Summer is officially here and we are finally settling into our new routine which is in fact, no routine. Who knew the adjustment could be such a difficult transition for kids, and for moms for that matter. We limped our way across the “end-of-the-year” finish line, ready for a break and ready to put our [...]
What if we measured wealth in something other than money and material possessions? The grade 9 Humanities classes went on a field trip to the Museum of Anthropology on the UBC campus in Vancouver. It was a valuable experience as we began our study of First Nations cultures in Canada. One of the things that stood [...]
by Tanya KienekerSometimes we feel like very lazy parents. It’s true. We hear stories from friends about the adventurous things they've done with their kids—going on hikes, camping along the Baja, attending concerts… (Don’t even get me started on Disney Land or family camps!)And us? We prefer to stay at home and make the kids [...]
I was asking my Humanities 9 students a series of questions in preparation for a research project. "Is it OK to use a pencil?" "Is it OK to use an apple (to make pie, for instance)?" "Is it OK to use a chicken (to make pie, for instance)?" Most answered yes to all of the [...]
We all make assumptions. I watch my boys getting off the bus in the afternoon, one carrying Owen's backpack and the other carrying Owen, and I assume my 5-year-old was snoozing. I observe a mom pull into the parking lot, studiously avoiding eye contact with everyone, her dark hoodie pulled up over her head and [...]
I have two very important words to say to you. These two words are for you parents. Just two words. Thank you. You may have heard these words from me before, but today, I want you to REALLY hear them. Thank you—for sitting with your child and reading. Especially during those times when it seems [...]
Every once in a while someone asks me a really good question that gets me thinking deeply about life. However, more often it is some small event or interaction that prompts me to ponder. Recently, I spent a couple of days with our Grade 8 students at Camp Kawkawa, and I experienced one of those [...]
The last months of grade 8 are a flurry of activity, and believe it or not, our end-of-the-year trip to Camp Kawkawa actually gives teachers and students a chance to catch our collective breath. Sure, we have lots of great stuff planned to make the most of our time at camp, but a big part [...]
When I picked her up from school for a dentist appointment, I was greeted with the words: “You look like everybody’s mom.” I wasn't exactly sure if that was a compliment. And then I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the window. It was true. I had conformed. I was wearing my [...]
We just passed a six-year milestone for our family. In May 2008, our son Sam (currently an ACS grade 11 student) went to the hospital with his mom because we thought he had the flu. After tests and many worrisome conversations with the E.R. staff, they determined that he likely had Leukemia. We were on [...]
