Category: Uncategorized

Scrafitio Tile Process

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For my scrafitio tile project, I chose to incorporate both elements of flora and fauna (plants and animals). I connected my tile with Yara, we connected our tiles literally through a stem, and figuratively through the theme. I was inspired by the tranquility of nature and wanted to combine an animal/insect with its natural habitat in nature. My success of the week has been creating a sketch that connects with Yara’s tile and that I find visually appealing. My challenge of the week has been chosing a design amongst other designs I found inspiring. My goal for next week is to carve my tile.

Here are my refrence photos :

Sgraffito - KELL HIGH SCHOOL ARTSgraffito flowers | Sgraffito, Pottery designs, Ceramic potteryPoppy Flower Decorative Tile Unique Sgraffito | Etsy

Here is my tile drawing, and my tile drawing connected to Yara’s :

Week 2

This past week I have worked on designing, underglazing, and carving my tile. My goals for this week are to overglaze and complete my tile. My success of the week was carving on a pattern that followed my design and connected to Yara’s, and adding finishing touches to my tile to perfect it as much as I can. My challenge of the week was having to re carve some of the details on my tile and not feeling like it was to my standard.

Here are some updated photos of my tile :

This week I finished underglazing my tile, and today started and finished overglazing my tile. My challenge of the week was getting rid of some mould that formed over my tile. My success of the week was completing every step in creating my tile. My goals for next week are to photograph and name my tile.

Here is an updated photo of my overglazed tile :

 

Monster Mug finished

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Sea Monster

April 14 2022, ceramic mug

Aidan Starr

I found creating the Monster Mug challenged me creatively. It would not say that it was a difficult enough process to cause me stress, but I had to overcome various obstacles in the creation such as using the wheel and becoming comfortable on it. What I learned the most creating this project is how to use colours that compliment eachother and are coehesive with my ideas and the theme of my project. If I were to do something differntly, I would of made more bold choices in the creation process of my mug. I was scared to add more bold elements such as an untraditional handle or textures that I thought were too “weird”. I realize that my artwork is subjective and should reflect my personality and should create art with that in mind.

Aidan Starr Project Planning 3D Studio Arts 10

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Project Planning and Proposal

What would you like to investigate/make as a term-long project? 

  • Choose a project (examples listed below)Material based clay project.
  • Work out the purpose of your project. Why do you want to make this. What have others done before in this material or with this idea?  The purpose of my project is to create something I would use regularly and find functional. Examples of this kind of project are jewelry plates, mugs, or bowls.
  • How will you begin the project? I will begin my project by planning out and sketching out a rough draft design of my project. 
    • What challenges might you face in completing your goal? My project not turning out how I had envisioned.
  •  Give a weekly breakdown.
    • My goal this week is to create my rough draft design.
  • How will you know the project is done?
    • I will hand in the physical copy.
    • That it is well made, functional, and followed all my steps.

 

  •  Self-Assessment and Reflection

 

    • What was your goal for this week? To sketch out a rough draft
    • What challenges did you face in completing your goal? Choosing one object to make.
    • How did you adapt to the challenges? Narrow it down to my favourites.
    • Did you achieve your goal this week? Yes.
    • What is your goal for next week? To begin the sculpting

Unit 2 math assignment Aidan Starr

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This unit we covered powers and square roots, Pythagorean theorem, and covered exponent laws such as the Product rule, Quotient rule, Zero power rule, Combined Operations, Combining powers, Power to Power rule, raising a product to a power, raising a sum to a power and raising a quotient to a power, and estimating the square roots of irrational numbers. For my assaigment I will be doing just that and demonstrating how I can use multiplication to find the closest square root to an irrational number.

Step 1.

Find out If your number is an irrational number meaning it is a repeating decimal without a pattern or if it is a rational number.

Step 2.

Find two multiples that your number falls between.

Step 3 find which multiples your number is closest two.

Step 4 choose the appropriate decimal to estimate the square root of your irrational number.

For my examples I will estimate the square roots of the numbers 24 and 430.


            

 

 

Math Unit 1 Aidan Starr

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This past week of math we covered integers and learned about adding, subtracting, dividing and multiplying rational numbers such as fractions. We learned how to convert improper fractions into mixed and vice versa and how to turn decimals into fractions. There are certain rules we learned with adding and subtracting integers, a formula with 2 negative numbers will turn into a positive, adding two positives will have a positive outcome and adding and negative and positive will make a negative. When we divide fractions we learned that we convert mixed fractions into improper fractions and that we flip the reciprocal, multiply the two fractions and reduce to the lowest common denominator. When we add fractions we learnt that if they do not share a common denominator we have to fined their common denominator to properly add or subtract the fractions. Other topics we have learnt are placing decimals and fractions on number lines, we have learned about real numbers, rational numbers, whole numbers, integers, and natural numbers. For my example I will demonstrate how to divide two fractions and the steps that it took me to get my answer. I will also be demonstrating how to convert a mixed fraction into an improper fraction and an improper fraction into a mixed fraction.

Step 1.

flip the reciprocal number

Step 2.

cross reduce your fractions to their lowest form.

Step 3.

multiply your reduced fractions.

Step 4 reduce the new fraction to get your answer.

Step 1

Multiply the the whole number and the denominator.

Step 2

Add the numerator

Step 3

add your mutilped number to the numerator

Step 4

Write the totalled number on top of the same denominator you started with for your answer. (denominator stays the same)

Step 1

figure out how many times the denominator goes into the numerator.

Step 2.

write the the remainder beside the whole number on top of the denominator.

Step 3

Place the whole number on the left hand side of the fraction and keep the denominator the same.

Step 4 to see if you did it write times the denominator by the whole number and add the numerator and see if it is equal to your improper fraction.

 

Community Connections Aidan Starr

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For my blog, I chose to interview Dr. Kim Snow, a professor of Child and Youth Care at Ryerson University. Doctor Snow is a well-known child and youth advocate who works with young people who experience trauma and those who grow up in the care of  governments across Ontario and Canada. I chose to interview Dr. Kim Snow because we share a passion for supporting and advocating for at-risk youth. See the source image

Dr. Snow is an internationally-recognized expert  in children’s services and an advocate for child and youth mental health. She is also often sought out by provincial and national media to provide her opinion and advice on child welfare issues. For a time, she served as Advocate for Child and Family Services in Ontario. Dr. Snow also has a private practice where she supports children and families with difficult mental-health and trauma-based needs.

Dr. Snow is also currently Leading the Voyager Project in Toronto; where she helps disadvantaged youth in care meet their social-emotional and educational goals.  See the source image

 

 

 

(Voyager project welcome photo/publicity shot.)

Voyagers: Who we are

 

For this interview Dr. Kim Snow shared stories and her personal experiences working with at-risk First Nations youth, in the province of Ontario.

One of the indigenous youth that Dr. Snow worked with was a young girl named Shannen Koostachin, of Attawapiskat Ontario. Shannen was born the 12th of July, 1994, and by the time Shannen was old enough to start elementary school, Shannen had to attend a First Nations school  funded by the federal government of Canada. The school was little more than a collection of portable trailers.  These trailers were supposed to be temporary but by the time Shannen was finished her schooling at the elementary school, the trailers were still there and they were worse than ever.

The portables were cold, mice infested, deteriorating, covered in  black mold and did not have  any proper ventilation, these portable trailers were not safe for any child to learn in. By the time Shannen was ready to start high school, she and others in the community had to travel 600km south to New Liskeard, Ontario, or  drop out of school completely. Shannen made the move, and started high school, far from her family, far from her home, and far from her community.  She wanted more for her community and the other children so Shannen Koostachin started a compaign in hopes to improve indigenous education, through out the country, known as “Shannen’s Dream.”

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=shannen+koostachin+speech&docid=608003752989229943&mid=6B46F8CAE36C64D1B2546B46F8CAE36C64D1B254&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

Shannen became the leader of the largest youth led children’s right campaign in all of Canada’s history. She raised enough awareness to finally get government to follow through on their promise to build a proper school in her home community Attawapiskat. But in 2010, Shannen was killed in a car accident, on highway 11, in a town called Temagami while travelling to school. With Shannen’s leadership, construction for a school was started the day Shannen was supposed to graduate in 2012. This story is an example of the structural racism against and poverty of indigenous communities here in Canada and it made me very interested to talk to Doctor Snow to learn about her role in advocating for people like Shannen. See the source image

 

 

 

 

The Interview : 

A : My first question is If I had to tell people what it is that you do, how would I explain it?

K : I am a professor. I work with young people who experience trauma and those who grow up in the care of one of the children’s aid societies in Ontario.

A : We don’t have a child aid society here, Is that similar to the Ministry of Children and Families?

K: Yes, They are young people who a judge has decided will never go back to live with their birth families because it is not safe for them to do so, so they are placed in the care of the aid societies.

A : Thank you for the clarification.  What responsibilities do you have to in your role?

K :  In my role, I have three types of responsibilities . 1) Teaching , 2) Service to the University and 3) Scholarly, research and creative activities (SRC)

A ; What courses do you teach? What do you like to focus on in your research?

K : Teaching looks very much like you do at school, only with adults. Service to the university is my contribution to making sure that the university runs smoothly and ethically. The SRC is what I think interests you as I teach Child and Youth Care. My teaching tends to focus on trauma.

A : Yes your SRC interests me, what would you say the focus of your research is?

K : Making sure that young people in care are safe. I do that by trying to make sure that their voice is heard. That what they say they need is brought forward to those that make decisions.

A : What are you passionate about your job or role?

K : I am passionate about ensuring that young people growing up in remote First Nations community have the opportunities to be able to grow up in their community.

A : Is there still a long way to go to get the Federal government to build those schools?

K : Yes. There are many remote communities across Canada that do not have safe and functioning schools and many other issues, related to poverty play into young people coming into care. Where you live, you have access to a safe school and to recreation programs and clean drinking water and affordable schools. Many remote communities do not have these and this impacts on the well being of young people

A : What’s the toughest part of your job?

K : The toughest part of my job is that most often the tragic circumstances that involved me, could have been prevented.

A : Why do you think the federal and provincial government are failing to live up to their responsibilities?

K : Entrenched racism. Canada is founded on  broken agreements. No friendship can withstand that. We see the pain from the lack of trust. Canada will be a stronger country when we live up to our treaties. Then we will engage in nation to nations relationships. Then together, we’ll ensure that the water problems are solved, missing and murdered women and girls will get justice and communities will have the resources to care for their children. That is why Shannon Koostachin is such an important hero.

A : What obstacles have you faced to get to where you are today?

K : Mostly the adults.

A : Is it adults who don’t care enough?

K : I think the adults care- they just can’t see the issues.

A : What advice would you pass on to someone who is interested in what you are doing?

K : Listen to young people. Engage them as citizens. Also, we all need to reflect on inclusion. Do we practice inclusive practices? Are we unintentionally perpetuating colonization- that is the domination of one group over another? Racism, sexism, bullying, anti-indigeneity and other forms of Othering, happen around us all the time. Do we see them? Do we confront them? Do we change them?

A : I get what you are saying completely, it’s important for people my age and in my community to hear this. Your work is challenging but what’s the most rewarding part about your job?

K : I see the change. We still have a long way to go, but in my career, I have seen much change occur, all at the level of inclusion. Mental health is a great example and another where young people are leading the way in making the change. When I started my work in children’s mental health we had separate entrances and exits so that people would not be seen  and they would not have come without it. Now, people openly talk about mental health. There is still a stigma, but it is changing

A : Is there anything else you would like to add you feel is important?

K : Did I answer all of your questions?

A: Yes, thank you very much for finding time to answer my questions

K : What will you do with the learning from this course?

A : I’m going to raise awareness and be an advocate, I will be linking resources and linking Shannen’s information on my blog because not a lot of people know about her story over here.

K: Her story is important- both in that she highlights the injustice but also the power of a single person’s voice to make change. Good for you!

(Dr. Kim Snow is currently unavailable for Riverside students to contact)

 

This interview opened up doors for me, about stories and problems that happened and are still happening across Canada, and educated me on what I can do to help bring awareness to stories like Shannen’s. Dr. Kim Snow’s interview lead me to new opportunities to learn more, and advocate for indigenous youth in communities across the country. This interview gave me an opportunity to spread awareness and use my voice to educate others here in my own community on issues that we might not be aware of and ways we can educate ourselves, and advocate for those in need, for social justice, and equality. I am so grateful that Dr. Kim Snow found the time to have this interview. It gave me whole new understanding and appreciation for the challenges Indigenous communities, especially remote ones, face. My research also led me to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to  Action, and I believe it is very important that every Canadian know about these recommendations.

 

Sources:

Still waiting in Attawapiskat | Canadian Geographic

https://youtu.be/LJNpMHyZPus

https://youtu.be/3Gy38grr35c

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kim-snow-5088815

Kim snow – Bing images

kim snow Archives – APTN News

Expert breaks down internal death report on Sacha Raven Bob (aptnnews.ca)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Snow’s research and media stories

Kim Snow – The Conversation

https://www.stitcher.com/show/nation-to-nation/episode/utter-failure-expert-breaks-down-internal-death-report-on-sacha-raven-bob-80083560

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi2hZ3Tqv_uAhXHvZ4KHQMTDpEQFjAJegQIBhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tvo.org%2Farticle%2Fyouth-leaving-state-care-need-education-support&usg=AOvVaw3KEUMWF1hW7g_GoH-IBbme

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=shannen+koostachin+speech&docid=608003752989229943&mid=6B46F8CAE36C64D1B2546B46F8CAE36C64D1B254&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

https://theconversation.com/youth-leaving-state-care-need-education-support-108243

 

Lit Circle project-Newspaper and script

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Lit Circle Final Project (Breakdown and Script):

By Maggie, Aidan and Rheann

 

For our project, we decided to collaborate together and write a script for an imaginary interview between two reporters and Arnold Spirit. We as well decided to present it through a newspaper called The Spokane Post where it talks about the interview itself and includes the contents.

Themes that tie into the interview:

(“-“ = examples on how we included the themes in our interview questions and responses)

  • Expectations (of self or others)- How Junior has always had low self-expectations and others have too for him. We cover how he is proving himself and others wrong and finding out how much he is capable of.
  • Self-esteem – How Junior has improved with how he sees himself and how this game could have affected it as well.
  • Inner conflict- Fighting himself about whether he should try out for the basketball and possibly him going to Reardan with knowing his tribe could turn on him.
  • Harassment – Junior talks about the racism he faced and the treatment he got at Reardan and briefly touches on how he was always looked down upon at the reserve.
  • Commitment -The reporter asks how he persevered through the pain and stiches. Junior talks about why he did and how he was committed to the game and showing what he could do.
  • Racism- Briefly, Junior explains how he was separated from the rest at Reardan because of his skin and background and about some of the racism at Reardan.
  • Privilege -While talking about what sets Junior apart from the rest at Reardan, he mentions how those at Reardan were handed more opportunities and how lives are very different.

 

Project Summary and Explanation:

The plot of our story is a spin-off of a basketball game that Rearden played against the Wellpinit Redskins. Jr faces injuries during the game which leads Reardan’s team to lose. Rearden was on a winning streak before having to vs the Redskins for the first time this season. Jr winds up in the hospital and sparks a lot of attention and the local newspaper interviews Jr from his hospital room while he in recovery. The interviewers ask Jr questions about the game, and his life outside of basketball on the reserve and many more interesting topics the press wants to know. The interview covers multiple themes from the book such as self-esteem, racism, harassment, expectations he has of himself and others, privilege and other smaller themes that fall under those umbrellas.

The interview Script:

R1: Hello, and Welcome back to Spokane’s Sports News Center and today with us we have Arnold Spirit, a freshman on Reardan’s boys’ basketball team and one their star players. We are currently in the hospital with him now after he faced injuries while playing against the Redskins. His team lost against the Redskins after having a very successful game before. We are talking about the game as well as his life outside of basketball.

R1: Hello Arnold, it’s great to have you with us especially under these circumstances. We hope you are feeling better than you were after you just faced these injuries and not in too much pain. Tell us, what was different about this game from all the previous games you won, what went wrong?

A:  Thanks, man. I am feeling a bit better than before and the pain killers are helping too. In this game, I was faced up against my old team and that already made me anxious and nervous which affected the way I played. They are not happy with me at the moment, for transferring to Reardan and are definitely holding a grudge against me. This is most likely why I got a quarter thrown at my head from their audience, why I got defended more aggressively against and how I am here now.

R2: Are you angry with how the Redskins and their audience treated you? If you could tell them one thing what would it be?

A: I guess in some ways I am angry with what they did as it wound me up in the hospital. Although, I do understand why they are upset with me as I have left my home for a ‘white school’. I have never been treated well on the reserve and have often been harassed but, this was for a whole new reason. One thing I would say is I might play for Reardan but, the reserve is still my home. I don’t regret transferring to Reardan but, that doesn’t mean I think I am better than everyone else.

R1: What made you persevere through the pain from a quarter being thrown at your head and why did you want to receive the stitches right away?

A: I put high expectations on myself and I choose to not be a quitter. I wanted to show what I am made of and I didn’t want to coward out, even if that meant I would have a scar from stiches. Possibly the chance of my team losing without me or not wanting Wellpinit to see me face a loss was what kept me going. I was in the heat of the moment with the only thing on my mind was getting back in the game.

R2: Do you think this game could affect how you play in the future, physically and Mentally?

A: Ever since I was a baby, I have been a fighter as I was born with a brain condition and survived the surgery. Mentally, I hope this doesn’t throw me off and I think I just need to get back into my game-mindset. This was a bit of a setback from the reserve but, now that my mindset has changed and I know what I can accomplish, I should be able to continue to play my best in the future.

R1: Moving on, what made you decide to transfer to Reardan even though you knew you would face a backlash?

A: Without getting too personal, I felt like I have more of a future at Reardan than I do at the reserve. This got most of my tribe upset at me, and I guess you could say I had it coming. I am trying to reach for success and transferring schools was one of the steps that I needed to take to achieve my goals.

R2: Was there someone who helped you or inspired you to take that step?

A: As a matter of fact, there was, my previous teacher from Wellpinit, showed up at my house after I threw a textbook at him. I was expecting to get scolded, but he greatly influenced me to go for it. It was unexpected, to hear something especially coming from my teacher on the reserve but, hearing him want me to succeed affected where I am today, and I am super grateful for that.

R1: Did you feel welcomed coming to Reardan, and are there any significant differences you noticed between Wellpinit and Reardan?

A: To be honest, at first, I felt like an outcast who didn’t belong. Many didn’t help that feeling either with racial jokes or comments too. There are plenty of differences and misconceptions between Wellpinit and Reardan, mainly the etiquette, ways of being and of course who attend the schools. Though, there were more similarities than I thought. One of the things I realized was that everyone faces tough issues in their life, no matter who you are or where you come from.

R2: Who made you feel the most welcomed at Reardan?

A: I would say one of my friends, Penelope, who I met on the very first day. After getting to know each other a bit more, we formed a close bond. Once I started sparking my own conversations it got easier to connect with others and then, I felt like I belonged. That is a lesson that I learned, how most people aren’t out to get you and are not as bad as they seem. You just need to be able to have enough courage to talk to others more and that can spark so many new friendships.

R1: Do you ever think about going back to Wellpinit? If you wanted, you could simply move back to your old school and not have to travel such a distance or put yourself in such a different environment.

A: As much as I miss going to Wellpinit, the thought hasn’t even come across my mind once. I know it was a good decision and I don’t like to quit. I have already started now so what’s the point in stopping? The travel to and from school can be long and tiring some days but, I have a feeling it will be worth it in the end. That is why I haven’t given up yet.

R2: What do you think sets you apart the most from the rest of the students at Reardan?

A: My physical appearance and heritage separate me the most. Because of it, I am less privileged than the others at Reardan. They have been handed more opportunities and our lives are very different. I live in a poor reserve while some don’t have to worry if they will eat dinner. Most do not need to worry about the way they will get treated for their appearance while I have to. So, there are many things that set us apart but, I am proving that I am no lesser than the rest and what I am capable of.

R1: How did you adjust to these changes at Reardan? Are you still trying to adjust?

A: Well, I think the thing that is helping me adjust is basketball. I played on Wellpinit and now Reardan and basketball is something that can stay the same for me. The gameplay, the court, my skill and more. Another thing is I have to put myself out there and step out of my comfort zone to make new connections.

R2:  Did anyone at your new school give you a hard time in the beginning? Did you encounter any rude or hateful comments that upset you and affected your experience here?

A: Yeah, I did encounter some but, I tried to not let it get to me, I am better than that. I didn’t know how to react at first and threw a punch but, I think what I did was pretty cool even though I regret it. Standing up for myself was nice and I felt empowered a bit too. I have always been looked down on but, at my new school, I was getting judged for a whole new reason which is my background and culture.

R1: Moving on to basketball, did you put pressure on yourself? Do you think if you weren’t as courageous, it would affect you trying out for basketball or even coming to Reardan?

A: Yeah, I put a lot of pressure on myself because I wanted to prove that I wasn’t just some kid from the reserve who only wanted to cause trouble and act out. I am a pretty decent dude who likes ball and has a bit of hope for once.  If I hadn’t, then there is a chance I wouldn’t have tried out for basketball, but I am glad I did.

R2: How did you feel about trying out for Reardan’s basketball team, especially in a brand-new school and environment? What were your expectations, and did you think you would make it?

A: I was pretty hesitant at first because I didn’t know if I would even make any of the levels. I was also nervous since I did not know how well the other people trying out would play but, I decided to give it a shot as you can see. I don’t really expect a lot from myself because it’s hard for me to believe in myself but once I did, I realized I was capable of so much more.

R1: Moving on to your injuries, do you think you will recover well enough for the next game?

A: I think I will be fine although, there was worry the hit would affect my brain because of a condition I was born with. So far, it is a bit early to tell but, I am feeling better and excited to play more games.

R2: Thank you so much for your time tonight and for your responses. We will let you rest for now and good luck for the future! We look forward to seeing you recover quickly and more of your playing. This is Spokane’s Sports News Center reporting live and we will catch you next time!

 

Sources for pictures used in the newspaper:

https://www.spokanevalleyfire.com/about-us/ambulance-service-board/

https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/AaqwdZJkcyYEPA/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-brayden-stine  (for both pictures of Reardan)

Download

 

Rapid Nation

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I am looking forward to my next few years at Riverside to be able to join different clubs, meet new people and be in new classes. I am hoping to leave a mark on the school after I graduate by being helpful, kind volunteering and being my most authentic self. I am looking forward to meeting new teachers, students staff and anyone else i might meet at Riverside.