Mar
7
James Bay Community School
By Darcy Topinka
James Bay is home to many creative people possessing impressive credentials and career accomplishments. Community members with rich life experiences and who have made significant contributions to their community are always a treat to have in our building. The community school loves to bring local talent into the school as often as possible. In February we did just that; our students had the best time listening to local James Bay author Julie Lawson reading from her new book entitled "Ghosts of the Titanic." The children were captivated by her presentation as she read excerpts from her book, which will be released in March of 2011.
Over the next few weeks the school is expecting many more guests who will share knowledge and experience with our students. Our grade 3, 4, 5 students are working on a cutting edge Digital Storytelling project. Our objective with this initiative is to evaluate whether the use of technology makes a measurable difference in student interest with writing. The students have already done a dry run with the project and the results have been outstanding. We are now seeking seniors who will work with the students to tell their stories about their childhood. Supporting information such as photos would be very helpful as the students refine their projects. Digital storytelling is a creative way to tell a story in a format children understand and for obvious reasons are drawn to because of their interest in technology. Their stories will be captured in a digital format and will be on display in our library for all to see. A significant element of this project is to help bridge the generational divide between children and seniors. If you wish to put forth your name, please contact our Vice Principal Scott Clazie at 250-384-7184 or by email sclazie@sd61.bc.ca.
Spring break will once again run for a two week period from March 14-25th; school goes back in on March 28th. Parents are encouraged to have a look at our great line up of activities programmed throughout spring break. Our spring swim program is programmed for another year. Each grade will receive two swim classes consisting of one half our lesson and then a half hour of play time at Crystal Pool. This is a valuable first step in children becoming water-wise and learning a great life-skill that one day could be a part of their ongoing fitness regime.
In early March, teachers and students will be treated to a visit from the BC Hydro mobile aqua van from the Vancouver Aquarium. This innovative partnership makes available to communities a mobile teaching installation, filled with local aquatic life from our surrounding waters. The program helps children develop observation skills, and encourages straightforward connections between animals, the environment and themselves.
Kate Longpre, our recreation programmer, has created an impressive line up of spring gardening courses, which I am sure will get your green thumb itching. We are very fortunate to have Manon Tremble, head gardener from the Abkhazi Gardens, lead these courses, both in class theory and practical field trips, which will give you an interactive opportunity to get your hands dirty.
The Sport and Recreation Branch of the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, through the 2010 Sport Legacy fund, will be investing in an Out-of-School Sport Initiative. This investment, in addition to advancing the five year Sport Strategy, will focus on increasing sport participation in children and youth and help reverse the negative trends we see in physical, mental and social well-being of this population. James Bay Community School will pilot this program until mid June with the intent of offering the service to our community kids for the next two years. For more information, contact Kate Longpre at the community centre.