For the last 6 weeks, students from the ELC class have been going over once a week to read with students at Lord Roberts Elementary. It's been a great way to create lasting buddy friendships and to support the little guys learning to read. For students who are learning their second, third, or even fourth language this is an opportunity to be an expert in English, which is great for student pride and confidence. This last week we celebrated the final day with ice cream and gifts. Lots of students are already asking when it can start again! Until next year...

We're officially famous :) The following is part of a write-up going in the VSB English Language Learners newsletter for June.
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Students in Mr. Van’s English Language Support block at King George Secondary have been busy over the last couple months. In addition to their normal language development and support for their academics, the students have started a business. But this isn’t just any business. Using the interactive and well supported ‘Startup Skool’ program as its launching point, Dragon Drinks (the student created name for the business) was born to raise money for a non-profit of their choosing. Students originally had hoped to raise money for three different worthy causes, but once the forest fires in Fort McMurray had taken hold they all decided this was the cause that needed their support. In total, the class raised $268 by selling their customizable drinks and food options to staff and students

Students on Tuesday were getting ready for the launch of KG's Twitter account, which you can now find at twitter.com/kg_dragons or @kg_dragons. Students practiced the difficult skill of taking larger amounts of information and summarizing the main ideas and people into 140 characters or less. A picture of the board with a few of the areas summarized is shown above.

In the first week back from the Christmas break students wrote summaries of a Disney video called 'Partly Cloudy" seen here. One entry really stood out as some of the best work from this student. Well done Matin!

Once upon a time adorable babies such as kittens and puppies were delivered by big and happy stocks.The clouds above in the sky made some animal kids using their hands and electricity.The dark grey cloud makes a baby crocodile puts his mouth over the stork's head,but then he lets go.The cloud then made a goat which hit his stomach , which made the bird unable to breathe. The bird sad 'Do not do that again please!                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The bird returns and the cloud makes a porcupine who has many spikes on his back. when the porcupine feels scared he will cover himself and hide. The porcupine hurts the bird because the spikes go into his hands. 'ow my hands! 'after, he puts him in a sack and the spikes go trough, hitting his body

After he makes an electric fish that shocks the bird.The bird is wearing american football cloths, but they do not help much.

- Written January 8, 2016 by Matin.

We read the short story The Lottery as a class, and at the end the students wrote their own ending. Many submissions were well written and showed individual improvement, but one stood above.

At the next court day the Judge said, "Sally, you said Jason did steal the bag from Emma, but the lottery ticket was his right?" Sally said, "Yes, but this is Emma's lottery ticket!" Mrs. Jones said. You can't prove it," said Sally. "Yes we can." "How?" Sally said. Judge, can I bring her in?" "Yes," said the judge.

"Oh my god," said Jason. He looked at the woman over there, she was his mother. "Mom, what are you doing here?" "I am doing what is right," said his mom. "Judge, at that evening when Jason came back to his home, he was not happy. He had an old bag under his arm. I should have asked, but I didn't. I was putting his jacket in the closest and he had a lottery ticket in the pocket. He only bought 5 tickets, that fie is on the table, then where is this last one from? And then after a day, he was rich because of that ticket, but later he was begging me to lie for him." "What did he say to you?" said the judge. "He wanted me to tell the police that he didn't go out that evening. He even wanted to give me money." Jason looked angry, he couldn't believe he had thought of everything, but not that...

One week later Emma was on the plane with his son. "Hey, I bought the ticket for the plane, can't you pick me up at 5:00?" "Sure. I am so happy for you mom." "Thank you."

- Written and composed by Sharon. Grammar edited by Mr. Van.

It was a pretty special Mystery Skype we did today. It included a conversation with students in India who were doing 48 hours straight of Mystery Skype in their school. Our class was one of about 60 they were meeting with from about 20 countries. The kids used cell phones, Google Maps, atlases, their brains, their language, pen and paper to try and determine where the other school was from. At the end of the time we shared where we were from, and they shared some of their traditional clothing and a dance. Hope to do more of these!

The day after Remembrance Day we read about war and whether it is worth it. The students wrote a lot, it even goes onto a third board not seen in the picture. Thanks for the bravery in sharing your ideas.

Students were asked to write about a moment in their life where everything after it changed. Many stories were powerful, and this was one of the most.

The moment that changed my life was when I moved from India to Canada, and it felt like I was going away from my life. My friends, my granny, my uncle and aunt, my cousins - they were all left in India, so life has been very hard being without them. It's just because I was born there and I had never lived a day without them. It was so hard for me to leave them and move to Canada. The day I was leaving for Canada all of my friends and relatives came to meet me, but I did not expect this. When I reached here I felt like "where am I?" but it's just for my good future, so I decided that I needed to start my new life here with new people, new community, and different cultures. This moment changed my life, and it's good now, but I still miss them. - Written by Shakshi.

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