Congratulations, Niyathi and Kylee!

Niyathi and Kylee have been named Joberts Bloggers of the Week for the the week of March 24. Congratulations to both of you! To read the comments, go to the previous JBOW blog post.

Now it's time to nominate people for the JBOW award for this week. Let's get blogging and tweeting!

Communication

It is so important to communicate about issues that we care about.

It's easier not to talk to people for a variety of reasons. We are tired. We are afraid of other peoples' reactions if we think they will disagree with what we want. We don't know how how to say what we're thinking or feeling.

It's important on the Joberts Team that we start with an agreement that it's okay to talk about anything. We have to remember to be respectful. We have to believe that we don't have to be afraid of getting emotionally hurt when we share things - that no one will make fun of us for saying something, or that we won't lose friends because we are honest. As long as we learn to share our thoughts and feelings with kind voice and kind words, we cannot fail.

We we share our thoughts and feelings, we get them out. We free these emotions so they don't bother us on the inside. We feel liberated and light. We are happy. We  are out true selves.

Yesterday, during the Disability Awareness workshop, we were able to discuss many sensitive issues. I was very proud of how our community of 56 was patient and kind as we learned about disabilities that we can both see and cannot see. I was impressed how people shared things they never had shared before in a spirit of understanding, compassion, empathy, and love.

Disability Awareness for Life

Answer these questions in the comment section:

1. What is something that you learned at the Disability Awareness Workshop? Explain in at least three complete sentences.

2. What did you learn about empathy and compassion? Explain in at least three complete sentences.

3. A Joberts students said today, "This was a life-changing event for me." How has this experience changed your life? Explain in at least three complete sentences.

Questions from and for Michigan Lawmakers

Answer these questions with your PSA Team. This is what you may be asked tomorrow by lawmakers:

1. Why are PSA's effective?
2. Where did you get the idea to create it?
3.  How will this help prevent climate change?
4. What will you do next to continue the work?

Now, create at least three questions that you may ask lawmakers. For example,

              What ideas do you have to preserve natural resources?

Decide the order of the following jobs for your team tomorrow. Who will do what and when?

Communicator

Materials manager

Photographer

Videographer

Happy Birthday, Mr. Joe!

I made brownies to pass out today for both classes to celebrate my birthday. I was so glad I did. It's always fun to pass out a treat to recognize the sweetness of the day you were born and the joy of being alive. Big smiles!

Today we had a videoconference with Abby Schantz,who is an intern at Riehl Solutions, a public relations firm in Lansing. She talked about our upcoming visit on Thursday. Very exciting.

Jobs for Lansing Trip

Which job would you like and why?

Communicator
Materials Manager
Technology Coordinator
Assistant
Greeter
Photographer
Videographer

History on Hold

History on Hold

This was the headline in the Detroit Free Press this morning as the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay in the federal judge Bernard Friedman's decision to overturn Michigan's ban on gay marriage. This is very interesting and very confusing. First, in 2004, there was a vote put before all the people of Michigan  called a referendum. In that referendum, the majority of the people voted that same-sex marriage should not take place in Michigan. Then a same-sex couple filed a law suit against the state of Michigan claiming that they should be allowed to be married so their kids could have two parents who were legally married. The judge in that case ruled on Friday that the the 2004 ban was against the Constitution of the United States, which is the highest law of the country.

In the USA, though, when a person loses certain lawsuits, they can appeal the decision to a higher court The state of Michigan, who lost the lawsuit, appealed the losing decision to a higher court asking that the higher court, called the U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio, stay the order to overturn the referendum. That means that Judge Friedman's decision is on pause until this Wednesday, when the higher court will decide whether Judge Friedman's ruling was correct or not. If the higher court decides it was correct, then same-sex couples will be allowed to get married. If the court decides it was incorrect, then the two women who brought the lawsuit in the first place, who want to be legally married, can appeal the case to the highest court in the country, the United States Supreme Court in Washington D.C.

In the meantime, between the time of Judge Rosen's original decision on Friday and Saturday afternoon when the stay was issued, dozens of same-sex couples got married across the state of Michigan at county courthouses, like the Oakland County Courthouse. Their marriages were legal when they were performed, but now they are in legal "limbo" which means they're not technically legal until a court finally decides whether same-sex marriage is legal in Michigan or not.

Congratulations, I'Yana and Jordyn!

I'Yana and Jordyn have been named Joberts Bloggers of the Week for the the week of March 17. Congratulations to both of you! To read the comments go to the previous blog JBOW blog post.

Now it's time to nominate people for the JBOW award for this week. Let's get blogging and tweeting!

Fantastic Friday!

The Cubs lost to Bloomfield Hills by 10, and as I write this, Blackhawks are losing by 20 in the final at halftime to Muskegon, who is undefeated. This was an awesome basketball season for the Cubs. I am very proud of our team and their efforts.

I am even more proud of the Joberts team, who did an amazing job during our We Day webcast yesterday afternoon. All of you know how it went down, and I am still stunned by the gift of extra cash. How amazing! I am thrilled that we are able to help make a difference in people's lives. That is what life is all about.

Right now, I'm working at my "office", the Starbucks on Telegraph and 12 Mile, where I work while Zack is at tutoring. I am the luckiest dad and teacher anywhere!

So Psyched!

Today is an amazing and unique day in my school and personal life. We are going to be part of WE Day for Project COPE, which is going to be mind-blowing. I can't wait to experience the excitement of being with thousands of other change-agents from around the world. I am so geeked. It will be pure awesome.

Today, Zack has no school because he's going to the Breslin Center on the campus of MSU to cheer on the Cubs of UDJ against Bloomfield Hills High School in the state basketball semi-finals. I will be listening to the live webcast stream, starting at 2:50. I sure hope the Cubs win so I can go to the finals tomorrow back at the Brez. Go Cubs!!

What an exciting day!

Cubs to Breslin!

They did it! In an amazing finish that left the crowd of over 5,000 fans spellbound, the Cubs of UD Jesuit defeated the Eagles of Romulus High School by a point last night, 54-53. Cassius Winston had an off-night which forced teammates Noah King and Gary Collins to step up and fulfill roles that proved that UD is a great team. They are deep, they work together, and they play tough defense.

I as psyched to be there with three friends from the class of "86, my father-in-law, and of course Zack, who is pumped to skip school with all of his classmates and head to East Lansing. Tip off is 2:50pm at the Brez.

I believe, especially with the close recent wins, including teh regional final against Cass with six men on the court, that this team is a team of destiny. Destined for greatness. They have two wiuns to go to reach their destiny...the school's first-ever basketball state championship.

Read more:

M-Live
Detroit Free Press  pic
Detroit Free Press Article
Detroit News

Speakers for We Day on Friday

Would you like to represent BCS on Friday and be one of our SKYPE speakers? You have to feel comfortable to a large group about Project COPE.

If so, explain in at least three sentences why you would be a good candidate.

Book Club guidelines

1. List 4-5 names of people you would like to be in a book club with.
2. Think about a book or short story at an appropriate reading level for you that you would like to read.

Cubs in Quarters

Today is an exciting day in UD Jesuit basketball history. For the first time in the history of the school, the Cubs will play in the quarter finals of the state basketball tournament. That means there are only eight. Exams left in the tournament who are vying for the  class A state championship. UD plays Romulus, a team they already beat a couple weeks ago. That game, of course, means nothing as the two teams will have to bring their best skills tonight. Romulus won the state tournament last year, so they know what it takes to succeed in high-pressure games.

The game tonight will be played at Calihan Hall, one of my favorite places in the world to watch basketball. If the cubs win tonight! they will advance to the semi-finals at the Breslin Center at MSU on Friday. The championship game is on Saturday. Zack is excited, because if the cubs win tonight! there will be no school on Friday so everyone who wants to can go to the game. It would be played on Friday at noon. I would not be able to go. 

But first things first. The. Cubs need to definitely bring their A game tonight to be be successful against a high-flying, up-tempo Rimulus team. It stands to be an awesome matchup between two tough teams. As always, Go Cubs!

Good Morning!

Choose five posts from the Global Forum trip. Read them and look at the pictures. Answer the questions in at least three complete sentences. Explain why you think what you think. Answer only the posts you haven't already answered.

Why am I below the door of the plane on the way home?

Why are these people smiling?

Whose flag is this? Why do people care about it?

A Famous Place

What is this famous place and what is it known for? Why?

Who is this Royal Highness?

He addressed all of us at our closing ceremony.

Recycling in Barcelona

What do you think goes in these bins?

My Learning Activity Team

This is my Learning Activity team. We are all from different countries. We researched gender equality in all of our countries and found that women and girls are not treated fairly in any of our countries. Why do you think that is true? What do you think we decided to do about it?

Soccer in the City

How is this practice scene familiar and diffferent?

Fast food: What is similar and different?

How are these familiar objects repurposed? Have you ever done anything like this?

Does this look like something you'd like to eat? If so, which flavor?

How does this basketball court look different?

Check out some video

What do you put on your fries?

What is this? What would it be used for?

What does this look like?

What is this? Where is it? Why is it important?

What does this mean? Where is it? Why is it here?

What are these men doing?

What building am I standing in front of?

What kind of park is this?

Art or vandalism? What do you think?

How is this gas station different from ours?

Whose flag is this? Why is it important?

Translation, please.

What avenida am I on that cuts through all of Barcelona?

What is Detroit about to get that is in the background?

The Offerts

These kids were able to attend the Global Forum and present their project with their teacher. Notice their name, "The Offerts". What do you think their project is about? Can you imagine where they're from?

What animal is this and why was it created?

What is this banner? Why was it created?