Day 15: Crawford Lake

Yesterday, students visited a native village at Crawford Lake. On a fairly long bus ride, students took the time to rest up or play cards with their friends. Once they arrived, students met their tour guide who took them around the area. 

Carrie, their guide, took the students for a light hike around Crawford Lake. Students learned about the history of the lake, the Crawford family, as well as what the First Nations people used some of the plants and and trees for (medicine, tea, dental floss, etc.). The hike was relaxing and a nice way for students to learn while enjoying the scenery and the nature around them.

Students walking along the trail

Remy and Robbie in front of the peaceful Crawford Lake

Students and staff posing for a picture by Crawford Lake

Remy posing for a picture

Shirley, Frank, and Sam by the lake

The students with their guide

Returning to the main building, students had lunch for an hour before their afternoon program. In the afternoon, students were given the opportunity to try a popular First Nations snack - cornbread with maple syrup. Students enjoyed their sweet treat and before long, headed back outside with their guide.

Students learning about the popular First Nations snack - cornbread and maple syrup

Students returned to the outdoors where they visited one of the villages were the First Nations people once lived. There, they learned the roles of men and women, and even played some First Nations games. The students particularly enjoyed playing lacrosse (Canada's national summer sport). They also learned how to play stick challenge and 3, 5, 7. The weather was hot, but the students had fun.

Listening to the guide explain the different games

Minnie, Michael, Daniel Wang,Robbie, Remy, and David on a wooden bridge

Michelle, David, Remy, and Robbie in the long house

Students returned to the building and had some time to browse through the gift shop. Some had cold refreshing treats, while others bought some souvenirs to bring home with them.

Day 14: Toronto Eaton Centre

On Tuesday, students met up at the school and took a stroll over to the North York Centre where they took the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) down to Dundas Station. There, they split off into four groups, each group with staff supervision. Students enjoyed browsing and shopping around the large mall, stopping at different stores and buying souvenirs along the way.

The group of boys by the fountain inside the Eaton Centre

At noon, students met up as a large group and enjoyed lunch together. Most of the students ordered food from the food court, trying out some Western as well as Eastern food. Some of the students wasted no time and played cards while they waited for others to finish their lunches.

After lunch, some of the groups, with the accompaniment of staff members went outside of the mall to Yonge-Dundas Square. They took pictures, played in the fountains, all the while soaking up the sun.

Kyle, Michael, and Sam playing by the fountains

Michael and Sam by the cool water

The group of boys at Yonge-Dundas Square

Returning indoors once again, some groups visited the AMC building across from Yonge-Dundas Square where they had some cold snacks and drinks. After refueling, some of the groups continued their shopping before having to return home by TTC. 

Day 12: The Toronto Zoo

Today, students had the opportunity to visit one of Toronto's attractions, The Toronto Zoo.  They spent the day walking around the different sections of the zoo that represent different parts of the world to visit the animals.

Students arriving at the zoo

First, students went to the land of the Indo-Malaya.  Some of the animals they saw there include tigers and hippopotami.

After, students walked through part of the African Savanna, where many students linked the animals they saw there to the Lion King.  In the Savanna, they saw hogs, African penguins, lions, zebras, and giraffes.

Hog 

Students watching the giraffe

African penguins

After walking through half of the savanna, they continued their journey towards Canadian Domain.  Here, student took a nice warm hike towards the grizzly bears.  On the way, they saw the raccoons and the Canadian lynx.  The hike drained the students and they were very hot and hungry.  Students headed back towards the main part of the zoo, where they stopped at Pizza Pizza to buy lunch and eat.

Students taking a breather after their long walk

Students stopping for lunch

After taking a lunch break and refueling, students began their walk back to the front gates of the zoo.  This time, students walked through the larger part of the savanna to get back.  They saw tigers, pelicans, rhinoceroses, and elephants.  They also took some time to walk through the African Rainforest Pavilion, where they saw snakes, lizards, fish, and gorillas.

Kyle, Juncheol, Cindy, Tina, and Vicky in front of the large fish tank

Juncheol and his gorilla friend

Teacher May fanning Robbie, David, and Remy

Before heading back to the school, students stopped at the gift shop to shop for souvenirs.

Day 11: In the Classroom

Students came in the morning, completely exhausted from two weeks full of activities.

After journalling about their trip to Niagara Falls, both classes spent the morning in preparation for their final performance on the last day.  The junior class worked on their ABC train and reciting their poem, while the senior class rehearsed their play by practicing and memorizing their lines.

After lunch, the junior class began the afternoon by finishing up their journals and scrapbooks, while the senior class headed to the gym for some basketball, soccer, and volleyball.  Later in the afternoon, the junior class joined the senior class in the gym.  Towards the end of the day, when all the students were getting really tired, they ended the day by watching the movie, The Mummy.

Day 10: Niagara Falls

Today, students and staff met at the school earlier than usual to accommodate for the long trip to Niagara Falls.  Students and staff were welcomed by an air conditioned coach bus, a much needed accompaniment for our long trip on a day with record breaking heat.  We had a tour guide who came with us for the day.  During the two hour bus ride to Niagara-on-the-lake, most students and staff took the time to rest up.

Coach bus awaiting our arrival at Earl Haig.

After sitting and sleeping on the bus for two hours, it was a relief to get out of the bus to stretch and walk around downtown Niagara-on-the-lake.  There, students were able to buy some homemade ice cream and shop around the boutiques along the street.

Walking towards the ice cream shop, Cows

Minnie, Sam, and Daniel Zhang ordering their ice cream

Michael posing with his ice cream and the cow

Students outside the boutique in downtown, Niagara-on-the-lake

After visiting downtown, students boarded the bus and headed towards the Kurtz Orchards Farm and Market Place, a farmers market filled with fresh fruit and jam/dressing samples for everyone to try.

Our next stop was at Niagara's famous floral clock, a beautiful clock constructed entirely of flowers.  Students had the opportunity to take pictures of the clock before hopping back on the bus to our next stop.

Students in front of the floral clock

Students hopped back onto the bus as we drove over to the Niagara Whirlpool Gorge where they marveled at the spectacular view from above.

Daniel Zhang, Sam, and Michael above the Whirlpool Gorge

Finally, students reached their highly anticipated final destination, Niagara Falls around lunch hour.  Students split off into two groups to find a place to eat on Cliffton Hill, a street full of different types of attractions and fast food restaurants.  After lunch, students head towards the falls to take some pictures of the beautiful falls.

Daniel Wang and Kyle 

Remy, David, and Michelle

Jasmine and Jane 

Students in front of the falls

After a quick stop to take pictures of the falls, the students walked towards the attraction, Maid of the Mist, a boat tour that takes one on the waters and right up next to the falls.  Dressed in the blue ponchos the students were given, students really enjoyed the view of the falls from eye level and they especially enjoyed getting wet with the mist and water from the falls.

Some of the boys on Maid of the Mist

Posing in front of the falls

View of the falls on Maid of the Mist

After the boat tour on Maid of the Mist, students had the opportunity to shop around in the gift shop before boarding the bus and heading home.  It was a long, sunny, and tiring day and in the two hour bus ride back to Toronto, most students slept to re-energize for the next day.

All in all, students had a great experience traveling to Niagara Falls to visit one of the most beautiful scenic views in the world.

Day 9 - In the Classroom

In the morning, both the junior and senior class wrote in their journals and scrapbooks about their day at Wonderland.  Classes spent time discussing what they saw and did at the park.  After, students went to the computer lab to finish presenting their powerpoint presentations on aspects of Canadian culture.

During their lunch hour, students had the opportunity to play some water games outside.  They played with water balloons and sponges.  The weather was hot and students really enjoyed the refreshing water.

Playing water balloon toss

Playing sponge toss

Students trying to soak each other with the water

In the afternoon, the junior class spent some time drawing and colouring the posters for their ABC train.  They also practiced their poem and O Canada for their final performance.

Jasmine working on her poster for the letter V - Vortex

Amber working on her poster of CN tower

Daniel Zhang working on his poster for Wonderland

Daniel Wang, Michael, and Ronnie working on their poster for Ontario Place

Junior class practicing "O Canada"

The senior class enjoying some down time

A group of girls from the senior group

The boys having friendly competition

Day 8: Canada's Wonderland

Today, students went on their long awaited field trip to Canada's Wonderland, an amusement park.  They have been very excited for this trip and it was everything they expected.  The day was full of sun, excitement, and thrill.

Staff and students with Snoopy at the beginning of the day

Once we arrived at the park, TDSB staff split the students into four groups, each group accompanied by a staff member - two groups who wanted to go on the big roller coasters and two groups who either didn't want to go on rides or wanted to go on medium roller coasters.  The four groups went off on their separate ways to explore the park and go on the rides they liked.  Each group went on different rides, including roller coasters, spinning rides, and water rides.

Waiting in line for a ride

Michael, Minnie, Ronnie, Robbie, Juncheol, and Frank waiting in line for a ride, filled with smiles and energy

Amber and Michelle up in the air!

Juncheol and Frank waiting for the ride to start

Minnie and Ronnie excited for the ride to begin

One of the rides the students went on

Another ride the students went on

Almost the end of the day, but students were still full of cheer

Jasmine, Jane, Vicky, Cindy, and Kyle taking a break in the shade

Each group ate lunch on their own, with the food ranging from pizza to fries to hamburgers and hotdogs.  Many students even enjoyed some cold and refreshing ice cream.  Some went to get henna tattoos and others were able to visit the gift shop to buy souvenirs if they wanted to.

Cindy and Vicky playing one of the games

Tina getting her henna tattoo

After a long day out in the sun, students were very tired, and many took a short nap on the bus ride home.

Daniel Wang

Remy

Sam

Although the day was quite hot, the students had a lot of fun walking around the park and going on the rides.