Smokescreen

Degrassi Junior High

Rick joins the environmental action committee to impress Caitlin. Meanwhile, Yick would rather make up a family history for a project than tell the class he is a boat person.

What happens to teen smokers? - Live Well - NHS Choices

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/:/22017/24554/339536.html?d=dmtContent

Current Events - The Sudan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf2hM3xoI0A

CLASSROOM READY MONTHLY NEWS • FEBRUARY 2011 Level 2

Sudan Poised for

Historic Vote

Get ready to update your

atlases—the map of Africa

is about to change.

This January, the largest

country in Africa, Sudan, held a

historic referendum. The citizens

of southern Sudan are voting

on whether to remain a part of

Sudan, or separate and form

a new, independent country.

U.S. President Barack Obama

hailed the vote as a “new chapter

in history.” He called it an opportunity

for a peaceful solution to a

confl ict that has resulted in “50

years of civil wars that have killed

two million people and turned

millions more into refugees.

The vote was agreed to as

part of a peace deal that ended

Sudan’s most recent civil war

back in 2005. The country has

had a long history of confl ict

between the mostly Muslim

Arabs living in the north, and the

mostly Christian or animist

peoples in the south. The south

Sudanese have faced decades

of deep poverty, and many have

complained of mistreatment by

the government, based out of the

capital of Khartoum in the north.

Although he hopes that Sudan

remains a united country, Sudanese

president Omar al-Bashir said

he would honour the outcome if

the people vote for separation.

“We are a civilized people,” he

said. “Regardless of how painful

the results are, we will greet

the result with forgiveness, and

patience, and acceptance, and

an open heart, God willing.”

Although the vote began on

January 9, it will take until February

14 before the results are announced.

That is because the vote

was held over a one-week period,

and after that it will take another

four weeks to collect all the ballots

and count them. The extra time is

necessary because south Sudan is

a large region with very few roads.

For the referendum to be valid,

at least 60 percent of the 3.8 million

registered voters in the south

must participate. Most observers

believe that the south Sudanese

will vote for separation. If that is

the result, more work will have to

be done. That is because then both

sides will have to decide how they

will share oil revenues, where the

new borders will lie, and whether

people will be allowed to have

citizenship in both countries. As

well, it is expected that as many

as 2.5 million people will fl ood

across the border so that they can

rejoin families and be a part of

the country of their choosing.

Did you know?ID YOU KNOW?

Canada has sent more than

400 peacekeepers to Sudan since

the civil war ended in 2005.

Saskatchewan Edition

© 2011 Classroom Ready. All rights reserved.

Hey Grade 8s!
Welcome to our blog!

Ms Little's Top Ten Reasons that we will blog...

1. Blogs provide a virtual announcement board for important messages about homework, assignments, deadlines, and more.
2. Students can communicate with their teachers and other students through a blog. This is especially helpful for shy students who might not otherwise reach out.
3. Students have a larger audience when they blog. If the blog is public, they are potentially writing for a global audience. This knowledge may empower them and their work.
4. Blogs can be used to encourage discussion anytime — whether in or outside of class.
5. Teachers can learn more about Web 2.0 tools and become more comfortable and familiar with them through the practice of writing a blog.
6. Teachers can build their professional learning network through blogs by connecting with other experts and learning about new tools in their field.
7. The increased transparency will build trust and rapport with parents and the community.
8. Blogs can help students develop and hone literacy skills.
9. Blogs allow for multimedia interaction. Students can post pictures, videos, links, and more.
10. Blogs are FUN!

Good luck!  I look forward to you sharing your thoughts!
-Ms Little

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