Oasis Arts & Social Change Program: November 2010

Friday, November 26, 2010

Sometimes writing a test is differentiated instruction at Oasis.

ASC students tell their Social Justice course teachers that writing tests make them nervous. So, they are given the opportunity to practice here. All who wrote the test did amazingly well. Congrats to the students. We celebrated with cupcakes.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

This is what the science curriculum looks like at the Arts and Social Change Program

Jane the fearless Science teacher demonstrates what happens when you add mentos to diet coke.

Explosion of diet coke all over the leaves. Hope the grass is okay.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Night of Dred

On Saturday night October 30, the puppets that ASC visual arts students worked on during the month come to life at Night Of Dred at Dufferin Grove. http://www.blogto.com/city/2010/11/night_of_dread_2010/

Student Take to the Streets with Thriller

Getting Ready for the performance - A little makeup and hair please...

Now if we can only remember the moves...

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

A couple of weeks before Hallowe'en, ASC students learn, rehearse, and prepare to perform thriller at Much Music, Dundas Square, and Old City Hall. Among the fans taking pictures and hooting and hollering were community council members, parents, and fans - including veejay Sarah Taylor.

Parents get into the act

A random zombie fan

ASC Staff: A Small but MIghty Team

Anita Court is our fabulolus Office Administrator. She knows a lot about a lot and it's her job to know. Students and staff alike look to Anita as a confidante and problem solver for anything from getting the bathroom key from a locked bathroom to finding a band-aid for a cut to taking care of a busted printer to putting together the Superintentdent's package and tracking attendance. Anita is the glue that binds the three satellite locations of Oasis.
Jane Fonseca is the Guidance/Phys Ed and Science teacher. She has been working at Oasis for the last six years. She went to school at York University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in the Specialized Honours degree in Kinesiology and Health Science. She also received her Massage Therapy Diploma and at one time was a Registered Massage Therapist (no jokes or massages please). She completed her initial teacher education at York University, Parkdale campus with a focus on Equity and Social Justice. She is always up for a friendly challenge…game on!
Joseph Ghassibe is our fearless leader, CL of Oasis. He has worked in mainstream schools in Australia and Canada. He has worked in alternative programs and other alternative schools. Oasis is, by far, his favourite :-) We are a community, a family and a home. He is proud to be here!
Martin Van de Ven - Our Music and Math Guru has a Masters in composition from U of T and took calculus for entertainment during his undergrad. He has spent much of his adult life as a freelance clarinettist, composer and musical director. Working for local theatre companies such as Jumblies Theatre he has created many works for mixed ensembles composed of amateur, professional and untrained musicians. Recent compositions include a 5 part work for the Toronto Children's Chorus. He performs with Toronto based Balkan/Klezmer band “Beyond the Pale”. He loves helping people find their inner musician, as an added bonus, at OASIS he gets to do the same with Math. Before signing up with OASIS Martin was the Jazz teacher at Earl Haig secondary.