Report Cards

Report cards went out on SchoolZone on Friday, March 23, 2014.

Now that they are available exclusively online, it seems that it is not such an important occasion anymore.  I have always said to my students that they should not be scared of a report card.  It is merely a document that indicates how well you are doing at this point in time.  It may also tell you what you need to improve on for next term.

I hope that students and their parents are sitting down together to view the report card.  Do not just look at the letter grade.  The effort you put in is equally important.  If you are getting a "Satisfactory" effort, what could you do to make that an "Excellent" effort?  Also, it's important to read the comments I wrote for you.  Each comment was written specifically to praise you or to give you suggestions to help you become a better student.

I hear that some students are getting "paid" for As.  This practice makes me a tad uneasy.  What if there's never a chance that you're going to get an A, even though you're trying your best?  You may be setting yourself up for failure.  Isn't it better to see if you've improved from term to term?  What about taking a look at your effort mark?  Does your teacher think that you are trying your best?

As stated above, you should not be scared to look at your report card.  If you've listened to my feedback in class and looked at your results on tests and quizzes, you can probably pre-determine what marks you're going to receive.

What do you think of report cards?  How did you do this term?  Does your family have an agreement about getting rewarded for grades?

~The BIG HAM
SUBSTITUTE BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Today is St. Patrick's Day! Are You Wearing Green?

St. Patrick's Day celebrates a courageous man named Patrick who travelled to Ireland 1700 years ago to bring Christianity to the Irish people.  He was courageous because the Irish people had a reputation for being cruel to people they didn't like.  Patrick knew this first-hand, because he was kidnapped by Irish sailors when he was a teenager from his home in Britain. Patrick worked as a slave for 4 years in Ireland before he escaped and made his way back to Britain.  Once Patrick became an adult, he chose to return to Ireland to teach them about Christianity.  Would you go back to help the people who kidnapped you?

Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world.  For many people, it is an excuse to drink alcohol and party.  For others, it is a day where you pinch people who aren't wearing green.  Some people build leprechaun traps in hopes of getting a leprechaun to give you his gold.  Others talk in Irish accents for fun (top 'o' the mornin' to ya!), and some people eat green food  (like eating green oatmeal!).

I'm celebrating St. Patrick's Day by wearing green.  I think I'll have broccoli with supper, too.   What about you?  How are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day?  Did you wear green?  Is your family doing anything special to mark the day?  

~The Jay Bird

GUEST BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Snow Valley: Annual Ski & Snowboard Field Trip

Last Friday all the students from Grades 1 to 6 went to Snow Valley for our annual ski and snowboard field trip.  This day is one that many students look forward to as it is a time to hang out with their friends and practice their skills.  The weather was pretty good this time around.  Our students are very fortunate because this ski trip is completely free of charge.  Thankfully, one of our student's parents (waspy's mom), volunteered to coordinate the paperwork in order to allow the school to go.  We must remember to thank her.

The students get a choice of whether to ski or snowboard.  This year I think most of the students in our class chose skiing.  There were a couple of people that chose snowboarding.  Since it was the first time for many of the kids to do this kind of activity, it was a good choice for them to choose skiing.

This trip was my fifth time trying snowboarding.  I was much better at it this year than in years past.  For whatever reason, it was a lot easier getting up from falling this year.  I think it's because I'm stronger from doing Crossfit plus I figured out how to do it more easily from watching everybody else.

One of my favourite things to do on the ski trip is sitting with the other adults and just chatting over lunch.  Also, ordering from the concession stand is another treat I look forward to.

How was your ski trip this year?  Did you ski or snowboard and explain why you chose that activity.  Give me your thoughts about our annual trip.

~The BIG HAM
SUBSTITUTE BLOGGER OF THE WEEK

Bracelets

Bracelets are pieces of jewelry you wear on your wrist.  Both males and females can wear them.  People wear bracelets to look nice.  Bracelets come in many different ways.  There are charm bracelets, I.D. bracelets, elastic band bracelets and a whole bunch of others.

I think girls like to have one because they are so beautiful.  I have five or six of them.  They are so beautiful.  My favourite bracelet is my charm bracelet.  A charm bracelet is a piece of metal you wear around your wrist.  You can add any charm on them such as a flip flop or sandal or a butterfly like the one I have.

I would wear it to school but my dad said no taking all bracelets to school because you might lose all them or someone might try to take it because they are so beautiful.   But he said I can take two of them to school so I did. 

My cousin bought me a charm bracelet for my birthday.

Do you have one? What kind is it? How many do you have? Do you wear it all the time?

~cookie pie