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!"