Halloween

Happy Halloween Div 1 and 2! See you in the morning ... PJ Day Tomorrow! Secret word is: flannel.

Oct. 30th

The costumes tonight were quite something. I am too tired from dancing with Mrs Stewart to type any more than the word of the day which is "tired".

Oct 29th

DANCE TOMORROW NIGHT!

You should be reviewing Unit 1 in Math. Explore the "Resources" on the Math page. This includes a number of interactive practice sites as well as tutorials from great sources such as Khan Academy and the Fabled Mrs Stewart.

Your Unit Final is this Monday!

Your phrase for the day is: "Pythagoras Triple, every Mathematician's dream triangle."

Oct. 28th

Wow, I was really impressed by your cell models. It is very clear that you put a lot of time into them!

Some of you need to submit your projects still ...

You should complete your math review tonight, if you didn't during class.

I hope that you all have bought your dance tickets for Wednesday. It is going to be a blast!

Today's word is: "DANCE!"

This week Oct 28 to Nov 1st

Hope you got out and enjoyed this glorious weather.

This week we will finish up Pythagoras in math, we will look at European religions during the early middle ages in Social Studies and we will work with microscopes to check out the differences between plant and animal cells in Science.

I am looking forward to seeing all your cell models. I have been really impressed with what has come in so far. October 28th is the deadline for those...that would be tomorrow folks.

The phrase for today is: "glorious sunshine".

TBH Div. 1

Sabrina by graniabridal on GoAnimate

TBH Div. 2

Kiana by graniabridal on GoAnimate

October 23rd

Many Vikings died today when their boats sank into the deeps of Mrs Bridal's paddling pool. Then again, many survived. Some would have conquered many a land with their sleek popsicle stick boats. Well done you wanna-be Vikings.

Tomorrow is the cell organelle quiz. Lucky you, you can use your concept map to help you answer the questions. Check out Week 7 of the JMS Science 8 Link for study helpers.

Exploratories tomorrow and no school on Friday.
Today's word is "sinking".

October 22nd

So today we undertook an engineering challenge and you began designing and constructing ships inspired by the Viking longships. You created some very nice looking boats. Tomorrow, we will see if they actually: 1.  float  2. move with wind (hairdryer power). We might be learning the lesson function always should rule over style.

I am still waiting on some interims. I will be phoning home and emailing a second time, if this continues to be the case tomorrow.

I am already noticing that some of you are turning it around which is really nice to see. We are halfway through the term so your efforts will right your ship to continue on the sailing analogy.

Today's phrase is: "The scary Vikings were wicked engineers."

Oct 21st

Sorry for the late post, I was visiting Camp Bernard with Mrs Stewart and Mrs Abell. It is beautiful. The camp includes: two hundred and fifty forested acres, a 17 acre lake fully stocked with trout, a few creeks, a couple of play fields, an outside theatre, cabins that sleep 8, a fully equipped kitchen and this list goes on. We were sold. We will send home a notice soon to bring your parents and guardians on board with what we hope will be an annual event for Journey.



A reminder to those who did not bring their interim reports today to bring them tomorrow. Just in case you forget,  Mrs Barnes and I phoned parents about the missing reports so that they can help you remember. Bottom line is that it is your responsibility though.

Today's word is: "Lake"

This Week Oct 21 to 24th

A reminder that interim reports must be signed by your parents and you must bring them back to school this Monday, Oct. 21st. I have 60 sets of parents/guardians and this is my most efficient way of informally reporting your progress to them....unless that communication is broken by my couriers, aka you. If I don't return the form Monday, I will call parents/guardians and send a copy home with you.

Most of you should be presenting them to your parents with pride; you are working really hard and your efforts are paying off so far.

The word for Monday is: Homer.

Div 2 TBH

Colby by graniabridal on GoAnimate

Div 1 TBH

Riley by graniabridal on GoAnimate

October 17th

Sorry for the late entry.

So, tomorrow I will be sending home your interim reports. I am really proud of the majority of students' progress; you can own that success, you are working hard.
If you are thinking, "Gulp, that is not me," the great thing about these informal reports is that they will give you a "how to" bring your nose up for the Formal Reports.

Div 1 and 2 this is your word of the day: HÁ,E 
(Tell me what it means in the First Nations Language SENĆOŦEN and you get an entry)

October 16th

Well....WE WON! We are the Square Root Champions and the Biggest Squares in grade 8...that doesn't sound good.

Nicely done, Divsion 1. You are smarter than you think you are!

Division 2, I will be pitting you against the Hockey Academy and students of Division 5. We will battle for dominance with Integers, though. So we will do this in about a month. I like giving out nutty prizes. Stay posted.

Math: Tomorrow we will finally get to know Pythagorus and his theorem. And so it begins...

Science: You should be planning your cell model. Tomorrow we investigate organelles, organelles...you know the tune.

Social Studies: We are still learning about the "Barbarians" that were a force of change in Europe. By the end of this week all but the Vikings notes should be filled out on your "Meet the Barbarians" form.

Check that "I" Book for incomplete marks.

Your phrase today is Spanish: "Somos Numero Uno". You get an entry if you are able to tell me what it means in English.

October 15th

Tomorrow, we "Square Off" against the Frenchies. Practice on this Square Roots Site or this Square Roots Quiz. Remember square roots have an inverse relationship with square numbers.

You were introduced to the "I" Book today. "I" as in "Incomplete" and "I" as in "I will do that". Interims go home on Friday and "I" don't want to be the one to bring bad news.

Today's phrase is: "Memorize those common perfect squares and square roots!"

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week will be a short and sunny one. We are squaring off against the Frenchies upstairs. Practice your squares to 25, your square roots to 625. Remember the two are inversely related.

Now my family has left to go back to the mainland, I am writing your mid-term evaluations. I will distribute those on Friday this week. Mid term evaluations focus on work habits and work completion, but as you may have already figured out work habits and marks are directly related; a strong work ethic results in good grades.

Nice thing about mid-terms is that they give you an opportunity to pull your nose up for Term 1 Reports.

Today's word is: GRIT

Sam by graniabridal on GoAnimate

Oct. 9th Friday Before Thanksgiving Weekend

I am thankful to be teaching such a great group of kids.

You were very charming when Dr. Pikka, the First Nations Elder and Ethno Botanist, was presenting us with information on local plants and their traditional uses . I noticed Hayden help her with the computer, Mike turn out the lights for her and Ella help her with her powerpoint; all this without being asked. You were a great audience as well.

A reminder to have your parents scroll down and answer the survey monkey question that is linked on the next page. To camp or not to camp, that is the question I am putting to them.

Today's word is: C̸E,ŚU SL̵IḰ  

If you want to find out what it means in Sencoten, one of the primary First Nation languages of our region, go to this link.

Tell me the translation and you get an entry.

To Camp or Not to Camp, This Is Our Question

Please refer your parents to this surveymonkey poll:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JCX7HMS

The grade 8 teaching team is considering a grade 8, year-end camp for June 17, 18 and 19th. This would be a two night, outdoor educational adventure to finish up your time at Journey. The teachers are really keen. Now, we are measuring your enthusiasm.

Camp Barnard in Sooke is currently a front runner. Some of you have been, but many have not. And, how many of you have camped there with all the grade 8s at Journey? I know: 0.

Today's phrase is a question: "Do you want to go camping?":-)

Oct 8th

Sorry for the late post, but we had a staff meeting. Much was discussed including the Halloween Dance. We need parent volunteers for food sales and for supervision. We also talked about recesses and lunches; we are exploring the idea of letting students stay in the building, but we have to define our bottom lines first. I will let you know when we find out what the verdict is.

Math: Please review the lesson and notes on Line Segments 1.3. Many of you found the multiple steps involved in this process confusing. The only way you will understand is to see it modeled and then practice it. We will practice more tomorrow :-) A note to all of you. Times tables up to 12 need to be memorized. Rehearsing them is ALWAYS your homework and MEMORIZE your DOUBLES because we are going to DEMOLISH Div 6 in a Square Off!  October 16th!

Tomorrow you will have an On-Call Teacher, Mr. Horner. So today's phrase is: "Mr Horner, you are the greatest. Welcome to our class."

I will get some extra sleep and see you on Thursday. :-)

October 7th

Math Re-test tomorrow for those of you who want to improve your score. Our test scores ranged from 1 to 15 out of 15. The mean score was 12; I want it higher than that.  By the end of today's math class, many of you were doing an "aha" which means we can move on to line segments.

A reminder to Div 1 students from Ms Barnes: "Bring your gym strip to P.E. This is part of your participation mark." Mrs Bridal adds: "It is also means that we don't have to don Haz Mat suits to survive the smell of post-exercise teenagers."

Today's word is my favourite adjective: "repulsive". Don't ask me why.

This Week

Hope you are out enjoying this lovely weather.

This week:

Math: We will look at measuring line segments and estimating square root. Remember there is a review quiz every Friday to make sure that you are understanding major concepts so regular review is advised.

Science: We will finish calculating the Mean, Median, Mode and Range for our Paper Airplane Experiment. We will start our cells unit.

Social Studies: We will finish/start our "Modern Family Crests". We will continue to get to know "the Barbarians" who reshaped Europe starting the beginning of the 5th century.

Today's word is another long-winded one:

floccinaucinihilipilification

(it is a word that I would use, if it weren't so long and difficult to say)

TBH of the Week

AR by graniabridal on GoAnimate

Oct. 3rd

A great week, all of you. 
Remember that tomorrow is the weekly Friday Check Up for Math. Review is your homework and exercises. Check the course link for extra practice.
I am going to be emailing a letter to your parents and guardians for month's end. Just a summary of my policies around work completion. I will be sending separate emails to parents and guardians to inform them of missing work, if that is the case. If not, no worries for you. If this does worry you, it is a good thing tomorrow has a tutorial block for catch-up and help! 


Today's word is the longest one in English(according to Wikipedia): 
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis 


Now try to say it...what does it mean????? 

Oct. 2nd

I was really proud of you today: you carried yourselves in a very mature way (most of you) and your fundraising efforts are to be applauded. There was an incredible energy in the gym when all the Cops for Cancer riders and their youth riders were standing together. It was very powerful and I was so stoked to see us make the news too.

Tomorrow is the first day of exploratories. Some require you to come prepared with proper materials and equipment.

Today's word is: Proud.

First Day of October

Bring your appetites, tomorrow includes a pancake breakfast in the morning and the Cops for Cancer Event in the afternoon. We will be doing Math and Science as scheduled.

I need counters for our fundraising money. Looks like we've raised close to 200 dollars. I will report the exact amount tomorrow.

Today's phrase is: "Let's defeat pediatric cancer!"