It was a special day at Highroad Friday as students participated in Terry Fox Day. Students did lots of  laps around the gym as we commemorated the life of an amazing Canadian. I always get choked up whenever I see the video below. Just the courage and strength of faith as he battled to overcome all the challenges placed in front of him doing something he was passionate about. Terry Fox sort of epitomizes and personalizes one of the challenges I want to place on the students this year; that while things will be hard, nothing worth doing ever comes easily and if we persevere, we can do great things. He was an amazing man whose joy came from helping others. Terry Fox personally sacrificed a great deal to bring hope and happiness to others. While we can only do a little to remember him, it is still important to remember an ordinary person who became …

…. a hero.

On Friday, students will be having their first class party. The students have earned enough stars for good behavior to earn their party. I have been very impressed with their good behavior and the students have truly earned this reward. For Friday, I have told the students that I will bring the drinks but that they need to bring a special snack just for themselves. Unfortunatly, we can’t share snacks at this time. Only small items are needed.

Today, we started with our Xtramath on the Chromebooks. Xtramath is a great online program to help students learn their basic math facts – and it’s free. While it may become monotonous for the children, they are building and strengthening those neurons in the brain that help with math functioning. The more repetition, the stronger those connections become. We move on soon to multiplication once students get used to using the system with addition.

It is Orange Shirt Day tomorrow. Students in K-6 are allowed to wear orange shirts with casual pants. If students choose not to wear orange, they are to wear their regular uniforms.

On Monday, we will be starting spelling and memory verses.