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Class Overview
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Grade 5
Welcome to Grade 5 at St. James & St. Ann’s School! This year is a pivotal time for continuing to develop essential character traits, leadership skills, and effective study habits. As students approach the upper end of the intermediate grades, they’ll find themselves gaining a deeper understanding of cooperation and teamwork, working effectively with diverse peers to achieve their goals.
Character Development and Leadership
In Grade 5, we emphasize the importance of being Christ-like and caring for our younger friends. Students are encouraged to embody kindness, responsibility, and empathy in their daily interactions. This year, we will focus on:
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Developing Good Character: Embracing qualities like respect, honesty, and perseverance.
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Enhancing Leadership Skills: Taking initiative, working collaboratively, and setting positive examples for peers.
Curriculum Highlights
The Grade 5 curriculum offers a rich blend of concepts and activities designed to engage students and foster their growth. Key features include:
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Field Trips: Opportunities to explore and connect learning with real-world experiences.
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In-Class Presentations and Priest Visits: Alongside student presentations, we are blessed to welcome Fr. Jan from St. Cyril and Methodius Parish, who visits our class almost every Friday. His presence provides spiritual guidance, faith formation, and meaningful opportunities for students to strengthen their relationship with Christ and their parish community.
Community Engagement: Tobor Court Visits
A highlight of our year is our regular visits to Tobor Court, a local assisted living facility. These interactions with the elderly residents are truly remarkable and provide invaluable lessons in empathy and compassion. Students have the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, share their experiences, and learn from the wisdom of the residents. This experience not only enriches our understanding of community but also reinforces our commitment to being Christ-like and caring for others.
This year, we will strive to be the best version of ourselves, embracing new challenges and opportunities with enthusiasm and dedication. Let’s make this a memorable and successful year together!
Mrs. Zuzana Lavrikova
Grade Five teacher -
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Class Objectives
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Character Development and Leadership
In Grade 5, we emphasize the importance of being Christ-like and caring for our younger friends. Students are encouraged to embody kindness, responsibility, and empathy in their daily interactions. This year, we will focus on:
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Developing Good Character: Embracing qualities like respect, honesty, and perseverance.
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Enhancing Leadership Skills: Taking initiative, working collaboratively, and setting positive examples for peers.
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Language Arts
A highlight of our Language Arts program is our novel study. This year, students will read three powerful novels by Sharon Draper: Out of My Mind, Out of My Heart, and Out of My Dreams. These stories open meaningful conversations about empathy, inclusion, perseverance, and the value of every individual’s life. Through reading, discussion, and reflection, students will not only strengthen their literacy skills but also learn to appreciate different perspectives and the importance of compassion.
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Mathematics
n Math, students build strong foundations while also challenging themselves with new concepts. We make use of the Mathletics online program, which provides interactive and engaging opportunities for practice and growth. This program allows students to learn at their own pace, celebrate their progress, and deepen their understanding of mathematical skills in meaningful ways.
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Science
Science in Grade 5 is hands-on and full of discovery. Students work on a variety of fascinating projects and experiments that connect directly to the world around them. From exploring rocks and minerals to investigating ecosystems, our science program encourages curiosity, problem-solving, and critical thinking, helping students see how science impacts their everyday lives.
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Dance and Movement Integration
As part of our learning journey, students also experience dance and creative movement, which are integrated into our curriculum. Dance fosters confidence, creativity, teamwork, and self-expression. It also reflects our commitment to educating the whole child – mind, body, and spirit. This focus on movement is closely tied to Mrs. Lavrikova’s Master of Arts studies and her belief in teaching children the values of perseverance, joy, and community through the arts.
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Technology Integration
Our curriculum includes a strong focus on technology and its applications. Students will become proficient in using various Google tools to enhance their learning experiences, including:
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Google Docs: For writing and collaborating on documents.
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Google Slides: To create engaging presentations.
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Google Forms: For gathering information and conducting surveys.
Students will use these applications to create impressive projects and presentations, integrating technology into their learning process effectively.
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Check out this class news and homework
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Class Teacher
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Mrs. Zuzana Lavrikova
Grade 5 TeacherMrs. Zuzana Lavrikova
Grade 5 TeacherMrs. Lavrikova earned her Master’s degree in Education from John Amos Comenius University in Slovakia and continued her studies in Sheffield, England. She is currently pursuing a second Master’s degree in Arts, reflecting her commitment to lifelong learning.
With 27 years of experience teaching Grades 1 through 10, she has taught in a variety of educational settings. Before joining CISVA, she taught at Traditional Learning Academy in Coquitlam. Within CISVA, she began at St. John Brebeuf, later taught Grade 6 at St. James for nine years, and now serves as a Grade 5 teacher.
In addition to her classroom work, Mrs. Lavrikova leads the school’s very popular Dance Squad and values the way dance builds community and inspires students. She has also completed Google for Education Fundamentals Training to strengthen her use of technology in teaching. She is passionate about fostering creativity, collaboration, and confidence in her students, helping them grow both academically and personally. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her new grandchild, and sharing her love of dance and the arts.
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