Hi Everyone. Seriously… how do we only have two weeks of classes left? I thought it was still September.

With such short time left it is absolutely imperative that students get caught up on any outstanding assignments and prepare themselves for exams and culminating assignments. Here’s a run-down of what’s happening between now and the end of the semester:

ENG 1D – Grade 9 English: The students are wrapping up their “Merchant of Venice” literary essays. Rough copies are due this Thursday, June 12. Final copies are due Thursday, June 19. We will do some peer review and then students will complete a self-assessment.

ENG 4C – Grade 12 English: The class is wrapping up course material by finishing a Dystopian Film Review and other outstanding assignments. This week, most students will be assisting with graduation ceremony set-up, too.

NBV 3E – Grade 11 Aboriginal Beliefs and Values: Students in the class are working on their course culminating assignment and any other outstanding work that needs to be completed. There are several students in class who are at-risk in class so it is important that all students see me for updates.

The Graduation Ceremony is this Friday, June 13 at 7PM. Please come and celebrate the success of our students!

Yup, it’s the last week of May. A few posts before I promised that Spring was around the corner. I forgot that Greenstone’s Spring usually lasts a day. One Friday it snowed and a week later, it was 24C. Unbelievable. We are getting close to crunch time in class as we wrap up final units. Students received a progress report last Friday so if you didn’t see it, let me know and I can provide a mark update.

Also of note, the Whale Cove, Nunavut hockey trip documentary, “Home and Really Far Away” has been released and is available online. You can watch it here:

Here’s what’s happening in class this week:

ENG1D Grade 9 English has just completed reading “The Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare. Students did an awesome job reading, understanding, and interpreting the play. Tomorrow students will write a short unit test. On Wednesday, the final essay assignment will be introduced, and on Thursday and Friday students will view a film adaptation of the play.

ENG4C Grade 12 English are a third of the way through George Orwell’s 1984. Students are beginning to see the relevance of the novel’s themes and warnings about government intervention and our loss of privacy. We will continue moving through the novel in the coming weeks.

NBV3E – Grade 11 Aboriginal Beliefs and Values have completed the unit on Aboriginal Sovereignty. This week students will begin examining some of the challenges First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people face before beginning their final culminating course project.

As always, if you have any comments or questions, please let me know. Have a wonderful week!

There are only 4 weeks of class left before exams begin. That is craziness. Time flies when you’re having fun, I guess. There’s also open water on most likes and walleye season has begun! There are still a few things left to cover in class before it’s completely summer, though.

First, Progress Reports will be prepared for students on Friday, May 23. These reports will indicate the current mark and provide a list of any outstanding assignments. It is important for at-risk students to make appointments to see me to discuss options.

Second, final course projects and culminating tasks will begin soon. This is especially important for NBV3E as there is no exam.

Finally, here’s an update for this week:

ENG1D Grade 9 English students have read “The Merchant of Venice” up to the end of Act 3. Students will take time tomorrow to complete outstanding comprehension questions and begin a short writing assignment. Students will work to complete the play next week.

ENG4C Grade 12 English students are well into 1984. Students will focus on aspects of socialism and communism this week and make connections with the novel’s protagonist and antagonist. Students need to ensure they participate in class discussions to ensure an understanding of this challenging novel.

English students are reminded to use online resources to help with their assignments.

NBV3E Grade 11 Aboriginal Beliefs & Values students have completed some work about treaties and sovereignty. Students will spend some time talking about the Indian Act this week. Next week, we will begin our final short unit on Overcoming Challenges.

Thanks once again and have a great week, everyone! Remember to email me if you need help with an assignment or would like information!