RPS High School Open House Dates

Regina Public Schools has published its dates for high school open houses.

High School Open House Ad 2010

Investigating the Heart

Designed as mini-inquiry project, the grade eight students at Dr. A.E. Perry School set out to discover exactly what makes them tick. We started our inquiry just as we should: by asking some good questions. Our goal was to initially find answers to the following questions:

1. How exactly does the heart muscle function?

2. How can doctors treat a sick heart?

3. How does one preform a heart transplant?

We began our research process by visiting the NOVA Online “Cut to the Heart” website to gain insight. Then we completed a virtual heart transplant, which students found both interesting and useful. Students who enjoyed the heart transplant software also opted to try a virtual hip and knee replacement!

With the students begging to learn more about the heart, a special field trip to the Saskatchewan Science Centre was arranged. There the students enthusiastically dissected and inspected pig hearts.

See all the photos from the project!

WW2 and Holocaust Inquiry Frontload

Inquiry Frontload

Student Blogging Results in Mayoral Visit

Mayor Pat Fiacco

Students at Dr. A.E. Perry were treated to a special visitor as a result of their outstanding literacy skills. The grade seven and eight classes at Perry investigated Regina’s hot debate regarding plans to possibly construct a multi-million dollar dome stadium. Students reviewed media releases regarding the dome debate, putting together a persuasive writing piece. The students then posted their opinion pieces on our classroom blog sites and Mayor Fiacco took notice, eventually agreeing to visit the students in person to discuss the city’s plan for a new facility.

Students at MacNeil School also read the blogs and became interested in the issues. Therefore we made it possible for the MacNeil students to view Mayor Fiacco’s presentation by streaming it live via a secure, password protected, synchronous communication tool called Ustream. The MacNeil students also had the opportunity to participate in the discussion with the mayor by using a process called back-channeling, a relatively new instructional tool in K-12 education. Basically, a back-channel is an online conversation that takes place during a live presentation.

In many ways, our project challenges the traditional ways that instruction is delivered and resources and knowledge are shared. Learning can, and should be, authentic, meaningful, and networked.

The following is recount of the Mayoral visit prepared by a grade eight student at Dr. A.E. Perry School:

On Tuesday, November 10th the grade seven and eight students of Dr. A. E. Perry School received a visit from Pat Fiacco, mayor of Regina. His visit revolved around the topic of the proposed new dome and around the ways Regina is changing. Dr. Perry students weren’t the only to benefit from the visit though. The grade eight students from McNeil also took in Pat Fiacco’s inspiring words through Ustream, an online tool that allows video and audio streaming. This allowed them to watch the mayor speak but to also ask questions through the embedded chat feature.

Throughout the topics we discussed the main idea and discussion of interest was about Regina’s plans for a new dome. We were made aware though that the “dome” wasn’t only dome but an entertainment facility with the ability to be used for all sorts of cultural and sporting events, concerts, and trade shows. Mayor Fiacco argues that building a dome makes Regina a city of opportunity. He says it brings employment options, housing which can be built where Mosaic Stadium is now, and an opportunity to put Regina on the move.

A common question asked at our visit was where will spectators park? According to Mayor Fiacco, a multi-level  parking structure could be constructed and a public transportation shuttle service might be created. This would allow the inner city to be less busy with spectators’ vehicles attending the facility but to also save the Earth by having quite a few people transported by one mode of transportation.

The construction of the new facility also brings more hotels and restaurants to our city. As today’s youth, we will find out more about our future in January 2010 when we receive back the feasibility study stating whether we can afford this entertainment facility and whether this facility will really cost its pre-determined $350 million dollars. This project is lead by the provincial government and I am sure that they’ll make the right decision for our city and do what is best for us.

Overall, the visit from the mayor was greatly appreciated. It was amazing how he cared about today’s youth’s opinions and found the time in his schedule to come talk with us. It showed us what putting our opinions on a blog can do and shows us that we never really know who is reading and taking an interest in our writing.

Submitted by Courtney, grade eight student, Dr. A.E. Perry School

Partners at Work!!!!!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As you are aware, the grade seven and eight classes have been getting together several times a week to work on technology-enhanced and inquiry learning projects. We spent the first few weeks learning about digital citizenship, educational blogging, and open source productivity tools. We are presently working in small groups to design brochures that could be distributed to tourists visiting the Olympic games in Vancouver.

We are also busy planning for an exciting inquiry-learning project based on the Holocaust and WW2. The unit of inquiry deals with the themes of genocide, intolerance, and warfare. We realize these are highly sensitive topics, but we are confident that our students are mature enough to handle the unit’s content, which is of course designed and selected with middle years students in mind. In the past, this unit has been very engaging, interesting, and meaningful for Dr. A.E. Perry students. Nevertheless we welcome your questions and concerns, so please feel free to contact us at any time.

We would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to participate in the delivery of the World War 2 and Holocaust inquiry. If you have resources or knowledge to share and would be willing to be a guest lecturer during the school day, please let us know. If you know someone else who would be interested in helping us, please let us know. Please note that it is not entirely necessary for a guest lecturer to visit us in person. We can use technology to help us bring visitors in virtually.

Best,

Mr. Van Dusen

Mrs. Galbraith

Educational Blogging – New Avenues of Expression

Traditionally, writing assignments in educational settings have been dominated by paper-pencil formats. Students would complete writing assignments and them hand in for grading. Students, therefore, were not writing for authentic purposes and audiences. Educational blogging allows for new avenues of expression and provides an opportunity for students to write for a greater purpose.

During our PAWS time (Partners at Work), we presented our students with several articles regarding the possibility of Regina building a new multi-million dollar dome. The students were to review the articles and form an opinion on whether Regina really needs a new dome facility. Students then wrote blogs in the persuasive form and published them here. They are well worth the read, and I’m not the only person who thinks so! On November 10th, Mayor Fiacco will visit the grade 7 & 8 classes at Dr. A. E. Perry School in order to discuss the debate over the dome. We are VERY excited to have him as our guest. Oh the power of educational blogging!

One of the great features of blogging is interaction. Authors love to have their work read and are thrilled to find readers’ comments posted to their entries. Please take a few minutes to review a blog or two and to leave a comment for our aspiring writers. Visit  our Classroom Blogs at :

http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=56452&blog_id=&listclass=32681

Free Homework Help at Regina Public Library

This message was forwarded to me, so I thought I’d share with you. Free homework help from qualified volunteers is never a bad thing.

Hello folks. I’m still in charge of young adult programming and I was wondering if you could share the following information about the Homework Help program with your staffs:

Need help with your homework? This program is for students in grades 5-12 who need support with their schoolwork. Volunteers are qualified students at the university level. Pre-registration is not required for this free program.

Homework Help is available at the following locations:

Sunrise Library,
Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre,
Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm,
starting September 22nd

Glen Elm,
1601 Dewdney Ave. E.
Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm
starting September 23rd

Sherwood Village,
6121 Rochdale Blvd.,
Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm
starting September 23rd

Thanks for your help in getting the word out. Warren@RPL.

University of Regina Problem-Solving Workshop

U of R Problem Solving Workshop – First Session Monday September 21st

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Regina is
once again offering a series of free problem-solving sessions aimed at
interested students in Grades 7 to 12.

The focus of these sessions is twofold. First and foremost, they are an
opportunity for students with an interest in mathematics to meet each other
and be exposed to a range of mathematical subjects that would not be covered
in the standard high school curriculum.

The sessions also contain a strong problem-solving component. Students will
work through a variety of mathematical problems in order to better
understand specific problem solving strategies and to work toward
participation in mathematics competitions such as the University of Waterloo
Mathematics Contests or the Saskatchewan Math Challenge.

The problem solving sessions are being held on Monday evenings, from 6-8 PM,
in the University Riddell Centre room RC 285.

Session dates for this semester are:
September 21st, October 5th, October 19th, November 2nd, November 16th, and
November 30th.

As always, attendance is free. If you are planning to come to one or more of
these sessions, please send us an e-mail so that we know how many copies of
problem sets and other work material to bring.

If you have questions or wish to attend the sessions, you can contact
Patrick Maidorn at maidorn@math.uregina.ca or 585-4013.

Geo-Caching Field Trip Info

I am pleased and excited to inform you that our first field trip of the year has been
planned and booked. On Wednesday October 14th, we will be bussing to two different
locations to participate in Geo-Caching.

Geo-Caching is an entertaining adventure game for GPS users. The activities have nice
curriculum connections to social studies and science, but the team-building aspect of the
group work is a great benefit as well. Check out the video below!

Additional info can be found here:  GeocachingPermissionslip

If you wish to volunteer and join us on our trip, please leave a note in your child’s agenda.

Media Production #2 – Key Themes in Science Fiction

Click here to view Media Production #2 – KEY THEMES IN SCIENCE FICTION

Quicktime Required!