Images of Bear Beach

Here are a few pictures of our trip to Bear Beach. In class (and hopefully at home too) students are developing their civilizations and posting to the class wiki, found at http://mbarwin.wikispaces.com/project/list Explore the projects to see what they have come up with. YOver the next weeks students will also have to comment on others' projects. You can also click on "Join this wiki" to join in the discussion. Students must post their work by next Sunday night.

Using the wiki is an experiment for me, but it could be a useful tool for projects, information sharing and other collaborations.

The Bear Beach trip was the first step in our Grade 8 Rite of Passage. More on this over the next few weeks.

We have a few other routines that you should know about. Every week we are working on a group of French verbs. This week it is -ER verbs that use ETRE as an auxiliary (Monter/Tomber). We practice in class and there is a quiz on different tenses at the end of each week. Every two weeks students are handing in a Signet, a bookmark with daily comments on what they are reading in French. The next one is to be handed in on Thursday. Finally, each month they are completing a Lexique, a list of 50 new French words. The first is due next Monday the 24th.

As you are aware, Parent-Teacher meetings have been cancelled due to job action. If you have any concerns please send me a note and I will of course let you know if there are any serious issues with your child. There will also not be any report cards this term if the job action continues, but rest assured teachers are keeping track of marks and progress. I will conference with students at report time to let them know their marks and ways to support their learning.