Google nose - AMAZING! - 2020.04.01

"What is beautiful is good, and who is good will soon be beautiful"

- Sappho - 

Today in History (April 1)

Apple Computers Inc. is formed:

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, along with Ronald G. Wayne form the Apple Computer Company on April Fools’ Day, 1976. This is no joke!

An Apple 1 computer (Photo: Ben Margot, AP)

Computers have certainly changed since the 1970s :).

These computer kits went on sale in July 1977.  Apple had many other computer products over the years, including the Macintosh (still around as Macs now), but they changed the way we do things in 2001 with the introduction of the first iPod.  In 2007, they further expanded their reach with the release of the first iPhone and the rest is history sitting in our hands or our pockets.  And to think, that it all started in this garage...

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Google NOSE:

Another tech giant making history now is Google.  They are moving so far ahead with technology that it is sometimes hard to keep up with them.  Believe it or not, they are now introducing the sense of smell into our Google search experiences.  Check out this amazing video!

I can't wait to use this feature!  I'll make sure to include it in one of our future assignments.

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Romans 6:22)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

If we only believed in something half the time, it would never happen.  If we only had faith in God part of the time, it would keep us from seeing half our blessings.  Having a forever faith means that we stay the course, always letting God's love and guidance lead us, even when we may want to go in a different direction.  Living fully means having a full faith in God to take us where we need to go.

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Juggling?! - Cap'n BRM :)

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JUST DANCE AND KEEP UP YOUR SPIRITS!

(Can't stop the feeling - Justin Timberlake)

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HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY ! ;)

The Eiffel Tower opens to the public in 1889 - 2020.03.31

"Life is like a rollercoaster... 

with all its ups and downs."

- Kyler - 

Today in History (March 31)

The beautiful Eiffel Tower opens:

On this day, in 1889, one of the most iconic structures in the world is opened to the public.  The Eiffel Tower in France, was built in a little over two years and named after Gustave Eiffel, the Engineer and Architect in charge of the construction.  It held the title of the tallest structure in the world for 41 years.  In 1930 the Chrysler Building in New York took that title.  The Eiffel Tower is still, to this day, the most-visited paid for structure in the entire world. 

This is a picture of the Eiffel Tower on opening day - March 31, 1889.

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Romans 6:22)
"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

Having faith the size of a mustard seed is all we need to move the mountains of our lives.  But do we truly believe this to be possible?  Doubting takes us out of the power of faith.  Fear destroys faith.  Only when we stay centered in the truth that God is always working in our favor will we move those mountains.  It all starts with faith.

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Dress up! - Says Cap'n BRM :)

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And a song to motivate you to try everything today!

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Pencils with erasers? - 2020.03.30

"Life is about using the whole box of crayons."

- RuPaul - 

Today in History (March 30)

Pencil with eraser is patented:

Now... who does not like the convenience of having an eraser on the back end of their pencil?  This clever invention was patented on March 30, 1858 by Hymen Lipman of Philadelphia.  Who would have thought that an invention created over 160 years ago would be still so popular with young and old alike.  So, when you use your pencil today, just imagine that you are holding in your hand an idea that came about 160+ years ago.  

Fun Fact: Roald Dahl (author of BFG, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and countless other books) used only pencils with yellow casings to write his books. He began each day with six sharpened pencils and only when all six became unusable did he resharpen them.

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Romans 6:18)
"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

When I try to do something, I often fail.  Trying is not enough, for I must believe in my heart that I can succeed.  Belief is a superpower given to us from a God who knows that by putting our utmost faith in him, we can achieve anything we set our minds and heart to.

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And... some positive vibes from Cap'n BRM :)

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Today in history - 2020.03.29

"No bird soars too high 

if he soars with his own wings."

- William Blake - 

Today in History (March 29)

Niagara Falls stop flowing:

Today, I wanted to share two very cool historical events.  The fist is about Niagara Falls in Ontario.  If any of you have been, in the summer or winter, you know there is no way to walk on top of the falls.  Well, in 1848 on this day, the falls (both Canadian and US side) completely stopped flowing due to an ice jam and people were able to walk on the falls.  The coolest thing is that we actually have a picture to show it too.  The falls stopped flowing for about 30 hours.

Terracotta Army Discovered:
The other interesting event happened in 1974 in the Chinese city of Xian.  Local farmers came across a great discovery of clay warrior figures (8000 of them to be exact).  These figures turned out to be individually modelled and purposely arranged to guard the tomb of the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang Di (246-210 B.C.)  It would be an incredible feat in our time to do this, now imagine so long ago.

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Romans 6:15)
"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.."

It's easy to have faith when things are going well and you can see how God is working miracles in your life.  But true faith is forever, through the good times and the bad, through the times of plenty and the times of lack.  Let your faith never waver, even when things look dark and bleak, because God is always working behind the scenes.  The dawn always follows the night when your faith endures.

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Matt Maher - Lord, I Need You

And a song for inspiration... 

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Earth Hour - 2020.03.28

"We must dare, dare again, and go on daring!"

- Georges Jacques Danton - 

EARTH HOUR 2020

"Started by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment, engaging millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories. It has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people."

https://www.earthhour.org/

https://events.wwf.ca/earthhour/

TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS AT 8:30 PM FOR EARTH HOUR!  

JOIN THE ENTIRE WORLD!

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Romans 6:14)
"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

To embrace the gifts each day brings is to acknowledge that the Creator never walks away from his creation.  Rather, his hand is always at work making us better than we know we can be.

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When things are challenging, we have to have HIGH HOPES!!!

Happy weekend to everyone... 

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National Scribble Day - 2020.03.27

"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live."

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - 

It's National Scribble Day :)  YEAY

Diane Alber, author of I’m NOT Just a Scribble, founded National Scribble Day in 2019 to share a message of kindness and acceptance and to encourage children to create art no matter their ability. Every artist started with a scribble!

The Registrar at National Day Calendar® proclaimed National Scribble Day to be observed annually on March 27th.

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-scribble-day-march-27/

As a fun task for today, create a scribble character that expresses an emotion.  Write about the character and why they are feeling the way they are.  Share your picture with someone.  Create a whole family of scribbles. :)

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Romans 6:4)
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

The heartbreak of rejection can cause such a deep grief we never think we will recover from.  Letting go of someone, because they choose not to be our friend, is difficult.  But there is comfort in having that that God's will is working for our benefit, and that rejection is his protection.  God knows best and having faith in him will lead us to better relationships and friends.

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Staying fit with Cap'n BMR :)

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Finally... a message of hope.  

Chino Valley USD Students Spread Hope During School Closures Due to COVID-19

(Their concert was cancelled but that did not stop them from spreading a message of hope to the world.  Social distancing does not mean we have to be apart in every way possible.)

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"Live long and prosper" day - 2020.03.26

"Be kind whenever possible.  

It is always possible."

- Dalai Lama - 

It's "Live long and prosper" day!

Those who are Star Trek fans, like me, will know what I mean by "Live long and prosper."  

On this day, we celebrate an actor, Leonard Nimoy, who played the role of a Vulcan, named Spock, in a Star Trek series that ran in the 1960s (1966-1967.)  Spock was a science (and first) officer on the starship Enterprise with captain James T. Kirk played by William Shatner (a Canadian actor).  

Spock had a Vulcan salute that was memorable and thus is now celebrated on Leonard Nimoy's birthday, March 26th.  Leonard passed away at the age of 84 in 2015.  Thus, this is a fairly new holiday, and since there is a town called Vulcan in Alberta, I thought it would be cool to remember it. 

"Live long and prosper!"

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Romans 6:5)
"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."

I am only as strong as my faith, so I must work each day to keep my faith strong.  I do this by bringing God into my heart, and allowing Him to work through me.  I look not to outside things, but to God for my guidance, because outside things are often just illusions.  God alone is the giver of my strength, and through my faith in Him, I walk in my path with boldness, hope and joyful expectation.

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Just stay clean! - Cap'n BMR :)

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Our Father prayer @ 12:00 (noon) today - 2020.03.25

Pope calls all Christians to pray Our Father together, March 25 at noon

© Antoine Mekary / Aleteia

Papa Francisco en San Pedro

Kathleen N. Hattrup | Mar 22, 2020

As we are all united in the pandemic, may we all be united in prayer, Pope Francis urges. On March 25, Catholics and many Christians are celebrating the Annunciation, the day Gabriel visited Our Lady and thus the feast of the Lord becoming flesh within the womb of the Virgin.

Pope Francis invited all Christians of the globe to unite on March 25 at noon to pray the Our Father together — so that as the entire world is suffering from the pandemic, so the Lord might hear all of Christendom united in prayer.

Our Father (LIVE) - Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson | For the Sake of the World

Annunciation of the Lord - 2020.03.25

"You can do anything you want.  All you have to do is Believe."

- Ella - 

Today we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord

This is the day when the angel Gabriel, sent from the presence of God, announces to the young Mary her future role as the mother of the child Jesus.

Here's a site to read more about it: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/annunciation-of-the-lord/

 

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Proverbs 30:33)
"Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood, so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife."

God stretches our heart's capacity when he tells us to love our enemies.  Loving them proves that we belong to God, for he loves everyone, no matter what they have done.  We do not naturally love like God does, but we can desire to grow in demonstrating His love to others.  Our Christian fervor can be measured by our desire to grow in love, in spite of the struggles we will undoubtedly encounter.

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Do your chores! - Cap'n BMR :)

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The right to vote - 2020.03.24

"The man who moves a mountain must start by moving small stones."

- Chinese proverb - 

Today is a historical day for voting rights...

On this day in 1837, Canada gives black citizens the right to vote.  Although this right was obtained at a time when slavery was being slowly abolished, public sentiment and racism prevented many to exercising their rights for many more years to come.  Women did not earn the rights to vote (including black women) until 1918.  As we discussed in Ancient Athens, while we now have the right to vote (with a few exceptions like age limitations, and citizenship limitations), this process of gaining those rights wasn't easy and still can be challenging.  In essence, those who have the rights must exercise them to speak for even those who don't.

Here's a bit of history with a Heritage Minute video as well.  This day in history is not mentioned much and I think perhaps it is time that we learned a little more about how these rights came to be for many minorities in Canada and for women as well.

Black Voting Rights in Canada

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Proverbs 30:5-6)
"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."

I put my faith in God, knowing that he alone knows best.  I trust he will provide me with the next step I should take, and the next door I must enter to bring about his will.  Then I move forward.  Though the path may not be visible to me at first, my faith means walking anyway.  If I stay still, the path will never reveal itself.

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And a fabulous video from the famous Cap'n BMR :)

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Cap'n BMR - March 23, 2020

And... a message from Cap'n BMR :)

Like and Subscribe to learn more tips from our Cap'n :).

National Puppy Day - March 23, 2020

"What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?"

- Jean-Jacques Rousseau - 

It's National Puppy Day Today :)

Since Productivity improves by looking at puppies... so, look at puppies today, OK?!

It's also OK Day

Now... today will be a fun day :)

OK.. so puppies are cute, but also fun to celebrate... don't you think?  Just try not to use it all day and you will see.

The origin of the word is not known but according to some historians, the expression may have come about as an abbreviation of the term “orl korrekt” in the United States in the late 1800's.

OK is perhaps one of the most versatile words in the English language, though these days it has been adopted by many other languages worldwide.

As an interjection and a verb, it can be used to indicate approval or acceptance, while as an adjective to refer to something that is mediocre or average. It can also be used as a discourse marker - it links and organizes written or spoken communication.

To celebrate this all important and expressive word, Allan Metcalf, author of OK: The Improbable Story of America's Greatest Word, suggested making March 23 OK Day. The first such day was celebrated in 2011.

(Source: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/fun/ok-day)

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Proverbs 29:17)
"Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

You are surrounded by love, and all it takes to see it and experience it is the faith that is there.  Open your eyes and your heart to the love all around, even amidst challenges and hard times, even with people who are difficult.  Faith is what allows you to be aware of it, accepting of it, and grateful for it.  Love is everywhere.

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"The prayer" by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli

(for a little morning inspiration)

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World Water Day - March 22, 2020

"Your best takes your time."

- Thomas - 

World Water Day 2020

https://www.worldwaterday.org/

In a critical time like now, not everyone has the luxury of having water to wash their hands often, stay clean and sanitize like we do.  While this is our new reality right now, World Water Day has been around for many years tackling the issue of access to clean water and, most importantly, the lack of such access as a result of Climate Change. 

History of the Day

The idea for this international day goes back to 1992, the year in which the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro took place. That same year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by which 22 March of each year was declared World Day for Water, to be observed starting in 1993.

Later on, other celebrations and events were added. For instance, the International Year of Cooperation in the Water Sphere 2013, and the current International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028. These observances serve to reaffirm that water and sanitation measures are key to poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

How much water do you think is needed to produce a slice of bread, or bag of potato chips or an apple?  Try and find out... you will be surprised.  

So... Don't throw out food, conserve water, and stay safe!

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Proverbs 28:27)
"He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse."

Faith is both a noun and a verb.  It is something we have, and something we do.  Having faith is our connection to God, but without doing something with that connection, we fail to see our blessings manifest.  We don't feel happy and fulfilled.  Putting our faith in action gives life meaning and purpose.  It means what we do in the world really matters.

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A message from Bishop McGrattan

Live masses:
- St. Peter's parish: https://st-peters.ca/live/
- Salt and Light Media Mass: https://saltandlighttv.org/mass/
- Vatican Mass: https://youtu.be/5YceQ8YqYMc
- EWTN Sunday Mass: https://www.ewtn.com/tv/shows/sunday-mass-live

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Wash your hands - March 21, 2020

"Hope is like the sun.  When it's behind the clouds, it's not gone, you just have to find it!"

- Matthew - 

Hand Washing... Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis

(Semmelweis Ignác Fülöp) - Wikipedia

If you go on Google today, you will see the following video:

But who was this guy who seems to have had to tell us all that handwashing is good for us?

Here's another version of the video to answer that question.. and another one with a bit more detail.

So don't forget to wash your hands... someone in history was ridiculed for this simple idea.  

Here's a cool Rap Song to help you remember :)

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Proverbs 28:20)
"A faithful man shall abound with blessings."

Permanence is hard to find in this world.  Everything changes.  People come and go.  Jobs start and end.  Desires and dreams shift.  We get older and grow up and out of things.  There is one thing, however, we can rest assured will never change or leave or disappear, and that is God's love for us, and faith in us.

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Check out the Homeschool Resources page for some ideas for accessing resources and reading books (or just listening...from space :)).  Also check on Fun Stuff page for more fun things to do.

First day of spring is here - March 20, 2020

"Where there is love, there is joy."

- Mother Teresa - 

Spring has sprung around the world.  How will you celebrate?

Here is a link to CBC kids where you can find out how others around the world celebrate.
https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/spring-has-sprung-up-around-the-world

To help you celebrate, even with all the snow outside, and the challenges we face today, watch this video :).  Happy (Pharrell Williams)

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Ecclesiastes 7:13)
"Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?"

When all seems lost, we must turn to God for support and love.  When all seems hopeless, we must turn to God within and hold fast to our faith.  When all seems bleak, we must listen for God's whispers of love and encouragement.  God is always working for us, even when it appears we are alone.

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Check out the Homeschool Resources page for some ideas for accessing resources and reading books (or just listening...from space :)).  Also check on Fun Stuff page for more fun things to do.

Spring is in the air - March 19, 2020

"Don't just go with the flow, take some dares through the rapids." 

- Isabelle - 

Spring is coming... tonight: Thursday March 19th at 11:50 PM (Eastern time, which is 9:50 PM here)

For today... look up Vernal Equinox :)

Here's a link you can use: https://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-spring-vernal-equinox

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Ecclesiastes 6:9)
"Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit."

The hardest times to have faith are the times we most need to trust God.  His will may not be what we want for ourselves, but we have to believe that it is the best for us, even when it hurts and nothing seems to be going right.  Having faith when it's dark means we will see the light of a new day, because God has never failed us before.  He won't fail us now.

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And a video to cheer us all up, as tomorrow morning we will wake up to spring... one of God's many miracles... because he still does Miracles...

Space Walk - March 18, 2020

"Be the person who can smile on the worst day" 

- Cate - 

Did you know?

1965-03-18 Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov, leaving his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes, becomes the first person to walk in space.
(Source - On this day: https://www.onthisday.com/photos/1st-person-to-walk-in-space)

The First Man to walk in Space almost got stuck out there:

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Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Ecclesiastes 5:12)
"The sleep of the labouring man is sweet, whether he ate little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep."

Life is filled with times of failure and disappointment, when we don't quite get the outcomes we desired.  It's easy during these times to doubt ourselves and our ability to be resilient and rise above the obstacles facing us.  But God never loses faith in us.  God always knows we have what it takes to find our wings and soar again, no matter how long we've been grounded.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day - March 17, 2020

"Good actions are the invisible hinges on the doors of heaven." 

(Victor Hugo)

Here's a short video on who St. Patrick was and why we celebrate St. Patrick's Day!  Do something green today :)

Walk in Faith - Quote of the Day (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
"Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."

Watching the news can become an exercise in faith.  There is so much bad in the world, so many challenging things happening.  Yet we all too often forget that there is so much more good that we do not see.  Building faith means focusing on the good things, and understanding that the bad things have their place in God's greater plan, even if we don't know how or why.

And a beautiful song that was sent to me this morning.  Enjoy :) 

Be Still - Hillsong Worship

Find the good in today!

Social Distancing - March 16, 2020

More updates coming soon, but here is a visual of what this new normal means for all of us.

Please note that Libraries and Recreational Centers are now closed in Calgary!

CLASSES CANCELLED INDEFINITELY - March 15, 2020

Message from our Principal:

Hello Parents/Guardians,
 

AHS - Dr. Hinshaw, Premiere Kenney and Education Minister LaGrange have now announced the closing of K-12 schools effective tomorrow until further notice.  More information about the next steps will come to families and staff soon. 

We wanted to share this sooner than later so you as parents have as much time as possible to make arrangements for your children.
 

Best Regards, 

Tony Dal Cin 


We will be in touch as soon as we have more information!

Global News Article and related videos:
https://globalnews.ca/news/6681118/alberta-covid-19-coronavirus-school-closures-funding/

Snap Circuits, Cleanup and Pie (I mean Pi) - March 12, 2020

This week we officially started our Grade 5 Science topic of Electricity and Magnetism.  To inspire us, we used snap circuits to get exposure to the terminology and look at all the things we can do with a closed circuit.  Here are some photos.

We also cleaned up the playground and field around our school, playing our part in being responsible citizens.  

We have quite a few things on the go in the school too at this time.  

We are currently collecting food for the St. Vincent de Paul organization that helps many around our great city.  If you have some non-perishable food items to spare, please send them in with your child.  We have a target of filling our box by next Tuesday and we will have an all-you-can eat snack day on Wednesday before the end of the week (i.e. students can eat any kind of snack, all day, any time; not just fruits and vegetables. :)) Thank you to those who already sent some items in.  True generosity shines during difficult times.

We have also started a Read-A-Thon.  Paperwork has been sent home on Wednesday regarding this.  Please sponsor your child or children and encourage others to do so as well.  This motivates students to read and they can track all reading times even time spent reading at school.  They may not track the time spent reading during lessons, unless it involved a period of reading. Should you have any questions about the Read-A-Thon, please do not hesitate to write.

Finally... we came full circle (haha) and learned about where Pi comes from and had our little competition of the most digits we can remember from Pi after 3.1415.  

And... the winner was: JACOB with 28 digits!!!  BRAVO to all who memorized so many numbers.  Nice work Deonna for remembering 46 digits outside of 3.1415 :) Sometimes it is hard to perform under pressure.  Bravo also to our second places Kanya, Debora (24 each) and Kansola with 23.  Nice work everyone!  You have decimated my Hershey Kisses chocolate jar :).

Here's a quick video of where Pi comes from.

Please check in with your child regarding Progress Reports.  These have been sent home today.  The parent-teacher interviews booking system will open tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM.

https://bmr.schoolsoft.com

Stay safe and healthy everyone!