Have a wonderful summer!
ELL families, students and teachers celebrated the end of the school year by joining together at Porpoise Bay for an evening Picnic. We had lots of yummy food and games. We had fun on the beach looking for creatures and nature. We saw an Eagle. Luckily, the rain stopped and we enjoyed the warm and sunny evening together. Thanks so much for joining us and sharing food and fun!
Have a wonderful summer!
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Vocabulary: Promote: further the progress of (something, especially a cause, venture, or aim); support or actively encourage Declared: openly or formally asserted or announced Apartheid: In the Republic of South Africa a rigid former policy of segregating and economically and politically oppressing the nonwhite population. Any system or practice that separates people according to color, ethnicity, caste, etc. Revolution: an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed. Civil rights: the rights to full legal, social, and economic equality extended to blacks. Contributions: gift, donation, benefaction. Defiance: a daring or bold resistance to authority or to any opposing force. Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. “ Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was an activist who fought for the civil rights of black people in South Africa. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for all of his contributions that he gave to a peaceful, nonviolent defiance against the South African government and its racist policies. Mandela became actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement, joining the African National Congress in 1942. In 1961, Mandela organized a three-day national workers' strike. He was arrested for leading the strike the following year, and was sentenced to five years in prison. In 1963, Mandela was brought to trial again. This time, he and 10 other ANC leaders were sentenced to life imprisonment for political offenses. Nelson Mandela was put in prison for 27 years. Many people including his wife, Winnie, tried to free Mandela but were unable to do so. He became well known around the world and there was a Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert on 11 June 1988 at Webley stadium, London. It was broadcast to 67 countries and an audience of 600 million. Marking the forthcoming 70th birthday (18 July 1988) of the imprisoned anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela, the concert was also referred to as Freedomfest, Free Nelson Mandela Concert and Mandela Day. He was eventually released from prison on February 11, 1990. People around the world watched with happiness and hope. In 2009, (July 18) Mandela's birthday was declared "Mandela Day" to promote global peace and celebrate the South African leader's legacy. Mandela died at his home in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013, at age 95. The band U2 wrote a song remembering the greatness of Nelson Mandela. Vocabulary: Prohibit: formally forbid (something) by law, rule, or other authority: "laws prohibiting cruelty to animals" Assassinate: to murder someone Fanatic :a person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, especially for an extreme religious or political cause. Activist: a person especially active, vigorous advocate of a cause, especially a political cause. Discrimination: treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi Mohatma Gandhi is another important activist who has influenced our world in a positive way. He was the primary leader of India’s independence movement and also the architect of a form of non-violent civil disobedience that would influence the world. Many activists like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela looked to Gandhi and his non violent civil disobedience as a way to protest and create changes where there were inequalities. Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. Mahatma Gandhi studied law in England. He moved to South Africa and was surprised by the racism and discrimination. He was asked to take off his turban in the court room; he refused and walked out of the court room. In South Africa, he became an advocate for the civil rights of Indians, both at home under British rule and in South Africa. In 1906, he organized his first mass civil-disobedience campaign, which he called “Satyagraha” (“truth and firmness”), in reaction to the government’s new restrictions on the rights of Indians, including the refusal to recognize Hindu marriages. After years of protests, the government imprisoned hundreds of Indians in 1913, including Gandhi. Under pressure, the South African government accepted a compromise and the recognition of Hindu marriages and the abolition of a poll tax for Indians. In 1919, Gandhi became a leader in the Indian home-rule movement. He called for mass boycotts, and for government officials to stop working for the Crown, students to stop attending government schools, soldiers to leave their posts and citizens to stop paying taxes and purchasing British goods. In 1930, Gandhi protested Britain’s Salt Acts, which not only prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt but also imposed a heavy tax that hit the country’s poorest particularly hard. Gandhi planned a new Satyagraha campaign that entailed a 390-kilometer/240-mile march to the Arabian Sea, where he would collect salt in symbolic defiance of the government monopoly. This march put Gandhi in the world spotlight. He was named Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” for 1930. As Great Britain became involved in World War II in 1942, Gandhi launched the “Quit India” movement that called for the immediate British withdrawal from the country. In August 1942, the British government arrested Gandhi, his wife and other leaders and imprisoned them. With his health failing, Gandhi was released after 19 months while his wife passed away. Gandhi's vision of an independent India, however, was challenged in the early 1940s by a new Muslim nationalism which was demanding a separate Muslim homeland carved out of India. In August 1947, Britain granted independence, but the British Indian Empire was separated into a Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan. As many displaced Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs made their way to their new lands, religious violence broke out, especially in the Punjab and Bengal. Gandhi visited the affected areas, attempting to provide solace. In the months following, he undertook several fasts to promote religious harmony. Some Indians thought Gandhi was too accommodating to Muslims. Sadly, a Hindu fanatic, assassinated Gandhi on 30 January 1948 by firing three bullets into his chest at point-blank. Gandhi's legacy of non violence still lives on in great movements fighting for justice. Martin Luther King is well known around the world for his contributions to changing the laws of inequality between black and white Americans during the 1960s. He was a minister with a gift for speaking and standing up to those who opposed change. He was a civil rights activist. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person on a bus. She was arrested. So, Dr. King and others started a boycott not to ride the bus. The boycott lasted a year until people listened and the law was changed. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech is very powerful. He gave this speech in Washington in 1963 with over 200,000 supports and marchers. He hoped that all me could be brothers one day.His peaceful protest and speeches helped create changes to many laws in the United States that were unfair to Black Americans (African Americans). He received the Noble Peace Prize in 1964 for all of his contributions to the civil rights movement and the Civil Rights Act. Sadly, he was assassinated in 1968. People all around the world were sad at the loss of such a positive and powerful man. Today, Jan 15th is a holiday in the USA, reminding people to strive for equality and remember the great man who made changes for all. Today in the news, we hear more and more about the Syrian Refugee Crisis. There has been a civil war in Syria since 2011. Over 100,000 people have died so far in this war. Many Syrians must leave their country to find safety. Approximately 5,000 Syrians leave each day. These people are called refugees. There are over 4 million Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries like Turkey and Lebanon. When Refugees leave they can only carry a bag as they will travel a long way. The Canadian government has promised to help resettle 25,000 Syrians. Since the Terrorists events in Paris many people have become afraid of the idea of welcoming Syrian refugees. However we must remember that it is important to help one another much like the "We to Me" Program, youth helping youth. We need to help those in need. Vocabulary: Crisis- a time of great danger Civil war- a war between citizens of the same country Refugees- People who are forced to leave their country in order to escape was or a natural disaster. Terrorism- the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. https://www.worldvision.org/wv/news/Syria-war-refugee-crisis-FAQ_ Last Wednesday, October 21, 2015, I was privileged to be invited to the WE Day celebrations with my school district, in Vancouver. I have always wanted to be part of this celebration and was thrilled to death that I finally got to participate. We Day is a celebration of youth making a difference in their local and global communities. We Schools is the yearlong program that nurtures compassion in young people and gives them the tools to create transformative social change.Sometimes, people don’t act because they’re unaware of the issues and don’t feel connected to the lives affected. Other times, people don’t act because they feel overwhelmed – they wonder how they could possibly make a meaningful difference. Over 200 students from the Sunshine coast were invited to attend the festivities at Rogers arena. I believe there were 20,000 to 30,000 in total in attendance from all over BC. I love you! -English Wo ie ni -Chinese Je t'aime - French S'agapo- Greek Tagalog Mahal Kita Iniibig Kita Creole Mwen remen ou Hawaiian Aloha wau ia 'oe Spanish Te quiero Te amo Thai Phom Rak Khun Ch'an Rak Khun Khao Raak Thoe / chun raak ter Tangsinul sarang ha yo (SA LANG HAE / Na No Sa Lan Hei?)- Korean Hindi Main tumse pyar karta hun (Male will say to Female) Mai Tumshe Pyaar Karta Hun Main tumse pyar karti hun (Female will say to Male)- HIndi Telugu "Nenu ninnu premisthunnaanu" (It represents the opposite person in SINGULAR). Nenu mimmalni Premisthunnaanu" (It represents the opposite person in PLURAL). naanu ninnu premishthaanu (Nenu Ninnu Premisttu nanu) Nenu Ninnu Premisthunnanu (nenne nenu premistunnanu)- Indonesian Saya cinta padamu Saya Cinta Kamu Aku tjinta padamu saya mengasihi saudari (formal expression from male to female) saya mengasihi saudara (formal expression from female to male) “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ― Lao Tzu There are many kinds of love: friendship, pet, child -parent, family, romantic, unconditional, caring for humanity and others, and more. We all want to be loved and to feel love. This month many countries celebrate Valentine's Day. In Canada, it has become more and more commercial. Some people don't like this. However, it is still an opportunity to show those you love with a small gesture that you care. So we give cards, chocolates, hugs and stuffed animals. We spend time with each other. This is not a holiday or a day for just husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends. We can all have fun on this day. Many people don't like this day as they feel it is unfair to those our single. Some people feel sad if they are alone. I think one day is not just for being kind and loving. So be kind to someone even a stranger. And if you are alone or single hang out with your family or friends. “You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth.” ― William W. Purkey Winter is a fun season because there is lots to do. In Canada, we can go skiing, snowshoeing,tobagganing, snow mobiling and snowboarding on the mountains. We can go skating at the ice rink with friends or family. We can rent skates at the ice rink. We enjoy it when is snows because then we can play in the snow. We like to build snowmen, have snow ball fights, give face washes, tobaggan and make snow angels. Sometimes we have snow days where we don't go to school. You need to listen to the news on the radio or watch the news on TV, or go to the school district website. This happens when we get a lot of snow and the roads are too dangerous for buses to drive kids to school. If we don't have snow near us we can drive to the mountains. Last week, I was blessed to see the Dalai Lama in Vancouver at the Convention Centre for a Heart-Mind Summit. At the Heart-Mind Summit, the Dalai Lama inspired us to "Be The Village" to expand our focus on heart-mind well being in children and youth in British Columbia. I believe educating our students and one another about compassion for ourselves and one another is very important. Being a teacher on the Sunshine Coast I am blessed to work with so many great students and educators. I hope I am educating my students and their hearts everyday. The Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and education believes in "Compassionate children in a peaceful world." Their mission is to educate the hearts of children by informing, inspiring and engaging the communities around them. The values are :
The day with the Dalai Lama included music and singing with children, laughter, wisdom and sharing. The Dalai Lama went to John Oliver High school in the morning and spoke to some students. One student brought up the importance of the relationship with the mother and learning compassion. The Dalai Lama believes the mother is essential to teaching. Another part of the day, that was emotional and inspiring, was when the poet Shane Koyczan spoke. I have added his poem that he has performed across Canada with the Blue Dot tour and David Suzuki. I wanted to show the Dalai Lama's talk but it is not up on the internet yet so I will post a talk he was at in England. It was Hosted by The Master, Fellows and Scholars of St John's College, His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses members of the University of Cambridge on the theme of "Educating the Heart" at St John's College Chapel in Cambridge, England, on April 19, 2013. Sir Ken Robinson speaks during the Dalai Lama Center's Educating the Heart Series. He discusses the importance of an education that educates not just the mind, but also the heart. Here is a video of his inspiring talk. Fall is a great season for many reasons. One: It is when the leaves change colours. Two :Thanksgiving happens and Halloween. Three: We get to wear cute boots and jackets and scarves. Four: There are lots of new TV shows and sports to enjoy while you cozy on the couch. Five: You get to run and jump in the leaves. Why do you like the Fall? Autumn Leaves is a much-recorded popular song which was originally a 1945 French song Les Feuilles Mortes, meaning The Dead Leaves. The American songwriter Johnny Mercer wrote English lyrics in 1947. It became a pop and a jazz standard in both languages, both as an instrumental and with a singer.
Nat King Cole released his rendition of this classic song in 1955 on the Capitol Record Label. |
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