PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME

ENCORE, WHERE STUDENTS WANT MORE!

BY CHERYL BABIN, PYP COORDINATOR

Encore activity idea brainstorm

It’s Friday afternoon and the recess bell launches students into a sprint towards the doors. It’s Encore day and they don’t want to miss a minute.

Encore is an inspiring new initiative for STS Elementary School students that allows them the agency to choose from a wide variety of engaging experiential learning options. Scheduled into six-week blocks, students choose from six to ten activities that extend the curriculum, to take a deep dive into something they love.

When students were asked what ideas they had for Encore, they had more ideas than could fit on the board!

The core purpose is to enrich student competencies by activating their abilities to problem solve, and demonstrate creativity and innovation while collaborating within learning communities with children in different grades.

The IB Approaches to Learning framework provides a lens through which each potential activity is designed. Our Elementary School students thrive with excellence in academic

My favourite Encores are, well… all of them! I really loved puppet making, and book worms, and we get to do really fun stuff! – Laine M, ’31

programming embedded with opportunities to highlight students’ developing communication, research, self-management, social and thinking skills.

Teachers made room for Encore in the regular timetable, with student wellness and student agency in mind. This balanced approach allows wellness breaks for students and more equitable opportunities to engage in great learning activity options. Previously, students who were interested in joining co-curricular clubs did so at lunch, recess, and after school. This format forced students to choose between clubs and time outside, whereas now they have time for both.

Our creative teachers offered an amazing array of choices for students in each learning community, including athletics, fine arts, coding and technology, outdoor education, and academics. Encore demonstrates that learning also occurs through dynamic explorations of skills, challenges and adventures.

With the energy and spirit of our STS community, Encore has brought a fresh face

ENCORE 2019-2020 OPTIONS:

Drama and Improv Walk in the Wild Puppet Making Little Chefs Under the Sea Dance Party Scratch Coding Corking Reptiles Clay Castles and Pottery Lego Robotics Sketchnotes Stop-motion Animation Soccer Touch Football Cross-Country Skiing Chess The Ultimate Speaking Club Speakers Corner L’il Bookworms STEAM Outdoor Games Yoga Photography Mindful Movement Creative Coding Strategy Games Amazing Race Volleyball Climbing Humanitarian Outreach Zip Boomerang on the Track Bouldering Maker Market Ancient History Felt Crafts Science Fair Drama Games Secret Math Society

to co-curricular clubs in our PYP. We are excited by the enthusiasm of faculty and students alike, and are enamoured by the ways in which we are foraging new relationships, interests and passions.

In fact, it makes us want even more!