One of those days...

Today has been one of those days.  I am still feeling sick with this lingering cold, so I stayed in my pyjamas until 8:15am until I inevitably had to get dressed and ready to come to school.  This morning I had a prep and I was SO hungry that I ate two bags of baked Old Dutch chips and some peanut butter while I did all my prep work for Health 7..... then I realized that I had Health 8 today instead.  Oops!  Then I went home at lunch and stepped in a bunch of water with my socks on, then spilled some grape freezie on my white upholstered kitchen chair.  Yep, definitely one of those days.  (Side note: I just about said to Health 8, "Don't forget to save your work."  They are doing work with pens and paper, and we are NOT in the computer lab.  Oy vey.)

I thought that on "one of those days" it would be a good idea to post some awesome pictures that make me smile.

Potato existentialism

Amen!

Including in my nose and throat.  Still.  After 2 weeks.  BOO!

Now that's my kind of math! 

My mom.  She is a gem! 

Being ridiculous out at Little Red.  Mom grabbed the camera and I struck a pose.

Mother and daughter autumn photo shoot on Sunday afternoon :)

I really want to dress Jennie up when I get home from work.  Backpack and all!

Health 8 Goal Setting Process assignment

Today in Health 8 we had a number of students missing.  This is what we did today: (Once you have notes written down about the Goal Setting Process below, you are asked to think of a goal you have in mind or one that you have already completed, and follow it through the process below)

The Goal Setting Process

Step 1: Identify a Specific Goal and Write It Down

Step 2: List the Steps You Will Take to Reach Your Goal

Step 3: Get Help and Support From Others

Step 4: Identify and Overcome Obstacles

Step 5: Evaluate Your Progress

Step 6: Give Yourself a Reward

For example, I have a goal to complete a half marathon in September 2014.  Going through the goal-setting process with this goal in mind might look something like this:

Step 1: Identify a Specific Goal and Write It Down

I will complete the Queen City Half Marathon (21.1km) in Regina in September 2014

Step 2: List the Steps You Will Take to Reach Your Goal

- Register for the half marathon in January (or February?)
- Check with The Running Room store to ensure I have the correct shoes for long-distance running
- Keep running regularly (at least 3x per week)
- Increase distance in each workout/training session (ie. 10km, then 11km, 12km, etc.)

Step 3: Get Help and Support From Others

- Talk to friends who have run the half marathon before and ask for advice
- Tell the people I love who will be interested in and supportive of my goal so that they can encourage me and keep me motivated
- Run with a friend

Step 4: Identify and Overcome Obstacles

- Cardiovascular endurance (continue to take asthma medication, practice long-distance jogging regularly to improve on cardio endurance)
- Muscular endurance (practice intervals, sprints, etc.)

Step 5: Evaluate Your Progress

- As of today (Sept. 30^th, 2013) I have run 10km on 4 separate occasions
- The furthest I have run in one session is 15.7km (I am 5.4km away from my goal)
- I am challenging myself to run further than I have before

Step 6: Give Yourself a Reward
- New running shoes?
- Road trip?
- New clothing for training?

You will be given time to work on this as well as questions #1-5 on pg. 31 next class period.

Drama 20 monologue "draft" performances

Drama 20 students will begin their "draft" performances of their monologues starting on Wednesday.  Monologues should be well on their way to being memorized by this date.  Students will be adjudicating their classmates performances, and each student will also be on the receiving end of adjudications.  This process is to help students to improve their characterization and delivery for the final performance.

Reminders for Health 7 and 8

I will be collecting homework in Health 7 class tomorrow.  Please be sure to be finished questions #1-6 at the end of Lesson 1 on tobacco (pg. 235 - questions should have been written in your notes last class).  Those who did not finish their "Dear Aunt Kate" letter should ensure that it is handed in tomorrow as well.

Health 8 worked on our "101 Things to Do in the Next 1,001 Days" list today in the computer lab.  Each student should have 50 things on the list at this point.

Updates across the board

Time for the all-class update on Miss Campbell's Corner! (in progress.... check back after school!)

Music 7(1) - Level 1 Band has been working on beginning techniques for their respective instruments.  Today (Friday Sept. 20th) we sight read up to #10 in our books!  Awesome!  I expect everyone to take their instruments home over the weekend and practice before our next rehearsal.  Percussionists can practice on a piano or on a hard cover book/table top with snare sticks (with parental permission only - don't drum on a nice coffee table please!).  See me if you want a pair of snare sticks over the weekend.  Level 1 Band has also begun doing theory work in their binders.

Music 7(2) - Level 2 Band has been working out of the Essential Elements method book, and we've just begun the basic blues "walking bass line" exercise.  Grade 7 Level 2s were given sheet music for Shepherds Hey, a Percy Grainger tune being played in Level 3 Band.

Music 8(2) - Grade 8 Level 2s did Theory today (Fri. Sept. 20th), as we missed our first 2 classes and are playing a bit of catch up.  We are working out of the Essential Elements book and just started basic blues along with the Grade 7s in our band.

Music 8(3) / 9(3) - The 8(3)s are doing Theory in binders, while the 9(3)s are working on their Theory online (we use the portable lab of laptop computers while the 8(3)s are doing binder work).  Level 3 is currently working out of the red Essential Elements method book, and we just started working on Shepherds Hey.  I am loving the sound of this band with a tuba in it (YAY!), and Shepherds Hey is one of my favourite tunes EVER so I'm very happy with this group at the moment! :)

Music 9(4) / Band 10/20/30 - We have been practicing "Da Vinci Sketches" and working on Online theory/binder theory/special projects.  We are all over the place during our theory period, from doing theory in the computer lab to arranging music with Finale, to practicing trumpet duets for Music Festival.  We are a multi-talented bunch in Level 4 Band!

Choral - We handed in "Come Follow Me" as it was not a good fit for our choir.  We sight read "She's Like the Swallow" last class period and it was a wonderful first attempt at a difficult piece of music.  Nicely done boys and girls!

Jazz Choir - "Orange Coloured Sky" is officially memorized.  "Good Morning Heartache" is in the works.  The next 2 Jazz Choir classes will be for determining part assignments for all new singers so that we can begin SSA pieces.

Chamber Choir - My heart exploded on Wednesday when we sang "And So It Goes" in beautiful SSAA a cappella harmony.  You girls are wonderful and beautiful singers!  This piece will be in our repertoire for Variety Night, Music Festival, and a Rivier concert at some point (likely Christmas).

Computers 7 - We are still experiencing difficulties getting all new students logged on.  We began our Microsoft Word timetable assignments but have not been able to continue working on them due to our login/password issues in the computer lab.  These issues will be looked after asap.

IP 10 - We are now working on putting our resume brainstorms into the 3-column format in Microsoft Word.  Please use your tab button and not a table or spaces!

Drama 20 - Monologues should be selected now.  Please print an extra copy so that I can follow along during your performance if necessary.  We have now had 2 classes to select our monologues, and 1 class to start working on memorizing.  Performance dates will be announced at a later time.

Health 7 - Handed in homework ("Dear Aunt Kate" letter, taking a health-based stance to convince a loved one to quit smoking), completed Lesson 1 and assigned questions #1-6 on pg. 235 for homework, due next class (Tues. Sept. 24th - Period 5)

Health 8 - We have been talking about different types of health that can be supported, ie. Physical health, emotional health, mental health, etc.  We have been working in Chapter 2 of Teen Health 3: Skills for a Healthy Life.  We just began our "101 Things to Do in the Next 1,001 Days" goal setting assignment.

IP 10 resumé brainstorm

What do we include in a resume?

·               Name

·               Contact Information

·               Education

·               Work Experience

·               Volunteer Experience

·               Skills and Abilities

·               Availability (schedule) - should go in a cover letter if included at all

·               Awards and Accomplishments

o   Sports, music, Honour Roll, 4H….?

·               Training

o   CPR/First Aid

o   Babysitting Course

o   Lifeguarding

o   Hunter Safety

o   Fire Safety

o   Self-Defense

o   Music

o   Driver Education

·               References (3) - including their name, title, contact info (phone, e-mail)

Welcome back!

We are finished our first week of the 2013-2014 school year at Rivier.  It's awesome to meet all the new students, see how the Bands and Choirs have changed personnel, and to hear the new sounds we will be making this year.  With a new school year I thought it was time for a blog make-over.  I'm still experimenting with it and it will be a work in progress until I get it just right!

Just a reminder for all Band students (gr. 7-12) that your acknowledgment form from the Band Handbook was due on Friday.  I have many of them already handed in to the basket on my desk in 8C or to me personally, and several that I am expecting on Monday.  Don't forget to pack it in your backpack and get it off of your to-do list!

Happy weekend!