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News From The Nest March 6th to March 10 2023

March 6, 2023

Spotlight on Learning:   In Support of Diversity

Mouat’s annual Diversity Week provided my classes with an excellent authentic opportunity for expanding their understanding of and showing their support for Mouat’s diverse communities. Together the students worked to answer the question: How can we create a visual design for Diversity week that shows support for our diverse learners that is both engaging and informative.

English 9 classes created visual displays that either promoted participation in Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 22 or educated their peers about bullying.  

CLE 10 classes formed teams who chose to create visual displays in support of either Mouat’s LGBTQ2S+, Neurodiverse, or Culturally diverse communities.

All classes worked through a rigorous process before executing their visual display.  They started by choosing team members according to specific team roles that each student was prepared to fulfill.  Each team completed a research component which included identifying their audience and purpose, researching and narrowing their topic of choice, and completing a source analysis.  Once they were confident with their content, we brainstormed visual display requirements as a class, teams created a prototype of their visual display, pitched their concept, and made revisions according to feedback.  

 

The week before Diversity Week proved challenging for teams: assemblies, early dismissal days resulting in much shorter classes and a Pro-D day, but they persevered and got it done! Seeing their initial concept finally executed on Mouat walls was a proud moment for all!  I’m so proud of them for working so hard to grow in their own understanding and for making such a positive contribution to their Mouat Community!

 

Wrestling Provincials

Mouat  Hawks wrestling  had  another  Good  showing  at  the  BCSS  Provincial  Championships
Mouat  qualified  &  entered  21 wrestlers   14 boys  7  girls.

Boys  Team  Repeated as  Runners Up  Placing SECOND  in  BC
again  this Year!

The  Boys  Team  collected  5  Medals
Congratulations to our BC  CHAMPIONS
Omrao Dhadd, Tejvir  Dhinsa, Jagroop  Dhinsa
And to our medalists!! Kassaday  Amjot - Silver after  2  weeks  of preparation, Michealjeet  Grewal - Bronze, Kentario Dennis - Fourth
Manraj Randhawa - fifth
Girls Results            
Paradise  Johnson - Silver, Sarah Thiel Fifth after only 6 weeks  preparation

Congratulations to Mr Matty – Heroes in Education

HEROES IN EDUCATION: W.J. Mouat teacher Andrew Matty remains ever curious

KEN GOUDSWAARD - Feb. 27

List of nominees sent to us by our readers. “Heroes in Education” is graciously sponsored by Abbotsford School District, University of the Fraser Valley, City of Abbotsford, Easy Build Structures, Curtis Tire & Wheel, Kafka Denture Clinic and 5 Corners Furniture.

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Standing in front of a gigantic cardboard display of the periodic table, you could say Andrew Matty is in his element.

The science and math teacher at W. J. Mouat secondary would wholeheartedly agree.

“I’ve always had a passion about knowing why I’m here,” he says. “Science has helped me learn what it’s all about.”

As a former Mouat student himself, being back, but this time in front of the class, seems like a natural fit. Wearing his enthusiasm for teaching, and indeed life, on his sleeve makes Matty very popular among his students, one of whom nominated him for the Heroes in Education honour.

Grade 10 student Cassiopeia Willett reached out to The News after seeing the nomination form in the paper.  “I thought he would be the perfect candidate,” she says. “A person’s actions shouldn’t go unnoticed.”

Willett says Matty is full of curiosity and respect and is always willing to help students understand new subjects. Whether it’s engaging them in interesting lab assignments or showing and talking to them about relevant news articles, new ongoing projects and exciting discoveries, Matty, she says, “keeps them intrigued.”

“He is constantly looking out for his students and doing more than is required as a teacher and that really stands out to me and my fellow students,” she says. “He is a reliable teacher that really helps students understand difficult subjects and setting them up for success on the right path is something that is really important for a student’s career path.”

Matty’s path to the classroom came through University of the Fraser Valley as an undergrad, then Simon Fraser University for his teaching degree and finally a master’s degree at City University. His first four years of teaching took place at the Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts (ASIA), where Matty was behind building a Rube Goldberg Machine. The year-long project was a school-wide effort that eventually became an 11-minute video (Get the Ball Rolling) and a major part of Matty’s master’s thesis. VIDEO: Get the Ball Rolling

“I love to see students learn,” he says. “Getting them to see that wonder; getting them to that next level. They grow as a person.”

And Matty believes straight-up teaching isn’t going to do it for most students.

“The challenge of being a teacher today is having to teach much more than just the curriculum,” he says. “You need to teach everyday skills, people skills.”

And that’s not lost on his Heroes in Education nominator.

“He’s always introducing cool demonstrations to show real-life examples and applications. It really helps us understand how we can apply those skills in our everyday lives,” Willett says.

And if you’re thinking Matty is truly a rock star as a teacher, well, you’d literally be right on that front as well. Having organized a guitar club while at ASIA, Matty is in the process of assembling his own rock band at Mouat.  “Music has always been a way for me to deal with life … and it’s just fun.”

It’s that joie de vivre that seems to be at the heart of Matty’s zest for life. And he just wants to share that with his students.

“Having relationships and being part of their learning journey,” he says, makes coming to work each day a joy. “I love being part of someone else’s growth … and the grad/staff hockey game is also pretty great.

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<p>Description automatically generatedCharacter Word of the Week – Teamwork

Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way. Teamwork skills involve your ability to work cooperatively with others while demonstrating reliability and responsibility to the group you are working with.  Those with strong teamwork skills have the ability to communicate, listen, collaborate, track progress, manage time, show empathy, can negotiate, and pull others into group discussion and decision-making.

Self-Care Mondays

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<p>Description automatically generatedPositive thinking, or an optimistic attitude, is the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation. It can have a big impact on your physical and mental health. That doesn't mean you ignore reality or make light of problems. It simply means you approach the good and the bad in life with the expectation that things will go well. So make every effort to be POSITIVE!  

This week’s self-care tip is about: POSITIVE THINKING and AFFIRMATIONS  

Making the effort to think positively can improve both mental and physical health for many. Shaping and framing your thoughts to spark joy and contentment can do wonders for you. An example of this is positive affirmations. A positive affirmation can be defined as positive phrase or statement that we repeat to ourselves such as: “I am a nice person.” I work hard.” Even something like “I love sunshine.”  So, take a moment today to say 10 positive statements about yourself!  

Information:  

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950#:~:text=The%20health%20benefits%20of%20positive%20thinking&text=Lower%20rates%20of%20depression,psychological%20and%20physical%20well%2Dbeing  

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/positive-thinking-overview  

https://www.bettersleep.com/blog/how-positive-thinking-can-improve-your-mental-health/  

 

 

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Support our PAC Purdy’s Chocolates Fundraiser

Now is the perfect time to get your Easter shopping! View and shop our Purdy’s fundraiser here. Order deadline is March 19th with orders expected to be ready for pick-up March 31st and the following week in the school office. We greatly appreciate your support! 

 

 

Spring Break Hours: School will be closed on Friday March 10th at 3:30pm and will reopen on Monday March 27th @7:30am

 

Coming Up This Week - Spirit Week All Week

Monday, March 6th

  • ABCD
  • Athletes vs Mathletes dress

Tuesday, March 7th

  • CDBA
  • Country vs country club dress
  • Admin/Counsellor Meeting
  • Evacuation Drill @ 12:30
  • SBT @2:45

Wednesday, March 8th

  • BADC
  • Hero vs villain dress
  • SR Boys Basketball Prov starts at LEC
  • Girls Rugby vs GW Graham @4pm

Thursday, March 9th

  • DCAB
  • Monochrome vs mismatch dress
  • SR boys Prov continue
  • Thrive Leadership meeting
  • SR Boys Rugby @Abby A 4pm

Friday, March 10th

  • CDBA
  • Alpine vs Sunshine dress
  • Sr Boys Prov continue (last day tmw)
  • Tutorial Day