Kelsey: What school do you teach at and what grade?

Donelle: I teach grades 10, 11 and 12 at BRACE (formerly know as PACE).

Kelsey: What is your favourite course to teach?

Donelle: Hmm, I teach math 10/20, social 30 and Phys ed 10-30 and I like all the courses for different reasons. I can’t decide on a favourite,

Kelsey: What is a challenge of your job?

Donelle: Because we are an alternate school, some students are just online and it can be a challenge to engage them in their courses and to get to know them.

Kelsey: Where did you go to school and what courses did you take?

Donelle: I went to school at the University of Alberta where I graduated with a degree in Secondary Education. I have a major in CTS: Business Admin and a minor in PE so I had to take education, phys ed and business courses.

Kelsey: Where have you taught at?

Donelle: I have taught at BRACE for 10 years, so I’ve been here since I graduated, though I did teach at the women’s prison in Edmonton for a month prior to starting at BRACE.

Kelsey: How is maternity leave and do you miss working?

Donelle: Mat leave is the best! I absolutely love getting to be home with my daughter. I don’t miss work yet but I do miss seeing me work friends daily.

Kelsey: Do you like summer school teaching or regular school?

Donelle: I prefer regular school. Summer school condenses courses into 4 weeks. It’s a huge commitment for high school students and very rushed.

Kelsey: How many students are in the classes you teach?

Donelle: On average there are about 20-30 students in each of my classes.

Kelsey: Where did you grow up and how was your childhood?

Donelle: I grew up on an acreage near Beaumont. My childhood was lovely. It was filled with lots of sports!

Kelsey: Do you have any siblings?

Donelle: I have a younger sister, Whitney.

Kelsey: What are your hobbies, what do you do in your spare time?

Donelle: My main hobby is ringette. I like to do activities with friends and family in my spare time. Some of my favourites are golf, running and snowboarding. I also love to get away and travel.

The 1st weekend in September was my dad’s band’s concert *The Baking Soda Boys* at the Bailey Theatre on Friday night. Unfortunately, my mom and I were in emergency room for the evening and night because I was getting over being sick. I was having UTI symptoms and yes, I had a UTI! It was a long night for us but I got some medicine early in the morning that next day so I was feeling pretty good for the visit with my uncle Wayne and auntie Gail! On Saturday afternoon we painted our paintings that we bought from Michaels in Lloydminster while we were there visiting in early August! My picture was of an aquarium. Uncle Wayne’s picture was of a city in Greece and my auntie Gail’s painting was the Eiffel Tower in Paris! My mom painted some mountains and fields .

The next weekend in September we had our backyard summer party on a Saturday afternoon! We played outdoors games, some people were playing board games on the deck and everyone brought a dessert to share with everyone. I made some juice!

On Monday evening we went on a nature walk with Rose Club and other people were making a leaf craft at the office. It was a pretty night to be outdoors. It was my auntie Gail’s birthday so I mailed her a birthday card and it came in the mail on her birthday!

On Wednesday morning a group from Centra Cam went to the fire hall for fire safety week for a client development day. We had a PowerPoint presentation and a tour of the fire hall. We also got to try to put out the fire from the stove with a fire extinguisher.

On Friday afternoon Mary Ann and I went on a walk around the lake! Saturday afternoon I went for nails and got some pumpkins design on my ring finger for fall and then we went to Walmart for a hook for a sign that I got from a spring bingo prize .

I had a nasty cold and flu again. My parents were gone for their 30th anniversary in PEI for 10 days straight and I was sick for most of their holiday. On Sunday afternoon I got to meet a baby girl who was four months old, Marlow Queen and interviewed her parents Joshua and Donnelle with their jobs for next months blog! They brought some pumpkin spice ice cappuccinos and some Tim bits. My mom made her some baby moccasins and she got Marlow a flowery outfit.

The Thanksgiving Weekend started with bingo and a meeting to discuss events for November and December calendars with our friends from Rose Club on Friday night. I got a bingo and I won a light to put into my pumpkin. Rose Club carved pumpkins on Saturday afternoon.

I went home for fall family pictures and then we had dinner together on Saturday evening ! We had corn bread, macaroni and beets with Ceasar salad and ribs, apple pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert . For Thanksgiving Sunday we went to Grandpa Raymond and Shandy’s house for an early dinner, there was Ham, Pineapple , Turkey, Stuffing , Vegetables , and Salad and a berry crumble with vanilla ice cream for dessert. My mom made sweet potato casserole and brought cranberries. Everything was delicious. We decided that we might have Christmas around the 21or the 22nd of December so Joel and Ashley could go to Saskatchewan for Christmas. We took some family pictures in front of the fire place.

On Thursday night, my mom and I went to the charity auction event for The Camrose Association For Community Living! They had a fantastic dinner and there were delightful desserts. I got to share some mini cheesecakes with my mom. There were live appearances from the SingAble group and they were amazing . Some people were able to make crafty stuff for an art wall for the auction , a silent auction and they had a silent auction online that you could bid on things!This year’s theme was Light , Camera & Action, You were supposed to dress up fancy! I made a beautiful pumpkin made out of buttons on wood for the art wall, someone bought it for $100 dollars. This event was at the Camrose Casino and it was a wonderful experience. Camrose Association was great for me growing up, I would go to Kandu Summer Camp in the summer months of going to school, I was able to attend their program for the children. I remember going to arts and crafts nights, getting to go on field trips on Saturdays and going to sleepovers. Now that I am an adult and in my late twenties I am allowed to go to Rose Club at CAFCL! Rose Club plans activities and events, for the months there are different events that we do, we have crafts nights, birthday bashes , scavenger hunts and nature walks! Camrose Association for Community Living seems like family to me and my family. Everyone is welcoming and friendly to everyone who comes and goes out of their doors. I would highly recommend Kandu Summer camp if you have a special needs child in your family! They would love it and they would have lots of fun.

On Saturday afternoon we decorated our living room for Halloween! On Sunday afternoon my auntie Gail came for a visit from Lloydminster. We made some cards and we went to Winners for a bit of shopping. I got some chocolates and a white sweater, my auntie Gail was looking for hair spray, hand soap and she found a jacket. She said that she might come in November and we’re going to make Christmas cards! We also discussed a couple of ideas for Christmas. Maybe we could do gingerbread man, decorate gingerbread houses , or find a Christmas craft on Pinterest. We even discussed that maybe we could do a Chinese gift exchange. It was a wonderful visit and I can’t wait for the next time we visit again!

This Halloween I dressed up as Business lady, if I had a school presentation . At Centra cam there was a Halloween party. In the morning I played the monsters bean bag toss and I also did some of the cross word sheets, Halloween colouring pages and Halloween word searches. We danced in the morning and afternoon as well as there were people who were digging for apples.

Come back for more activities and more Christmas festivities. If possible could you please send me your Christmas traditions and your past Christmas pictures for another special blog. I hope you have enjoyed your fall season as much as I did!