Happy Holidays!

Get outside. Stay by the fire, read, and be cozy. Enjoy time with friends and family. Rest. See you in 2018.

Winter Solstice and Narnia Celebration

Pancake Breakfast this morning.

Block 2 and 3 as per the schedule.

Winter/ Christmas Stations afternoon.

Tomorrow is our crazy gift exchange. Bring an anonymous wrapped gift to add to the pile. I am bringing a few.

Snow Day and Tomorrow

Well that was a dramatic day of weather.
The superintendent will announce whether schools are open or closed by 6 am tomorrow. There is snow in the forecast, but they don't think that it will hit like last night's storm.

NEVER do this...but we can be amused at his risk.


Tomorrow will be a regular rotation day so long as mother nature agrees to lay off. Stay tuned to your radios/computers tomorrow morning (hopefully you have power).
Today's word for an entry to open a window: chaos.

December 18th to 22nd

So here is what our week looks like:
Monday: We are away in Victoria (Legislature Tour, IMAX Film, and Bay Centre Trees/Shopping)
Band Concert (I wish I could be there but I have a horrible ear infection)
Tuesday: We welcome a new student. Class Rotation as usual.
Wednesday: Class Rotation as usual.
Thursday: PANCAKE Breakfast in Narnia and a FUN afternoon.
Friday: Gift Exchange Game DIV 4 and 5. Wrap a gift new or used (if new, no more than $10; I recommend no more than $5) and we will play a game. The afternoon is saved for the Talent Show :-)

S.S. Viking Inquiry Due Dates:

Div 4 December 19th
Div 5 December 20th

Today's word is

SNOW

December 14th

Band Rehearsals

Today's summaries:

While the band went through rehearsals, sections of the band not in session had a choice of:
1. working on overdue work (eg. the dystopian story)
2. working on the Viking Inquiry
3. reading The Giver
4. working on a Hygge Art Piece
5. Code Academy work

Div 3 S.S. You had your last project development block. The project will be checked for completion on the final due date: December 20th. Teaching sessions will start on that day.

Div 5 English. You read The Giver. We are annotating the text, but we will read to the end of the book at our own pace. I will be introducing a culminating activity choice set for you to do once you have read the book.

MARS MISSION PLANNING = Departments met to determine what should be included in the cargo manifest. It was not an easy task planning for an indefinite amount of time on a ship.

Today's word...


manifest (for an entry to open the calendar)

December 13th

Tomorrow is X-mas colours day.

Today's summaries:

English Div 4 and 5: You are reading "The Giver". Currently, you should have read Chapter 1. If you are home sick, you can read the pdf version here or you can have it read to you (which sounds like a restful thing, if you aren't feeling well):

Social Studies Div 3: You were given a project development  block for your Viking Inquiry (Due Dec 20th)

English Div 4: You were given a final work block for your Dystopian story and then asked to submit it. I will email parents/guardians tomorrow, if I don't have a copy for their information and yours.

Today's word is: release.

Tuesday, December 12

Tomorrow is Festive Music Day

Today's summaries:

English Div 5: You started The Giver novel study. We read the start of Chapter 1 and annotated it.

Math Div 4: You wrote a quiz on relating decimals, percent, and fractions. You started a mini shopping unit.

Humanities Div 4: You had work time to complete the Dystopian short story and the Social Studies project.

Today's word...oops I didn't do a draw yesterday so instant prize to the first with this one.

Santa Claus is coming to town...

December 11th

Tomorrow is PJ day.

Div 4 Math: We did a quick review for tomorrow's check up. Then, we watched a portion of a documentary on how math is in everything, EVERYTHING. If you want to watch the rest of the video, you can find the link on the math page under Beauty and Math.

Div 3 and Div 5 Social Studies: You were given a project development block.

Div 5 English: You were shown an article on China's surveillance state. Then, we brainstormed as to how we are watched/monitored in Canada. Your stories are due today. I will send email reminders home tomorrow for those who have not handed them in

Div 4 English: You were given a work block to finish your stories.

For a draw ticket to open the chocolate door today...

PJ

This week December 11th to 15th

Xmas Hair Day tomorrow.

Exploratory forms can start coming in at 7:30 a.m. First come, first choice.

Hackergal is meeting in Ms Dvorak's room at lunch this week.

It's spirit week:
Monday Crazy Xmas Hair
Tuesday PJ Day
Wednesday Music in the Halls all day (by request)
Thursday XMas Colours and Socks
Friday Santa HAT day and photos with the Christmas Dragon

This week's academics:

Math: We will be learning how to determine averages using percent. You will be managing your mark books in the second and third terms.

English: Div 4 will be finishing off their stories while Div 5 will be electronically submitting them tomorrow for publication. We are going to read The Giver, an award winning dystopic novel.

Social Studies Div 3 and 4: Monday is your last full in class block to get your Viking Inquiry done. You will be presenting your inquiry results starting on the 14th.

For Science and Math, click on Ms Abell's link to get to her blog.


Today's word for a chance at opening up our chocolate santa calendars....
Hair.

Friday, December 8th

What a gorgeous day and morning having hot chocolate by the fire.

Here are today's summaries and some deadlines:

Math Div 4: You were given time to complete the practice sets and ask for help.

English Div 5: You had your final wrap up block for your short story, a dystopia. This is due shared with me by Monday, Dec. 11th. If you don't share it, I will be informing families because you will have to get it in on your own time.

English Div 4: You had a block to work on your short story, a dystopia. This was block 4 of 5 in class drafting/proofreading/editing blocks. Given this timeline, you will be asked to share your stories by Wednesday, December 13th.

S.S. Div 3: You were given a block to work on your Viking Inquiry. This was block 2/3 in class work blocks. The project is due on Thursday, December 14th.

Here's to a great weekend. Enjoy the outdoors!!!!

Thursday, Dec 7th

Hot chocolate by the fire pit tomorrow. Yum. Bring your mug.

Today's summaries:

Math: You worked on the practice pages to do with relating percents, fractions, and decimals. The link to that work is here. Scroll to the bottom of the page. There will be a check up for this skill on Tuesday. If you are having troubles with the concept, please drop in at lunch or after school for help.

SS Div 3: You had a project work block (2/3). There is one in-school block left. The due date for completion is December 14th.

English Div 5: You had a final in class block to work on your dystopian stories, but I will allow one more block tomorrow for completion. They are due on Monday and if they are not submitted, I will email home to notify your family that a major assignment deadline has been missed.

Today's word is...

Hot chocolate

Wednesday, Dec 6th

Why is percent so important? So you don't cheap out on tips :-)

Welcome TTOC. Thanks for coming in.

I am at the Board Office this morning so I am leaving this post for all of you:

I have class lists on the desk for the TTOC please help them to take attendance and deliver it to the office if they don't have MyEd access.

Block 1: English 8 Div 5 - You should be working on your Dystopia drafts. Some of you are at the editing and proofreading stage. If you are, you should get two of your peers to proof and edit your piece. Those peers should initial your draft to indicate that they have done the job.

Block 2: Social Studies 8 Div 3 - You should be putting together your Viking projects. They are due on the 14th. If the chrome books are not working, then you will view the attached video. Before viewing the video,  complete a KWL chart on a piece of lined paper in your binder. What do you know about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.we will be discussing the shift from polytheist to monotheist, Abrahamic religions at a later point.

Block 3: Social Studies 8 Div 4 - You should be putting together your Viking projects. They are due on the 14th. If the chrome books are not working, then you will view the attached video. Before viewing the video,  complete a KWL chart on a piece of lined paper in your binder. What do you know about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.we will be discussing the shift from polytheist to monotheist, Abrahamic religions at a later point.

I will be back after lunch and will do the draw then.

Math Div 4: We will finish the relating decimals, fractions, and percents note page and begin to work on practice sets.

Thanks for being an awesome group.

Today's word is: percentage

December 5th

English Div 5: You were drafting your stories (Block 3/5). I was very impressed at your focus and productivity.

Math Div 4: You started a unit comparing fractions, decimals, and percent. For the lesson, see the Math link.

English Div 4: You had a drafting block for your Mars dystopias (Block1/5)

S.S. Div 4: You had a Viking Inquiry work block.


For an entry to open today's chocolate window: futuristic

December 4

Today's summaries:

S.S. Div 3 and 4: You were given a work block. By this point, you should have had your project plan approved and should have begun work on it. You will be given three blocks of S.S. to assemble the project. If you miss a class, you have to make up the time. This brings the deadline to: Wednesday, December 13th. You will present your projects from that date on.

Catch up Blocks or Entertainment/End of Term Celebration depending on whether you were done or not. In the end, it was your choice and your consequence.


For an instant prize: animation.

This week, December 4th to 8th

TERM 1 ENDS ON MONDAY.

Monday we will be giving you two options:

1. Catch up blocks 3,4, and 5: Work on outstanding first term I work. Check the lists on the homework boards to ensure that you are not missing credits.

OR

2. Mantracker Rain or Shine, campfire lunch, and PJ movie afternoon (bring a pillow and snack, if you want)​. Mantracker will be muddy regardless of what the weather is doing so we are recommending a change of clothes/footwear.

This week:

English: You will be writing out your rough draft of your dystopian scenario. This is an in class writing assignment.

S.S.: You will be working on your Viking Inquiry. We will be setting a presentation/completion date which I will post to this site.

Math: You will be investigating decimals, fractions, and percent. Human beings have created brilliant ways of representing parts of wholes and they have a relationship with each other; we will be looking into that relationship.

Today's word is: perform

December 1st

Congratulations Ms Bertucci on completing the practicum component of your teaching degree. We feel special witnessing your 25 year dream come true. Welcome to the best job there is, teaching. We will miss you, but we know that you'll be back :-)

Course Summaries (November 29th to Dec. 1st)

English Div 5: You are writing a dystopia based around our Mars mission. This is an in-class writing assignment. Currently you are drafting the story. We decided on three class blocks to write the draft, proof and edit it. The due date will also be determined together.

English Div 4: You brainstormed for a scenario that would see you leaving for Mars earlier than planned. The ideas you came up with were brilliant.

Math Div 4: You have been working with Tessellations. Many of you have gravitated to this beautiful type of math.

S.S. Div 3 and 4: You should have completed your notes on your inquiry topic, had them marked, organized them into sub-categories, and planned out your presentation idea for approval. If you have done all of the preparation, you can begin the project. We are working on this in class, so bring what you need to class to do what you have planned to do.

Have a great weekend. Welcome to December and two months of HYGGE and Winter COZZZY