We spend all that time stressing and planning and getting ready for Christmas and then it is over! Hope all of you had a lovely festive time and are on the road to recovery today. I had a real Boxing Day experience this morning. I wonder if you know that Boxing Day was the day that well off people gave "boxes" or gifts to the people who served them over the course of the year, like the milkman or the butcher or the garbage man or the gardener. Goodness, we don't even have milkmen any more (at least that I know of) and I imagine very few of us have our own butcher or gardener either.
Anyhow, I had taken Daisy out early (her digestive clock still wants a walk at 5:30 a.m. to "answer the call of nature") and came home, made coffee and sprawled out on the couch to read (Songs for the Cold of Heart by Eric Dupont -- just a wonderful, rich read -- I highly recommend it) when I heard the unmistakable sound of the recycling truck lumbering down the street. I looked out and what to my wandering eyes should appear, but a gigantic vehicle (and no tiny reindeer)! Oh no, I hadn't put out the bins! I threw on my new Christmas slippers and ran out with my recycling! The man was very pleasant and helped me move out the bins (for our sixplex we have three recycling bins, one compost bin and one for glass) and explained that "yes, Virginia, we do recycling on Boxing Day"! (So many Xmas references here - how many can you count?) I said, "I should give you a box of treats for helping me out all year!" I'm not sure if he understood my reference to Boxing Day, but he laughed anyway (humouring an old woman, perhaps) and hopped into his truck and off into the day he went.
This evening we are going to my sister-in-law's for a "leftover" dinner. (Everyone brings leftovers from their Christmas dinner.) I made my famous sweet potato dish (everyone loves it) and will also bring leftover gingerbread and shortbread (made my me) and we will likely have a few laughs and uncomfortable moments and perhaps even some arguments and then the boys and I will wish everyone "happy holidays" and come home. As long as we don't have to talk about Donald Trump, I'll be happy.
I took a quiz in the Guardian this morning on how much I know about Donald Trump and I scored 11/12! The verdict from the Guardian is that I know too much about him and should wean myself from my excessive interest. I couldn't agree more! There's a New Year's resolution for me.
Thank you to all of you for a great 2018 and for the nice cards and presents and kind thoughts and warm wishes and for trying to do your best always. I hope you have a nice holiday from school and that you get outside in the weather and get rosy cheeks and deep breaths of fresh air and that you eat lots of good food and laugh and read a book you can't put down (the aforementioned Songs for the Cold of Heart is like that) and that you greet 2019 with optimism and positivity!
Wednesday 26 December 2018
Friday 14 December 2018
I hear those sleigh bells jingling!
We're nearly at the holidays!
A Block -- No journals today as you did your journal on Monday. Make sure you keep bringing contributions for the canned food drive. Think how hard it would be to be hungry at this time of year.
B Block -- We have about a month left in this class! (Time flies while you're having fun.) Writers and directors -- can you give me your script for the panto asap? You can give me one for the two of you, or you can each write your own version -- whichever you like. After we come back from the holidays, you should have an original script (10 pages or less) in the works (which you could finish in the first week back).
Theatre production -- You guys are expected to "produce" the panto. Find costumes, make props, do the lighting and sound. You should have your jobs listed in your journal. Get a copy of your group's script and make sure you set it up to run light and sound with it. We will have a dress rehearsal of the final product on Wednesday and then an extravaganza on Thursday!
Actors -- Who are you playing in the panto? What will you do? What does your character want? What obstacles does the character face? How will you create a believable character? What challenges are you facing as an actor? How can you overcome these challenges?
As I said for theatre production, I want to see the final panto on Thursday! Dress rehearsal on Wednesday! Shall I invite some classes to come and enjoy them?
C Block -- Whose Shakespeare scene impressed you the most? Explain why.
What are the rules of theatre sports?
A Block -- No journals today as you did your journal on Monday. Make sure you keep bringing contributions for the canned food drive. Think how hard it would be to be hungry at this time of year.
B Block -- We have about a month left in this class! (Time flies while you're having fun.) Writers and directors -- can you give me your script for the panto asap? You can give me one for the two of you, or you can each write your own version -- whichever you like. After we come back from the holidays, you should have an original script (10 pages or less) in the works (which you could finish in the first week back).
Theatre production -- You guys are expected to "produce" the panto. Find costumes, make props, do the lighting and sound. You should have your jobs listed in your journal. Get a copy of your group's script and make sure you set it up to run light and sound with it. We will have a dress rehearsal of the final product on Wednesday and then an extravaganza on Thursday!
Actors -- Who are you playing in the panto? What will you do? What does your character want? What obstacles does the character face? How will you create a believable character? What challenges are you facing as an actor? How can you overcome these challenges?
As I said for theatre production, I want to see the final panto on Thursday! Dress rehearsal on Wednesday! Shall I invite some classes to come and enjoy them?
C Block -- Whose Shakespeare scene impressed you the most? Explain why.
What are the rules of theatre sports?
Tuesday 11 December 2018
Canned food drive!
A Block -- Don't forget to bring your donation for the canned food drive tomorrow! We did very well today, but we want to make sure we help as many people as we can with our donations at this cold and dark time of year! Let the sun shine in!
Thursday 6 December 2018
Closing night
Journal for Friday, December 7
Grade 8:
Comment on "Pride and Prejudice". Describe one of the performances, the set, the costumes, the music, and anything else that stood out for you.
If you were in the play, write about your experience.
If you didn't see the play, write about a play that you've seen.
Grade 9/10
You were assigned your topic yesterday.
Senior Drama
What have you accomplished so far in your British pantomime? Have you ever seen one? If you have, what was it like? If you have not, describe a funny performance you've seen.
Sunday 2 December 2018
Pride and Prejudice
Grade 8's!
Remember, we are going to see the school play on Wednesday at 1 (you will need to eat your lunch quickly before you come in the theatre). The tickets are only $5 and go to a good cause -- the Drama Club uses the money they earn from one play to pay for the next play and there are many benefits to having a lively drama club at your school (plays help people understand and empathize with other people, they make us think about our place in the world, they help us walk in someone else's shoes, they inspire us and make us laugh and cry and hope). Bring your money before Wednesday if possible. Remember, if it is a financial hardship for you, I understand perfectly and just want you to be able to see the play, but if you can pay, please do as it is extremely helpful to the Club to use the proceeds from ticket sales to pay for paint and costumes and lumber and props (which we all get to use later!)
If you are not in my A or D Block class, ask your teacher to check with me to see if you can come with your class. We are almost full, so time is of the essence!
Remember, we are going to see the school play on Wednesday at 1 (you will need to eat your lunch quickly before you come in the theatre). The tickets are only $5 and go to a good cause -- the Drama Club uses the money they earn from one play to pay for the next play and there are many benefits to having a lively drama club at your school (plays help people understand and empathize with other people, they make us think about our place in the world, they help us walk in someone else's shoes, they inspire us and make us laugh and cry and hope). Bring your money before Wednesday if possible. Remember, if it is a financial hardship for you, I understand perfectly and just want you to be able to see the play, but if you can pay, please do as it is extremely helpful to the Club to use the proceeds from ticket sales to pay for paint and costumes and lumber and props (which we all get to use later!)
If you are not in my A or D Block class, ask your teacher to check with me to see if you can come with your class. We are almost full, so time is of the essence!
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