Week 2 has flown by with the weather of the summer. We’ve spent some extra time outside this week and have taken advantage of the sun.

1. We had our picture taken and the order forms will be coming out shortly.

2. We are continuing to work on the school wide read “Between Heaven and Earth” by Eric Walters.  At the beginning of the book, the cousins family tree is outlined.  We have started to work on drawing our family trees.  Some of us are interviewing our parents, aunts & uncles, and grandparents to find out who is in our extended families and where they were born.

3. We also have been reading about the Grandpa’s time in Eastern Africa and his adventures flying through the Rift Valley.  We have been learning about the landforms, elevation, natural resources and political boundaries as we work on our maps of Eastern Africa.

4. In Home Ec, we made French toast!  It was great. ” it was a great way to express your true self into presentation! First we made the batter and dunked the French bread lightly and friend on a electric frying pan. After they were thoroughly cooked we placed them on plates and covered them with peaches, strawberries, blueberries, whipped cream, syrup, powdered sugar. We brought in all the fruit and whipped cream and we set up place mats and drinks and we enjoyed our school-cooked meal!” said some enthusiastic students.

5. “A whole bunch of clubs started up this week, such as: swim team, volley ball, the triathalon and soccer clubs! We are so exited to participate in these fun activities! Last year Hillcrest did great at the triathlon so we are hoping to do just as well if not better this year!” said two grade 7’s.

6 Advanced Band has started. “Mrs. Gallelo is already reminding us about our posture.  We started 4 pieces already.  Some of them will be for Remembrance Day and some will be for later in the year. We are still getting used to waking up early again.”

7. We have also continued to work on building our learner profiles.  We have taken an executive function survey, a multiple intelligence survey and a kid’s version of a Myers-Briggs type survey.  We will be spending the next several weeks learning about the results and how we can learn about ourselves as learners.

8. We have been outside all week for PE and have been enjoying the time to get to know each other.

9. Today we had our 3rd Annual MACC BBQ.  It was initially started to allow parents to opportunity to meet other parents and some of the new friends their child had made, and arrange carpools.  We over 40 parents join us this year and many hot dogs were had by all.

10. We are looking forward to seeing families and meeting more parents at the Open House coming up on September 19th!