News from the Nest - Jan.31-Feb.4
Spotlight on Learning: Modern Poets
Students in Ms. Poss’s English class were randomly assigned mysterious, lyrical poems that had the titles and poet's name removed (e.g., Michael Ondaatje). They were tasked with analyzing the poem within their small inquiry groups. (They have done this before with Hemingway stories.) They could use a variety of graphic organizers to tackle the task and had some straightforward steps to follow such as finding the figurative language, the type of poem, the rhyme scheme, etc. The emphasis was on finding that interplay between surface and deep meaning--to crack the mystery of the enigmatic poem. They also had to give the poem their own title and justify that choice. There were examples of diction in each one that they had to look up as clues to the setting and the poet's background (Ceylonese words...to mess with them! and sneaky references to immigration to Canada). Then, they present their findings in a share circle. They must discuss the 'process' of inquiry, to their changing theories and how they evolved. "First, we thought..." sentence frames were given, etc. (Check out the x through the one theory picture). All students received all copies of the poems, and each group also must do a reading of the poem.
Meanwhile, Ms. Poss had the senior students working on a 'challenge' assignment. They are creating their own Poetry Exploration Booklet with 10 chosen poems. The poems had to be from established poets. Each student had to create their own unique focus area and teach/share their booklet with the class including a written synthesis essay with an original thesis statement.
Closed you say…. not for Aspire
On Friday, January 21st, the students in the Aspire Inclusion program decorated 51 cupcakes and delivered them throughout the school. The students in Aspire hope that this small act of kindness brightened everyone’s day! Mr. Jenks, thank you for being so kind and offering up not only your room and equipment but also the yummy cupcakes!
Our Character Word of the Month is INTEGRITY
Q: Why practice Integrity?
Without integrity, no one would be able to trust each other to do what they say they are going to do. Integrity helps us to listen to our conscience, to do the right thing, to tell the truth. When people act with integrity, they stand for something. Others believe them and rely on them. Integrity gives us self-respect and a peaceful heart.
Imagine Learning Romeo and Juliet as an English Language Learner
Imagine you speak Arabic or Cantonese at home and at school you are learning to speak, read and write in English. You think you’ve mastered the language and your teacher throws you a curve ball – Shakespearian English with sentences that are grammatically backwards and words that are seldom in use or have a rich connation. What do you do? Well, if you are in Ms. Brown’s English ELL class you grab the text and start acting out the narrative with a few additional flourishes of props and laughter.
See attachment below for important information:
- How to Access your child's Semester 2 timetable and Semester 1 Report Card (available as of Feb. 10) =
- Jan. 31 - Feb. 18 Schedule
- Help, I forgot my MyEd Password
- Host a Homestay Student Flyer
Calendar
- All Month:
- Black History Month
- UFV Student Teachers in the Building
- Monday, January 31
- ABCD
- Semester 2 Start (New classes)
- Gr 9 Immunizations
- Jr. Girls Bball vs MEI
- Jr. Boys Bball vs MEI
- No Spectators all games
- Tuesday, February 1
- CDAB
- Grade 9 Immunizations
- Sr. Girls Bball vs Chilliwack
- No Spectators
- Wednesday, February 2
- BADC
- Sr. Girl BBall vs RE Mountain
- No Spectators all games
- Thursday, February 3
- DCBA
- Sr. Boys Bball @ Chilliwack
- No Spectators
- Friday, February 4
- BADC
