Sept. 8 - Welcome back from the weekend!

Today, we went over how to organize our binders for the school year. Mr. Wilds showed us a Google Slide deck with a visual checklist of the supplies we’ll need to bring to every class to stay on top of things. For anyone missing some items today, the slide deck will also be posted in Google Classroom so it can be reviewed later.

Next, we continued our discussion about our ongoing project, due next week. Several students asked about the due date, and Mr. Wilds reminded us that it’s a good habit in high school to use our agenda books to track assignments and deadlines instead of just relying on memory or asking others. He even showed us a sample agenda page from a former student, which clearly laid out homework and deadlines. The key point: organization—both in binders and in time management—is our responsibility, and we need to take initiative.

Towards the end of class, Mr. Wilds showed us the project instructions posted in the Classwork section of Google Classroom. He also let us know there is a rubric attached, which we’ll review more closely in the next class.

Sept. 5 (B-Block) - In our second block of the day, we started with a talk about the term identity. We discovered that identity changes over time, and that this is totally natural. Through our experiences—both positive and negative—we are shaped and changed. This isn’t a good or bad thing, but part of how we grow.

Next, we worked in small groups to explain, in our own words, a famous quote from To Kill a Mockingbird. Each group shared their explanation, and Mr. Wilds typed them into a Google Slide that will be posted in Google Classroom.

We also explored the idea that each of us has our own “shoes” that we walk in—a reflection of who we are now and who we are becoming. We discussed how if people gave one another a chance, or the benefit of the doubt, we could live in a more understanding and harmonious world.

To deepen our understanding of identity and values, Mr. Wilds introduced our first project and presentation of the year: Walk A Mile In Our Shoes. We went over the project guidelines (also posted in Google Classroom) and received two shoe stencils to use for our design.

Important:

• The finished project is due in class on September 15.

• Presentations will also begin that day and may take a few class blocks.

• Please use your time wisely and check Google Classroom for full instructions.

Sept. 5 (S-Block) - In our first of two blocks for the day, we learned that we will be having a student teacher for parts of the school year.  Ms. Tremblay, will be working alongside Mr. Wilds, however, she was not with us today because she has classes at McGill on Fridays. Each of us received a copy of the course outline to keep at the front of our subject binders. This outline also includes a list of the supplies we’ll need for the school year.

Next, Mr. Wilds gave us a tour of Google Classroom. He explained how the different tabs will be used and how they’ll help us stay organized. We also looked at several important posts that already contain answers and links to sites that will guide us when we have questions.

Some students had already joined the Google Classroom yesterday when Mr. Wilds sent out invitations. Many of us have already logged in with our school email and password to join the group. For those who weren’t able to log in yet, don’t worry—this will get sorted out soon, and everyone will have access.

Before the end of class, we set up our seating arrangements for the first couple of cycle days. These groups will serve as our collaborative work partners. Remember, our teamwork and individual contributions will be part of how we are graded this year.

Aug. 29 - Today was a wonderful day welcoming our new Grade 7 students to the school! The halls were buzzing with excitement, and it was a joy to see our student leaders so capably guiding the new students to our classroom and the team building exercises in the afternoon.

We began our time together with a quick orientation to our two subjects: English Language Arts and Culture and Citizenship in Quebec. To give everyone a clear roadmap for the year ahead, I introduced our class goals, which I’d mapped out on the blackboard. Breaking down the goals by our class cycle helps us visualize our progress and understand what we’ll be focusing on with each passing day.

A big part of our discussion today was about the importance of working in groups. Collaboration is a cornerstone of our classroom, and we talked about how working with different classmates helps us develop new skills and perspectives. The students were also very curious about their seating arrangements, so we made a plan to change seats after every two full cycles of classes to ensure everyone gets a chance to connect with new people.

Our time together today was just the beginning. I'm already looking forward to our next class and continuing our journey into English Language Arts and Culture and Citizenship. It was a fantastic first step, and I know this group is going to have an incredible year!