Finish the poem:
'Twas the night before winter, when all through the school
Nothing was happening. The classrooms were cool.
When suddenly, someone appeared in the dark
The lights in the theatre lit up like a spark
Finish the poem! (Follow the rhythm and rhyme scheme.)
Today is the last day for the canned food drive! The food bank can really use CASH! (They have buying power -- so they can use our donations to buy fresh food for those who need it.) Please try to bring a loonie or a toonie for the food drive!
What do you find annoying in the book? A character, a writing style, a description, a situation . . .
We will finish the "show and tell" speeches today. Remember, if you don't feel happy with how things go, you can always do it again in PLT.
I didn't assign the reading for yesterday, so please do it today.
You should be working on your poetry project.
Choose one article from Dreaming in Indian. Read it and write about it. You can describe it, say what it is about, argue with its points, write something in the same style, whatever you like. Your response should be about a paragraph (5 sentences) or, if you choose to draw a picture, it should demonstrate some effort.
Reading Log: What would one character in the book do their show and tell about?
English 8:
Dreaming in Indian
What do you think of the title?
Read "Hey, Mr. GQ" (on page 54). What story does Christian Allaire tell us? Is it wrong to wear clothing from another person's culture? Explain your answer. How did Christian's style evolve?
How has your sense of style evolved? (what did you use to wear? what do you wear now?)
How do you express yourself in your clothes?
What does the saying "clothes make the man" mean?
Reading Log: Write about the role of nature in your book.
Drama 8:
How is your group doing? Who is the leader? Explain how you know. Is anyone holding the group back? Describe how, if that is happening. What have you done to help the group come up with the performance? Who found the music?
Senior Drama:
Please share your ideas about the discussion we had about "Breakfast with Santa". In general, is SLSS an inclusive school? (Explain your answer.) Describe your experiences with inclusion. Are you aware of trying to include people? Have you ever been excluded? How could each of us make things more inclusive? You don't have to answer all the questions. I just want a "fulsome" response.
English 8:
Reading log: If one of the characters in your book could go back in time and say something to their old selves, what would they say?
Read the poem "At Seventeen". What is "the truth" according to the poet? What do the following words mean (in the context of the poem): charade, obscenities, haven, debentures, dubious. You aren't seventeen yet, but do you understand what Janice Ian is talking about? Explain.
Show and Tell speeches: Bring an item from home. It should be an item that generates a good story. Talk about the item (for about 2 minutes). You can describe it, tell us the circumstances through which you got the item (on holiday, as a gift, as a baby, etc.), tell us a lesson you learned through the item, or how it expresses your philosophy of life or something we can all learn from looking at the item.
You can write down what you want to say but you don't have to. You probably want to practice to make sure you have about two minutes worth of material.
We will present the speeches on December 12 and 13.
How to write possessives:
1. Use an apostrophe!
2. For single possessors -- Jean's hat, the girl's dress, the boy's dog
3. For plural possessors -- the players' uniforms, the students' tests
Drama 8:
Remember you'll be reciting on Monday. Know the passage well!
What fairy tale have you chosen for your fairy tale mime? How did you choose it? Who will you play? How will you create the character? What is the climax of the story? Why do you think so?
Senior Drama:
What are real life examples of the current issue that you are using for your panto?
Here are the lyrics for a well known song.
Chorus:
'Cause I'm in the stars tonight
So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight
Shining through the city with a little funk and soul
So I'ma light it up like dynamite.
***********
Shoes on, get up in the morn
Cup of milk, let's rock and roll
King Kong, kick the drum, rolling on like a Rolling Stone
Sing song when I'm walking home
Jump up to the top, LeBron
Ding dong, call me on my phone
Ice tea and a game of ping pong, ha
Try to rewrite the song with new lyrics! (try to use your current event)
English 8:
Work on your poetry project.
Reading log: Meet with your partner and discuss each of your books. Then write about the partner's book. What is it about? Would you read it? (Explain why or why not.)
Read "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron.
Who was Lord Byron? (3 sentences)
What is "she" like? (Say what she looks like and what her personality is like.)
Why does your book have the title it has?
Work on your poetry project.
We had a quiz on "Billy the Kid"! Make sure you ask about it when you come back from being away.
Senior Drama:
Have bright clothes to wear -- they should reflect on your character! (for the panto)
Drama 8: Some of you haven't handed in your first journal! Let's do that a.s.a.p.
Reading log: Write a letter to Aunt Advice from one of the characters in your book. Use the character's name to sign off, or make up a sobriquet (a nickname) for the character.
Read "The Argument for Ascending" by Sid Marty (on page 15 of Poetry in Focus. What is the poem about? What kind of poem is it? What image stands out for you? If you were going to write a poem about a sport, what sport would you choose? What would you say about the sport?
Reading log topic: Write five sentences about one character's personality.
Work on your poetry project! You should have a good start on Part 2! Use the book, Poetry in Focus, if you haven't chosen a theme yet.
Write the third "Aunt Advice" letter.
You should have read "Billy the Kid" by Michael Ondaatje. Answer the following questions:
- Is this a poem?
-What is it about?
-What is each third about?
-What image stands out for you? Why?
-Who is Billy the Kid? Pat Garrett? (You might need to google them.)
You should be working on your Poetry Project. Make sure you finish the first part very soon. You should have chosen a theme for part 2.
The reading log today is "what is something with which you disagree in the book you are reading?"
We read "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" (page 123) by John Keats. (Remember? We also read "Ode to Autumn" by the same poet.) We are presently working on pitching ideas for a movie based on the poem's story. Try to be familiar with the list of poetic terms Ms. Kosar handed out when she gave out the instructions for the poetry project.
Drama 8:
What should Ms. Kosar know about you? What are your pronouns? Have you done Drama before (at elementary school or extra-curricularly)? Do you have stage fright? Do you do any activity that relates to performance (music, sports, public speaking, etc.) Is there anything else you want to say?
Senior Drama:
What have you contributed to the panto so far? What important issue are you dealing with? How are you approaching it? What fairy tale are you using?
Remember -- reading logs are due -- yesterday's log was about the theme of your book.
Also your rhyming poem and on Friday, the composition about war.
You should be working on your poetry project! Try to get Part 1 done soon!
This is what we did for reading logs on Monday:
Answer the letter from "Struggling"!
Dear Aunt Advice,
I am a first year high school student. I like school and am a good student in all my classes. My parents have always been proud of how well I do academically. Here's my problem. My best friend is not a good student. She doesn't pay attention in class and never does her homework. She spends a lot of her time on her phone and gets mad at me when I don't respond immediately to her messages. But I need to spend time on my schoolwork and my parents won't let me have my phone in my room after 8 p.m. I've told my friend this, but she still gets mad. She says I shouldn't let my parents rule my life. I'm afraid if I lose her friendship, I won't have any social life at all. But if I don't keep up with my schoolwork, my parents will be mad and I won't have much of a future. What should I do?
Yours truly,
Struggling
Thank you to everyone who put the Remembrance Ceremony together. The speeches were thoughtful and thought-provoking, the music was inspiring and the colour party was impressive. Thanks to Senior Drama for helping with the visual background and well done, Alicia, in putting everything together so seamlessly!
Thanks to all the grade 8's who will be moving on to Art on Monday. I will miss you and hope to see you all back in the theatre for Drama 9. If you aren't too busy, think of joining the Drama Club!
English 8:
The reading log asks for you to think of one character's best quality. Do you share that quality?
We discussed Remembrance Day. Write a four paragraph composition based on one of the following sentences:
War is not the way to solve conflict.
Remembrance Day is important to me.
Sometimes you have to fight for your rights.
The first paragraph states your theme. Use the sentence you chose.
Then you need to think of two pieces of evidence that back up your first sentence. Explain each piece of evidence.
Come to some sort of conclusion.
Reading log: Create a found poem from a phrase, sentence or paragraph in your book.
Be sure you understand the poetic terms from the handout! Your groups will present their lessons on Thursday. Think of interesting ways to teach the terms you've been assigned. Work on your poetry project.
Rhyming list: snow, flow; seat, feat; flower, hour; cat, rat; sunk, dunk; tree, be; flight, kite; all, ball; lunch, munch, book, too; sun, run; ring, cling; pickle, sickle; red, bed; nest, chest; sleeping, weeping; green, mean; rain, train; treasure, pleasure; dog, fog; buck, tuck
Create a poem using at least ten of the above rhymes. Use the rhyme scheme -- aa/bb/a; bb/aa/b; then a couplet (cc). Make it tell a story.
Senior Drama: Remember to wear the right clothes for our Remembrance Day photo shoot. Your journal is your ideas about how "Do or Die" went.
Drama 8: What is your framework? What do you plan to wear? What animals are you playing? What will you do to create the impression of the animal you play? Learn your lines for the plays next week!
English 8: Your written book report is due today. Your "reluctant" journal is due on Friday!
Thanks to everyone who helped with "Do or Die"! You did a great job!
English 8: Reading log: What mistakes has the main character made? Have you made similar mistakes? What did you do? What would you suggest the main character do?
Finish your "reluctant" journal.
Listen to Tom Waits' performance of "What's He Building".
What's he building in there?
Why is he watching me?
Draw a picture of the two neighbours' homes.
Who has the problem?
If you were making a movie of this poem, who would you choose to play the two people? What would happen?
Reading log: In the part you read today, is there anything you would change? Write a summary of what happened. If you would change something, say what you would change. If you wouldn't, say why it's perfect the way it is.
"Reluctant" journal: Read to the end of the book.
What was your favourite trip or outing that you have taken with your family?
Did you like The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen? Why or why not? Who was your favourite character? Explain why.
Did it seem believable? Explain.
Did writing a journal help Henry? How do you know? Why did Cecil ask Henry to keep a journal? Do you think it would help you to keep one? Explain.
English 8:
Written book report -- Due November 3
Reading log for today: Is your book realistic? Is it believable? Is it important that the book be realistic or believable? Explain your answer.
"Reluctant" journal: Read to page 223.
Do you look like your dad or your mom? Do you look like any of your siblings? Can you think of any physical aspects that you've inherited from your predecessors? Any other aspects? (like musical talent or a talent for playing a sport or being good with cars or things like that)
Who is to blame for what happened to Jessie? Do you believe that people are responsible for their own actions? Explain.
Senior Drama:
Actors -- learn your lines for "Do or Die" and for the Chester/Clarise scene.
Theatre Production -- I'm afraid that we can't paint after school on Thursday, because the dance team is using the theatre. Make sure you make good use of your decorating time on Friday!!
Directors -- we will have a last run through on Friday before Show-time on Hallowe'en! Any last minute suggestions? Jot them down!
Drama 8:
Remember, if you want someone in your group for the last project, put that in your journal on Friday!
Journal topic: What is one lesson you need to learn? (examples, don't procrastinate! don't give up if things are difficult! don't be too trusting!)
Reading logs: How are you different from the main character? From the antagonist?
Reluctant Journal (read to page 180):
Describe a place you like in 4 sentences.
Describe someone you know in three words.
From Wed., March 20 to Fri., March 22, Henry writes "one thing". Why?
Do you have a favourite store? If not, do you like shopping? For what? If not, why?
Have you ever told a big lie? Have you ever been lied to? Can you ever trust people who lie? Are there ever good reasons for lying? What are they, if there are?
Read to page 143 in Reluctant Journal.
What is IT?
Write about a product you purchased that satisfied you.
Write about a product you purchased that didn't satisfy you.
Make step by step instructions for something (like Henry's Rules to Live By).
Correct Alberta's note (on page 122).
What was the best weekend of your life? OR What would be the best weekend of your life?
Read to page 103.
What should Farley and Henry have done about Troy's bullying? Have you ever had to deal a bully? Have you ever bullied anyone?
Why does Henry repeat the same phrase (on page 75)?
Describe a meal you could make for your family.
What subject could you be an expert on if you had to play "Reach for the Top"?
If you needed money, what sort of jobs would you be willing to do?
Read to page 70 and write the following:
(October 17, 2022)
Have you ever hurt anyone's feelings on purpose? Explain.
Senior Drama:
Suggest changes to Ms. Kosar's script. Answer the questions she poses.
Read pages 28 to 68. In your "reluctant" journal, write the following:
- what are "vultures"? (give the REAL definition and Henry's definition)
- make your second prediction -- what is "IT"?
- on page 52, what correction does Henry make in his journal? Why does he do that?
Write a metaphor for a person you know. (Example -- Ms. Kosar is a shark. She's always moving and she is fierce and scary. She has a big grin and always shows her teeth! She can't be trusted. Just when you think she's moved on, she crashes in and threatens your life.)
Make sure you have written your cinquain for Monday. It doesn't have to relate to The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen.
Senior Drama:
All: Write a description of the tv show "Do or Die" -- try to include details -- music, set, hosts, contestants, games, etc! Here are jobs we need done -- scenes need to be created, decoration of theatre, creation of "waiver", advertisements, posters, "wheel of misfortune", costumes -- what can you do?
Drama 8:
Write a review of one of the fairy tale mimes. Give it a catchy title. Give details! (Don't write about your own.) Describe the costumes, music, actions, performances (include facial expressions and gestures). What went well? What needed improvement?
What went well with your own performance? What needed to be improved?
English 8:
In your "reluctant" journal, write the following:
- how I met my first friend
- what is the "inciting incident"?
- create a wrestling character (include name, personality, fighting style, costume)
Read p. 12 - 27 in The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Write a cinquain. Due Monday!
English 8:
Remember to hand in any things you have outstanding! You all need to hand in your review of the other group's presentation of "Raven and the First Men" -- you need a catchy title and then you need to write a paragraph about how they did in their performance.
Create your own journal (based on The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen.
Date (October 11, 2022)
What are you grateful for?
Intriguing fact. Your comment.
Predict what IT is. (You won't know -- take a stab at it.)
Why does Henry use the robot voice?
Senior Drama: Ms. Kosar has made the executive decision that our interactive presentation will be called "Do or Die". What does that make you think of? How do you think it should unfold? What should the theatre look like?
Directing/Scriptwriting: Write one scene for the show. Decide which actors you would like to play the parts. Try to make it interactive!
Actors: Think of a character you could play in "Do or Die". Do you want to be the host? A contestant? Describe the character in detail. Give the person a name!
Theatre Production: What will the theatre look like? Draw a picture of the stage. What decorations do we need?
Everyone: We want it to be INTERACTIVE. Are there any scenes we could perform in the lounge? In the hallway? In a classroom? Outside the school?
How could the contestants compete? What happens to them if they lose? What will we see?
Drama 8:
On a scale of 1 - 5, how would you rate yourself as a group member? Explain why you give yourself that rating? What is your best skill in group work? How can you improve?
Are you a leader? Describe your leadership style.
How did your group decide on the cast of your fairy tale?
Write about a time you worked in a group. What did you learn from the experience?
English 8:
You have a copy of the play "Raven and the First Men". You are going to present this story to the class. Ms. Kosar has selected your groups. Sit together and read the story out loud. Choose roles for everyone. (Perhaps some people will have to play more than one role. The person who plays Raven will have to play just that role, because it is in most of the scenes.) Think of how to play your character. (You will need to memorize your lines.) You will want to talk with the group about how you want to set up the stage. You should discuss lighting and sound or music for the play. You will need to plan blocking (Ms. Kosar will want one script with all of this information on it.) What should the characters wear? (Raven should likely be in black.) Think of interesting ways to present the story (mime, tableau, choral speaking).
We will perform on Thursday. You can use PLT to practice if you need more time.
Drama 8:
Good work on your reciting. If you want to redo your recitation, check with me about how you could improve and then practice and pop in during PLT to recite again.
Directing and Scriptwriting 12:
Write a scene at a funeral. Include:
- a monologue
- a surprise
-a confession
- music
Senior Drama:
Which format seems to be best for our interactive Hallowe'en show? Ms. Kosar is leaning towards the game show.
English 8:
Using the handout as a guide for how to write a conversation, write a dialogue for ONE of the following situations:
- Patroclus and Achilles before Patroclus goes into battle
- Cassandra telling her mother what to do about the Trojan horse
- Helen talking to Menelaus after the end of the war
We are missing another Friday! I hope you get a chance to spend some time outside enjoying the crisp fall weather and thinking about the images in "To Autumn" by the great poet, John Keats. Find out about him. It is a sad story -- he didn't think his work would live on, but of course, it has. The first day of autumn never comes around without me thinking of the "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness".
English 8:
Make sure you answer the questions about the story of the Trojan War that you picked up as you left class. Read Parts 4 and 5 of the section on the Trojan War in Mythic Voices. You should also be thinking about your upcoming oral book report. If you think you won't be able to finish a book in the next two weeks, you need to start reading more at home. I find it pleasant to read right before I fall asleep.
If you are interested in the Trojan War, there are some good novels about it -- this summer I read two by Pat Barker -- The Silence of the Girls (which sees events through the eyes of Briseis, the girl/woman given to Achilles as a reward for the destruction of her city and family) and The Women of Troy (after the war is over and the Greeks want to leave Troy and go home -- with their captives, the women of Troy, including Hecuba, Cassandra, Andromache and Briseis).
Drama 8:
You will be reciting the Shakespeare passage on Monday, so be prepared. If you are not sure of the words, you need to practice OUT LOUD! You will not learn it if you just think the words. Remember, we will likely do a journal on Thursday of next week, since we are missing so many Fridays.
Senior Drama:
Be prepared to perform your "review" play on Monday. You need a tableau at the beginning and the end, a mime that is specific in the middle, a choral speaking of the line "Have you got to go?" and music. You need a script so the theatre production people know what to do. It is not enough to let them "wing it".
Practice Antony's speech. We will be reciting soon.
Drama Club:
We have added Tuesday at lunch for auditions, so if you want to act in the play make sure you take the handout outside the theatre and memorize the speech. Try to understand what you're talking about and make it exciting to watch.
Theatre Production:
What would you do to commemorate the leader's life? (You could watch the Queen's funeral to get some ideas if you need them.) What music would be effective? What would the officials in charge of the funeral wear? How would you deal with the actual ceremony? (You can draw the different stages if you like, but include a description as well.)
Directors/Scriptwriters:
Write the eulogy for the famous person. (You can choose an existing famous person, the Queen, or a fictional person or even someone you know.) You want to focus on the positive elements of the person's life.
Actors (Performance):
Watch the Queen's funeral (or news about it). Choose one of the mourners. What are they thinking about as they say goodbye to the Queen? (Try to be empathetic and provide details -- you can make up memories, if you like.)
Directed Studies:
Choose one of the above topics and answer it. Also, write about what you want to get from doing "directed studies" -- on what do you want to focus in Drama this semester?
We will not be in school on Monday, September 19, because the federal government has declared a day of remembrance in honour of the Queen's funeral. There will be a ceremony in Ottawa to commemorate the occasion and will be televised on CBC at 11 a.m. You can learn more by googling National Day of Remembrance September 19 (I can't seem to copy the link).
English 8: Make a chart of pros and cons for the government declaring this one-time holiday. "Pros" means reasons in favour of the declaration and "cons" means reasons against the declaration. After you make the chart, decide what you think about having a day off.
Drama classes: Try to catch some of the coverage on the news about the day. Be ready to discuss this on Tuesday when we come back to class. We will be creating tableaus based on the events of the day.
ENGLISH 8:
I won't see you for the next three days, so here is something to work on over that time.
Create a detailed illustration of one of the creation myths we have read. You don't have to show everything in the story. (Try to think of the style of the story and how each one uses metaphors. Be clear on what a metaphor is.) This is due on Monday, September 19.
Read "The Judgement of Paris" on page 120 in Mythic Voices.
DRAMA 8:
Your journals are due today. Make sure you practice "All the world's a stage" -- we will be reciting sometime next week. Make sure you are ready to lead the class when it is your turn to ask the question of the day and present the warm-up activity.
Show the book to the class. Tell us the title and the author's name. Tell us something about the author.
Talk about the plot in two sentences. Don't give spoilers.
What genre is the book? Do you normally like that kind of book.
Talk about one thing that is interesting about the book (the setting, the characters, etc.)
Read a short excerpt from the book.
Would you recommend the book? To whom? Explain why or why not.
Drama 8:
What should Ms. Kosar know about you? What pronouns do you use for yourself? Do you have stage fright? Have you ever been in a play or done any drama before? (If you have, what was it?) Do you do any performance-based activity? (That would include playing sports, music, dance, public speaking.)
Is there anything else you would like me to know?
Senior Drama:
What should Ms. Kosar know about you? Tell me your pronouns. If you are new to my drama class, make sure you tell me why you chose Drama.
What was the last Hallowe'en costume you wore? (You can draw it, if you like.) Has anything scary ever happened to you on Hallowe'en? (Tell me about it, if it has.) What scares you the most?
English 8:
The eight parts of speech are: noun, preposition, pronoun, article, verb, conjunction, adjectives and adverbs.
Read the following sentence:
The magical queen waved her wand at Clarice and Clarice slowly changed from a girl to a mouse!
Try to identify each word as one of the parts of speech!
On Monday, you need a notebook you can divide into sections -- grammar lessons, notes, reading logs, and creative writing. Remember to bring something to read on Monday.
If you missed class on Friday, we answered the following questions about "The Woman Who Fell From the Sky":
What would the world be like if it was "nothing but water"? What would the "people" be like?
What benefits do humans gain from the woman?
What do the twins represent?
In your opinion, are certain animals "good" or "bad"? Explain.
With whom do you agree about the river current? Explain.
Why does the story say that "dead Indians" lived "in the far west until "Christian missionaries" came?
Read "Yhi Brings Life".
It feels great to be back at school, but perhaps not so great to be getting up in the dark!
Here is an update on what we have done so far:
English 8: Please bring a book to read for silent reading by Monday! Umar will ask the question of the day on Monday -- then each of you will get a chance.
Homework for Friday: Read "The Woman Who Fell From the Sky" on page 10 in Mythic Voices.
Drama 8: We will be starting with mime. Each of you will be expected to lead the class with a question of the day and a warm-up activity. Be thinking of what you could do.
Senior Drama: Our first big project is to create an interactive Hallowe'en show, to which we can invite other classes. Be thinking of what we can do.
SURVEY YOUR FAMILIES! IS JUSTIN TRUDEAU HANDSOME? (This follows a discussion by Drama 8 C Block.)
I can't seem to attach anything to my emails! What a bummer! If anyone knows why it has suddenly decided that you need permission to open an attachment (why on earth would I send an attachment if I didn't want you to open it?), let me know why and I will undo it!
Hi guys,
Here is the breakdown of lines for some little bug. You want to deliver it with lots of pizzazz!
Trying to think of a way to commemorate National Indigenous People's Day? There are lots of things going on today.
Here is a list of events in Richmond:
https://www.richmond.ca/discover/events/nationalindigenouspeoplesday.htm
If you're a homebody like me, here's some music by Iskwe -- check out the new EP recorded by Iskwe and Tom Wilson called "Mother Love".
If you want to read something interesting . . .
21 Things You Might Not Know About the Indian Act (by Bob Joseph)
5 Little Indians (by Michelle Good)
Here are some interesting films from the National Film Board of Canada:
Three Thousand ( Inuk filmmaker Asinnajaq explores her world through spectacular imagery) https://www.nfb.ca/playlists/indigenous-cinema-classroom-ages-1214/playback/#4
Boxed In (a woman tries to fill in a form that asks for her ethnic origin) https://www.nfb.ca/playlists/indigenous-cinema-classroom-ages-1214/playback/#15
In Port Moody, where I live, there is an exciting interactive display about indigenous languages:
https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/exhibitions/our-living-languages-first-peoples-voices-bc
The display will be open for viewing until September at the Port Moody Station Museum. Take transit to beautiful Port Moody, go for a walk at Rocky Point Park and visit the museum!
Grade 9/10:
How will you prepare to play your role play character? Give at least five things you are thinking about.
Grade 8:
Choose one of the characters you will be playing in the Aesop Fables. What does the character want? What stands in its way?
What will your group wear?
What is your framework? Who will you be in the framework? Describe your framework character.
Drama 9/10:
Who is the most interesting person you have met at school (any school)? (It could be a teacher or a student or an EA or anyone you have met at school.) Give them a name (don't use their real one) and describe them in five sentences or fewer. (By "describe", I mean their personality, their back story, their outward actions -- whatever you found interesting.)
Which character are you performing for the monologue? Describe them in five sentences.
Drama 8:
1. Describe how you put together your "Creation of the World" play (including how you decided on the cast, the mime, tableaus, costumes and lighting).
2. What have you learned in your first year of high school? (Choose the most important thing and say how you learned it.)
FOR THE LAST PROJECT, make a note at the bottom of your journal saying if there is someone in the class you would like to work with. If you don't have a preference, that's fine.
Grade 8:
1. How do you think the world was created? (Give details.)
2. Could you make a play about it? (Explain.)
3. What role will you play in "The Creation of the World"?
4. How will you make us see you as that role?
Grade 9/10:
Write out the plot of your scenario play. (Write at least five sentences.)
Who are you playing? (Include the name of the character and important characteristics.)
BONUS: If you were going to make a play based on a board game, what board game would you use and how would you present your play?
(A theatre company in Vancouver is presenting a play like this! If you are interested, here is the link for more information -- https://www.createastir.ca/articles/new-societies )
Drama 9/10:
Describe your performance in the heritage play. What went well? What could have been improved? (This could influence your final mark on the play. ) What did you try to achieve with it? What was the best scene? Which was the most difficult scene?
Which OTHER performance was your favourite? Make sure you explain why you liked it. Give at least three reasons.
Drama 8:
Describe your performance in the fairy tale mimes. What went well? What could have been improved? Who was your leader? What problems did you face in putting it together?
Which other fairy tale mime was your favourite? Explain why you liked it. Give at least three reasons.
The Steveston Historical Society is hoping to remount the series of vignettes that were performed by SLSS students before COVID! Students would present several scripted scenes based on the history of Steveston on Saturdays in the summer. Actors would be paid for their work and so it is a great opportunity to make a little money and do something worthwhile and fun!
Let Ms. Kosar know if you are interested.
Drama 8 -- B Block -- don't forget to bring your $5.00 as payment for your ticket for the play!
I hope some of you got to see our play "Curling Up With the Classics for COVD".
This week's journal is about the play. If you didn't get to see it, you still have two chances -- tonight at 7 or Monday at 7. If you absolutely can't see it, I will give you options for the questions (in brackets after the play questions).
1. Why is it called "Curling Up With the Classics for COVID? (If you didn't see the play, make a guess.)
2. How does Jessica get COVID? (If you didn't see the play, think about how a little kid might get COVID.)
3. What does her mom do about it? (If you didn't see the play, what should a person do who thinks they have COVID?)
4. What happens in "Rappaccini's Daughter"? (two sentences) (You can look this up online, if you didn't see the play.)
5. What is your favourite scene in "Little Women"? Why? (You can google "Little Women", read the book (it's great) or watch the Greta Gerwig (director) movie, which is great also, if you didn't see the play.)
6. What did you like about the play? (Remember, Ms. Kosar worked very hard on it, so don't say you hated it all, please.) What improvements could be made? (Nothing is perfect.)
7. Would you like to perform in a play like this? Why or why not? (The Drama Club welcomes everyone -- you can perform (Ms. Kosar will make sure you get a part if you want to act) or work backstage -- there are all sorts of ways you can help. It's lots of fun and you learn a lot and make friends and hang out in the theatre without Ms. Kosar asking you to be quiet all the time.)
(If you didn't see the play, talk to someone who was involved and they can help you. . . or listen to Ms. Kosar talk about it in class.)
Drama 9/10:
What are you happy with in your heritage drama plans? Make a list of what still needs to be done and describe how it will be accomplished.
Drama 8:
Are you good at working with other people? On a scale of one to five with five being fantastic and one being terrible, where do you rate yourself and why? How do you approach a group assignment at the beginning of the assignment? Are you a good leader? Explain why or why not. Describe a time you worked in a group and what you learned from it.
Also, if you missed the chance to perform your conflict mime and cannot perform during PLT, please write a detailed account of what you were planning on doing. Include the plot (intro, inciting incident, rising action, climax and denouement) and also what you would have mimed (like opening your locker or packing a suitcase or wrapping a present or whatever).
Grade 8
What should Ms. Kosar know about you? Here are some things to include: do you have stage fright? have you done drama classes before? did you do drama at your elementary school? what do you hope to learn in drama class? are there any students in the class that you have worked with before? how did that go? You can tell me anything else that might help me get to know you or to teach you better!
Grade 9/10
Describe a character you are playing in the heritage drama plays. Give the character a name (if they don't already have one) and describe them in detail -- age, family situation, job, interests, hopes and dreams, etc. What does the character want in the scene you are performing? What obstacles does the character face? What would the character wear? (Think of colour of clothes, style, period of time the story takes place, setting.) What qualities do you share with the character? How are you different from them?
Great work, Grade 8's on the Aesop's Fables performances. I have changed some marks and so your report cards could well change. I will let you know tomorrow.
Grade 9/10: Choose one of the heritage stories you are using for your play.
What could you use as a metaphor in the play? (Try and use the metaphor.)
What is the plot? (intro of characters and setting, inciting incident (conflict), two events in rising action, climax and denouement)
You can change your stories to make them more dramatic, but remember they are stories that represent people's history so they should be believable.
I have just posted my preliminary marks -- I have until Thursday to check over them and the administration also reads them, so that everything is clear and correct. If you look at your marks (which are posted on the portal) and you see something that looks wrong, let me know on Tuesday and I will check them with my records and make any changes that are warranted. Grade 8's, this will be your final mark in Drama 8 (although I will revisit them when I see your Aesop performances), but Grade 9's and 10's, you still have another term, so if you would like to make improvements, make sure you read the comments to see what you can do better.
You can still hand things in and do any reciting that you haven't done, so make sure you pop in during PLT if you have work to make up.
Our new housemate arrived on Friday! He's a year old and as cute as a button. He had a busy day today -- a walk in the morning with the neighbour's dog, and then playtime at the dog park this afternoon with my friend's dog, Ziggy. So he's pooped right out. We'll sleep well tonight.
In the theatre, we try to make a visual impact when we perform. Remember the theatre saying, "show . . . don't tell". What does this photo say? Why did it win the award? Describe the photo in detail. (You'll have to really look at it.)
If we were to have a day to celebrate April Fool's Day at Steveston-London, what would it look like? Describe what you would plan if you were given the job of creating a celebration for April Fool's Day. Remember, bullying would not be allowed.
Grade 8's -- please also say how you feel your Creation of the World performance went. What was successful and what could have been improved?
Some of you expressed some interest in my nature videos. I just finished my latest opus -- "Spring in Rocky Point Park". Here is the link if you are interested: https://youtu.be/Jzg9o_pLX_c
I hope all of you are enjoying this lovely spring day. I have an infestation of ants in my bedroom! I have been taking each ant outside and setting it free, but there are too many now and it is awful to have an ant drop on you while you're reading before you go to sleep (!) so I might have to resort to something more permanent. I hate the idea of killing anything though.
I had a conversation with a friend a while ago about how to combat the rise of Asian hate crimes. We concluded that in tandem with reactively condemning such abhorrent behaviours, the proactive part was continuing to write stories and mentor younger AsianCanadian storytellers. Through stories we see into the lives of others wholly different from ourselves and realize how similar we all are. Through stories we are entertained as a group and comforted to know we’re not alone both in our struggles and what we find funny. Through stories, chasms can be bridged, truths can be heard and reconciliation is possible, strengthening our country for the next generation to surpass our dreams and efforts.
Ins Choi, playwright
I saw "Kim's Convenience" last night at the Arts Club Theatre and it was terrific. Thanks so much to Madeline for recommending it. It was strange (and a bit scary) to be in a theatre again and watching live actors on stage and hearing the people in the audience laughing and reacting to what was going on, but it was wonderful! I love what Ins Choi said about telling our stories and of course, that's what the theatre does and that's why it's so important and so worthwhile to study and experience.
The tv show is based on this play and I have never watched one episode of the show (although I have heard it's really good, but I have a problem with tv -- when I start watching something, I instantly fall asleep -- this is an outcome of age, I think!) Anyhow, it tells the story of a family who runs a convenience store and explores their relationships and the different customers that come in and it's just a beautiful and funny and sweet family story. They talk about their family history (just like I want you to do in the heritage drama project) and it runs the gamut between humour to deep discoveries about how we interact with the people we love and I urge you to go and see it, because you won't be disappointed!
If you like drama, this should be fun! Turn your rehearsal time (for either "Creation of the World" for Grade 8's or "Heritage Drama" for Grade 9's and 10's) into a scene from a play. Try to make sure all the people in your group are in the scene. The scene should be at least 1/2 a page. Here's an example:
Scene opens in the SLSS theatre. Allan, Susie, Jordie (sleeping) and Charlotta are on stage.
Allan: Okay, here we are at PLT time and where's Ardena?
Susie: It's not PLT TIME. It's PLT. PLT stands for PERSONAL LEARNING TIME, so if you say PLT TIME, you're saying personal learning time TIME. Which is stupid.
Charlotta: Okay, okay. You know Ardena's always late. (Ardena rushes in.)
Ardena: Sorry I'm late! I saw Larry in the hall. He's coming.
Charlotta: Oh good! Larry's coming. That will really help. He's such a great actor. And a great person.
Sam: I think Charlotta likes Larry a little bit.
Charlotta: So what? Shut up. Let's set up the stage. Get the stairs.
Larry: Here I am. We can start now!
Jordie: (waking up) Huh? What's going on?
All: JORDIE!
We still have several performances to see, so you won't be able to do your journal until we see them all on Friday!
Grade 8:
Which performance of the fairy tale mimes was the best? Say why. (Think about acting, music, costumes, set, tableaus, miming, etc.)
How did yours go? Think of what went well and what could have been improved.
Grade 9/10:
Of the preliminary heritage plays we saw which story was the best to perform? What would you have done with it?
How did your own performance go? What went well? What could have been improved?
Which performance was the best? Why?
Have you noticed the eagle's nest that is right at the exit road from Steveston-London? I have seen the eagles on the nest and how they bring twigs to fix it and for the last few cold mornings, they have both been sitting on the light standard on the playing field. This morning, I decided to take some photographs of them. They are so beautiful and majestic and they inspire me, even in these dark cold scary times.
Drama 8:
What do you need to remember when you are making a tableau? (Say at least four things.) Choose one of the tableaus you were in or one that you saw and draw a picture of it -- it doesn't have to be great art so don't be afraid. You may use stick figures if you want, but make sure that you include lots of detail. Label your drawing with how it fulfilled what a tableau should do. (If you can't remember any of the tableaus, make one up.)
Which fairy tale did your group choose? Which role will you play? Describe how you will create that character. (Think of your movements, gestures, facial expressions, costumes, etc.)
Make sure to look for good instrumental music to play while you perform your fairy tale.
Some of you were asking about the group "Rallycar" which we heard yesterday while we worked on the tableaus. I found a website that has some of their songs -- here is the link: https://www.reverbnation.com/rallycar/songs
There isn't much information about them after 2010, so they might not be performing any more. Too bad. They are good, I think.
Drama 9/10:
Write your heritage story. If you haven't talked to your family about it, then think of something that has happened to you to share with your group.
Remember to include the name of one person with whom you would like to work on the big heritage project, if you have a preference. If you don't care, let me know. That helps arrange the groups.
Drama 8
Are you good at working in groups? On a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being excellent and 1 being not very good at all, where do you rate yourself on working with a group? Why do you rate yourself that way? Are you a good leader? Explain why. Write about a time you worked in a group and what you learned from the process. It can be a positive or a negative experience.
Drama 9/10
Where does your family come from? (If your family is indigenous, you could say from this territory, but if not, you can say where each of your parents or grandparents (or great grandparents) come from. In my case, my father's family came from Ukraine, although my father was born here. My mother's family came from western Europe -- Scotland, England, Germany, Holland). Tell me two things you know about your family's country of origin. (I know that Ukraine is very much like Saskatchewan and that is why my dad's family wanted to go to Saskatchewan. I know that Ukraine was taken over by many other countries, including Poland and Russia.) How did they arrive in Canada? (Mine came on ships and then, in the case of my father's family, they had to take a train to Saskatchewan). Why did they come to Canada? (I don't know why my mother's family came, but I imagine they wanted to get land, which was unavailable to poor people in Europe; my father's family came because they were very poor and disadvantaged in Ukraine and thought they would have a better life in Canada). Did they face any challenges when they came to Canada? (In Saskatchewan, many people were very prejudiced against Ukrainians. They made fun of the way they spoke, their food, their customs, their religious beliefs -- it was very difficult for my father and his brothers and sisters at school because they did not speak English at home.)
Ask your family these questions if you aren't sure. If they can't help you, you can do some research!
Everyone: What should Ms. Kosar know about you? Include your pronouns, whether you have stage fright or not, whether you have ever done Drama before (and tell me what you've done, if you have), what you expect to get out of the class, and anything else you think I need to know!
What elementary school did you come from? Did you do any Drama there? What was it?
What is the last movie you saw? Did you like it? Say why or why not.
I have posted marks and comments for all of you (I hope it worked -- every time it is a bit different and this time we had to blank out your old marks and comments and replace them!)
Before you lose your minds, make sure you read the comments because some of you have not handed in all your assignments, journals and projects and some of you have not presented either your scenes or your monologues. If you haven't done something, get it to me by the end of Wednesday (so I can mark it and put in your revised mark).
Remember! The Drama Club is meeting by Zoom on Tuesday at lunch (the coordinates are on the bulletin board, the announcement on the website and on the Drama Club instagram page).
Enjoy the second semester, everyone!
I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your work in my classes in the first semester. We certainly ended things on a very positive note and I really enjoyed seeing your final scenes and monologues and I wish you all the very best next semester. If you still have things you need to do, remember that you have Wednesday or Thursday to finish off. Check the posted report cards on Monday after 3!
I saw the new Joel Coen version of "Macbeth" last night (and was up long after my normal bedtime!)
I liked a lot of it and disagreed with some of it, but I am respectful of his attempt and pleased that Macbeth still puts "bums in the seats". It is such a terrific play with such great characters and such a terrific jewel of a plot. We've done it twice here at SLSS and the two productions were very different, so I'm sure that Joel Coen would do that, too, if he was going to direct it again.
It is in black and white and it looks fantastic. The use of mist and crows and locations (like the castles of Dunsinane and Fife and the battlefields) and the old man's shack are really evocative and also Coen's use of camera angles, like looking down from the heights and through doorways and windows is really effective. The witches (performed by one actor -- Kathryn Hunter) were really scary and creepy and weird and I loved how they resembled crows and then, perhaps, were crows. The scenes from the battlefield and the fight scenes were staged really well and the attack on Fife, the murder of Banquo and Duncan and the fight between MacDuff and Macbeth were terrific.
Denzel Washington (Macbeth) and Frances McDormand (Lady Macbeth) were good, but I think they took a wrong tack here (obviously, Joel Coen and the actors would disagree with me) by weakening Macbeth and making him seem too crazy too soon. Frances McDormand was good when Lady Macbeth was strong, but in the sleepwalking scene, I think you should pity her and I couldn't. It seemed rather mechanical. I did think of something I would do now, if I were doing it again -- I think when she ends the scene with "what's done cannot be undone; to bed, to bed, to bed", she should lie down right there as if she thinks the floor is her bed. She should curl up in the foetal position and then the doctor and nurse could help her stand up and lead her off stage. In the movie, they staged some of this on a long flight of stairs and it could have really worked for her to try to curl up on a step when she longs for sleep.
You guys from English 11 -- I would urge you to see the film, if you can. It is fun to see scenes that you've performed and know the story and see how other people have decided to do it. Of course, I would urge everyone to see it!
Okay, I am going to get to work now.
English 11
Learn your lines for your Macbeth scene (the only way to do this? say them OUT LOUD!!)
Get your folder ready to hand in. It should contain all the diary entries, be decorated and have the other items assigned.
Answer the questions from the "take home test":
Scenes should be ready! Monologues! Sound and light shows! Journals!!
Senior Drama and Drama 9/10
What do you know about your extended role play character? What do you need to do to play the character realistically? Make sure you try to internalize the things you know.
Drama 8
Which Aesop lesson should you learn? Explain your answer.
English 11
Questions for Act 5 of Macbeth:
1. "Some say he's mad; others . . . call it valiant fury"
"Like a giant robe/Upon a dwarfish thief"
What are the above quotes examples of? What do they mean?
2. What happens in scene 4? Why is it important?
3. In scene 5, Macbeth finds out two pieces of bad news. What are they?
4. How was Macduff born?
5. How does old Siward react to his son's death?
6. Is Macbeth admirable in Act 5 or not? Explain.
For the Macbeth project -- think of what the scene is doing for the audience and for the story and try to honour that. If it's serious or scary, don't make it funny. NERF GUNS DON'T WORK! When you are doing your scene, you must make sure everyone can hear you!!
Make sure you hand in that last composition on time. I need it for your report cards.
If you are interested in preparing for grade 12 by reading, here is a list of grade 12 novels, non-fiction books and plays that your teacher might use next year:
Jane Eyre -- Charlotte Bronte
1984 - George Orwell
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
The Outsider - Albert Camus
The Wars - Timothy Findley
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje
The Handmaid's Tale or The Edible Woman - Margaret Atwood
PLAYS
"The Crucible" - Arthur Miller
"The Merchant of Venice", "The Tempest", "King Lear", "Twelfth Night", "As You Like It" (Shakespeare)
The most common choice for grade 12 is "Hamlet".
NON-FICTION
Always Running - Luis J. Rodriguez
A Short History of Indians in Canada - Thomas King
The Inconvenient Indian - Thomas King
I can't guarantee that your teacher will use any of these, but the more you read, the better your English will be, so enjoy your books! (These should all be available at the public library.)
Last year, for Grade 12 English, I used Timothy Findley's The Wars as the novel we read as a class and "Hamlet" as the play. (There are lots of good versions of "Hamlet" on film. I really like the one starring Mel Gibson and Mr. Price used to love the one directed by Kenneth Branagh -- they're both great.)
You are performing the following scenes:
TOMORROW: ACT 1, scene 3
- witches tell Macbeth and Banquo their prophecy
PRETTY PRINCES: ACT 2, scene 2
- the discovery of Duncan's murder
MACBESTIES: ACT 3, scene 4
- Macbeth's banquet and Banquo's ghost appears
SHAK-SHOWER: ACT 4, scene 2
- murder of MacDuff's family
Read the scene and make sure you understand what is happening.
1. What does Macbeth want to know? Does he get to ask the witches?
2. What are the three predictions the witches make to him?
3. How does he react?
4. What does he decide to do at the end of the scene?
Apparently, Joel Coen has directed a version of Macbeth starring his wife, Frances McDormand (who recently performed Lady Macbeth on Broadway to great acclaim) and the great Denzel Washington (as Lady Macbeth and Macbeth respectively). It is getting great reviews and is showing now at the Park cinema in Vancouver, the International Cinema, also in Vancouver and at the Coquitlam Cineplex and also apparently on Apple TV.
READING LOG:
What is another book you would like to read? (Our question of the day was what were other people reading, so we chose from that, but since you did not hear the discussion, just describe a book that interests you that you haven't read yet.)
All: Today is Black Excellence Day and next month is Black History Month. What is the purpose of these events? Do you participate in them? How? If you don't, why not? What do you know about the achievements of people of colour in BC? How could you find out more?
Here is an article about a local woman who is distantly related to ME (by marriage)!
Senior Drama:
Theatre Production: Your concept for the sound and light show.
Directing/Scriptwriting: Your concept for your one act play
Actors: What happened during your "pregnant pause"?
What was the climax of your scene?
What do we know about the two characters?
Drama 9/10:
What did you accomplish on Wednesday?
Drama 8:
How did your fairy tale mime go? Which other group was your favourite? Give reasons for your answers.
This is a photo of a Douglas squirrel on my upper balcony (with snowy Port Moody in the background -- we still have a lot of snow and it is very icy today! I wonder what it is like in Richmond.)
Tomorrow we will be back at school. The provincial government feels that it is important for schools to be open and that students feel better (especially mental health-wise) in school, and I agree with that, but we will have to be VERY careful to keep our distance and wear our masks properly (over both nose and mouth) and try to prevent the Omicron variant from spreading through our school population. I am very nervous about it, because my vaccine appointment (for the booster) was cancelled because of the cold weather and I have a new appointment for January 11, but my immunity won't be fully kicked in for a couple of weeks after that. An old student of mine had COVID over the holidays and she said she felt like a cement truck had poured its load into her brain and she is young, so you can imagine what it would do to me!
We will have a health and safety presentation at the beginning of C Block and then we will try to get back to normal, as much as possible. We have about three weeks left of semester one, so we have a lot to try to do before that, but I promise I will not saddle you with a lot of work to try to make up for the week we've lost. We will do what we can and make the best of it. I hope you all enjoyed your time away from school and that you got outside in the snow and read a book or two and listened to music you liked and spent time with people you love and all that great stuff that we get to do when we aren't as busy as usual.
I saw the movie everyone is talking about -- "Don't Look Up" -- directed by Adam MacKay and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Mark Rylance (who was fantastic), Cate Blanchett, Timothy Chalamet, Tyler Perry and all sorts of other people. I really liked it but found it very scary. I think it makes a very strong point about how we seem to lack the ability to act collectively for the good of mankind and how precious the natural world is and how, as stewards, we are doing a terrible job of protecting the whales and bees and birds and trees. Someone on the radio yesterday said that this movie might have as strong an impact as Greta Thunberg's school strikes, and I am hoping all of the actions of people of goodwill will help us make sure that the Douglas squirrel and the varied thrushes that I see on my balcony have what they need to thrive and that we value them more than we value our cars and cool running shoes and things like that. SPEECH OVER!
Looking forward to seeing all your shining faces in class tomorrow!
We discussed our first day back to school and how that will unfold. The new news is that you must sign up for a PLT placement (for Wednesday and Thursday) and go to that placement, because admin is trying to keep track of kids and make sure you don't create crowds or exceed the number of allowed people in each room. Try not to sit face-to-face with other people and keep your distance.
I have sent out academic alerts for some of you. If you have not done a lot of journals in Drama, you could well receive one. In English, if you have not handed in your poetry project, you need to do that. It is a way for you to write both analytically and creatively. If you are overusing your phone, that could also be an issue.
I made a video of the park near my house in its winter wonderfulness. Here is the link, if you are interested. My sister suggested that I do one for every season, and I think I will take her advice.
Just an update after our meeting this morning . . .
There will be a health and safety meeting for all students on Monday, January 10 in C Block. Mr Banta will present the students with information about the school's protocols for keeping us all safe in the face of the new situation with COVID. Much of the process will involve keeping your distance from other students -- staggered entrance and exit times, exiting from the closest door to your classroom, not congregating and limiting time spent outside of classrooms, etc.
If you have symptoms, you should not come to school. If you exhibit symptoms at school, you will be sent home.
If the school must close temporarily (if there are many students unable to attend, the Public Health office will decide or if there are not enough staff members to supervise students and manage the school, the school district will decide), we must ensure that we are up-to-date with emails to contact your family and that students understand how to access Teams (or in my case, my blog!).
If you do not have access to technology, the school might be able to provide you with what you need.
A parent letter will be sent home today to keep your family in the loop as far as the following weeks go.
********
I must send home academic alerts by Friday, so if you are behind in journals, this might be a good time to catch up. If you have not yet handed in your poetry project, do it!!!
It is time for the 4th Annual WAG Film Contest! Submit your short film (it MUST be 10 minutes or less) to Ms. Kosar by March 11! It MUST include the following components:
Theme: Express yourself
Reference to the song/video, "Express Yourself" (by NWA)
Use of the line -- "What we've got here is a failure to communicate" (originally from the film, "Cool Hand Luke")
A sunset
Someone eating something surprising
Write a script, get your friends together, scout some cool locations, rehearse, film it, edit it and then, submit it!
Break a leg!
I said I would let you know about the information we received from our meeting, but I'm afraid there isn't much to report.
We were told that you will be returning to school next Monday and that we should remind all of you to be scrupulous in wearing your masks properly (covering both your mouth and nose), that you should keep your distance from others, and that the school is planning on staggering entrance and exit times. The administration has another meeting today which will address specific concerns about secondary schools, so we hope to hear more details after that meeting. We will also have another staff meeting on Thursday.
There are no plans to extend the semester at this point, although we might hear differently after the meeting this afternoon. I will continue to try to post any new information here.
It was very snowy in Port Moody this morning. Heavy wet snow was falling and shovelling my driveway was quite a challenge. But here I am at school! I was surprised how little snow had fallen anywhere else. The sun was shining as I came up the hill from Port Moody.
This is a photo I took of a path in Rocky Point Park. The sun looks so warm, but the pathway in shade was very cold. I bought new warm boots at the end of the cold weather, but they will be good for a long while, I hope.
Keep checking here for information. I will post what I know when I know it!
Hi everyone,
I have not posted here since the solstice, but I know that many of you are likely wondering what is going to be happening over the next weeks. Me, too! The minister of education has said that students are going to get a few more days of vacation before we start classes, but I have no idea what things will look like when we return (teachers are going back tomorrow). I do know that the admin is having a meeting this morning and that after that meeting, they will probably know more and I also know that they are trying to plan our return (and your return)!
I have lots of questions and we will be having a virtual staff meeting tomorrow and some of my questions might be answered then (I hope). I will post here when I learn any more information.
One thing I do know is that the ministry of education said we are not doing online teaching or learning, but of course, all of you have things you could be working on over the extended holidays.
English 11 students: you should be reading the novel you borrowed from me in the last school week of December. Be thinking about a short passage from the novel that you could read out loud to the class (a passage about 1 minute long). If you have been reading Macbeth (I hope so), you could take a look at the Michael Fassbender film (he plays Macbeth and Marion Cotillard plays Lady Macbeth) or if you want a special treat, take a look at "Throne of Blood" directed by the great Akiro Kurosawa starring Toshiro Mifune. Kurosawa loved Shakespeare and created some great films based on Shakespeare's plays. I think "Ran" is my favourite -- it is based on King Lear.
Senior Drama: Actors, you should be learning the monologues that I provided for you. Theatre Production: Plan out your sound and light shows. Directing/Scriptwriting: Come up with a concept for a short one act play (1 minute = 1 page, so possibly 5 pages).
Drama 9/10: Work on your monologues. Think about the scenarios that I gave you before the holidays -- what scenes do you need to add?
Drama 8: Put together some music for your fairy tale mimes.
