News from the Nest - March 28-April 1

Spotlight on Learning:  A Look at the Work behind a Lesson

Students in Madame Sauve’s Communication orale 12class are in the middle of studying a narrative by Michel Tremblay. We've verbalized the dialogues using the specific accent and "joual" way of speaking, explored the social, cultural, and economic context of the story. 

One activity that my students enjoy for the most part is the following:  Each student gets a character to ask a question to. Basically, they must think about what question they would like to ask that character. It can't be a yes/no answer but deeper and not answered in the text itself. For example, "Michel, why do you constantly hide under the table?" or "Robertine, how did it make you feel when your mother showed more appreciation for her daughter-in-law's opinion over yours?"   I stick "post its" of various colours on the white board (matched to the main characters in the narrative) --this way, students don't all choose the same character. "You're born in November, go choose your post it" and so on. They take a few minutes to think and write their question. 

Then they sit in outside and inside circles (see pics) and students on the inside circle ask their question to the person sitting opposite. Once the student on the outer circle has answered the question to the best of their ability, they stop talking. This way I know when most are ready to continue and do the rotation. The students on the outer circle move clockwise...and so on. Once we've gone around once, the students switch: the ones sitting on the outside sit on the inner circle, and vice-versa. We can also switch groups if we want the activity to carry on longer. The activity usually takes less than 30 minutes. I collect all the post-its once we're all done. I use the questions to create a bank of questions for individual interviews later for summative assessment. There's student agency in that they choose the character of their choice. Students are asked to put themselves in someone else's shoes, which fosters caring and empathy. At another time in the study, students comment that through this activity, they get to think about how it would feel to be in that character' situation, and why the latter might act and talk the way they do. Even the not so likable characters have feelings and reasons for their behavior and students get to realize certain things about human nature. It's an activity that I do with movies as well in the Cinéma and Littérature course. Students seem to enjoy it, and I love it too.  Madame Sauve [A picture containing bag, items, several, clothes Description automatically generated]

Our Character Word of the Month is RESPONSIBILITY

Being responsible means that others can depend on you.  You are willing to be accountable for your actions.  When things go wrong, and you make a mistake, you make amends instead of excused.  When you are responsible, you keep your agreements.  You give your best to any job.  Responsibility is the ability to respond ably.  It is a sign of growing up.

Why practice RESPONSIBILITY?

When you take responsibility for your own actions, others can trust you.  When people are not responsible, they break their promises, fail to do what they said they would do and let people down.  People who make excuses instead of amends keep making the same mistakes.  When you are responsible, you get things down with excellence.

Congrats to Mouat Careers Program

ChatterHigh is thrilled to congratulate W J Mouat Secondary on placing 2nd on the AAAA leaderboard for the inaugural Discover uLethbridge Competition!
 
Students from W J Mouat Secondary participated in the competition by answering questions in the Discover uLethbridge Competition course by the University of Lethbridge. In this competition, students were taken on a digital tour to learn about the University of Lethbridge and explored all the important information prospective students would want to consider when choosing a future institution. Furthermore, students refined their digital literacy skills in navigating a university website. This is a skill that will benefit all students in the future whether they decide to attend the University of Lethbridge or pursue another path.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to complete the Discover uLethbridge Course on ChatterHigh:

For students who missed out on the competition and would like to attend or learn more about the University of Lethbridge, there is still an opportunity to access this valuable resource. The module will be available throughout 2022!

Grade 10 and 12 Student Satisfaction Surveys

During the months of March and April, the Abbotsford School District is participating in the 2022 Ministry of Education Electronic Anonymous Student Learning Survey Project in cooperation with all other school districts throughout the province.

Parents/Guardians/Caregivers can complete the online Anonymous Student Learning Surveys any time before 11:59 pm April 29th, 2022, providing immediate results to the school and the district.

For 2022: Students in Grades 4, 7, 10 and 12 complete the survey; Parents/Guardians/Caregivers of Grade 4, 7, 10 and 12 Students complete the survey; and all Staff associated with a School complete the survey.  Schools may survey other grade levels after finishing the grades above.

To complete the survey:

• Go to any computer that has an up-to-date internet browser access at home, work, or school. 
• Go to www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey/access.htm  
• Under the section Direct Access – no logon number required select:
• District: the name of your child’s district
• School: the name of your child’s school
• Language: the language of your choice
• Complete the survey by clicking on the appropriate circle to answer each question.  Move to the next set of questions by clicking on the right arrow in the bottom right corner of the screen. Click on the left arrow to navigate backwards.
• When you are finished the survey, you will get a message “Thank you for sharing your views”.
• Once complete, your school will have the results immediately.

Thank you for participating in this innovative project. 

Grade 12’s Complete your Cap and Gown Order

Grade 12’s please take 2 minutes to filled out your Cap and Gown order via the google form in the Grade 2022 classroom.

Students need to indicate their height (estimate is fine) and a few details.  This is step one.  Next, pay the $60 grad ceremony fee through school cash online.  If students do not want to participate in the ceremony, they still need to fill out the form so that we know our numbers.  Students can contact Mrs. Nyberg for any questions.

Spring Break Office Hours

The office will be closed during Spring Break.

Spring Band Concert

It was once again, lovely, to spend an hour listen to live music produced by our talented students and enjoyed by family and friends.  Thank you to Mrs. Wade, and the Jr., Sr. Band students and choir for the opportunity to experience the evening.

Celebrating Spirit Week

Many kudos to all the students who participated in this week’s Spirit Days.  From zoom attire, to dynamic duos you did impress, and your creative sides came out in Anything but a Backpack Day. 

Congrats Grade 9 Boys

Kudos to the grade 9 boys who competed in provincial’s last weekend. The boys won their first game, lost their quarterfinal game but they won their last two games with a record of 3-1 and came in 5th place.

New Graduation Requirements for Grade 9/10 students

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), is implementing a new graduation requirement.

Expected to take effect in the 2023-24 school year, this requirement will ensure all secondary students complete Indigenous-focused coursework before they graduate from B.C.’s K-12 education system.

“We are deeply committed to lasting and meaningful reconciliation in B.C. – guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples while working co-operatively with Indigenous Peoples across the province to address the knowledge gaps in our K-12 curriculum,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education.” This new requirement will deepen students’ understanding of the experiences, cultures, histories and knowledges of Indigenous Peoples. This will help us to understand the truths of our shared history, while also building knowledge so all students feel a sense of responsibility for our collective future.”

On March 7, the Ministry of Education will launch an online public engagement to gain feedback on the proposed approach to implementing the new graduation requirement, including what related information and resources students, parents and schools may need. The ministry will also consult with Indigenous communities and K-12 partners throughout the spring. FNESC will facilitate information sharing with First Nations. The proposed model would allow students to meet the new requirement through a variety of existing and new course options.

Under the proposed model, students who are currently in Grade 10 would be the first group to complete this new requirement, starting in September 2023. The new requirement will apply to all students in B.C. public, independent and offshore schools. B.C. is the first Canadian province/jurisdiction to implement this type of requirement.

The new Indigenous-focused course requirement is one of the actions identified in B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Draft Action Plan, as part of a broader Indigenous-specific anti-racism and discrimination strategy for the K-12 system, on which First Nations were consulted in 2021.

The Ministry of Education is seeking public engagement for the new Indigenous-focused graduation requirements now until April 22.  Visit the site and share your thoughts on the proposed approach for the new requirements.

https://engage.gov.bc.ca/Indigenousgradrequirement

Calendar:

• All April:
  • UFV, SFU, UBC Student Teachers in the Building
  • Grade 10 and 12 Satisfaction Surveys
• Monday, March 28
  • ABCD
• Tuesday, March 29
  • CDAB
  • Grade 12 Satisfaction Surveys
• Wednesday, March 30
  • BADC
  • Grade 10 Satisfaction Surveys
• Thursday, March 31
  • DCBA
  • Grade 10 Satisfaction Surveys Pt. 2
• Friday,  April 1
  • CDAB