Credenda Virtual School Newsletter February—March 2011 At a Glance: Page 2 News From The College Virtual Author’s Visit Page 3 Eye on Careers Virtues Feature Upcoming Events
New Semester is Here! I want to start this term by extending a big welcome to all new students to Cre‐ denda! Of course, I also want to welcome back all of our students who have been with us before. We are glad that you have chosen us and we hope that your experi‐ ence will be a memorable one with Credenda. It is hard to believe that we are already more than half way through our school year. I hope that this year is going well for you and you are achieving the goals that you have set for yourself. As this term begins, it is an excellent chance for new be‐ ginnings. You have a new set of classes and new opportunities with a fresh start. I want to encourage everyone to stay on top of your courses. If you have questions or concerns, please talk to your teachers. Don’t let it slide and don’t get frustrated. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek help if you need it. We are all one learning community here. Students, teachers and administrators are learning new things every day. Let’s practice the spirit of cooperation as we all pursue excellence. To‐ gether, we can achieve many things. Be the change in 2011 and be‐ yond.
Credenda Creators: Check out our students’ creative blog: http://credendacreators. blogspot.com Interested in joining the bloggers? Sign up here: to superbloggers.ning.com
‐ Tyrone MacPherson, Principal
Director’s Message Recently, I was in Pinehouse, Saskatche‐ wan meeting with the Mayor, the Coun‐ cil, and Economic Development Manage‐ ment, and community members at large. I was impressed. This community is not sitting back and letting life happen to them. They are taking the bull by the horns and making things happen. It is exciting, because they see education as being a key piece to changing the future. Even more exciting for us, they see Cre‐ denda playing a big role in that future.
living as victims rather than conquerors. We need to stop complaining about all the bad that has happened to us, live life as we are the instruments of change. Look at the news and the revolutions happening in the Middle East. People are tired of living with the same non‐ democratic government for 30 plus years. They are realizing they need to be the change agents, and sometimes it comes with a cost. However, if want to see change in our lives, our homes, our communities, it has to start with us indi‐ vidually. We need to live the life exam‐ ple that we want others to live by. It can’t just be talk, there has to be action that accompanies it.
I came from this day of meeting thinking, our motto is “Be the change you want to see,” but do we really believe this for our‐ selves. Do we sit back and let life happen and change our surround‐ (cont. on pg. 3) ings or us for that matter? Sadly, if we do take this approach, we end up
CREDENDA NEWSLETTER
News From the College Side Many exciting things are happening at Credenda Virtual College. Practicum’s are beginning for the Early Learning and Childcare Certificate and Diploma programs, as well as for the Educational Assistant program. Courtney Goerzen is looking forward to getting back out to the communities to see the difference the students are making in the lives of the
children and youth. The Business Administration program continues to grow as six new students joined the group with this section of Communications I.
Credenda is also thrilled to see 16 of its Library Technician Program students graduating. They have worked very hard and will be celebrating along with their eInstructor, Linda Aksomitis, on March 5th.
We're also happy to have math instructional expert, Alan Haggart, ‐ Ashley, Duiker, Instructor join the faculty to teach the Business Mathematics c o u r s e .
Literacy Day Author’s Visit Six Saskatchewan Authors Interact Online with Six Thousand Students
morous presentation raced through his life story to the moment in high school when he earned 100% on a A phenomenally successful online short story assignment. He talked conference for Family Literacy Day about the countless rejections for saw six top Saskatchewan children's his novels during high school and authors interacting with 6627 stu‐ university. Being a headbanger, dents in 425 different grades/ helped because he just kept banging classes. The conference was a part‐ away. nership between Credenda and President of Linda Aksomitis CAN‐ CANSCAIP SK Horizon. The event SCAIP SK Horizons organized the was made possible through CAN‐ SCAIP SK Horizons funding from the event and collected feedback post‐ Saskatchewan Arts Board, SaskCul‐ conference. One comment by the Robert Southey School illuminates ture and Saskatchewan Lotteries. their side of the experience: "It was Children's authors Linda Aksomitis, certainly more technical than we Sharon Plumb Hamilton, Marie Pow‐ had expected but the picture quality ell, Arthur Slade, Maureen Ulrich, and Arthur Slade heroically ventured into Elluminate Live! virtual class‐ rooms for their author talks. From the comfort of their homes, they powered up their computers, turned on their web cams, and loaded up PowerPoint presentations to share their love of literacy. Arthur Slade, writer, headbanger, and geek, was excited about the opportunity to communicate with so many people at one time. His hu‐
was excellent! Our staff and students valued the op‐ portunity to learn about how this author's writing process and to hear him read from his work. They ap‐ preciated the opportunity to ask questions." Dinsmore Composite High school added, "What a wonderful way for rural students to have the opportu‐ nity to hear such gifted writers!" To learn more about the authors visit http://www.credenda.net/ CANSCAIP/.
CREDENDA NEWSLETTER Eye on Careers Decisions, Decisions Do the “Goal‐thing” and then chase it down AHH..Decisions..sometimes they can be difficult to make, but it does feel good once you make one. Making a decision on something does not nec‐ essarily mean that everything else has to be put on hold; you can change your mind. When you do make a decision you are, in essence,
committing yourself to a course of action. A decision on something should lead you to make steps to reach what‐ ever decision you have made. Like; ‘I want to be a veterinarian, so I guess I have to start taking courses that will lead me in that direction”. The big decision to be a veterinarian is full of little decisions that will lead you towards your goal. Think of it like moving from one spot on a chess board to the next..one
Director’s Message
step at a time. Do research around your career decision or maybe “shadow’ a person who has made a similar decision and get a “first‐hand look” at what it is like. You can talk over your decision with someone you trust. If you need some help contact the Credenda Guidance counselor (Steve) he’d be tickled pink to help you out..Really!!! ‐Steve Winkler, Guidance Counselor
A Virtues Triangle
(cont. from pg. 1)
Awe
That’s what the leaders of Pinehouse are doing. They have made it their mission, their passion to live out the change and as a result, they are making things happen. We need to support this kind of leadership among our friends, our teachers, our parents, our community leaders. The change begins with us. We at Credenda believe that people who change the world need the tools to do it, and we believe we are providing these tools in many ways.
Affirmation: I have a deep reverence for life. I find the divine in each hu‐ Reflection: Challenge the conven‐ tional belief that youth is beauty. man awe‐inspiring. Can you see the beauty in the wrin‐ Reflection: Trace an electron. Can kles of a senior? you imagine its path from the sun? Taste an orange. What biochemical Certitude reactions occurred in this moment? Affirmation: I stride forward trusting What other everyday events can my judgement. I confidently live by you notice that are awe‐inspiring? moral principles. Beauty Reflection: Grow in certitude by Affirmation: My senses welcome the critically examining the source of beauty in life. I look for beauty your knowledge. Write out three within others. I intentionally sur‐ questions that would help you as‐ sess any source online or off.
— Vince Hill, Director
Upcoming Events MARCH 11 Holiday – No School 16 Student Assembly 28 ‐ 31 Midterm Exams
APRIL 1 Midterm Exams 6 Report Card Day 20 Student Assembly 22 Good Friday – No School 25 ‐ 29 Easter Break – No School
round myself with harmony and loveliness.
Congratulations to Alice Rose Fuller, CredendaSpace’s February QOTW winner, she won a Credenda Hoodie. http://credendaspace.ning.com/