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​Leo Hayes High School students gathered in the gymnasium for two separate assemblies on May 18 to celebrate the school's annual Aboriginal Awareness Day.

Students from St. Mary's First Nation led the activities which opened with drumming and songs performed by the Muskrat Singers. Elder Maggie Paul delivered a prayer in the Maliseet language before joining the Sisters of the Drum in bringing more music and song to the audience.  Montana Bear also performed a shawl dance about a butterfly flitting from flower to flower. 

St. Mary's First Nation Councillor Allan Junior Polchies encouraged all the students to enjoy the celebration as they listened to the stories and songs of the Wabanaki people. He also invited the students to the community's next Pow-Wow on June 15-17. 

"Diversity is the key to success of all our generations going forward," Polchies said. "Be kind to yourself and be kind to others."  

Guest speaker Nipahtuwet Naka Wespahtuwet Possesom (Paul), an experienced First Nations dancer, told the students Leo Hayes High School is located within traditional Maliseet territory known as Wolastoq, the Maliseet name for the St. John River.  Wolastoq means "Beautiful River" and "Wolastoqiyik" means "People of the Beautiful River."  He then invited all Grade 12 students to the gym floor for a dance to celebrate their graduation. In his remarks, he told the audience about the history and culture of First Nations in New Brunswick and let students know a traditional feast would be taking place during noon hour.

"This is one of our most important assemblies of the year," Principal Brad Sturgeon explained. "It is a celebration of our shared cultural community."

Student emcee Cole Hatty presented her own art work to teachers and special guests in attendance. During the event, she also explained the significance of the Red Shawl Campaign honouring indigenous women in Canada who are reported missing or have been murdered in the last 30 years. The Red Shawl is a symbol of protection and this is what a young girl earns in her footsteps to becoming a woman, Hatty noted.

The audience also heard about the Moose Hide Campaign led by indigenous and non-indigenous men and boys who are standing up against violence towards women and children.

Today within New Brunswick, approximately 3,000 Maliseet live within the Madawaska​, Tobique, Woodstock, Kingsclear, St. Mary's and Oromocto First Nations.​

Shown in the photo on the front page is Montana Bear performing the Shawl Dance. Shown in the photos below are (left to right) Sylvia Paul, Krista Paul, Maggie Paul and Cole Hatty performing as members of the Sisters of the Drum; and Montana Bear and Possesom Paul leading a group dance with Leo Hayes High School students.










Last Printed: 5/18/2018 1:00 PM
Posted: May 18 2018, 1:56 PM
  

​Grade 12 student Frederic Gaillardetz is a skilled tradesman on a mission. He will represent New Brunswick in high school welding during the Skills Canada National Competition in Edmonton, Alberta on June 4-5.

Frederic's talent and interest in welding began when he studied metal fabrication during his Grade 11 year at Carleton North High School. He enrolled in production welding in Grade 12 and soon proved to be an excellent candidate for competition with his patience and meticulous attention to detail, Principal Dr. Anne Senechal said. 

BWS Manufacturing Ltd. in Centreville partners with the school's welding program. The company's expertise and willingness to give students like Frederic the opportunity to work and practice in a business setting increases their knowledge, experience and confidence in the trade. 

Looking to a future career in the trades, Frederic has enrolled in the welding program at NBCC Woodstock for the fall of 2018 and is currently completing his Grade 12 cooperative education program at BWS Manufacturing. He has also received a scholarship from the Canadian Welding Association/Canadian Welding Bureau toward his post-secondary training.

In April 2018, he competed for Carleton North at the Skills Trade High​ School competition where he placed first out of 10 student welders.





Last Printed: 5/16/2018 3:00 PM
Posted: May 16 2018, 3:16 PM
  

​Premier Brian Gallant visited Summerhill Elementary School's  track and field day event in Oromocto on May 15. 

Throughout the day, students enjoyed races and games organized by physical education teacher Cindy Keizer with the support of Summerhill school staff and Ridgeview Middle School student volunteers. A lemonade stand provided some cool refreshments for participants with all proceeds going to help flood victims affected by the spring freshet along the St. John River this spring.

"Students had a fantastic day at the track and were thrilled when Premier Gallant stopped by to visit the event and chat with staff and students," said Principal David McTimoney. "A great day was had by all."  

Shown in the photo on the front page are (left to right) Maya Harris, Jayna McGuiggan, Chloe White and Principal David McTimoney with Premier Gallant at the track in Oromocto. Shown inthe photos below are (left to right) Olivia Sullivan, Gillian Gaillard, Alexis Foley, Abigaile Bagnell, Gabrielle George, Liam Hachey, Natallie Zinck, Lochlan Mather, and Annika Gale with Premier Gallant (centre); and Vice Principal Amy Durant and teacher Kathy MacIntosh with the Premier. 






  

Last Printed: 5/16/2018 3:00 PM
Posted: May 16 2018, 2:19 PM
  

Premier Brian Gallant and Minister Stephen Horsman, an Oromocto High School alumni, joined Principal Jeff Holder, students, staff, ASD-W District Education Council members, district officials and Parent School Support Committee chair Wendy Greer for a $27 million infrastructure announcement on May 15 in the school gym.

"Investing in education is crucial for economic prosperity," said Premier Brian Gallant. "Your government recognizes the importance of having the proper infrastructure in place for our children and educators to have the best learning environment possible."

A building assessment was completed last year and the results showed that a mid-life upgrade was feasible. Such upgrades are meant to address all architectural, civil, structural, mechanical and electrical deficiencies of a school as well as modernize it and extend its use by 30 years or more. The renovations will also include a gymnasium addition. 

"Our vision at Oromocto High School is to become a centre of excellence in teaching and learning," said Principal Jeff Holder. "With an updated facility, we will be one step closer to making that vision come true."

Design work will begin this spring. The target date for completion of construction is September 2023. The school was built in 1965 and has nearly 1,080 students. The facility also houses the Oromocto Education Centre for Anglophone West School District.

The 2018-2019 capital budget includes investments of $105.8 million in public schools.

The government's 10-year education plans aim to improve educational outcomes and better prepare young people for the future. They set objectives in priority areas to create lifelong learners, support educational leaders and bring stability to the system. 

Shown in the photo below are (back row) District Education Council member Mark Noel, Minister Stephen Horsman, Principal Jeff Holder, Premier Brian Gallant and Gina Dunnett, director of schools for the Oromocto Education Centre in ASD-W; (front row) Kimberley Douglass, chair of the District Education Council, with Wendy Greer, chair of the local Parent School Support Committee. Also shown in the photos below are Premier Gallant chatting with students and staff at Oromocto High during the announcement about the upgrade.








Last Printed: 5/15/2018 3:00 PM
Posted: May 15 2018, 3:04 PM
  

​A special event is coming up at George Street Middle School in Fredericton on June 12 to help launch Global Minds, a new program which brings students to the Multicultural Association of Fredericton (MCAF) to share in activities and do tutoring for newcomers to New Brunswick.

Twelve Grade 8 students have taken part in training sessions to help them connect with the global community in the city. In April, these students began volunteering to help teach English at the MCAF. Along the way, they are making new friends, learning about different cultures and becoming globally minded young leaders.

"We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to partner with the MCAF and give back to the community," said George Street Middle School teacher Amanda Collicott. "The enthusiasm of both the tutors and learners as they work together, and the connections that are being made, are inspiring. Global Minds was founded on empowering youth through leadership opportunities just like this!"

Vice-Principal Michelle Keefe said the program has been so successful it will go school wide in the next school year. 

On June 12, the school will hold an assembly and workshop with 17-year-old Peyton Klein of Pennsylvania, who founded the Global Minds organization worldwide. George Street Middle School is the first Canadian chapter and hopes to help other schools set up chapters in the district. Representatives from other middle and high schools have been invited to attend the launch and take part in the information sessions with Klein.

Global Minds is a "for youth-by-youth" organization which offers opportunities for students of all ages, social groups and nationalities to come together and build friendships, while gaining important social skills and learning about issues students face every day. The program encourages tutoring, conversational English practice, community engagement, leadership, friendship, inclusivity and also celebrates diversity.

The George Street Middle School students currently volunteering at the MCAF hail from Nigeria, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, India, Bhutan, Syria, Vietnam, Philippines and Canada. 

"One of our tutors for Global Minds is part of a Syrian family, the first to come to Fredericton in December 2015," Amanda Collicott explained. "He remembers where he sat in the room at MCAF when he first arrived, the same room where we meet."

Shawna Allen-VanderToorn, subject coordinator for English as a Second Language for ASD-W, said she sees great value in having a Global Minds chapter in district schools.

"It is a student-led initiative which I think is powerful," Allen-VanderToorn said. "The intention of the program is to bring together newcomer youth and native speakers of English to develop intercultural connections and understandings. I look forward to learning where George Street is on this journey."​ 

Nayyaf Alotaibi from the Multicultural Association of Fredericton said this year's program with wrap up in June and was designed to help newcomer students who have difficulties with reading, writing and speaking English. The peer mentors meet with the students who attend the after school program at MCAF for an hour once a week for eight weeks.

Shown in the photos below are students from George Street Middle School volunteering at the MCAF as part of Global Minds. For more information on the program, visit www.globalminds.world









Last Printed: 5/8/2018 12:00 PM
Posted: May 09 2018, 12:05 PM
  

​The Anglophone West School District’s 2018 Regional Heritage Fair drew 81 projects and 93 students to the day-long event held at CFB Gagetown on May 1.

Visitors, judges and special guests, including Lieutenant Governor Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau, honorary patron, viewed the many displays and talked with students from across the school district about their projects. There were booths on basket weaving, maple syrup, fishing on the Miramichi, family genealogy, home children, war history, the story of Viola Desmond, First Nations arts and culture, the Bricklin, the chestnut canoe and many more.

Awards were presented in several categories. The event also included performances by the Ridgeview Choir and the Wolastoqey Cihpolakonok Dancers from Hubbard Avenue Elementary School as well as a student visit to the CFB Military Museum

 "The ASD-W Regional Hertiage Fair showcases the research, creativity and public speaking skills of our students," said Beth Christie, subject coordinator for social studies, fine arts and enrichment. "Everyone involved in the fair, including volunteers, exhibitors, parents, teachers, dignitaries and judges, expressed how impressive was the passion and depth of knowledge that students brought to the fair. The district commends each student for pursuing excellence in social studies."

Through Heritage Fairs, teachers from all departments (social studies, history, language arts, core language and immersion, science and technology, math, sports and recreation, multi-media, art, music, enrichment etc.) encourage their students to learn more about their community while developing and expressing their creative talents. Regional fairs are held across the province each spring to inspire an appreciation for New Brunswick history and create a sense of place and belonging and connections to communities, people and the past.

The May 1 event at CFB Gagetown also drew public displays from the Central NB Welsh Society, the Fredericton Regional Museum, the George Street Canada 150 Art Project, the George Street Soldier Biography Project, May Day Baskets, the NB Irish Cultural Association, the NB Scottish Cultural Association, the Oromocto River Watershed and the School Days Museum.

The New Brunswick Heritage Fairs Program is a provincial initiative of Heritage Branch in the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.  Support is also provided from New Brunswick’s Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the New Brunswick Museum, New Brunswick`s Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Council of Archives New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, the New Brunswick Federation of Labour,  New Brunswick’s Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat, the University of New Brunswick (Faculty of Education), school districts and private and corporate sponsors. 

Shown in the photo on the front page are Colonel Keith Osmond from Base Gagetown with Grade 5 student Isabelle Dussault from Hubbard Elementary School in Oromocto. Shown in the photos below are Grade 6 student Sadie Perley from Perth Andover Middle School with Natasha Whyte, a visitor and parent from Keswick Ridge, Grade 8 student Molly Jones from Townsview School in Woodstock, and Allison Wrynn from the Central New Brunswick Welsh Society in Fredericton with Grade 8 student Noah Grenier from John Caldwell School in Grand Falls. LIst of award winners follows:

 ​







Award

Student Name

Grade & School

Project #

Project Title

Canadian Achievement Award

 

Jaden Murphy (6)

Ridgeview Middle School

 

68

Viola Desmond

Canadian Sports Award

Brenna Maxwell (7)

Bliss Carmen Middle School

6

L’évolu

tion des sports féminins au Canada

Fredericton Heritage Trust

 

Carolyn Price & Jessica White (8)

George Street Middle School

 

26

The Fredericton Railway Bridge

Natural Wonders of Canada

 

Maya Sood (8)

Harold Peterson

29

Frank Landslide of 1903

N.B. Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat Award

Kayla Paul (9)

Leo Hayes High

50

Reconciliation

N.B. Provincial Commemorations Award

Haden Keith (5)

Hubbard Elementary

35

Royal Newfoundland Regiment

N. B. Historic Places Award

 

Tait Leroux (6)

George Street Middle School

28

Minister’s Island

N.B. Labour History Award

Anisha Anupindi (7)

Bliss Carmen Middle School

4

Branching Out

N.B. Military History

Award

 

Matthew Bastien & Kai MacFarlane (5)

Priestman St. Elementary

64

Battle of Ortono

N.B. Museum Award of Merit

 

Sophie Mais & Eliana Kennedy

George Street Middle School (8)

25

Muriel McQueen Ferguson

N.B. St. Croix 2004 Award

 

 

Taylor Adams (5)

Andover Elementary

3

Acadians Then & Now

NB Scottish Cultural Award

 

Isabelle Dussault (5)

Hubbard Elementary

32

Home Children

N. B. Sport Legacy Award (Sports Hall of Fame)

Ava Quigley (7)

Bliss Carmen Middle School

5

Katherine Pendrel

School Days Museum Award

 

 

Rinehart Orthodontist Heritage Award for Health Sciences

Hailey Wyllie (5)

Hubbard Elementary

33

Dr. Everett Chalmers

 

Sunrise Fredericton Rotary Club Fine Arts Award

Taylor Chapman (7)

Cambridge-Narrows

8

Stompin’ Tom Connors

My Community’s Heritage Award

Sponsored by the Town of Woodstock

Emily Farris & Parker Grey (6)

Keswick Ridge

43

Maple Syrup

Council of Archives NB Award

Olivia Fillmore (8)

Perth-Andover Middle School

61

Dorchester Jail

Judges Award

 

Caden Perley & Misty St. Peter (7)

John Caldwell Community School

41

History of First Nations

Judges Award

 

Kane Fitzpatrick & Josh Rossignol

Tobique Valley High School (8)

78

Mount Carleton

Judges Award

Molly Jones (8)

Townsview Community School

Cooking From the Past

80

Judges Award

Brooklyn Green (5)

Priestman St. Elementary

63

Salmon Fishing

Judges Award

Aiden Hathaway (7)

Tobique Valley High

76

Sporting Clay

 

 

 

Young Citizens Award

Fredericton Region

Daniel Long (7)

Central N.B. Academy

15

Maple Syrup

Young Citizens Award

Oromocto Region

Riley Fulton (7)

Ridgeview Middle School

69

St. John’s Anglican Church

Provincial Showcase

 

 

Oromocto Region

Adrianna Ryan (5)

Hubbard Elementary

31

Crosby Molasses

Fredericton Region

Isabella Stewart (7)

Central N.B. Academy

14

The Footbridge

Woodstock Region

Jillian Wylie & Ainsley Green (7)

Perth Andover Middle

62

Anne of Green Gables




Last Printed: 5/2/2018 3:00 PM
Posted: May 08 2018, 10:53 AM
  

​For the past three years, students and staff at Ridgeview Middle School in Oromocto have been raising funds for the IWK Hospital in Halifax in memory of Kaitlyn Tozer, a Grade 7 student who lost her battle with cancer in 2015 at the age of 13. 

This year, the school raised $2,350 for the IWK and as a result Principal Wendy Dickinson had to fulfill a promise.

"Kaitlyn loved Disney princesses and all things pink so I promised to dress up if they raised over $2,000," Wendy Dickinson said. "I lost the bet so the Princess Principal appeared. This fundraiser coincided with our annual Health and Wellness Fair sponsored by the Parent School Support Committee (PSSC)."

The 2018 fundraising campaign began in the first week of April and included ticket sales on a Spring into Summer basket, Easter egg guess, pizza sales, a barbecue and casual day on April 20. 

Ridgeview Middle School has raised thousands in Kaitlyn's memory since 2015. In 2016, the school won the "Big Fish Award" at the annual IWK telethon, receiving a $1,000 prize for the highest amount raised.  Shown in the photo below are (Princess) Principal Wendy Dickinson with Vice-Principal Angela Thomson, honorary lady-in-waiting and leader of the fundraising effort.





Last Printed: 5/8/2018 10:00 AM
Posted: May 08 2018, 10:44 AM
  

​As part of McAdam Elementary School's bilingual learning environment plan project, Grade 5 students discovered much about the Acadian people and heritage as well as their traditional cuisine. Students had the chance to wash, measure, chop and stir to create an authentic Acadian dish and  were very engaged and eager to taste what they had prepared. 

The Grade 5 students and staff then participated in a cafe-style lunch consisting of tortiere, fricot, potato rolls and cinnamon buns, while traditional Acadian music played in the background. A cookbook with these recipes was prepared for each student to take home. 

The roots of Acadian history and culture run deep in New Brunswick, dating back to the 1600s when colonists from France first arrived to establish Acadia in the Maritimes. These French settlers remained in the region for many years, intermixing with the local aboriginal people until they no longer considered themselves French but Acadian. 

In the 1700s, when the Acadians refused to pledge allegiance to the crown, they were deported en masse. Some went back to France and other went south to what is now Louisiana​, while others stayed and lived quietly in exile with the help of their Mi'kmaq neighbours. Eventually, these resilient people rebuilt their communities while preserving their language, culture and traditions. In the last century, the Acadians have made many achievements in the areas of equal language and cultural rights as a minority group in the Maritimes. Today, most Acadians in New Brunswick inhabit the northern and eastern shores of the province.

Shown in the photo below are (left to right) Bree McIntyre, Molly McIntyre and Gracie Kitchen with staff member Sherry Johnston as they sample their Acadian style meal.








Last Printed: 5/4/2018 3:00 PM
Posted: May 07 2018, 8:32 AM
  

​The Roots of Empathy program has been underway in schools in the province this year with the support of Public Health and non-profit community organizations.

 At Lincoln Elementary School, the program has been in full swing where family visits and spending time with a small child have helped students identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others. 

Shannon Atherton, vice-principal and teacher, is a trained Roots of Empathy instructor who coaches students to observe the child’s development and understand the child’s feelings.

 In this experiential learning, the little child is the “teacher,” making students aware of the child’s needs and the emotions expressed while spending time together.

 “There is always lots of emotion displayed on the students’ faces and they all enjoy making the baby laugh and smile,” Atherton said. “We enjoy seeing the students singing to the baby and love that they know and understand they are playing a role helping the baby to learn and grow. The discussions are always fantastic. We find many students’ responses are well thought out and they are very comfortable and open about sharing for the most part. In a few lessons, a safe space is created where students learn to share and talk about their own emotions, feelings and experiences.”

The emotional literacy taught through the Roots of Empathy program lays the foundation for safer and more caring classrooms, and helps prevent bullying or insensitivity toward others in the school environment. Families who volunteer to participate with their infants live in the local community and commit to visiting the classroom every three weeks during the school year.  

 “We are thoroughly enjoying each lesson and watching the baby and our students grow,” Atherton said.

The Roots of Empathy program is delivered during regular school hours and is offered to elementary school children from kindergarten to Grade 8.

In Canada, the program is delivered in rural, urban and indigenous communities and is also utilized in schools in other countries around the world.

The Roots of Empathy program at Lincoln Elementary is supported by the Fredericton Community Foundation which provided a grant.

Public Health Nurse Kim Greechan from the Horizon Health Network explained the overall goal of the program is to build caring, peaceful and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults.​ 

​On May 30, a "Baby Celebration" for the program will be held at the Military Family Resource Centre in Oromocto from 3-5 p.m. Attendees will include babies and parents who have participated in the program this school year, instructors, teachers, principals as well as representation from local government, public health and education.

In the photo below Alec Stephen and baby Maddox visit with Lincoln Elementary students Isabel Matheson-Nash and Tristan Robinson.






Last Printed: 5/1/2018 3:00 PM
Posted: May 04 2018, 2:20 PM
  

​Fredericton High School teacher Carolyn Barnhart is a recipient of the 2018 Prime Minister's Award for teaching excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She was one of 64 educators recognized in a ceremony with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on May 2. 

A Fredericton High School alumnus, Barnhart has been teaching for 28 years. She lives in Harvey and earned a Bachelor of Science,  Bachelor of Education and Masters of Science degrees from the University of New Brunswick. She began her teaching career in a fly-in Cree community in Ontario and came back to New Brunswick to teach in Doaktown​ for two years before taking a position in Fredericton.

Upon receiving her award, Barnhart said she is privileged to work with a great group of educators at Fredericton High, including Principal Shane Thomas, who supports her ideas for experiential learning which is at the heart of her teaching methods.

The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence have honoured exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines since 1993, with over 1,500 teachers honoured to date. Teaching Excellence Awards recipients are honoured for their remarkable achievements in education and for their commitment to preparing their students for a digital and innovation-based economy. The Teaching Excellence in STEM Awards honour outstanding Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics teachers that help develop the culture of innovation Canada needs today, and in the future.​



Last Printed: 5/4/2018 2:00 PM
Posted: May 04 2018, 1:53 PM
  

​If you have not registered your child for kindergarten commencing September 2018, you still have the option of registering at the school or online.   Please note that kindergarten attendance for the 2018-2019 school year is mandatory for children born in 2013. 

The only exception applies to children born between September 1 and December 31 of the same year.  These children have the option of starting kindergarten the following year. 

If you have not yet registered your child, you can complete the registration online by following the link:  https://www.nbed.nb.ca/preregistration/Default.aspx?strlang=en&district=ASDW​

In addition to completing online registration, you will need to visit your neighborhood school between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to submit copies of the following:

·         Birth Certificate

·         Medicare Card

·         Immunization records

If you require additional support with completing the online registration form, please refer to the attached documents.

For more information, contact your neighborhood school.  The school your child will be registering as a student is considered your neighborhood school. ​ 

Last Printed: 4/26/2018 1:00 PM
Posted: Apr 26 2018, 4:17 PM
  

​Middle school students at Chipman Forest Avenue School are busy in the kitchen on Friday afternoons as part of a six-week, Learn to be a Chef program.

They are busy measuring ingredients, peeling and chopping vegetables, heating water on the stove, preparing, stirring and adding spices to a dish, using the microwave to heat food items, all the while keeping their work station, utensils and themselves clean and sanitary. The students are also talking to each other​ and helping each other as they learn to come together as a team to problem solve, cooperate and complete a task. 

Teacher Steve Hachey is on site with them to assist and guide the students as they make their way around the kitchen after school hours. The school's chef program also has the support of nutritionist Becky Callaghan and community coordinator Katherine Houser from River Valley Health. 

"The students are learning not only to feel comfortable in the kitchen, but to learn just how easy it is to plan and prepare quick, healthy and nutritious meals and snacks from scratch," said the school's resource teacher Dave Northrup. 

The overall goals of the Learn to be a Chef program are to teach cooking skills and have the students embrace a philosophy of healthy eating and living which they can take with them into adulthood. Shown in the photo below are students and staff in the school kitchen after clean up.





Last Printed: 4/12/2018 3:00 PM
Posted: Apr 12 2018, 2:46 PM
  

​"Swing your partner round and round! Now Do Si Do and Promenade Home!"

Every Wednesday morning,  75 students from kindergarten to Grade 5 at Cambridge Narrows Community School are discovering how square dancing lessons can challenge your listening skills, while learning new steps and movements on the dance floor.

Square dance caller Terry Hebert, and local volunteers from the Washademoak Swingers Square Dance Club, have been sharing their love for square dancing with the students, while providing musical dance instruction. 

On May 24, the students will be showcasing their skills on the dance floor during a demonstration at the school's annual Volunteer Tea event. 

"We are finding it to be a very rewarding experience to work with the elementary students," said Richard Goodick, club president. "It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to participate and assist the young students as they practice and learn each new square dance call."

Teacher April Wilson said the dance lessons have been beneficial to students in a variety of ways. Kindergarten students have been strengthening their understanding of left and right, while working on movements and patterns in the dance circle. Grades 1-2 students have been learning about partner skills and non-competitive teamwork. Grades 3-5 students are learning about the ideals and foundations of square dancing and all students are gaining an appreciation for music and working together cooperatively.

"In addition, the activity relates to a number of curriculum outcomes in physical education and music, and it support elements of mathematics, language arts and social studies," Wilson explained. "It is also an opportunity for our school to strengthen its connection to the community."

The project at Cambridge Narrows School was made possible through a provincial ArtsSmarts funding grant. 

Students continue to learn new calls each week and show their appreciation to their instructors with an "all join hands and into the middle" shout of thanks. Shown on the front page and in the photo below are the students working on their dance techniques with their teachers and members of the Washademoak Swingers Square Dance Club.







Last Printed: 4/10/2018 10:00 AM
Posted: Apr 10 2018, 2:49 PM
  

In today's world, creating computer code is a priority learning skill for digital literacy. At Park Street Elementary School in Fredericton, a Day of Coding Challenge brought 180 students together from Grades 1-5 to see if they could create code and program robots to move, follow directions and complete certain tasks.

Grade 5 students worked to develop four coding mats with help from Kayoe Stewart of Brilliant Labs and their Principal Rien Meesters. These mats were designed like mazes for the Dash robots (charged and ready to play out of the box) to move through and solve challenges. 

Each move of a robot had a code attached based on programming and software which, in turn, dictated what the robot could and would do. The coding mats carried themes such as space, the beach, rescue, and the crowd favourite for the day, candy land. 

"It was truly amazing to see the development of the mats, the problem solving and teamwork and the overall deep learning of the day," said Rien Meesters. "As we watched the teams work together, and often with the support from older students, it was amazing to see the learning, negotiations, strategy and understanding of basic to more advanced block coding."

Prizes were drawn among the participants and the six top coders of the day from Mme. Josette Turbide's class also received a Microbit Inventors package and an Apple t-shirt.  Activities began in the morning and continued at a feverish pace until mid-afternoon, the principal said. 








Last Printed: 4/10/2018 1:00 PM
Posted: Apr 10 2018, 1:29 PM
  

​At Nackawic Elementary School, getting a "Caught Ya" card from the bus driver is a good thing. For the student, it means they are demonstrating good behaviour and following safety rules and guidelines while travelling on the school bus. The card is then placed on the bulletin board in the entrance of the school to recognize Nackawic Elementary's "Star Riders." 

"Bus drivers are providing positive and specific verbal feedback to students who have received a 'Caught Ya' card," said Principal Larry Graham. "It is a positive spin on things to give incentive to act properly. It's a pilot project and we are the first school to try it."

Teachers are also reviewing bus safety rules and guidelines in their classroom with a follow-up activity. At the event of five weeks, at a school assembly with their bus drivers present, the students who have "Caught Ya" cards will be acknowledged and some prizes will be drawn.

Nackawic Elementary is piloting the Positive Behaviour Intervention Support (PBIS) project in partnership with ASD-W's transportation department. Shown in the photo below are students Leah Dempsey and Jonathan O'Grady with their "Caught Ya" cards.







Last Printed: 4/10/2018 11:00 AM
Posted: Apr 10 2018, 11:08 AM
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