Attention Grade 12 Parents!

Yesterday I sent an update of your child's marks. Please ask them to show it to you if they haven't already. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me!

“Without haste, but without rest.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

January is always a busy time of year for high school students. There is a lot to get done before final exams.

ELA 30
The students are finishing up their Poetry Anthologies. They had 5 classes to work on these before the Xmas break, and now that we are back at it they have one week of their own time to complete the assignment. They are do at the beginning of class on Tuesday, January 11th.

The grade 12s are also preparing for a large unit test. This covers the Unit Canadian Voices and Perspectives and includes poems, short stories, essays, and the plays that we studied.

We will beginning a novel study tomorrow.

ELA 20
The grade 11s are working on precis and summary writing. They have researched and read an article that included issues of the media and its affect on children and teens.

We will soon beginning a study of a play, the title of which will be announced shortly (it's hard to find a good one!).

ELA 10
To some students excitement, we have completed our novel study on Ender's Game. Their projects are awaiting my marking on the back counter, and they look awesome. I can't wait to look at them.

We are starting a new unit called Courage and Leadership. We are going to take a few poems and stories on this topic, then read the Miracle Worker.

ELA 9
We are wrapping up our short story unit. There is a test this Friday on the stories we have taken. A review will be given today in class.

As a culminating activity, students will be writing their own short story. This is an assignment worth many marks and will require a lot of attention while they use what they have learned over the course of the unit. I will post the due date as soon as it is decided.

ELA 30 - Canadian Poetry

Here you go grade 12s! This is a link for your Poetry Anthology/Appreciation that is due Tuesday, January 11th. It is a great website from the University of Toronto. Click here.

ELA 10 Marks

Attention all parents of grade 10 students:

I have sent home an update of your son or daughter's marks. Please make sure to ask them for the print out. I have asked them to share them with you, but they might forget!

I will be sending home mark sheets for the other ELA classes next week.

$100 Holiday Gift from Novica

$100 Holiday Gift from Novica

ELA 20 - Recollections Essat

Thanks to all of the Grade 11 students who handed their essays in on time this morning, at the beginning of class. This is stipulated in their General Class Contract that was handed out at the beginning of the year. This is taken right out of the document:

 5. Hand-in Procedure:

All assignments must be handed in. Assignments are to be collected at the beginning of class.

I received eight out of fifteen essays at the beginning of class. A great improvement! Other students have promised to get their essays in before the end of the day. They will not have any late marks taken off. In fact, if it is in before midnight (via email) there will be no late marks. Please don't show up at my door at 10 p.m. baring the gift of your essay. I will not answer.

For the students who do not get the essay in today, normal late charges apply. These can be found in the General Classroom Contract as well. I will copy and paste them too, just for fun.

7. So, What Happens When I Hand Something In Late, Procedure:

Good question. I understand that you are people, that you have lives, and that sometimes “stuff” happens. That is why you have two “Get out of Jail Free” cards (apparently I like Monopoly?). These can be used twice over the course of the semester and should be applied only to major projects, essays, etc. You must fill out the form and submit it to me at least ONE WEEK before the assignment is due. This will grant you a one week extension from the original due date.

The form must be completed in its entirety and brought to me. I will then approve or reject the request, sign it in front of you, and give you verbal verification as to whether it is granted.

Keep in mind that if you hand things in late, there is no guarantee that they will be handed back with the rest of the assignments that were handed in on time.

Those students who do not use their “Get out of Jail Free” cards can sign them and return them back to me at the end of the semester to receive two bonus points per card that will be applied to his/her assignment marks.

What if you didn’t use your card and it is still late? Simple. You have five days to get it into me, losing 10% per day, after that, it’s zero.

And there you have it.