Rossland Secondary Library

Fire in my belly

2012-01-25T13:38:00.000-08:00

Photo by Kali Butler

The burning desire that resides deep within; the unexplainable force that propels one to push their limits: Fire in My Belly. Kali could not have chosen a more appropriate name for her blog. She pushes herself to be the best she can be, mentally and physically. RSS student, and Red Mountain Academy athlete, Kali Butler, is living in Panorama, BC this winter to train and ski race as a FIS athlete. She is recording her experiences on her blog, Fire in My Belly, and you can follow her journey as she experiences the highs and lows of training, racing and living independently for the first time. Feel free to comment on her posts.

The Joy of Books

2012-01-10T21:25:00.000-08:00

Claremont Review's Annual Writing Contest

2012-01-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

The Claremont Review's Annual Writing Contest is on. Submit poems, short stories or both until March 15. The contest is open students aged 13 to 19 and the top prize is $500. The Claremont Review is a non-profit organization supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Magazine Fund and Heritage Canada. All entrants receive a year's subscription to The Claremont Review. For further details go to The Claremont Review's site.

I'm Reading a Book

2011-12-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our ever talented Caelum and his posse of readers.

Get More Out of Google

2011-11-29T13:52:00.001-08:00

With information available at your fingertips 24/7 you would think most of us would be expert researchers by now but that is not the case. A recent study discovered that less than 25% of students know how to effectively research. Thanks to the students at HackCollege for putting this infographic together. Check out the full infographic here and start becoming a Goolge master.

Teen Suicide with Rick Mercer

2011-11-24T22:05:00.001-08:00

This year 300 teenagers have committed suicide. That is 300 too many. Many of these teens were bullied. Something can be done. Speak up and speak out. Some of these kids were gay and were harassed for their personal choices. Harassed to the point of suicide.

Plagiarism

2011-11-15T13:45:00.001-08:00

Worried you might be nailed for plagiarism? Not sure? You didn't mean to but you might have? Watch this short video created by the folks at Common Craft. They make it pretty easy to understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.

Inquiry Based Learning

2011-11-08T09:14:00.000-08:00

Inquiry at RSS on Prezi

7 Billion and counting

2011-10-31T09:45:00.000-07:00

Forcasters at the United Nations say that today the world's population has surpassed 7 billion people. Cause for celebration or concern?
"Our world is one of terrible contradictions," says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "Plenty of food but one billion people go hungry. Lavish lifestyles for a few, but poverty for too many others."
Will we be able to feed, house, educate and provide clean water and a decent life for all children around the world? Check out CBC's Offbeat math: Sizing up a world of 7 billion people to see some interesting facts and figures.

Kootenay Literary Competition 2011

2011-10-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

Calling all writers to enter the 2011 Kootenay Youth Creative Writing Competition. If you're in Grades 7 - 12, and live in the Kootenay region of British Columbia write an original work of 2,500 words or less that has not been accepted, published or submitted elsewhere for consideration. That work should fall into one of the following literary categories:

Short Fiction
Creative Non-Fiction
Poetry – Sequence of Poems or Linked Poems

What you have to include:

Grades 7-9: Your written work MUST include the words “tricks” “seventeen cents” and “sweet”. It doesn’t matter what order they appear in, but all the words must appear somewhere in your written work.

Grades 10-12: Your written work MUST begin with the phrase “It wasn’t that I meant for it to happen”.

For all contest details go to KLC 2011

RSS Grad Fashion Show

2011-10-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

Let's Feed Somalia

2011-10-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

Across Somalia, more than 3.7 million people – more than half the entire population – are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. In some areas in the south, nearly half the population is malnourished. These areas have the highest malnutrition rates in the world. Across the three worst-affected countries of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, more than 11 million people need immediate food assistance.(www.care.org)
The students in Ms. Waage's Biology 12 class have researched a variety of flours/grains that would be most beneficial to send as food aide to Somalia. To see all student projects go to http://rssbio12project.blogspot.com/.

Let's Feed Somalia! on Prezi

Digital Youth Film-making Workshop coming to Rossland

2011-09-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

Then take your original film and submit it to the Reel Youth Film Festival happening in November as well as the U19 Film Festival April 14, 2012. See your movie on the big screen at the Royal Theatre in Trail.

For more information come to the presentation in the Art room at 11:00 am on Monday, October 3rd.

Booklamp does for books what Jango does for music

2011-09-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

Similar to Jango that hooks up music lovers with new music, Booklamp will help you find new books that suit your reading tastes. Simply type in the title, author or genre of your favorite read and Booklamp will generate title that are similar in content. Give it a try and let us know what you think.

Your TeacherLibrarian

2011-08-28T09:25:00.003-07:00

Congratulations to the RSS Grad Class of 2011

2011-06-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Check out all the photos at http://on.fb.me/lWsHnR.

World Digital Library

2011-05-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

The World Digital Library

Mission

The World Digital Library (WDL) makes available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from countries and cultures around the world.
The principal objectives of the WDL are to:

Promote international and intercultural understanding;
Expand the volume and variety of cultural content on the Internet;
Provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences;
Build capacity in partner institutions to narrow the digital divide within and between countries.

The WDL makes it possible to discover, study, and enjoy cultural treasures from around the world on one site, in a variety of ways. These cultural treasures include, but are not limited to, manuscripts, maps, rare books, musical scores, recordings, films, prints, photographs, and architectural drawings.
Items on the WDL may easily be browsed by place, time, topic, type of item, and contributing institution, or can be located by an open-ended search, in several languages. Special features include interactive geographic clusters, a timeline, advanced image-viewing and interpretive capabilities. Item-level descriptions and interviews with curators about featured items provide additional information.

The WDL was developed by a team at the U.S. Library of Congress, with contributions by partner institutions in many countries; the support of the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the financial support of a number of companies and private foundations.

Remember to wiggle your toes.

2011-05-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks again to Kevin Brooks who spoke to the students at RSS about making the most of life, no matter what cards you have been dealt. An active snowboarder, skater, hockey player and general dare devil, Kevin was never one to turn down a party. After a night of drinking, Kevin didn't listen to that inner voice telling him to go home to bed but instead jumped in the driver's seat of his car, with his friend Brendon next him and proceeded to flip the vehicle down an embankment. Kevin survived. Brendon did not. Kevin is now in a wheelchair unable to do the many sports he loves but he isn't letting that stop him. Listen to Kevin and you know he isn't letting anything stop him. He isn't giving up. Check out his website and blog to read more about Kevin and share your own story.

Do you want a skatepark in Rossland?

2011-05-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

May 10th, Miner's 7:30. Our LAST consultation meeting on the site. We need the masses out for this one! Also see cool RSA report on interviews with 40 other towns in BC with skateparks.

Tired of skating outside Ferraro's? The Rossland Skatepark Association has worked tirelessly to see a skatepark in Rossland. Tell your friends and family about the May 10th meeting where the location will be discussed. Get involved in your community. For more information check out the RSA website.

The Research Essay brought to you by Easybib

2011-05-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

Easybib has created a great free online document that covers everything you will need for a successful research project: finding a topic, research tools, search engines, notetaking, outlining and creating a bibliography.

Red Mountain Academy Rap

2011-05-02T12:37:00.001-07:00

RSS launches new website

2011-04-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Much thanks goes out to grade 12 student Madelaine Snelgrove for creating a great looking website for Rossland Secondary School. The site's new look reflects the various interests of the learning community and will be a great showcase for student work. Don't forget to check out the RSS Gab Tab. Check back often as the site will be updated on a regular basis.

I Love Trash - documentary

2011-04-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

I Love Trash is a documentary about dumpster diving. Two friends decide to do an experiment in trash. They rent an unfurnished apartment and arrive with only the clothes they are wearing and a flashlight. They decide not to buy any things for 3 months and instead to find all their needs in the trash. They furnish their apartment lavishly. They eat decadently. They dress sharp, and create beautiful art, all from the trash.

Please excuse the mess.

2011-04-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

RSS Library is undergoing some changes so please excuse the mess.

Soon you will be able to find your next read by browsing the shelves by genre. Are you looking for a mystery novel or maybe you are in the mood for something a little more humourous. How about a graphic novel for a change? By rearranging our fiction collection by genre you will be better able to find what you are looking for or try something new. If you need some assistance Mrs. Yonkman, our library assistant, or the teacher-librarian Mrs. Kuhn will be more than happy to help. You will now find all the fiction along the main wall of the library, on either side of the windows. Of course, we are always looking for the next great read so come in with your suggestions and we'll see what we can do.

Money, money, money

2011-02-24T10:15:00.001-08:00

Grads pay attention:
The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) is awarding a number of $2,000 scholarships for the Youth Community Service award, based on volunteer service not your academic standing. If you are planning to attend a post secondary institution or training program this scholarship can help make the financial commitment a bit easier. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2011. You can go directly to the CBT webpage or see your school counselor for the application form.

No Sleep Tonight 2

2011-02-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

Check out Samme Beatson's latest music video production showcased yesterday at the Valentine's Day assembly.

Beyond the first five links in Google

2011-02-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

Do you want to discover the real power of a Google search? There's more to Google than meets the eye. Here's a link to an excellent video tutorial revealing the capabilities of a Google search. You'll learn how to access primary documents, use the timeline and wonderwheel functions, get access to thousands of free books and much, much more.

TAGMAG

2011-02-04T09:07:00.000-08:00

Tag is an on-line student literary magazine filled with art and writing. Students, friends, and family members can blog, download the magazine to an ereader, print it, listen to it, or have it translated into another language. With links to Facebook, Twitter and more, students can share their work in a social media format that ensures they are globally connected in the 21st century.

Biology 12 students study help is here

2011-01-20T11:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Maddy Snelgrove for some excellent links to Biology study sites. These are inline with the BC curriculum and include notes on all the units. Check them out here:
SD 67 Biology 12
Mrs. Naso's Biology
Southhill Biology
Good luck on your exams!

A Semester in Review

2011-01-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

Here's a recap of what's been going on at the RSS library since September.

Homework Now App

2011-01-14T10:05:00.001-08:00

As you may have heard, the My HomeworkNOW & School Alerts Applications for iPhone, iPad and Android devices have been released to the iTunes app store and Android Market. (See the press release that was released this past Tuesday here.) The app has been installed on thousands of parent/student devices in less than a week!

These app allow parents and students the ability to stay connected to your school and classes more easily. With this app parents and students can:

receive school alerts (such as closings, emergencies, back pack notices, announcements, etc.) with real time notifications
view the latest school/district wide notifications on-demand
view classroom information and homework on-demand
get notifications when teachers update a class page or homework assignment.

More information on the apps and how to get them can be found on the HomeworkNOW support site. The direct links are below:

Click here for the iPhone / iPad version of the app.

Click here for the Android version of the app.

Grade 6 Digital Booktalks

2011-01-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

Mrs. McKinnon's grade 6s created some amazing digital booktalks. Take a look and then come down to the library to get the books.

Twitter at a Glance

2011-01-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

New to Twitter? Not sure what a Tweet is or why people do it? Check out The Daring Librarian's Twitter tutorials made with Comic Life. Gwyneth Jones has created some fabulous tutorials ranging from QR codes to blogs and wikis.

Finding a book that suits you.

2010-12-17T09:12:00.000-08:00

Bookflavor is a recently launched site that helps you find books that suit your personal tastes. Simply type in an author, title or genre and Bookflavor will generate recommended titles. Simply click on a book cover to read a review.

NFB interactive

2010-12-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

Now that you'll be enjoying some time away from studying and classes take some time to explore the National Film Board's interactive videos. These are a series of innovative and interactive videos about the world and our place in it from a uniquely Canadian point of view.

Study Help

2010-12-09T08:37:00.000-08:00

PLEASE SEE MRS. KUHN IN THE LIBRARY TO GET YOUR USER NAME AND PASSWORD. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO REVIEW FOR EXAMS IN ALL GRADES.

With exams just around the corner, many of you are looking for online practice questions and exams. ExamBank is a powerful resource for British Columbian students in all grades. Originally set up to help students prepare for their provincial exams, it has now been expanded to offer online study resources in academic subject areas for everyone!

By using this web site, you can join the hundreds of thousands of Canadian students who have enhanced their learning experience by writing randomized practice exams that relate directly to the curriculum as outlined by British Columbia's Ministry of Education. The computer will mark your practice exam as soon as you're done, so that you can immediately see where your strengths and weaknesses lie. As the service is entirely web-based, no software needs to be installed, and it works equally well on Windows, Macintosh, or any other computer system with an Internet connection. In addition, web delivery allows us to continually update and add content to our database of tens of thousands of questions.

To write an exam, or see the exams available, click on the grade level to the left. YOU NEED A USERNAME AND PASSWORD. PLEASE SEE MRS. KUHN IN THE LIBRARY TO GET ACCESS.

Disease Diaries

2010-12-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

Disease diaries is the biology 12 class' blog where you will learn about various disease: causes, symptoms, and cures. Here is one of the many glogs created by the students. To see more go to directly to the blog.

Semi Finals Have Begun

2010-12-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

WE'VE MADE IT TO THE SEMI-FINALS
NOW LET'S WIN THIS THING!
Remember to vote EVERYDAY and tell all your friends and family.

http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf9123

Chemistry help

2010-11-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

Now here's a site for all of you Chemistry students. ChemEd DL is an excellent resource for all things chemistry. There's the periodic table with interactive links, 3D molecular models and much more.

PHOTO COMPETITION

2010-11-18T09:05:00.001-08:00

Are you a budding photographer/videographer ? Love the outdoors and skiing? Can you put together a good story in a few short paragraphs? Check out this contest:

FIVE SIMPLE STEPS TO WIN.

Sign up to our forums.

Create a post with a photo/video and 100 word (min.) creative description - (jpeg 72 ppi 500 pixels max width, swf flash file)

Name the post: PHOTO COMP - “name of you post here”

Visit often to see what others are posting.

Repeat steps 2-4 often.

If you haven't signed up get started!

PRIZES include a cat skiing trip, new skis and bindings, a weekend at Whitewater and more.

Listen, Learn, Reflect and Take Action

2010-11-17T14:29:00.000-08:00

Take a few minutes a day to watch a TED talk. Guaranteed you will learn and be inspired to spread the ideas to others. Choose a theme, a specific topic or simply browse the many engaging ideas presented by speakers from around the globe.

WE NEED YOUR VOTES

2010-11-12T14:56:00.000-08:00

VOTE DAILY

Help Rossland get a Neighbourhood Learning Centre!

The Neighbourhoods of Learning Committee has applied through the Aviva Community Fund grant competition to receive up to $100,000 to help renovate RSS to add Neighbourhoods of Learning spaces for use by community groups and organizations, and help keep K-12 education in Rossland. Vote for Rossland at:

www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf9123

RSS GAZETTE now online

2010-11-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

RSS GAZETTE
Rossland Secondary School now has its own online newspaper thanks to the generosity of the Rossland Telegraph. Follow happenings in the community and school. Add to the dialogue by providing your insights. Articles and editorials are written by our own students.

Hot off the press

2010-11-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

Newest issue of Scratch Magazine now available.
The Scratch Magazine provides a forum for youth in the Columbia Basin to share their art and ideas with each other. The magazine is created by and for youth as a way to examine issues in their lives, and propel their creativity forward through sharing. For more information on how to submit your writing, photography or artwork go to scratchonline. Copies of the free mag are available in the library.

Library as learning commons

2010-11-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

What do you want your library to look like?

Credit: Peter Mauss/Esto

Our world is changing. Our libraries should reflect that change. We need to accommodate for small and large groups, student and staff presentations, teaching and learning, and comfort in a flexible space. The library should be technology infused with digital media areas and room for socializing and meetings. Resources should reflect inquiry based learning. Tell us what you would like your school library to look like. We are up for big changes.

Shauntay Grant

2010-10-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

Students and staff had the pleasure of meeting Shauntay Grant this morning. Shauntay is a spoken word performer, writer, broadcast journalist and musician. She is Halifax's 2009/10 Poet Laureate. Shauntay's soulful voice, accompanied by her drum, livened up the school as she entertained us with a few of her spoken word poems. She uses her family and life experiences as her inspirations. In the space of an hour she sent a powerful message about the power of possibility. For more information on Shauntay check out her website on myspace.com

2010-10-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

ARE YOU GAME?

Do you feel like a mental challenge? A good laugh? Tired of sitting around at lunch? The library now has several games that you can check out and use during school hours. Try out Bananagrams, a scrabble like game where you make as many words crossword style as you can from the tiles in your hand. Or how about Apples to Apples, the game of hilarious comparisons. If you have a great sense of humour try out What? the game of questions. Challenge yourself to create the most imaginative and unlikely answers to stump the rest of the players. If they don't guess you wrote the answer you get the points.

Meet JR: Video interview and FAQ about the 2011 TED Prize winner

2010-10-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

JR is an anonymous photographer and artist who uses guerrilla art to provoke, question and engage people in meaningful dialogue. He makes you think. Watch the powerful video trailer to learn more about this clandestine artist.

DEAR

2010-10-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

On Monday October 25, 2010 RSS will be participating in Drop Everything and Read. From 11:00 - 11:19 staff and students will pick up a book and read. Encourage your teacher to bring in his/her favorite childhood book and share it with the class or bring in a novel or magazine your currently reading. Reading for only 20 minutes a day will help you succeed in school and in life. Try it!

2010-10-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

Staff and students share their thoughts on the proposed closure of RSS. Thanks to Maddie Snelgrove for conducting the interviews and creating the video. Post your thoughts by leaving a comment on the blog.

The possibilities...

2010-09-29T05:57:00.001-07:00

The Future of the Book. from IDEO on Vimeo.

2010-09-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

We want to hear from you.

You know who you are. You've read all the books I've recommended and keep coming back looking for more. You take out two or three novels at a time and return them, read, a few days later. I'll make you a deal: you start creating digital book reviews using an online program called voicethread and I'll keep you well stocked with great books. The reviews will help others find worthwhile reads and warn them about the bad ones. In addition, you'll be given extra English credits and for every digital book review your name will be put into a draw for some fantastic prizes. I'll hold an informational meeting in the library Wednesday at lunch.
Wednesday at lunch for anyone interested.

2010-09-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Gone Wireless

Let me welcome you back to a new school year. Over the summer, RSS went wireless which is great news for those of you who can bring your own laptops to school. If you aren't sure how to get connected we can help.
Speaking of help, most of you have figured out where to get questions answered and problems solved: the library. I may not know everything but I do know where to look for answers and solutions. The library is open from 8 - 4pm and most days at lunch as well.
Of course I haven't neglected the many avid readers that frequent the library. Over the summer I bought a ton of new graphic novels, several spoken word poetry books/CDs and the latest best sellers and award winners. If there's a title you are dying to read let me know and I will add to the 'wish list'. Hey, the best part of my job is buying the books.
By now you may be a bit more familiar with terms like glogster, google docs, web 2.0 and wikis. The library is the place to come if you would like to learn more about any of the online tools that can help you design new and creative ways to show what you have learned. You'll also find it a lot easier to collaborate with classmates using some of the web 2.0 tools available.
Finally, make sure to welcome all the new students from around the world, including the Ukraine, Thailand, Sweden and Chile.

RSS Mural

2010-06-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

The mural went up today outside the front doors of Rossland Secondary School! Thanks to Nathan Rose, Dayna Mortimer, Erin Lukar, Lise DeGrief and Lada for the beautiful addition to our school.

Youth Advisory Committee

2010-06-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

For more information check out cbt website

Free audio books all summer long

2010-06-03T21:36:00.000-07:00

Sync YA literature to your earphones all summer long. Free downloads of the newest audio books like The Hunger Games, The Angel Expirement, Bloody Jack, The Looking Glass Wars and more!

All book titles along with more details can be found at Sync.

Emotions Personified

2010-05-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Students in Mrs. Smith's English 12 class have been working on creative projects focusing on creating metaphors for emotions. Michaela Daniel produced a powerful project on terror.

Make your life easier - sign up for Google Docs today.

2010-05-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Guaranteed that using Google Docs will make your life easier. You will no longer need to email assignments back and forth between home and school nor will your files refuse to open on school computers. You can work on a collaborative project from any computer with an internet connection and even do it simultaneously with those in your group from the comfort of your own home. Google docs works with power point projects, word documents and excel spreadsheets. Sign up is simple and you will soon wonder how you managed without it. Watch the video from the folks at Common Craft to get a better idea of what it is all about.

Here are some more web 2.0 tools that will help you organize, research and present your learning.

Easy Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers

View more presentations from pingable.

Skate 4 Cancer

2010-04-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Camille Craig for bringing this to my attention. For every view of this video, one dollar will be donated to Skate 4 Cancer. Watch it and pass it along to everyone you know.

WIN AN iPAD

2010-04-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Shmoop High School Essay Contest: Win an iPad
In celebration of National Poetry Month, Shmoop announces our first essay contest for high school students.
Answer this question in 500 or fewer words:

In Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” …

Examine the relationship between the speaker in the poem and his environment, which includes not only the woods themselves but his horse, the owner of the woods, and the community. Include in your discussion an examination of Frost’s use of language and imagery, focusing on how these contribute to the meaning of the poem and help him to achieve his purpose. Be sure to support your ideas with evidence from the poem.

* Read the Shmoop Learning Guide for the poem
* Visit Poets.org to read the full text of the poem

Contest is open to all students and entry deadline is May 28, 2010. For further details follow the link to Shmoop.

Propaganda Project English 9

2010-04-09T11:02:00.001-07:00

Brogan Pastro created this poster to bring awareness to the problem of homophobia. You can read in depth discussions around this and other issues on the English 9 wiki.

Sponsorship 101

2010-03-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

Are you a skier, snowboarder or mountain biker looking for sponsorship deals? Here are some pointers to get you started. Remember you have to market yourself and there are some great social networking tools that can help you get the word out.

Sponsorship 101

View more presentations from nkuhn.

Water Inquiry Wiki

2010-03-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Water is an essential part of our every day existence that we often take for granted. Our inquiry into water will take us in different directions: examining water as a natural resource, a commodity, a tool, as well as the politics of water and its place in cultures around the world. You will direct your own focus of learning and will share your findings with others. The wiki will be a place for discussions, resources and questions.

http://waterinquiry.wikispaces.com/

Get the 411 on texting

2010-03-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to TextEd.ca, your online source for everything textual. Get the 411 on texting and relationships, including healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, how to deal with harassment, and how to cope with stress. Through a variety of games and activities you can test your texting knowledge, find out how to use this great technology safely, and learn what to do when someone crosses the line. Sign the iChoose! Declaration and let the world know that you choose respect in your textual relationships!

Love, Hate and Propaganda

2010-03-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Attention all budding artists. If you have a creative touch, this is the place for you! In conjunction with the CBC/Radio-Canada series, "Love, Hate, and Propaganda", we are throwing out a challenge to secondary and post-secondary students! Choose a cause that you believe in, create a poster or video to support it, and then send it to us. If you manage to convince our jury, you can win some great prizes!
You can use photos, moving images, graphics, illustrations, sounds and music to support your message but only if you have created these elements. All entries must be created by and be the original work of the contestant, and must not violate the rights of any third party - for example, you cannot download material from the internet or cut images out of print publications. For more contest information as well as excellent resources on the propaganda campaigns of WWII check out CBCs website.

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/lovehatepropaganda/contest/register.html

English 9 Wiki

2010-03-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

www.rssenglish9thewave.wikispaces.com

Follow the link and request to join the wiki.

Human Rights - English 10

2010-02-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

The following links will provide you with a good starting point for your research on human rights in Canada and around the world.

ART 10

2010-02-24T06:36:00.000-08:00

LOST by Tomek Setowski

For your upcoming art projects, please take some time to browse the following links:

http://www.setowski.art.pl/
http://www.kinseyvisual.com/
http://obeygiant.com/
http://www.blainefontana.com/
http://www.deviantart.com/
http://wwar.com/artists/
http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/mcgee/index.html#

Internet Safety

2010-02-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

Check out the pageflake page for internet safety links. You'll find more videos and information on protecting your online reputation, cyber bullying and how to keep your posts private.

Digital Booktalks

2010-02-04T11:13:00.001-08:00

Produced by the grade 6/7 boys in Mrs. McKinnon's class, these digital booktalks cover a wide range of action adventure books for guys.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Goal: the dream begins by Robert Rigby

Drums,Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

Haiti T-Shirt Fundraiser

2010-01-22T10:28:00.000-08:00

Mr. Winckers and RSS students have created this logo to silkscreen on t-shirts and reusable hemp bags. All funds from the sale of the goods will be donated to the Red Cross to help those affected by the earthquake. T-shirts and bags will be on sale in the foyer at RSS for $10 each. Your support will allow the people of Haiti to begin rebuilding their lives.

What's your sentence?

2010-01-19T16:17:00.000-08:00

We would love to read your sentence. Post it in the comment box below.

Two questions that can change your life from Daniel Pink on Vimeo.

ATTENTION ONLINE USERS

2010-01-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

Protecting Your Online Reputation

Do you have a Facebook account? What about Twitter? Are you posting pictures online? Are your friends uploading their latest photos? Watch this newest video from Common Craft about protecting your online reputation. You may want check out the sites below and find out what your online profile looks like.

123people.com

pipl.com

wink.com

Writer's Workshop with Angie Abdou

2010-01-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

Are ideas and characters continously popping into your head? Do you have the urge to try writing short stories, poems or songs? Have you started writing only to get frustrated and put it away? Do you secretly harbour a desire to be a writer?
On Friday January 15, 2010 RSS will be hosting Fernie author Angie Abdou. Abdou will be conducting a writer's workshop in the morning for students in Grades 10 -12. Bring your enthusiasm and willingness to try your hand at the craft of writing. You might be amazed at what you come away with. Plese register with Mrs. Kuhn in the library before Wednesday January 13th.
Check out Angie Abdou's website to learn more about her novels, writing and living the life of an author.

Non Native Species

2009-12-18T11:13:00.001-08:00

Liam Stevens created this voicethread about the introduction of non native species in our ecosystems.

Environmental Tips

2009-12-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

The voicethread below was created by Jessie Fuller for a unit on the environment.

A British Sonnet

2009-12-15T12:49:00.000-08:00

Frances Bryon, an exchange student from England attending the Red Mountain Academy, created this sonnet and movie for English 11.

Scratch Writing Challenge

2009-12-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

Create a work of fiction 3000-5000 words: start at the beginning, or the end, whatever works for you. Just make sure the story takes place somewhere in the Columbia Basin and has appealing characters, a dynamic plot, a mind-blowing theme and a magnificent style.

How To Submit

Create your original, unpublished 3000-5000 word fictional story.
Prepare your 150-200 word author's bio that explains the essence that is you or how you came to write your amazing story.
Think about the visual cues to go with your story.
Go to scratchonline.com/challenge/submit and complete the submission form.
Upload your story.
Print your Consent To Use form and return it to CBT.
*signed by a parent/guardian if you are under 19 years of age

Contest starts Dec. 1, 2009 and ends March 31, 2010

This challenge is open to youth between the age of 15-29 who are residents of the Columbia Basin Trust region.

Skiing, boarding, snowmobiling in the backcountry

2009-11-20T12:50:00.000-08:00

You can feel the excitement mounting as the snow continues to fall across the Koots. Getting into the backcountry is high on the agendas of many living in our communities. As tempting as it is to want to ski those prime lines, conditions are sketchy out there. Always be prepared and well informed before heading out. Get in the habit of checking the avi bulletins put out by the Canadian Avalanche Centre at www.avalanche.ca.
Interested in an avalanche course? Check out Rossland Mountain Adventures website.

The library has Avaluator cards and many books on avalanche safety. Learn as much as you can to play safe in the backcountry.

Geist Magazine 6th Annual Postcard Poetry Contest

2009-11-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

Geist Magazine is running its 6th annual literal literary postcard story contest. Simply write a story on the back of a postcard that is someway related to the image. The connection can be as tangible as you like. For more details follow the link to Geist Magazine.

FREEDOM

2009-11-15T18:26:00.000-08:00

Interesting insight into the quest for freedom. Sam Brown had the desire to live life to its fullest but his story teaches freedom can not be bought. Watch the video and share your thoughts.

A stream of new books

2009-11-04T10:33:00.001-08:00

With over 50 new titles to choose from there is bound to be something just for you. From award winners and graphic novels to memoirs and series, the library is the place to find them all. Check out the virtual Shelfari bookshelf on your right to browse the new titles and read reviews. Don't forget you can place a hold if the book you want isn't in.

7 steps for effective researching

2009-10-02T11:08:00.001-07:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

7 steps for effective researching

View more presentations from nkuhn.

Human Impacts on the Environment

2009-10-01T10:57:00.001-07:00

Fish farming

View more presentations from nkuhn.

Environment

View more presentations from nkuhn.

Science 10 Research Project - Ms. Waage
Human interactions with the biosphere can sometimes produce catastrophic results.
These links will help you with your research.

The library in a digital age

2009-09-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Rosalia, a librarian at Public School 225 in Brooklyn, teaches Internet skills.
Read the New York Times article about the changing role of the school librarian.

Author of The Week - Kenneth Oppel

2009-09-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Log on to Kenneth Oppel's website to see an interview with the author, book trailers and blog.

LIbrary Thing

2009-09-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

LibraryThing is a great website that contains book reviews and summaries, author interviews and recommended books. By joining LibraryThing you can add your favorite reads to the website.

Google Docs

2009-09-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

Watch this short video to learn about Google Docs. It is a web based application that allows you to create and share documents and presentations. You can invite collaborators to work with you. Best of all, by using Google Docs you will no longer run into problems trying to open email attachments at school.

Dave Watson skis K2

2009-09-15T22:57:00.001-07:00

In July 2009 Dave Watson climbed and then skied the world's 12th tallest mountain, K2. Checkout the story on K2 Expedition 2009.

Welcome Back

2009-09-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

WELCOME BACK TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

This year's library orientation will be happening during English. We'll cover such topics as how to find a good read; using the library online databases and Web 2.0 tools that will help you with research, formatting, bookmarking and file sharing.

Xmas in May?

2009-05-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

It wouldn't be too far off to say Xmas has arrived early. There was fresh snow on the ground this morning and it continued on well into the morning. Xmas does bring gifts and the library has received its fair share this week. With thirty five new books on the shelves there is something for everyone. You will find autobiographies, science fiction, lots of vampire series, Giller and Commonwealth Writer's prize winners, along with non-fiction writings by the Dalai Lama and a survivor of Darfur. Come in soon as the books are disappearing off the shelves as we speak. Remember you can always reserve a book if it isn't available right away.

Young Visions 2009

2009-05-04T08:41:00.000-07:00

Thursday May 7, 2009 at 7pm, the Kootenay Gallery in Castlegar will be hosting the annual exhibition of art of students and teachers from SD 20. Come out for the opening reception and meet the artists.

2009-04-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

The original Book of Negroes measures about a foot-and-a-half by a foot-and-a-half and runs just over 150 pages. Though known to just a handful of scholars, this remarkable hand-written ledger is a historical treasure. Detailing names, ages, backgrounds and often degrading physical descriptions (“stout wench”), it’s the first public documentation of black people in North America — specifically, the 3,000 freedom-seekers who left New York for Nova Scotia and other British colonies near the end of the American Revolutionary War. In exchange for their service to the empire, Black Loyalists were promised liberty and land. What they received was little better than the circumstances they left behind: poverty, hunger, disease and servitude. (See the rest of this story and an interview with Lawrence Hill on cbc.ca)

Ellen Hopkins' books now in the library.

2009-04-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

We can't seem to keep these on the shelf. Ellen Hopkins writes about very real issues concerning drugs, abuse and the role of religion in a young teen's life. These three books are all written in verse. A must read. You can also check out her blog.

Teen Reads

2009-04-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

Teenreads.com is the site to check out new releases, book reviews, author interviews, podcasts, videos, and much more.

Magnum in Motion

2009-04-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

Magnum In Motion online essays add new dimensions to to the traditional photographic narrative, using a combination of photos, audio, video, graphics, and interactivity.

These essays cover current events around the world using stunning pictures. It is well worth a peak.

30 Hour Famine

2009-04-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all the 30 hour famine participants who raised

$2, 689.00 to help feed hungry children around the world. Some of the reasons RSS students chose to partake in the fundraising campaign:

"... because I am rarely hungry."

"... because I wanted to make a small difference."

"... to help end global inequality."

"... to raise awareness."

Slumdog Millionaire (click here to watch trailer)

2009-04-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
When Ram Mohammad Thomas, an orphaned, uneducated waiter from Mumbai, wins a billion rupees on a quiz show, he finds himself thrown in jail. (Unable to pay out the prize, the program's producers bribed local authorities to declare Ram a cheater.) Enter attractive lawyer Smita Shah, to get Ram out of prison and listen to him explain, via flashbacks, how he knew the answers to all the show's questions. Indian diplomat Swarup's fanciful debut is based on a sound premise: you learn a lot about the world by living in it (Ram has survived abandonment, child abuse, murder). And just as the quiz show format is meant to distill his life story (each question prompts a separate flashback), Ram's life seems intended to distill the predicament of India's underclass in general. Rushdie's Midnight's Children may have been a model: Ram's brash yet innocent voice recalls that of Saleem Sinai, Rushdie's narrator, and the sheer number of Ram's near-death adventures represents the life of the underprivileged in India, just as Saleem wore a map of India, quite literally, on his face. But Swarup's prose is sometimes flat and the story's picaresque form turns predictable. Ram is a likable fellow, but this q&a with him, though clever, grows wearying.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Spinning the truth?

2009-04-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

" We are truth mongers. We are the destroyers of spin." - SpinSpotter

" If you don’t trust the news media, what are your options? You can fume about bias, wonder what you’re missing and suppress the urge to throw things.
But what if there were a device that objectively flagged questionable elements in online news articles, poking and parsing words and phrases, and letting you contribute your own critiques? Well, a Seattle company called SpinSpotter has produced a piece of software — a free download that works within a Web browser — that tries to do just that." - Read rest of article from The New York Times

BC Book Prizes

2009-04-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

The finalists for the 25th BC Book Prize have been announced. Check out the link to see who has been nominated and get ideas for the next book you want to read.