The Big Biography Push

Wow, the Easter break gave us two short weeks, but we sure did a lot in that time! Our visit with Eva Olsson was an incredible experience. We spent several days following her talk discussing the main themes which revolved around the importance of FAMILY, schoolyard BULLYING, the value and importance of CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP, and the roles that citizens play as a BYSTANDER to acts that they know are wrong. It was a presentation that few of us will ever forget.
After eight months of working on their recorder skills, our class presented two pieces at today's sharing, along with a solo piece written and presented by Oisin. It was a pitch perfect presentation, enhanced by the addition of some African drumming performed by Oisin, Aaron, Iris, and Andrew. Well done everyone!
With some serious help from volunteer extraordinaire Maureen C., we are almost complete one of our major Art projects for the term, which is lino block printing. The process involved the creation of original designs, transfer paper to get designs on the block, and the reduction with lino cutters to 'engrave' the designs in the block. Everyone will have finished the block reduction portion of the project by the end of this week, which will allow us to move on to the printing portion next week. Stop in later next week to check out the results of our hard work, and while you are in take a look at the social justice writing the students have done in their "I Stand" projects.
Our major focus for the past month has been the creation of the Grandparent Biographies. The past two weeks we wrapped up the rough drafts of our final chapters and segments of our books. We have spent some time working on editing each other's work, and now we have all shifted to the writing of the good copies. This is the 'homework' phase of the project. As stated on all of the timetables sent home so far, May 6 is the due date for the final, edited, printed, and organized copies of the biographies to be submitted for anyone wanting them to be bound in a hardcover version. These biographies reflect a lot of hard work, and effort on the parts of the students, and the families, so we have contracted a Canadian book binder to professionally bind copies for those who wish to make them a bit more of a family keepsake. All work must be on standard letter paper (8 1/2 X 11), with page numbers (in case of any mix ups of pages), organized in order, inside of a manilla envelope (these will be sent home from class). The cost of the binding is ten dollars per book. Those who wish more than one copy need to hand in more than one copy (in seperate envelopes) and ten dollars for each copy. We have covered this in detail in class (on many occasions) and more information will follow regarding the organization of the pages for those with questions.
Any work submitted after next Friday will likely not be able to be bound in hardcover, but we will be able to create a spiralled soft cover at school for those (for no fee). The hardcovers will be returned in June, and we will hold a book launch at that time (stay tuned).
So...the big push is here. There is just one week left and the students will need help with this portion of their work so (please) get typing!