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May 29, 2008 The end is near!!!!! They told me that the first year of teaching would be filled with long days and longer nights. The overload of lessons to prepare for, the after school activities and of course the marking. No wonder I am addicted to the alluring taste of the dark roasted coffee bean! Well, it is now June and I am a few weeks away from that cherished silver lining to all those 2 a.m's friends told me littered the path of a teacher rookie year. I am almost to the promise land that I envied in my past vocation for so many years, summers off!

Well before, I start tanning and hanging out by the pool, I, and the other Jr. High teachers at CCS have much to assets and reflect upon as we are preparing the students final grades. Well, I guess it is a small price to pay. If any parents would like a exit interview, please feel free to contact me over the next few weeks to discuss your child's year. It would be my honour to see you.

During the Edo period, (1525-1701), the Japanese were sceptical of western ideas and influence among their own people. In response, they expelled and closed their boarders to any western ideas and beliefs. During this period of isolation, coincidently many important events in the history of the Western world occurred; among these events was the industrial revolution. When Japan re-connected with the west during the Meiji period, it discovered that there isolation had not served it well in all aspects of life and economics. Japan needed to quickly adapt to a very different, fast changing world in order to survive as a nation. The Japanese believed that they were protecting their culture from being diluted or tainted. However, if you travel to Japan today, you discover a beautiful modern nation, steeped in the beauty of their traditions despite their adaptation to the global economy over the last 50 years. As a Christian School, it can be far to easy to isolate ourselves from the rest of the world. Our task of opening up the world and worldview of others to our students is often difficult by our own fear that we might dilute our child’s faith. But what happens when they leave CCS? What help are we giving them if we cloister them in here and not prepare them with the tools to see the beauty of God where ever they go? Our task is to help our student recognize the beautiful aspects of God's creation in all its facets. Parents, strive to take the time to appreciate beauty within our world. Our community is filled with the diverse creative hand of God! We can appreciated it when we take our family to a cultural event, an ethnic restaurant, or visit another country on a family vacation. God rejoices in His created order and we should appreciate it and explore it all!  
 * Become a Beauty Creator **

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April 10 - No Ordinary Class
Ordinary… when you look up the definition in the dictionary you discover that it means expected or in the normal order of events. Ordinary and other synonym gets thrown around in our life more often than they should. You hear people say, “It is just an ordinary day”, or “work was average”. No fireworks or exclamation mark, just the same expected, predictable routine, with nothing new! Our Grade 8 class’ performance of Anything but… Ordinary reminded us of God’s power to take that which appears to be ordinary and create extra-ordinary opportunities to show love, compassion and mercyof our Savior. As the students now reflect on their experience, write, draw, and create the last of their Spring Program Assignment, and recall the fun they had during the preparation and presentation I am sure they have a lot to consider. I know that they, as well as you and I, will now have to wrestle with the idea of how will me let God use us each day? I hope that this isn’t a question that any of us find an easy answer to. To find an easy answer defeats the purpose of letting God be in control. Mr. C. Ward .

MARCH 5th - Three Weeks to-go
In my former life when I treated myself to coffee breaks at Startbucks twice a day, I worked on a couple of projects that I am proud to say, have had some staying power. By that, I mean, there are events and programs I helped envision that have had a lasting power in the former churches I served. It might be a mission’s focus of outreach program, but it is now a part of that churches fiber and a lot bigger than I could have imagined it. One ministry, that isn't mine anymore is a program called "Turn the Tide" It started back in Halifax, and was a youth meeting with a handful of teens that met for singing fellowship and bible study. It is now a very large youth and young adult ministry on the East Coast that reaches out to many families.

The only two constant about the ministry, now and than, I believe is the name and the mission. The leadership is different, the meeting time is different, the kids are different, (I think a lot of the originals are now the leaders), the people who come is very different. The most important thing remains is the mission, it has stayed the same, it was and still remains, Christ can turn the tide in anyone’s life and transform you deep within. I believe that part of Christian Education is transforming the lost and broken parts of creation and transforming them through the power of the gospel. . I believe in the power of the spirit to help students succeed. To restore and build up society, one lesson, one student and one year at a time. I believe that our focus is to live is such a way that others can see the difference in us at ask us about the hope that is in us.

Prayer for the next few weeks we have an amazing opportunity to share the gospel with others in our community. To tell other about the power of God to turn the ordinary into extraordinary. Join me in praying that our students will embrace the hope within them and share it boldly with our community so that many will hear and be transformed.

**Feb 22- Reflections on the First 100 Days**
When someone told me last week that there was only 70 days left in the school year, and we have just finished our 100 day of the 2007-2008 school year, I was astonished. To think that more than half of this year was already over and only a third of the year remained with these great Grade 8 students was a bit sad. I have appreciated many things about the last few months but I am excited about the adventure ahead, especially the next month that will see us involved in a memorable Easter Season and Spring Program. It is going to be fantastic to see them leading a message of hope for all to hear during the two weeks at the end of March. Of all the things I have appreciated about these students, the most precious has been the change that many people have noted in the students maturity. Grade 8 is a tough year; full of emotional ups and downs. There are lots of reasons to close your eyes tight and hope just to ride out the year, waking up just in time for grade 9. However, I am impressed that our students have really tried to make an impact on CCS and will continue to make a positive impact in our community. Good job on the first 100!

Feb 13[[image:1.jpg width="200" height="169" align="left" caption="Wagner' Ring - The Rainbow Bridge"]] - The Winspear Centre - Wagner's Ring FIELD TRIP!!!
The image is familiar to all who hold any knowledge of opera, a robust soprano wearing a horned helmet and a breastplate, screaming rather than singing her opening notes, ably providing enough volume for all within a German Rhine countryside to hear.

If you know anything about opera, you know about the Ride of the Valkyries and therefore, something about Wagner's Magical Ring Cycle. An 15 hour epic Opera that took the composer over 25 years to write. Many modern writers such as Tolkien, Lewis, Lucas and Spielberg have used the Ring as inspiration in creating such masterpieces as the Lord of the Rings, Narnia and Star Wars. Do many of us, this might be a cool field trip away, but for others, it will be an unforgettable experience of theater and music. It is especially great that we get to attend this performance while we are studying The //Hobbit//. //The Hobbit// has much in common with the Ring in that it has connecting theme such as an all powerful ring, good vs. evil and the power of love to win the day. I hope that our students enjoy this opportunity we have.

For a lighter look at the opera (if that is what you want to call it) you can always check out Bugs Bunny - Warner’s Bros. idea of the Ring in "What's Opera Doc" at [|www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEhHroh2r4w]



A wise person once said, "that the only place you find success before work is in the dictionary".
That wise person was the legendary Vince Lombardi, famed coach of the NFL's Greenbay Packers. He knew a thing or two about being successful; he certainly knew a thing or two about hard work. He, if you remember me telling you was the person who coined the phrase "you play like you practice". We have limited time over the next two months to pull Spring Program together. It is going to be an excellent opportunity for you to show off your God given talent and put CCS best foot forward. However, if any of us beleives that we will just show up on the day of the preformance and knock it out of the park (sorry about so many sports cliche) is fooling themselves. As we are studing in our Bible Unit, Wise Words from Wise Guys, real wisdom is not as common as we'd be lead to beleive. There are a lot of voices, calling out to us, distracting us from hearing what it is God wants us to hear. Beleive it or not, God wants all the students in our class to do their best and give it there all. That is why I will leave you with one little thought, "Our life and talents are God’s gift to us, what we do with them **is** **our** **gift** **to** **Him**

Convention Week
Some of you might be wondering, what does a teacher do at Teacher's Convention? I would love to say I knew, but I don't seeing that it is my first time. What I do know is that like many other PD days, the event is packed full of learning opportunities for teachers in all areas of study. So think of it as a chance for your teachers to learn something new about their jobs, their co-workers and most of all, themselves.

Snow Day '08
The debate will rage for years in the minds of your teachers that today was one of the coldest day any of them could remember, that is of course, since they were young and they had to walk to school up hill both ways in -70 C, with the snow and wind blowing in their face, oh did I mention that they had no shoes or socks! The first snow day of the year has come and gone and many of you stayed at home, nice and warm. I am sure you are wondering what you missed? Well, in breif; with only four students, we couldn't accomplish anything new so we took the opportunity to catch up on some homework. We did have an extended Phys Ed class with Mr H and the grade 9's in which the girls of the Jr. High claimed sumpremcy over the boys in dodgeball. We also watch a video on Canadian History. Well, tomorrow there is little hope for a reprise of this cold weather but we will be excited to see all you soon.

Janaury 22
First of all, my thanks go out to Joanne Gulley for her service to our homeroom last week while I was away. She did a fantastic job filling in for me and I know that all the students were glad to have her during the week..

Our push for the next eight weeks (March 26-27) will be Spring Program. Alongside of all of our regular classroom work and activities will be the preperation for our annual Spring Program. The theme of this year's program is STOMP and our grade eight will take an important role in this production. Plans and practices are already under way and we are excited about the show.

Please keep this and all our grade 8's in your prayers daily. .

Challenge 5
What a trip! In traveling over 1200 miles by boat in six days I was blessed to see a lot of exciting places. The seas were very calm for most of the trip, however, one night, the weather was so bad that the pool drained itself. This made me wonder how the early Explorers must have felt during their long voyages on tiny boats at the mercy of the sea. The boat I was in carried almost 3000 people, was over 80 tones, and was the height of a seven story building. (Think about how small the life size replica of the Santa Maria in the West Edmonton Mall is compared to the size of the Fantasy Land Hotel?) My last question for you is this, who were the King and Queen of Spain that Financed/sponsored Columbus' trips?

Challenge 4
Today Mrs. Ward and I are sailing back to eastern side of the Gulf of Mexico and eventuallly to a little lsland called CoCo Cay off of Cuba. Pirates used small Islands during the 17 Century for hiding stolen bounty, Spanish, English, and French ships were all targets and many a captian surrendered his cargo of gold and jewels. Your question today is two fold, how many islands are in the Caribbean Sea and name a famous pirate?

Challenge 3
Today I had the opportunity to "Discover Mexico" [|www.discovermexico.com] I enjoyed a historical trip through the annals of Mexican, Central, and South American history and discovered many wonderful things about the past civilizations that lived her many years ago. The question I have for you today is this, beside the Aztecs, who were the other two major people groups (one in Central and one in South America) that the Spanish came in contact with?

January 14
Challenge 2

Mexico - Cozumel Island
Hola, from the overcast shores of eastern Mexico - It has been a great cruise so far. Yesterday, we enjoyed the Caymen Islan and enjoyed the shopping and sights. Today we enjoyed the beach and some great volleyball.

Cozumel is a signifacent island in the history of the Spanish Imperialization of Mexico. It was from this Island that Cortez landed and heard of the stories of the Aztecs and their great city which is know modern day Mexico City. Your challenge is to discover the name and spelling of that famous ancient city to win your prize. Miss you all!!!!

January 11
Challenge #1 Hi-Ho from the beaches of Florida on the rim of the Caribbean Sea where for hundreds of years sails have traveled looking for treasures beyond the minds comprehension! It is the belief of some that the Fountain of Youth is hidden in Florida. As Spain claimed this area in the late 15 Century, many an adventure has looked for it desperately. Here is your first challenge, who claimed to have found it, and what did it do? ([|http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/history.html)]

Well, I don't think I am going to find anything like that but I do hope that I find some warmer weather.

I want to praise all the Grade 8 for doing a stellar job our your Renaissance Projects. Pulling all that information together was not an easy task. As for marks, you will receive your mark in three allotments, one for each area of work (written, visual and oral) as soon as I get back.

Mrs. Ward says hi and hopes that you have a great week. I will defiantly try to post something daily if I can get to a computer.

January 7
//**Happy New Year and welcome back everyone!**// I am so glad to see you all even thought I am positive you wish for another week of holidays. I am looking forward to the start of an awesome year as we kick off January with a bang. All these new beginnings remind me of how God is the Lord of all our new beginnings.Don't forget, Thursday is our Social Studies/LA oral and visual presentations of the Greatest City State of the Renaissance project.And just in case you did not hear - Seattle Sehawks play in the NFC semi-finals this weekend. (Go Seahawks!!)