I watched an episode on TV Ontario’s ‘The Agenda’ about racial issues in Thunder Bay. The program featured Principal Jonathon Kagagemic of Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay. This school serves students from remote First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario. Sadly, the school has also had to deal with its fair share of traumatic experiences.
The episode made me think of a documentary I watched a few years ago about the struggles at DFC. CBC’s ‘Fifth Estate’ produced an episode, ‘Stories From the River’s Edge’, a few years ago, that focused on the sad issue of multiple student deaths. We screened the episode in class today and it was very sombre. Here’s the episode:
We are coming to the tail-end of the Identity Unit in NBV3E – Aboriginal Beliefs, Values & Aspirations. This picture is of some of the identity posters that students created, which represent their personalities, interests, and words that connect with them. They look really cool and some of the statements are pretty deep. Thanks to the class for providing me with something to hide my ugly (green) blackboards!
Students are also putting finishing touches on their Aboriginal Creation Stories, which are designed to be children’s story books focusing on how something in our world came to be. The ones that have been handed in so far are awesome.
Hey everyone! Here’s a quick update for this week in class:
AVI3O Grade 11 Visual Arts: We’ve been doing a great deal of practicing with portraiture and sketching. Students are working with the parts of the face and still developing an understanding of shading and positioning. Some students are grasping these concepts faster than others. Practice helps make it easier – that’s why students have sketchbooks!
This video might help those who are struggling:
ENG1D Grade 9 English: We are a week into the Short Story unit. Students have done a little bit of writing, which has guided our learning about grammar. Students will be spending time developing an understanding of commas, punctuating dialogue, and formatting sentences as we move through the unit.
A short story extension assignment was handed out today, focusing on the story “Priscilla and the Wimps”. You can see the assignment by clicking right here!.
NBV3E Grade 11 Aboriginal Beliefs & Values: Our class has talked a bit about Creation Stories and their purpose, (which is to explain how the world began and why things are the way they are – as well as to entertain). Students are now choosing a creation story – or creating their own – and creating children’s books. The assignment is available to see by clicking here, if you’d like to take a look.
Numerous resources can be found online if one searches for ‘Aboriginal Creation Stories’.
FINAL UPDATE:
Progress Reports will be provided to students next Monday, March 9. These reports will give an indication of how each student is doing in class with regards to handing in work, understanding course material, and showing that understanding in class.
A Parents’ Night is also scheduled for Tuesday, March 10. Let me know if you’d like an appointment!
