The Queen makes an appearance

Over the past couple of days, Queen Y has been showing up to judge the explorer competition (not sure why the King hasn't made an appearance as of yet!). From what I hear, the explorers have been wowing her with their knowledge and talent (baking skills and something about a song and dance?). I have no idea how she is going to choose which explorers to send to the new island! Thank goodness I am not in her shoes!

Yesterday's awesome

Epiphanies

That ah-ha moment when you come to an oh so important realization. AWESOME!

Today's awesome

Super-duper, nothing can go wrong kinda days

Gottta love em! Awesome!

NRC Engineering Challenge!

So today we had our in-school Engineering Challenge. For the past 6 weeks, the grade 6s have been working hard to perfect their designs and presentations for their egg drop. Their egg had to survive a 6 foot drop, roll down a ramp and get as close to the target as possible. It was a very intense competition and every team did amazingly well! I a so proud of all your efforts, especially since you gave up many of your lunches to participate in the challenge. I hope you all found it to be a very valuable experience! I am sure we have some future engineers in our midst! A HUGE thank you to Mr. Dobson, the super engineer who has been coaching us along the way! Also, a HUGE congratulations to the Blazers who won the competition!!! Best of luck at the regional competition on Thursday - to be held at the Science and Tech Museum!!!

Beginning of the week awesome

Sudden death overtime

So intense. Forget what's happened. Winner takes all. AWESOME!

Exciting Project!

Today, with the help of 3 Ottawa U students; Olivia, Natasha and Megan, we unveiled a new and exciting project! Through a fun activity, a beautiful picture book and a captivating video, the students learned all about children's' rights around the world. Every student has been put into a group, and every group will be researching and presenting an organization that helps promote and protect a different right of the child. The group will be preparing a poster as well as an accompanying piece of their choice (Photostory, video, poem, skit, song, etc.) to help promote their chosen right and organization. This info will all be shared during our first ever, Social Justice Fair on March 23! This is a very exciting project and I can't wait to see all the creativity that each group brings to the fair!

Thursday's Awesome

Getting to thank teacher who helped you along the way

So today I got to see a teacher who truly inspired me and helped me become the educator I am today. It's amazing how someone can have such an impact on you even though you are with them for a short period of time. I am thankful for all the amazing teachers Ive had along the way, but I'm even more thankful that I got to let one of them know, years later, how much I appreciated all they did. Truly and totally AWESOME!

Friday's Awesome

Children's Rights

I think that children's rights are by far the most important rights there are. Children need special protection and care and they must be able depend on adults to protect their rights, look after them and help them reach their full potential. The United Nations have ensured this by creating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Together, St. James students will help spread the word about these rights and organizations that protect them. Children spreading the word about this convention? Awesome!

Ash Wednesday

Since today is the first day of Lent, we had our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. As we prepare our hearts for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we should set out specific spiritual goals we would like to reach before Easter and decide how we will pursue them. In their faith journals, each student has thought of a specific goal that they would like to achieve over the next 40 days that will help bring them closer to God (ex: pray every day, give up a favourite luxury, etc.).

We also had our "grad/leaving" photos today. You all looked fantastic! I'm sure those pictures will turn out beautiful and will be a great reminder of the wonderful times you shared at St. James.

Yesterday's awesome

Breakfast for dinner

Cheese pancakes with maple syrup for dinner? Mmmmmmmmmmmm. AWESOME!

Todays' awesome

Divisibilty rules!

So we all know a number is divisible if it can be divided evenly with no remainder, but did you know all about the divisibility rules that can help you figure out if a a number is divisible? Once you learn them, division becomes much easier! Becoming a Math Magician? AWESOME!

Free the Children

Wow! What a busy week we had! I am sure we will be resting this long weekend! On Wednesday, a representative from Free the Children came to explain the organization. We learned how it was started by a 12 year old boy, Craig Kielburger, after he heard the tragic story of Iqbal Masih (yes, our Iqbal!). We learned all about his journey to help children around the world receive an education, have access to clean water, get needed medical care and create a sustainable source of income for their parents. The presentation was inspirational and called us all to take action. To learn more about it and/or the Youth Summit or Take Action summer camps, you can visit:

http://www.freethechildren.com/

Wednesday's Awesome

Student Led Conferences

I was so impressed to see all of you take charge as your parents came to visit our classroom and learn all about the great work you have been doing. You each worked very hard to create a portfolio that was all your own! Awesome!

Thursday's Awesome

Choosing a theme for your baby boy's room

Hello modern robots! Awesome!

Friday's Awesome

Winter Carnival

What's not to love? Fun, games, hot chocolate and my very own students acting as the responsible leaders of the day! Awesome!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, today we finally finished the novel we have been reading for the past little while. Iqbal is the fictional biography of a true hero, Iqbal Masih, a young Pakistani boy who was forced into bonded labour at a very young age. At 10 years old, he escaped the carpet factory he was working at and became an international spokesperson against child labour. Sadly, in 1995, at 12 years years old, he was shot in his hometown. He remains today, an example of courage, leadership and integrity. I think I speak for the entire class when I say how much we enjoyed reading this book and I believe it also helped us hone our inferring skills.


Valentine's Day Awesome

Food shaped in the form of a heart

So pannekoek is pretty great on its own (dutch pancake, covered in this case with smoked salmon, cheese and hollandaise), but it takes on a whole new meaning when it is shaped in the form of a heart. Served on a heart plate too? Who said romance was dead? I think my husband was trying to make up for the door he got me for Valentine's day :) Well, it worked. AWESOME!

Portfolio Prep

The students have been busy preparing for student-led conferences on Wednesday. They have been doing a lot of reflection on their growth and on the goals they still wish to achieve. One thing is for sure, I am very proud of you all for the amazing work you do every day! You never cease to amaze me with your brilliance :)

Today's awesome

Vivid Vocabulary

Oh, how I love words. Short words, long words and those in-between words. There are sole words that are poems without the need for companions. Ravishing, majestic, squeal, not to mention AWESOME!

Friday's awesome

Catching up on a show you've missed

So maybe you've been to busy lately to catch your favourite show. I've seen it happen before. The good news is your reunion will be that much sweeter as you remember how much you've missed it. So give yourself a few minutes to sit down, turn on that TV and get comfortable. You are about to watch an episode of AWESOME!

Thursday's awesome

National Sweater Day

It's about time sweaters got their own day! Your granny works so hard to knit them and they are so recklessly thrown at the bottom of your closet. Well, not today! Today is sweater day, a chance for you to take a stand against global warming by turning down the heat and turning up the sweater. Turning up the sweater? How about turning up the awesome? AWESOME!