Brent Dickson's Page

My Sr. Leadership students decided that they need some new Leadership swag, hoodies to be specific. The Grampster always reminds us to tell students "not my job, you figure it out". So I did. They started to work on a design for the new hoodies. They called me over to show me their design. It was awesome. You just never know when something sticks....

An Amazing Lollipop Moment My Sr. Leadership students decided that they need some new Leadership swag, hoodies to be specific. The Grampster always reminds us to tell students “not my job, you figure it out”. So …

Centennial hosted our 2nd annual Culture Day this week. First a couple great moments shared and then some how to 🙂 A couple days before Culture Day I was feeling a bit frustrated pulling things together and wasn’t sure how much participation we would get. I shared this with a colleague and she told me a great story. After last year’s Culture Day a student in her class started wearing a hijab. ...

Filipino K-Popish music bringing students together Centennial hosted our 2nd annual Culture Day this week. First a couple great moments shared and then some how to :) A couple days before Culture Day I was feeling a bit frustrated pulling things t…

“Mr. Dickson, how do you pronounce poutine? Is it pooteeen or pootin?” There is about 10 minutes left in my Gr 10 student leadership class when a table of kids asks me this question. Now I am intrigued. But first I must crush their image of me as their all knowing teacher. My answer, “I don’t know?” But then I ask why they want to know. ...

Poutine & Perogies & Leadership “Mr. Dickson, how do you pronounce poutine? Is it pooteeen or pootin?” There is about 10 minutes left in my Gr 10 student leadership class when a table of kids asks me this question. Now I am int…

At the end of Semester 1 we held our Gr 9 tours. We are a 10-12 school so this is a chance to welcome the Class of 2026! 25 Leadership all stars came in to help guide tours on a day when there were no classes or exams. After a quick opening assembly they would take their group of Gr 9s to several different stations showing them what Centennial has to offer....

Turns Out Connection Matters! At the end of Semester 1 we held our Gr 9 tours. We are a 10-12 school so this is a chance to welcome the Class of 2026! 25 Leadership all stars came in to help guide tours on a day when there were…

Today is the deadline to hand in assignments for Semester 1 in my Leadership classes. For a few students this is when they try to figure out how to do most of the course assignments in two days. But yesterday I experienced a breath of fresh air. Jill (name changed) came up to my desk and asked if she could raise her Grade 11 Leadership grade from 99 to 100%. ...

99 becomes 100% Today is the deadline to hand in assignments for Semester 1 in my Leadership classes. For a few students this is when they try to figure out how to do most of the course assignments in two days. B…

It is 8:05 AM on a Friday. Leighton has come in early to be a Walmart greeter, welcoming students to school with some music and a wave. They see that we will be coloring today and gets excited. You see, once a semester students spend the first half of class coloring. Then the class puts their fine art up around the classroom like one large fridge door at home to properly display them. ...

Recruiting Quality Student Leaders with Crayons It is 8:05 AM on a Friday. Leighton has come in early to be a Walmart greeter, welcoming students to school with some music and a wave. They see that we will be coloring today and gets excited. Y…

A couple of weeks ago I was preparing my Leadership classes for the day retreat they would be going on. Here are some of the reminders I was giving: All 3 classes are coming Don't forget to wear your blue leadership shirt and bring a lunch or $ No I am not giving you directions to the church we booked. It is a 10 minute walk....

http://brentdickson.net/2022/09/27/awesomeness-is-back/

Awesomeness Is Back!!! A couple of weeks ago I was preparing my Leadership classes for the day retreat they would be going on. Here are some of the reminders I was giving: All 3 classes are coming Don’t forget to w…

Josh walked into the classroom, came right up to me (he is 6’5” and at least 275 lbs) and said “We are doing the Green Eggs & Ham challenge, right?!” You bet Josh. The previous week I read the class Green Eggs & Ham. I then challenged them to try something new during the next week. It could be life changing or something small. ...

http://brentdickson.net/2022/06/01/sam-i-am-sam-i-am-i-will-try-that-this-week-sam-i-am/

Sam I Am, Sam I Am … I will try that this week Sam I Am! Josh walked into the classroom, came right up to me (he is 6’5” and at least 275 lbs) and said “We are doing the Green Eggs & Ham challenge, right?!” You bet Josh. The previous week I read the…

Centennial Leadership was in the middle of running our 3rd Annual Rockathon Fundraiser for the Alberta Children’s Hospital. I had to leave the event for an hour and coach rugby on our field. Another teacher was left in charge just in case. When I returned the photo booth was up and running and students were rolling up and down our main hallway on scooters and trikes, right on schedule. ...

http://brentdickson.net/2022/05/15/mr-dickson-you-didnt-do-anything/

Mr. Dickson, You Didn’t Do Anything! Centennial Leadership was in the middle of running our 3rd Annual Rockathon Fundraiser for the Alberta Children’s Hospital. I had to leave the event for an hour and coach rugby on our field. Anoth…

A new staff appreciation student leadership group has been formed. What to do, what to do? They were looking for a creative idea and I had nothing. Most of our staff have been at Centennial for a while so they have seen it all. Then the minor leadership teacher miracle occurred. They came up with a great idea all on their own. ...

http://brentdickson.net/2022/02/28/staff-appreciation-wordle-high-impact-simple-and-some-bonus-pi/

Staff Appreciation Wordle – High Impact & Simple! (and some bonus Pi) A new staff appreciation student leadership group has been formed. What to do, what to do? They were looking for a creative idea and I had nothing. Most of our staff have been at Centennial for …

24 years teaching student leadership – can an old dog learn a new trick? Yes he can!!! Realistic Picture - I just got glasses! I always felt it was not worth it to fight with kids over cellphone use in class. I would constantly be reminding them and it would make me crazy. So other than the occasional reminder to put them away I quietly surrendered....

http://brentdickson.net/2022/01/25/no-cell-phone-distractions-in-leadership-class-a-silly-dream-or-my-new-reality/

No Cell Phone Distractions in Leadership Class? A Silly Dream or My New Reality? 24 years teaching student leadership – can an old dog learn a new trick?  Yes he can!!! Realistic Picture – I just got glasses! I always felt it was not worth it to fight with kids over …

One week left until Christmas Break – 5 days of school – everyone is tired. My Leadership 10s are running a Brown Bag Fundraiser. We have a number of students at school who experience a food deficit at home. We offer them food at lunch each day. There is no money to support this so we rely on fundraising. Each period 1 class is given an envelope with a fundraising goal based on the equivalent of $5 per person. ...

http://brentdickson.net/2021/12/14/the-5-days-of-school-left-brown-bag-fundraising-miracle/

The 5 Days Of School Left Brown Bag Fundraising Miracle One week left until Christmas Break – 5 days of school – everyone is tired. My Leadership 10s are running a Brown Bag Fundraiser. We have a number of students at school who experience a food defic…

I am on a Gondola full of people ready to descend. It is dark and we can see so many beautiful lights in the valley below. Unexpectedly, Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond starts to play, and everyone sings along … You never know when a Leadership lesson presents itself. My family was visiting Palm Springs and decided to take a Gondola ride. ...

http://brentdickson.net/2021/11/23/sweet-caroline-on-a-gondola-an-unexpected-leadership-lesson/

Sweet Caroline on a Gondola – an unexpected Leadership lesson I am on a Gondola full of people ready to descend. It is dark and we can see so many beautiful lights in the valley below. Unexpectedly, Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond starts to play, and everyon…

Ugh!!! Covid drags on. In Calgary and most of Alberta we are back to online school the last two weeks with at least two more to go. My guess is students may be out the rest of the school year. Alberta has the highest Covid positivity rate in North America. Feels like there is no end in sight. I got my vaccine two weeks ago but that emotional high has petered out....

http://brentdickson.net/2021/05/04/may-the-4th-be-with-you/

May The 4th Be With You Ugh!!! Covid drags on. In Calgary and most of Alberta we are back to online school the last two weeks with at least two more to go. My guess is students may be out the rest of the school year. Al…