A
lovely rainy Saturday for us all. A good day to be catching up on
reading, working on the research project, or making a hydraulic or
pneumatic machine if you happen to be a student in Div 16!
I had a good Pro-D day yesterday reading up on self-regulation. Last weekend I attended the Victoria PAC conference and had the opportunity to see Dr. Stuart Shanker, and developmental psychologist at York University and expert in the field. Basically the idea is that children (and adults) can be taught how to and master their ability to stay focused and alert, by managing their environment, their emotions, their behavior and their thinking. We talked about this is Advisory last week and have started to modify the classroom environment to limit the "stresses," those things that take up our energy and distract us from learning and working on the task at hand. Read more here or Google Stuart Shanker.
I had a good Pro-D day yesterday reading up on self-regulation. Last weekend I attended the Victoria PAC conference and had the opportunity to see Dr. Stuart Shanker, and developmental psychologist at York University and expert in the field. Basically the idea is that children (and adults) can be taught how to and master their ability to stay focused and alert, by managing their environment, their emotions, their behavior and their thinking. We talked about this is Advisory last week and have started to modify the classroom environment to limit the "stresses," those things that take up our energy and distract us from learning and working on the task at hand. Read more here or Google Stuart Shanker.
This week is the week to complete student transfers if your child is not attending their family high school. This applies to you if your child is planning to attend Oak Bay and they did not go to Margaret Jenkins, if they are planning to go to Vic High and they did not attend SJD, South Park, James Bay or George Jay, as well as if they are going to another school and they did not attend an elementary school in the family. Students going to a District program such as Flex, Challenge, or the Soccer Academy do not need to complete a transfer form. Details and forms can be found on the district website or here.
On Tuesday Central's Grade 8s (and some 7s) will be walking to Oak Bay High to attend their dress rehearsal of Oklahoma! We will be leaving Central at 11:15 and returning at 2:45. We will be eating lunch at Oak Bay. If you are available, please join us for the walk and the musical. Note also that students can only be dismissed from Oak Bay into the care of a parent.
Our research project continues. Chapter 3 is due by Monday, February 27th. This section presents the research, in written or another form (video, portfolio, recordings, interview transcripts, etc). Everyone does need to write a 1-2 page summary of their findings, even if they do present their research in an alternate format. Again, criteria can be found at http://huitpas.wikispaces.com/telecharger
Finally, after three weeks with the daily feedback (yellow or blue) cards, students are more focused and are speaking French more consistently. I am insisting on a few students continuing with the cards, and I am pleased that many others have asked if they can continue - self-regulation in action! If you have not seen or signed cards, please ask for them, check for missing work and discuss work habits.
