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News from the Nest - Sept26-30

September 23, 2022

Spotlight on Learning:  Feed Back or Feed Forward

Drama, as one could guess, is an exploratory course where Mr. Billo’s does his best to facilitate students putting on minor and major productions.  Throughout the course, once performances start being presented, the question of how to give feedback to students comes to the fore front. Feedback is an integral part of learning and is also one of the curricular competencies throughout Drama 9-12. But why is the feedback important in drama, and how best to implement and structure it.

As drama skill grows with experience and knowledge, learning to give and take feedback becomes increasingly important. Learning to watch with a critical eye helps us decipher what thigs work or do not work in a scene setting.

But structuring the feedback takes instruction and reminders. Students do not inherently give useful feedback, and they also (for the most part) do not want to make anyone feed bad, so they say things like 'I liked it", or "it was good". But even though those two comments lean positive, they do not really help with performers trying to understand what worked and what did not. Mr. Billo’s stresses that the comments need to be specific, and all comments need to lead with something that worked before giving a critique or asking for clarification. Rather than feedback, a better term may be feed forward so that students us the information in the next iteration of their performance.

Feedback needs to be honest, but also compassionate. Finding what made a play good or great is sometimes harder to define than pointing out some technical faults. But by watching with a critical eye and giving responsible feedback as well as taking it (feed forward), is all part of the dramatic learning process.

CheckMyProgress is NOW MyGradebook

Parent and students, we have moved our gradebook from CheckMyProgress to MyGradebook in MyED BC Family Portal. The portal will include the following information:

  • Student schedules (timetable)
  • School information
  • Contact information (ensure your email address is correct)
  • Some classroom assessment information
  • Published report cards
  • Class attendance information (updated at 3pm daily)
  • Student course request for next year
  • Teacher assignments and grades (if your teacher is using the Gradebook)

 

Parent(s) you can access the portal with your child’s pupil number (on their school ID) which is their user name and then your child’s password – every child created their own password. If they have forgotten their password, please use this link for supporting documents:  https://wjmouat.abbyschools.ca/MyED/password

In order to support parents and students in understanding the new layout and a wealth of different functions available to see how your child is doing in their classes we’ve included a video – please check it out at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkiGmnsCmo8

In addition, we will be running a parent workshop in early October - stay tuned!

National Truth and Reconciliation Week at Mouat

Next week is National Truth and Reconciliation week. Thrive Leadership invites Mouat to walk with us on the path towards truth and reconciliation. We will be hosting three days of events, kicking off with Fishy Business Monday, The Tea on Treaties Tuesday, and Wednesday we invite everyone to wear your orange shirt for Orange Shirt Day.

  • Monday: Sept 26
    • Did you know we are in the Dog Salmon Moon? The last moon of the Sto: lo year is - dog salmon time happening now. For today’s learning Thrive Leadership is hosting Fishy Business in the Cafeteria at lunch where we will play a fun fishing game and you can try some candied salmon.
    • Fishy Business in the Cafeteria at lunch
    • Info about the Dog Salmon Moon, and fish in the Indigenous community
    • Magnetic fishing game to win a prize
    • Try some candied salmon with cream cheese on a cracker
  • Tuesday: Sept 27
    • Do you know what a Treaty is? Today Thrive Leadership will spill the tea on Treaties and serving tea for you and your friends. Join us in front of room 150, the Thrive room for some tea and learn a little about Canadian Treaties with a school wide Kahoot.
    • Tea on Treaties
    • serving tea for you and your friends at lunch time in front of Thrive, room 150
      • learn a little about Canadian Treaties with a school wide Kahoot.
  • Wednesday: Sept 28
    • Orange Shirt Day honours residential school survivors and provides an opportunity to remember the children who did not survive. Every September 30th people across Canada wear orange shirts as part of their act of reconciliation, remembrance, and recognition. Thrive leadership invites everyone to wear your Orange Shirt to show your support.
    • Thrive leadership invites everyone to wear your Orange Shirt to show your support
    • We will have a table by the front door with info about orange shirt day
    • We will also be sending out info to all the teachers about Orange Shirt Day

Self-Care:  SUNSETS

This week’s self-care tip is about: SUNSETS 

Studies show that taking the time to experience natural beauty, such as a sunset, can make you feel better, increase your generosity, and enhance your life satisfaction. It is about dropping all you are doing and appreciating the beauty of the moment. So, take that time today to appreciate the beauty of nature and if you can, watch a sunset, look at the trees and the sky, listen to the wind and really pay attention to what you see, hear, and feel.

 

CHARACTER WORD OF THE WEEK:  TEAMWORK

I will be a better student if I act on the following beliefs:

  • Working productively with others, as being part of a team or group, will allow me to accomplish more than I could alone.
  • I should work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams.
  • I must exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal.
  • I need to assume shared responsibility for collaborative work and value the individual contributions made by each team member.
  • It is important to demonstrate the ability and willingness to pursue common goals as part of a team, constructively participate in cooperative learning, and communicate effectively with people who have diverse styles, views, and backgrounds. 

HYDRATE FOR GOOD HEALTH!

Did you know that water is essential to maintain a normal body temperature, to cushion your joints and to help remove waste and other toxins from the body? Additionally, dehydration stresses the body and can increase feelings of depression and anxiety. SO, DRINK YOUR WATER TO FEEL BETTER BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSCALLY. It is recommended that we drink at least half our body weight in pounds in ounces of water each day.

Thank you to Ripples for donating two water dispensers and ten water jugs for us for the month of September.

September PAC Meeting 

Mouat PAC welcomes all parents and guardians this Monday, September 26th to our first PAC meeting of the school year at 7pm in the Mouat Library Learning Commons. PAC meetings are a great place for parents to meet other parents and learn about past and future events at our school. We hope to see you there!

District PAC – ALL SCHOOL TRUSTEE CANDIDATE FORUM

Join the Abbotsford District Parent Advisory Council as they host a School Trustee Candidates Forum.

Date: October 3, 2022
Time: 7 pm | Doors open at 6:30 pm
Where: Abbotsford Arts Centre (2329 Crescent Way)

School Trustee Candidates will answer questions and reveal how they will support all our youth in the district. This is an opportunity for the public to hear from all candidates vying for the seven seats on the Abbotsford Board of Education.

If you have questions that you would like to ask the Candidates please email dpac.sd34@gmail.com by September 26th.

Missed Photo Day?

Final photo day is available to students who were absent during the first session or those that need a retake.  Students must register through the online portal that can be found here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/2022WJM_Final_Photo_Day_Sign-up

Calendar

  • Monday, September 26
    • ABCD
    • Self-Care Monday – Sunsets
    • Fishy Business Monday
    • Sr. Girls Volleyball
    • PAC Mtg. 7pm Learning Commons
  • Tuesday, September 27
    • CDBA
    • Fire Drill
    • The Tea on Treaties Tuesday
    • Cross Country Meet @ Clearbrook Park
    • Grad Cruise @ 4pm Departure
  • Wednesday, September 28
    • BADC
    • Orange Shirt Day
    • Gr 9 G Volleyball @ SJB
    • Juniors @ Home
    • Sr. Girls Volleyball
    • Jr. Football @ Holy Cross
  • Thursday, September 29
    • No School
    • PD Day – Walking Forward Together
    • Sr. Girls Volleyball Tournament @ 3pm
  • Friday, September 30
    • No School
    • National Truth and Reconciliation Day