Mr. Van Sluys MTS

We had a fantastic week in PE, full of energy, teamwork, and some really inspiring moments that I’m excited to share with you! Grades 1-2: Our younger students were all about movement and strategy as we played some fun capture the flag -style games. These games helped the kids practice teamwork, communication, and spatial awareness—all while staying active and having a blast. It was great to see how they supported one another and worked together toward a common goal. Grades 3-4: This week marked the end of swimming lessons for our grade 3 and 4 students—and what a journey it has been! We saw so much progress in just a few short sessions. One of the most powerful parts of the experience was watching students who were initially hesitant around water make huge strides. Several students who wouldn’t put their heads under water at the beginning of the session were swimming confidently by the end—all thanks to the encouragement of their peers and the positive energy they shared in the p...

Sticks, Pucks, and Splashes! Dear Parents, We’ve had an action-packed week in the gym and pool, and I’m excited to share what our young athletes have been up to! Grade 1 & 2 – Floor Hockey Skills in Action This week, our grade 1 and 2 students returned to floor hockey, and it was wonderful to see how much they remembered from our unit back in February! Many students recalled key skills like how to properly hold the stick, which allowed us to jump right into gameplay with confidence and energy. We emphasized safe play throughout each class. Students were reminded to keep their sticks below waist height and to only make contact with their opponent’s blade—not the shaft. These rules helped keep the game fun, fair, and injury-free. It was a joy to watch the students work together, pass effectively, and celebrate each other's successes on the court. If you get a chance, ask your child: What do you remember most about playing floor hockey this week? How did you help keep ...

Building Badminton Skills! Over the past two weeks in Physical Education, our K–4 students have been diving into the exciting world of badminton ! It’s been wonderful to see their energy, determination, and growth as they learn new skills on the court. We’ve focused on two key skills: the backhand serve and practicing short rallies . At first, these were challenging for many students, but with consistent effort and enthusiasm, they’ve made fantastic progress. One of the biggest highlights has been rallying with the students myself—many of them have been so excited to see how many times we can keep the birdie going back and forth! The gym has been full of cheers and celebration as students have begun to rally with each other, reaching new personal bests and showing off their developing coordination. Through our badminton unit, students have noticeably improved their hand-eye coordination and footwork , which are foundational for many other sports and physical activities. Please t...

Hello families! This week in PE, our students took on a fun new challenge—learning how to use paddles to practice the underhand drop serve ! This skill is not only a great introduction to striking with equipment, but it also helps develop hand-eye coordination, focus, and body control. Our main focus was on three key elements: Dropping the ball (instead of tossing it) before the serve Maintaining an athletic stance to stay balanced and ready Aiming our follow through toward the target to help with accuracy Students engaged in a variety of activities to build these skills in a fun and supportive environment. They were encouraged to try, make mistakes, adjust, and improve—all part of the learning process! To wrap up the week, our Grade 2–4 students had a blast playing Paddle 4 Square ! It was exciting to see some excellent rallies and strategic play. Students were able to choose their level of challenge by using either a balloon (for a slower, more controlled game) or a...