The Physics Badge

We had a great time doing the physics badge. We did an experiment with friction, using a car and a ramp and some cornmeal and oil and water - we did an experiment using balls and timers - we put water on quarters and checked what soap did to the surface tension - we had an experiment using prisms and lasers and each Guide got to keep a pair of "rainbow glasses" that show the colours in light. We checked out various lenses and looked at things through them - and we were very lucky indeed because Poppy was able to bring in some stage lights to demonstrate the properties of additive light!

All girls who were present earned their physics badge.

For next week:

We are having our final holiday party. Please bring:
a) a potluck dish to share
b) some non-perishable food for the foodbank
c) a smile!

We will be giving out badges that have been earned so far this year. For some of you that will mean a lot of sewing over the holidays - well done!

Don't forget your indoor shoes at this snowy time of year.

Badge Testing, A Simple Craft, and Program Work

We had an interesting evening this week. We did badge testing for those who were interested, and those badges will be presented at the Holiday Party, along with all others earned this first "term" before the winter break. For those girls who were not testing, we had a craft experimenting with colour blending on leaves made of the same paper that coffee filters are made of, markers, and water. It's a continuation of the experiment that we did for the chemistry badge in ink chromatography.

After the badge testing, we had a discussion of age-appropriate issues and some of the things that girls thought could be done to help with these things. We passed the "talking stick" around and did some drama exercises as well. This helps us to complete our program work so that we will be able to finish the You and Guiding section by the Holiday Party.

For next week:

We are going to do the Physics Badge, as well as few other bits and bobs. Please remember your outdoor shoes.

First Aid

This evening Poppy worked with us on First Aid. We learned about what to do in many different situations, created our own emergency kits, did skits to show that we know what to do, and had some interesting discussions. All girls who were present will receive their First Aid badge, as well as the program component.

For Next Week

• Please remember to bring your indoor shoes. You can't run in the gym without them, and you can't wear snowy or wet outdoor shoes in the gym.
• The camping form for our Spring Division Camp went home today. It's a preliminary form so that we know approximately how many girls will attend. More specific information will be available later. If you don't have your form, you can download it from the sidebar.
• December 1 (next week) is badge testing. Make sure that you bring whatever is needed to show that you have done the appropriate work.
• December 8 we will have Science Night II and do the Physics Badge.
• December 15 is our Holiday Party, the last meeting for 2008. Further information will follow.

Peace Badge

This week we worked on our Peace Badge. We talked about the Remembrance Day services that our girls went to last week, made peace pin crafts, did peace posters and collages, and made peace pinwheels. We also discussed how we can encourage peace in our schools and communities.

Next week we are going to be working on our First Aid badge and program work.

For Next Week

Please remember your indoor shoes if it is snowing or you are wearing boots. It's important for safety that we keep the gym floor dry, so no outdoor shoes are allowed.

Enrollment!

We had 12 new Guides enrolled this week. We started the evening out by practising for our ceremony, and then the parents came and we had the real thing. First, we did a splendid march into horseshoe. Then the new Guides came up and each read a line from the Guiding Law while lighting a candle. When all the candles were lit and the Law had been read, the girls all came up and sang On My Honour behind the candles. Honestly, I don't think any choir could have done better. You were brilliant!

Then each new Guide said her Promise, got her enrollment pin, her certificate and her bookmark, and went back to the horseshoe. We said Taps and then it was time for cake and punch.

Thank you so much to all our wonderful helpers, and welcome to all our new Guides!

For next week

Next week, we are doing our Peace Badge. Most of you attended Remembrance Day ceremonies at your schools on November 11th, so we will be working on peace songs, some craft projects, and some discussions. This badge is part of your first program section You and Guiding.

Please don't forget your dues. Dues help pay for things like badges and cake and craft supplies!

Badge Testing, Skits and Community Service

We had badge testing for those who were interested, and while that was happening, we made napkin holders for the Meals on Wheels program. We used pipe cleaners and beads to create simple but pretty patterns and wound them around the napkins.

Then there were the skits. Be Prepared - because strange things can happen if you aren't!

For next week

Next week is our Enrollment. Please wear your full uniform with dark pants and make sure all your badges are sewn on. Whether you are a new Guide or an experienced one, everybody should look her best. Guides please arrive at 6:45 as usual; parents please come back at 7:45.

Halloween!

What a busy night! We put up all kinds of ghosts, witches, bats, and other things all over the gym.











We decorated pumpkins with pipe cleaners, stickers, feathers and markers.












We baked wizard hats, mini-sloppy joes, and mummies, and made punch. We played "eat the doughnut off the string without using your hands" and had a feast with all the food, some fresh fruits and veggies, and then ran around in the dark with glowstick bracelets. And then each girl got a necklace to take home as a souvenir.

Our trip to see the Lipizzaner Stallions is THIS WEEKEND! We're so looking forward to this exciting adventure. The address is The Labatt Centre, 99 Dundas Street, London, Ontario. Please make sure to drop your Guide off at 5 pm on Saturday, and pick her up at 9 am on Sunday. Guides need to pack a sack supper to bring with them for Saturday night. Please check your kit list to make sure you have included everything.

For next week:
Badge testing. Choose any badge in the Guide book and bring the proof that you have completed the requirements. Girls may test for a maximum of two badges.

WAGGGS and more

Tonight we worked on some of the WAGGGS info - played a couple of games, located the World Centres on the globe, and found out some fun facts. Then we did a craft - sewing with embroidery thread onto paper invitations. Some great work was done, but alas, there is so little time that many people went home with half-finished work. I hope you are able to finish your invitations and make them as beautiful as you want them to be.

All the girls who were present got their Patrol emblems, Patrol leader and Patrol seconder stripes. Please sew these onto your badge sash in time for Enrollment in two weeks.

All our cookie money is now in. Well done, girls! Thank you for being so prompt!

For Next Week
Next week is the Halloween party! You don't have to wear your uniform - you can come in costume, or, if you prefer, in your regular clothes. Every patrol has agreed to make one treat for our party: don't forget what you have agreed to bring!

For the witches' hats - sugar, cinnamon, chocolate chips (I'll bring the pie crust)
For the punch - lime sherbet, frozen limeade, gummy worms, ginger ale
For the mummies - veggie/chicken sausages, crescent roll dough, mustard, ketchup
For the jack-o-lantern "pizzas" - round crackers, corn, pizza sauce, cheese slices

Science Night

Whew! I think that was a lot of fun for everybody! We had six experiments - Making Slime (borax and glue to make a polymer), Testing for Starch (using iodine), Testing pH (using test strips), Invisible Writing (lemon juice and heat), Ink Chromatography, and Self-Inflating Balloons (vinegar and baking soda reactions).

Each patrol went with a leader from station to station and performed the experiments, then wrote up their observations.

Every girl who was present earned her Chemistry badge. Well done!










Next week is Thanksgiving, so there will be no meeting. We'll see you again on the 20th, when we will be planning our Halloween Party and our Enrolment Ceremony.

There are still a few outstanding cookie orders. Please remember your money for next meeting. To everybody who has brought her money in, thank you very much!

Patrol leaders, fall in!

Our patrols chose their symbols this week, and worked on their patrol posters. We have four patrols -

	Lily of the Valley
	Forget Me Not
	Violet
	Swallow

Our patrol leaders are doing a great job taking attendance and collecting dues.

Besides working on Patrol posters, we played games, decided on treats that we are going to be making for our Halloween party, discussed the Promise and Law, and had a puzzle relay.

We have 17 girls plus our 3 Rangers going to the Lipizzaner horse show. PLEASE MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS. Since London is approximately 2 hours away, we suggest that you carpool. Whoever is picking up the girls will have to be there for 9 am, so you may wish to have one person drive 5 or 6 girls and stay overnight with them.

Any mother (or other adult female relative) who wishes to stay overnight with the Guides must have a PRC (Police Record Check), which can be obtained through Guiding. If you wish to do this, please contact either Captain or Firefly.

Reminders for next week

Remember to bring your cookie money if you haven't brought it in yet.

Next week is SCIENCE NIGHT so you don't have to wear uniform. Wear an old shirt if you have one, in case of splashes.

Getting into patrols

Today we chose our patrol leaders, and divided into patrols. We've got our patrol books and patrol corners. As of next week, the patrols will have insignias and a patrol poster to decorate their corners.

We also practised square knots for tying our ties, did our horseshoe, played some games and decorated our name tags. We played a circle getting-to-know-you game.

Notes for next week:
Please do not forget to bring your dues. Every girl needs to bring her loonie every week. Patrol leaders will be keeping records.

If you would like to go to the Lipizzaner Stallion Overnight, you must bring back your form and money next week. Spaces are limited and there is a waiting list, so we need to be able to inform the centre by October 1. We have 35 spaces reserved, so all girls who bring their forms and money back by next Monday will be able to go.

If you have taken a carton of Girl Guide Cookies, your money should be returned by next week. The carton is 12 boxes and each box sells for $4, so you need to return $48. Please return all money in the envelope provided.

Registration

Welcome to 584 Guides! Last night was registration night. If you haven't completed your paperwork, please return it by next week.

Meeting times are 6:45 to 8:30. Please do not arrive earlier than this, as the custodian is not happy about having extra people on the premises without supervision, and we've had some problems in the past.

Notes for next week:
We'll be starting regular program, so wear your uniform if you have it (shirt, badge scarf, and tie, dark pants, and comfortable shoes). If it's raining please make sure to bring dry indoor shoes. We'll be starting with Promise and Law activities. Don't forget your loonie for dues!

Patrol leaders this year will be responsible for collecting dues, taking attendance and doing inspection in their patrols. Think about whether this is something that you would like to do, and we'll discuss it at campfire.

Upcoming activities:
October 6 is SCIENCE NIGHT! We'll have lots of interesting experiments and demonstrations and you can work on some science badges!

We're planning a trip to see the Lipizzaner horses. This will be a one-night overnight with a craft, crest, a movie, and of course the wonderful horse show! This will take place from Saturday night, November 1, to Sunday morning. Watch for the information flyers to go home!