Fall 2011 - Construction
Transcription
Fall 2011 - Construction
published by School District 2 Making a Difference... Educ ation For Sustainable Development n cNari m ou Ma L t a rogra - PALS outh Tutor P AY - YMC ievers ch - D2 A r Coaches D2 From ta s ’ S o l l h A s W - Look fast Program k a - Bre Celebrating Contents 7 6 9 11 13 4 Superintendent And District Education Council Chair Welcome 5 From The Editor 6 PALS At Lou MacNarin 7 Community Policing 8 MHS Value-Based Approach To Educating Youth 9 Train Youth 11 School And Communities Partner Through Active Fundraising 13 YMCA Youth Tutor Program 14 D2 Achievers 16 Our Community Of Learning 17 All Star Coaches 19 Community Use Of Schools 21 Hemlock Holmes: Tree Detective 22 Look Who’s From D2 24 Community Spirit Lives On At Hangar Dance 25 Extra-Curricular Transportation - A Community Affair 27 Business Community Support Transition to Work 29 Breakfast Programs 30 Responsible Tourism - Anyone Can Make A Difference! Cover Photo: Geoff Douglas 14 17 District 2 Ach evers 22 24 30 Fall 2011 3 Messages Welcome from Superintendent Karen Branscombe W elcome to our newest edition of ACHIEVE. This publication is focused on our communities. Many of the partners, their support and resources that we find in our communities are featured as we share with you, the riches that we have in our communities. Public education requires continued focus and energy from parents, students, staff and community members. Karen Branscombe We all want the best for our students. And sometimes, we need different kinds of support from the community. Teachers and principals have come to rely on so many helping hands. Without these tireless volunteers, schools would have a much more difficult time to meet the needs of students. A group of tireless volunteers in our communities are our District Education Council members and our Parent School Support Committees. These active volunteers spend countless hours attending school and District events and meetings to discuss school improvement and District initiatives. Through their eyes, District and school staff members are able to see the education plans in a very different light. With a parent and community eye on our challenges and successes, we continue to have feedback that is vital to our growth. We know that we do not operate in silos and through this important committee and council role, governance does bring the public in to our school and District decisions. On behalf of the staff and students in our District, I express my appreciation to all who have participated in our schools and on our District Education Council. This community connection also works both ways as District 2 students and staff share in the responsibility to give back to communities. Being a corporate and community member is as important for us to do as it is when we ask for the support in return. I am proud of the staff and students who continue to lead by example. Enjoy this edition! Sincerely, Karen Branscombe Superintendent School District 2 Priorities and Progress A message from District Education Council Chair Harry Doyle A s I write my seventh District Education Council Chair message I am excited to chat about “community” in District 2. During our term and most especially over the past few months, the District Education Council has been actively involved with the community we serve. All schools in District 2 are involved with community and to this District Education Council Chair that is not only a good thing but a GREAT thing. During my three plus years being associated with Harry Doyle District 2, our connections with the community have been some of the most rewarding elements of serving as Chair or for that matter representing Sub District 3 as their elected representative. The mandate I received on being elected as the District Education Council representative for Sub District 3 (Lower Coverdale, Gunningsville, Riverview Middle and Frank Bowser Schools) was significantly enhanced by being asked to actively participate with the PSSCs of Lower Coverdale and Gunningsville in an effort to acquire a new modern school facility to replace the aging infrastructure and relieve the overcrowding occurring in East Riverview. One of the proudest moments of my time came from working with this great group of community volunteers, as well as the Town of Riverview, to see this project develop to where it is today. Another highlight of community in action came through an innovative project between the District, the Port Elgin and Region Health Advisory Committee, Port Elgin Regional School and Horizon Health Network. The entire community came together to share their school with the Horizon Health Network to answer the community need for a new Health and Wellness Centre located within the school. A FIRST of its kind in Canada! Last year at this time we were dealing with Moncton High School. The District Education Council had been working with government on a long-term solution for the school. District 2 had engaged consultants CS&P Architects Inc. who immersed themselves into the community getting input from students, staff, parents, alumni, heritage board and the community at large. As I write this, I am not fooling myself into thinking that this community engagement resulted in a solution that made everyone completely happy, however, community involvement has played a major role in getting us to where we are today. And finally, it has been tremendously rewarding to have engaged the student community at the District Education Council level. Our schools have shared with us three outstanding Student Council Presidents who have taken seats on the District Education Council: Thomas Lloyd, Riverview High School, Iris Hicks, Petitcodiac Regional School and newly sworn in Amy Sweet from Moncton High School. These student members represent the most important community of all. Harry Doyle District Education Council Chairperson 4 Fall 2011 Volume 5, Number 2 Achieve is published twice a year by District 2 1077 St George Street Moncton, N.B., E1E 4C9 (506) 856-3222 Circulation 20,000 Aubrey Kirkpatrick: Director of Finance, Administration and Communications School District 2 Achieve Publisher: School District 2 Karen Branscombe Superintendent Senior Editor Achieve Content: Aubrey Kirkpatrick (506) 856-3616 Editor - in - Chief Senior Management Team Editorial Advisory Board Achieve production: i communications inc. 506.855.6503 264 Botsford Street, Suite 201 Moncton, NB E1C 4X7 Ad Sales and Magazine Production Natasha O’Brien Information provided in this publication is meant to stimulate interest for quality education. Consult the School District or your local School Administrator to delve further into topics of interest. The opinions and views expressed in Achieve are not necessarily those of School District 2 or the District Education Council. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Story ideas and letters to the editor can be submitted to Aubrey Kirkpatrick Editor – in – Chief Achieve 1077 St George Blvd Moncton N.B. E1E 4C9 E-mail: aubrey.kirkpatrick@gnb.ca Visit School District 2 online at: www.district2.nbed.nb.ca Achieve! From the Editor W elcome to ACHIEVE magazine, where we focus on the amazing work of our students, staff and community. Community is the theme of this edition of ACHIEVE. In School District 2 our ‘community’ is very important to us, whether it be inside or outside our schools. One definition of community is; a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society. There is no doubt that in District 2 the common interest of our community is providing the very best education system for our children. Schools rely on the involvement of community in order to ensure maximum student achievement. The research is clear that the more parents and community are involved in supporting their school - the more our students will achieve. It is also very clear that the more our students engage in Aubrey Kirkpatrick our community the better off our community will be both now and into the future. There are countless organizations that benefit from the active fundraising that happens in each and every school. Our Superintendent established early in her tenure, that community involvement was an important value in our District. There are so many people in our District that sit on non-profit boards, organizing committees, and coach and lead in various capacities within our community. Another form of a vibrant community in District 2 is the Professional Learning Communities in our schools. Schools have moved from the individual classroom focus to a whole school responsibility for each child’s learning success. PLCs focus on three big ideas; ensuring students learn, building a culture of collaboration and focusing on student outcomes. It is the professional learning community that deal with the four essential questions: 1. What is it we expect students to learn? 3. How will we respond when they don’t learn? 2. How will we know when they have learned it? 4. How will we respond when they already know it? By working as a community with a common interest and focus our students will thrive and ACHIEVE! If you have any comments or suggestions about this edition or in relation to upcoming issues please email me at aubrey.kirkpatrick@gnb.ca I hope you enjoy this edition of Achieve! Aubrey Kirkpatrick, Editor & Director of Finance, Administration and Communication aubrey.kirkpatrick@gnb.ca Fall 2011 5 Celebrating By Pamela Wilson W hat comes to mind when you think of the word PAL? For students of Lou MacNarin School, the word PAL is very meaningful. PALS are members of our community who volunteer at the school every week to help students in so many ways. PALS, which stands for Partners Assisting Local Schools, is a program which was initiated in 2001 in Saint John by Mr. J.K. Irving as a way to make a difference in the community through employees volunteering their time to assist at local schools. Mr. Robert Irving has now continued his father’s initiative in Moncton by encouraging the Irving employees to spend one half hour a week helping students at Lou MacNarin School. What began with 18 employees four years ago, has grown to almost 60 employees! Employees undergo a volunteer-screening process yearly, followed by an orientation session at the school which includes training in literacy, numeracy, or general mentoring skills. Two PALS corners have been established; barely a minute goes by in the week without a PAL helping out a student. The scheduling piece is complex and always bears in mind the best time of day for each student to take part in the PALS program, the availability of each Irving employee, and the scheduling of the PALS space. For those students with a literacy PAL, each student has his/her own unique literacy package based on his/her individual learning needs. Each literacy package is updated regularly with new books thanks to the resource teacher, June Leger, who ensures the literacy activities focus on the specific needs of each student. The numeracy component of PALS sees groups of students working with a PAL on the specific Math skills that have been identified for them. Numeracy Leads have helped to train the PALS so that they are familiar with current best practices. Another component entails our International students taking part in 6 Fall 2011 Conversation Circles to improve their language skills. PALS meet with groups of International students new to Canada to discuss various topics while encouraging their language acquisition. Improved student learning is the basis of the PALS program, but there is no questioning the value of the mentorship component. Along with improved reading skills or numeracy skills, students benefit from the positive connection a PAL offers. The PALS not only help with the improvement of student learning, they also help us to celebrate successes at Lou MacNarin. The Reading Is Wild program helped motivate students at Lou MacNarin to read over 17,000 books! To celebrate this achievement, members of the Wildcats visited Lou MacNarin and read to the students. From planting flowers with the students, to cooking a BBQ for them, to providing a tour of the Wildcats bus, our PALS have become familiar faces here at Lou, and indeed part of the ‘Lou family’. Their commitment to student learning and to celebrating student success truly demonstrates community partnership. Heather DeWare, Principal of Lou MacNarin says, “The PALS program at Lou MacNarin School works so well because everyone involved in the program is committed to the philosophy of an entire village being responsible for raising a child. By sharing our time and talents, we are able to develop the assets of our youth and we are able to shape the capacity of our community. The contributions of each PAL have the power to change a child’s destiny and make our world a better place.” Community Policing By Cst. Damien Thériault C odiac Regional RCMP has always been committed to maintaining a good relationship with the communities it serves. To achieve this, the Community Oriented Policing Section’s members attend schools of the region on a daily basis. As part of their duties the School Resource Officers (SRO), Community Program Officer (CPO) and Codiac RCMP volunteers give presentations to students of all ages. The subjects they cover are varied, ranging from drugs and bullying to internet dangers and road safety. While the SRO and CPO concentrate their efforts more towards middle and high schools, the volunteers are mostly involved at the elementary level. For example, over the course of the last 10 years, more than 9000 grade six students in the Greater Moncton area have graduated from the DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). Furthermore, many high school students have benefited from mock accident scenarios and PARTY program presentations (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth). Also, a myriad of bright-eyed youngsters have looked on as the volunteers, sometimes accompanied by Safety Bear, demonstrate how to safely cross a street. All of these are geared towards creating a better awareness of the dangers involved with high-risk situations and behaviors. As part of their duties, the Resource Officers are also often called upon to assist schools for disciplinary reasons when students exhibit behaviors that are concerning. In such cases, the SRO try to make the youth aware of the possible consequences of their actions and attempt to get them back on the right track. Currently, some of the officers are specifically concentrating their efforts on youths at risk. These are youths who are exhibiting high risk behaviors and could easily become involved in criminal activities if they are not directed to the proper resources. As the old saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child”- Codiac Regional RCMP is putting its best foot forward to be part of that village or community. Through their efforts, the members of the detachment are trying their best to ensure that together we bring up outstanding law-abiding citizens. Every kid we can reach and make a difference for is worth the effort. Every youth we can help avoid taking the wrong path represents a victory. By partnering with the schools and other community organizations we can help make a difference… one school… one class… or one kid at a time! Advertise in District 2’s • Direct target marketing to youth and their families • Full gloss publication - Spring and Fall Editions • Quality respected articles by local professionals • 20,000 free copies sent home with students • Delivered directly to the target audience • Promotes student achievement publish Get Yo Motor Rur unning.. publ ed by published by School DiStrict 2 ing through Promoting Engineer ishe d by Scho ol D iSt rict 2 . Robotics Program Page 12 BM HS Aw Be tt y Bo Ar d w in ni ng BB er Pr oj ec t From Venezuala to D2 Page 16 Page 16 Student Health - “In The Zone” 2 - M+R+A = EL Just a University - ABU More Than Fund - Innovative Learning tions” “Beyond Expecta D2! - Look who’s from rough ience ve Th s Ali s Take Come Ar t r It - Sc ateve n - Wh hievers aginatio D2 m Ac Im - D2 nation Who’s Fro Passion sti - De - Look ing Your rsu - Pu r Cormie : Bernie tre - Profile iew Arts Cen tion sec - Riverv Achievers from D2! - Special - Look who’s y Academ - Frye arts !! ns fun - ArtSm Fractio Making ACHIE VE spring 09_reg .indd 1 5/22/0 9 9:40:1 Contact Caroline Gingles or Natasha O’Brien 506 855-6503 caroline@icommunicationsinc.com or natasha@icommunicationsinc.com i communications inc. 264 Botsford Street, Suite 201 Moncton, NB E1C 4X7 Fall 2011 8 AM 7 Moncton High School’s Value-Based Approach to Educating Youth for a Sustainable World into the 21st Century and Beyond By Lawrence McGillivary M oncton High School is back! After a year of upheaval and uncertainty, Moncton High teachers are back together and offering an exciting new program to their students. Acknowledging that 21st century schools are sustainable schools, the school has developed a value-based framework for engaged learning based on the United Nations Education for Sustainable Development. The new program is designed to allow students at MHS to meet the challenges facing our world in the 21st Century. These include emerging global issues such as famine, poverty, global warming, apathy, health and wellness. The goal of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), as stated by the United Nations, is for educators around the world to “help people develop the attitudes, skills, and knowledge to make informed decisions for the benefit of themselves and others, now and for the future, and to act upon those decisions. ESD is an approach to teaching and learning based on the ideals and principles that underlie sustainability”. They are: 1. human rights, poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods, peace, democracy, 2. environmental protection, health, biological and landscape diversity, climate change, 3. protection of cultural diversity, sexual orientation, gender equality, and protection of indigenous cultures. Moncton High School, a charter member of the Fundy Biosphere Reserve, has developed a model for implementing ESD within schools by using a valuebased framework. The values are caring, diversity, environment and living simply. Teacher focus will be on the engagement of learning through the wellness of our school and greater community. To impact student wellness, MHS staff are attempting to address the growing childhood obesity rate, decrease youth apathy, and provide mentorship to our youth in a variety of career areas to improve career-oriented academic motivation and achievement. MHS staff wish to raise levels of responsibility, consciousness, wellness and empathy in their students. Over the summer months and into the fall program directors began to establish and define the following partnerships: 1. 2. 8 Government – staff met with representatives from the New Brunswick Departments of Education and Environment to explain and discuss the Moncton High initiative. The presentation was met with resounding approval and a request for ongoing updates. The initiative itself will be featured in a sustainability newsletter. Local District – MHS ESD directors met with our school district administration to review the project scope and discuss potential hurdles. It was particularly identified that the ESD initiative will have to build gradually and not overwhelm our teachers at the beginning of the busy school year. Fall 2011 3. Community health – Presentations and partnerships were established with health and community representatives such as the United Way, YMCA, District health services, and Public Health to discuss student wellness and specific areas such as youth mentorships and data collection. 4. Staff and food services representatives are looking at ways of increasing the contribution of foods and services from local providers. The school has signed on as a charter member of the Fundy Biosphere Reserve with the result of many contacts being made available through a local food grower’s network. There are three parts to this initiative: an overall ‘overhaul’ of philosophy and focus, guest speakers/presenters from our community, and the practical application of at least 30 minutes each day to allow students to participate in a choice of 40-50 ESD activities. It is the ESD activities that have the students and staff of Moncton High so excited. Some of the choices students can make four times this year will include: Learn to Run, Super Foods, Logo Creation, Knitting, Flash Mob, Chess, Glee Club, Jam Sessions, Security Blankets, House of Nazareth, Cinema, Boot Camp and Do Something. Here are some of the quotes that staff and students have submitted: “I haven’t had so much fun and felt so good coming to school in ten years.” Jody Foster, teacher “My friend was going to drop out, but now can’t wait to come to school every day. All she talks about is ESD.” Grade 10 student “Knitting is relaxing and it feels good to give the items back to the community. I do it at home now instead of Facebook and TV.” Ryan Burley, student As they seek further financial support for ESD, the staff and students of Moncton High School would like to thank the MHS student council, Romspen Mortgage and Investment and Ralph McGillivary for their generous contributions, as well as District 2 for its ongoing support, guidance and encouragement. For more information on Education for Sustainable Development and a complete list of activities, partnerships and presenters please feel free to contact Lawrence McGillivary, Heather Gunn or Jaime Leard at Moncton High School. Train Youth By Tammy Keiver and Lisa Brown I n 2010, the local train museum in Hillsborough, operated by the Canadian Railroad Historical Association (New Brunswick division) was approached with a unique idea of how they could support the local youth. The Hillsborough train site, an area plagued by vandalism and considered an established hang-out by some, houses one of the few remaining historical train sites in Eastern Canada. Would they, despite all they have endured over the years, consider donating a rail car to be used as a youth café? It was an interesting concept, taking an unwelcome hang-out and turning it into an open and inviting youth area. It would have been human nature to say “No”, after enduring so many bad experiences with the youth; luckily some people are willing to extend 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances. The CRHA responded by offering not just one rail car, but by donating 3 cars to the area youth and it was with that gesture TRAIN YOUTH became a reality. Train Youth is a rural Albert County project to create a safe place for teens to meet and connect, while encouraging pride of heritage, culture and place. To be housed in three heritage train cars located on the site of the NB Railroad Museum on Main Street, Hillsborough, New Brunswick, area teens will be at home in the most unique youth establishment in all of Canada. Hillsborough was once a proud community thriving with industry and tourism potential; a town known as the gateway to the Bay of Fundy and for its quality gypsum and scenic beauty. When the gypsum plant closed down in 1980, jobs disappeared and the economy suffered. Poverty moved in and rural Albert County lost some of its belief in itself. Beyond providing a place for teens to call their own, the Train Youth project will encourage an interest in heritage and culture, provide valuable business and employment skills, and promote a sense of community pride and involvement for teenagers to strengthen their connection to their past and the natural history of their community. When youth feel included and well connected to their community, they will not only grow but flourish. The multi-year project initially includes the restoration and renovation of the three train cars. One car will house a café, which will be student-operated, and a second car will serve as a general meeting area available for the teens and the public as part of the first phase. Eventually, the site, which is ideally situated between the Railway Museum and a small park will become a highly visible tourism destination, with a crafters/farmers marketplace, tourism information, workshop/meeting space for arts and culture and a stage for plays and presentations. Train Youth has an exciting future that will nurture our youth and bridge our generations while strengthening the fabric of our rural community as a whole. Together with the strength of our many partners this project will see the youth of rural Albert County explore their culture and establish a greater sense of pride, providing them with deep roots to grow from. All aboard! Fall 2011 9 District 2’s District Education Council Shaping the future by providing quality public education for our children. District Education Council members are volunteers from your community working collaboratively for quality learning, services and program delivery. Keep informed of the District Education Council’s efforts and priorities by visiting the District website at www.district2.nbed.nb.ca/Dec/dec-about.asp 10 Fall 2011 School and Communities Partner Through By Janice Bos, MPE, District 2 PE Mentor S ‘Active’ Fundraising chools and non-profit charitable organizations both rely on fundraisers to accomplish their mission. In the case of schools, these funds support daily operations or extracurricular activities not normally covered in shrinking budgets. In addition to the usual school fundraisers based on product sales such as gift wrap, movement-based fundraisers such as walk-a-thons, bowl-a-thons, and other sport related fundraisers have been around for decades. These fundraisers have promoted physical activity for students and have been lucrative for schools. The last 20 years, however, has seen a shift in the type of ‘active’ fundraising that schools engage in. In addition to internal fundraisers, many schools now combine student philanthropy and physical activity to raise money for community groups and charities, many of them supporting a health-related cause. Students and by extension, their families, now play a vital role in assisting these organizations meet their annual fundraising goals. For example, in 2010, the Jump Rope for Heart Campaign (Heart and Stroke Foundation of NB) raised $355,000 in New Brunswick schools, over $54,000 of that coming from District 2 alone. The financial and volunteer support that District 2 schools have given to surrounding communities in the last decade has likely surpassed millions of dollars. High profile campaigns involving Tantramar Regional High School in the Greater Moncton Dragon Boat Festival (Lions Sick Children’s Fund), Riverview High School in CIBC’s Run for the Cure (Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation) and Lou McNarin School in Jump Rope for Heart (Heart and Stroke Foundation) illustrate that the culture of philanthropy is strong among our schools. Students want to help their communities! While most of these funds have been raised in recent years, there are some long-standing campaigns such as Harrison Trimble High School’s Trojan Trek, which for 26 years has supported the neo-natal unit of the Moncton Hospital. There are also many less publicized initiatives taking place. Just last month for example, Marshview Middle School raised almost $5000 for the Terry Fox Foundation. A Zumba class fundraiser held last year at Queen Elizabeth school raised funds to help two of their families dealing with cancer. Almost every District 2 school could share a similar story. How have these school and community partnerships become so prevalent today? Do they benefit students and their families as much as the organizations that reap the financial benefits? Although there is the challenge faced by school administrators to ensure that such events don’t take time away from academics or interfere with teacher time to promote and distribute information, the benefits of these relationships are undeniable. Participatory fundraising not only gets kids physically active, it also increases their sense of personal and civic responsibility and exposes them to the valuable work of many organizations. Larger organizations sometimes add appeal to their campaigns by ensuring that schools meet some of their fundraising goals at the same time. The Jump Rope for Heart program, for example, returns 10% of funds raised back to the school and school teams that paddle in the Dragon Boat Festival have the option to keep 40% of funds raised for Safe Grad activities or donate it to a charity of their choice. Students and staff at District 2 schools take great pride in their contribution to the fiscal well-being of their favourite charities, especially when they are repeated on an annual basis. These school/ community partnerships support not only learning and the physical well-being of students but also the well-being of our communities. Fall 2011 11 CALENDAR 2011-2012 December 23 Last Day before Christmas Break January 9 Professional Development Day January 10 Classes Resume January 30-31 High School Turnaround Days The besT Tools make all The difference Help us provide our doctors with the best tools available today. February 1 First Day of Second Semester February 15 Professional Development Day March 5-9 March Break March 30 Parent Teacher/ Professional Development Day April 6 Good Friday April 9 Easter Monday April 20 Professional Curriculum Day May 4 Subject Council Day (Provincial - NBTA) May 21 Victoria Day May 22 NBTA Branch Day (Tentative) June22 Last Day for Students June 26 Last Day for Teachers 12 Fall 2011 friendsfoundation.ca a n n u a l c a m pa i g n Every patient deserves the best care. That is why it is critical to keep up with medical advances. Your donation will help purchase equipment to treat cancer, perform surgery on the brain and spine, provide life-saving emergency care and monitor at-risk pregnancies – all at The Moncton Hospital. Because the best tools make all the difference. CALL. CLICK. COME IN. 135 MacBeath Avenue Moncton NB E1C 6Z8 506 857 5488 YMCA Youth Tutor Program continues to develop students of all ages By Linh Tran & Julie Sarrazin S ince February 2000, the Community Services department of the YMCA of Greater Moncton has been offering a Youth Tutoring program to local students, free of charge. Approximately 85-90 children are served by the program every year, with almost 1100 students served to date. In 2003, the program received a Canada Post Award for Community Leadership. The Youth Tutor (YT) program offers confidential one-on-one tutoring to elementary and middle school children, grades one to six, who wish to improve their literary skills (math, reading and writing). The program currently runs at 3 different sites: Beaverbrook School, Sunny Brae Middle School, and Riverview High School, serving students from nearby elementary and middle schools. The program will soon expand on a fourth District 2 site at Magnetic Hill School to serve children in the north end. The program has two main developmental goals: literacy competency and social/life skill development. It runs concurrent with the school calendar year, operating Monday to Thursday from October to May. Student volunteer tutors are recruited from high schools and are trained and matched to younger students who are referred by their teachers. The students commit to two one-hour sessions per week, for a total of 32 weeks of tutoring support for children struggling with literacy issues. The YMCA recognizes the busy lives of families, so the program provides the choice of two time slots: an after school session from 4:00 till 5:00 or an evening session from 5:30 till 6:30 p.m. The children receiving the tutoring enjoy the program, and look forward to seeing their tutors each week. Over the course of the year, strong bonds and friendships are often formed. But the young learners are not the only winners with this program. The high school volunteers speak with passion about their involvement, and what it means to them to be able to help a younger student from their community. “I really enjoy coming to the program” says Kathy, a grade 11 tutor. “I’ve been a tutor for the YMCA for almost 3 years and it is really amazing how we get to see our student’s confidence rise each week. Being a part of this program has been really rewarding because we get to make a difference in our student’s life.” Ashley, also a grade 11 tutor, agrees. “It has been a bit challenging to find multiple ways to explain certain concepts but it has also taught me a lot about how a student learns. It has been so rewarding for me to see progress and improvement in my student. I often find myself reflecting upon what I could teach my student, and the best way to do so.” This program would not be possible without the financial support provided by the annual Literacy Luncheon fundraiser, CIBC, Laubach Literacy, the NB Protestant Children’s Orphanage, and the United Way. Support from staff at District 2, and the incredible dedication of the student volunteers, brings it all together. Fall 2011 13 Achievers has been created to District 2 Ach evers recognize and thank people from District 2 who have gone above and beyond to help out in their schools and their communities. These people have been nominated by various individuals and we believe they should be celebrated for all of their hard work and dedication. Chantal Frenette Erin Dumville Chantal Frenette, Vice-Principal @ Queen Elizabeth, has been leading ZUMBA exercise classes every week as a fund raising effort for our school. She does not take anything for sharing her expertise and all money donated goes to support the QE Breakfast Program. Last year, her efforts raised nearly $4000.00 and she is on pace to surpass that total this year. Erin Dumville is a Grade 5 French Immersion student at Gunningsville School. She is actively involved in many school activities, and this past year, was selected by the IWK as their spokeschild for 2010-2011. Erin was honoured at her school with an assembly launching her selection as an IWK Champ. In the fall of 2010 she went to Ottawa with the other Champions from across Canada and met the Governor General and two Olympians. She also went to Disney with the Canadian Champions and met with over 50 children from the US representing their children’s hospitals. Her duties in this national role included many public engagements where she spoke on behalf of the IWK and the work done by this children’s hospital. Erin has been an outstanding ambassador for the IWK, District 2, and Gunningsville School. Albert County Action Team (ACAT) This team of youth brings fun and creativity to help build a community where people work together on bridging the gap between adults and youth in their community. Their new initiative is called Revo, which is a remote control car race track that is a great community activity. ACAT still have their $2 community movie theatre running and the School Welcoming Committee. In March 2011, 8 CRHS students and 2 chaperones traveled to the TYPS Youth Leadership conference in Ottawa and while there the students went to Parliament Hill at Rob Moore’s invitation. ACAT hosted another amazing community Old-Fashioned Winter Carnival in 2011 that was extremely well-attended. They have also hosted a community pancake breakfast, served at the Shepody Fish and Games dinner, and hosted the Youth Games at the Hillsborough Homecoming Days. 14 Fall 2011 Harold Butler Mr. Butler teaches Human Services at Bernice MacNaughton High School. A few years ago, he designed a new component for this course called Adopt-a-Senior/Adopt-a-Student. During this component, students walk to Camden Towers to visit, interview, play games with and learn from the seniors living there. The goal is to bridge the generation gap. Students and seniors find common interests, learn from each other, and exchange opposing ideas with respect. At the end of the term, each participant has developed a better understanding of the other, and the community has grown a little stronger. RHS Walks for MD This past June, a team of students from Riverview High School took part in the annual Walk for Muscular Dystrophy in Centennial Park. Some of these students were returning team members from the team in previous years, while others had just joined in the spring. Every week students attended meetings where guest speakers provided insight on what life is like when living with a neuromuscular disorder. It was a truly humbling and eye-opening experience for them. Fundraising included hosting a BBQ at Sobeys, selling cupcakes, running a canteen during exam week, and asking family and friends for donations. Riverview High School’s team did not disappoint they fundraised over $3000, and won Top Team award for the third year in a row!! The Middle School students of ‘Queen Cavell’ Last year the Queen Elizabeth school community expanded to include students and families from Edith Cavell as a result of the temporary closure of Moncton High School. The two schools joined to form a new school community, which they themselves named Queen Cavell. To aid with the amalgamation of these two very distinct school communities and to help them bond, middle school students from both Edith Cavell and Queen Elizabeth were challenged to work together to create a mural inspired by the work of a New Brunswick artist, Brigitte LeBouthillier. The mural depicts unique hand-painted quilts hanging on clotheslines surrounded by houses. To emulate LeBouthillier’s style, everything has a Dr. Seuss-like feel with moving lines. The mural now hangs in Queen Elizabeth’s cafeteria but will soon be making its way to Edith Cavell where it will remain on permanent display as a reminder of how two school communities, thrust together under less-than-ideal circumstances, worked together and made the new community a great place to be. The students were led in this project by Art teacher Terra Mouland who is a recent recipient of Grand & Toy’s “A Day Made Better” award, celebrating her compassion and caring, and dedication to her school and community. Hanna Hopper Grade 2 Salem Elementary Carol Dennett and her grade two class celebrated completing ‘50 Random Acts of Kindness’ by having a PJ Day. Part of setting up a classroom community of learners who support and celebrate each others’ accomplishments involves sharing, taking turns, saying something nice to each other and helping others. Children must learn to do this out of the goodness and kindness of their hearts without rushing over and reporting to their teacher. The teacher puts marbles into a jar every time she happens to see or hear a random act of kindness. This class management activity helps foster an inclusive classroom atmosphere. A volunteer with Albert County Minor Basketball, Hannah Hopper had an idea. She had a vision for an after-school basketball program that would allow students to stay after school and hone their skills. The opportunity was there to use the gym after school, but it was not available from the time the grade K to two students finished school at 1:45pm. Undaunted, Hannah worked with the school to book the computer lab. Then she organized volunteers to stay with the children in the lab while they worked on individualized computer programs that enhanced their numeracy and literacy skills. In the end, Hannah created two new after-school opportunities and organized two separate groups of volunteers! The benefits were twofold: students were staying for an extra hour after school to work on academics and then they had an hour of individual and group instruction in basketball! Fall 2011 15 Our Community of Learning By Karen Branscombe W e often talk about how small our world has become with globalization. We live in a world with the instant sharing of information and quick technology. Despite the fast-paced changes in our world, we still look for ways to belong within a community. Peter Block writes in his book, Community, that “the essential challenge is to transform the isolation and self-interest within our communities into connectedness and caring for the whole. The key is to identify how this transformation occurs”. In School District 2, the “how” has been embraced by community and students, community supporting schools and students enhancing community. Each of our 38 schools has their own unique community and their own connections within those communities. Students who become involved in giving back to their communities increase their sense of connecting and belonging. It is encouraging for our young adults to be invited to participate in community events. This gives them a sense of ownership and respect within their communities. Two great examples of this connectedness are the efforts of students from Harrison Trimble and Tantramar Regional High Schools. Each year, the HTHS Trojan Trek donates its funds to the neonatal unit at the Moncton Hospital. This event has truly “that the essential challenge is to helped so many transform the isolation and self-interest of our students within our communities into connectedness understand the and caring for the whole. The key is to world beyond their identify how this transformation occurs” school. Many of them have visited the neonatal unit and have been personally thanked by parents at the hospital. When people talk about Harrison Trimble, they talk to me about the Trojan Trek. Tantramar Regional High School recently won a provincial award for their spirited, annual participation in the Greater Moncton Dragon Boat Festival. This event raises money for the Lions Sick Kids Fund -which many of our high schools participate. The students at Tantramar are proud of the team effort and they know that they too, are making a difference in the community. Communities of belonging begin with the belief that problems can become 16 Fall 2011 possibilities. This was the story of our Sistema NB partnership. When we were approached to develop an after-school music program with the NB Youth Orchestra it appeared that this would be too difficult to put together. After two very successful years, Ken MacLeod, President of the NB Youth Orchestra writes, “Sistema NB is a program of social change through music. The genius of the program is the orchestra, where you can’t be great unless you are great together. They practice five days a week for 3 hours a day and they become a real community of learners. There is a strong emphasis on excellence and the children rise to the challenge. The results have been powerful”. At Port Elgin School, we opened our doors to build a Health Center within the school with the Horizon Health Network. As Donn Peters , CEO of Horizon states, “ our partnership in Port Elgin is a great example of two organizations thinking outside of the traditional silos and putting boundaries aside for the benefit of both children and the communities they live in”. This community of health and education has created a sense of belonging and caring. I recently had an opportunity to attend a community fundraising event with students from all of our eight high schools. It was a gala dinner and they were the only students in the room. Their presence had a significant impact on the adults that evening. Everyone noticed and respected the young adults for attending. And one of the students commented to me that he wished that they were invited to more of these events. That passing comment speaks volumes about what work we can do if we “invite” others to belong. I know our students appreciate the opportunities given to them to demonstrate their skills and their ability to see the world beyond the walls of the schools. As Superintendent of School District 2, I appreciate the partnerships of community supporting our schools. I know that so many share in the mentorship of our young adults and take great care in providing opportunities for them. And I know that so much is done to create “we” instead of silos of “we” and “they”. This does not go unnoticed. By expanding education beyond the walls of our schools, we support a basic human need of belonging. This is the element that will strengthen, nurture, create and restore our communities. All Star Coaches: Count Me In! Green Lantern! Captain America! X-Men! Real Steel! Cowboys and Aliens! Green Hornet! By Paul Toner 2011 was the year of superhero movies. But these boys. We owe it to them!” - Norval McConnell, Manager of Community and Player heroes don’t seem to be the champions we need, Initiatives of the Moncton Miracles. because many young people, especially boys, are So, what do we need? We need All Star Coaches with playbooks for the telling us they do not have the good things they 21st century. need (we call these things Developmental Assets) to grow up healthy. A coach is a good image for what we need today. What do coaches do? So what does a hero need to look like for 2011? They provide inspiration and motivation; they believe in people and see their They need to look like ALL STAR COACHES! potential; they call out excellence; and they recruit! On October 27th, at the invitation of the United Way of Greater Moncton and The primary goal is to recruit and develop a Team of All Star Coaches who reflect Southeastern NB Region, 20 men gathered together to launch an exciting initiative the values and competencies that are lacking in boys. These All Star Coaches are called All Star Coaches. They were joined by representatives from various community champions that already exist in our community, but they will build up our community’s partners including: the YWCA, the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club of Moncton, the Boys capacity by providing new plays for the 21st century through leadership and training, and Girls Club of Riverview, School District 2, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Codiac support, action and programming, recruitment, and resource development. RCMP, the Caledonia RCMP, and the Moncton Miracles. A message was delivered And the community is on board! Many are taking the ‘Pledge’ to be All that has been shared first-hand by Star Coaches. many people out in the community. Richard Babineau, Community This message was reinforced by Program Officer for Caledonia RCMP young people themselves in the District 11, says “one of my roles is to help Developmental Asset Survey filled support communities to strive and build • Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every human being, and value diversity out by over 2000 students from positive and safe relationships and break • Seek medical support on a yearly basis and set positive standards for health and wellness grades six through twelve in School down the silos of communication. The Districts 1 and 2 last year. What is Developmental Assets and especially the • Act as a positive role model for all young men, demonstrating values of caring, that message you ask? All-Star Coaches concept is a commitment integrity, honesty and responsibility The ‘game’ has changed. to show our young boys that adult men • Learn more about the 40 Developmental Assets, the “good things” young people need While girls and boys report care and are committed to building a similar results in external assets foundation of positive community, family • Seek to ensure that all young men feel safe and empowered of support, empowerment, and personal values.” • Recruit, motivate and inspire young men to be the best they can be boundaries and expectations, and And Paul Toner, Community constructive use of time, there is Coordinator of Early Childhood, Middle • Strive to learn and achieve, and encourage others to do the same a dramatic difference by gender Years and Youth Initiatives for United Way in reporting the internal assets of adds: “On average, most young people commitment to learning, positive do not have the good things they need to values, social competencies and positive identity. As a matter of fact, the boys score grow up healthy, and the many community partners who make up our Youth First significantly lower on 18 out of 20 in the internal assets: for the full report, visit: Committee are taking steps to help build these assets in all young people, often in http://www.gmsenbunitedway.ca/about/youth-first-survey simple ways. The All Star Coaches initiative is one strategy, a response to a clear “When one looks closely at the Development Asset information on young message that we need to devote some time and energy to helping our boys thrive: males from our region you soon realize the significant challenge this puts on their we need to get them back in the ‘game.’” ability to avoid risks and to thrive. We need to support and encourage individuals, To find out more, or to take the pledge, visit http://www.gmsenbunitedway.ca/ or organizations and groups that foster the growth of various target assets in our young contact Paul Toner at 858-8600 or ptoner@moncton.unitedway.ca. As role models for the All-Star Coaches movement, people pledge to: Fall 2011 17 thank you for being there when my family couldn’t be Make a Difference. Become a Foster Family. 1-800-990-0119 www.gnb.ca/family United Way of Greater Moncton & Southeastern New Brunswick Region Inc. Building a safe, supportive community with our partners, including School District 2, through projects like Roots of Empathy. Inspire • Build • Change To learn more about United Way, contact us at 858-8600 or www.gmsenbunitedway.ca Proudly Serving Southeast New Brunswick Phone: 506.388.2300 www.stocktransportation.com email: info@stocktransportation.com 18 Fall 2011 “It takes everyone of us to build a quality place to live; you too can make a difference start young by volunteering in your community” The Volunteer Centre of Southeastern New Brunswick Inc. refers volunteers to over 150 community agencies. Volunteer on-line at www.volunteergreatermoncton.com or for personal volunteer matching contact 869-6905. Community Use of Schools By Aubrey Kirkpatrick S chools are pivotal fixtures in our communities. Beyond their primary purpose as learning institutions schools play host to everything from Art shows to Zumba classes. School District 2 has a long track record of fully utilizing schools well past the ringing of the last school bell. School activities and events take precedent over community use. However, the District is committed to serving the youth of our communities as a priority through long-established partnerships with our municipalities, youth groups and organizations ensuring that most community needs are being met. There are six reciprocal agreements between our District and the following communities within our boundaries; Dieppe, Hillsborough, Moncton, Riverview, Sackville & Salisbury. The agreements are all centered on serving our youth through municipal programming, youth-focused sports and non-profit youth groups. In general the District makes available school facilities at no charge to the youth organizations in exchange for municipal services such as snow ploughing, field mowing, sports field lining and maintenance as well as pool and arena use. The rewards to each party are significant and our youth are well-served by these community partnerships. As an example there are over 600 youth who play basketball with the Moncton Kiwanis Minor Basketball Association. Through the community agreement MKMBA uses well over 3000 hours of gym time in twelve District schools at virtually no cost. This ensures that MKMBA is able to keep their registration fees low to maximize youth participation. “What we do would not be possible without the support of District 2” says Lynn Porelle, Administrator for MKMBA. District 2 has been using a centralized process for community use of schools for many years. This process ensures everyone receives fair and equitable access to District schools. Centrally managing community use of schools has relieved this labour intensive task from busy school administrators. Linda Tower, Facility Coordinator books all 38 schools across the district using FSDirect; a powerful online facility scheduling software for managing facility usage requests, tracking event schedules, and accounting for facility use expenses which has improved relations with our community users. The District must ensure that all community users are aware of liability and safety regulations and their responsibility to ensure the building is safe and secure. Every rental must complete and sign a contract and abide by the community use guidelines found on the District website at http://www.district2.nbed.nb.ca/Facilities/facility-rentals.asp . Gone are the days where school keys were available throughout the community. With issues of liability and building security of these multimillion-dollar assets every step is taken to ensure appropriate usage. With hundreds of community users each night and every weekend there is significantly more wear and tear on our schools, from more heat and light expenses for evening usage to gym floors wearing out faster. School and District budgets are stretched to the maximum to keep our schools clean and in good repair. Some of these extra costs are offset by adult group rentals fees that allow the District to address these unfunded expenses. Rental revenue has been used to help schools refurbish gym floors, theatre equipment and other day-to-day wear and tear items that are not covered in operational budgets. With so much community use in our schools our school Custodians help to ensure that it all works well for our community and students. Our experienced professional staff is dedicated to not only keeping our schools clean and in good repair but also to ensure our community users can access our schools safely and securely. It is truly a team effort to successfully open our schools to the community. Fall 2011 19 Program Free and Employee Assistance Program Free and Contact fseap 24/7/365 Contact fseap Caring, professional 24assistance /7/365 for personal, family, or work-related concerns. 506.857.3258 After hours: 1.800.668.9920 s family and personal s family care resources relationships FSEAP can s financial worries Caring, professional assistance for personal, family, or s personal crises, depression, s legal questions help with: work-related concerns. anxiety s work and family concerns s health and well-being 506.857.3258 s addictions s lifestyle planning for retirement s trauma, harassment or abuse Friday, February 3rd – Sunday, February 12th Mark your calendars for Riverview’s mid-winter celebration of snow and ice! Gather up your family, neighbours and friends, and join us for ten fun-filled days of winter fun! We’ve got plenty of wintery events to keep you active and entertained. Comedy shows, skating, sliding, and lots of great food and fun. There will be something for everyone at Riverview’s 2012 Winterlude! The complete line-up of events will be arriving in your mailbox in late January, or you can keep checking our website: www.activeriverview.com Hope to see you there! After hours: 1.800.668.9920 fseap.ca Frye Ad - 4.1x5.438_ Achieve.pdf FSEAP can help with: 1 11/15/11 1:37 PM s family and personal relationships s family care resources s personal crises, depression, anxiety s legal questions s work and family concerns s addictions s financial worries s health and well-being s lifestyle planning for retirement s trauma, harassment or abuse fseap.ca WWW.FRYE.CA TAKE PART IN THE FRYE FESTIVAL’S YOUNG WRITERS PROGRAM! 20 WRITING CONTEST (grades 9 to 12) Submit an essay or short story in the Great-West Life and London Life Writing Contest, for a chance to win $100, $200 or $500. Topics and contest info at www.frye.ca Deadline is December 12, 2011. BUDDING WRITERS (grades 5 to 8) Share your writing talent! Read your poems or stories to family and friends (Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 2 p.m.). Deadline is March 12, 2012. CAFÉ UNDERGROUND (grades 9 to 12) Your time to shine! Read your poems or stories, or rock an original song, at this event for high school students from the region (Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 7 p.m.). Deadline is March 12, 2012. Registration forms and details are available on the Frye Festival website: www.frye.ca. For more information, email melissa@frye.ca. or call Melissa at 859-4389. Fall 2011 HVAC Services Duct Cleaning Heat Pumps Air-Conditioning Mini Splits Air Exchangers AIR Quality Mould Control & Removal Humidity Control Asbestos Removal Microbial Clean ups Air Quality Consultation Residential and Commercial What We Do If your home is in need of duct cleaning services, Action Air Care Inc. can help. We offer a variety of services, including asbestos removal, mould removal, dryer vent cleaning, furnace cleaning and odour control. It’s important to keep your home mould-free and asbestos-free. They could endanger the health of you and your family. Call (506) 229-5393 today for quality duct cleaning services. Hemlock Holmes: Tree Detective By Administrative Team at Salem Elementary School S tudents in Mr. Ripley’s grade 2 class at Salem Elementary School will be looking at trees in a new way this fall. Mount Allison University student Emily Hogan has just launched her book Hemlock Holmes: Tree Detective which teaches students all about trees. It is more than just a book, as the kit contains a textbook portion with beautiful and educational photos, charts and graphs. There is an insert entitled ‘Detective Notes’ where students can record their observations and complete activities. There is also a wooden compartment containing detective tools including a magnifying glass, measuring tape, tree tag and even a tree ‘cookie’- a slice from a branch - for students to touch and observe. The kit is bound with leather-like handles so it carries like a detective’s brief case. Emily Hogan and Matt Ripley began collaborating on the project last May along with Lucy Evans (a Salem grade 1 teacher) and Colin Laroque , a professor at Mount Allison. The kit correlates with many of the You and Your World outcomes for grade 2, with some cross-curricular links to math and literacy. The students will be exploring the parts of a tree, the water cycle, the dating of trees using tree-rings, measurement of trees, the identification of trees and conservation. Emily Hogan is a third year student at Mount Allison working towards a BA in geography. The kit is part of a course entitled Geography and Environmental Education taught by Colin Laroque. Emily and Colin work in Mount Allison’s MAD Lab (Mount Allison Dendrochronology Lab) which is the only lab of its kind in Canada devoted to studying dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating. The book was a summer research project. Matt Ripley is in his sixth year of teaching in District 2 and his second year in grade 2. The tree detective project will start early October when trees are the most magnificent and it will run for about five weeks. “Hemlock Holmes is great because it covers so much of the curriculum in a way that is fun and engaging for the students.” Matt Ripley, teacher “I like it because it has a lot of cool things in it like a magnifying glass and a measuring tape and everyone likes trees!” Ryan Cormier, Grade 2 student “Salem School is privileged to have the collaborative efforts of Mount Allison University, specifically Emily Hogan and the MAD lab, in this project. Kudos to Mr. Ripley for exploring this opportunity and using it to enhance curriculum coverage in his classroom.” Ada Phinney, Acting Principal Fall 2011 21 Look who’s from D2! Norval McConnell Community Builder By Aubrey Kirkpatrick N orval was born in Moncton on May 3rd, 1958. He grew up in the old West End of Moncton, and in fact, he still lives in the same house that he grew up in. He attended local area schools and graduated from Moncton High in 1976. He was the President of the Student Council at MHS his graduating year and was also very active in school sports, particularly basketball. Norval attended Mount Allison University, graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science, Chemistry major. He followed that with a Bachelor of Education from St. Francis Xavier University in 1981 and a Masters in Education from Université de Moncton in 1990. He has spent the last 31 years as an educator at a number of schools, twenty-four of those in a leadership role. During that time period he has coached countless school teams in a variety of sports. Of some note he has coached 57 basketball teams over the 31 years.This is certainly a passion for him. Norval is active and involved in the community serving 22 Fall 2011 as a volunteer with a number of organizations and groups. He is closely associated with Moncton Kiwanis Minor Basketball, the Greater Moncton Dragon Boat Festival and the United Way where he invests a significant amount of his time. Presently Norval is on a pre-retirement leave and is working as the Manager of Community and Player Initiatives for the Moncton Miracles of the National Basketball League of Canada-- a dream job for him. What schools did you attend? Prince Edward School Grades 1-7 Hillcrest School Grade 8-9 Graduating from Moncton High School in the Class of 1976 What kind of a student were you? Good student, quite conscientious, active and involved in school sports and student government. What was your favorite subject?...Least favorite? Favourite: Chemistry, loved it in High School, particularly the lab work. (Actually have a Bachelor in Science (Major Chemistry) from Mount Allison University. Least favourite subject: History, dislike it even though I had some pretty good teachers. I have learned to appreciate it more now that I am older. What advice would you give teens going through school today? Enjoy all that comes with school. Take advantage of the opportunities to participate in school activities. Many of your fondest memories will come from them. Do not hesitate to volunteer. The rewards will always be far more than any job will pay you. How did school influence your career choice? I ended up a teacher a bit by accident. I had wanted to be a dentist but when I applied I was left on the waiting list so I enrolled in a Bachelor Education program at St. Francis Xavier University. I realized very quickly that teaching was what I was meant to do. I had so many great teachers/coaches in my life that I have carried much from them. What do you love about your career choice? The opportunity to learn and grow never ends when you are a true teacher. Each day brings something new and incredible. Smiles and “ah-ha” moments are infectious. If teachers continue to learn then so do their students. Which teacher had the greatest influence on you? In elementary school – My Grade 3 teacher, Hattie Pringle, appreciated that I loved to read at a time when boys loving to read was not a really cool thing. To this day, when I see young boys reading for pleasure I make sure they know I noticed. It is important they realize that it is wonderful that they are readers. In middle school – My grade eight Science teacher was Bea McNulty. She had a great way of making Science more than facts to memorize. She made it come alive. I loved going to her classes because I always knew I would experience the most interesting of things. In high school – Anne Spinney was a teacher I had at Moncton High who really impacted me in a positive way about the need to balance learning and living. I also had a few coaches along the way like Al Jones and Greg Gould who really shaped much of what I have become. I had many positive role models during my schooling. What motivated you to achieve at school? Both of my parents were hard-working individuals who worked for everything they ever had. They believed in school, being successful there and opportunities we needed to seize because if it. They expected us to do well and live good lives. I remember my mother saying to me at a time when things were not in a good place for me, that the most important thing we have in life is how we “choose” to live our lives. That was always in our control. Give more than you get and your life will be fulfilled. Words I try to live by. Parting comments? “Control what you can control and influence what you cannot control”. Powerful words that when truly understood and lived by allow us to manage anything life throws at us. If you were not doing this what other career would you be doing? I would be working for a professional basketball team in their community outreach programs. Hey wait a second; I am doing that right now. I have the best of both worlds. I am so very fortunate that the Moncton Miracles of the National Basketball League of Canada chose here as their home. Fall 2011 23 Community Spirit Lives On At HTHS! By Julia Whalen, HTHS Class of 2009 I got the idea of a Hangar Dance from an article in the newspaper. A high school in the United States put on a prom for senior citizens and I thought it was a perfect idea. My grandparents have always told me stories of when they would head down to the local dance on a Friday night and I was always so fascinated with that style of dancing, especially since it was so different from my own generation. Although I initially pitched the Hangar Dance idea to the rest of Student Council, I can’t really take credit for the dance. It was a crew of us who put it into action. When I mentioned the idea in one of our meetings at the beginning of the year, Miss Hoadley and Mr. Mitton were incredibly supportive of the idea. As soon as we got on the topic, the details started pouring in, and we, as a council, got really excited about hosting an event in the community that was totally outside of the school. We had a group of really amazing and incredibly keen people on Student Council that year, and we couldn’t wait to start planning. We decided to host the dance close to Remembrance Day to honour the veterans in the community - our own way of saying thanks. We knew our music teacher, Lindsay Dominie, played in the Hub City Big Band so we planned to ask her as soon as possible if they could play. We did our research and found out that dances were often held in airplane hangars in the 40’s and 50’s, so we coined the event The Hangar Dance. We formed a committee of grade twelve students, which worked wonderfully. I can’t really explain how excited we all were - we just hoped that a lot of people would come and enjoy themselves. Because of Trojan Trek, everyone had already had a taste of what it felt like to help out their community, and this was no different. We put in a lot of hours to plan, prepare and decorate, but it wasn’t like getting ready for any old school dance. Trimble has a lot of traditions where students volunteer their time and efforts towards the benefit of others. With the Trojan Trek, we raise money for the Moncton Hospital’s Neo-Natal Unit, organizations like JDRF and World Vision, and at the end of every year students from grade nine through eleven are responsible, under the 24 Fall 2011 direction of Mrs. Pipes and Mme. Grierson, to decorate for and work at the grade twelve prom. HTHS taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life - that giving back feels pretty darn good. The dance itself surpassed our wildest expectations. The grads wore fancy attire and got all dolled up to accept tickets, wait tables, and usher dance-goers. The band was incredible and we transformed the Birchmount school gym from a basketball court to a classy, big band dance floor. Veterans and seniors didn’t pay a cent and were completely catered to with coffee, tea, and snacks. We got a wonderful reaction and really felt good about the whole thing. We had no idea our little dance would grow into what it is today. I’ve been to both dances since we put on the first and I must say, I swell with pride when I see the grade twelve students taking pride in the dance. I thank my lucky stars that I had friends like I did - and still do - who joined forces to create a now-annual community event. Last year I went back to Harrison Trimble and Dale McLean who - to my embarrassment - called me up on stage and identified me as the creator of the event. While I was lucky to have stumbled across that original article, I was luckier to have been able to go to such an amazing school. I couldn’t have chosen six better people to work with on Student Council, and thanks to them and the most supportive staff and students in the world, we were able to create something really special. Since that first Hangar Dance we’ve had three different venues, each bigger than the last to accommodate the growing number of people. Three grad classes have organized the dance, and another will carry the torch soon. I hope that the event will keep going for years to come, because we sure have a lot for which we should be thankful. Extra-Curricular Transportation: a Community Affair By Ally Harris, Nancy Matthews, & Bill Robinson H The lead sponsor for the campaign was MacDonald Buick GMC illsborough-based Caledonia Regional High School, situated nearly 25 kilometers from the next nearest high school, has quite a distance Cadillac Ltd., through the commitment of the President, Scott Langin. They were a to travel for extracurricular activities like sports, science fairs and very generous major sponsor. RMS also enjoyed tremendous support from other drama festivals. Vice Principal Donna Godfrey acknowledges that community members including: Doug and Gloria MacDonald, Darrell Shipley of the when it comes to organizing school trips, the school has “always been at Ford Country Club, David Watts of Sobeys in Riverview, Stephen Downey of Downey the mercy of renting a school bus”. This isn’t always easy though, as “being Home Hardware Building Centre in Riverview and other generous donations. the smallest school in the district, finances have always been an issue for “It is amazing and we are so grateful for the support that we have received us”. Throw in the cost of the bus getting to the school in the first place, and both from individual donors and companies who are friends of RMS”, says RMS the dollars quickly add up. principal, Nancy Matthews. “This is a huge asset to the school and we are excited This year, however, the purchase of a new minibus has changed everything. to have a new, safe, vehicle for student use.” Thanks to the tremendous support of the community, the school managed to raise JMA Armstrong High School and Salisbury Middle School also fundraised to $45,000. The fundraising started 4 years ago, with community suppers, pancake acquire a mini bus for school activities with their Going Places campaign. Their breakfasts, bake sales, music nights, gospel nights, golf tournaments and craft goal was also reached through the hard work of a dedicated volunteer committee sales. Each event was a great success. and generous sponsors. Two years ago, a fundraiser was also held where students and members Principal Bill Robinson points out, “The need for students in outlying of the community could donate $2 and receive a paper communities such as our community of Salisbury to bus with their name on it, which would go on the wall have safe, reliable means of organized transport to “The need for students in outlying events and opportunities cannot be underestimated. of the school. This idea worked out great and soon the communities such as our community This new vehicle represents more than its acquisition, main hallway of the school had paper buses all along of Salisbury to have safe, reliable it shows us the overwhelming degree of support the walls. means of organized transport that several businesses, groups and individuals Although they now have the bus, the school is still to events and opportunities have demonstrated to our boys and girls from fundraising for the $30,000 remaining to be paid – cannot be underestimated.” some of which will come from sponsors. The school is grades 5 to 12”. looking for sponsors to have their logo featured on the Early in the spring of 2010 an unexpected boost to side of the bus, and anybody interested is encouraged to contact Mrs. Godfrey at the initial campaign efforts occurred thanks to the Rotary Club of Moncton West the school. Alternatively, people can also purchase a seat on the bus, which they and Riverview. That gift of $7500 would later be followed by additional support can, for instance, dedicate to the memory of a family member or loved one. bringing the Rotary Club’s total gift to $10000. By late summer the Lions Club of The staff and students at Caledonia are excited to start using their bus, which Salisbury brought their gift of $10000 confirming the Going Places campaign’s will be used for sports, class trips and student council trips, as well as all extra- two major benefactors. The students themselves along with about twenty other curricular and curricular activities including drama, band, and music. The school businesses, groups and individuals all declared their interest in making the dream also plans on doing some tours in the bus, so that everybody can have the chance to buy a new bus for the school a reality. Campaign Chair Phyllis Bannister, speaks to use it. about the initial attempt to seek support. She tells, “We agreed as a committee Caledonia’s need for a mini bus for extracurricular activities is not unique. In to ask potential sponsors to simply buy a seat at a cost of $4000, with several June, Riverview Middle School finally met their fundraising goal for the purchase supporters donating various other amounts, some less, some more than the seat of a 20-passenger bus that will provide safe transportation for students attending price. That generosity was so reassuring in the early weeks of this endeavour.” district events including sports activities, music events, literacy programs, chess, The gifts of sponsors are not taken lightly. “These people made a kind bridge, drama, math competitions and so much more. It will also help students commitment to our school, to provide opportunities to its students” says Robinson. attend special events and field trips. Thanks to the members of our local communities, a whole other world has become RMS needed to raise over $70,000 in order to reach their goal. A contingency more accessible to students. plan was set up many years ago to replace the RMS van and fundraising has been ongoing. Through a combined effort of student fundraising with the magazine campaign, the support of the RMS parents, Riverview community and corporate sponsors, the RMS bus became a reality. Fall 2011 25 PARENTS! Is lack of money stopping you...from enrolling your child in one of the many recreation programs offered in Riverview ? Then P.R.O. Kids is for you. Applications for the Winter session are now being accepted. For more info. contact Karen @ 387- 2051 kthompson@town.riverview.nb.ca The following is a list of activities that are available for P.R.O. Kids placements for the Winter Session: Applications available @ P&R - 55 Biggs Drive OR at www.activeriverview.ca There is no cost to children referred through P.R.O. Kids. Curling Dance Lessons Fitness Classes Gymnastics Jujitsu Karate Music Lessons Skating Soccer Swimming Lessons Tae Kwon Do Tiny Tumblers We care for your possessions like our own... BEST PRICES GUARANTEED! What is a Community School? A community school is a center of learning for the whole community. People Make the Difference! Container service Local & long-distance moves Packing & unpacking Clean, secure, private storage Government approved Bonded & insured Replacement value protection International moving Senior discount Office & commercial moving We sell packing supplies Piano moving Service you know and trust FOR OVER 70 YEARS Van Lines Volunteers are the backbone of any business-education partnership. Providing extra “people support” to the staff and students is invaluable, whether the individual works directly with the children or behind the scenes. Employers contribute people resources by freeing up employees to volunteer for up to 1 hour during their work week. Safety - All adults who work in NB schools must have training in a provincial policy regarding the safety of children. This includes volunteers, who must also have a police background check. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN BECOME A COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTNER, CONTACT CAROLE MURPHY, COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR, 869-6004 26 Fall 2011 FREE ESTIMATES 857-3114 145 EDINBURGH DR., MONCTON 1-800-267-0464 martyw@nb.aibn.com Fax: 857-3087 www.geldarts.com Business Community Supports Transition to Work By Stephanie Patterson F our-and-a-half years ago Atlantic Windows partnered with School District 2 to encourage four students to finish their final years of public schooling. The students received class credit for working four days a week in the factory and gained work experience that would benefit them in the future, and The School to Work Transition Program was born. Since then, more than 200 Moncton employers have made room for students who benefit from an alternative classroom experience. The students spend one day in the classroom and four days in the community working at a job that could potentially become full-time employment after graduation. James Green, general manager at Metalium (Moncton Division) a steel and aluminum distributor on Killam Drive says that he wanted his company involved with the program because of the determination of the students who are involved. “It’s great to get kids that want to finish their school, so they are motivated to work,” says Green. “It’s a win-win situation. It gives the students work experience and allows them to reach their goals; also it allows us to have more employees who are willing to work.” Green says Metalium’s involvement has been an overall positive experience and he is already willing to look at being involved for future years. “Why not?” says Green. “If things work out there is potential for long-term employment after graduation. That’s a great thing for everybody involved.” Gordie Kline – coordinator of the School to Work Transition Program – says he is extremely proud of the students who participate in the School to Work Transition Program. He has seen students who would otherwise be struggling to finish their education see the major benefits of finishing school and even some who go on to post-secondary education. “In 2010, the Alternative Services Site at Beaverbrook School was able to host its first graduation ceremony in which 52 students participated. These are students who had no connection with their previous school,” says Kline. “Many of these students were going on to jobs they had secured in their School to Work Transition experience and some were going on to pursue more education in fields they discovered they were interested in through the program’s School to Work Transition job placements.” Kline says the program could not and would not be the success that it has been over the last four-and-a-half years without the community’s involvement. From donation of space to donation of funds from companies like Moncton Northeast Construction Association, to the employers who agree to host a student for work for the year, it is the consistent willingness of people to give the students a chance that leads to students’ future success. “It takes a lot of people to make the program what it is and to make it work,” says Kline. “We are very grateful that so many people have been willing to help us and the students out. Our staff alone consists of four teachers who teach around 10 subjects each. Combine that dedication with that of the community’s responsiveness and help and it’s amazing what we have been able to accomplish.” Fall 2011 27 Red Ball Internet Centre and Crossman Community Centre/Kay Arena are open for the season. Public skating and walking track (Crossman Centre) schedules are available on line www.redballinternetcentre.com Outdoor neighbourhood rinks as well as our Outdoor Skating Rinks at Centennial Park, Mapleton Park and City Hall are open in December (weather permitting). Our walking trails; Humphrey’s Brook Trail, Riverfront Trail and Northwest Trail are a great way to stay active this winter and enjoy the fresh air. Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing rentals at Centennial Park Groups, organizations or schools who are interested in in Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing at Centennial Park can do so by reservation only by calling 853-3507. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year Crossman Community Centre/Kay Arena Get in motion this winter! By visiting the City of Moncton website www.moncton.ca to find Healthy Living activities. FREE Skate with Santa December 17th from 2:30 -4:30 p.m. at the Moncton Coliseum, to the sounds of the season. Hot chocolate will be provided by Tim Hortons!! New Year’s Day – Start off the New Year by being active, with free skating, walking, Fitness Classes and much more on January 1, 2012 at the Crossman Centre/Kay Arena from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Free hot chocolate and healthy snacks will be provided. 853-3516 If it’s any form of advertising or marketing communications, it’s all about you and ‘i’ Producers of: .com 264 Botsford Street, Suite 201 Moncton, NB E1C 4X7 506.855.6503 www.icommunicationsinc.com 28 Fall 2011 Breakfast Programs By Carole Murphy W e have all been told, usually by our mothers, that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, many students still arrive at school without a healthy start that will ensure that they are ready to learn when the bell goes. This happens for a wide variety of reasons: no time, not hungry in the morning, and sometimes – unfortunately – because there just is not enough food in the house, despite the parents’ best efforts. Schools and communities have been working together for years to address this problem. Breakfast for Learning, a national non-profit organization dedicated solely to this cause, was formed almost 20 years ago in 1992 when a small group of dedicated people realized this was an issue across the country. Today, BFL boasts a network of 30,000 volunteers. In Southeast New Brunswick, support for Breakfast Programs continues to grow as the need is great. Each school operates its breakfast program independently. They are often organized and run by volunteers, sometimes parents, sometimes members of local churches or other community groups. Funding for these programs comes from a wide variety of sources as well – sometimes in the form of cash, sometimes donations of food and supplies. Every little bit helps. Karla Webster, Principal of West Riverview School, is grateful for the support she receives from the Boys and Girls Club of Riverview to organize and deliver the breakfast program every day. They have been running the program at West Riverview for 19 years (one of the longest running programs in the province) and it has become an important part of the school community’s daily routine. Greg Hickox, Childcare Director at the Boys and Girls Club, is there every morning working with volunteers. According to Webster, they have more parents helping this year because of their flexible schedule. “We recognize how busy our parents are, and sometimes it is difficult to commit to a regular morning. So we encourage our moms and dads to just drop in and help if they have 15 or 20 minutes to spare one morning. And they are! We have more dads coming by to help than ever before” says Webster. “You’d be surprised how many hungry children you can serve in 15 minutes!” Three years ago the Greater Moncton Real Estate Board decided that Breakfast Programs was a cause that their members could support. Each year local realtors participate in two events that raise money to support breakfast programs across the region. They enter a team in the annual Greater Moncton Dragon Boat Festival – dedicating a portion of the proceeds to Breakfast programs. They also hold an annual golf tournament, their biggest fundraiser of the year, to raise enough money to support both District 2 and District 1. “As realtors we live and work in our communities and want to give back to initiatives that support a good quality of life” says Shirley Powell, President of Greater Moncton REALTORS® du Grand Moncton. “Having our next generation receive tools to assist in positive learning experiences supports making our community better. These children are our future and a quality education is an important foundation for their contribution back. We believe by ensuring they have a full stomach to start their day we are assisting in opening doors to better learning.” Local grocery chains and food producers also support their local schools by providing gift cards or donations of food. Superstore, Coop, and Sobeys are all regular contributors. Kevin Gallant, manager of the Sobeys store on Vaughn Harvey, says it’s a cause that is easy to support. “Our grocery stores are part of the community and people count on us in many ways. We’re proud to serve the community in which we do business and breakfast programs are just one way we can help” says Gallant. Fall 2011 29 Responsible Tourism: Anyone can make a difference By Jessica Fenton A s my students know, this summer led to another traveling journey abroad. Each summer, I try to reach a new destination and experience something different. In July 2011, I landed in Lethem, Guyana, South America to give indigenous teachers training in the areas of English Language Arts and HIV/AIDS Education in a very remote region of the country bordering Brazil. Teaching in an isolated area such as this, prone to floods, power outages, a lack of running water, limited resources and food forced me to become very creative in planning my lessons which were taught in an open-air classroom, even during the middle of a severe thunder and rain storm. I never know what to expect when I arrive in a new country surrounded by a new way of living. July 2010, led me to Oasis Hostel along the Pacific Coast in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, previously the number one rated hostel in Mexico. The summers previous between 2002-2009 brought me to destinations such as Brazil, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, Bahamas, and throughout the United States. My students are constantly amazed when they hear that I travel abroad alone, and stay in hostels in each ...“at the end of the day it is city along the way. Each trip really about change.” If I, a classroom has taught me something teacher, can make a different in the new about myself and world, than anyone can. I constantly encourage my students to try new things and to be open to new experiences. I try to bring my real world experiences into the classroom whenever possible. Each one of my journeys begins with an itinerary for my week-to-week exploration of each country which is often exchanged for an experience not planned for. My 2010 trip to Puerto Vallarta reigns vivid in my mind, because that particular trip’s detailed itinerary was soon exchanged for an unexpected relaxing tour through three states in Mexico. This also involved finding opportunities to volunteer in an orphanage and local summer camp for underprivileged children. Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the hostel I was staying 30 Fall 2011 at encouraged involvement in the local community and offered many options for guests to get involved. I signed up to volunteer at the Children Center of Hope Orphanage and the School of Champions through Feed the Children Vallarta (Formally known as Children of the Dump). Most of my time was spent at the School of Champions volunteering at the summer camp teaching English and facilitating games and crafts to the many children who live around the dump. This particular hostel was unlike any other because it encouraged “responsible tourism” where travelers become ambassadors of their country and can impact others. I have always felt strongly about volunteering with the less fortunate and I was happy to see that more and more people are recognizing the impact that tourism in-connection-with-volunteering can make. Voluntourism as they call it. I believe cross-curricular education is important and that it helps to engage students. My students learn more than English Language Arts because I feel strongly about incorporating cross-curricular learning, especially Human Rights Education. I agree with hostel owner Guillermo Vargas when he states “at the end of the day it is really about change.” If I, a classroom teacher, can make a different in the world, than anyone can. I tell my students that one person can make a difference. Look at historical figures such as Anne Frank, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Mother Teresa, and Erin Gruwell, a classroom teacher, among others, who have all made a difference on some level. Teachers can be an example of this as well. Each time I volunteer abroad or locally, it is an eye-opening experience and another opportunity to gain real world experience to bring into my classroom. My students are always interested in my experiences, and not because it is another story to tell, but because I make it connect to the unit we are studying. It makes learning fun. If learning is the focus, then students need to be constantly introduced to new ideas and concepts. It also encourages students to get excited about their passions and to make goals of the things they would like to accomplish because everyone one can make an impact... large or small. Now to wait for my next journey to begin... Seasons Greetings from the staff at Riverview Parks and Recreation Don’t miss out on our upcoming events and activities! December 9th: FREE Family Movie at the Kinsmen Small Hall, 145A Lakeside Dr. on Friday at 6 p.m. Bring the family and enjoy the movie “The Polar Express” on the big screen with free popcorn, hot chocolate and candy canes! Wear your pajamas for a chance to win a prize! December 10th: Registration for Winter Programs is being held at the Kinsmen Small Hall, 145A Lakeside Dr. from 10 a.m. to noon. Check out our winter program list at www.activeriverview.com December 10th: Registration for swimming lessons will be held from 9:00am-1:00pm at the Riverview High School Mallway. December 11th: Join your family and friends for a free Christmas Party on ice. There will be music, prizes, hot chocolate and treats! 2:30- 4p.m. @ Byron Dobson Upper Arena MARCH BREAK CAMP (Grades K-6) March 5th – 9th 7:45am-5:15pm $90 / Child ($10 less each additional child in the same family) This is a weeklong, full-day camp presented as a childcare alternative that is designed for grades K-6 and will be held at the Small Hall (145 Lakeside Dr). This camp will explore the creative and active sides through arts & crafts, drama, dance, good-natured cooperative play and traditional/ non-traditional sports. There will be activities targeting the various age groups, as well as, large group activities for everyone. Some activities will include: Skating, Swimming, Bowling, Sliding, Crafts etc. Register for March Break Camp at our program registration, held on December 10th from 10 to noon at the Kinsmen Small Hall, 145A Lakeside Dr. Don’t know what to do over your Christmas holidays? Why not register for a Learn to Skateboard Camp, or go skating or swimming? Check out all the details at www.activeriverview.com or call 387-2024. Fall 2011 31