This week's Student of the Week is Anna K.

Last year was my first time teaching the Grad Class of 2018 (apart from a few individual cases). And, as many of you know, I found it a little challenging at times. I'm all about HARD WORK and PERSISTENCE and DETERMINATION. Meanwhile, my two PreCalculus 11 classes were more about SOCIALIZING and AVOIDANCE and PROCRASTINATION. As I said, a little challenging at times.

However, there were a few students who I could turn to on my toughest days. A few kids who ALWAYS gave their best effort, came for extra help (when needed), and scored well on tests / projects. And Anna was one of these people! (thanks for keeping me sane Anna).

An odd description that I have for Anna is that she is quietly expressive. For the most part, Anna is pretty unassuming. She's there in class but she doesn't bring much attention to herself. You might think that she is shy or even timid. I am here to tell you that this is not the case!

Anna has spent a fair bit of time in my classroom after school (more on that later) and during her spare block. This has allowed me to see a different side of Anna. She is outspoken! She is sarcastic! She is charismatic! And she is very, very funny!

Ms. Sidhu and I are both huge Anna-fans. I remember one time I texted her last year and we had an exchange like this:

Me: Hey! Guess who was just in my room after school and had me laughing almost the whole time?
Ms Sidhu: Don't know. Who?
Me: Anna!
Ms. Sidhu: What?! Anna K? REALLY?! Wow!

You just wouldn't expect it from her quiet, serious in-class personality. By now, Anna and I have had lots of different talks (including one that will never be spoken of again, right Anna!?!?). She's told me about (and introduced me to) her adorable little sister (Anna is a proud and loving older sis). She's talked about future career plans (computer programmer? teacher? business major?). She's encouraged me to stop being a snob and watch the American version of The Office (I am forever grateful. And I will forever associate her with Killer Mike).

I'm really hoping that Anna is pleased with this Student of the Week "honour". Because I know that, at one time, it was a real goal of hers. In fact, this is my favourite Anna story. As I have already mentioned (and as you all know) Anna is an outstanding Math student; one of the strongest in the entire school. And yet, last year, there was a 2 - 3 week period where Anna was coming in to do Math homework almost every day. She seldom asked me for help but, day after day, she'd show up to work on Math. I figured she wanted to get everything done at school so she wouldn't have to take anything home with her.

However...

Anna admitted to me this year that it was a misguided attempt of hers to be picked as Student of the Week! Anna thought I considered all my students and picked the one that showed the most dedication and commitment to their mathematics for that particular week. You know, the sort of person who might come work on their Math homework every day after school. Not sure how long it took for Anna to realize I just pick a random grade 12 student each week (whether they are the hardest worker or the laziest class-skipper) to be the Student of the Week. hehehehe. Too funny!

Anna, thanks for all your hard work in my Math class. And thanks also for all your help as my CS student (that Math club poster will stand the test of time). And thanks ALSO for your help with scorekeeping and card buying, and math contests, and... wow, you do a lot of stuff for me! I admire you so much for your generosity, your unique and varied talents, and your easy going charm. You are an amazing student and a special person. The time has come, Anna! You are AT LONG LAST, the Student of the Week!!! (and you deserve it!!)

You and your two friends Pip and Blossom are captured by an evil gang of logicians. In order to gain your freedom, the gang’s chief, Kurt, sets you this fearsome challenge. The three of you are put in adjacent cells. In each cell is a quantity of apples. Each of you can count the number of apples in your own cell, but not in anyone else’s. You are told that each cell has at least one apple, and at most nine apples, and no two cells have the same number of apples.

The rules of the challenge are as follows: The three of you will ask Kurt a single question each, which he will answer truthfully ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Every one hears the questions and the answers. He will free you only if one of you tells him the total number of apples in all the cells.
​
Pip: Is the total an even number?
Kurt: No.
Blossom: Is the total a prime number?
Kurt: No
You have five apples in your cell. What question will you ask?

This week's Student of the Week is Tanner S!

Although I only taught Tanner a single time (way back in grade 8) I have only good thoughts about teaching her and even SEEING her around the school. Let's be honest: Tanner has the best smile (and one of the best laughs) in KG. Is it even possible to feel gloomy or down around this girl? She's super-positive, super-fun, and super-hilarious! The sort of person who makes you feel good about yourself... and life in general!

Wish I'd taught you more Tanner. But you left an impression on me in the single year we spent together. Don't have a lot of stories to share about you. Only lots of good laughs and good memories. Take care and all the best, TS!

This week's Student of the Week is Blanca B! (really disappointed how nobody sends me photos this year. Somebody copy something from her Instagram page and send it over!!)

I will never forget the first time I met Blanca. I was just starting my first Grade 8 Core class in September. It was a fairly small class (most Core classes are) and the students seemed a little nervous and very quiet (first day of high school. Who wouldn't be intimidated?). Suddenly - part way through my "Welcome to High School" talk - this tall, poised, confident, striking, blonde girl walks into my class...

My first thought: "Oh no. This kid is going to be so embarrassed when she realizes that she is in the wrong class". 

I tried to make it easier for her by approaching her and asking quietly: "what class are you looking for?". She replied "Math 8".

My next thought was: "why would this girl PRETEND to be in a grade 8 Math class? Is this her idea of a joke?".

Finally, she told me her name was Blanca and I realized that WOW, she really IS in this class. Talk about a mature grade 8 student!!!

That was an interesting year, teaching Blanca. She had a few quirks that made things... uh... challenging at times. One of her favourite "moves" - when I handed out an assignment - was to do the 2 hardest questions and then refuse to do anything else. When I'd challenge her on this ("GET WORKING!") she'd reply: "I've shown you I can do the hardest ones correctly. Why bother doing the easy ones?". I gotta admit: she makes a pretty good point. But still... frustrating!

Another strategy: answering EVERY question during the day's lesson, then - when homework is assigned - claiming "I don't really understand so I can't do it". YOU DO SO UNDERSTAND!! YOU EXPLAINED IT TO EVERYONE DURING THE LESSON!!

All this to say that I have always known that Blanca is a very intelligent person. She sometimes shys away from hard work (but not ALWAYS! Other days she'd be the hardest worker in class. So unpredictable!) but her being in the Core class always struck me as completely unnecessary.

I have been teaching for over twenty years now and I consider Blanca one of the funniest students I have ever taught. Considering how much I love to laugh (basically my favourite thing in LIFE) it is no wonder, then, how fond I am of her. There's not really any specific moments that stick out as being MOST funny or memorable, but even the THOUGHT of Blanca brings a smile to my face when I reflect upon how much time I have spent laughing around her.

I hope this will not embarrass Blanca but I must say that I had one of my best parent interviews EVER with her mom. You know how sometimes you are talking with someone and you are totally "on the same page"? How you agree with everything they say? How it is apparent they are actually LISTENING to what you are saying? How you leave the conversation feeling good about yourself and what has been said? Well that's what happened with Blanca's mom! Such a lovely woman!

As are you, Blanca! You've obviously followed your mom's good example because you too are charismatic and thoughtful and a great conversationalist. I will remember you always as a principled, powerful, kind, hilarious person. Thanks for all the chats and all the laughs. I KNOW that you will be successful in whatever it is you put your mind to. Never lose your wonderful, slightly-twisted outlook on life (it's what makes you YOU!). I love you lots and lots and I will MISS you, Blanca B!!

Twenty years ago my father-in-law made a commitment to climb the Squamish Chief with Sophia when she'd be 20 and he would be 75. And today they did it! So awesome!! Way to go Jean-Marie and Sophia!