Pro-D day Monday March 22nd

It's been quite a day!

I started out for Pemberton at 7:15a.m. and made good time to Pemberton Secondary- of course, it is always nice to travel and chat on the way up and back. We stopped for a bit in Whistler to grab a coffee and see the dismantling of all the Olympic and Paralympic venues (sad!).

The keynote was Gordon Neufeld PhD (UBC Clinical and Developmental Psychologist- http://www.gordonNeufeld.com/) He is the co-author with Dr. Gabor Mate of a very interesting book for parents and teachers called Hold onto Your Kids: Why Parents Matter (2004).
It's definitely worth a read.

A few summers ago I completed a week-long seminar with Dr Neufeld and ,believe me, his hour today was no where near long enough to do his research and theories justice. Sometimes there is just too much information!!
Today's session was mainly focussed on the power of attachment in the education system (teachers to students). While I do find his work fascinating and in some ways intuitive, I always feel inadequate and feel a bit depressed when I consider all the inadequacies of the current education system!!
I could have joined his session after the keynote but had signed up to develop my brain with Terry Small. My brain wants to burst.!! He (Terry) has some fascinating brain research and strategies on how to use our brains to a greater capacity and how to develop awareness among our students. But my brain was tired- I needed more coffee.

After getting home. I finished proof-reading the report cards for Term 2. I'll put them into Mrs. Paxton for her perusal tomorrow.
I am very proud of the reports this term. The students have done very well and I have been both fair and candid in my assessment and comments (if I do say so myself)!!

I am happy to report (the students don't even know this yet!!) the last spelling unit 20 was one of the best the students have done this year. The average mark (22 words) was 19 (86% an A). Of the 21 students who did the test last Thrsday 17 of them achieved 86% or above and 8 students achieved 100%. Impressive stuff. [8 were absent]

Anyway- I've got to go- heads up that soon the camp paperwork, commitment forms and fundraising ventures will be finding their way home- the papers are ready (I have been working on those too) and I am just waiting for permission to go ahead and will provide more details asap. Reminder of the Garage Sale Saturday March 27th - a letter will be coming home tomorrow. Got stuff? I want it!!
Mrs. J.

P.S. We had a blast at the sledge hockey game on Friday. I was very grateful to my colleagues and the parents who volunteered their time to attend and make it a successful fieldtrip. The students were awesome :) Thanks everyone- I couldn't have done it without everyone's positive participation (((hugs)))