Category: Plp

Thank you for coming to my presentation of learning. I am the expert on my own learning. I am also responsible and accountable for my own learning. You can expect me to give an honest evaluation of my progress. We will discuss my strengths and opportunities for growth. Thank you in advance for listening and for offering feedback that I can use to improve as a learner.

Looking back on this year, I can say that this year has been very long, but very fun and I’ve been very proud of all that I’ve accomplished in PLP.

one very important project was the Disney project. The Disney project showed how important immersion is to guests and how does Disney create the magic that they have?  the Disney Project was a very hard project for me because we had to find people to interview and finding people that interview was very difficult because they get out of your comfort zone to ask people to interview.

Another very important project was exhibition exhibition this year was very fun because we got to explore topics about Canadian identity so it was very interesting. My group had to learn about the progressive conservative party with John Diefenbaker learning why he was so important and learning Bill of Rights said he passed so more people could have equal rights in Canada.

Definitely not the 51st state project was one of the hardest for me because we had to do public speaking, which was very difficult to go up in front of all my classmates and stop speaking in front of them.  The topic I picked was why Quebec was important to Canada. I talked about how Quebec preserved the French language and how Quebec paved the road for other cultures to integrate in the Canada.

This is my mind mission value. This is what we wrote at the start of the year which feels like a long time ago I will talk about

 

This blog post is about the trip I took with my class to Disney we learned  we learned how Disney immerses guests into the experience. We learned the immersive part about Disney so we could use it in later skills in our life. The main thing for this project was making a video we had to make a video about four minutes long explaining what we did for Disney and  and my main topic was what do cast members do and how do they immerse you? I had three interviews which all helped me explain my questions and understanding what cast members do. 

Where to understand how Disney use cast members to immerse people and why it’s so important to the guests. Before we actually went on the trip, we had a couple classes explaining who Walt Disney is and why he’s so important. He changed a lot of film and a lot of modern culture today and that’s why this project was called Change Makers talking about the people who changed the world.

one part that was very difficult for me was not being around my family for so long. The trip was nine days long which is very long for most kids is very fun trip. A lot of friend groups were formed and everyone who went on the trip became closer.

an important but difficult part was finding the interviews. It was hard to find people who wanted to talk to you, and it was hard to find cast members who weren’t busy doing something else. So for me I only got one good interview with a cast member because finding a cast member doing nothing was a very difficult thing to do. When we were in Epcot and we went to the Canadian country where there was pretty much no one so I want to ask cast member and they said no because they had to on their break, but they asked their coworker who said yes, which is the reason I got such a good interview. One part that kind of sucked about the interview was that even after the interview, we kept asking questions and talking to them so I kind of wish I kept the recording going on longer.  all in all this project was very fun and a very difficult, but Disney is very fun to do and meeting all the people I did in Florida and be becoming better friends with people in my class was also a very nice.

My mentor for a day was my grandfather on my mom’s side. He talked to me about how he got into early web development for a career. On top of that he worked with Apple selling Apple IIs to schools. He also worked at HP in their earlier days helping them come into the Vancouver market. He started there when they were a small group in Canada. 

I chose him as my mentor as he had a lot of experience with business and a lot of experience with the early start into technology. I was interested in knowing how businesses worked and he has a lot of experience doing many different things. His wealth of experience, for example, years ago he travelled to the Caribbean with a business partner to invest in water pumps and filtration systems. He did a lot of things!

Anything to make money that he found worthwhile. 

This leads to the driving question: how did learning from other career journeys help to shape your own?

After an hour and a half conversation with my grandfather, I learned that it is important to take risks in business when you believe you can succeed. If you do fail, not to be too worried about it because you could have been too early into the business. Everything is a chance to learn and learn how to do it better next time. At this point, I don’t know what I want to get into, but I know it would be helpful to know how to understand how business works. He talked about how to trust people in business. One thing that helped him was a psychology course he took where he could distinguish if people were genuine or ingenuine. He said it was important to understand who you were going into business with and to ask around for that person’s reputation. 

Overall, I found this conversation with my grandfather to be very informative on what I want to learn in the future, even though I do not have a specific career in mind this conversation help me understand what it means to be in business and now I have a more understanding of what it is so for my jobs I want to do in the future. I can take this experience of my grandfather with me.

In the past month we have been working on a radio play. The play is a satire about the 1950s it it a lot like pleasantville. Our class were split 10 groups who made scripts and their where producers/sound technicians and voice actors. The play was to show the reality of the 1950s in a satirical way showed how people think the 1950 are better than they they are. The play started with the brother and sister who fight over a room they want to use the old janitor gave the kids key and a lecture on 1950 then the kids get transported to the 1950. Though out the play we showed how 1950s viewed women, relationships and family dynamics. In addition we showed how women started to get jobs and how they were getting more respect outside the home. Women breaking general gender norms by doing more sports and wanting to be more than a housewife. We overdid each of these 1950s beliefs. We falsified how much women were not respected in the 50s to make it more satirical. Everything was exaggerated. So we had the sister be really into hockey, which the principal in the play didn’t like. Women sports weren’t really around at this time.  We showed that right after WWII that there was a shift and women could do more. To show how we can educate people on why women and different races should have the same opportunities to do the same as everyone. All in all, I found this project to be Very interesting and fascinating to learn about what happened in the 1950s and the Falsity of it was interesting to learn and understanding how the 1950s really worked.

The Health Ever After project is an interesting project that helped us understand how to make a video and get us ready for our bigger project—the Disney World trip. The thing I mostly focused on was mental health and why mental health is so important, especially the role of melatonin in mental health. I explored the question: if you do not get enough sleep, what does it do to your mental health?

I was interested in that topic because I was wondering how many of the side effects actually happen to you mentally if you don’t get enough sleep. How much do you get behind in school? That was the main thing for me—understanding why it’s so important to have melatonin production and why it’s necessary for your mental health.

I found this project to be fun because it was a shorter project, but one where I thought we got to have a lot more freedom in choosing our own topic. You had three options: mental health, physical health, and health literacy. I picked mental health because I thought that one was the most interesting, and I didn’t know a lot about it before.

After this project, I think I’m more confident in understanding why sleep is necessary for your mental health. Overall, I found this project to be very interesting in helping me understand how mental health, physical health, and health literacy are all so important to what we do in our lives.

Here’s my video

You’re probably wondering, what is DI? DI is a project that POP wants us to do to get more imaginative. DI means Destination Imagination. In this project, you have to be very imaginative in what you do, and you have to be very collaborative with all your teammates to make sure that you get everything done. DI is mostly centered around what thing you were in. I was in the technical one, so for technical we had to make an assembly machine and then make a destruction machine.

A really big important thing about DI is making sure you have a good script. Your script is usually what your machine evolves around, and I know that might sound kind of ridiculous, but it’s really difficult to build these machines, and that’s why most groups focus on building a script first and not machines.

For our assembly machine, we got cardboard and made pretty much a rectangular cylinder, and then we would drop Tetris-looking blocks down it. Our script was mostly about games and gladiators. For our destruction machine, one of the guys in our group, Coyote, built this flicking machine that would hit a ball down, and then they built a tube so the ball could go down and hit all the blocks.

The main thing we got points for in both Provincials and Regionals was our script and acting. For Regionals, we got first because our group had a good script, and not many groups had machines that were working or even built, so we really lucked out with that one. For Provincials, we didn’t luck out on that one, so that was very disappointing, but for Instant Challenge, we did get first.

Looking back on DI, my favourite thing had to be my group writing the script and the collaboration in our group. I think in our group, most people contributed about the same. It wasn’t one person doing a lot and then, you know, the four other people doing nothing. So I think looking back on that is a really good thing for DI.

We had to tell a story from our lives. I picked a horror story that happened to me 1 year ago with two other friends. It’s just a story of a ghost encounter, or so that’s what we originally thought it was. Looking back, it’s most likely not a ghost encounter. It’s most likely just a weird story with a logical explanation, which one I cannot come up with right now. This particular story was very fascinating to me. Looking back on it, it’s weird how the first thing we thought of was a ghost and we didn’t come up with logical explanations at the start. The story pretty much comes in with us going into three different rooms and there’s nothing there. One of the rooms had a computer that we tried to punch in a bunch of random combinations that didn’t work. And then we went to a bigger room where you can kind of just imagine a bunch of thin Styrofoam cubicles in this massive room, and then we walk a bit in this room and there are these chairs stacked all the way to the top of the roof, and we go and look towards the chairs just wondering and we’re looking around and we see all these chairs come crashing down and flying out, and so we run out cause we’re scared. We think it’s a ghost, and so we get out of the building and the first thing we think of is oh it’s a ghost, but then we decide to go back in because we wanted to continue to explore. As we go into the next room, it’s this like library filing room. We walk in and we’re walking down and we go turn to our left and we see two bookshelves and they’re pretty tall, and so we go walk towards them because we wanted to see if anything was in there, and then we start walking towards it, and the one behind it falls and then hits the other one and it all goes crashing down, and so we run out and left the place because we were so scared. So that’s the basics of my story. And so I had to write a script for a podcast about it, which was pretty fun. Making the script, I found it to be tedious trying to remember a lot of it because it happened a fair while back, but I found it really fun to go through and remember what happened and to try and make a script around it so I can do the story. It’s not one of my favourite projects, but uploading it to Spotify and listening to other podcasts trying to understand how podcasts work was really fun for me. I found one of the most fun parts was to talk to friends and see what their stories were and even just listen to their podcasts and see what they were doing to get more of an idea of what I should be doing, and so I found that part really fun about it. Looking back, there were some issues with my video that for the future, I should work on, so next time I make a video I will have to do it better. Reflecting on that, I think the biggest issue was that I didn’t know how to use Spotify for uploading it and I got really confused, and I should’ve tried to do better on that. So if we do use this again, I will try to do better and reflect on that.

“Thank you for coming to my presentation of learning. I am the expert on my own learning. I am also responsible and accountable for my own learning. You can expect me to give an honest evaluation of my progress. We will discuss my strengths and opportunities for growth. Thank you in advance for listening and for offering feedback that I can use to improve as a learner.”

My growth plan (from tpols)

I want to get better at managing my time during school hours and making a schedule so I know exactly what to do during school and I know exactly what to do for the rest of my day. I want to schedule out school and other activities I have after school. During projects I will make a schedule, so I get it done on time and have it where I won’t be tired at the end of the project.

Atomic habits blog post 

https://docs.craft.do/d/5f34e7eb-7cb2-71c9-76fa-bf842841aeff/5748EB77-EA15-49BB-9C80-C50327841054?s=YFru6aeajVVthsShb4MkonQTpRF8mjjhwo2gBT9T4SVs

Why the world needs more Canada 

https://docs.craft.do/d/5f34e7eb-7cb2-71c9-76fa-bf842841aeff/2DB392A3-3E24-44A9-88E5-A3F8CF185E3D?s=UWxMAUxVH2uQpz61Ej8QNC1f8dS6SkN7FtoBeqKqXnMs

WWII

https://www.blog44.ca/ginol/2025/01/18/how-world-war-ii-made-canada-in-what-it-is-today/

 

Japanese internment camp

https://www.blog44.ca/ginol/2025/02/24/remembering-the-past-the-legacy-of-japanese-canadian-internment/

DI 

https://www.blog44.ca/ginol/2025/03/11/di-regionals/

Destination Imagination is a project where teams use cardboard and other materials to build a machine or create an act to perform in front of judges. At the end, we receive a score based on our performance. Teams usually consist of 3 to 5 people.

For regionals, my team and I competed and won first place! I had to leave early that day, but my group told me afterward that we placed first, which was really exciting. I think we did really well overall. Our storyline was strong, and I really liked the different elements we incorporated—especially the Roman gladiator theme, which we blended with other creative ideas.

The main task was to stack up 10 blocks and then knock them down. Our assembly machine didn’t work as well as we had hoped, but everything else went really well. Despite the challenges, I found the experience really fun. I was in a group with five other boys, and while we had struggles along the way, we pulled together and performed well in the end.

One of the most enjoyable yet challenging parts of the competition was the instant challenge. The hardest thing overall was communication within our team. Even though we did well, I think we could have worked better together in terms of teamwork and coordination.

For next time, I want to focus on improving communication with my group and ensuring we collaborate more effectively. We also need to build a better assembly machine and make sure the blocks are stacked correctly in the designated area. If we prepare more thoroughly and refine our teamwork, I think we can perform even better in the next Destination Imagination competition!

During World War II, the Canadian government forced approximately 22,000 Japanese Canadians into internment camps, stripping them of their homes, businesses, and rights. This decision was following the Pearl Harbour attack in 1941 and became one of the darkest chapters in Canada’s history. Many of those affected were Canadian-born citizens, but they were treated as threats because of their ancestry.

The internment camps were located in remote areas, with harsh conditions and limited resources. Families were separated, and their personal belongings were confiscated and sold. Even after the war ended, Japanese Canadians were not allowed to return to their regular lives until 1949. It wasn’t until 1988 that the Canadian government officially acknowledged this injustice and issued a formal apology.

Answering the Driving Question

How can we keep an apology alive so the wrongs of the past are remembered and not repeated today?

To keep an apology alive and ensure that the wrongs of the past are remembered and not repeated today, it is essential to embed the lessons of history into the collective consciousness through ongoing education, memorialization, and open dialogue. This involves not only commemorating significant events, such as the internment of Japanese Canadians, with physical memorials that encapsulate the suffering and resilience of affected communities, but also giving education to the younger generation to show what happened to Japanese. By actively participating in the remembrance of historical injustices, we honour those who suffered while committed to inclusion and equality, ensuring that we learn from the past to build a more equitable future.

A Memorial of Suffering and Strength

To honour the victims and educate future generations, a powerful memorial was unveiled near the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, a significant location where many Japanese Canadians were first detained. The memorial is a striking visual representation of the pain and resilience of the Japanese Canadian community.

At its center stands a large rock split in half, symbolizing the forced separation of families and the fracturing of lives. One side is wrapped in barbed wire and fishnet fencing, representing both the physical confinement of the camps and the loss of the Japanese Canadian fishing industry. The other side is adorned with 22 cherry blossoms, each symbolizing one thousand of the 22,000 people who suffered through internment. The cherry blossoms signify resilience, renewal, and what could have been if these injustices had never occurred.

Seven deep notches are carved into the rock, representing the seven years of internment. At the base, two plaques provide historical context, ensuring that the painful truths of the past are never forgotten.

A Nation’s Apology

On January 23, 2024, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally apologized for the internment of Japanese Canadians. Speaking at the memorial site, he acknowledged the immense suffering caused by these actions and the long-lasting trauma inflicted upon families. His words reinforced the government’s commitment to remembrance and education, ensuring that history does not repeat itself.

This memorial stands not only as a tribute to those who endured injustice but also as a reminder of the dangers of racism and discrimination. By acknowledging the past, we take a step toward a more just and inclusive future.

Why This Matters

The internment of Japanese Canadians is a painful but essential part of Canada’s history. The memorial serves as both a symbol of remembrance and a lesson for future generations. It compels us to confront uncomfortable truths, recognize the resilience of marginalized communities, and work toward preventing similar injustices.

By educating ourselves and others, we honour the memory of those affected and ensure that their suffering was not in vain. The past cannot be changed, but how we remember and learn from it defines the path forward.

Moving Forward 

As we reflect on the legacy of Japanese Canadian internment, it is vital to engage in meaningful dialogue about the broader implications of this historical injustice. The experiences of Japanese Canadians during World War II mirror the experiences of various marginalized communities who have faced systemic discrimination, unjust treatment, and the denial of their rights throughout history.

In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on reconciliation and understanding across diverse cultures in Canada. The journey toward healing is not solely about acknowledging past wrongs; it is also about ensuring that communities affected by injustice are heard, respected, and celebrated in their diversity. Education plays a crucial role in this process, as awareness of historical atrocities fuels empathy and fosters solidarity.

My Reflection on Japanese Internment Camps

Japanese internment camps were a significant part of Canadian history. It’s important to understand what happened to Japanese Canadians during this time and how they were racially segregated. The camps were usually hastily built or consisted of abandoned buildings that the Japanese had to rebuild. After rebuilding these areas, they often made them fairly livable and created new homes for themselves. However, putting Japanese Canadians through this experience has undeniably weakened relations between Canada and the Japanese community. Canada has made efforts to apologize for these injustices. The best thing we can do moving forward is to educate ourselves about this history and demonstrate how we can right the wrongs of the past.