What did YOU think? Earth Hour - done!

It's finished! I wonder what it really all meant.....

What did you see? What did you hear people say? and finally, What do you think and feel and hope......?

Let's see what conclusions you Mandela kids, have come to about this experience. Comment below.

Photo source, The Toronto Star.

Birthday wishes to Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, Madiba of South Africa, inspiration behind our school, and famous everywhere in the world as ambassador for fairness and freedom for all, is turning 90 years old this July!

He has been told about this website, and may be peeking in here to read anything special you might write to him. Will you wish Mr. Mandela happy birthday in your very own way? Will you tell him what you wish for him and for all the children in the world who he works so hard to help?

Click comments below and compose a careful letter, making sure you put To:.... and From:.... [not you last name, please] - then he can see it on this blog. Perhaps he will answer....!

For more information, http://www.nelsonmandela.org/

New "Rising Every Time" - Your school newspaper at your fingers!

The title above is your link to the new edition of "Rising Every Time."

Check here for everything that's been happening in and around our school through the winter: clubs, Talent Show, students' thoughts on a wide range of community and world issues.

Enjoy poetry, a new novella, and two puzzles.

Think of Mr. Mandela's 90th birthday as you search out 3 of his famous and wise quotes!

Character Matters! NMPPS Students Speak Up

On our latest survey, our students answered overwhelmingly that HONESTY matters most, against courtesy and kindness. Honest answers, from honest folks!

That may seem simple, but what do YOU think it means? Are courtesy and kindness "out" at NMPPS? I don't think so...do you? Speak your piece, connect with your own experiences and let others know what is important to you.

Click on comments below, and don't forget to include your first name.

Let's hear it for these awesome athletes!

Leave this team of winners a comment to cheer them on! Make sure you include your own first name. No last names, please!

What's "Golden" about this Rule...?

....and why do so many people from different backgrounds accept it?

Click on the title above and check out this link.
Compare all the different cultures - their music, and their statement of the Golden Rule. Talk over anything you think is interesting with the neighbour to your right or to your left.

How might it make things different to you in your daily life, and to those around you in Regent Park and at NMPPS, if everybody was aware of this rule, and followed it?

Think and write to me and your friends under "comments."

Great Read!

Check out the review of Ellis' Jakeman by Humairah and Brenda,
in "comments" under the Forest of Reading post below.

Poem: Stop the violence!

No Violence, No drugs, No war.
We need Love, peace & more.
Working together is what we need,
Faith and hope should be in our lead!
So stop the violence, stop it now,
because we're smart & we know how!
By: Humairah

I wrote this poem because I live in a place were children know about violence and they shouldn't have to. This is a serious matter, and if we all put our effort together we can all make a difference!

Mandela Kids - EarthSavers all!

Use the "comments" space here to share your ideas about Earth Hour [March 29th!] and about habit changes that you will adopt to help turn global warming around.

Show this list of yours to your family and friends....they may be inspired by your determination to do these things themselves!Then you will really see that even ONE change by ONE person, YOU, can change the world's chances of survival.
Congratulations, EarthSavers, you are awesome!

Give it a listen!

Earth Hour and YOU?



Enjoy! -- Deb Gladstone

Reading a "Forest" Full of Books!

Who is reading a Blue Spruce, Silver Birch or Red Maple book?
I am! Ms. Zeitz got me started, and she's waiting to help you, too. Go ask her about these great books. I want to see if my favourite book wins over all the others - don't you? And you can VOTE, if you can read!

It means you'll have to read all through January and beyond. The 2008 Voting Day is April 23.

Check out this website: http://www.accessola.com/forest2008/ Find the link over on the right..

Right here, on this blog, let's use this place to talk back and forth about these books. When you've read one, click on comments right under this post. Write the title, the author and the "tree" the book belongs to. Advertise the book if you liked it, or give it the thumbs down if you didn't. Make sure to give your reasons. I'll post your opinions where everyone else can read them. Your view could make a difference in deciding the winner!

HELP! I Want to Write a Story!

I really love to write. I write my own personal journal, I write your lessons, I email my friends..... but I don't get to write many stories. Often when I think I'll get started on one, I find myself saying, "I don't know how to start....what should I write about?"

So, I need you to help me. Click on comments, and think up and write a 3 or 4 sentence story starter...about anything you'd like to hear a story about. I'll look over all your ideas, and pick the one I find exciting, to finish. I'll write and write and write, and post the finished story with both our names on it. Anyone can comment on the story when I'm done.

So how about it? You can't lose - I'll be doing most of the work! Let's see what we can come up with, together!

Thanks, Deb

Now it's YOUR turn!

You've had a chance to respond to a couple of opinion posts. Here's your opportunity to write one of your own. Who knows what comments you'll get to your ideas?

• Are classroom rules fair? OR
• The best person to share my troubles with....

To be worthy of posting, the piece should carry the weight of your conviction (be supported with details, experience) and demonstrate responsible digital (WWW) citizenship (be clean, edited, and free from demeaning or abusive content.) Make sure to sign with your first name only, and not specifically name anyone else. Click on "Comments" and away you go!

Let's hear what you have to say for yourself!

Another opinion for you to respond to. What do you think?

Here is a youngster from England, writing to KidsOnTheNet. Next time, it could be YOUR opinion posted here, for others to respond to. Just hand it in to Deb!

Should Children do housework?

By Pratik, 9, Sheffield, UK

Our class have been discussing whether children should do house work or not.

My first reason for doing house work is because parents work for you so you should do work for them. My second reason for doing house work is because it gets you off the ps2. And you learn house work for when your older and my third reason for doing house work is because you like your parents.

On the other hand some people said you shouldn't do house work for your parents. My first reason for not doing house work is some people might find it boring also they might not like it. My second reason for not doing house work is people have better things to do for example play on the ps2 or play football or cricket outside and my third reason for not doing house work is when you get older you will own a house and you will have to do house work so this is the only rest we will get from doing house work.

I have looked at both arguments and I have made my mind up. I think that children shouldn't do house work because adults got all the muscles and children's time will come.
(June 2006)

Get ready to say what you think!

This a real opinion piece, posted to KidsOnTheWeb by a student in Korea. Once you've read it, post your responses, as you've been taught, making sure to display appropriate digital citizenship along with your real reaction. Soon, we'll have our own students' pieces posted for all to read and think about.

Swearing

By H.W., 12, Seoul, South Korea

Swearing. For some people, swearing is the last thing they'd want to do. But for others it's a habit, sometimes even an enjoyment. Here in Korea lots of kids swear as a joke and when they play with each other.
Swearing is downright wrong. It makes others feel awful, like you're spitting dirt in their faces. Swearing makes you look awful. Lots of kids think swearing makes them look cool. No. Don't get the thought into your head.
Don't swear. It's a dumb thing to do. Don't make yourself a bad looking person. Don't make yourself a stupid person. (June 2007)

Welcome!

I have just created this space for my awesome students at Nelson Mandela Park Public School, in Toronto, Canada. Although they have a great newspaper called "Rising Every Time" in which to publish their thoughts for each other, this will give them a wider forum, and access to feedback from outside their community. They are wonderful thinkers, and are capable of being trusted to grapple with the substantial problems and solutions their generation are being confronted with even now, and in the future. Go for it, all of you! Let's put up your incredible work for the world to see. Make us all proud. Good luck!