Tag: School’s out Friday

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School’s out Friday

This is ‘Facebook Song’  by Rhett and Link. Our school psychologist had me help her download it from Youtube this week for use with a Yr 11 class. (We used kickyoutube – it continues to impress everyone) They were looking at the idea of personal empires for their Art class.  As well as being pretty amusing it’s quite good for developing class discussion about identity and behaviour online.

A cooler weekend here in Australia. Very welcome after last weekend and its devastating consequences. Hope yours is a good one.

*Just got this message on Twitter from Bill Ferriter.

bushfire_appeal_kindness

Such kindness being expressed for our country from the international community of educators is overwhelming. Jen Wagner has let me know that donations are coming in for the bushfire appeal we are running through Working together 2 make a difference. Thank you all.

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School’s out Friday

Now this is funny. So I’m ordering you to watch it and brighten up your day by enjoying the pleasure of laughing out loud. I’ve watched it a couple of times now and even though I know what’s coming I still find those tears rolling down my cheeks.  Happy ones, not sad!

I hope we’ll all still be laughing tonight. Today represents the most extreme weather conditions we’ve seen all summer being faced in Victoria. Melbourne is predicted to reach a temperature of 44 degrees celcius.  We’ve been in the grip of a water crisis and our State is tinder dry. Bushfires are a constant summer threat with extremely dry undergrowth. We live with water restrictions and I am saddened by the sight of the glorious Liquid Amber in my frontyard struggling to exist. 

So, I hope tonight I’m sharing a glass of wine and good conversation with friends and  not glued to the TV (or internet) tracking the progress of bushfires.

Enjoy your weekend, Go on, watch lost luggage again. I promise you’ll laugh second time round too!

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School’s out Friday

My husband sent me this video during the week and it brightened the day for a colleague and myself. It was uploaded to YouTube in 2006 so you may have already seen it. How they put this together intrigues me -there are definitely some very clever people out there.

We are melting here in Melbourne right now. The temperature has been 41Degrees celcius + for the last three days and it looks like there is another one heading our way tomorrow.  There is little respite next week with temperatures forecast to be in the 30’s all week. Of course, school began back this week, just when the heat of summer set in. The kids are restless and tired and we are all searching for the elusive sniff of a breeze but there is none in sight.

The Library I work in is not air conditioned but home is, so I intend to hibernate!  Enjoy whatever comes your way this weekend.

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School’s out Friday

School will really be out for me next Friday. It’s a return to work for me next week; a dose of reality after the heady days of nothing on my agenda. Enjoy this ditty from Weird Al Yankevic as he ponders the wonder of Ebay to the tune of the Backstreet Boys ‘I want it that way’. Nearly 20 million people have viewed it already on YouTube.

Probably nice to revisit a Weird Al Yankovic effort from the past while we’re at it.   Here he is with ‘Eat it’, his parody of Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat it’.

I have to confess that I went to a Michael Jackson concert at Olympic Park here in Melbourne in the mid ’80s. It was far and away the best concert I’ve ever been to. It was at the height of Michael Jackson’s career; Thriller had been released and he was in the white glove phase. His dancing was brilliant and the show was nothing short of spectacular. Pity that 20 years on his reputation is not what it used to be.

I hope your weekend holds something special for you. Enjoy.

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School’s out Friday

This is Hector Projector’s ‘It’s art’. (Hectornado on YouTube) who has created this hand drawn stop motion animation to his original composition. He represents talent and initiative in my opinion. He’s a guy living in Sweden, who, with the help of myspace and YouTube, is managing to carve out a name for himself and his creative talents.

Great, isn’t it. This is what is possible for the students we teach. Our schools need to start recognising that we can assist our students to showcase their talents and use this media to create a positive digital footprint for themselves (and quite possibly a future career for themselves as well).  

It’s inspiring to see young people using social media to good effect.  Almost makes me excited about the prospect of returning to school soon. I did say almost. I have to admit that I am enjoying the downtime holidays afford!

Have a great weekend. Forecast is for sunny weather here in Melbourne and I intend to soak it up.

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School’s out Friday

Another improveverywhere effort to keep us smiling. This time they congregate at JFK airport to welcome back a stranger. The unsuspecting victims  find themselves confronted with a crowd bearing signs, flowers and ballons. It’s magic watching the expressions on their faces.

Improveverywhere have  a mission planned for tomorrow, the 10th of January.  It’s the 8th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride. Here are the details of the mission as they appear on their site;

DETAILS

When: Saturday, January 10 at 3:00 PM, Sharp! (Over by around 5:30)
Where: Meet at Foley Square at the black sculpture/fountain. It’s near the Brooklyn Bridge 6 train stop, between Centre and Lafayette, just north of Duane. (Google Map)
Bring: A backpack and a metro card.
Do not bring: A camera (we’ll have several photographers on hand)
Wear: Normal winter clothes (hat, gloves, etc)
Facebook: You can RSVP to the Facebook Event
After Party: For those over 21, there will be an official No Pants after party at Sidebar, 15th Street and Irving Place. First drink is free if you arrive without pants.

If you’re a reader living in New York this should be a lot of fun if you’re comfortable riding the subway wearing only your underpants.  Wish I was there, although I really don’t think I’d be game enough for this mission!

Have  a great weekend.

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School’s out Friday

This is One year in 40 seconds. It’s beautiful. It’s the work of eirikso  (Eirik Solheim)  from Oslo in Norway. All the images were taken at the same spot over the course of 2008 showing the changing seasons. Look at this and contemplate the year ahead. What will you be doing as the seasons unfold? An open book right now ready to be filled.

Thanks to Elizabeth Holmes who posted the link to this on Twitter.

Enjoy the weekend!

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School’s out Friday

Tania Sheko, who writes a great blog called Brave New World, tagged me recently to come up with a top ten list. I’ve decided to share with you my ten favourite School’s out Friday videos that I’ve posted over the course of this year. I’m really happy that School’s out Friday has been popular because I enjoy the levity of it all. If we spent all of our time taking ourselves seriously this world would be a very dreary place.

1. OK Go – Here we go again  My very first School’s out Friday post!

2. Frozen Grand Central The improveverywhere crew’s fabulous effort at Grand Central Station.

3.  If Life were a Musical – Hardware Shop. The Chaser’s War on Everything’s musical number in a Bunnings store.

4. The best first dance at a wedding ever. Posted in tribute to Clay Burell who was getting married the next day.

5. What teacher’s make. Slam poet Taylor Mali’s take on teaching.

6. The world of chemistry. Very funny take on how the elements work.

7. Sneezing Panda. My mum loved this – she watched it again and again. 

8. Best game ever. Another effort from the improveverywhere crew.

9. Where the Hell is Matt?  Matt Harding’s 2008 effort that took 14 months to put together.

10. Hamish and Andy – Team Ghosting. The Australian comedy duo and their new sport of ghosting.

So there you have it. Ten of my favourites this 2008 in no particular order.

Enjoy your weekend. If it’s anything like mine you’ll be busy finding novel ways to polish off leftovers!

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School’s out Friday

Brace yourself. This time next week it will be Boxing Day. In between now and then I am sure you will have a million things to do. Like shop, eat, laugh, eat, stress, eat, sing, eat, socialise, eat, drink, eat, wrap presents, eat, drink some more, eat, cook, eat and on it goes. On Boxing Day I intend to cut down on the eating (and drinking) and embrace the walking and weight lifting. This year has seen my brain active but not much else. A situation that needs a remedy!

While you contemplate the next week and all it will bring, enjoy this little festive number from  madeinakqa. This little ditty accompanied the video;

Twas the night before Christmas,
when all through the house
not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse.

Stockings were hung
by the chimney with care,
as the microwaves’ thrum
was filling the air. 

I can’t begin to imagine the time it took to put it together, but it makes for compulsive viewing to see the outcome. 

Merry Christmas to you all. Enjoy the festivities with your families. 
 

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School’s out Friday

Yay!! I really am out from school this week. Holidays are here in Australia for some of us. Sorry Govt. school teachers- I know how hard that last week is – you have my sympathy although I don’t think that will count for all that much! 

And yes, I realise it is Saturday and I am late getting this up. I’m in Perth with my husband and we’re having a great time in this wonderful city. We’re meeting up with Sue Waters and Jane Lowe and possibly others this afternoon. I met Sue last week in Melbourne but I’ve never met Jane. Both of them have provided me with a lot of help this year- if not for them I wouldn’t have been posting from China. They both directed me to Posterous and Jane suggested Blogger as the platform that would be accessible in China for the blog I wrote for parents while I was there.   

Anyway, enjoy Charlie Todd and the improveverywhere crew as they entertain us once more. I’m looking forward to a Christmas extravaganza from them – hope they have something planned.

Enjoy your weekend.