I was wondering why no one was commenting on the photos from Science World! They just stayed uploaded and saved, but were never actually posted! Apologies everyone! They are now posted in the Pictures section!

Business First: Don't forget to upload your 5-10 pictures from the break to your website, or to email them to mackenziedragons@gmail.com

New Year's Wish Second: I post the same message every year for New Year's, mostly because I have yet to find a better one. Not from lack of trying mind you, it is just a very good message that I think really resonates with how we work in our school and in my classroom in particular. It comes from one of my favourite authors, Neil Gaiman, who you might know from books he wrote for people around your age such as Coraline (which is also a movie) or The Graveyard Book. He had this to say, and I find it quite fitting:

And for this year, my wish for each of us is small and very simple.

And it's this.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.


I'm ready to make some new mistakes and to try to learn from them as I go. Hopefully you are too!

Happy New Year and see you tomorrow,

​Mr. Martin

Have you posted or emailed your 5-10 holiday photos to mackenziedragons@gmail.com ? I have mine ready - and I still have time to add a few more!

The break so far has been just as busy as the school year, but it is a different kind of busy. I am definitely spending more time with family. We went to Van Dusen gardens to see the lights yesterday and went ice skating in Tsawwassen today. Tomorrow, I will be helping prepare the Ukranian Christmas Eve dinner (I'm not Ukranian, but my wife's family is and, whether they will admit it or not, I am the best cook of the bunch and they need me!). I will also be making breakfast on Christmas Day and Turkey dinner as well!
What have you all been up to so far? I hope you are finding some time for some fun!

We have made it to the end of school for 2019. Thank you for all the lovely gifts - I definitely feel spoiled!

I will be updating the website over the break with some pictures showing what I am getting up to. I'll try to answer if you leave comments, so please check in!

We do have one bit of homework over the break. I am hoping that everyone can take some pictures from your winter break. If you can post 5-10 to your website, or email them to mackenziedragons@gmail.com we will use them for a mini-project in January. 

I hope everyone has a safe, fun and relaxing break! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! See you all on Monday, January 6th!