As many activities start to wrap up for the year, Ms. Abbot and Ms. Moody are delighted to see so many of the students stepping up to take on both leadership and to share their perspectives and opinions.

1. After several weeks of preparation, today we held our MACC Model UN.  12 students from the Charles Best Model UN Club facilitated and supported our classes as they met as the World Health Organization, UN World Tourism Organization, UN HABITAT and UNESCO.  The students represented different countries and debated topics of international migration, access to medicine, sustainable tourism and gender equity in science.  At least two of the committees passed resolutions suggesting solutions to an issue they discussed.

2. We started the week with a WaterWise Wisdom presentation by the Life Saving Society.  The presentation focused on getting properly trained, enjoying boating safely, wearing a life jacket or PFD, and being an environmentally aware boater.  We learned the difference between a PFD and a life jacket.  And we learned that people can get their Pleasure Craft Operators License at 8 years old (although you still need to be 16 years old to operate a motorboat).  How do you prepare to be out on the water?  Complete the safe boaters checklist, share your trip plan with someone, check the weather and dress appropriately, have knowledge about the boat and where you are going, get training.  We got to see a lot of safety equipment including: a air horn, flares, flashlights, sun screen, quick dry clothes, an anchor, a ladder, bailer bucket, a fire extinguisher, paddles, first aid kit and a VHF radio.http://ow.ly/i/2djn7 &  http://ow.ly/i/2djAW & http://ow.ly/i/2djG9

3. Home Ec students have started their sewing projects. The projects are individual and most of them are pillows or stuffies. In Art, students are working with Clay.  “We are building a pencil holder or a totem pole,” students said.

4. This week we said goodbye to Mamedy.  He has been working with us en francais.  We played games and learned new vocabulary.  “He made French more fun, kind of like a game,” students said.  Mamedy is off to explore more of Canada with his brother before returning to France.  Merci! Bon voyages Mamedy.

5. Ms. Moody introduced the second lesson in our Shakespeare unit.  We explored some of the impact Shakespeare has had on our language, common phrases and characterization.  We designed our own Shakespearean words and oxymoron’s.  More to come!

6. Math, math and more math.  The year end cutoff for math tests is rapidly approaching.  Some students will be receiving invitations to join Ms. Abbot for lunch, if they are requiring additional time to complete the learning outcomes for their grade level.

7. Strong Kids this week focused on problem solving.  Students had the chance to role play several situations and try out different solutions.

8. Grade 8’s working on filming the year end LIPDUB.  All the grade 6/7’s watched little bits throughout the morning and look forward to seeing the final edit at the Grade 8 Leaving Ceremony.

9. Wacky Wednesday brought out all the wacky socks.  We had neon and stripes!  We had superheroes with capes!  We had mis-match and fuzzy! We had short ankle socks and we had knee nigh socks.

10. Permission Forms came home this week for all year end field trips.  And a reminder that we’ll be learning on Monday and students are not in session.  Enjoy the Professional Development Day!