Week of Oct.31- Nov.4

To Whom it May Concern,

As I was leaving my classroom on Friday, feeling good about the productive day at school I had and looking forward to my own weekend off (yes, I have a life outside of school too), I was quite hurt and dismayed to discover that someone from your class had ripped off my classes info sheet from my door window, scrunched it up, and then purposely stuck it between my door sign and the glass. I wondered who would bother to do something so disrespectful, needless, and foolish?? I felt VERY INSULTED that someone from your class would do that to something of mine. Why? Why would someone bother to do that in the first place? While I am on this topic I might as well mention that over the past week some people from your class have taken it upon themselves to again, purposely rip off  the desk numbers on several desks, after I expressly and nicely asked you not to at the beginning of the semester. It takes a surprisingly long time to print, cut those out and tape them to each individual desk and I've done it for a good reason for my seating plans. That, along with the garbage and scrunched up balls of paper left on the floor that I picked up after your class left on Friday made me really angry.You have no idea how much of my own time I spend preparing for your classes. I don't get paid extra for this. I simply do it because I want to, so it is especially disappointing when students do things like this. Do you think I have nothing better to do than pick up after you and repair/replace what you have damaged? I work very hard to make the classroom nice for my students, to stay organized, to be a good teacher, to have materials ready for you, and to guide you through your entrepreneurial ventures. I really hope that whoever has done these things realizes how disrespectful, insulting, and especially immature it is to deface other people's property. I would like to think you have enough respect for both yourself and for me to not let this happen again.

This week:

Monday

Ch.4 Test- moved to Thursday Nov.3rd 

Surveys

Tuesday
Surveys

Wednesday-Friday
Tabulating survey data
Calculating results
Calculating costs and contacting suppliers

* Thursday double-block- Ch.4 Test

Sincerely,
Ms. Sundin

Week of Oct.24-28

Hi Everyone,

Once again I would like to commend you all on a job well done last week with your Dragon's Den presentations! They were great and I really enjoyed them! :)

Last week we also formed our Junior Achievenment companies and I went over the evaluation and format of the Student Venture program in terms of individual participation, group participation, and what is due.

Individual Evaluation

• Daily Activity Log
• Completed JA workbook
• Teamwork/Participation mark
• + Ongoing textbook worksheets/tests

Group Evaluation

• Business Plan
• Advertising Techniques (posters, brochure, fliers, commercial, website, etc.)
• Sales Presentation
• Final Report

* Remember- in order to get 100% of the group mark, you must be in attendance and participationg 100% of the time!!!

Once you formed your companies you were brainstorming potential product/service ideas, checking prices online, and trying to determine the best idea for your company to sell. You should have completed pg.14-21 in your JA workbook on Friday and should now be starting your market research. This includes determining your target market in terms of size and demographics, as well as creating a valid survey to help assess your product/service idea's chances of success. This is a very busy time in starting your business, but it is one of THE most important parts of starting a business!!! I will help both groups this week and guide you in the right direction.

In the meantime, last week we also read through Ch.4 of the textbook. You were assigned worksheets for 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3. 4.1 and 4.2 should have already been completed and handed in on Friday, and 4.3 is due Monday. We will quickly take some time in class to correct those, and then over the course of the week we will also take some time to go over Ch.6, which ever so conveniently deals with Market Research!!! (There are no coincidences here :P)

Remember now that you are in your companies, attendance counts more than ever and so does punctuality!! (Yes, Harman and Ahmed, I am referring to you!!!) ;)

See you in class...BEFORE the bell!

Week of Oct. 17-21

Hello Grade 12's,

Last Friday we started our Dragon's Den Simulation presentations, which went really well! I was really impressed with the unique and creative product ideas you came up with. Good work! I look forward to seeing the remaining presentations, which we will finish first thing on Monday. There are 3 groups left to present. Be prepared to present no matter what....after all, you've had an extra 2 days now to get ready! ;)

Following our Dragons' Den presentations we need to get a move on Chapter 4 in the text. This chapter is entitled "Select a Type of Ownership". It focuses on:

• 4.1 Run an Existing Business 
• 4.2 Own a Franchise or Start a Business
• 4.3 Choose a Legal Form

This is a really important chapter. Since Friday is a Pro-D day this means we have more to do and less time to do it so we will be moving fast! It comes at a perfect time though, as you embark on your own companies. Yes, that's right. This week we will also form our own Junior Achievement companies and begin the brainstorming process on what product or service idea you may wish to sell! This is a very important week so DO NOT BE ABSENT or you will not get a say in which company you will be in. Attendance has always been important, but as you form your companies, attendance and participation will never be more important!
More on all of this in class so see you there!

Week of Oct.11-14

Greeting Gr.12's,

Last week we finished Chapter 3 on the economy (market vs. command), supply and demand, and the government's role in our society (via taxes). You will have a chapter test on Wednesday Oct.12th! Don't forget! To help you study, read the textbook, read the Ch.3 Chapter Summary, go through the Assessment questions in the text to review, and study the worksheets we did in class ( 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3).

Dragon's Den Simulation
Following the textbook work we did last week, we learned about Dragon's Den, a Canadian TV show where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to the 'dragons' in the hopes of receiving capital investment to expand their ventures! If you were absent from class (not naming names, but you know who you are!) then it is strongly advised that you check out the following link to the Dragon's Den website and watch a few episodes to familiarize yourself with the show's platform.

 

Dragon's Den website:

http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/ 

You can also take a quick view one of my favorite Dragon's Den episodes from a couple of years ago for "Atomic Tea":

Group Project
On Friday following the show everyone formed groups to embark on our own Dragon's Den simulation! The 'Entrepreneurs' are to come up with a fictional, yet realistic business idea, and then create a plausible storyline, with numbers based on your hypothetical business. Be prepared by creating a business name, logo, pictures of your product/service idea, and make any necessary props for your presentation date. We will aim to present in our double-block this Thursday, or Friday at the latest, depending on how well you use your class time.  You will need to follow the show's platform. You must be prepared to answer the questions posed by our own 'Dragons'. You will be graded on how well you present, the quality of your business idea, and how prepared you are (how well you've thought through your hypothetical business) to answer the Dragon's questions.

As everyone in class has already formed their groups, the people who were absent on Thursday/Friday will be in groups together:

Josh, Jason, Arvin, and Gurminder

and

Lacey, Manu, Harman and Nufil

Ensure you are in class everyday this week (and all days going forward for that matter- skipping will NOT be tolerated!), otherwise you will let your group down and not get a mark for your presentation. Let's put the "Present" in Presentation!  (Yes, that's right, that was an intended pun from a former English teacher! )

I expect to see EVERYONE in class .....ON TIME! ;)

PS. Here is an interesting article on Steve Jobs- the founder of Apple, entitled "The life and death of a true entrepreneur" that you might find interesting.

http://www.thetimesnews.com/articles/jobs-48450-steve-life.html

Week of Oct.3-7

Greeting Gr.12's,

I hope all of you are checking this site for information!! (A special shout out to Harman, because I know he is sure to 'check the blog!' ) Don't forget that we will be having the Ch.2 Test on Communication Skills, Math Skills, and Problem-solving Skills on Monday Oct.3rd.
BRING A CALCULATOR for the test!!

Following the test we will be starting Ch.3 in the textbook on business and the economy. We will learn about different economy systems (namely capitalism and communism), supply and demand how that affects prices, and how the government taxes businesses and individuals, and effect that has on entrepreneurs. We will also watch a video on Capitalism. Be sure to bring your textbook to class and pay attention, because you can expect a test on Ch.3 to follow soon!

See you in class...ON TIME!!