Take care and see you next on January 6th!
Friday, December 20, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
"One Thing" for Thurs. Dec. 19
Well, it's actually 38 things. Well, photos, actually...
These are some samples of some amazing art done in many of our Diefenbaker classes (I tried to get something from each room) but could not get something from every student. There is a huge variety of mediums being used and some great holiday/festive art ideas too!
Amazing.
These are some samples of some amazing art done in many of our Diefenbaker classes (I tried to get something from each room) but could not get something from every student. There is a huge variety of mediums being used and some great holiday/festive art ideas too!
Amazing.
Division 1 
Division 1
Division 2
Division 2
Division 2
Division 2
Division 2
Division 4
Division 4
mixed
Division 8
Division 8
Division 7
Division 6
Division 11
Division 5
Division 5
Division ?
Division 3
Division 3
Division 2
Division 2
Division 2
Division 12
Division 12
Division 4
Division 4
Division 1
Division 9
Division 10
Division 10
Division 10
Division 10
Division 11
Division 1
Division 10
Division 10
Division 3 (those are maps of Haida Gwaii)
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
"One Thing" for Wed. Dec. 18
Today we had Keely Hale, a representative from the First United Church (located on Hastings Street in Vancouver), attend an assembly where we were able to pass on the gift bags that our classes had brought items in for.
This Diefenbaker tradition was resurrected by Mrs. Cooke and Mrs. Csontala (after we did not do it last year) and it was great to see. It was great to see their leadership on this and the students really understanding who they were bringing items in for and why. We were able to put together over 40 gift bags with the following items in them.
This Diefenbaker tradition was resurrected by Mrs. Cooke and Mrs. Csontala (after we did not do it last year) and it was great to see. It was great to see their leadership on this and the students really understanding who they were bringing items in for and why. We were able to put together over 40 gift bags with the following items in them.
At
Christmas time it is especially sad that some people in our community will be
without a gift. Therefore, each homeroom class has generously bought gifts for
our bags:
Division
1 brought warm socks.
Division
2 gave bars of deodorant.
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3 contributed toothbrushes.
Division
4 brought hair brushes and combs.
Division
5 contributed basic sewing kits.
Division
6 gave bars of scented soap.
Division
7 bought chocolates and candy.
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8 gave warm gloves and mittens.
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9 brought tubes of toothpaste.
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10 brought shampoo.
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11 gave hand and face towels.
Division
12 brought hand lotion.
in addition, The
Diefenbaker staff brought toques and scarves.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
"One Thing" for Tues. Dec. 17
Today the RCMP brought a "Squadron" of men and ladies to play against some of our grade 7 basketball players at lunch time today.
This was a part of a new program being put on by the Richmond RCMP School Sports Program
It was a packed house in the gym and was great to see all of the young fans excited. We also got to see a couple of slam dunks (something that doesn't happen in our gym very often) by one of the officers.
Here's a link to an article by the Richmond Review from last year about the program. CLICK HERE
Also, Stan Layenhorst, a speaker for the Rick Hansen Foundation talked about to the students about pursuing your dreams even if you have to overcome obstacles in life like Rick Hansen did.
This was a part of a new program being put on by the Richmond RCMP School Sports Program
It was a packed house in the gym and was great to see all of the young fans excited. We also got to see a couple of slam dunks (something that doesn't happen in our gym very often) by one of the officers.
Here's a link to an article by the Richmond Review from last year about the program. CLICK HERE
Also, Stan Layenhorst, a speaker for the Rick Hansen Foundation talked about to the students about pursuing your dreams even if you have to overcome obstacles in life like Rick Hansen did.
Here is a shot of both teams after the game. The RCMP won 25 to 20 by the way... hopefully we will get a chance to play them again.
And an action shot.
Monday, December 16, 2013
"One Thing" for Mon. Dec. 16
Tonight was the grade 6 and 7 winter band concert at the school. I have written about the band a couple of times before, so am not going to focus on that here tonight. Instead, I will be focusing on a student of mine who has special needs. This girl was in my class last year (and is again this year). She has Downs Syndrome and tonight she was a part of the band. Playing the drums. I'm pretty sure that she didn't play in any of the concerts last year, showing that she has come a long way in terms of being comfortable with her teachers and playing her instrument.
However, the bigger issue here is that she has been given the opportunity to play in the band at all. This student is a part of our regular class (as much as she can be) and this speaks to the long-standing policy of inclusion supported by the Richmond School District. The great thing is that it doesn't just benefit her. It benefits the other students around her.
Tonight, while we lined up in three different places to go into the gym, I was impressed when a student that was in my class last year came back into the multi-purpose room and asked me if he should take Jodi with him because she was in the wrong place. This type of behaviour (showing empathy and understanding from having worked with her last year) is what other students get out of being a student in an inclusive setting and what fulfills the other half of the yin/yang puzzle. And that, was great to see.
However, the bigger issue here is that she has been given the opportunity to play in the band at all. This student is a part of our regular class (as much as she can be) and this speaks to the long-standing policy of inclusion supported by the Richmond School District. The great thing is that it doesn't just benefit her. It benefits the other students around her.
Tonight, while we lined up in three different places to go into the gym, I was impressed when a student that was in my class last year came back into the multi-purpose room and asked me if he should take Jodi with him because she was in the wrong place. This type of behaviour (showing empathy and understanding from having worked with her last year) is what other students get out of being a student in an inclusive setting and what fulfills the other half of the yin/yang puzzle. And that, was great to see.
Friday, December 13, 2013
"One Thing/Fun Thing" for Fri. Dec. 13
Today my class made a little video. I'm going to share it here. It was an anti-bullying lesson that I found, borrowed, and did in an afternoon (instead of over the course of week), but it was pretty cool and hopefully powerful for some of my students.
The idea is that we started with a bunch of "mean" words (written in, appropriately, black and blue) and then slowly replaced them all with kind words (in warm colours). Thanks to our videographer, Mrs. B : )
Here is the link to the lesson. http://www.yourkidsteacher.com/2012/04/erasing-meanness.html?m=1
Happy Friday the 13th everyone:
The idea is that we started with a bunch of "mean" words (written in, appropriately, black and blue) and then slowly replaced them all with kind words (in warm colours). Thanks to our videographer, Mrs. B : )
Here is the link to the lesson. http://www.yourkidsteacher.com/2012/04/erasing-meanness.html?m=1
Happy Friday the 13th everyone:
Thursday, December 12, 2013
"One Thing" for Thurs. Dec. 12
Tonight was the big show. I might get in trouble with the fire marshall for posting these pictures, but it was a packed house tonight at Diefenbaker.
First with just the parents before the children came in:
The first ones (who shall remain nameless in this space) showed up approximately an hour before the show was to begin...
And then the students (mostly in their pyjamas)...
It was the third and final show (after having done an afternoon dress rehearsal yesterday and a successful afternoon performance today). There are many people who played a part in making this happen, but thanks to the leadership, choreography and hard work from all of our teachers and support teachers, all the pieces came together perfectly for the big event; the show went off without any hitches. Ms. Park, Ms. Wood and Ms. Matheson should be given a lot of credit for all of their long hours behind the scene. Ms. Radford had the potentially tricky job of ticket distribution, but from all accounts, that also went quite smoothly. Thanks to the parents for their positive contributions and for so many for walking to the show tonight!
But mostly, I think the students deserve a lot of credit for learning lines, songs and actions to songs (quite a few even learned all the actions to the songs that they weren't even singing!) You can tell that many of them had a great time doing this show and it was a fantastic 51 minutes!
Now if I can only get those songs to stop running through my head...
First with just the parents before the children came in:
And then the students (mostly in their pyjamas)...
It was the third and final show (after having done an afternoon dress rehearsal yesterday and a successful afternoon performance today). There are many people who played a part in making this happen, but thanks to the leadership, choreography and hard work from all of our teachers and support teachers, all the pieces came together perfectly for the big event; the show went off without any hitches. Ms. Park, Ms. Wood and Ms. Matheson should be given a lot of credit for all of their long hours behind the scene. Ms. Radford had the potentially tricky job of ticket distribution, but from all accounts, that also went quite smoothly. Thanks to the parents for their positive contributions and for so many for walking to the show tonight!
But mostly, I think the students deserve a lot of credit for learning lines, songs and actions to songs (quite a few even learned all the actions to the songs that they weren't even singing!) You can tell that many of them had a great time doing this show and it was a fantastic 51 minutes!
Now if I can only get those songs to stop running through my head...
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
"One Thing" for Wed. Dec. 11
This is Mr. Milks:
I was a "Bandie" myself. I played clarinet from grade 5 until grade 9 and then switched to the "so large I didn't need to take it home so often until I got a car baritone saxophone." I still remember my high school band teachers, both passionate about their job. Thinking back to when I started out in a beginner band myself, I cannot fathom how the band teacher does it though. It must be the most trying experience, and yet most band teachers do a great job of it. They must come born with extra patience. If you ask any classroom teacher if they would like that job, they will almost all say, "I don't know how they do it."
Anyway, today I was sitting in on the grade 6 band class getting ready for their winter concert next Monday (and playing an alto sax that Mr. Milks lent me) and the band did a fantastic job. I'd say they are ready (and they even have one more practice to go). Mr. Milks was calmly giving tips to certain players but doing it in a great way that didn't put the spotlight on that individual for having done something wrong. The students listened respectfully and played (most of) the right notes. I know that wouldn't be the case if I was the one holding the baton. My hat is off to band teachers everywhere!
He is one of a special breed of teachers. He teaches band. He teaches at our school as well as Manoah Steves. From a band teacher's perspective these days, that's a pretty good gig. I know some "itinerant" band teachers are at 5 different schools (two each day). It can't be easy moving around like that, knowing all the bell schedules and all the staff and students.
But all of that, as hard as it is, is probably all easier than actually teaching the band class. I have no idea how they do it.
I was a "Bandie" myself. I played clarinet from grade 5 until grade 9 and then switched to the "so large I didn't need to take it home so often until I got a car baritone saxophone." I still remember my high school band teachers, both passionate about their job. Thinking back to when I started out in a beginner band myself, I cannot fathom how the band teacher does it though. It must be the most trying experience, and yet most band teachers do a great job of it. They must come born with extra patience. If you ask any classroom teacher if they would like that job, they will almost all say, "I don't know how they do it."
Anyway, today I was sitting in on the grade 6 band class getting ready for their winter concert next Monday (and playing an alto sax that Mr. Milks lent me) and the band did a fantastic job. I'd say they are ready (and they even have one more practice to go). Mr. Milks was calmly giving tips to certain players but doing it in a great way that didn't put the spotlight on that individual for having done something wrong. The students listened respectfully and played (most of) the right notes. I know that wouldn't be the case if I was the one holding the baton. My hat is off to band teachers everywhere!
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