“I remember thinking: How dare the sun rise, as if it were any other day, after such a gruesome night.” Sandra, being a smart, good head on her shoulders child with goals set for her future, wondered why and how the sun would consider to rise, after witnessing the worst night of her life. This particular night took the life of her youngest sister, Debra. Throughout the blurry night, she believed her mother was dead as well. She prayed and asked God to spare her mother’s life, as she wasn’t ready to be without a mother. She was only ten years old when rebels raided the tents of the refugee camp, killing many people who did not belong to their tribes. Her mother was a strong, smart, willing to help anyone type of woman. She believes that as long as you’re alive, you must do your best to help people.

While reading her story, I have an understanding that Sandra comes from a loving family. Her father did his best to bring their oldest son, Heritage home from war (he was abducted as a young boy and became a war child). He provided for their family the best he could, as well as their mother. She sacrificed a lot for their children as well. Both parents believed that education is important for ALL of their children, as it’s been said that education for girls was not really required as their only goals in life is to wed and to give birth to children. Her surviving family had no money or a home. They struggled to stay alive. Eventually they moved to America, where diversity is essentially welcomed by some, but not all. Sandra faced an ethnic disconnection, starting with middle school in New York. She may have gotten away from the hardships back home but was faced with new dilemmas in her new home.

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As an advocate for Diversity, Immigration, War and trauma, introducing “How Dare the Sun Rise” to a classroom is crucial in a students education career, as it opens the door to diverse and ethnic difficulties that people face every day. Students are sometimes unaware of these issues that people face, so bringing a novel of international content will broaden their views on international problems and scenarios. I believe this novel would be a great read for grades 10 to 12. Themes of this novel include: Advocacy, community, cultural differences and diversity, family death and relationships, identity, immigration, survival and trauma, and war. While students are reading and/or listening to the novel, they will have a vivid experience of what its like to be in a refugee camp, as Sandra tells her story well. She leaves no details out, as the more honest and raw it was, the better her story is told.

Attached is my first attempt at creating my own rubric. I have a small understanding of how to create rubrics. Unfortunately, I missed the second day of class, so I feel like I missed out on a LOT that day. I would love to hear any feedback from my fellow classmates about my rubric.

Administrative Procedures Manual AP 141 – Social Media and Online Posting

Saskatoon Public Schools recognizes the value of educational technology towards improving student learning. Social media provides a contemporary learning and teaching environment that facilitates sharing of resources, unprecedented access to information, instant global communication, and continually evolving methods of collaboration and innovation. Saskatoon Public Schools appreciates that education takes place both in and beyond the school. Students and staff must be provided opportunity to access educational resources at a modern, global level, while maintaining the integrity of the division’s core values and policies. These procedures outline the division’s expectations for staff and students who use social media or post online in their work or who choose to use personal social media accounts to comment on division matters.

GUIDELINES:

Division staff and students are expected to model ethical and appropriate conduct at all times. The expectations of our digital conduct, whether online, through texting, or any other technology, does not differ from our expectations of conduct in person. What we post online/send to others speaks to our character and reputation. Given the realities of our modern, connected society, all staff and students must be aware that any material posted online has the potential of becoming permanent and viewable by anyone in the world, despite one’s best intentions to maintain security and privacy. Consult STF Code of Professional Ethics 1 , Saskatoon Public Schools’ Vision and Values 2 , AP 450 Harassment (Employees)3 , and AP 451 Sexual Harassment4 for guiding principles. With respect to posting material online, it is expected that:

PROCEDURES

1. All staff and students will follow division procedures on AP1405 and the Consent Form for Sharing Student Information and Work with the Public

2. Staff and students are responsible for the content of all references made online, and will be held accountable for material that is defamatory to the school or school personnel, students, parents or any other member of the school community using digital media such as: social networking sites, blogs, webpages or email.

1) http://www.skteacherregulation.ca/standards/code-of-professional-ethics/

2) http://www.spsd.sk.ca/division/visionandvalues/Pages/default.aspx

3) http://www.saskatoonpublicschools.ca/division/adminproceduresmanual/Pages/default.aspx

4) http://www.saskatoonpublicschools.ca/division/adminproceduresmanual/Pages/default.aspx

5) http://www.saskatoonpublicschools.ca/division/adminproceduresmanual/Pages/default.aspx

6) http://spslearn.spsd.sk.ca/centraloffice/SA/Staff Documents/FORMS FOR SCHOOLS/

3. In the absence of consent (ex: consent form noted in #1), use of digital media must not reveal confidential information about the school, or personal information about its staff, students, parents or other members of the school community.

4. Staff and student use of digital media must not be used to threaten or publically criticize students, staff, parents, or colleagues. Staff and students must respect the privacy and the feelings of others.

5. Division staff must ensure their online activity does not interfere with their work commitment.

6. Students must ensure their online activity does not adversely affect the learning environment.

7. Division staff and students must show proper respect for the laws governing copyright and fair use of the copyrighted material owned by others.

8. Users in violation of this administrative procedure may be subject to a disciplinary process that could include:

8.1. Discipline 8.2. Suspension 8.3. Expulsion 8.4. Termination

Thanks for joining me!

This is my first EVER blog, so bare with me! Let’s start the show with some inspiration. Feel free to continue the #InspirationTrain

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton