Local students are busier than ever
They are having a ball at College Heights where volleyball has been serving kids well.
Six weeks of intramural volleyball has recently wrapped up for Grade 5 and 6 students. The school teams are now into game play with other schools and having a great time playing these matches.
A huge thank you to our teacher sponsors for all their time and commitment to providing these valuable opportunities for kids.
The focus on helping the environment continues to be a theme at the school. Thanks to the leadership of Mme. Castley, the school now has the means to recycle plastic and metal containers to go along with the current practice of recyclying drink containers, paper, and cardboard. Our environmental footprint is getting lighter thanks to these initiatives.
The Special Events Leadership Team recently donated $100 of their bottle recycling money to the Legion’s poppy campaign. This was a very generous and thoughtful gesture on the part of these students.
Lastly, staff and students enjoyed a school wide cultural performance by Green Thumb Theatre titled People Like Vince. This was a light-hearted yet powerful look at the importance of acceptance, understanding, and tolerance of people’s differences and was a perfect fit with our school wide theme of social responsibility.
••• École Heather Park Elementary School recently hosted two student teachers from UNBC’s Elementary Education Program for their three-week fall practicum placement. Sarah van Viegen was busy teaching kindergarten with Mrs. McLachlan and Caitlin Tates worked with the Grade 5 students in Mr. Laupitz’s class. We wish them luck in their final year of the Education Program at UNBC.
On Sept. 19, author Eric Walters shared his love of adventure and books but also his passion for helping those in need. As a follow-up to his inspirational message, students in Grade 6 and 7 classes have worked diligently on a Chores for Change campaign. As a result of their hard work and good efforts, our students have created a positive change in many lives in Kikima, a small rural community in Kenya. In total, $2236.96 was raised and will be donated to the Creation of Hope’s charity to purchase 19 goats, 67 chickens, 10 sets of farm tools, 16 school uniforms, 351 saplings, 45 blankets, and enough money to fund the cost of operating an orphanage for three days. We appreciate everyone who helped with this project (and the many others around our building, including the recent Variety club work).
As the month of November races pell-mell into the festive and always much-too-busy holiday season, our students continue to be actively engaged in a variety of activities.
Though a tad early, we are pleased to announce (to give time to prepare all those very proud picture-taking parents and grandparents) that our choir, under the direction of Mme. Shaw will be singing at Vanier Hall’s Christmas Nights of Music on Nov. 26 between 6 and 8 p.m.
••• All of the students of Highglen Montessori welcome Jacky’s Village to our school this week as one of our cultural events of the year.
Her performance features music, dance, and virtuoso percussion by artists from the African countries of Cameroon, Benin, and Zimbabwe. Led by accomplished dancer Jacky Essombe, this participatory performance features music played on marimba, djembe, talking drum, shekere, mbira, and various other traditional instruments.
Audience participation is encouraged throughout the performance with call-and-response, singing, clapping, and dancing.
While the students will enjoy the early dismissal on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week, it is not without purpose.
Each classroom will use this time for student led conferences where families have the opportunity to come in and be shown their child’s portfolio of work accomplished and review the goals set by the student for the next term.
The recent election in the United States has sparked the student’s interest of Mr. Jeffery’s class.
A debate time has been set up for the six parties of two members each to participate in.
Time will be given for the students to discuss their party policy and answer specific questions given by the debate moderators.
The debate has been divided between the presidents and vicepresidents and an election will be held after. Dr. Tracy Summerville of UNBC took this opportunity as a guest lecturer to explain and discuss the differences between the political system of the United States and Canada.
••• Southridge Elementary School wishes to thank the Leadership students and Mrs Rand for organizing a solemn and thoughtful Remembrance Day assembly.
••• This year’s Christmas Concert production is entitled Dear Santa: a Musical Tweet For Christmas and speaking parts have been assigned.
The Intermediate Choir is practicing for both the Christmas concert and the upcoming Christmas Nights of Music at Vanier Hall on Monday, Nov. 26.
••• For parents of students in Grades 5 to 7 in the The College Heights family of schools (Beaverly, Malaspina. École College Heights, Southridge and Vanway elementary schools) there will be a presentation Internet / Social Media Safety Education and Digital Citizenship 101 for Tweens, Teens, and Young Adults to be held at College Heights Secondary on Nov. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Forms have been sent home with students. Registration is required as space is limited.
••• Submissions, questions and comments for the Around Our Schools column may be forwarded to trusteebella@gmail.com