Zoomba

The special O program has started a dance program, called Zoomba.  Its a dance, fitness program.  The lady that organizes it has taught dance programs for special needs kids.  She love it and does a great  job.  This is great for me because it gets me out, and I dont get out too too much in the winter so it keeps my strength up, and gives me something to do.  Its a big workout!  Like for swimming, I also do reports for the zoomba too.  I missed the first report, but i got the second one!  Here it is!

Yesterday was the second Dry land training meeting.  It was great!   Everyone got a huge work out that they will probably feel today!  Colieen was away, so instead of dancing, Katrien showed the group some stretches and exercises that are good to get ready for skiing.  We had six kids show up, three boys and three girls.  They were Aaliyha, Marlow, Kate, Stephen, Lochlan and Brion.  The Volunteers were Katrien, Andrea, Tom, and a few moms helped out too.  Katrien kept everyone busy.  We got out some big, long step boards.  We stepped up and down from them. We startled them, one leg on either side of them, and we practiced jumping on and off them.  There was a bit of an obstacle course today.  We laid down some half round balls and went around them, like skiing around the moguls at Panorama, in and out and in and out. We jumped on them and tried to stand on one foot on top.  Later, we got into a big circle and   passed a big ball around.  We had to pass it to the next person high over our heads or really low to the ground.  Then we had to reach farther and skip the person beside us and pass it too the next person.   We also sat on our half round balls and saw how long we could sit like that for.  Some did really well, and some didn’t last too too long.  To end off the day, we did some weights and stretches.  Everyone worked hard and had some fun.  Aaligyah did really well on the steps.  She could do it fast!  When Marlow was sitting on the half round ball, she fell over, and then Kate did the same thing.  They laughed and thought it was quite funny.  They were happy.  It was all good!  The sit-ups on the half round ball were Stephens area of expertise.  He went all the way down, so that he could almost lay all the way flat!  Well done Stephen!  That was very impressive!  It was Lochlans first day of Dry land, so Andrea and his mom, Kirsten was helping him get everything figured out!  He did pretty well.  He hung in there a long time.  Brion was doing great!  He was with his mom.  They were practicing doing steps and they found out that it was easier for him to hold on to a balance bar to help him!  Very smart!  Kate and her mom copied their idea and it worked well for them too!    By the end of Dry land Training, and Zoomba, everyone will be ready for the ski season!  Thank you to Katrien, who volunteered to be the instructor for the day and gave everyone things to do.  Everyone loved it, so thank you for making it happen.  Thank you to all the parents who helped out too!  We will continue this until December.  Colieen will be back next week, so everybody have your dancin’ shoes on!  See you on Saturday for another fun day of dance!

Lest We Forget

The year is going by so fast!  Its already November!  As everyone knows  November 11th is Remembrance Day.   On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we remember those brave, heroic men and women that fought and still are fighting for our freedom.  It was on November 11th, on the 11th hour, the guns fell silent as it was the end of the first world war.  It was supposed to be the war to end all wars but unfortunately, battles are still going on today.   We hope that one day, the horror of war will be over.  Every year, on the 10th schools all over the district have a Remembrance Day assembly, showing the students and staffs own personal respect for the fighting and the fallen soldiers.  They always do a wonderful job.  The veterans come and talk to the students about war.  Students do a fantastic job of hosting it!  Theres speeches, and slide shows, and ofcourse the two  moments silence and God save the queen for the last post.  This ceremony was beautiful!  The Primary School,E.M.P and the Elementary school J.A Laird came to join D.T.S.S.  This is the the first time all three schools have done it together.  The younger schools did presentations too.  They were so cute, and brave!  Imagine being in grade three and singing in front of all the big high school kids!  I always like to stand for the moment of silence.  It just like the Terry Fox Run, I think if all those brave soldiers went through what they did, I can withstand a brief 2 minutes of standing.  We got today off, as we always do on Remembrance day.  I have developed a new tradition.  I now go to   my friends house to spend the day with her.  She grew up in war time, so Remembrance day is very important to her.  This year, I made a carrot cake and with icing on it.   I  put Lest we forget and a few poppies and crosses.  I think she really liked it!  I also wrote a poem.  I quite appreciate  remembrance day. I like the formality of doing this for the soldiers and the amazing respect that everyone shows, and so they should.  I hope everyone thought about the men and women serving!  They deserve much appreciation!  For those who are fighting, I wish you a safe return to where ever home is and for those who arènt with us anymore,  Thank you and may you rest in peace.

BOO!

Last Monday it was Halloween.  A  couple years ago, I finally realized that I am too old to go trick or treating!  When you get to a certain age, and your still banging on your neighbors door begging for candy, the people at the door start giving you funny looks.  So much for celebrating a holiday for little kids, when you get someone at your door a foot taller than you are.  Anyway, my days of trick or treating or treating are over for good.  The job of handing out the candy has been passed down to me.  My sister helped me for a while but later she went out with her friends .  In our house we have to go down stairs to get to the front door.  It takes me a while to get  up and down the stairs. I sat at the bottom stair doing crosswords and listening for trick or treaters.  I had to be prepared!  Stand up and have the bowl of candy in my hand before the kids came to the door, otherwise Halloween would be over before I gave them their candy!  What a cheap Halloween.  A kid with a pillowcase  that they can fit themselves into, and they only get one candy!  Fortunately, that never happened!  I think all the kids  that came to our house were pretty well satisfied.  Every kid that got candy had to swing the door back closer to me .  It was a great trade off.  All the kids were so cute and friendly, and so were their parents!  There were great costumes.  I love the first timers!  They're just learning all  the rules of Halloween !  Say trick or treat really loud!  Take a candy!  SAY THANK YOU! All the little ones were really sweet!  They're a little nervous, you can tell.  This year we gave out bags of little bags of  candy,which worked out really well!  Every kid gets an equal amount of candy!  Then , we had candy leftovers for the late kids!  It was a great night, and school was fun on that day too!  Everyone was dressed up!  Some in the most bizarre costumes ever!  Everyone looked great!  I wore a witches hat.  My mom and I had to trade off  She needed a costume for work!  It was a very fun day!  It's great we have these special nights for the kids to have fun, and just be kids!  Hope everyone had a fun and safe night.  Hope to see you all again next year!