your pencils sharp, your sneakers laced, and your imagination open. Case closed… for now. 🕶️✒️💼

May 9

Case File #36: May Mayhem & the Mystery of Milestones

The calendar’s got more red ink on it than a marked-up witness statement, and this month’s looking busier than a gumshoe in a city full of secrets. Here’s what’s on the docket for our squad of junior sleuths:

🕵️‍♀️ Chapel Line-Up: May 14’s Investigative Ensemble

The spiritual vibe’s in good hands this week with this dedicated chapel crew:

Tech: Ari, Elliot
Vocals: Jordan, Sina, Alexis, Danna
Keys: Alivia, Grace
Bass: Kianna
Drums: Jace
Acoustic Guitar: McKena
Electric Guitar: David
Percussion: Nathan
Door Greeters: Thomas, Emilie


🔍 Important Dates & Major Clues

🗓 May 12 – Grandparents Day, Math Test, & Memory Verse Quiz
Three cases in one day. Detectives, don’t forget to bring your sharp minds, warm smiles for visiting grandparents, and those memory verses locked and loaded.

🕶 May 14 – Pay to Wear Casual (Library Fundraiser)
Trade your uniform for undercover attire with a $2 donation to our library fund. Casual never looked so classy.

💉 May 15 – Science Test

  • Grade 6: Excretory system – know your kidneys from your nephrons.

  • Grade 5: Respiratory system – it’s all about breathing easy (and not just after the test).

📚 May 16 & May 19 – No School
Pro D Day & Victoria Day. Take the time to recharge. Even detectives need rest.

📦 May 21 – Puberty and Sex Talk
Sensitive case files ahead. Grade 5 students will be split into boys’ and girls’ groups to discuss puberty. Attendance is optional—pick up an info packet from HQ (a.k.a. the office). Students not attending may be picked up at noon.

🎭 May 22 – Newsies Field Trip
Time to hit the town and follow the trail of headlines. Bring your curiosity and maybe a notepad—this one’s got style and story.

🎤 May 30 – Spring Showcase @ 1:00 PM
Lights, camera, growth! Celebrate our students’ hard work in a display of talent, creativity, and probably some toe-tapping tunes.

🎓 June 6 – Grade 6 Graduation
It’s the final chapter for our oldest sleuths. A night of nostalgia and new beginnings, 6:00–10:30 PM.
📸 Photos Due by May 16:

  • 1 recent photo

  • 1 baby photo

  • Optional: Class photos through the years
    Upload your evidence and RSVP—let’s build a memory wall to crack hearts wide open.

🕐 June 13 – 11:30 AM Early Dismissal
A short day—but the mysteries don’t end there.

🎉 June 16 – Intermediate Fun Day
Games, laughs, and curiously fun time.

💦 June 19 – Waterslides Field Trip (Last Day of School)
Close out the year with a splash. A fitting end to a year full of learning, laughter, and the occasional classroom caper.


Keep your trench coats pressed, your pencils sharp, and your curiosity alive. Until next time, keep sniffing out the truth and showing the world what junior detectives can do. 🕵️‍♂️

May 6

Tomorrow, May 7th, we roll out early—real early. The kind of early where the dew’s still fresh and the robins are just clearing their throats. Why? Because the whole crew is heading to the Britannia Mine Museum.

The plan?

  • Departure: 7:00 AM sharp. Be there by 6:50 AM, or you’ll be chasing the bus down the highway.

  • The Scene: We’ll dig into the depths of mining history, pan for truth, and maybe even find a nugget of knowledge.

  • The Extras: A pit stop at the gift shop—bring a bit of pocket change if you plan to take home a souvenir.

  • The Getaway: A quiet walk to Shannon Falls, soaking in some West Coast beauty before heading back.

  • ETA Back at HQ (school): 4:00 PM.

Dress like you’re tracking clues in unpredictable weather: layers, closed-toe shoes, and extra snacks in your pack. Leave your gadgets at home—this investigation’s screen-free.

Graduation – The Final Chapter Begins
There’s another major operation on the horizon: Grade 6 Graduation. The evening of Friday, June 6th, will be one to remember. It starts at 6:00 PM and runs until 10:30 PM—four and a half hours of celebration, recognition, and probably a few nostalgic tears.

To pull off this caper, we need some evidence—a few key photos:

  • One recent photo (your star detective as they are today)

  • One baby photo (to show how far they’ve come)

  • Optional: Class photos from over the years (for a visual timeline of their school story)

📎 Please upload these files and RSVP by Friday, May 16th. We’re building a memory wall, and we need your piece of the puzzle.


Wonder Reading Assignment – Case of the Open Heart
Meanwhile, in language arts, we’re diving into Wonder—a novel about kindness, courage, and not judging a book by its cover. Students are following Auggie Pullman through his journey of fitting in, standing out, and reshaping perspectives. Read the parent letter to find out more about expectations for the reading schedule, thinking notes, and reading check-ins as we read through May.

If your student seems quieter than usual, they might be thinking deeply about friendship, empathy, or the power of a precept. This story hits home.


Stay sharp, stay warm, and stay curious.
Detective Wolfsen, on the trail of knowledge 🕵️‍♂️

April 25

Upcoming Events: Art Gala, Field trips, Dress up, and more…

Art Gala

April 28 – Prepare to be captivated by an unforgettable night of creativity and inspiration! Our talented Grade 4-6 students have poured their hearts into masterpieces that will amaze and delight.  Bring your family and friends and immerse yourselves in a magical world of colour, imagination, and artistic expression.

🌟 Art Gala Details
📅 Date: Monday, April 28th
📍 Location: The Chapel
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Track Meet

May 1 – We are headed to South Surrey Athletic Park for the Christian School Track Meet. We need parent volunteers and transportation is limited. Please let me know if you are able to drive your student. my email: dwolfsen@highroadacademy.com

Star Wars/Superhero dress up day

May 5 – Dress up as your favourite superhero or star wars character. Bring the force, but leave weapons and lightsabers at home.

Brittania Mine Field Trip

May 7 – Feel free to join us for our trip to the Brittania Mines. It is a long trip, so we leave at 7:00 am.

Puberty & Sex Education Afternoon

May 21 – Families received an email and letter about the upcoming puberty and sex education afternoons for Grades 5 & 6 students. The school is offering information packages at the office for those who want to learn more. Attendance is not mandatory, and parents can pick up their child at noon on Wednesday, May 21st, if they prefer. Grade five students will attend the session on puberty, and grade six students will attend the sex education session.

Grade 6 Graduation

June 6 – We are thrilled to share that our recent bake sale was a tremendous success! Thanks to your generosity and support, we raised $1,800, which covers all our graduation costs. 🎉

As we begin planning our graduation evening, we need your help! Please take a moment to fill out the jot form linked below, and kindly attach two photos of your child:

  • One recent photo
  • One baby photo

Additionally, there’s a section where you can upload any class photos you have from previous years. These memories will make our graduation celebration even more special!

Important Update: The time for our grad ceremony has changed! Please note the new details:

  • Date: Friday, June 6th
  • Start Time: 6:00 PM
  • Pick-Up Time: 10:30 PM

Photos are due by Friday, May 16th.

Thank you once again for all your support. We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with all of you!

Link to Jot Form: https://highroadacademy.jotform.com/251115018602948