Come out from the cold

I have always known that I get cold easily - that is one of the reasons I prefer to cross-country ski or snow shoe instead of downhill ski. I barely warm up during the summer, and spend a lot of the year wearing two sweaters. However, these last two weeks I really have been extra cold! When my students started complaining last Monday I checked the classroom thermostat. It was set to 69 Fahrenheit, but the room temperature was 54. That is too cold for optimal learning! I wrote out a repair order, and waited. Tuesday I wore an extra layer and continued to wait. Wednesday I complained to the school secretary, debated trying to write on the chalkboard while wearing gloves, and waited. Yesterday the school custodian came in and fiddled with the controls, called a furnace repairman and I took my students across the hall to an empty warm classroom for the morning classes. Today it was colder than ever. We retreated to the warm empty classroom for Chemistry, and we waited. Tonight will be colder than this last week, so I decided to rebel and not close my classroom door when I left. Maybe the room will at least not cool down over night. Tomorrow I will take a space heater. Perhaps I should wear a snowmobile suit like Mr. Shankel did several years ago.
Life is still good.

Term End

The first term of our school year ended Wednesday night. All papers and assignments not submitted by then will just remain undone. This close of probation meant that I had company Wednesday afternoon - a number of students sat in my classroom working diligently on their math assignments. I entered grades, tidied up my grade book, wrote comments which linked student performance to prescribed learning outcomes, and answered student questions. I would not want to stay after school until 9 every night, or even once a week, but I had fun. I wish they wouldn't wait until the last minute, but I really appreciate the hard work and the laughter.

Summary of the Gospel of John

This entry is specifically to help my Religion 11 and 12 students understand what I had in mind when I asked them to do a summary of the book of John.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the word was God. God created everything through Him. The Word gave life to everything He created, and His life brought light to everyone. The Word came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. The Word lived among us because God loved the world so much that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God didn’t send His Son, Jesus, to the world to condemn the world, but to save the world. (John 1: 1-4; 3: 16, 17)

Jesus told the woman at Jacob’s well that those who drink from His well of living water will never thirst again. Instead, that water will become a fresh, bubbling spring within them, springing up to eternal life. Jesus traveled all over Judea and Samaria, bringing hope and healing to those He encountered. He reminded His followers, and other Jewish people, that He did nothing by His own power; instead He manifested the Father’s power through His actions. (John 4)

It was difficult for Jesus’ followers to understand His mission, so He often reminded them that “I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day (John 6:38, 39). Jesus reminded his disciples that they were truly his followers if they remain faithful to his teachings. He said that the truth will make us free. Jesus told a man, formerly a blind beggar, that He entered the world to render judgment, and that judgment involved giving sight to the blind and showing those who think they see that they are blind (John 9:39).

Jesus compared himself to a good shepherd, who not only looks after the sheep during the day, but also forms a gate to the sheep pen with his own body to keep the sheep safe at night. He knows his own sheep, and sacrifices himself for the good of the sheep, both those who know him, and those who don’t know him yet. (John 10)

When his good friend, Lazarus died, Jesus reminded his sister, Martha, and us, that he is the “resurrection and the life. Anyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” (John 11: 25)

Shortly before Jesus was crucified he was escorted into Jerusalem by a huge, celebrating crowd. The people shouted “Praise God, blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel” (John 12:13). These particular phrases are based on Psalms 118: 25-26, and were used later by the disciples to help other followers of Jesus understand that Jesus life and death were predicted by Old Testament writers.

Jesus reminded his followers that unless wheat is planted in the ground, it never grows into a whole harvest of wheat. In the same way, Jesus said he had to die and be buried – so that he could be lifted up from the earth, draw all people to him, and enter into his glory. (John 12: 23-34) He told them that they could trust Him just like they could trust His Father, God. He told the disciples, and us, that He was going to heaven to prepare a place for them and us, and He will come again so we can all live with Him. (John 14: 1-3) When questioned further about where He would be going, Jesus reminded Thomas that “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. . . From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14: 6, 7) He also compared us to branches and Himself to a vine. We need to live in Him so we can experience His power. Jesus tells us that whatever we ask in His name He will give us, so we will have victory over the things of this world. Jesus loves us, God the Father loves us, and the Holy Spirit helps us. (John 15 and 16)

The night before he died Jesus reminded the disciples, and us, that He was leaving us with a gift – peace of mind and heart. This peace is much more that the world can give, and helps us to not be troubled or afraid. He also reminded his followers that peace did not mean freedom from persecution, but instead means that we can rest assured that we know that our story ends with a “happy ever after”. Jesus prayed for his current as well as all future believers when he said: “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. . . May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” (John 17: 20 – 23)

While He was on trial Jesus tried one more time to explain His mission. He told Pilate that his kingdom was not an earthly one, but that instead he was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. (John 18: 36, 37) When Jesus died on the cross for my sin He proclaimed his mission successful when He said “It is finished” (John 19: 30). After his resurrection Jesus proclaimed a special blessing on those who, unlike Thomas and the other disciples believe without physically seeing him (John 20: 29) Just before he ascended into heaven Jesus gave Peter, and us, a special commission. He asks us to feed his lambs and sheep – the other people who live here on earth with us. (John 21).

References Cited:

The Holy Bible: New Living Translation, second edition. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois. 2004.

Mama G

A teacher I admire very much, my daughter, Shannon, posted last evening about the joys of teaching in a small school. She was absolutely correct. There may be downsides, but the upside is not to be discounted. I have known many of my students since they were born, I know their parents, and I can laugh, joke, and cry with them (both parents and students) as I try to teach Math, Biology, Chemistry, or Life.
Life is the hard one. I don't set the curriculum, I don't choose the scope or sequence, and I can't do lesson prep in the evenings or over the weekend. I just have to go with what I think is best, think fast, and pray hard.
Yesterday I got a reward for the work, prayers, and time I've spent. A boy-man in the grade 12 class looked up from his Math 12 assignment, and said in all seriousness "Mrs. G, which would you rather do for our class trip - a cruise to Mexico, or a week in a resort in Mexico?" And HE WAS SERIOUS! My opinion mattered, and he really did want me to come along. Not to chaperone - this isn't an official school event, not to pay - he knows I can't, but just to have fun with people I have watched grow up.
This particular class has been "mine" since their grade 7 year. I love them. And they want me to enjoy this, their grade 12 year.
Life is good. And I don't care whether we go to Mexico by plane, or by boat, or even if they don't actually end up going farther than West Kelowna.

MSSE diploma arrived!

I'm thrilled with the diploma - and it is just a piece of paper. Mind you, that piece of paper represents 3 years of classes, more typing than I enjoyed, and a number of fun, interesting classes. Now I just need to frame it and print and bind the capstone.
Life is good.

It's a girl! (I'm a mother-in-law)

I'm delighted to welcome Sarah to the family. I'm also pretty tickled about my new role. I enjoyed playing "mother of the groom" last weekend, and look forward to visits from them in the future.
Life is good.

There is beauty in every season

Every year I look forward to summer. I crave the warmth of the summer sun and the chance to be lazy for the few days which are entirely too hot for work. I love lemonade, fresh strawberries, capris, and warm summer evenings. I enjoy canoeing, hiking, and swimming outdoors. I appreciate the chance to stay home, sleep in a little, and work on projects which I can't touch all school year. I'm delighted to work for 10 days with little people at Camp Hope. I relish the chance to explore new places, to visit distant family, and to learn new things.

The problem is that I resist the approach of autumn. This is foolish. I love the fall colors, the crisp mornings, the smell of woodsmoke, and the taste of pumpkin spice lattes. I enjoy seeing Orion in the morning as I get up before daylight to head out for my run. I'll admit that I don't enjoy running with a head lamp, but I do look forward to weekend runs on the Greenway. I love fall sweaters, hiking at mid-day, the adventure of geocaching, and coming home to the smell of warm soup and fresh bread.



When fall ends and winter approaches I look forward to Christmas lights, Egg Nog, evergreen trees, candles, cross-country skiing, snow falling, and two weeks of fires in the fireplace. I look forward to seeing family, hearing carols, reading new books and cheering on the Canadian team at the world junior hockey tournament.








About the time Spring break rolls around I look forward to the craziness of coordinating our school teams for the Campus-to-Campus half marathon relay, to helping haul gear for the ski-to-sea race (some day soon I will be a participant instead of just a spectator!), Easter, green grass and daffodils. I don't look forward to March Mudness, but even on the gray days I know that the last of the snow will melt, the mud will dry, and the days are getting longer.




This year I look forward to graduation - for the OKAA class of 2011. I've been especially close to this group of students since they were in grade 7. All those short, silly, high-pitched little boys (and one long suffering girl!) have grown into a fabulous group of young men and women. I know they will go on to have interesting, rewarding, helpful lives, and I wish them well.







I'm also looking forward to seeing my youngest graduate from university this next June. She is a good friend, a great student, a joy to her patients, and a loving great-granddaughter.

With all of these blessings and events to look toward, I really have no reason to miss summer. However, I really wish it was warm enough to wear capris and a tank top, sip lemonade and sit on the porch reading a good book.
Only 8.5 months until July!