Thursday June 17th

It was a bit of a different day!

Homework
same as it has been since Monday this week
I need any assignments students want to be considered in term end assessment by tomorrow- I will be completing term 3 and final grades this weekend
(Big shout out to Wayland for getting a number of MIA assignments in today- knew you could!)
Reminders
UBC form for the Monday survey
DRSS forms for next Thursday
$$ for grad photos

General Day
after announcements this morning the whole school practiced a Code Red Lockdown procedure- It was so peaceful in our class that the students asked if they could stay on the floor (good news was that it was clean first thing in the morning).
So, we had our 'silent reading' session first thing today! Some students read, others did work that needed completion and it was kind of 'sweet' to see a group of five boys pour over a World Cup soccer book that I won from Scholastic books and chat quietly (yes, it is possible) about the World Cup 'footbal' (as we call it in Europe) games thay have been watching.

9:40 was music time with Mrs McPhee

After snack we completed a review 'test' that wasn't set up like a test for Personal Planning. The students had three headings and they had to (in no particular order) communicate what they had learned about the male/female and development of a baby- via point form or sketches or diagrams. We did it in our journals.
I was counting on a half hour or so for tyhat activity BUT the students wrote and sketched so much that it ended up being the best part of an hor. The 10-15 minutes before lunch we talked about what a 'valedictorian' was and who was interested in delivering a speech on behalf of their peers to address parents, teachers and Board memebers at the awards ceremony on Monday June 28th,

Lunch- French skit practice- the girl's wanted to ask Mrs Paxton to see their Chez Chic restaurant francais skit.

Physical Education with Mr.Parker

Chez Chic avec Emily, Sarah and Natalie
The girl's did the best job they could after a rare case of embarrassment overcame them- they performed their skit in French and their peers praised their earnest effort. The script itself was created from scratch and despite some pronunciation errors and faux pas with the props, I was encouraged that they worked so hard on the script, skit and the props were tres bien. Great job girls. Thank-you

That gave the students a wonderful idea (but I hadn't planned on it lasting all afternoon- until dismissal). The students wanted to keep the props up and do some improvisational skits in English- great idea.
It was so much fun that some of us laughed at the sceanrios so hard that when the bell for dismissal rang students groaned!
The students did get a bit loud and needed reminding about being a respectful audience but with the right to pass established we drew three popsicle sticks at a time and set up a server and two students to be restaurant patrons.
I prescribed the scenarios (with student input) ensuring the students were comfortable with them (one scenario that didn't pass the comfort level was 'The proposal'- the students didn't think about different kinds of proposals!). Examples of what did pass: 10 year reunion lunch of two old school friends, business meeting, having dinner with a long lost relative (who has the paperwork to prove it), first date and non English speaking tourists trying to order items they have never heard of (frogs legs anyone?). It was quite hilarious and creative.
Two rules: nothing rude or disrespectful (your grandma must approve) and NO GUNS or physical fighting.
Some servers stole the scene (Roman- was so funny - he played a very eccentric server who was also the manager and had a problematic speaking issue (have you ever watched John Cleese in an old classic British comedy called Faulty Towers?). Zach E, was rather funny as the server who is recognised as a former classmate!
So we enjoyed an hour of improvisational drama and I think it did everyone some good - some students were on the floor laughing and that made it funnier somehow.
As expected the students want to do more.
I would love to do more drama in the last couple of weeks. Just need to re-visit the audience code of conduct.

Dismissal came too fast at 3pm
See everyone for sports day tomorrow- do a sun dance please (GO GREEN)
Mrs. J.