Donations Update

ROOM DONATION

Rachelyn, Merit, Ally tip bags

Matt, Jamie soccer jerseys

Jeremy, Shoval art supplies

Michaela, Alex B guitar strings

HAVANA - Thank you!

Hola everyone

What a great pre-trip 'meeting' we had last night! Wonderful venue and fantastic food - so tasty and so much of it! Plus, it beats the 7:30am wake up call.

Here's what Trevor, the chef, had to say about you : )

---- Original Message -----

You are very welcome! It was a pleasure serving you. I cannot recall being around a group of high school students that are so courteous and well behaved. Have a safe and happy holiday season and we hope to see you back with us in the new year!! All the best.... Thanks again for your business. -Chef Trevor.

Well done everyone - thank you!

Please book your calendars (and your parents' calendars) for the evening of TUESDAY, JANUARY 5TH at 7:00pm in Mr. Lalonde's room. This is a mandatory meeting for all student travelers and their parents (at least one parent MUST attend this meeting with their son/daughter)

We will be having our final pre-trip meeting this evening to review itinerary, packing details, donations distributions, etc. Mr. Campbell will also be in attendance that evening to review school expectations one final time.

Our journey together since late last spring has been awesome . . .but we've only just begun. Take some time over the break to REST and enjoy the all the comforts of your life here in Richmond, with family and friends. In less than one month, we'll be sharing in what promises to be a phenomenal experience as we all travel to Cuba.

Keep checking this blog for regular updates over the next couple of weeks and as questions arise, please email us using the link provided.

T H A N K Y O U!

Donations Sign Up

Hola

Please sign yourself and your roommates up for donations of your choice. You should connect with everyone in your room first and decide together which items you want to be responsible for gathering over the next couple of weeks. Once you've decided, please 'rsvp' here to this site (just click on the comments link at the bottom of this message) so that we can all see which items have already been spoken for and by which room. This will hopefully prevent a lot of duplication.

Some of the items suggested include socks, towels, underwear, sheets, art paper, glitter glue, glue sticks, self stick foamy paper, soaps, etc.

ROOM SUPPLIES

Rachelyn, Ally, Merit -tip bags (school stuff, etc)

Matt -soccer jerseys

Jeremy and Shoval - art supplies

Cuba You Tube Video

Check out this link to the You Tube video entitled Seeds in the City: The Greening of Havana. This is the 23 minute video we tried to show during our last meeting . . . but we ran out of time. Definitely worth a look

okay . . . i tried to paste the link here but it's not letting me (technology loves me). Just google YouTube and when you get to the homepage, search for the above title. It should be the first clip that appears (if it says 23 minutes long and has 5 red star ratings, you've got the right one).

See you at next week's meeting . . . 7:30am Thursday, December 10th . . . with teacher and parent consent forms signed.

Thanks

THIS WEEK . . .

HOLA!

Salsa dancing and swimming in one week? Yep, we had a lot of things keeping us busy this past week . . . and we'll continue going over all the pre-trip details at this week's meeting. This week's meeting is where we'll be distributing some critical paper work in advance of our trip. Please ensure you are there and on time in order to accomplish everything we need to in the short time we have left. Just a reminder that we will only have one more meeting, December 10th, before we break for Winter Holidays.

See you tomorrow, Wednesday, December 2nd.

THURSDAY

Got your dancing shoes on? Just a reminder that this week's meeting and extra special lunch hour session will focus on culture and music of Cuba. Our morning meeting will introduce some basics - plus additional trip details - and our special lunch hour session will feature a one hour Salsa class. Please remember to keep Thursday's lunch hour (plus 15 minutes into 4th block) free. This will be a great opportunity for us! See you before 7:30am

Get Wet Date

• Here's a message from Mr. Lalonde re: Get Wet. For those who need the training, please make a note of the date and confirm with us (via email asap if you CAN or CAN NOT make the date/time ASAP thanks
• 
  
• Most of the students noted on their survey forms that Sunday worked best for them. So I've booked Sunday, Nov. 29th at Minoru Aquatic Centre (from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm). Shoval wasn't able to go next Sunday (the 22nd) so hopefully the 29th will work for everyone that needs the training. Lydia was the only who noted a preference for Sat. on her survey form so hopefully she'll be able to still come on that Sunday. Could we maybe post a notice on our blog letting the kids know about the date to make sure it's ok for all of them? (There are 8 that need the training, I believe.) In terms of the $18.00 payment, we'll have to collect the money from the students.

Reminder for this week's meeting

Just a reminder that all the paper work is due back, signed, at this week's meeting, Thursday, November 12. Please also include the cheque for our Havana Restaurant Field Trip. Finally, remember to bring in any Get Wet (or equivalent) Certificates. See you at 7:30.

This Thursday

Okay . . the bar for our morning Eye Opener activities keeps getting set higher and higher AWESOME . . . and treats are getting yummy and yummier (I'm not too sure about healthier and healthier but whatever . . . chocolate deserves to be a food group anyway)

This week's meeting will be primarily focussed on specific details related to our trip and pre-trip requirements. It is a very important meeting with very important information being shared at the meeting and being sent home with you for your families. Please remember to bring in your Get Wet certification. Could each of you please email us (just send a message via the 'contact us' link at the right of this message) to say that either you currently have your Get Wet certification or you will be needing to get your Get Wet certification. Thanks

Please be on time and ensure that should you be absent from this, or any morning meeting, that you discuss your absence (in advance) with one of the teacher sponsors.

See you all this Thursday morning, 7:30 am!

Ciao

Some reminders

YUM! Having ice cream cake for breakfast was definitely a first for me (my kids were soooo jealous when I told them!)

Please note the date for eating at Havana is Monday, December 14th . . more details to follow

Start digging around for your Get Wet Certificates this weekend and bring them in to next week's meeting (I'll send another reminder early next week too)

Have a super long weekend!

THIS WEEK'S MEETING

Well, we certainly got last week's meeting off "with a bang!" Thanks again to Ally and Rachelyn (and for yummy treats too!)

This week's meeting is on Wednesday, October 21 . . . you know the time and place.

See you then

THAT WAS ELECTRIC!

"Props" go to Michaela and Merit for presenting last week's eye opener activity . . . and yummy treats too! (still lovin' the cups and tropical stir stix) Thank you. Let's "keep the flow going" with Ally and Rachelyn who are up for this week's meeting. This week's meeting is THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 . . .same time and place.

Here are a few reminders

1. Bring in your 'well wishes' and we'll add them to the card

2. We're going to ask you to begin thinking about what 'items' we want to take with us to share with local Cubans. Although their need is great, our space is limited, so we'll need to think carefully and creatively about what we can take. We'll discuss our options in more detail at the meeting, but it's something to begin thinking about. Bring your ideas with you on Thursday.

3. We'll have lots of announcements and updates at this week's meeting (Thursday) in addition to learning more and more about our destination. Looking forward to seeing you all . . . thanks for your efforts to be on time. Let's aim for 100% on time this week.

THIS WEEK'S MEETING

Hi Everyone

We're looking forward to this week's meeting (Thursday, October 8) as it will be the kick off to the student-led Eye Openers. Thanks to Michaela and Merit for volunteering to go first! They will be starting the activity at EXACTLY 7:30am. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be there early so that we can begin on time ( last week's meeting saw way too many of you stumbling in too late).

You should be in Mr. Lalonde's room by 7:25am at THE LATEST! This gives you a few minutes to get ready for the meeting and grab some treats too. It is also very respectful to your peers when you arrive promptly and are ready to participate in the activity that they have worked hard to plan for you. Thank you.

See you on Thursday (7:25am)

THAT WAS A BLAST!

Hola Amigos

It was great to see everyone at our first Cuba morning meeting last week . . . we sure got things off with a bang! Now it's time to get down to some serious pre-trip planning. Starting at our next meeting (this Wednesday September 30 at 7:30) we will be exploring specific details about Cuba's geography, history, politics, economics and culture as well as particulars about our trip itinerary.

Please bring a pen or pencil with you, as well as your own mug. If your name was on a list of outstanding requirements (passports, report cards, permission slips, etc) please bring that in as well for Wednesday (see a teacher sponsor if you need extra forms). Finally, please remember your $2 and the next payment ($700 USD).

Ms. Rubio is signed up to do our treats and Eye Opener activity this coming week. Here is the list of partners and dates for treats and Eye Opener Activities for the rest of our meetings. Please make a note of the date you have committed to. Remember to keep the treats simple and the Eye Openers SHORT (no more than the first 5 minutes)

Thursday, October 8 Michaela and Merit

Thursday, October 15 Ally and Rachelyn

Wednesday, October 21 Adriane and Chloe

Wednesday, October 28 Shoval and Jeremy

Thursday, November 5 Matt and Jamie

Thursday, November 12 Shota and Max

Wednesday, November 18 Kaitlin and Hillary

Thursday, November 26 Lydia and Alyssa

Wednesday, December 2 Nina and Diana

Thursday, December 10 Mr. LaLonde

1st Meeting Reminder

Hola!

Just a quick reminder that we will be meeting together this Wednesday morning at 7:30 SHARP (be early) in Mr. Lalonde's room. See you then

MORNING MEETING DATES

As outlined in your original application packages and acceptance letters for this Cuban Edventure, students are required to attend each of the following MANDATORY weekly morning meetings in preparation for our trip. The purpose of these weekly meetings includes reviewing trip logistics, learning about the history, geography, ecology and culture of Cuba, and getting to know each other in anticipation of the exciting experience that awaits us in January. Please make a careful note of the dates below. All meetings will begin PROMPTLY at 7:30am in Mr. LaLonde's room (C211). Any student who does not attend or participate in these required pre-trip commitments will be removed from the trip.

CUBA 2010 EDVENTURE MANDATORY WEEKLY MEETING DATES (promptly at 7:30am)

Wed Sept 23

Thurs Sept 30

Thurs Oct 8

Thurs Oct 15

Wed Oct 21

Wed Oct 28

Thurs Nov 5

Thurs Nov 12

Wed Nov 18

Thurs Nov 26

Wed Dec 2

Thurs Dec 10

Wed Jan 6

We'll see you all at the first meeting September 23 at 7:30am. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact one of the sponsor teachers at school or via email, using the link provided on the right hand side of this blog page.

Enjoy your remaining days of summer vacation . . . they may be a little soggy. Oh, and just FYI, today's forecast in Cuba is sunny skies with a daytime high of 32-35 degrees and a nighttime low of 25 - 28 degrees.

Ms. Cooper, Mr. Lalonde and Ms. Rubio

SAVE THE DATES!

Hola everyone!

We hope you're enjoying your summer holidays. We are excited to let you know that we have now paid the deposits and secured the seats for our CUBA 2010 Edventure. We are scheduled to depart January 11, 2010 and return January 18th, 2010 (exact times are TBA). Please make a careful note of these dates and keep checking this blog for additional updates in the next couple of weeks before school starts up again.

See you in September

Thanks to everyone who came out to our last meeting of the 2009 school year.

Summer is here and it's time for some well deserved rest. Keep checking in with this blog every once in a while to stay updated over the summer. If you need to contact us before September just send us an email message using the link on the right of this screen. See you soon!

NEXT MEETING

Our next student and parent meeting is this coming Wednesday, June 24th at 7pm in Mr. Lalonde's room (C211).  Bring a parent, a pen, your smile and the first payment.

See you then

ACCEPTANCE REMINDER

A reminder that your 'acceptance slips' are due back (signed by you and a parent)  on Monday, June 8th.

We're looking forward to having you join us on our exciting Edventure!

Hope you can make it.

WELCOME

Welcome to the McMath Cuba site!  Stay tuned for more exciting details about our first ever trip to Cuba in 2010