By Rex C. June 22, 2012. Coquitlam. Some experiences are personal.

ANOTHER YEAR IN MACC @ HILLCREST! 2011-2012

This school year has indeed proved quite eventful. We saw more fun, more development, more variety, and more learning. Here are some of the memorable moments:

• THE FIRST TESTS: We started off with quite a few tests. But once we got through Math and French tests, it was as wonderful as could be!
• EXPLORATIONS: We had much fun cooking simple meals, sewing simple projects, building computer models with Google SketchUp ^TM, making a key couch with wood, making music videos, using the mixing software Mixcraft ^TM, doing various drawing exercises, and even making our own clay ‘kimono’, having it fired, then painting it!
• MATH: Independency proved to be quite effective for learning.
• FRENCH: Themes explored in Advanced French include basic vocabulary, family, food, verbs, tenses, Halloween, and more.
• HCE: The Friends for Life program is an anxiety prevention and resiliency skill-building program. Teachers are Ms Abbot and Ms Brochu.
• SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT: Everyone had great ideas for a clean, productive future.
• SWIM: Blue Team went to Spani Pool for a while. Unfortunately, this time of year proved to be quite (too?) rainy.
• PRO-D AND I-DAYS: The first one: yay! Second: boring!
• TERRY FOX RUN: We had a good run in Mundy Park while fundraising for a great cause: cancer research!
• UH, SHOTS. Some of us had the fortune to escape the deadly sharp points of needles.
• HIGHLANDER GAMES: Many had a lot of fun trying out the various different activities hosted by the school. There was even a “javelin” tournament!
• JESSE MILLER came and talked to us about the risks of social networking and how to keep you safe.
• HALLOWEEN… Many attempted building a ‘haunted house’ out of used material.
• CURLING: MACC classes headed to the Sports Complex/Library for a few fun mornings of trying curling out and silent reading/resting at the library.
• BILLY THE KID: This inspirational singer/songwriter/many other professions, Ms Abbot’s high school classmate, came in to talk to us about her career.
• MATH ON THE MOUNTAIN: I was the only one at this fun, educational event exploring the wonders of mathematics. There weren’t enough drivers for everyone else. Also see https://adventuresinmacc.edublogs.org/2012/02/14/middle-magnet-math-on-the-mountain/
• DR. MACDONALD: A brilliant neurologist came in to talk to us about his research, some of the interesting things about neurology, some common myths and misconceptions, and even an actual brain that had been donated to science by an elderly gentleman.
• YAY! NO REPORT CARDS: Due to JOB ACTION.
• WINTER BREAK!!! Some time off…
• SNOWSHOEING & TUBING @ CYPRUS MOUNTAIN: A fun day was spent at Cyprus Mountain. With LOTS of snow, snowshoeing through trails in the heart of the forest and cascading down a slope in a tube became more enjoyable.
• EMPIRES: We studied ancient civilizations and did a series of out-of-the-box projects on the great empires that once ruled the world. Some of my ones are investigating the sustainability of the Chinese language, recreating the Roman Basilica of Maxentius in SketchUp, comparing the Chinese Yen with the Greek drachma, and exploring the early achievements in space exploration.
• PE: Highlights include table tennis, basketball, kickball, scooter soccer, and more.
• CLUBS DAY: There were all sorts of sessions for MACC students from different schools. It was enjoyable for me to take a morning stroll in Mundy Park, looking at the biodiversity. I also went to an afternoon session in which a MACC teacher/author from Citadel discussed the things that make a novel great (or even better).
• ROMEO AND JULIET: The school was delighted by this hilarious live production of the classic play. There was a happy ending, too.
• INSPIRATION GARDEN: Down by the Cultural Centre, we had much fun learning about gardening, farming, sustainable eating, sustainable garden/farming, as well as planting greens and harvesting.
• EMINENT PEOPLE DINNER PARTY PROJECT: We started off with 10 bios about eminent people from different times and places as well as their unique achievements. Then, it was an in-depth bio about one of the people (mine was Rembrant Harmenszoon van Rijn a.k.a. Rembrandt) and the final bit (dressing up, presenting our work, and having a pasta lunch party) was the best.
• SPRING BREAK: Highlights of mine included an extra 2 days off and visiting my relatives in Taiwan.
• A MIDNIGHT SUMMER’S DREAM: A more classic performance of Shakespeare’s play.
• CONTAINERS FOR CHARACTERS: We read a selection of novels (half of them by Carl Hiaasen) and recognized the leadership qualities of the main characters as well as some of our own. Used containers were used for the display.
• SCIENCE ROTATIONS: We in groups explored different ways of generating energy and reflected on the pros and cons of each. Energies explored included solar, wind, hydro, biodiesel, fossil fuel, and nuclear.
• GATEWAY COMMUNITIES PROJECT: Then we looked at the Northern Gateway pipeline, which is to be built by nasty oil company Enbridge. We examined the pros and cons and even had a mock ‘National Energy Board Review’ with representatives from each ‘community’ (I was one of the two for Kitimat, BC) presenting what they think about the pipeline and its impacts on the community. I liked the final decision: NO.
• THIS BRINGS US TO THE FINAL FEW BITS.
• PASSION PROJECT EXPO: Everyone showcased their marvelous talents. I had a blog with a couple of stories and a couple of illustrations: http://macc11rex.edublogs.org/. It’s about dinosaurs in Spain and the Biblical book of Exodus. I also saw some other cool projects: https://adventuresinmacc.edublogs.org/passion-projects/
• ACTIVITY DAYS: We have been to the Mundy Park field. We will head to Spani Pool next Tuesday. These days are organized by Mr. Foot and Mr. Hewlett.
• SCRAPBOOKING: You are reading the product of this activity.
• CEREMONIES: Graduation and stuff. Wonder how it’ll be?
• SUMMER BREAK! YES! YES! YES!!! FINALLY!!!

So that concludes an exciting year. I hope that next year will be even better, but the future is uncertain…