Sept. 9 - At the start of class, Ms. Tremblay gave us feedback on the work submitted at the end of yesterday’s block. She explained that if it had been graded for marks, many students would not have earned the results they were hoping for. While this wasn’t the case for everyone, she also noted that another class group had a much higher success rate on the same task.

We then discussed how to work more efficiently in groups and shared strategies for getting the best effort from everyone when completing collective work.

This led us into today’s main task. Each group was given one of eight real-life case studies. Our job was to write a proper email to a staff member, coach, or principal connected to the scenario. The email had to include the correct address, accurate details, and clear communication. If information was missing, we could use classroom resources or ask Mr. Wilds for help.

By the end of class, all groups had submitted their emails for grading. Unlike yesterday, this assignment will count for marks, and we are optimistic that today’s performance was stronger. We also received our work from yesterday back, so everyone could see what their grade might have been if that first assignment had counted toward the term.

Sept. 8 (A+B blocks) - Welcome back from the weekend!

Today, we started by reviewing 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. For anyone missing items, the slide deck will also be posted in Google Classroom so it can be reviewed later.

Next, we took notes on email etiquette to help us communicate more effectively with teachers and coaches. We carefully went over what should—and shouldn’t—be included in a proper email before moving on to a group activity. Each student was given four sample emails and asked to work independently with a highlighter or pen to identify five strengths or areas for improvement, based on our notes.

We then came back together as a class to share our findings. Each group worked to pick their top five points and then rank the four emails from best to worst. These worksheets were collected by Ms. Tremblay, while Mr. Wilds gave us some feedback on how to work efficiently in groups. He reminded us that teamwork will be graded this year, and that it’s important to roll up our sleeves, apply ourselves, and make the most of group time so we can learn from one another.

Looking ahead: In our next block, we’ll be given one of eight case studies—real-world scenarios where a student might need to email a teacher or coach. Mr. Wilds gave us a quick preview so we know what to expect.

Sept. 2 - Today was our kick-off day for Grade 8! Mr. Wilds went over what this year will look like—what’s expected of you in class, how to stay on top of your work, and how we treat each other. You also got a course outline with all this information, so make sure to keep it in your binder for reference.

We also met Miss Tremblay, our student teacher. She’ll be with us until mid-December. At times over the next few weeks, someone from McGill University will visit to watch our class so they can give feedback to Miss Tremblay.

As the week goes on, Google Classroom will be set up for you, and your parents will be contacted with important information.