Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in rollerhockeybum's LiveJournal:

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Friday, May 5th, 2006
7:38 am	Feel the need... Okay.. listing my extracurriculars... Twlight retreat organizing Chess Club Coaching junior boys soccer Coaching senior badminton Computer steering committee (though no meeting has been made) Dance supervision Prom chaperone Field trip supervision unrelated to my courses Graduation reception committee Covering for another coach in girls soccer I think I should cut back... *sigh* (Comment on this)
12:58 am	... Busy week... Monday helping a friend shop for stuff in Toronto. Tuesday there was a field trip to "Skills Canada". Then dinner and a movie. Wednesday was double soccer night. Thursday I had to help as the teacher advisor to one of my school's girls soccer team. Then games night playing three games of Settlers of Catan. Friday I have to go to PROM as a chaperone for the whole night. Then it's back to London on Saturday. Whew... (Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 29th, 2006
10:17 pm	School... Hmm... I've outdone myself again. Gotten myself signed up for too many things again. Trying to fit in perhaps? Not marking everything fast enough. Coaching badminton. That chess club stuff. Helping out with computers now. Organizing the weekly drinking binge for part of the school. I should stop signing up for these things. Now I'm just going to have to run around like a chicken with my head cut off... Al (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, December 25th, 2005
4:20 pm	Merry Christmas Okay... I guess there's a bunch of things to talk about... I now know what I'm teaching next semester. Workplace Marketing Grade 11, University level Computer Engineering Grade 12, University level Computer Science Grade 11/12 split level. I don't like the split level classes, but at least I can appreciate the grade level split moreso than a Workplace/University level split. I feel that I am at a loss for the few workplace kids that I have in there this semester. In other news, last week I had a day where I was just helping anyone that could. Started with a teacher not being able to access their USB memory stick. Then it was the librarian who had XP machines that were loaded with new hardware, but a locked operating system, courtesy of Novell via the Board level technicians. Unfortunately, they didn't lock out the Search function on the START MENU. That means that you can conceivably get Windows Explorer from there. And that's how I helped the librarian do stuff. Then there was the teacher that locked her keys in her car. And I just happened to know that the two automotive transportation teachers were both out of the school on Co-op visits. So I called the one and he told me that I could try out the "kit" myself to try to open her car door. I did, and I succeeded. But I feel a little stupid. How can a high school student break into a car in 45 seconds but it takes me 18 minutes. So I was the good Samaritan that day. And I was rewarded the following day with a couple of things. The locked out teacher gave me a Bailey's gift set. And there was a raffle for the last day of school, and I won a DVD player. That's pretty good for a day - especially since I only bought three tickets for $5 total. In other news, I still can't get a ticket for Hong Kong. I don't know why it's just so difficult. Then again I also know that I was REALLY, REALLY late. I miss my girl. So now I've got to think about what to do to finish off the courses in 14 days. I know what I want from two of the courses. The third... hmm... a bit of a loss. I'll have to work on that later. Ciao. Current Mood: apathetic Current Music: James Blunt - You're Beautiful (Comment on this)
Monday, December 5th, 2005
2:06 pm	Various things that aren't related... Okay... Performance appraisal coming up. A teacher report card... hmm.. just told my students today about it. So they'd better smarten up if they want me to be their teacher still. Sent an email to get it ready, but I haven't heard a response. Trying to pressure my board to get the online version of the Annual Learning Plan that every teacher will use for their evaluation. Tried to get Internet from my department head again. The discussion wasn't that great. He basically is worried about getting egg on his face. Of course I don't care anymore because I find it ridiculous for me NOT TO have Internet. In other news, I will have a website to ply my trade for documents online. I'm going to set up a dumping ground for any teacher in my school to give documents to their kids... hehehe... this should be fun. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, November 12th, 2005
11:47 am	Been a while again... Okay. Let's look at what's been happening. After coming back from Hong Kong. I have traded in my 98 Buick Century for a new Corolla. My job is more secure. I have some good classes. My students generally like me. I try to assist teachers with computer problems. Report cards were last week. School wise I'm still running things off the seat of my pants and I'm comfortable with that. I guess... I should plan better. I should organize better. But if anyone's really seen my place, they'll know that organization isn't exactly one of my strengths. The only reason that I'd clean house is if I was procrastinating from something else. Strange, isn't it? So anyhow, I have gone on a few of these locally-developed course curriculum meetings. These are just interesting sessions where I am to conference with other teachers on developing strategies for high-needs students. I teach a small (very small) grade 10 high needs class. But no one is teaching my course. The best help is from the grade 9 math teacher. I feel somewhat at a loss, seeing all of these strategies in play that I haven't really been able to implement. Once again, I do now have Internet for my classroom. Why is that? In general, computer classes have always had readily accessible Internet resources within a classroom. The school board basically suggests that I take my students to the computer lab like everyone else. I do not see the value in that if only one or two students are to be going online at any given time, and that they'd only be using it for 10-15 minutes. Downloading device drivers, updating software... whatever. Bad news.... my car was dented by a Sam's Club flatbed shopping cart on a windy day last Sunday in Richmond Hill. The key was that the workers from the store didn't want to go out to clear the shopping carts. The parking lot stalls for the carts were overflowing into the lane where the cars are supposed to drive through. There was even some of the paint job from my car transferred to the cart. Those big ass flatbed carts should be moved back inside when people are finished using them. But now I have a dent... those bastards.... Strange news... a teacher classmate of mine is now department head of mathematics at a school in Guelph. And she's in her third year of teaching. I find that VERY unique. Then again, I'm going to apply to the interim department head position for the remainder of the year... very strange. I wonder when the Toronto school boards will call me next.... hehe (Comment on this)
Sunday, August 28th, 2005
7:01 am	Going back at it... Well, I've moved a lot of my stuff into the new place. A basement apartment with two bedrooms, kitchen and living room. A far cry from the bachelor's pad that I had. Man that place was tiny. I even got a 'little' video of it - it's a 150MBs. I gotta find some way to try that down :P So I've got a place in Guelph, thus I've closed my rental storage facility. I'm buying a new car! I can't really believe it. I guess I just want to see if I can get a good value trade in on my current 98 Buick. Downgrading the engine considerably in the height of the gas prices. I'm going to be teaching grade 9 through 11 this semester. But I guess the interesting thing to adjust to is the fact that I've got a last period spare. That's right, I am scheduled to teach only up to 1:25pm. I guess this gives me some extra prep time should I end up coaching soccer or something. That'd be great. Perhaps this is why the principal gave me this schedule? Anyhow, I love the people at work and the students are great. Relative to other places. I wonder though, during my supply teaching shifts, whether I had made enough of an impression to get interest as a regular teacher. I lorded over a science class, and perhaps it was my knowledge of the inane and the insane that got the students entertained and hopefully, educated in some small but meaningful manner. Coming back to Canada, I have a renewed sense of health. I want to get fit more than ever. Perhaps it's because of the attention that I got in Hong Kong. Perhaps it was the relatives that were 'amazed' by my girth and commented about it frequently. "I guess it must be the real milk and the beef over there in North America..." Or was it the fact that I had a woman chase me down to ask questions about a health survey. Or maybe it was from within - the fact that I just don't have the acceleration anymore to really deke anyone in soccer. That hurts the most. So I've tried soccer and swimming. At my dad's staff picnic, I even played volleyball. So as I prepare for school, for the move of the rest of my things from London to Guelph, for my family moving to a house from an apartment in late September, for my brother to begin the next academic year at the University of Western Ontario along with our cousin from Halifax and for me to really begin working at a long distance relationship after 2 1/2 years together in person. I suppose this is my "Start of the school year" entry into the journal. So hopefully I can coach the kids in soccer and maybe groom a young chess player. And thus somehow combine a jock teacher and a geek teacher together. Hehehee (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, July 17th, 2005
8:24 am	Pre-Hong Kong Trip... Well, it's been a while again. I've got a lot of stuff to do when I get back. This month has been interesting. The girlfriend is back overseas. I had to move out at the end of June. My boss stalled for a long time regarding my job for next year. I suddenly got accepted to work for EQAO. Then the summer began... EQAO sucks. It was so boring that I felt like I couldn't do it again. On top of that, there were a bunch of keeners in the groups. I know this because they pared down the test, and the number of teachers so that it would only take two weeks to finish. However, because they were the keeners, that meant that we were able to finish with only 6 days out of the 10. EQAO became a reunion of sorts. I met up with my friends from EQAO from last year. I met up with friends from teacher's college. Heck... I saw an ex-coworker from my old school, though I don't think she was too happy to see me. Then I get the call that I've got full time. I'm happy, but wait... I'm teaching my three courses for last year. That's good. I'm teaching Math. That's good. And then I'm teaching MARKETING?!! Oh boy... At least my department head thinks that I'll be okay for it. Or it's just that he's sending the lamb to the lions. Now it's off to HK come Tuesday. (Comment on this)
Monday, June 13th, 2005
11:19 pm	Venting... Okay... So I have a ton of work to do, and I've been procrastinating - hence I am doing this journal. But it's also a moment to vent. My brother is an idiot. Applies to six University programs (what's that? $200??), screws up the application which forces my mom to pay $100 for courier and then the jackass decides he's gunning for a program he didn't apply to and he's just aiming for an open slot (if there are any). I now have to try to sleep in the day after school because it's too hot and noisy because of the construction. Oddly enough I can't work but I can sleep. I guess I need some sort of .. pressure to get me to finish my marking. *sigh* My girlfriend is leaving Canada and I am sad... What do I do now? Showertime... and the let's see how much marking I can do... (Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 11th, 2005
9:17 pm	Okay.. a long time between postings... Had my retreat. It was ... tranquil. This retreat was yesterday, taking my homeroom Grade 10 students to a camp to reflect on faith, breathe in the great outdoors (15 minutes outside of Guelph). Had some kids running around. Oh well. Other news... a friend said he'd live with me come September... then backs out. What a guy. I didn't expect him to, he presses me for it and then backs out. He's a freak. Girlfriend's going back home after she has her Uni convocation. Not happy about that, but I'll get to visit her in July... Needed "Pirates of Silicon Valley". It is the requisite "computers" movie. I tried to find the movie online. I went to the online stores. I went to the video stores to inquire. The only place I could find it was... where else? E-BAY. And it was $45 + shipping and levies from the states... and it's ONLY A VHS!!! Anyhow, there's a copy here and there floating in the school board. Thank goodness. There's no other way to get at a TV movie I guess... Students were wondering about the "strip club" scene and how I was able to blank it out from the students - even though I wasn't there. The part they didn't know was that the projector overheats and shuts off momentarily.... hehehe. Miss my family. Still thinking about what to do as far as being apart from my girlfriend. *sigh* (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, February 24th, 2005
5:02 pm	Okay, so I'm back at school right now. Repairing computers is not my thing. But I'm at home in the sense that these machines here in the lab are old and slow. And these are the ones they expect students to surf the web on. The computer engineering room where I teach is worse. I don't know what the problems are, but I can't really network, and I've got kids taking several periods repairing old machines that for the most part, don't work. The other interesting thing is that students are vultures between my two afternoon periods. I turn my head, and I think that one group is stealing computer parts from another group. Then there was the one that I didn't check on during the last period. I find out afterwards, when checking that the student put in two video cards, and an extra I/O card for keyboard and mouse (unplugged, but screwed in) and he complains that others are taking his stuff. Anyways, I'm going to head home and cry. These machines are crap. So many of them have a floppy disk drive error on bootup. I've got to actually talk to one of my hardware crazy students about that. The freak has a SCSI controller that's JUST A SPARE PART AT HOME. Then another student is crazy on software, and thus he bids his time writing recursive batch files to crash the system. He actually showed me how to bring down Windows 98. Another student showed me how to cheat in Minesweeper for both Windows XP and Windows 98. So much for playing for the top score I guess. One final issue is that I think that my students took apart two machines that they weren't supposed to. Granted, no one really used them, but still, that was rather interesting. I don't really know what to do about them. Off to do some lesson planning. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, February 8th, 2005
6:45 pm	Just checking in... Okay, first few days on the job. Results, I feel overwhelmed with the numbers. I feel that I need some time with the student's names, the fact that I'm a HOMEROOM teacher, the fact that I was to be the "attendance class" for my wing of the school was not made known to me. The fact that there are kids in there that work as Computer Technicians. The fact that one kid talks about cracking piracy protection software. I'm thinking that I'll have to bump him up from Grade 11 to Grade 12. I hate the splits... Current Mood: tired (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, February 6th, 2005
2:12 pm	School BEGINS Well, it's time. I've got the course descriptors finished. I've got a few lessons planned. The unofficial mentor that has taken me under his wing is amazing in terms of his vision. Gord has the ability to teach all kinds of computer hardware courses, A+ certification, technician, you name it. But he's the automotive shop teacher and finds that more enjoyable. He's thinking about an overhaul of the computer lab in the near future. I get to play with my budget a bit this year, and I guess the first things that I'm thinking about is a printer. I thought about using an old one and getting the school to pay for the ink cartridge, but Gord thinks I should go and buy a laser printer. Go figure. I have to brush up on my memory addressing stuff. That'll be the interesting thing I suppose. And maybe get the kids to build a Windows 2000 server. We'll see. So now I await my first day... Current Mood: anxious (Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 25th, 2005
10:45 pm	My first days in Guelph Okay. First of all, I have to say that I don't ever want to have the isolation of a lack of Internet. I moved on the Sunday night, and I didn't have Internet - I didn't have anything except the phone line to the outside world. At school, I needed to wait until late in the day to get an account to get onto the school network. So I finally got back to email. I guess it's an addiction in and of itself. I have no particular purpose, but I formed a dependency on it. Anyhow, the job is great. I'm in the tech department, with the automotive shop, the integrated technologies workbenches and a pseudo-engine room all in my part of the school. I've got a lab of 20 computers where students are SUPPOSED to be able to research on the Internet. However, only 5 or so are actually connected. So as I'm in the tech section of the school, the Computer Science department is actually a different part of the school. The Network Administrator/Computer Resource person is actually a jack of all trades type, and I think that's because he's also got to handle the MAC hardware. There's a pair of computer labs for Intel P4s and a MAC computer lab for the communications department. All of these are brand new and very expensive. So in my own computer engineering room, I've got a workspace in the middle of the room which can accommodate about 12 computers, and I think they're all in the 233-333 Mhz range. I'm going to see if I can take a 600 Mhz system from the Computer Science department :) :) But I have the remains of the day. I can't even touch the computer lab that's next door to me. I don't even have an Internet connection in my room!! I also have a counter on one side of the room which is more for storage. Then on the other side of the room I've got tables there, and I guess I'll be able to use that area for letting students fiddle with the hardware or perform soldering. Now I believe that I can use the course profiles directly for the courses, at least for the first few units. I'm about to go through the information for the circuitry, because the old teacher went nuts on that stuff, and I'm not to high on that stuff for now. Anyhow, back to working on my weekly plans. Current Mood: apathetic (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 11th, 2005
4:14 pm	You know... You know I don't really post an entry unless I have something rather tragic to report. I guess this isn't a tragic event, but something sad in my eyes nonetheless. Today I was called by the Toronto District School Board, and they were offering me an interview for a contract position in Secondary Math. I don't believe it. I even asked if it was an LTO, and the lady said no. -_- What is up with this?!! Am I supposed to turn down my first offer from every job? Because in 2003, I get offered a job at a private school, and I take it feeling rather happy. Then I get calls from the London Catholic School Board for a job interview at the brand new school in my area. But I can't take it. What's up with that anyways? So I had to tell her that I already got a job with Wellington Catholic and she said okay, and told me to reapply for next year. So I guess I'd better apply to every board and see what happens. Ottawa-Carleton, Toronto... *sigh* Why did they have to ask me so late? (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, January 8th, 2005
2:17 am	Interesting... So my laptop still isn't fixed, and Futureshop is being a real PAIN right now. Anyhow, my job is still kinda crazy even though I haven't started. My classroom-to-be is a real mess. The school has turned my (currently dormant) computer engineering room into a office supply storage room. I have a lot of desk space in my room. With all of it covered by staplers and hole punchers and graph paper, and poster paper and pencil crayons and markers and... and... and... well a lot of stuff. I need it all cleaned up so that I can start setting up my computers... I figure I need at least 15 student computers running - plus one for my own. I will have to solder a ton of circuits too. It's been a LONG time. In other news, I had a supply shift with Thames Valley again. I found out that the TVARRIS automated supply notification system isn't necessarily one that EVERYONE likes. I was called in for a teacher. I was the THIRD person called in for that teacher. Apparently the incumbent dude set things up with the FIRST person, the secretary set up the SECOND person and through a system mix up, I was the THIRD man in. Fortunately the system screw up that called for a FOURTH person never did show up. So I get called at 8:45 to supply for a shift that starts at 8:20. Go figure. I get there, sit in the main office like a naughty schoolboy for an hour before being told that I would teach two afternoon lines (three is the full day) but that I would get paid the full day. That's cool. I'm good with that. So I "teach" two periods that span 12:05 to 2:40. So that's 2:35 that I'm working. That means that before taxes, I'll have a rate of $50+ per hour. I never felt so valued at watching two hours and twenty minutes of videos. Off to bed... and time to review digital electronics! (Comment on this)
Saturday, December 25th, 2004
11:30 am	Christmas meanderings Merry Christmas everyone! Good news. I got my job (Wellington Catholic DSB job in Guelph teaching Computer Engineering). I got my camera (Sony 5.1MP digital camera which I'd been drooling over for many, many months). I went to Montreal with my girlfriend and another couple (Always stay at a Fairmont!). Bad news. I need to find a place in Guelph and all I find are expensive 1 bedroom joints. I didn't get the Hong Kong government job - I think they don't like Chinese people teaching English. ... time to go. Hwa Jung Sil (Who knows Korean?) (Comment on this)
Friday, December 10th, 2004
8:35 pm	Skewls in general... Alright, I think I've finally fixed my laptop. To those of you who can appreciate this, I went through 8 hard disk formats, 6 Windows installations (one I might add was a Compaq 7-CD system restore), Three BIOS updates, replacing RAM 4 times, fdisking the MBR and several hours of my time. If I cannot finish this posting, it's because the Internet went down or this laptop restarted again. This means that I will be sacrificing it to the lambs. In other news, my latest supply shift was teaching at a community high school where I did NOT have a spare and worked the full day - at least I'm supposed to get paid for that extra, right? I did a half-period on-call and found out today that I didn't get paid for that part either. *sigh* We'll see, as I've put in a call to the payroll department of TVDSB. I believe moreso now than ever that teaching essentials level classes present a great difficulty. It's not the content, it's the activities that a teacher must supply on a daily basis. That with which can garner some limited learning for the student, can maintain their interest and be totally unrelated to the topic from the class before?! I have been told it's mainly to keep each class a separate module to give the best optimal learning for the students. I have now taught the academic, the applied and the essentials levels, and I know which one is 'easiest'. My better news is that I've been hired, informally anyways, to teaching Computer Engineering at a Catholic School in Guelph. What the principal didn't tell me was that two of the three lines are split-level classes. I've never had that before, so this will be interesting. So I've got to move next month. I think I've found a place - the landlord is nice. The living room there looks great. I think it's good to have a female furnish a place, so long as I don't see any hot pink or lavander colours in my room. I have a parking pass, but because most of the human resources department of the Wellington Catholic District School Board seems to be on vacation, I won't have my papers ready for me to be signed until next week. That's okay I guess. I have to reacquaint myself with the 7497 controller, which one is the flip flop and which one is the counter? I have one month to revisit this. And set up 16 computers. And read the curriculum for three courses, and move... I'm feeling a little stressed about that, but I can't fret, because I have to deal with my online course right now. My online course *sigh*... the prof doesn't like me, the mentor doubts me, I'm lazy... etc. Other funny news was the interview to teach English in Hong Kong, sponsored by the HK government. What is the most funny part there is the first few questions they asked me. First they test my Cantonese, and question whether that my knowledge of the language is a detriment or not. Then.... "What are you going to do when the parents and the students expect a blond hair, blue-eyed teacher as their NET (Native-English Teacher) addresses them?" Crazy bluntness and rampant racism... I love Hong Kong. That's it for now... (Comment on this)
Monday, November 29th, 2004
1:00 am	I love supply teaching Another week, another interview that appears destined for me to fail. I mean, the odds are stacked against me. It's in Guelph. I don't know anything about Guelph?!! I don't even know the specifics of the job. I just know it's secondary mathematics. Supply teaching is getting very interesting. I am qualified for Computer Science and Mathematics for high school, but I have now taught Grade 10 Science, and grade 9 and 11 GIRLS Phys Ed. Now I am trying to be mature about this, but there are some things that students will make fun of - and there isn't much you can do. First period with the Grade 9 girls and we watched Nova - The Miracle of Life. Now some of you may remember this. And I believe it comes in various versions/couples/people naked on PBS. Some very interesting information - and now I know all I need to about conception. Second period I am to supervise the fitness circuit for grade 11 girls. That kind of explains inself - but where is the requisite T-shirt and BAGGY gym shorts? It was a little too form fitting. Third period lunch. Fourth period was mental health and a discussion on teenage suicide. Then an on-call half-period coverage for the teacher that I was covering. At least I get another $25... (Comment on this)
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2004
9:57 pm	Pissing in the wind So now I've just gone to another interview. I am in that waiting game state again. I want to be able to work. This position is for a Maternity leave. If I don't get this one I will probably be gearing up for the interview next month to teach English in Hong Kong. I don't know what else to really do. And in talking to my dad about it, I think I'll probably be looking at going back to school (again). I don't know how much more of this that I can take... So this weekend I'm going back to Mississauga to clean up the last of my things. My place there is done for by the end of the month. And I'm moving permanently back home now... (Comment on this)