The collaborating classes...

On Escola Parque's assembly...

Tyrone: Needless to say that our assembly was a real success. I could explain the whole process of the Project Global Connections, since its beginning, a year ago. So, our school community now has a clear idea of who we are and how we have worked. I told the audience about the sites and the themes we have worked with during this period of a year. They could notice that our classes demand creativity, as we have to find solutions to talk about this or that theme with a suitable site. Of course, finding a suitable site to a certain activity is a process that requires willingness of both of us. In this sense, you and I have been open-minded teachers always willing to reach our goals and to improve the interaction between our students.

The special guests were a Board of Education lady, to whom I gave my monograph on Global Connections and Our “Facing the Future” book; and a colleague that works in our library to whom I gave my monograph and copies of our books, in order to allow students and interested people to have an access to our Project. Our principal was also a special guest, and he received the same referred material. People got excited with Global Connections and the book. And today I myself had the most important day of my professional career until now.

I know our partnership will last for a long period of time!!

Lovejoy students to post flags of both countries...

Students wait prior to assembly to post the flags.
Both national anthems were played.

VoiceThread brings students together...

Lovejoy plays a Voice Thread of Susane reading her poem frmo the book. Melanie then reads the English translation of the poem.

On the assembly - outstanding success in both countries...

Cathy: The kids did such a good job with the assembly. Our guests were impressed. I was even impressed. Our special guests were the superintendent, a representative from the St. Clair Regional Office of Education, a pastor from a local church, a technology contractor who has given us much encouragement. All were presented copies of the book.

Everyone loved the VoiceThreads – not just the juniors and seniors, but everyone. Our kids tend to misbehave at assemblies, especially if they are bored. They were so well behaved today. They realize that we have something very special, and not every school has this kind of opportunity.

The reception was orderly and beautiful. The kids were proud of themselves, and the younger ones were proud of their friends who were involved in writing the book. Ready for the next book? Let's do it...

A few pictures are up on Orkut.

I feel relieved that it turned out so well. Again thanks to you and your students – you have made a difference in the United States.

An anniversary...

Tyrone:

Have you realized that we are completing this month a year together? So, I had to prepare a PPT covering what we have done. You could use mine during your assembly, in case you haven't prepared anything yet, just adding or substituting some information about Lovejoy activities during this period. Please remember: We started Global Connections in September 2008 and the book is a good gift for both of us!!! (It is our anniversary cake.)

Congratulations!!!

Cathy:

I am thinking it is time to get a reception going here at Lovejoy, too. So I call Sam's to see if they can do the logo on the cake. It does not surprise me when they want a letter of permission from Microsoft. I am ready for this. They will accept a printout of their online policy allowing it to be used for school projects. I learned well in June how to do this right!

Coming together...

The assembly is coming together nicely. We are e-mailing several times a day. Our students are recording their poetry to be used in the other school's assembly. Cathy has recorded congratulations to Escola Parque students, and Tyrone has recorded congratulations to the Lovejoy students.

The students will read in their native tongue, and someone will read an interpretation of the poem after it is heard on Voice Thread.

We have exchanged programs. It promises to be an exciting event at each school.

Planning the assembly...

It is getting close to time for the assembly. Much planning is done to make them very similar. We will both use the banner used in D.C. at NECC 2009. We will follow a similar program. The following are e-mail exchanges.

Sept 11

Tyrone:

Our assembly will be very beautiful! We are going to...

1- Listen to the Brasilian and American anthems;

2. Greet the audience and guests;

3- Read a welcoming message of yours and mine. (Yours can be via Voice Thread);

4- Call the principal, the coordinator and the superintendent of the State board to take their copies of the book;

5- Call students to read their poems and then take their own books.

6. Have a possible hello meeting with you about 10:30 am (our time), just for you to greet the students and see them with the books;

7. Students will have their names written in sheets of paper. They will be put inside a box; then, 4 sheets will be taken out of the box. Each one of the finding names will get a pen drive. (It was a way we found to guarantee that students will attend the assembly!)

8. End of the event.

PS: Folders on our project will be displayed during the event; there will also be a coffee break at a certain moment of the assembly. I think I will also exihibit your ISTE PPT on our project at the beggining of the event.

Cathy: 9/10

Awesome about the assembly! Yes, I will try to be there for the end with a VoiceThread to use in case the connection doesn't work. I will have Philip and Melanie record their poems on Voice Thread as well -- maybe a couple of others. What an awesome idea for the t-shirts! I will have to check into that too. This next week is so crazy that I am not sure what I will be able to make happen. But I will get Jaye to help and Sydney is trying to get more webcams by the end of next week. Time is getting away and I am excited and a little overwhelmed.

A whole year! Wow! Isn't this the most awesome project ever?

I will get busy. Good job on the invitation! Guess I need to get mine ready today. I think I may use the same picture.

September 9

Tyrone:

Today my principal, the coordinator and I went to the State Board of Education. There we talked to the superintendent of supplies, who we invited to our book assembly. Of course, we took the opportunity to show her everything we have done during the period of a year. (Do you remember that we have been together for a year? Virtual contact between us really started in September of 2008!! And nothing will be better than celebrating such an anniversary with our book assembly. I hope you can accept the last suggestion I have made. Although we won’t be able to be online at the same time, at least we could see each other during a short period of time on September 23 as I have suggested to you...

Anyway, I am happy!!! Please see the invitation card we have prepared to send to the guests. I think we will have a beautiful celebration as the principal wants us to have a coffee break during the event; my coordinator wants to have some T-shirts printed on the event and so on and so forth... As you can see, I have lots of reasons to be happy....