The Valley Catholic March 19, 2019 | Page 19

tvc.dsj.org | March 19, 2019 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 19 Queen of Apostles Students Experience the Academy of Science One of Queen of Apostles School’s Schoolwide Learning Expectations is being an Active Learner who dem- onstrates pride and responsibility for learning and communicates in- formation through reading, writing and speaking. The third-grade class exemplified being true representatives of Queen of Apostles’ Active Learners when they all boarded a bus to the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. A busy day was planned ahead for them. They arrived at the Academy of Sciences early at 9:30 a.m. and checked in. There they saw some very interest- ing animals and got to explore the tide pools by touching starfish, shark eggs, Third grade students at Saint Lucy School recently benefited from an engaging “At Apple Today” field trip. They were cheered on by employees as they entered a local Apple store to begin their “At Apple Today” expe- rience. Following their arrival, the students began a ‘Coding Lab for Kids’ training preparing for a Sphero Robot Obstacle Challenge. Students were able to explore block-based coding as they programmed simple movements; changing speed, time, direction, color and sound. An obstacle course was set up and students worked in groups of two or three to use their ipad to program the Sphero’s successful path and kelp. Through the aquarium, they learned about the connection between water and life. They saw jellyfish, python, pipefish, snapping turtles, fresh water fish and seahorses. The most interest- ing meeting was with Claude, the albino alligator. The students learned that while Claude appeared to be all white, it was actually a complete lack of pigmentation that made him look that way. Next, the third graders attended a Planetarium show called “Expedition Reef” where they were introduced to the endangered marine ecosystems. They watched how corals grow, feed, Saint Lucy School Third Graders ‘At Apple’ through the course. Working with the ipad app programming code is a fan- tastic way to prepare students for the innovative jobs and opportunities that they will discover in future academic experiences as well as eventual careers. Field trips outside the classroom continue to be an integral part of learning at Saint Lucy School. The educational experiences are planned by teachers to correlate with the regu- lar classroom instructional program. Teachers often balance in-house field trips, such as the Walk Through His- tory experiences, with off campus trips as they arrange activities which will enhance their curriculum and engage student learning. Trips to the pumpkin patch for the younger grades are indeed fun-filled beloved traditions, but in the classroom they translate to math and language as well as social studies activities. Off reproduce, and support over 25% of all marine life on Earth. After the show, thanks to beautiful weather that day, they had lunch by the fountains and enjoyed exchanging notes on all that they saw. The final des- tination was an incredible earthquake simulator and a visit to a dome with a neo-tropical rainforest around them. They met sun beetles, leafcutter ants and an Amazonian tree boa! Thrilled and satisfied, the students thanked their chaperones and headed back to school excited to write about what they saw, reflect about everything they learned, and ask all the questions they still had. campus field trips to Hidden Villa, History Park, local plays, California missions, the Quicksilver Mine and the Ainsley House are just a few trips that the K-5 teachers share with their students. These experiences enhance not only science and social studies but language arts as well. Junior High students also love to learn and explore via field trips. Whether studying at the California Academy of Sciences, learning about different environments presented via New Generation Science Standards at Science Camp, or touring the state capital, they are all enthusi- astic learners and love the hands on learning environment. St Clare School*725 Washington Street*Santa Clara*CA*95050 Cool Kids Zone! Summer Day Camp Program June 10 - August 2, 2019 7:30a – 6:00p Academics*Kindergarten Readiness*Traditional Day Camp*LIT Program Weekly Field Trips/Arts-n-Crafts/Bike/Water days/Campfire Nights Cooking/Science/Sports/Swimming/Hiking/Video Production! Qualified Staff Team, Credentialed Teachers; CPR & First Aide Certified. One of the best and longest running places to be this summer! Saint Leo the Great 8th Graders Visit the Cathedral On a chilly Friday morning, the eighth graders from Saint Leo the Great School made a 1.5 miles walking pilgrimage to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph to learn more about the history of this truly beautiful Cathedral. Docents led the students through its history and did a wonderful job explain- ing the design of the Cathedral and its artwork. The stained glass windows were breathtaking as the light shone through, reminding us that Jesus lights the way for all of us. The eighth graders felt truly blessed to have the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph in their hometown. For more information see our website: www.stclareschool.org, contact Valerye Moore Director email: [email protected] or call: 408 246-2513