WINTER VACATION

Hope that you have a wonderful break and get a lot of time in with family and friends. Thank you for your thoughtful gifts and holiday well wishes. See you in the NEW YEAR 2015.

December 18th

Fun times in Victoria. We went to the Legislature and John Horgan, Leader of the Opposition and our MLA for Juan de Fuca, toured us around the assembly and the library. Then, we went to the Empress to take in the trees. After that, we had lunch at the museum and went to Beacon Hill park to play on the playground. Oh yes, I saw you playing. Finally, we went to see Jerusalem at the IMAX theatre; this was very topical for Division 5 who have been studying the three faiths that value Jerusalem as a holy land and yet cannot live with each other in that same city. 

Tomorrow:
Blocks 1 and 2 - Gift Game (Bring your gift...wrap it in newspaper, if you haven't got fancy paper. It is a game after all)
Lunch -- PIZZA (bring snacks and fruit to go with it)
Blocks 3 and 4 - Talent Show
Block 5 - Game

For an entry in tomorrow's rather large draw, the word is: field trip

December 16th

T
Tomorrow we will be in Victoria for the day. 

T.S., J.T., M.U. and D.S. you have not brought in your forms yet. Please bring them in tomorrow or you will be at JMS for the day..

Friday: 
1. Bring a gift under $5.00 for the Gift Game. Your gift can also be a re-gift or slightly used. The objective is holiday fun.
2. The Talent Show is 3rd and 4th block.
3. PIZZA LUNCH (and the word for today is pizzaaaaaaaa)

December 16th

Tomorrow is Ugly Christmas Sweater day. Or just wear some festive colour and bling.

So the numbers are in for the Diabetes Drive...DIVISION 5 RAISED THE MOST MONEY!
No surprise with T.E. leading the charge. Divsion 5 will be having PIZZA for lunch on Friday this week!!!!

Homework:

English: Neat Copy of the Dystopian Short Story is due tomorrow. No lates will be accepted for marking.

S.S.: None.

HCE: None

French: None

And today's word: "banned"

December 15th

Keep the food donations coming.

Tomorrow is CRAZY HAIR day and "Reach for the Top Competition"

Please bring in your permission form for Thursday's field trip plus 12 dollars, if you have it. We need those in by tomorrow.


Homework:

French Francophone Project due in tomorrow.

English Neat Dystopian Story due on Wednesday. No lates accepted.

Today's word is: "Crazy"

This last week at JMS for 2014

Reminders:

1. Monday is 'Crazy Sock Day' so get with the spirit and wear some funky socks.
2. Bring in your permission forms and money by Tuesday for our seasonal trip to Victoria; this is a Division 5 and 6 tradition (I have re-linked a word doc to the parent's link for those of you who have 'lost' the original).
3. Tuesday is the Grade 8 Reach for the Top Tournament; the purpose of this tournament is to develop study skills that will help you with test preparation for June and into high school.
4. The Annual Journey Talent Show is on Friday, seating is limited, if your parents want to attend.

Homework:

English: The rough draft of your English Dystopian Story is due on Monday. We will proofread and edit them in class. The final copy is due on Wednesday.
French: Monday is the extension date for the Francophone Country projects.
S.S.: You should have the religions comparison chart done, if you didn't complete it in class.
HCE: None

Today's word is: "sock"

December 11th

(From another version of A Christmas Carol...The Muppets)

Keep bringing in your non-perishable food items for our school's food drive. Charles Dickens would be proud of your selfless, socially-minded efforts.
A notice went home today outlining our field trip to Victoria next Thursday. Please have the slips and money in ASAP. Thank you to E.O. and A.H. who brought it in already.

Homework:
English:
Yes, Part 3 of the Independent Novel Study is due tomorrow. It is a Term 2 mark and while some class time has been provided, this part of the assignment has been for homework. I hope when I do my check-in tomorrow, that you have it completed.  

French:
The Francophone country project is due tomorrow.

S.S.:
None  

HCE:
None

Okay J.T. and J.W. here is a preview of the Dr Who version of A Christmas Carol and it looks horrible...sadly:

 

December 10th

Scroll down to December 9th's entry for homework. If you miss school, come in at lunch to catch up on what you missed and/or visit the course pages. Students in grade 8 are responsible for making up work missed during absences.

In English, we are reviewing how to construct a compare/contrast paragraph/essay by exploring the similarities and differences between different versions of  Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol (Stave 1). You can thank me that we are not comparing the following versions...






Okay, I might be a wee bit interested in the Dr. Who version.

December 9th



(A scene from a film adaptation of Charles Dicken's Oliver Twist, another tale of how poverty can affect people and how other people can choose to ignore or to help prevent it.)

 

BRING IN YOUR CANNED ITEMS FOR THE FOOD DRIVE.

 

HOMEWORK:

 

English:

Independent Novel Study, Part 3 is due on Friday. This is HOMEWORK now.

Dystopian Short Story: Rough is due on Monday and Neat is due on Wednesday of next week.

French:

Francophone Country Project is due on Thursday this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 8th

We are reading Dicken's A Christmas Carol and looking at how we can help people who live under the poverty line. One way is to give to the food bank and we are collecting. Please bring your non-perishable food to school to help families in need.

Homework:

HCE: None

English:
1. Part 3 of the Independent Novel Study due Dec. 12th,
2. Dystopian Short Story Rough Draft due Dec. 15th, Neat due Dec. 17th

S.S.: None

French:
1. Francophone Country Project due on Dec. 9th

This week, December 8th to 12th

 
Welcome to Term 2 
Notes:

We will be forming "Reach for the Top" teams this week. You have run around in a game of Barbarian tag, now it is your turn to do battle in the academic arena.

Academics this week:

English: We will summarize and analyze Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Many of you need to learn how to write an in depth analysis of narrative texts beyond giving a simple summary of events.

HCE: Club Drugs and Teens. Go to the course link to preview the lesson. We will be focusing on "Molly", a nasty designer drug with potentially tragic side effects.

French: We will review language skills to date and write letters to Pere Noel.

S.S.: We will compare the three main, monotheist religions of the Middle Ages.


Yes, the Romans were VICTORIOUS and re-wrote history.

December 4th

Goths

Come prepared tomorrow. Your colour is black. Come dressed in your "barbaric" best.Prizes will be awarded to the class with the most spirit.

Barbarian Invasion Tomorrow for 1 block (Academics the rest of the time).

But, pssstt....the Romans are going to win this time.

This is what we are simulating tomorrow, play and learn people...

December 2nd

(Ah yes, it is cold season.)

This cold has run away with my voice so I will be away tomorrow to try and find it again. Mr Bishop will be your teacher for the day. Each division will have a computer block for both English projects. Use your time well.

Homework:
English:
1. Part 3 of the Independent Dystopian Novel Study is due on December 12th.
2. The rough copy of your dystopian short story is due Monday, December 15th.
3. The neat copy is due on Wednesday, December 17th.

S.S.: None.

HCE: None.

French: Francophone Country Project due on Tuesday, December 9th.

December 1st

Did somebody say "Barbarian Invasion"?
 
What is the "Barbarian Invasion Sim"? On Friday, all grade 8s in the school will come together to play a modified game of capture the flag. This game is loosely based on the history that we have been studying. Each grade 8 division will represent a Barbarian group and the teachers will play the Romans. Yes, we all know what happened to the Romans, but this is where we deviate from recorded history...perhaps. Personally, I think that we are goners.
For example, Division 5 will represent the Goths and will wear black, of course, and Division 6 will represent the Franks and will wear purple. The game will be played block 4 on Friday.
All the rules of good sportsmanship apply even though that certainly wasn't the case during the "Barbarian Invasions". Some students needed gentle reminders about being "civilized" about promoting their "Barbarian" group.

Write a question or comment about the simulation for an entry....

Homework:

English: 
Independent Novel Study Part 3 due December 12th (Part 1 and 2 are now past due)
Dystopian Short Story (Term 2 Mark) due December 13th

French:
Francophone Country project due December 9th

HCE:
5 Questions on Teens and Alcohol answered for tomorrow.

"No, Conan! This is a simulation and there will be no real physical violence. All you get to do is tag an arm for a win. Put away that sword!"

This week, December 1st to 5th.

End of Term is December 5th. All overdue assignments must be in by this date, at the very latest. 
Also, as it is December, Jordan would like his classmates to bring in decorations for the class tree. We want to be festive and bright.


Homework:
(A current incomplete list will be posted tomorrow)

If you are missing assignments, come in at lunch to catch up or complete them at home.

English: Part 1 and 2 of the Independent Dystopian Novel Study are due tomorrow. I will enter Part 1 and one of the Reader's Responses as a Term 1 mark, the rest will stand a a Term 2 mark.

S.S.: None

French: Francophone Country Project due on December 10th. One more class block to work on it, the rest should be completed at home.

HCE: None

November 27

What movie is this from for an entry?

Please bring in any donations of clothing and used items for the Salvation Army charity drive. We are in first place.
Also, bring in your change and donations for the "Change for Diabetes" jar. We have $65 dollars so far.

Homework:

English: Part 1 and 2 of the Independent Novel Study is due on Monday. The parts should be put together and have a cover sheet.Hats off to those of you who have completed the study.

S.S.: Test tomorrow. We studied in class today.

HCE: None

French: Francophone Country project has been in class to date, but you could be collecting information at home so that you can put it together in class.

November 26th

Today's panel of grade 12s underlined the importance of engaging in class and finishing homework...

Get your English books read, your 5 responses done and your vocabulary study by Monday. Look back in the blog and you will see this has been on your radar since the first week in November.  Congratulations and admiration goes out to those of you who have already finished Parts 1 and 2 and are now working on the project (due Dec. 12th and a 2nd Term Grade)

S.S.: Study for the test on Friday. Do you remember the test format? You were told in class...did you write it down?

French: Francophone Country project -- we are working on this in class thus far.

HCE: none

Next week, bring in an ornament for our festive tree of lights. It is getting dark in here so let's bring in some bling to cheer us up.Wouldn't Patrick look good on our tree? He could be on the top. An entry if you can name this animal; isn't he cute?????

November 25th

Homework:

English:
-Read your novel by this coming Monday, December 1st.
-Complete your vocabulary section by this date
-Complete your 5 reader's responses by this date
-Make sure to submit the assignments with a cover sheet titled: Independent Novel Study. It should include your first and last name as well as division.

S.S.:
-Complete the summary page for tomorrow
-Study for the Unit Final Test on Friday (T/F questions, Definitions and an Essay Question)

French:
-Choose your francophone country.

HCE:
-5 Questions on Marijuana and the Teenage Brain answered.


BRING IN YOUR USED CLOTHES AND DONATIONS, WE ARE 3rd IN THE SCHOOL -- WE WILL BE NUMBER 1! Thank you to J.L. and J.K for your massive donations.

November 28th

A couple of you were surprised to "discover" that you have until this Monday, December 1st to read your novel, complete the vocabulary and the reader's responses. This is surprising given that this deadline has been posted on this blog and the homework board for two weeks. My job is to set the deadlines, yours is to keep track of them. Comment on how far you are along in the project for an instant prize.

Congratulations to those of you who have read your book, completed the vocabulary section and are half way through your responses; this is a good pace of study.

Don't be surprised by the following homework list:

English: Read your novel, complete parts 1 and 2 of the novel study by Monday, December 1st (Next week)

S.S.: Polish your Fall of Rome and Barbarian Migration notes. Study for the final this Friday (we will be doing in-class study too)

French: Div 2 Francophone Country Project - choose your country; Div 5 Tahiti Suitcase Les Vetements

HCE: 5 Questions on the Effect of Marijuana and the Teenage Brain

This week, November 24th to 28th

 

(This would be my dog...obedience training gone wrong....make a comment for an instant prize tomorrow)

It was great meeting with your parents on Thursday. Please extend our open invitation to them to meet with us at any time especially if they were not able to secure a slot on Thursday. 

Academic Notes:

S.S.: Unit Final on Friday. We will explore study strategies this week. My goal is that you learn how to study effectively; the fall of Rome and the Barbarian migrations will be the topic we will use to practice those study skills.

English: You will be given class time to read your novels and work on the Independent Novel Studies specifically parts 1 and 2, the vocabulary and readers response sections. Remember readers responses are not simply summaries at the grade 8 level. They involve synthesis and analysis. I will be modelling this for you.

French: The Francophone world is bigger than you think. There are a lot of French speaking countries out there and we will be investigating these countries in a final project.

HCE: We will be generating questions for a Grade 12 panel of students who will be visiting from EMCS on Wednesday. We will also be looking at recent research into the effects of marijuana and the teenage brain.

November 19th

BRING IN YOUR SALVATION ARMY DONATIONS!

Tomorrow is a half day. We dismiss at 11:57. Please note that you will have a class of English, Social Studies and Math tomorrow and that in itself is enough reason to come to school. Pythagorean Theorem is easy stuff....if you attend the lessons on it.

Homework:

English: Independent Novel Study Parts 1 and 2 for Dec 1st.

S.S.: None except that I will announce a unit test on the fall of Rome and the barbarian migrations tomorrow. The test will be open book (interactive notebook). There will be matching questions, multiple choice and one long answer question.

French: Les vetements suitcase is due in on Monday, November 24th.

HCE: NONE

November 18th

(No, this wasn't one of our boats, but it is giving me ideas)

So the Viking long ships sailed today. Well, some of them sunk. However those that sailed went off to win glorious victories. Tomorrow, the victors will receive their riches.

Speaking of riches, not everyone has them. So, in an effort to raise money for those less fortunate, we are collecting donations for the Salvation Army right here at Journey. There will be a prize for the class that collects the heaviest bounty of donations. The Salvation Army will accept: clothing, shoes, sneakers, purses, belts, bed and bath linen. knick knacks, vases, frames, albums, jewelry, glassware, dishes, pots, pans, school and office supplies, as well as craft kits. Bring your bag fulls every day up until November 29th.


Today's word is....Homework:

S.S.: Your interactive notebooks are being collected tomorrow. They should be neat and complete. This includes an up to date table of contents as well as page numbers noted.

French: Div 5 Your "Tahiti Suitcase" is due on Monday, November 24th/ Div 2 Choose your country to research.

English: You should be reading and completing sections 1 and 2 of the Independent Novel Study for December 1st. Final project is due December 10th.

HCE: You should write three SMART goals.

November 17th

Today in English we imagined a Digital Dystopia and did a cold write. It is my goal to explore the genre as well as to develop your writing fluency. I am impressed at what I have read so far. I sure hope that this dystopian future is not one that is ours to live.

Tomorrow we test our Viking long ships Div 5. If you need to fortify them before they launch, bring your glue guns and sticks.

Homework:
(Please follow the course links noted to the right to find resources and detailed explanations of assignments)

English: Read your novels and complete parts 1 and 2 of the Independent Novel Study for December 1st. Part 3 is due on December 10th. We will be doing in class writing assignments related to the theme.

Social Studies: Fix up your Interactive Notebooks for Wednesday's check in.

HCE: Create three SMART goals for 2014/2015 (Div 5)

French: 
Div 5: Suitcase to travel to Tahiti. (clothes vocabulary).
Div 2: Francophone Country Project. Choose your country.

Today's phrase is: "Data Footprint"

This week, November 17th to 21st

(Nothing to do with Viking long ships, but amusing)

Calendar Notes:

Half Day on Thursday, November 20th
Parent Teacher Interviews, Thursday, November 20th
Pro D on Friday. While there will be no school for you, I go to school at the Board Office; I am learning about how to help students create a PATH.


(Viking Ship Spare Tire)

Subject Notes:

Social Studies: Our Viking long ships sail or sink this week. We will learn a little about Viking mythology and religion.

English: Dystopia. We will have class time to work on projects do a few in class writing assignments.

French: We are packing our bags for Tahiti in French Polynesia and reviewing our French clothing vocabulary.

HCE: This week will be about goal setting. Please note that next week we will begin a study into the teenage brain and substance use.

Today's word is: cold

Weekend Notes

You should be reading your dystopian novels over the weekend. Remember, you should also be recording difficult vocabulary and making responses as you go (refer to part 1 and 2 of the novel study assignment sheet). Some students are using post-it notes to make notes as they go and to mark pages of interest; this is an excellent idea.

Here is Insurgent's preview, another dystopian series worth reading.

November 13th

Parent Teacher Interviews and Interims:

Your parents should receive an email regarding your booking tonight. There are still spots available for those who want them, but they are going fast. As grade 8 teachers, Mrs Abell and I conference together so we have combined our appointments; the system did not do this. Interviews are 10 minutes long to accommodate 57 students and their parents. If your family would like a longer interview on an alternate date, please get them to email me or Mrs Abell to arrange such a meeting.

Interims go home tomorrow. They focus on work habits. End of term is December 5th and report cards will go home December 12th so there is plenty of time to improve your marks until then.

Homework:

English: Begin reading your novels. Commit to the three parts of the Individual Novel Study and have your parents sign off on this. You have until December 1st to read your novel. Class time will be provided, but you will need to do some take home as well.

S.S.: Make sure that your Interactive Notebooks are detailed and up to date. I am collecting them on Wednesday next week.

French: Quiz Tomorrow

HCE: None.

Today's word is: Interview.

Parent Teacher Interviews

 
Please tell your parents to go to our Parent Page on the school website for a "how to" register for parent teacher interviews. If those dates and times don't work for your parents, please pass along that we can arrange other meeting methods and times. For example, a telephone conference or an after school meeting on another date. Also, if your parents have already been in regular contact with us, there is no reason that they should feel obligated to make this appointment. We can continue to converse by way of email and telephone.
The message that Mrs Abell and I want to pass along is that we are flexible and open.

November 12th

 

Most of you have settled on a dystopian teen novel. The Giver by Lois Lowry is an excellent choice and I have multiple copies for you to take out, if you could not secure a copy of another book.

 

For an instant prize leave a comment about what you think about your book so far. I am going to re-read Brave New World for my novel. I read it when I was your age and I am interested to re-read it as an adult. I think that my perspective will have changed quite a bit.

 

Homework:

 

S.S.: You should have highlighted the key points on the "Who Were the Vikings" page and you should have copied the 4 questions to the next page. We will be answering those in class tomorrow. Glue guns and sticks for tomorrow. We will build our boats.

 

English: Start reading your novels. Enjoy.

 

French: Quiz on Thursday for Div 2 and on Friday for Div 5. See the course link for review.

 

HCE: None.

November 11th

I spent the day hiking with my two daughters. We talked about how wonderful Canada is and how lucky we are to live here. We remembered those who died for our superb way of life.

* * *

Homework/reminders:

Tomorrow your parents can register for parent/teacher interviews online. Follow this LINK to the registration page. Again, this will be open on November 12th.

English: Bring your novels tomorrow. You will have to register them with me and commit to three assignments which will be assigned tomorrow.

S.S.: If you have a glue gun, bring it on Thursday. We will be building Viking Longships.

French: Quiz Tomorrow for Div 2 and on Friday for Div 5.

HCE: None

This week, November 10th to 14th

A big thank you to Mr. Hull, Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. Ostropolski, Mrs Hurwood and Mr. Umback for stepping up to volunteer as chaperones at our field trip ( I almost said "as tribute" because my head is in dystopian novels).
To students in both Divisions 5 and 6:  I was really proud of you all; you represented Journey and Sooke well. We hear it time and time again when we take you Sooke kids out and about, "where are you from, your kids are so polite?" It makes my heart swell.

* * *

Tuesday is an important day of remembrance for us and when you look at dystopian novels, you quickly realise how close to a utopia Canada is and we have our military to thank for protecting our privileged way of life. We will have a Remembrance Day ceremony on Monday after recess from 10:47 to 11:40. Tuesday is a civic holiday.

Academic Notes:

English: Dystopian Novels will be recorded and independent novel studies will be started this week.

S.S.: The Vikings, not just a bunch of thugs. We will study their boat building skills, society and religion this week and next.

French: Describing people and what they are wearing.

HCE: Your brain and sugar (this lesson was planned for last week, but internet interruption rescheduled it to this week)

November 6th

Thor is happy tonight...stormy weather is his thing.

We are headed to the Viking exhibit tomorrow which is perfect because we started studying the Vikings this week.

Homework:

S.S.: Viking Vocabulary needs to be finished.
French: Quiz on describing hair and eyes Wednesday.
English: Dystopian novel studies start next week so you need to have your novel by then.
HCE: None

Today's word is: "hammer"

November 5th

Don't forget that tomorrow is photo re-take day. Field Trip on Friday so come prepared with a pack lunch and a good jacket.

Homework:

English: Select a Dystopian Novel
French: Describing a Person (Hair and Eyes) Quiz on Tuesday next week.
HCE: None
S.S.: None

November 4th

(From another great teen dystopian novel series)

I learned a lot from our local Fire crew about how to deal with a dangerous material, fire. I was really impressed at how you guys were able to snuff out the fire with the extinguishers.

I am happy to announce that Telus restored our internet today and I was a little too excited about that.

Homework:

English: select a dystopian novel by Thursday.

HCE: none

French: none

S.S.: none

November 3rd

From one of the most popular Dystopian novel series going; coincidentally, Katniss' sign for solidarity against the capital is how we signal that we are leaving to go to the washroom in our class)

Tomorrow, the Fire Chief is going to show you how to deal with hazardous materials including fire. This is a part of the Science curriculum's safety component. This will take most of the morning.

Wifi was out at school today because of a power outage making me realize how much I rely on it. You don't know what you got 'til it's gone as the song goes. As a parent, I kind of wish my house would have a Wifi outage. ;-)