Half Day

So today was the OSSLT (Literacy Test) which meant that we got to SLEEP IN and didn't have to come in to school til 12:30. Which I quite enjoyed.

However, I thought classes started at 12....so I came then. I did find Mauricio, Christy, Stubbs, Dunlop, and Kramer playing some intense President in the cafeteria though.......so naturally, I walked over and joined them (President is the best game ever). But I didn't win. Not even one round.

Anyways, at 12:30 we all went to Anrdychuk's class and did some more planning for our Apprentice projects. Most groups worked on their VTV announcements - and some got really into it...and even brought fake mustaches. I don't really know what they needed the mustaches for, but their announcement will probably be very interesting...here`s a picture of Mauricio's classy stache:

My Reaction:

*mauricio what is that face*

Fifth period was with Simms, we took up tests and started our new unit on...

Yes. I love paint. 

I think this unit will prove very interesting as we learn about the earth below us and what we should expect to see when we visit the volcano and many other different landscapes in Costa Rica! Geography Rocks! (see what i did there?)

As for new experiences, today wasn't exactly packed full of them but it was a good day for us to get work done. Simms also did an activity with us where he handed out envelopes filled with strips of paper which each had a different word on them. We had to put them in the order of when we thought they appeared on Earth. I worked with Laura and Kramer, and we got pretty close to winning but Will, Courtney, and Charles (I think?) beat us to it. It was fun though, and fascinating to learn what came first in the stages of evolution.

As I'm sure we're all aware, Geo Studies has gone by so fast and is already almost half over! 

We've gotten to know each other so quickly by spending all day everyday together, and you guys are really making Geo the best class ever. Never before in my life have I said, "Tomorrow's Monday...YAY!" but I say it now because it means I get to see all your faces and I know that whatever we end up doing it's gonna be fun. 19 DAYS TIL COSTA RICA, GET PUMPED!

________________________________________________________________

    - Allyson Banville :)

Barrie Ball Hockey

http://vimeo.com/39311785

Copeland Track Feild Trip

It is hard to believe that we are departing for our big trip in only a couple weeks! It seems like it was yesterday that second semester was just starting. It is true what they say “time flies when you are having fun”. Today was just another additional of the memories we will have for this semester. Today we went to the Copeland Track, and we got to stand right in the centre of one of the zeros of the “Project 2000”. I personally thought this as pretty cool to stand in. Although the wind kept the temperature low, measuring trees and taking core samples personally kept me warm. I cannot believe the difference in the temperature of last week and this week.  I personally also enjoyed listening to Simmers and           Mr. Ruzylo stories about tree planting. I think that going through the experience of that would be a lot of work but worth it.

 ALSO HAPPY BIRTHDAY THOMAS DAWSON! Tomorrow we have our test on forestry, and then we get to take the city bus down to Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC). Can't wait to see what the furture has in store for the rest of the Geo class this year.

This is Jonny Crew logging off.

Forestry Lab

Today, we started by getting on the bus for about a 30 minute ride to the Craighurst forest. When we got there we had a short hike to the first plot of trees. We had a general place to meet, but it wasn't long before we split up with our partners to go on the quest of finding our 10cmX10cm plot of land. We were all responsible for measuring the trees within our area in order to figure out how much our plot would be worth dollar wise.

When the first plot was finished we gathered back together and learned how to core a tree. Shortly after that we began to walk again. We ended up at an area where all the trees were so close to one another that they touched. We had to estimate a 10cmX10cm plot again, but this time we had to weasel through the tight spaces of branches inter twining in every direction. The lack of space made it very hard to determine the number of trees with in the area.

Later we heard the stories that Simms and Ruzylo had about their years spent tree planting. We learned a lot about their working conditions, pay, and overall opinions of the job.

When we got back to school we had a lunch break. During 4th we continued planning our strategies for selling retro North gear. We spent 5th period working on our lab reports, and dividing up the work for it.

 Thought the weather has had a drop in temperature over the past few days, we were able to stick out our cold hands and feet and have an overall good day! 21 MORE DAYS TILL COSTA RICA!

Alexa Bettcher

March 21, 2012

 A GEO 180 Day :)

Today was another great day. The high temperatures broke another record for the month of March. It sure does not feel like spring but rather mid summer. With the temperature sitting at 25 degrees, it was impossible to sit back in our desks and watch the day pass by. So, naturally we did a Geo 180 and headed outside second period to go play horseshoes at Mac Morison Park. We had a great time being able to learn something new and to be educated about the history of the Horseshoe game specifically about how they were used as weapons in the war. We played for about an hour in the sun then headed back to the school carrying our horseshoes. We then sat back down at our desks to learn more about biodiversity. 

During period four we were in the gym. We learned how to speed skate with the help of some woolly socks and teaching instructions by Ms. A who taught us how to do proper form. This prepped us for our speed skating trip tomorrow :). We then learned about skills that younger age groups may find challenging. Using this knowledge we learned how to incorporate them into a fun activity.  We played soccer-baseball including all of the skills; agility, throwing, catching, balancing, running. etc. After working up a sweat we got changed and headed to the computer lab where we worked on our resumes till the end of the day. All in all, it was a very successful day. 27 DAYS TO COSTA RICA!! GET PUMPED YEYE!!

Apples and Other Intriguing Things

Second day back from the March break and I’m guessing mast people are still trying to adjust to getting up in the morning. Today was a pretty busy and we had a lot to get done. To start off out beautiful day we had to write out unit test. Waking up in the morning knowing you have to write a test isn’t the greatest feeling but I guess it wasn’t that bad. I think that everyone felt confident writing it. After that we had some fun cutting up apples for our Biodiversity unit. I thought that it was a very interesting way to learn about taxonomy.We then ended off the first half of the day with some more notes on biodiversity. 

After our lunch break we were heading out to do a careers workshop with Miss A to work on our resume writing.. To be honest I wasn't really looking forward to this because I already had a resume but after the presentation, i learned a lot of new things. I found the workshop very helpful. They gave us out lines, tips about writing resumes, and best of all, They gave us all USB sticks! I also really enjoyed the walk to the workshop and back. It was super nice outside! So to wrap things up, today was a pretty interesting day that through a lot of good information our way. I wish that we had a chance to do something active, but I guess you cant do that every day.  Oh and one more thing....28 DAYS TILL COSTA RICA!!!!

Tom Dawson

Bienvenidos!

Hola GeoStudies,

*Before you begin , you must agree to read this in a dramatic british accent*
Well this is my first blog, and may I just say what a thrilling ride these two months have been. As Simms says 100 new experinces and I'd that im pretty much half way done. Anyway, today was like a "buffer" day.  

We were all back from our break; some of us worked, some of us travelled, and the rest actually took time for so relaxation. So we started the day right of the bat, with seat work. Let me tell you it was quite exquisite! But let’s be frank, that’s not our favourite part of the day, we’re an outdoor ed. type class we need to be up and at em! So when it comes to gym, we all scatter to be the first done changing! AND then...

Simms hits us with some NCCP, planning for emergency worksheet; we all quietly sit down, scribble scribble down the answers. “Alright we’re going to be playing Ultimate, and Omnikin Ball.” … …. … … Swoooshhhh, everybody darts into their teams, and is like,” GAMMEEE ONNN!!!”  Period 5 was definitely a good time to cool off, after getting all into the recreation part of the course.  Miss Andrychuk organized Algonquin College to come to Barrie, and talk to us about their outdoor ed. program, which is a pretty unique program that they have going for them; and I bet a lot of students in the GeoStudies class would be interested.

Period 5 was definitely a good time to cool off, after getting all into the recreation part of the course. Miss Andrychuk organized Algonquin College to come to Barrie, and talk to us about their outdoor ed. program, which is a pretty unique program that they have going for them; and I bet a lot of students in the GeoStudies class would be interested.

Oh, and did I mention the global warming weather change, it feels like summerrrr! But I’m not complaining at all, it’s just a sign that Costa Rica is right around the corner :) 29 DAYS! I can’t wait because I haven’t been out of Canada in 12 years!! So it’s going to be good to be back!

And on another note, I think that we have improved a lot in the way that we can now listen to Simms or a presenter!

Adios mis amigos,

Mauricio Diaz