Fin d'octobre

We are getting into the busiest part of the term. The Bear Beach project is over and in November we will be embarking on an early Middle Ages project, in which students will be researching a world civilization and then playing a game with Mme Balabuch and Mr Owen's Socials classes to learn how cultures interact. In French we will be continuing to work on grammar and verbs as well as developing media literacy - what are the messages and biases on t.v., films, music and in the press? We have also begun to learn about rites of passages and will begin our own grade 8 'Rite of Passage,' starting with an interview with someone in the community who might help them understand their life path.

There is a lot happening at school this week:

• Monday is the Halloween Dance, with proceeds going to the Mustard Seed Food Bank.
• Tuesday we are going skating for the afternoon with the Scorpions team (M Levesque, Mme O'Connor, Mme Brault and Mme Balabuch). If you are free please join us to help supervise. If you have not yet sent in the permission form or the $17.50 for field trips, I need to receive it by Tuesday morning or your son/daughter will have to stay at school. Students with significant outstanding work will also be staying at school (and missing the dance) to complete their work.
  
• Wednesday to Friday I will be away at a training session with the GVTA (Greater Victoria Teacher's Association) and then attending and presenting at the ACPI (Association Canadienne des Professeurs d'Immersion) Conference. I am looking forward to bringing back lots of good ideas to the class.
• Thursday there will be an assembly on internet safety (Facebook and other sites) for students during the day, and for parents in the evening
• Friday, Education Minister George Abbott and a slew of trustees, local and provincial politicians will be at Central to officially open the school at another assembly.
  
• Friday there will also be a Social Studies test and students will need to hand in their duotangs with all the work covered in the unit. I will give them a checklist on Monday and missing handouts can be downloaded and completed at www.mbarwin.wikispaces.com/Civilisations  . Their next "signet" book report is also due on Friday.

The following week we will have the Radio Radio concert, a Remembrance Day Assembly, and Friday is a statutory holiday.

As teachers will not be writing report cards this term, I have been meeting with students to tell them their marks, their strengths and how to improve in French, Science and Socials. I hope to send you all emails with updates later in the month, and you are always welcome to email, phone or make an appointment to come in to see me.