October 15 Journal

Drama 8:

Report on how your fairy tale mime group is going.  Is anyone emerging as a leader?  How can you tell?  Who is it?  Is anyone hindering the progress of the group?  How?  Who is it?  

Write a short scene that demonstrates what is going on.  Here's an example:

Larry:  Okay, let's get started.  Alice, where do you want to sit?

Alice:  I don't want to sit, stupid.  I want to stay here and stare at my phone.

Bonnie:  But you can stare at your phone during the break.  We need to practice.

Alice:  Shut up, Donnie.

Jacky:  Looks like Alice doesn't want to play Princess Peach.  Maybe Bonnie should do it.

Alice:  (crying)  Waah!  I do want to play the princess!  My mom calls me her little princess!

. . . and so on.  Your scene should be no longer than a page! 

Drama 9/10:

How did your first heritage play go?  What went well?  What needs to be improved?  (You can incorporate Ms. Kosar's remarks and Wendy's ideas into your answer.)  Make sure you provide details.

Senior Drama:

Directors/Scriptwriters:  Write two scenes -- one for the event outside the classroom and one for the event as audience members walk into the class.  Each scene should use different actors.  Try to use every actor in the class.

Theatre Production:  Come up with a sketch of the theatre and how you would decorate it for the haunted house.  Make sure to decorate the entrance as well.

Actors:  We would like people to play characters as audience members walk in.  Can you do magic?  Can you stay still for long periods of time?  Can you create a "jump" scare?  Describe a character or an activity you can do to make the haunted house scary!

JUNK MAIL!

 I was trying to scan something to send to myself and wasn't getting any emails and so one of the ladies in the office said, "try your junk mail".

I opened the junk mail and found several journals and English assignments there!  "Oh, no!" I screamed.  "My students' work is here as well!"  I discovered a number of scanned documents that I had sent.

So, WORD TO THE WISE!  If I do not respond to your emails, it might have landed in junk!  Make sure I respond!!!

School Dress Code

 English 11:

"Sexist", "Racist", "Classist":  Georgia 8th Grader Challenges School Dress Code

The above is a story in the New York Times from September 4 of this year.

What do you think of dress codes?  What is a plus to a school having a dress code?  What is a minus for the same thing?  (This is your opinion, not from the article.)  Do you think schools need a dress code?  If you do, on what would you suggest the dress code should focus?  If not, would you have any rules about appropriate dress?  (Very low tops or very low pants forbidden?  Offensive slogans banned?  Very short shorts?  Crop tops?  Hats?) 

What did the teacher find objectionable with Sophie's outfit?  Do you agree with the teacher or with Sophie and her mom?

What is the connection (in the article) with mask-wearing?

Would you sign Sophie's petition?

I have rewritten the post after our discussion today.  Thanks for those of you who contributed.  You made me think about my own biases in this regard.

October 8 Journals and Update

 English 11:  Short Story project is due on October 12 ABSOLUTELY!  (If you can hand it in on Friday that's great.)

Write a found poem in your reading log today.

Your instructional essay is due on October 14.

Drama 8:  Which fairy tale did your group choose?  Why did they choose that one?  Which role are you going to play?  How will you create that character (think of gestures, facial expressions, costume pieces, actions that will help you create the impression that you ARE that person)?  What is the climax of the story?  Why do you think that is the climax?

Drama 9/10:  Whose presentation for "Heading Home" impressed you the most?  Why?

  What were you trying to say with your own presentation?

Senior Drama:  What is a text message you could send that would be cryptic, scary and thought-provoking?

What is your biggest fear?  Write about a time you faced your fear.

DRAMA STUDENTS:  The "Four Faces of the Moon" video is on Youtube.  Disregard the link I provided if it asks you to sign in.  

Journals for October 1

 Drama 8, 9 and 10:

What did you do for the lst ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?  

What did you think of the film, "Four Faces of the Moon"?

Why are there no subtitles?

What events in Canadian history does it explore?

What is the strongest image from the film for you?  Explain why.

Drama 9/10:  Please write your heritage story down.  Make sure you have a story to share with your group on Monday.

Senior Drama:

For homework (!) -- watch "Four Faces of the Moon" (on curio.ca).

Answer the above questions.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30

 If you're wondering how to spend the lst iteration of this new national holiday, the CBC has a lot of great films created by indigenous filmmakers.  Here is a link to Curio.ca which has many great short films:

https://curio.ca/en/video/four-faces-of-the-moon-14707/

(In fact, this is just a link to one of the films, but I think it will lead you to others.)

September 28 update!

 Everyone, please wear orange tomorrow to show your determination to help Canada become a better, more equitable place for all of us.  The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has asked for September 30 to be set aside for us to think about what has happened to indigenous peoples as a result of colonization.  Wearing an orange shirt is a visible way of saying you are willing to do this thinking and resolve to listen to and learn from indigenous people about how we can move forward to a better Canada in the future.

Drama 9/10:  Make sure you have an idea for your heritage story for Friday's journals.

Drama 8:  Make sure you have handed in your journals.  Several of you are not completing your journals.  We will work on the musical tableaus tomorrow.

Senior Drama:  Be thinking about how we can incorporate social media and the concept of an escape room into our scary plays.  Final performances of the haunted house plays is Friday!

English:  Be working on your Short Story project.  You should probably have finished reading the stories and answering the questions by now.  Be alert for ideas to write about in your own short story.

Keep up with your reading logs daily!  Everyone who has done a book report so far has been great.  This will soon be you!