Author Archives: Alexander

Biology Reflection

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My Worm Lab

Communication Competency

I was proud of the efforts I put into my worm lab, as it reflected the knowledge I had learned leading to the dissection. Me and my partner were able to communicate efficiently and find ways that we can approach this operation. We sorted out what jobs we had to do and it ended up working to near perfection. We had no problems aside from the fact that we lost one of the worm’s aortic arches. While communicating with Ms. Chew, I gave a detailed analysis on the anatomy of the worm and made sure she can see what we were discussing. I feel like there wasn’t really anything that I needed to improve on on the communication side, as I feel like I expressed myself well and the demonstrated communications skills seem to be a strength for me

Critical Thinking Competency

Problem solving was big in this lab, as when we were cutting the worm, we might have made some cuts to deep, resolving in lost organs that were sensitive and delicate. Although we lost one aortic arch, we were able to recover and find at least 4 of these small hearts. It took patience and persistence as I was reluctant to give up until I found as many hearts as I possibly could. When Ms. Chew gave us feedback, we were quick to fix our mistakes and make sure it met all the necessary requirements. We had got off to a slow start in the beginning, but with the guidance from Ms. Chew and the adaptability we displayed, I was able to finish the lab in the necessary time frame.

Personal and Social Competency

I felt that I had taken the leadership role in this operation, as I helped and assisted my partner Anton and I was friendly and remained positive at all times. We faced some challenges throughout the dissection, but instead of arguing and spreading negativity we discussed what the issue was and took the best solution. Even though I didn’t know Anton very well, I was able to connect with him and talk to him like he was one of my friends. That’s an advantage I feel that I have over a lot of people. The fact that I am able to be social and make people feel included is not only beneficial for me, but for the other person as they feel included in whatever is transpiring.

Transforming Parabolas

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Red Parabola

This parabola is the parent function. The vertex is (0,0) and it’s equation is y=x².

Blue Parabola

The equation for this function is y= 2x²+3, vertex= (0,3)

Green Parabola

The equation for this function is y= -(x+4)²-1, vertex= (-4,-1)

Black Parabola

The equation for this function is y= 4(x+5)²+2, vertex= (-5,2)

Purple Parabola

The equation for this function is y= ⅓(x-5)²-3, vertex= (5,-3)

Paragraph

The a, h, and k are all significant in a parabola’s function. They help us to identify how much has a parabola shifted both laterally and vertically, as well as if it is vertically slim or vertically . The parent function is placed in the centre of the graph, and is a point of reference for the diverse parabolas that have been featured in my graph. For the blue parabola it it has been altered as the a value is 2, and the k value is 3. It has been shifted vertically upwards, but the axis of symmetry (line that splits the parabola into two) remains 0. What is also noticeable about the parabola is that it is slimmer and skinnier than the parent function. This is because when a>1, this causes the parabola to vertically stretch. The other 3 parabolas that I have created all share a singular similarity, which is that they are all have an a vertex in which the x and y values are are greater or less than zero. The black parabola is the most vertically stretched, as it has the greatest a value. It’s axis of symmetry is -5, but in the equation it is written as y= 4(x+5)²+2. This is because whatever the x value is in the vertex, when plugged in the equation must be the opposite value. The green parabola is the odd one out of all the parabolas, as it is facing downwards. This is because the a value has become negative, and when this occurs the parabola opens downwards. This just shows how significant the a value can be, as it displays how placing a negative symbol can alter the outlook of a parabola’s function. The purple parabola is the only one that has x intercept [(2,0) and (8,0)], as well as y intercept [(0,5.3)]. It is the most vertically compressed parabola as the a value is less than one (0<a<1). With all parabolas that display fractions where the numerator is less than the denominator, it will be wider than other parabolas, including the parent function.

Self Assessment

How did I represent the same mathematical idea in multiple ways in this assignment?

I represented it by changing and showing how the parabola is altered by plugging in different vertexes, as well as a values. I used the same equation repeatedly, and it shows what a drastic difference there can be when certain numbers are entered into the a, h, and k values. I showed this by entering different equations and observing the changes that these parabolas possess compared to the parent function.

What mathematical vocabulary did I use in my assignment?

I feel like I used multiple mathematical vocabulary words throughout my assignment. For example, axis of symmetry, vertex, x and y axis, vertical stretch, and vertical compression just to name some. I had gained this vocabulary from the notes, as the lessons were straight forward and introduced these concepts clearly. While working on this assignment, I constantly referred to the notes in our class notebook to assure myself that the vocabulary I was using was correct and made sense to the audience observing this assignment.

How did I format my assignment to share my information clearly?

When I took the screenshot of my graph, I made sure it was clear and that the lines were not disorganized and easy to see. I distinguished each parabola by giving each one a different colour so that the reader can look at the description of the equation, and know which one belong to what parabola. I also bolded my questions to make sure that it doesn’t get mixed up with my answers. I feel like this assignment is well developed and organized so that it is easy for whoever is observing my assignment to follow, I have done it this way in past edublogs and received positive feedback for the format.

CPR Reflection

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My Learning of CPR

CPR Reflection

  1. What was something you learned that you didn’t know or consider before?  

I didn’t consider all the small details and steps that were involved while doing resuscitation. I learned that we have to survey the area for hazards, as the body of the victim could be on something dangerous, and even impact you. I learned how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), as before I had seen them in a lot of different public spaces, but never knew how to operate one. Now I am trained, and if I need to use these skills, god forbid, I will know how to use the automated device.

But I also learned about the difference between Cardiac Arrest and a heart attack. Majority of my life I didn’t know what the difference was, and had a vivid idea of what are the causes of these effects. But after the unit I can easily explain where and how these occurrences happen, as well as the different precautions to take to avoid Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack.

What is a key takeaway from the Theory or Practical CPR unit? 

A key takeaway is to stay calm in these stressful situations. In the tutorials, they constantly emphasized the use of the saying “I’ve been trained, I can do this” as well as breathing so that you let your body know that everything is okay. Because if you are tense, you won’t think properly and everything you do is based out of fear. But when you are calm, you are able to see the problem in a different lense, and you are able to find the best solution.

The whole course in general is a crucial takeaway because a person that knows CPR is able to save someone’s life. I can’t imagine anyone losing a loved one because of a health tragedy. Knowing that you can help someone in time of crisis is comforting, but you always pray that you never have to use these different ways to resuscitate people.

  1. How does this unit connect to the nutrition unit learned previously?  

It connects because the way you take care of yourself dictates the quality of life that you live. If you eat healthy, exercise, and live a healthy lifestyle, then you won’t have to deal with health problems in the future. But if you treat your body like nothing, the risks of these health problems begin to increase, and if you don’t take the proper steps, you’re life could be on the line for no reason. Your body is a temple. If you take care of the temple, you will live a problem free life and remain prosperous, and live in good health for almost your whole life. But if you treat your body like trash, you won’t be able to live your life to the fullest, and will have to live with the increased chances of something major that can happen to you at any moment. It’s your choice in the end on what kind of life you want to live. Hopefully that people choose the healthy pathway, and live their life to the fullest.

Examples of where I communicated clearly and purposefully can be seen in…  While we were doing the test on the dummies, I communicated loudly, and clearly on what I needed for my helper to do so that we can save the patient. Some people were silent and didn’t really communicate well. But I used my skills to full advantage, and it really paid off in the end. I set the standard high for everybody trying to ace the test.

I appreciated feedback on my CPR knowledge and skills when it came in the form of… Great scores. I was so proud to see that my mark was a 9.5/10 on the physical testing. It is a very motivating thing to have these high grade marks, as you remember that feeling and try to achieve it every time possible. I made sure I knew everything I had to do, and wanted to showcase it at my full ability.

One of the ways I ensure my group is clear on what we are supposed to do is to… I break everything down for them, and make sure that everybody is on the same page. I always make sure that everyone in my group knows the instructions so that everything can go as smoothly as possible. If somebody doesn’t understand, it’s hard for them to keep up with others. I have personally been in this position, and it was rough. I always want to make sure that nobody feels left out and lost about the concepts being taught.

https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1350632791/video/woman-demonstrating-cpr-on-mannequin-in-first-aid-class.jpg?s=640×640&k=20&c=5LnglMEFmAsCc6QJ1eQ3dOQt49bp0YvX6Qv1Atf-aT4=— CPR photo

Favourite Recipe

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Making and Sharing Reflection

This was my first ever food lab in High School. The demo day was when we write down the equipment that we needed, and highlighted what ingredients we needed to get from Mrs. Bolli. During the demo she showed us all the steps, and how everything is supposed to look, and which ingredients you should mix together.

The next day was cooking day. We read over our recipes a few more times, and then it was time to start cooking. We went to the table and retrieved all the ingredients that we needed to pick up. We began to cook, and we followed all of the instructions, and tried to compare our batter compared to the batter used in the demo. We mixed the dry and wet ingredients separately, but then mixed them together later on so that we can make the cookie batter. The challenge that we had was drying to make sure that each cookie was the same size. But we ended up doing very well and the cookies were nothing short of delicious. I shared the cookies with my partner who I cooked with. We distributed the cookies evenly between each other, and shared the cookies with our friends and family. Me and my partner worked well because we planned ahead together, and assigned what we were doing beforehand so that we can make the whole operation go smoothly.

Core Competencies

  1. Examples of where I communicate clearly and purposefully can be seen in…

Before we started cooking on lab day, me and partner communicated who had to do what jobs, and within 2 minutes we already had a plan on who was doing what. It really paid off, as other groups were scrambling, we were calm, composed, and organized.

2. While working in the kitchen, I help to build and extend understanding by…

Paying attention in the demo, and writing down and highlighting the little tips that Mrs. Bolli mentioned to make the recipe better. Just that one little tip can make a dish that much better.

3. I show others that I truly value their contributions by…

Being open, and let everybody state their ideas before I state mine. That makes everybody feel included, and makes their voice be heard. When their voice is heard, it makes feel accepted and it is beneficial that a group is able to communicate and get along with each other.

4. The ways I communicate while cooking differ from how I communicate at ____ (soccer/ work/ hockey/ piano lessons/ family events/etc) in these way:

Basketball and cooking are two completely different languages. In basketball you have to try and make different plays and decisions so that your team can emerge victorious in a game. In basketball we often talk very loud/yell, because you are fueled by the competitiveness running through you. In cooking you are often calm and relaxed, unless you are competing in Master Chef. But there are similarities between the two are you have be composed, and have to remain focused.

What is My Goal?

While working in the kitchen, I help to build and extend understanding by…

My goal for this course is to finish with a high mark, and increase my confidence in the kitchen. By the end of this year I want to be able to work around the kitchen with ease and easily make food from scratch. To achieve this I will keep participating and actively listening in the class, as well as keep writing the little tips that Mrs. Bolli gives us.

French 9 Reflection

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Progress Over Time

Let’s just say that the progress has been exceptional. Coming into this French course I came in knowing only so much, because it was wasn’t taken seriously back in my old middle school. Of course I knew how to say basic lines like “Comment ca va” and “J’emapelle”. But coming into this course I was determined to learn the language and give it my all and finish the school year strong. I feel such drastic changes on how much I learned. I watch some French shows on Netflix to test my understanding and I was able to understand a lot pretty easily. I now know endings, how to say I’m going somewhere, how to order, and much more. Some small setbacks in the beginning was differing masculine from feminine words, but I felt that I turned my weaknesses into strengths.

Reflection

I was proud of my French culture project as I felt confident and prepared as I practiced presenting my information and I liked it because I was able to speak about my passion which was basketball. I felt that I put in a lot of effort and I believe that it was easy to understand. But my communication was the best as I interacted with others, was, clear, and loud enough for people to hear. So that’s where I think the communication core competency comes in.

Reflecting on My First Year

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My Grade 9 Year

This year has really been a very positive experience for me. I met so many new friends and made alot of memories. It was a big jump from middle school where I knew a lot of people and was comfortable. But when I came to Centennial it was different because I barely knew anyone, and I also was used to being the tallest kid, but in Centennial I felt like I was average size. But when I started making friends everything was amazing and I found it way better than middle school. I feel like here I can talk about more topics with my friends then in my old school. In my old school people didn’t even know what Premier League was. Also I had great memories with the basketball program here at Centennial. We had a good season and made Provincials. We won many games, and had some tough losses. But we made great memories and built more chemistry and that will keep carrying on. We won 1st place in the district, even when we weren’t the favorites to win it. We were able to upset Pinetree in their own gym in the Finals, in front of a packed crowd. But arguably the best accomplishments is what I did in the classroom. I received all A’s in semester 1, and am currently all A’s in semester 2. I am extremely determined and motivated to finish the year off with all A’s.

My Favorite Website

https://www.youtube.com/

Youtube is my favourite website of the year because a lot of my teachers used it to demonstrate tutorials and lessons. It helped because I was able to understand the concepts they were teaching more in depth. Also some of the videos that they showed were entertaining and fun to watch.

My Favorite Video

This video is my favourite of the year because I was doing a project on French basketball, and while I was studying I enjoyed doing the research. Because I got to do a project on something that I am passionate about which made me happy. During the project I didn’t take any chances to make it last minute, and I finished in about 3 days.

My Favorite Image

This is my photo of the year. This was after we beat Pinetree in the district finals. It was a great feeling and it was the second time that we beat them in their home gym. In the picture I was imitating Kobe after he won an NBA title when he was with the Lakers.

My Favorite Quote

This is one quote that motivates me to be the best version of myself, and to keep pushing myself. For me quitting doesn’t exist and I will always find a way to fight through it despite everything being against me. Whenever I feel down, I think about this quote and I always find a way to motivate myself.

Work Cited

Redirect Notice. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mindset2millions.com%2F54-motivational-michael-jordan-quotes%2F&psig=AOvVaw1JvQOiAMFCy8_XAL0d3mM8&ust=1685119766585000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCMjQrcH2kP8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI. Accessed 25 May 2023.

https://mycentennial.sd43.bc.ca/alexanderb/files/2023/05/image.jpg

France 🇫🇷 – Slovenia 🇸🇮 | Game Highlights – FIBA #EuroBasket 2022. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNoqFdXLJVk. Accessed 25 May 2023.CloseDeleteEdit

Element Sway

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My sway: Bromine

https://sway.office.com/N63PFIwZyMafSqUg?ref=Link

Curricular Competency Reflection

a. What questions did you need to research in order to create your sway?

I needed to research many different questions related to my element; like where is it found, how was it discovered, and the colour it presents, and what state the element is in with a room temperature setting. I also researched how the element was named and where the name came from. When I was researching, I used the ideas but put all of them in my own words, so that I wouldn’t steal any information.

b. What new or familiar digital tools did you try to use as you worked through this project?

I used the usual search engine, Google, for my researching purposes. But I also started more and more to use different websites that I don’t normally use, and I found so many different reliable sources for information that I can use for different projects and assignments. But I am also smart while researching and don’t press any suspicious links that could cause problems on my computer.

c. What was the process you used to investigate the topic and how did you verify and cite the information you found?

I read over the chunks of information and looked over what I needed for my project. I took the information that I needed, and put it into my own words, so that I wouldn’t steal the information. I took the links of all the websites I used and put it in my “Sites” page. I even pasted the links for all images that I used for the project. I also used what I already knew about Bromine in my project.

d. How did the process of completing this challenge go? What could you have done better?

I feel that I could’ve found maybe better pictures and make a better design on Sway, but I’m pretty happy with what I came up with. I feel like I put in a lot of effort and time into this project.

Core Competency Reflection

  1. In discussions and conversations, I help to build and extend understanding by…

Asking questions. Whenever I am sort of struggling, I ask questions to help gain knowledge about the subjects. I also want to familiarize myself with the topic, so I do all my research and certain activities that will help to strengthen my knowledge on that topic. When I am in a discussion, I always make sure that I’m engaged, because then I will know that I am paying attention and learning new things.

  1. I can contribute to and work with criteria to improve my own work; evidence of that is…

When I have projects, always review and see how I can make it better. I want to have a project that represents quality, and shows that I put all the effort I could into it. I ask other people to read over my assignment and give me feedback on how they think that I can improve it. Because I need different people’s opinions about my assignment, because sometimes I can’t always take my word for it.

  1. When I need to boost my mood or re-focus, I…

I take a deep breath, and continue to have all my attention on the assignment. I use common sense when I’m working; if I put 100% of my mind and effort into the project, I will finish it sooner. But if I search the internet and go back and forth between that and my work, it will take forever. So I always say to myself that if I finish earlier, I will have more time to do what I want to do. It works every single time. When I am focused, I always produce the best results from myself, because I am locked in and make sure that I put in the best work that I can give.

ADL- Financial Literacy

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Calculations

800,000 x 1.15= 120,000

1 year GIC; 2 year stock investing

Year 1 (2019)- 80,000 x 1.1913= 95304

Year 2 (2020)- 95,304 x 1.035= 98639.64

Year 3 (2021)- 98639.64 x 1.2174= 120083.90

Savings- 10,000+10,000+10,000=30,000

Total= 150,083.90 (120,083.90+30,000)

Justification

I chose to invest in stocks because I am willing to take risks sometimes, and I feel comfortable taking them. Also I analyze what’s going on with stocks and make sure I know where I’m investing my money. I saw that I could get a high return in my first year, and it worked. But in 2020 I put my money in a GIC for 1 year because I felt I needed to protect my money because it would be risky to invest in stocks during the pandemic since everything was shutting down. In 2021 I believed that everything was slowly starting to come back again and ultimately I benefitted from investing in stocks for year 3. I ended up with $30,000 more than I needed for the down-payment. Now I can use that money for other financial needs. If I stuck with the 3 year GIC I would barely make the goal of the down-payment. But since I am comfortable with taking some risks and going all in, I was able to have that $30,000 left over.

Collaboration Reflection

  1. I found working in my group efficient, as we each contributed different roles to be correct with our equations. We had good chemistry with each other and treated each other with respect. We never got into a disagreement between each other. We worked well and always finished when we needed to finish. We all put our best effort in what we were doing and were focused and determined to get the job done.
  2. I was writing down the equations and solving them on the board, if I needed help I would ask one my partners in the group. He would use the calculator and I would write the answer on the board. But another partner would tell me the question so that I could write down. We all had roles that needed to be fulfilled and we executed our roles well. Everyone in the group contributed and no one was just fooling around and being goofy. We listened to each other’s ideas so that we can here our thoughts and plans for what we needed to accomplish.
  3. Yes, we were open minded to ideas and we discussed them together as a group so that we can figure out what is the best solution for our goals. I didn’t just ignore ideas and be ignorant, stubborn, and selfish. I talked with the group and we voted which idea was the best, and we stuck with the idea we planned to do.
  4. 3.5. I was very open and collaborative with my partners. I was very social and tried to make connections with my peers. But I believe I could’ve been maybe a little bit more open than I was. Because before I was trying to do everything myself, but then I got to know who I was working with, and we built chemistry over the few days that we worked together. We were determined and a hard working group. We never gave up and always made sure that we were engaged and that we finished the work that was required. We made sure that our calculations were neat and easy to read. I was positive towards my partners and made sure that they felt included in all the conversations and discussions that took place. I showed that I cared and that I was giving my 100%.

Core Competency Reflection

-I can find it easy to be part of a group

This is true because I always thrive while working in a group environment. I always try to lead my group to be the best they can be. I demonstrate quality leadership skills, and I always strive to have my partners feel welcome and included. Like during this unit, I was kind and welcoming and made everyone feel good. That is one of the main reasons why we were so efficient and worked well together.

-I can understand that learning is continuous and my identity will continue to evolve

I understand that still have things to learn. I will embrace what I will learn and try and soak it in as much as I can. I will try and make the best version of myself once high school is done, and I feel I can reach this goal.

-I think my experiences such as…. influenced my choice of course/hobbies/ teams because…

As I get older, I get wiser and make more logical decisions. My experience has helped to become who I am today. A few years ago I used to not take school seriously, and had bad grades. But then I reflected on it, and used that as motivation to get better. Now I feel like I am one of the top students. I will keep raising my standards so that I can achieve the goals that I have set for myself. When I make decisions, more, and more I start to use my experiences to make sure I make the right choice.

– When I need to boost my mood or re-focus, I…

Whenever I need to boost my mood, I just think of anything funny that will make me laugh. Laughter is always the best medicine. But when I need to re-focus, I think of the logical side of things. If I finish the task earlier, I have more time to do what I want to do. That helps a lot, and I get my work done.

The Last Shot: The Movie

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Plot, Character, Setting, Mood

The reason I figured out how my avatar looks is because during the book the author mentioned how he stroked his hair, how his eyes looked when people looked into them. They mentioned the colour of his hair and eyes in the novel.

The way I decided to write the plot points was because of the significance of the point in that part of the book. Like if I told you where Steven lives and what school he went too it wouldn’t be as relevant as how he wrote a story for the Writing Contest. I also made sure I added the small but crucial details so that the reader can understand what is going on in the the certain moment.

The setting of the story was pretty obvious as they talked out New Orleans, and how life is in “The Big Easy”. The book described downtown New Orleans, and also the palace of sports, Mercedes-Benz Superdome (Now called Little Caesars Superdome). I knew the timeline because it had 2005 Final Four in the book, and also the technology they had back then, they didn’t have iPhones, they had the good old flip phones. It was also the time where New Orleans was a very popular Finals destination.

The mood of the novel was mysterious and edgy. It was mysterious because Steven and Susan Carol were trying to find out why the blackmail was happening, but at the same time they only had so much time to investigate and solve the matter. I have the feeling that my song fit the mysterious and edgy feelings, as the song had the drums, and it was getting faster and faster.

Core Competency Reflection

I can describe how … (this thing I learned at school) relates to this experience I had where…

Today in class I presented my project, and how the book played out. I can reflect on this prompt because I described the National Championship in the book, and also how I have had to be in pressure situations in basketball where you have to be mentally focused, and sturdy like a rock. Because there were times where opponents tried to get into my head, but I kept my head in the game, and it paid off.

When I need to boost my mood or re-focus, I…

I think that I have time to do other things later, and that if I finish my homework soon, then I will have more time to do what I want, instead of delaying it by getting off task, and it will just make me lose focus and not make me put by best effort into the assignment. But if I need to boost my mood, I just think of positive things that make me smile or laugh, because laughter is always the best medicine. When me and my team went to California for a basketball tournament, we lost all our games. But off the court, we were so positive and we laughed more than ever. We kept positive energy even though we had the right to be angry or sad.

Some skills I have developed to make my creative activities better are…

I think how will I make each assignment/ project stand out. I always want to make sure that I pour some creativity in the assignments I do. For example, I had to make a broadside ballad (A political comic) in socials class, and I used creative thinking to make it in old English, and to burn the edges to look like it is form the Medieval times.


Contract Law Storyboard Reflection

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What Competencies did I use?

I used creative thinking and critical thinking. I was creative while making this comic as I used different settings and different types of characters. I also chose the right setting to fit each scenario in the comic.

I used critical thinking as I analyzed my comic for any grammar mistakes, and also the information I used in the comic. When I was writing my comic I used detail so that the reader can understand the types of contracts and rules in a contract. I tried to use more advanced words to make it look more professional and not like a 5th grader wrote it. I also organized my information so that it is not all over the place.