Graduation

Well the big day finally came!  And despite more than a few glitches with the slide show we made it through!  The next couple of days should be fun as well!

                                                                   Well here are the ladies

And then there were the gentlemen

And then there was everyone in our rather messy classroom!

And then there were our friends in Division Two although a couple of ladies were late and we missed them in the picture!

I know everyone is excited for tomorrow's trip downtown despite the expected rain!  Stay tuned!

Getting to give our money away!

Monday was also exciting not just for Reading on the Roof but because we were able to have a visit from our friend, Luella, and her brother, Robert, the founder of Compassionate Eye Foundation  and from Sharon, Vancouver's coordinator of Room to Read.  We were able to give them our cheques from our fundraising!  Here is the video with Luella and Robert and Doris and Jamee and here is the video of Sharon thanking you.
Tuesday we got to use the delicious strawberries Luella brought to do observations in science, practice our mindfulness, and of course get to eat them!  Sharon brought beautiful roses that we didn't try to eat, not even for the purposes of science.
I think Division One has learned a great deal about raising money for great causes and we thank Sharon and Luella for the great fundraising tips they gave us well.  We also really noticed that Robert used his passion for photography to raise money for a great project.  This week we have been working on habitudes-imagination, curiosity, self-awareness, passion, perseverance, and courage and here are three people who certain demonstrate these qualities.
Tuesday we had a visit from, Hector, a former student of Ms. Kezar.  Originally from Venezuela,

Hector moved to Vancouver and went to Moberly, Carleton, and Killarney Schools and now is studying urban design at Cornell University.  He was a techie in Ms. Kezar's class but he was impressed by your artistry and  technological savvy.

reading on the roof

Here is the view from up on the roof of Trudeau Elementary!  Once they found out about the teachers having a barbecue here, Division One wanted to enter the secret realm up on the roof.  Here's a famous song about being up on the roof!

Here are most of the girls, all engaged in reading...

Now who is that on top of the world?

Here are the rest of the boys...

These two can read anywhere anytime

Clouds anyone?

And looking down at trees is kind of nice and a bit of a change!

Four years at our school and this is the first class I know that has spent reading time on the roof.  There is a big desire to do it again as long as no one tries to kick a ball around on top of Division Two's classroom it should be fine...

Champion fundraisers

We have some good basketball players and good soccer players but I am most proud about how well this class has done raising money for worthy causes.  You have raised over 1800 dollars this year!  Three foundations that help internationally-Nepal Library Foundation, Compassionate Eye, Room to Read, and three organizations that feed the hungry in our own city-the Vancouver Food Bank, Downtown East Neighbourhood House, and the Union Gospel Mission, have benefitted from your hard work, initiative, and  creativity as well as some generosity from your parents re supplies for bake sales etc.  And many of you, as well, have been involved with Me to We Club that raises money and awareness through the Free the Children organization.  I hope that you will keep up your great work in high school and keep making the world a kinder, better place!

Guess who won the RBL Grade Seven Championship?

You guessed it!  Here they are in their undefeated glory! The Trudeau is in my kitchen awaiting it's trip to Trudeau Monday (we will let the players from Henderson and Sexsmith come to visit!)

Here they are at play!

I think they look rather happy that they are finally getting to take a basketball trophy back to Trudeau!  Well done!