Hello and welcome to my blog. This is one of the last few posts of my grade 9 year. I Hope you enjoy. This is my favourite humanities project we’ve had before and definitely the proudest I’ve been of my work.
I really loved this project because I learnt a lot about WWI. Before this project I had never been interested in WWI, preferring to learn about WWII. But now that I’ve spent some time learning about it, I’ve started to take matters into my own hands, by watching movies/videos, and reading about WWI.
In this project we were tasked with making a factual, interesting, and original story. Then we had to draw it and make the story into a comic book. I think that because I was much more interested in the subject and topic of the learning I enjoyed it a lot more than our previous project. I really stretched myself with my drawings and am really proud of my comic. I am not a very artistic person, so my drawings are somewhere I really stretched myself. I was super engaged and loved all the videos and media we learnt from during class. I think its safe to say, I loved this project! I also pushed myself and presented an entire presentation by myself because my two group members were away.
The Story Board:
This was the first stage of the comic. I had already came up with a story idea and I was keen to stick to it. My story follows the life of a 19 year old boy, Tom Callaghan, a Toronto citizen in 1915 who enlists in the army, but gets rejected due to his poor eyesight. But he is given one last option: the decoding group. My story is kind of a mix of love, drama, and factual fiction.
The Comic:
This was by far the hardest part of the project but it was super rewarding to get done and I am really proud of my final product! I’m not an artist but I made my minimal skill work out. I’m not sure how to get my comic into my blog but if I find out how I will show you.
Hello and welcome to my blog! In this post I will take you through the first ever science themed PLP exhibition! This exhibition was very different to the ones I was used to. There was a schedule for visitors and we didn’t get any breaks. I liked it a bit better than the original type of exhibition because it didn’t leave any room for mishaps with the schedule and stuff like that.
Pollination: The Theme
The theme for this exhibition is pollinators of B.C! My group was in charge of the bats! Bats in bc don’t actually pollinate, so that proved a slight challenge but we pushed through and did our best. We made lots of fun interactive elements and games. Our first task was to make a food web. Our food web surrounded bats, we had bats predators and food sources. It was put together with hand made drawings from all of my group members and really added the final touch.
This project was super important because it was the first ever science exhibition! It was all about pollinators in B.C. The exhibition was pretty fun and I think I did a really good job. I didn’t shy away from all the people coming to our booth and at the end of the night my voice was raw from talking! During the actual exhibition, I think I put in my best effort. I’m really proud of myself and think myself and my group did really well by educating the public about B.C bats!
I know this was a pretty short post, but thank you for reading!
(I WILL ADD SOME PHOTOS WHEN I HAVE ACCESS TO THEM)
Hello and welcome back to my blog! For this post, you will learn all about the confederation of Canada. In humanities, we did a short project all about why the different Canadian provinces should/should not join the confederation. This was a pretty short project So this post might be a little shorter than usual.
Nationalism VS. Patriotism:
The launch activity was to take notes on nationalism and patriotism. Then we had to distinguish between the two. We watched some very interesting videos on the matter and also some of the most famous Canadian videos. Like for example, the Molson “I am Canadian” add. It really shows how you can both be proud of your country but also respectful. Thats the difference between nationalism and patriotism; nationalism is when you think that your country is the best and any country that has different values, laws, or beliefs is wrong. But patriotism is when you think your country is the best and you love your country but don’t go around saying that other countries are wrong if they don’t agree with yours. I made some very interesting notes on the consequences of nationalism. Take a look!
My group consisted of Carmyn and Ian. We did a draw in class and our group got Nova Scotia! Over the next few days, we took vigorous notes on what Nova Scotia was like BEFORE the confederation. We learnt about their population, government, industries, etc… Once we finished our notes we brainstormed ideas for our final product: The Confederation Video! In our video we had to talk about why Nova Scotia should or should or should not join the confederation. After a lot of debating we decided our video should be like a professional debate. In the video two men, Charles Tupper (Carmyn) and Joseph Howe (Me) would be debating back and forth weather the province of Nova Scotia would join the confederation. The moderator (Ian) would be making points and the final decision.
“How has Nationalism’s influence shaped the global structure? Moreover, how has Nationalism impacted the establishment of Canada as a nation?”
Nationalism has shaped the global structure by encouraging people with shared culture, language, or history to form their own nations, instead of complaining that other countries weren’t right. This led to the fall of empires and the rise of many independent countries, changing the world map. While it united some groups, it also caused conflicts when different groups competed for land or power. In Canada’s case, nationalism helped bring the colonies together. People began to feel proud of their shared identity, different from Britain and the U.S., which led to Confederation in 1867. French-Canadian nationalism also played a role by pushing for the protection of language and culture. So, nationalism helped Canada become a united and independent nation in its own unique way.
Filming:
Since our video was set like a debate, we needed a plain background and a judges stand/podium. Once we roamed the school for a bit, we found the perfect filming location… the library! Unfortunately for us, the library was also being used by multiple other groups. This proved some problems and got quite frustrating at times, because we needed to film but we couldn’t because other groups were either using the space or props we needed. But in the end we got there! Take a look at our final product:
Thanks for reading (and watching)! I hope you enjoyed learning all about this project.
By now, you’ve probably heard about the importance of getting your personal life in order—being proactive, setting goals, and managing your time. That’s what the first three habits of Sean Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens are all about. But once you’ve got a handle on yourself, it’s time to level up and learn how to work effectively with others.
That’s where Habits 4, 5, and 6 come in.
These habits aren’t about pretending to get along with people or faking teamwork in group projects. They’re about learning how to build real, strong, and productive relationships—whether it’s with friends, family, classmates, or teammates.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
The mindset of mutual success
In a world where everything can feel like a competition—grades, sports, college admissions—it’s easy to fall into a “win-lose” mentality. But Habit 4 challenges that by asking: What if everyone could win? A win-win mindset is about seeking solutions that benefit everyone, not just yourself. It’s not about being overly nice or giving in all the time. It’s about balancing courage with consideration. You stand up for yourself while also respecting others.
Why it matters:
It builds trust in your relationships.
It encourages collaboration instead of conflict.
It helps you avoid unnecessary power struggles.
Whether it’s working out a disagreement with a friend or sharing responsibilities in a group project, thinking win-win leads to stronger and more respectful outcomes.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Listening is more powerful than you think
If we’re honest, most of us aren’t great listeners. We hear people, but we’re often planning our reply while they’re still talking. Habit 5 flips that by encouraging us to truly understand the other person before jumping in with our own thoughts. This means listening with empathy—not just with your ears, but with your heart. It’s about putting yourself in the other person’s shoes and seeing things from their perspective.
What this looks like in real life:
When a friend is upset, don’t rush to offer advice. Just listen.
If your parents are frustrated, try to understand why before reacting.
In a disagreement, repeat back what the other person is saying to show you get it.
When people feel heard, they’re more open to hearing you in return. This habit is the foundation of healthy communication.
Habit 6: Synergize
Better together than alone
Synergy is when a group of people combine their strengths and differences to create something better than anyone could achieve individually. It’s not just about working together—it’s about working together well. In a synergized environment, differences aren’t seen as problems. They’re seen as assets. One person might be good at organizing, another at creative thinking, another at public speaking. Together, they can create results far beyond what one person could do alone.
How to build synergy:
Value differences in people’s perspectives and talents.
Communicate openly and respectfully.
Look for creative solutions that incorporate everyone’s input.
This habit is key not just for school and sports, but for life. Whether you’re in a band, a family, or a business team someday—knowing how to collaborate is a superpower.
The Video:
for my video I was with Ella and Brooklyn. All three of us are avid readers and we really wanted to tie in some of our favourite series to our videos. Our goal was to make the video a bit silly but at the same time, educational. We based our video off the series “The Hunger Games”. In our video, there are three tributes left in the games, they all agree to work together to escape the arena. I think that we were really creative with our ideas and hopefully made the video a little easier to pallet with some side lore. Make sure to check out my teammates blogs!
Conclusion:
Habits 4–6 take the focus off just you and help you become more effective in your interactions with others. They’re about respect, teamwork, and communication—skills that will serve you well in every part of your life. Thank you for reading this post, I hope you enjoyed. Make sure to stick around for my last post.
Stacking Blocks and Life Lessons: What I Learned Destination Imagination
Hello and welcome to my blog. This post is about my latest experience with Destination Imagination (DI).
This year, I had the absolute chaos-filled joy of competing in Destination Imagination (again) with my team, The Block Busters (yes, we had the best name). (I also barely managed to escape with my life and quite a few battle scars).
Our challenge was a technical one: build up a structure using technical methods, and then use completely different methods to tear it down. It was like the ultimate engineering-meets-destruction test. And if that doesn’t sound cool to you, then I don’t know what does.
We spent months planning, building, testing, re-building, and occasionally watching everything collapse way before it was supposed to. It was frustrating. It was messy. It was also kind of amazing.
Regional Tournament: The Plot Twist
For our regional tournament, we showed up so prepared. We had rehearsed like mad scientists. Our stack was solid, our teardown method worked (well, most of the time), and our skit tied everything together in a way we thought was super clever. We were pumped. Then we got our results. Let’s just say… we didn’t place where we thought we would. And yeah, it stung a little. Okay, it stung a lot. We had worked so hard! What did we miss? But instead of giving up or sulking too long, we took it as a sign: we could do better. So we leveled up.
Provincial Tournament: Déjà Vu with Duct Tape
For the provincial tournament, we brought our A-game—and then some. We made our structure stronger, made our teardown flashier, improved our skit, and worked even more tightly as a team. We pushed ourselves creatively and technically. We were in it to win it. And then… we got the same placement.
At first? Super frustrating. Like “scream-into-a-pillow” frustrating. It felt like all our effort didn’t show up in the scores. But then something clicked for me.
What I Actually Learned
Sure, I had wanted a trophy. But what I got instead was something better (okay, maybe not shinier, but definitely more valuable):
Persistence matters. We kept going when it would’ve been easy to stop. We didn’t just accept our first result—we worked harder to improve.
Teamwork is everything. The Block Busters became more than just a team name—we were a unit. We learned how to support each other under pressure, how to solve problems together, and how to laugh through the disasters (looking at you, duct tape mishap #47).
You can’t control the outcome—but you can control the effort. The rankings didn’t reflect how much we grew, but we know how far we came. And that’s something no score can measure.
Creativity doesn’t always fit inside a scoring rubric. We took risks. We tried big ideas. And even if those didn’t pay off on paper, they meant something to us.
In the end, I’m walking away from this experience with skills I never expected to build—from quick thinking and engineering to collaboration and self-confidence. And honestly? I’m proud of the work we did. We built something awesome. And yeah, we smashed it too (literally and metaphorically).
We were The Block Busters. And next year I’ll be part of a brand new team (hopefully battle scar free)
Hello and welcome to my blog. In this post I will unbox me. This maker project is all about setting goals, making good habits, and unboxing yourself. Unboxing Me (the project name) started with a book called What Do You Really Want by Beverly K. Batchel.
Driving Question: How might I tell a story about who I am and where I’m going?
My story is about growth, goals, and figuring out where I’m headed. I’ve always been someone who likes structure—not just to stay organized, but because it helps me focus on what really matters. I use my iPad to keep me on track. The Things app helps me break big goals into smaller steps, and my calendar keeps me accountable. Whether it’s planning projects, managing daily tasks, or just making sure I have time for what’s important, these tools help me turn ideas into action. With the right mindset and tools, I can successfully plan a future and also tell a story.
What Do You Really Want?
“During adolescence, a person is faced for the first time with the need to plan his or her own life, set long-term goals and take responsibility for their fulfillment. That’s a big challenge even for adults, isn’t it? Think back to your teenage self: did anyone teach you to set goals, understand yourself and follow your dreams? I don’t think so. More likely, you were nurtured, given the information you needed and tried to guide you. But the most important thing an adult can give a teenager is to help form not knowledge, but so-called meta-skills: the ability to communicate, to hear yourself, to understand others, to be persistent, to set goals and achieve them. They will help a child find their way and succeed in their chosen endeavor. This book is written for teenagers who are thinking about the future, but do not yet know exactly what they want. It will help to define their aspirations and outline a plan to achieve their goals, teach them how to motivate themselves and inspire them to achieve their goals.”
There are many activities in the book that help boost your goal setting habits. My first activity was a think it and ink it. The book instructed me to make a goal tracker, so I hopped onto notability and wrote down some of my current goals. Then I added more to it by talking about how I would achieve the goals and what I would do to get there. Our second task was a twenty by twenty sheet. “If you could do any twenty things by the time you turn twenty, what would they be?” My sheet consists of many different things such as school, sports, travel, work, friends, and housing. I like to think of my self as pretty ambitious so I hope to reach most, if not all, of my goals by the time I am twenty. The next activity and my favourite, is the dream board! I love making dream boards because you can use your creativity to express yourself and your goals. Mine was fun to make because I used Canva and made mine pop with colour and images. Our second last task was writing a letter to ourselves. I struggled a bit with this because I’m not much of a goal person so actually writing to myself about goals was a bit tough. The letter spoke about what you will do once you reach a goal. And last but not least, we made a celebration plan! Our task was to write about what we would do to celebrate once we had met one (or more) of our goals.
Goal Tracker:
Twenty By Twenty:
Dream Board:
Letter To Myself:
“Sup me,
I wanted to take a moment to remind myself of the things I love about who I am. Its easy to get caught up in the grind and forget to appreciate what makes me, well, me. I love how kind I am. I always try to be there for the people in my life, whether its offering a helping hand or just
listening when someone needs to talk. That kind of empathy is something Im really proud of. I also love my resilience, Ive been through some tough times, but I always manage to bounce back and keep going. It reminds me that I’m stronger than I think. Another thing I love about myself is my curiosity. Im always looking for new things to learn, whether its reading or just diving into something that piques my interest. It keeps life exciting. And lets not forget my creativity. I find new ways to solve problems or just express myself, and it feels good to know I can come up with something original when needed. I also really appreciate my sense of humour. I know how to laugh at myself and keep things light, even when life
tries to get too serious. It makes everything a little easier to handle. And Im grateful for my selfawareness. Im not perfect, but I know who I am, and Im always trying to grow and be better. My determination is something I admire too. When I set a goal, I dont back down, I keep pushing until I get there. I
also really value how I stay true to myself. I dont try to be anyone else, and Im learning to be more confident in just being me. I try to keep a sense of gratitude in my life, appreciating all the little moments and things I have. It helps me stay grounded and focused on what really matters. And lastly, Im learning to love myself more. I show love to the people I care about, but Im working on giving myself the same kindness and care. I guess, at the end of the day, Im proud of who I am. Ive got my flaws, but Ive got a lot of good stuff too. Im constantly growing, and Im excited to see where that takes me.
With love,
Me.”
Celebration Plan:
“Hockey: I did it! I set out to get better at hockey, and all the hard work has paid off. I wanted this because I love the game and knew I had more in me. Even when it got tough-early mornings, tough losses, and frustrating practices—| stuck with it. I stayed consistent, pushed myself, and kept improving little by little. Now I’m faster, stronger, and more confident on the ice. Time to celebrate! Whether that means treating myself, taking a well-earned rest, or just enjoying the game even more, l’m going to soak it in. I earned it.
On to the next challenge!
Fiji:
Goal achieved! I set a goal to be fitter and feel more comfortable for Fiji, and all the effort has paid off. I wanted this because I knew l’d enjoy the trip so much more if I felt strong, confident, and full of energy. Even when it was tough-workouts I didn’t feel like doing, cravings, and days where progress felt slow-| kept going. I stayed consistent, made healthier choices, and kept pushing myself. Now I feel better, move easier, and have way more confidence. Time to celebrate! Whether that means fully enjoying every moment in Fiji, or just appreciating how far l’ve come, l’m going enjoy it. I earned this.”
Managing Me Video:
Our first benchmark was our managing me videos. We had to make a short 1 ish minute video about how we stay organized and manage ourselves. I talked about time blocking my calendar and using Things. Time blocking is a very useful way to keep track of your day and also your goals. I time block my school days to know what classes I have and what time I have in each class. I also like to time block my activities outside of school so I can keep track of sports like my hockey and boxing but also other things like walking my dog or hanging out with friends. Since we didn’t post these videos to YouTube, I used a background song that would be subject to copyright. So unfortunately I cant show the video on here because of some technical difficulties.
Unboxing Me Video:
For our last and final part of thee project we made an Unboxing video about ourselves and our goals. Our videos had to feature enough information to tell a story. The video had a time limit of 2-3 minutes. For my first draft I made a script: “Do you have big goals for life? Hi, my name is Elsa, and I have some big goals. Before I get into some of my bigger goals, I’m going to go over who I am and my values. I love sports and physical activities. I am I huge fan of hockey and I’ve been playing it since I was three years old. I love getting exercise and going on hikes. Another sport I do is boxing. The most important thing I value is nature, especially the ocean. Every summer I go on a boat trip with my family and I have the best time. I love being in and on the water. That’s why one of my biggest long term goals in life is to become a boat pilot. I was never interested in this type of job until I went to the B.C boat show. I was wandering the halls when I saw a stand that talked about becoming a boat pilot. I was immediately intrigued when the two people who were working at the stand mentioned the good pay and long vacation times. You get to travel the world and get paid for it?! This sounds like the job for me! I will need to work hard to become a boat pilot and I know that the journey wont always be easy, but I will have to stick with my goals and chip them away one at a time! In order to stick with my goals I will have to stay organized. I will keep track of all my tasks and be able track my goals as well. I’m going to set small goals that will lead up to bigger things like getting into university or applying for a job. I want to become successful and be happy with my life and how I got there.”
Personally, i didnt really stick to my script but thats the gist of my story. I did a lot of filming and re-filming but I got there in the end! My video is posted on YouTube for you all to enjoy. I’ll drop a link below.
Welcome! This blog is all about the grade 9 take your kid to work day. Take your kid to work day is exactly how it sounds. Basically grade 9 students all over the province have the day off school to spend the day with parents, relatives, or mentors visiting them at their jobs. My day was different because my dad is retired so I obviously couldn’t go with him, and my mom had a really important meeting that day so I couldn’t go with her. So I spent my day volunteering at the Seymour Fish Hatchery!
My Work Day!
Me, my sister Emilia, and Brooklyn all went up the mountain for a day of volunteer work. Our first task was to feed the baby salmon in the outdoor pond. Once that was done we headed off to do a carcass recovery. A carcass recovery is a 2-4 hour trip down the creek, wading through the waters and counting carcasses. For every carcass we took notes on it’s gender, size, origin (weather it’s wild or hatchery), and it’s spawn. Once we finished taking notes on the salmon, we would cut the salmon in half, to prevent accidentally re-counting the salmon. All of our notes on the salmon then went into a file for a population count.
My interview
For tyktwd, we had to make an interview with someone who works there. I made an interview with Megan Sampson, the volunteer worker. She was also the person who took us on the carcass recovery. I had a very successful interview with her and she had great answers. The interview was all about getting to know more about the job, from someone who worked there. We were to ask open-ended questions, that could help us understand the job, and get us interested. I personally, am not planing to work with wildlife, but I still love the environment and wanted to know more about the job. After we finished the interviews, we posted them to our personal YouTube accounts. Hope you enjoy!!
The driving question:
The driving question was “how does experiencing a work day change our view of career choices?” By experiencing a workday myself, I am able to see what it would be like to be actively participating in the work place. If you aren’t able to experience a work day, you wont be able to properly gouge what it’s like in the work place, and therefore, your opinion might change based off your experience. Obviously, not every day is the same, but you will still get the gist of the job if you are able to see a day in action. Experiencing a work day might also help you choose what aspects of jobs you like, or don’t like. For example, a day in the action might help you differ from desk jobs vs. An outdoor job, or a hands on job vs. A behind the scenes job.
Thanks for reading my blog!! Hope you liked this post. I know it was short but this project was pretty small.
