This week seemed like an exceptionally busy week.  Here are our highlights:

1. Friday was our 1st ever MACC Clubs Day, where students from all three MACC locations were able to sign up for workshop for the day.  Options included: Chemistry of Baking, Authorship, Mask Making, Rock School @ Terry Fox Secondary, Sports Day @ Club Aviva and Cliffhanger, Geocaching, Drawing with Light (photography) and Building Motors.  Students will post about their experience, as well as some photos shortly.
2. Tammy Stauffer (alum from Monty & PMSS) stopped by to talk with students on Wednesday about her experiences qualifying for the Olympic Games and then not competing because of an injury and how she ended up working for Cirque du Soliel as an acrobat.  She shared some strategies she used as a kinesthetic learner and how she has been resilient in the face of setbacks. 
3. Grade 6’s have continued to work on their final task for the Empires Project, while many of the Grade 7’s wrote the FSA.  We’ll  be sharing some samples of the Empires Projects here later in the week.
4. The Grade 6/7’s have started a new LA unit on Poetry, while the Grade 8’s continue to work on their Classic Literature Circle and Speeches.  The Poetry unit started with a pre-test to assess what students knew about poetry and literary terms.  Students who demonstrated significant prior knowledge will have the opportunity for more advanced assignments and projects that will challenge students.
5. All grade 6/7 students are completing a short in class assignment creating literary term posters.  Students were paired with a partner(s) that they have likely not worked with this year.  The posters will be completed on Monday.
6. Extra-curricular activities continue at Hillcrest… currently students are able to participate in Ski & Snowboard Club, Wrestling team, Basketball teams, Table Tennis Club, Drama Club and Me to We Club.
7. The MACC Classes sold Candy Grams (to be delivered on Valentines Day).  We sold over 225 candy grams.  Student have been assembling them and will deliver next Tuesday.
8. The Aboriginal Youth Worker that supports Hillcrest has started a Culture Club on Fridays at lunch.  All students are welcome to participate.  This week, I heard there was bannock and hope to hear more details from the students soon.
9. Mr. Aitken, our school counselor, has been having ‘class meetings’ with the grade 6’s to give them a chance to check in about their transition to middle school and MACC.  He’ll continue to meet with the grade 6’s once a week until Spring Break.
10. Reminder – that next Friday is a Professional Development Day, students will not be in session.