TERM TWO WINTER 2009

ART STUDIO
Come copy a MASTER
This art course will be instructed by Lisa Smouter (B.A. Redeemer University College). Lisa, a Burlington artist, has taught the Art Studio co-op in the past and hopes to continue to encourage creativity, thoughtful art-making, and especially technical proficiency this term.
Reproducing a work from a master artist will be the culminating large project of this 12 week course. We will get there by working on small studies using smaller canvasses experimenting with acrylics and/or oil paints, as well as covering some planning in our sketchbooks. Colour mixing, methods for seeing, and specific painting techniques are among the skills we will cover. Any trained artists will tell you that copying a master is one of the best ways to learn these skills. You will be amazed at what you can reproduce using the steps set out in Lisa's course outline!
This course involves some homework and students will be graded based on participation, completion of work, progress made, and quality of their work.

ENGLISH
This course is split into two sections. The first section is the syllabus for Erin Goheen’s portion of the class (classes 4-8) and the second is for Amyann Groen’s portion (classes 1-3, 9-12).
Erin Goheen is a fourth year PhD candidate at McMaster University, writing her thesis on refugee literature in Canada and church activism with refugees. She was also a part-time faculty member for two years at Redeemer University where she taught two introductory courses in English literature. Refugee literature in Canada is her current area of writing and research. This area of study excites her because of the overlaps between the Biblical stories of exile and displacement and the call for Christians to deal justly and hospitably with displaced people in the present. When she was in high school, her family homeschooled, and so she was part of the Lighthouse Academy about fifteen years ago!
Amyann Groen is currently teaching Creative Writing, Literature and Latin to students at the Lighthouse School Co-operative in Waterdown. She is also teaching a university-level Advanced Placement class (modelled after the Oxford University tutelage system) to two advanced high school students. She is just finishing her last class, an Independent Study on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, for her degree in Honours English and Philosophy from Redeemer University College. In 2005, Amyann had the opportunity to study at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies with Oxford University, concentrating on Medieval Literature and Creative Writing. She has a passion for writing and for fostering and nurturing the gift in others.
Learning to Read Refugee Stories (portion of course by Erin Goheen)
While we may not think much about stories and storytelling in our day-to-day lives, we are constantly participating in stories—either through telling them or by listening to them. The way we tell stories about other people affects the way they are seen by others. The kinds of stories we listen to about other people influences our own view of them. And we treat people on the basis of our view of them. So stories are powerful.
Imagine someone hears a story that has been told in the media that suggests Christians are intolerant, closed communities that are uninterested in people outside their churches. Will that person come to visit our communities? Will she be eager to start up a conversation with you about faith once they know you are a Christian? Probably not, unless she already knew a Christian personally.
Our starting point in this workshop will be acknowledging that stories are powerful in shaping our understanding of people and people groups. This workshop is for those of us who want to learn about the experiences of people who are refugees. It is an opportunity to learn how to “read” stories of refugees well.
Stories about refugees are everywhere these days—in newspapers, on TV, in academic articles, in fiction, and even in sermons. And each of the stories present a different picture of who refugees are, what the experience of being a refugee in Canada is like, and how Canadian citizens are responding to them. We want to be discerning about what stories we listen to and how our views of refugees affects our interactions.
In this course we will examine various examples of “stories” about refugees to help us to practice reading stories well. The first is a clip from a Hollywood film; the second is a music video by a hip hop artist; the third is a newspaper article; and the fourth is a short story. The hope is to learn how to better understand the stories we hear and to discern the degree to which they are truthful and/or unhelpful for sensitizing us to refugee experiences.
Course Description
Over the course of 5 weeks we will learn to be better readers of stories about refugees that are told in our culture. We will use a variety of mediums, including film, news media, fiction, and music to become more sensitive “readers” of refugee narratives. The course will be mainly discussion-based and interspersed with lecture. We will ask questions about the stories such as, “who is writing the story?”; “who is the intended audience?”; “what is the message this story gives us about refugees?”; “what stories do Christians usually listen to?”; “how can we be faithful actors in the world based on our readings of these stories?”
Learning to Write Your Own Story (portion by Amyann Groen)
The first three classes will explore what it means to be creative and how our call to be faithful Christians includes creative acts. We will do this through discussion about what creativity is, through creative writing exercises, and by looking at examples of writing by other writers. Students will be given activities to do at home that will help them to practice what they’ve learned, and in-class work-shopping will help students to learn the art of constructive criticism. In the last four classes we will explore the elements of short stories and work on finding our own voices to tell our stories. As part of this students will work on the group project of producing a class publication of selected creative works.

RED CROSS EMERGENCY FIRST-AID INSTRUCTION
Simple First Aid & CPR techniques taught in an interactive environment, for individuals who want an overview of First Aid & CPR for the workplace or home. The course covers skills needed to recognize, prevent and respond to cardiovascular emergencies for Adults, CPR Level A, and other topics such as choking, airway and breathing emergencies, and prevention of disease transmission.
About this course
6.5–8-hour course with flexible scheduling options
3-year certification (or as legislation dictates) in Emergency First Aid & CPR Level A
Includes CPR Level A (CPR information is enhanced to meet specific workplace needs)
Includes AED (Automated External Defibrillation) certification (where local legislation permits)
Conducted by a certified Red Cross First Aid Instructor
Course content
Preparing to Respond
The EMS System
Check, Call, Care
Airway Emergencies
Breathing & Circulation Emergencies
First Aid for Respiratory & Cardiac Arrest
Written exam (min. passing grade: 75%)

DRAMA
Clarissa derNederlanden will be our play director for the upcoming term. Clarissa received her Bachelors of Theatre Arts and English from Redeemer College a few years ago. Since then, she had a brief stint as a mat leave replacement for a high school drama teacher, after which she took part in a year-long intensive acting program in Toronto where she continued to live, work and occasionally act for the next several years until she met a boy, got married and had a baby. She continues to dabble in performance by undertaking the recurring role of “The Flying Squirrel” (and others) in radio shows performed by Decoder Ring Theatre ensemble such as “The Red Panda Adventures” and “Black Jack Justice”. To her, theatre is about play. Happy, sad, tragic or compelling-it is about the joyful exploration and interpretation of God's creation. Through it we can seek, search, scrutinize and hopefully come to understand each other (and ourselves) a little more.
We will be doing a staged play of a radio show (perhaps 2-depending on the length). Radio shows had their “heyday” back in the 1930's and 40's so we'd set the play sometime in that era (note for costumers). She'd like to perform a scary/thriller script such as “Suspense!” and possibly a Western. This gives us plenty of opportunity for setting a variety of moods, producing fun sound effects and “twangy” characters (as well as, possibly, a gun fight-whoohoo!). There'd be the play (what's happening in the actors’ lives) and the plays within the play (radio scripts). We'd also reproduce some of the lovely cheesy advertisements that peppered the shows throughout. Fun Fun Fun!!! This gives us the opportunity for a musical element as well (for those with such talents...)
It would be different that what you've done before and it can accommodate quite a large cast with a variety of roles. Most importantly, it will be fun. It excites Clarissa and she hopes it excites you. She loves cast and crew input so please get your imaginations rolling. We'll get a definite script to you in the beginning of January. At the same time, I'll send out a questionnaire that will ask what roles you're especially interested in (ie. large speaking role vs small), if you're musically inclined, or would prefer to be on the creative team (ie. Stage manager, Costuming, Lighting, etc.)

STRATFORD'S "HAMLET"

Last year's Drama class (along with a few parents and siblings) were able to enjoy "Hamlet" at the Stratford Festival Theatre on September 16, along with a picnic lunch on the grounds.

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Quite a number of students (and one dad) had an opportunity to participate on stage during the Preview session. We paricipated in a two competitions -- best Shakepearean insults (all quotes from Hamlet) and best death scenes (as that is a main theme in Hamlet). Interactive and lots of fun!

CANOE TRIP 2008

We'll, they're off! After getting up in the dark, cool morning the group is now enjoying sun on their way up to the Gibson Lake area for a three day canoe trip.

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Announcements and prayer time:

Making sure everything's tied down:

The 2008 group.

TERM ONE FALL 2008

ART STUDIO
Lisa Smouter (B.A. Redeemer University College) is teaching this course which will focus on the practical application of the Principles of Design. In contrast to past terms, this term will help develop design skills as seen in print and computer-based media. Students will be challenged to design thoughtfully, creatively, and effectively in order to prepare them for future design projects often needed by small businesses, churches, or other organizations. Course material consists of taking an existing brand and developing a logo, business card, advertisement, and a basic website. Students must have a laptop computer with Microsoft Word and the ability to download a reputable, free image-editing software program. On October 23rd, a designer who works in the Art field will substitute teach as Lisa will be away.

Have a good look at our new logo -- it was designed by Josh during Art Studio. Thanks Josh!

CURRENT ISSUES
Steve Pypker, a fourth year at Redeemer University College, majoring in political science and minoring in history, philosophy and environmental science.
“Engaging World Issues: Local and Global Syllabus”
An introduction to modern, post-modern and Christian worldviews, followed by a topical study of several current issues, including consumerism, globalization, and the environment.
The course goals are to:
1) To gain an understanding of what a worldview is and does.
2) To wrestle with complex and knotty issues that have day-to-day relevance.
3) To challenge students to think critically about the way in which we engage God's world.
Once a week class discussion of readings, with some lecturing, along with reading some short photo-copied selections (10-20 pages) from books and newspaper/magazine articles, and a 2-3 page (double-spaced) critical response paper, written on a specific topic of interest arising from class discussion.

TOASTMASTERS
Donna Gomsen (who led our group over 4 years ago) will lead. This Youth Leadership Program is an informal course in the arts of communication and leadership. The ability to clearly express your thoughts to others so that they are heard and understood is important if you are to become successful in life. This ability is also important if you want to participate in group discussions and decision-making activities.
By participating in the Youth Leadership Program, you will learn speaking and leadership skills that you’ll be able to use for the rest of your life. You’ll learn to overcome the nervousness everyone feels when asked to speak before an audience, organize and present your ideas logically and convincingly, listen carefully to others’ ideas, offer helpful advice that will help others improve their speaking and leadership skills, and participate in – and even lead – group discussions or meetings. You’ll increase your self-confidence and, best of all, you’ll have fun while you’re learning and you’ll make new friends.
You can’t learn to play the piano by reading books or listening to lectures on the subject. You must put the instructions into practice. Even if you were to read dozens of books on the subjects, you couldn’t become a good speaker or leader without practice. That’s how the Youth Leadership Program works. You are given plenty of opportunities to practice in a friendly, positive atmosphere. And you’ll receive advice and help from your fellow participants in the process.

COOKING
Upstairs at Fortinos in their community room which has a beautiful, fully equipped kitchen with everything one could use including a dishwasher.
Lesia Hucal, a dietician from the Hamilton Public Health, will lead our group and will organize what takes place in each class, what will be made, give information (and home assignments) and so on. The first lesson will give her more indication of the group, what the capabilities and interests are, and so on. From there she will design the program more specifically.

CANOE TRIP PREP

On Saturday, September 6, 2008 we met at the Speed River in Guelph for some on-land and in-water canoe lessons from our instructor, Fiona.

1837: THE FARMERS' REVOLT