Apr 9, 2025 

      This term, the grade 6 and 7 students of division 2 have been working together with their younger buddies in division 12 to build connection to the land and their community. The grade 6 and 7s along with their kindergarten buddies have been participating in weekly collaborative activities including our buddy walks to the estuary, observing nature and wildlife, playing together outdoors, reading together including in the dark with flashlights, and participating in schoolwide events to learn about the estuary and coyotes.  

      The grade 6 and 7s have been developing their leadership abilities to encourage and guide the younger students during our times together. The students of division 2 have grown in their abilities to work together with the younger students and are observed be positive role models for their younger buddies. Finally, the students of division 2 and 12 now have a connection with each other and are often waving at each other whenever they see each other outside or inside the school! 

This links to our School Story focus in the following way:  

Steves is a safe learning community where we strive to:  

• work together 

• build connections to the land and our community 

(Steves School Lens) 

May 9, 2025 

Students from grades 4 to 7 went on a field trip to the Minoru Track to experience different track and field events in a way that met their personal needs and goals. By using Challenge by Choice, students were able to decide how to participate in each event. While some students were trying things for the first time, others were competing against their peers from other schools. It was a fun way to build community with other schools. 

This links to our School Story focus in the following way: 

Steves is a safe learning community where we strive to:  build connections to our community 

May 23, 2025 

Last week we held our second school wide track event. All students had the chance to run, jump and throw!  They chose a way to challenge themselves based on what worked for their own body.  Students are starting to value being able to make a choice and to discover what they enjoy.  Grade 7 students had the opportunity to lead athletes through the stations. Our community is very proud of their thoughtful, clear, encouraging leadership.  Adult community volunteers also helped make the event a success.  

This links to our School Story focus in the following way: 

Steves is a safe learning community where we strive to:  

• create a sense of belonging 

• see ourselves 
  

• work together 

May 30, 2025 

The Richmond School District created an educational video to highlight the District Montessori program as a program that supports some students style of learning. It can be found on the district website or by using this link. You may see some familiar faces as part was filmed at Steves.  

Montessori is an environment where the children are nurtured to be independent learners with the guidance of the teacher. With some guidance, children will learn through their own work not through the work assigned by the teacher. It is a pull from the student rather than a push from the teacher. In the classroom, a teacher will give small group presentations throughout the day. The rest of the students are working on their own. Through their own choices, the environment provides for social development as well as academic development. 

The Montessori philosophy may look like this in practice: when a student comes into the class, they can choose where they want to sit, who they want to they sit with, what task they want to focus on and when they want to do each task in day. This freedom of choice allows students to see themselves as individuals first and then as part of the group. The sense of belonging comes through choice making. 

Steves is a safe learning community where we strive to create a sense of belonging and to see ourselves. 

June 6, 2025 

This week students and staff learned from Elevate, a company that teaches Ultimate Frisbee in a fun way which meets students where they are at in their learning. Students are learning to work together through games and activities. With positive and supportive coaches, they have had the opportunity new or further develop skills they already have.  

This links to our School Story focus in the following way: 

Steves is a safe learning community where we strive to work together.