This week's Student of the Week is Nikola G (I believe that this photo will put to rest the long-argued debate: who is taller - Nikola or Mr. Wadge?)
I taught Nikola all five years and it has been a pleasure to see Nikola grow (and grow and grow) into a mature and responsible young man over that time. I have to say one thing about Coach Darko's basketball disciples: they quickly learn that they are going to need to be VERY focused in class. They spend so much time practicing, traveling, having team meetings, games, etc. that they just can't afford to waste time in class. This describes Nikola perfectly. He was always - and still is - wonderfully laid back. But now he has added a level of intensity and focus in class... he's turned himself into a fantastic Math student (I may be biased but this impresses me even more than his basketball success). :) Everyone knows about my love of "success through hard work" and Nikola is a walking embodiment of this. I can only imagine how many hours he has spent in the gym, working on his basketball prowess. So glad your hard work was rewarded, Nikola. Best of luck at UBC! Saying goodbye to Nikola means also saying goodbye to his lovely family. I had the pleasure of teaching his older brother Marko quite a few times and I had many great interactions with his parents. Such a friendly, thoughtful, and handsome family! It's been a great five years, Nikola. I wish you success, good health, and continued happiness. I'll miss you and I love ya! This week's Student of the Week is Ellen P!
First of all, I have to say how much I love this photo!! Great smile, E.P.!! I am so proud of Ellen for how hard she has worked in my Math classes. I think Ellen would be the first to admit that she finds Math hard at times. And it has definitely caused her some stress from time to time (it pains me to think that the subject I teach causes so many of you anxiety! SOOORRRYY!!). Ellen did not NEED to take Foundations 12 this year. And it would be have been easier / less-stressful (for her) if she chose not to. And yet, Ellen elected to challenge herself, knowing that it would mean a LOT of work, determination, and resiliency. This, to me, is the recipe for future success. Not being averse to try things that scare you, that you aren't particularly great at, that might lead to failure. And Ellen ended up doing great! She has ALWAYS been so dependable when it comes to completing her homework (she often did MORE than the assigned homework!) and she made a point of coming to see me OFTEN for extra help when required. So it's no wonder then (though maybe surprising to Ellen) that I consider her one of my BEST Math students. Not because she earns the highest marks, but because she exemplifies my two-step recipe for success in Math class: (1) work hard / try (2) be responsible / if you are having problems, DO SOMETHING about it (coming to see me is a good strategy). Ellen and I have shared some good chats over the years. Stories about her brother (who she speaks of so fondly). Stories about other classes, her friends, her hobbies / interests / etc. It has been so rewarding teaching you, Ellen. Keep working hard and never lose your gentle, kind, and thoughtful nature. I will miss you and I love you, E.P.! Google Lens has long been a handy tool for things like figuring out what food you want to order or finding out if that plant taking over your backyard is actually a weed. It even added the ability to copy text to a computer earlier this year. Now it's gaining some helpful new capabilities when it comes to homework assistance, just in time for the upcoming school year.
Since many kids in the US will be completing much of their schooling online in the months to come, Google is highlighting this new functionality as a way to provide more helpful hands-on learning. Rather than simply googling a math problem and getting an instant answer, Google Lens can show step-by-step instructions on how that result was achieved. This week's Student of the Week is Claire M.
I taught Claire all five years: from Math 8 to Foundations 12. One thing I will always remember about Claire is her even-tempered and unruffled demeanour. Regardless of her state - happy, sad, angry, confused, etc - Claire is her same poised, mellow self. I remember one time when a teacher (who shall remain nameless) came to talk to Claire while she was in my classroom. This teacher was unhappy about Claire's attendance or work or something else (in their class). Claire stood listening, trying to defend herself mildly, a slight smile on her face. When the teacher was done, Claire turned to me, the same look on her face. "I am so pissed off right now". And she WAS. But it was just so hard to tell! Wish I had that kind of composure. When I get angry I act like a complete moron (bit of yelling. Turn red. Ramble incoherently). Claire is the exact opposite. Impressive! Claire has always struck me as a loyal and devoted friend. I remember when one of her friends (who also will remain nameless) acted less than admirably in my classroom and then abruptly left. Claire apologized for her friend's behaviour (which SHE certainly did not need to do). And while she did not attempt to make excuses for her friend's behaviour, Claire was clearly a supportive and understanding force for her. I consider Claire a wise, thoughtful, appreciative, and humorous person. It has been a pleasure to teach her the last five years. In fact she was my CS student this year too. Does that mean we shared a classroom SIX times, Claire! That's a lot of Claire (and way too much Wadge). Good luck to you, Claire! I wish you the very best in the years ahead. I will miss you and I love you! |
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