Grade School (K-8)

Educational Program

Built upon the Curricular Objectives of the Manitoba Department of Education, BSLS is also a member of the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools. We begin each day with the national anthem, prayer and devotions. Beautiful Savior Lutheran School follows the curricular objectives required by Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth, and we strive to teach all classes from the perspective of our faith.

Subject Areas for grades K-8 include:

• Mathematics
• Language Arts
• French
• Science
• Social Studies
• Physical Education
• Art
• Band (grades 5-8)
• Violin (grades 1-4)
• General Music (K)
• Computers
• Industrial Arts and Human Ecology (grades 7 & 8)

Link to Manitoba Department of Education website.

Extracurricular

Health, creativity and balance are nurtured further with extracurricular activities and regular field trips. Some of these include:

• Running
• Basketball
• Track & Field
• Chess
• Mad Science
• Ski Trips
• Jump Rope Club
• Outdoor Field Trips (Camp Arnes)
• Manitoba Theatre for Young People Subscription Series Field Trips
• Arts Evenings
• Piano Lessons

Chapel Services

Each week, normally on Wednesday, a chapel service begins at 9 a.m. Our School Pastor leads the service, or special guests conduct services from time to time. Parents and friends are always invited to join us.

Full Day Kindergarten Options

The regular Kindergarten curriculum is offered M-W-F full days. Parents have the option of enrolling their children full-time (5 days/week), offering them an augmented program on T/Th as an enhancement to the K curriculum.

Computer Program and Computer Lab

We integrate technology into our daily curriculum to meet the needs of our students for today and tomorrow. Class projects have been designed to use our computer lab in all aspects of our curriculum. Students are on-line researching science projects, designing creative presentations, writing stories and screen plays, and learning basic skills like typing. Since our computer lab is such an integral part of our curriculum, our lab is well maintained and current.

Daily Physical Education Program

In addition to Phys. Ed. Classes, Beautiful Savior Lutheran School offers an Intramural Program during the lunch hour for all students who wish to participate. Students have a chance to develop their skills, support each other and learn about sportsmanship through sports such as soccer, floor hockey, flag football, basketball, badminton, dodge ball, and rollerblading. An inter-school athletics league will provide students with athletic interests the opportunity for competition in their sport.

Our Running Club meets before school two mornings a week, during fall and spring. Students work on cardiovascular and muscular endurance, and strive to reach the personal goals they have set. Students and staff are also invited to join the school running team in a run for fun supporting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in October, and the Manitoba Marathon in June. Parents are also invited to join us for a morning run.

Grade 5/6 Spring Camping Trip

This is a trip that is met with great anticipation! The Grade 5/6 class fundraises through the year to attend this camp. At this camp they can go horseback riding, learn to make bannock, learn orienteering skills, take archery lessons, hike, swim, and sing around the camp fire.

Grade 7/8 Winter Ski Trip

The Grade 7/8 class goes on a 3-day ski trip to a provincial ski hill. This is planned for January or February and parents are welcome to join them.

Industrial Arts and Human Ecology

The Grade 7/8 class participates in these subjects through an arrangement with Nelson MacIntyre Collegiate.

Reading Buddies Program

We pair an older grade student with a younger grade student to read stories to each other. Children get to know, interact with, and learn from children in other grades.

A Passport To... Program

Each year we have a special week in which the entire school focuses on a foreign country. Each class takes on a project focusing on a specific aspect (culture, language, geography, history, food) of our country of study. The children are each given a “passport” to travel to each classroom to learn about this country from each class’ project.

Field Trips

The impact and immediacy of experiential learning is immense. Field trips are an active part of the education experience at BSLS. Class subscriptions to the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Camp Arnes, Ski Trips, a trip to the snake pits, public library, Fire Hall, Planetarium, Western Canadian Aviation Museum, Assiniboine Park (Zoo), Bird’s Hill Park, Festival du Voyageur, Royal Canadian Mint and the Manitoba Museum are among the multiple field trips each class embarks upon.

Grades 1 - 4 Daily Violin Program

All of the children in Grade 1 - 4 learn to play the violin as part of the regular music program. Research indicates that string education at an early age has long-lasting effects on a child’s cognitive abilities. Over the past decade, there has been a variety of research regarding the correlation between childhood development (cognitive, emotional, physical and social) and music education. Researchers have determined that:

1. Formal music education can positively affect each of these areas of development IF the child is taught within particular time frames, called “windows of opportunity”.
2. Studying music during a child’s formative years enhances his/her spatial reasoning abilities. This is the area of the brain that is directly linked to mathematical and scientific reasoning.
3. Music and language share the same neural pathways. Music also strengthens the synaptic connections and increases brain size. Therefore, musical training may have an impact on reading, writing and speaking abilities.
4. Students who study violin before the age of 12 years develop larger brains.
5. Music training can positively affect both long and short-term memory.

Use the player below to hear a sample of our Violin Program.
Violin Solo "Minuet No.1" by Bach

Grades 5-8 Daily Band Program

All of the children in Grades 5-8 learn to play an instrument of their choice as part of our band program. The students have many opportunities throughout the school year to perform.

Preschool and Nursery Programs

We provide a rich first experience for children in creative play, socialization, and cognitive growth. BSLS sponsors a nursery school and preschool that provides children with a warm, nurturing environment while facilitating a variety of learning opportunities. We provide a gentle introduction to Christian education through interactive Bible stories, songs, and role modeling. We believe in developing a child’s intellectual, physical, social, emotional and spiritual self, yet recognize that each child develops at his/her own rate.

Nursery School and Preschool - Birchdale campus

Located in the grade school, we offer a full-time Christian preschool program that runs from 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We also offer a Nursery School program that runs from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Preschool participates in weekly Chapel services with the entire school as well as special school events, such as concerts and storytellers. They begin each morning with O Canada and Luther’s Morning Prayer and have access to the school gym on a daily basis for indoor activity play.

Beautiful Savior Nursery/ Preschool is a play-based program where children are able to construct their own learning through play experiences, offered and supported by the teachers. Teachers are viewed as facilitators or children’s learning. Parents are also an essential component of the program.

Our curriculum is Reggio Emilia inspired with some Maria Montessori aspects. At Beautiful Savior each child is viewed as competent, curious, full of knowledge, potential, and interested in connecting to the world around them.

Through the conscious use of space, color, and light, displays of children’s work, and attention to nature and detail, the environment serves as another teacher.

The children’s morning at the centre will start with self-initiated play. Self-initiated play is a time for children to learn. It is a time for exploring, discovering, and experiencing activities. Everything that your child does during this time will be developmentally-based. The materials and equipment will be chosen considering physical, social, emotional, cognitive development, and spiritual growth.

We will be incorporating nature education into our program by bringing more of what nature has to offer into our room as well as taking our room outdoors.

Nursery School - St. Mary’s Campus

This nursery school program has been operational for over 26 years. Located on St. Mary’s near the St. Vital Center and adjacent to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, we offer nursery school programs 5 days a week, both in the morning and in the afternoon for children ages 3 and 4. This program runs from mid-September until the end of May.

St. Mary's Nursery School Schedule/ Options

Before and After School Care

Our program is open to school-aged children, 5 – 12 years of age, from both Beautiful Savior and Nordale schools (Nordale students are walked to and from the school to our program).

The Before and After School program is open during Inservice Days at both BSLS and Nordale Schools. We are closed during Christmas break, Spring Break, and Summer holidays.

The Before and After School Care program offers a wide variety of activities for the children. There are game tables, computers, board games, puzzles, books, building materials, etc. We offer group activities that are led by a teacher. These activities aid in the décor of the room or go home as gifts for parents. We practice emergent curriculum, where the children assist in the direction of the program. The interests of the children are incorporated into the program. We have access to the gym and the playgrounds on a daily basis and encourage team sports and games based on the skill levels of the group.

We encourage a positive atmosphere where everyone gets along. Should an issue arise, the children are encouraged to solve their problems. We provide them with the tools to grow and make well thought out decisions. Overall we promote fun, kindness, respect, and happiness under the Gospel.

Student responses when asked “What is the best thing about coming to the Before and After School Program”?

“I love that the teachers help me with my school work.” -Veronica, 11

“Playing air hockey; it’s lots of fun!” -Jayde, 5

“Being with friends.” -LiQin, 6