Artist Among the Staff

To bring out the fun and the child within us, a Daily Draw contest was set-up at the head office for the staff.  

For a week, we can enter our daily drawings, sketch or doodles and we will have a chance to win.  Every day a winning drawing was selected. 

I encouraged my peers to use their right brain, start flexing their creative muscles and enjoy a break from counting beans.  Oh, what a joy. 

 At the end of the week, all drawings were displayed to celebrate how important drawing is.

Staff Drawings

Please, don’t laugh at our drawings.  There is no comparison to what the children drew.  Our minds are already conditioned and we have lost a few brain cells.  As a matter of fact, one of my drawings was the first winner! 

Here are some of the entries from our department and some of them are a winner.  See if you can pick which are mine and the winning drawing.  

Staff 9

Namaste

Staff 7

Staff 1

Staff 6

Staff 5

Staff 2

Staff 4

Staff 3

Related articles

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• Artist in Residence (3psbyseeker.wordpress.com)

Artist in Residence

At the school level, give the children a booklet, pencils and crayons; they are happy as they can be to start drawing.

Artist in Residence

Children are born with the propensity to draw at an early age.  There is really no need to teach the children how to draw.  Random scribbles will change over the years as the child matures.  Drawing is the language through which they are best able to express subtle or complex perceptions, thoughts and feelings.  These are vital for mental development, emotional health and healing. 

Artist in Residence

Drawing is the child’s most effective language for achieving these goals.  These are some of the drawings the school board posted for us to admire at the head office. 

Artist in Residence

Wandering in the most unexpected places

When I am not seeking, I wander around.  For some people, they call it loitering.  For the law makers the rule is “No loitering, otherwise, you will be charge with vagrancy.”

I’m not really scared with this ruthless or useless law.  For one, I know a lawyer, I can easily say, sue me or I’ll see you in court.  If not, I have friends in higher places that will defend me, men with guns, aka, cops.

With my wandering round and about especially during coffee or lunch break, the Westside is residential area.  There are a few residents I’ve met along the way and we are all on first name basis.  Most of them are retired, leaving along.  Some looked alone and lonely.

Ian was alone for most times.  Talking to him was a challenge because he speaks in rhymes.  I realized that he was telling me his poems.  It took me awhile to understand his speech because he was toothless.  Vagrant, he is not.  He just sits at the park writing his thoughts of poetry down.

One day, he presented me a booklet of his poems, first edition. What a sweet man.  I received more booklets from him over the years, yet, I don’t know anything personal about him.  But he seemed to enjoy talking to me while I listen.

Recently, I have not seen him around.  Until one day, I saw a fellow who lives in the same building as Ian.  Ian passed away in October last year, he says.

This is a sample of Ian Rudkin’s poetry, page 23. My Song Is In My Step.

Sense Beyond Fueling

I’m responsible for myself;
I’m naturally at home.
Nature is my health
And symptom is this poem.

I heed what I sense
And do what I eat.
I cause a few events
By work and not by feat.

I cannot assume help
Especially what was error.
To help, I try to tell
Some insights, touch and caring.

It seems a truth that women
Have far more sense than taste
In fact the sense for living
On which respect is based.

Signed: Kind Wishes from Ian Rudkin

Spring is here and the weather is getting warmer.  I will miss his presence sitting in  the bench under the shade of maple tree.

Farewell my friend.

WPC: We Pride Ourselves in Details

The bulletin board of the Vancouver School Board on display at the reception area where I proudly work.

Action,Voice,Learning

Pretty in Pink

We need you. 

Yes, You. February 27, 2013 is PINK SHIRT DAY.  Wear Pink. 

What is Pink Shirt Day? 

Pink Shirt Day is inspired by two grade 12 Nova Scotian students in 2007 who decided to take action after witnessing a grade 9 student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school.  The students bought 50 pink t-shirts and encouraged schoolmates to wear them and send a powerful message of solidarity to the bully. Six years later, the Pink Shirt Day campaign continues to raise awareness and provide education and funds for anti-bullying programs in BC and Western Canada. (source: CKNW  and CBC), 

Support, stand up and be counted. 

Pink Shirt, pink tie, pink ribbon, pink shoes, pink hair, pink tutu, you name it. 

Wearing pink is showing your Love, Acceptance, Respect and to STOP any negativity towards one another.  I am pretty in pink.  See for yourself. 😀 

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 Pink is a Peaceful Colour.  Pink is Action.  Action speaks louder than words. 

Come and Join me in this Peace Movement.

 

Check these out:
Make a Noise
VSB: Massive Pink Day Dance
VSB: Pink Day stronger than ever
Vancouver Giants: Flash Mob Hockey night
Peace by acting – summer4soul
B4Peace 

 

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R.U.L.E.S – Blog for Peace February 2013

In my site, there is no badge on Bloggers for Peace because I did not join.  I mentioned to Kozo, if it’s okay to write just about it.  Request accepted.  

I am not much of a joiner, follower or a member of any kind of organization.  I am not even a registered member of the church I go to.  The reason being, my belief is we are all One Body, One Mind.   By default, I am a member, no need to sign up. 

Whew, now I have said, I feel peaceful. Ah…. 

A few years ago, I volunteered as a Big Sister for one of the students at False Creek Elementary School.  My little sister’s name is Megan.  We were sisters for at least three years. 

What I want to touch upon is how I valued the school’s R.U.L.E.S.  It stands for:

R – Respect
U – Understanding
L – Learning
E – Education
S – Safety

The school has a Code of Behaviour: Keeping our school safe, healthy, happy and a productive place to learn. These are basic rules that elementary students understand.  It is a basic training on growing up as a future peacemaker. 

I remember when I was in elementary, we were taught Good Manners and Right Conduct in a public school.  The title of the program is different from today’s education but in essence it’s the same principle.

Since religion is not part of the curriculum in a public school, it teaches peace and compassion.  Recently, I received an e-newsletter about children’s choir.  I’ve asked for permission if it’s okay to share it. Request granted. 

In my own personal opinion, we have to teach peace early to our children.  I don’t have any children.  Megan, my little sister, was the only child I became closed to at the school and we had so much fun in our peaceful ways. 

Here’s the video of the children singing just one candle for peace.

 

And here is my candle for everyone.

 What does it take to be peaceful articles:

Love is the answer

A call to service

DP: Immortalized in Stone – Professional Day

“Your personal sculptor is carving a person, thing or event from the last year of your life. What’s the statue of and what makes it so significant?

“Yeah, no school.  It’s Professional Development Day.  What can I do to take advantage of this day?  Teachers have so many options offered by their association.  Staffs have two courses course offered by their union:  Dealing with Difficult People and Assertive vs. Aggressive.  The venue is located at one of the schools.  Since I am a staff member, I registered for both. 

The school was empty when I arrived.  It’s strange to be at a school with no children running, playing, laughing. The hallway was so eerily quiet. The office was manned by administrative support staff.  The classroom where the seminar was held has a bulletin board with different articles posted.  Having an inquisitive mind, when there’s a bulletin posted, I read what is posted be at school or lamp-post.  

Two articles caught my attention: “Stop workplace drama” and “Myself and the world around me.”  One of my peers wanted a copy of “Myself…”  I offered to take a copy for him since I know where the photocopy machine is located.  I also wanted a copy, and I used my camera to take a picture of “Myself…”  The picture didn’t turn out properly.  Thank goodness my peer has a copy. 

Should I want to be immortalized, I want a plaque written according to “Me and My World” placed at school ground and head office.  This poem speaks volumes about my second life in another part of the world.  The flags which she drew happened to be the same country were I came from, Philippines, and we both now belong to Canada.  I am proud of this child and for the teacher who helped her shape her mind and for the parents as well.  I contacted the teacher at the school if she could ask the student to allow me to share her poem.  Request granted.  Sharing is the best way to learn, and I am sharing with you a brilliant child’s mind about Know, Belief, Wonder, Fear, and Dream.  

Janzen Camara is the Author of Myself and the world around me.  She is a Grade 10 student of Tupper Secondary School, one of 108 schools of Vancouver School Board.  Thank you, Ms. Janzen Camara. 

“Example isn’t another way to teach, it is the only way to teach.” – Albert Einstein

I Believe

I Wonder

I Dream

I Fear

I know