As a JK to Grade 12 school, sometimes it’s hard to accurately share ALL that happens in a week throughout the various grades. But today we thought it may be helpful to offer a snapshot of a vibrant and productive week at Urban Academy filled with the kind of hands-on learning and community spirit that defines our school.
We began the week fresh off the incredible UA Carnival that saw 500 people come together to bring a fantastic community event to life. Thank you to the incredible crew it took to pull off our largest annual event – and to Tina Parmar, Carnival Chair – for her leadership. The spirit of leadership carried through to our student-led presentations, where individuals took ownership of their learning and shared their insights with confidence in the classroom and in the various assemblies.
The arts are alive with paper mache animals are being created for the upcoming Lion King musical and melodies are echoing through the halls as students sing, act and play their instruments. They are getting ready to share their work with you at upcoming concerts, at the same time as 30 Grade 7-12 students prepare to attend the Con Brio Music Festival in Whistler next week. Between rehearsals and classroom learning, many students found a moment of peace and productivity in the dirt, engaging in essential garden work to tend to our outdoor learning space.
In the Junior School, some of our youngest learners in Kindergarten had an exciting visit to a local ambulance station, where they learned about the vital role of first responders. The cultural fabric of our school was also enriched by a beautiful Vaisakhi presentation led by parents, providing our Junior School students with a meaningful connection to the traditions and values of our diverse community.
Our Grade 10 students ventured out to Capilano University for a CSI Science field trip, applying their classroom knowledge to real-world forensic challenges. This week, Senior and Grade 7 Students also enjoyed a University of Waterloo Dr. of Mathematics, who came in to spark new levels of curiosity and problem-solving among our aspiring mathematicians.
The energy on campus has been equally high in athletics. UA Lions have been busy on the fields and in the gym with spirited Ultimate Frisbee games, as well as focused track and field, soccer and badminton practices. Grade 9 students also took a PE trip to Activate, which provided a perfect outlet for active play.
And then our UA Ambassadors shone as they helped to host one of our UA Open Houses. We are always proud to showcase the school and see our students embody the role of future leaders as they welcome new faces into our halls.
With so much on the go each day, this week has embodied our commitment to nurturing well-rounded, engaged, and curious citizens, all the while connected by a wonderful community! We look forward to welcoming you to the school on Thursday, as our students will show you even more of their world as they lead you in learning about their studies and school experience. Have a wonderful weekend!
Yours in active learning,
Khatereh Dadar, Clare Manifold, Mike Twaites
UA’s Principal Team