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A commitment from the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) and Whole Sale Sports will benefit students in Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools. In the fall of 2015, the CWF purchased 15 fishing rods and reels from Whole Sale Sports, a value of approximately $1,000, as part of a pilot project with North Cedar Intermediate.

During the pilot phase in 2015, a Grade 7 class from North Cedar Intermediate was the first recipient of this educational journey. During the project, students learned about common fish species in Canada and more specifically, Westwood Lake.

Students participated in classroom activities, follow-up activities as well as went on a field trip to Westwood Lake. During the field trip to Westwood Lake, Robin Fearn and Frank Kovich from Whole Sale Sports led the students along the lake’s edge. Students learned about fish anatomy, fishing etiquette and received demonstrations and lessons on how to cast a flip reel.

Here are some of the responses students provided as part of the follow-up activities.

“I was impressed how prepared the guides/helpers were before we even got there. I noticed that everybody was having fun for the whole time.”

“Our fishing trip yesterday was AWESOME. It was one of the best field trips I have ever been on. I learned that bass are not very good to eat, and about some rules to fishing.”

Other follow-up activities included a procedural recount on how to cast a flip reel and about fishing technology past and present.

In 2016, Grade 7 classes from Frank J. Ney and Bayview elementary schools will benefit from the newly-developed partnership. Students were led by volunteers from the CWF, including CWF President Bob Morris. Activities included a nature survey, an explanation of fish gear and techniques, and a fishing day field trip to Westwood Lake.

Principal and Project Coordinator Annette Noble said, “The volunteers have been key to the success of these fishing trips. We are so fortunate to have Westwood Lake in proximity to our schools to be accessible for these remarkable learning experiences.”

Students also played “Hooks and Ladders” as a way to learn factors that affect fish populations and obstacles they have to overcome. The activities and field trips also incorporated links to curriculum competencies:

Science Apply First Peoples perspectives and knowledge, other ways of knowing and local knowledge as a source of information.Express and reflect on a variety of experiences and perspectives of place.

Language Arts Think critically and reflectively to explore ideas within and beyond texts.

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HEALTHYWATERSFishing Day at Westwood LakeBy Shauna DeBodt

“Our fishing trip yesterday was AWESOME”

Physical EducationDevelop fundamental movement skills in a variety of physical activities and environments.

Describe how participation in physical activities in the community can influence their health.

As part of the learning process, this year, students read a chapter called Living in Balance with the Sea from Time Immemorial – an Aboriginal Resource for intermediate students. They learned about various fishing technologies – past and present and they looked at comparing First Nations, sport and commercial fishers.

Noble says, “I look forward to continuing to work with our community so we can bring this outdoor learning opportunity to more students in the district.”

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Students are benefiting from the estate of the late Joseph T.A. Lee, who passed away in 2009 and left $320,000 in his Will to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation, a local charity that support students in Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools.

Born in 1918, of immigrant Chinese parents, Mr. Lee attended school in Nanaimo and was president of his high school student council. Instead of helping with his family’s grocery business, he chose to attend the University of British Columbia to study engineering. He pursued graduate studies in architecture in the US, became a successful architect and taught architecture at the University of Michigan. In his Will he made provision to pass on his love of learning to local students.

Interest earned on the $320,000 bequest is earmarked for special funds - named District Initiative Grants – for projects that teach student leadership and forge connections with the community. Schools can apply for up to $5,000, and several schools have put these Grants to good use.

At Ecole Hammond Bay the grant was used to purchase special resources with Aboriginal themes that helped the school to reach out confidently to their Aboriginal community. It spurred activities such as drum making and visits to a long house. It also allowed teachers to adapt a Coast Salish legend as a musical, which the whole school performed.

Gabriola Elementary Grades 6 and 7 students jumped at the chance to become tutors to local seniors and help them with technology. The Comfort on Computers project saw young

“Mr. Lee’s generosity and love of learning will benefit our students and teachers for many decades to come”

Gift of $320,000 in Will to benefit students for many decades to come

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DONATION MAKES A BIG IMPACTby Marianne Van Toor

student tutors and their elderly charges huddled around iPads and computers to create Apple IDs, install Skype, surf the Internet, organize files and folders, assist with eReaders, and other such technological challenges.

One elderly participant reported that she was moved by the experience to sit down with a young person willing to take time to teach her. Another was very impressed with how skillfully her young tutor was able to break down the various steps involved in teaching a new skill. In the process of instructing, students were pleasantly surprised to learn how much they actually know about technology.

At Bayview Elementary, an intergenerational art project connected Grades 1/2 and Grades 5/6 students with elderly residents of Malaspina Gardens. Every Wednesday afternoon, for five months, students visited the residence and created works of art using mediums such as charcoal, pastel, paint, watercolour and collage.

Local artist Yvonne Vander Kooi, who led the Connecting the Generations project, said that art was the vehicle to support meaningful relationships. Students asked questions such as “What’s your favourite memory as a child?” or “What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life?” and, together, they expressed answers in their works of art.

At Coal Tyee Elementary, the grant allowed for construction of a school garden consisting of a shed, picnic tables and garden boxes. The space is used as an outdoor classroom and lunch-time gathering place for students.Teacher Judith Tye’s Grade 6/7 class used their garden box for math problem solving skills - how best to divide the space into equal shares for 30 students. Next, they decided what to plant in their plots and kept diaries to learn about seeds, plants, the growing process, and nutrition.

Some students created a medicinal garden after doing research on plant properties and their various medicinal uses based on First Nations knowledge.

In Ladysmith, Grades 9 and 10 students worked with vulnerable Grade 2s from the primary school. Older students gained leadership and social responsibility skills, and the younger students gained mentor buddies from the high school and learned that teens can actually be friendly. They worked together on several community clean-up projects.Since 2013, the Schools Foundation has granted $88,000 for special projects at 22 schools.

“Mr. Lee’s generosity and love of learning will benefit our students and teachers for many decades to come,” says Crystal Dennison, Executive Director of the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation. “We’re so appreciative that he remembered the schools of his birth city in his Will.”

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A new Doctors of BC initiative to help children turn healthy choices into healthy habits was a huge success this year. More than 1,300 Grade 5 students in Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools participated in the challenge. Students learned about health, nutrition and fitness from medical personnel – physicians and public health associates.

The Doctors of BC partnered with local elementary schools throughout BC to bring the Be Active Every Day challenge into as many schools as possible. This past October, there was a month-long challenge – Be Active 60 minutes every day. Beginning the week of October 3, health professionals visited classrooms, provided activity booklets and promotional items, talked about Live 5-2-1-0 and the importance of staying active.

The Live 5-2-1-0 Message is supported by the Sustainable Childhood Obesity Prevention through Community Engagement (SCOPE). SCOPE is an initiative of BC Children’s Hospital that partners with communities across BC to promote healthy weights among children.

The Live 5-2-1-0 Message provides four simple guidelines for healthy choices:

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BE ACTIVEEvery DayBy Shauna DeBodt

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At the end of the month-long challenge, physicians and health associates returned to the schools to find out how the challenge went and offered encouragement

for students to keep active every day. Students also received certificates for completing the challenge.

Principal and Healthy Schools Coordinator Jacquie Poulin said, “It has been great seeing our students finding ways to be active and tracking their progress. Many thanks go out to the Nanaimo Division of Family Practice for covering the costs.”

The theme for this year’s Be Active Every Day challenge was dancing. Students were challenged to learn Michael Jackson’s Thriller

dance before Halloween. Throughout the challenge, students were presented four short videos showcasing Dance Stars. They had to set goals and were asked to document their activities in the activity booklet.

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In the fall, NDSS hosted a dedication ceremony for the Bowl is Half Full Button Blanket Mural “Winds of Change.” Thanks to the dedication and ambition of Teacher Beverly Long, the school received a grant from Art Starts in School. Many students, staff and community members worked together to create the beautiful mural. This mural became a significant piece towards Aboriginal understandings and inclusion. The project also became a shared vision for the future of NDSS, including students from NDSS, Learning Alternatives and Woodlands.

It was a huge success and the end result is a stunning addition to the school’s cafeteria which will be appreciated for many years to come.

WINDSOf Change

Click here for more information!

This fall, Uplands Park hosted the first elementary summit Y.E.S 2 Know. Y.E.S stands for Youth Empowerment Summit and Know relates to the knowledge young people need to know “now” in their lives. This one-day summit provided students with strength-based training to help them become good citizens and to also acknowledge and celebrate their own personal gifts, otherwise known as their sparks.

Students received a t-shirt, a package with activities and a Spark Zone passport. During the Spark Zone, students rotated through a variety of stations intended to spark their interest and passion. Stations included:

• Social Belonging Wall• Good/Global Citizen Wall• VIBE Dance• Parkour Gymnastics• D.A.R.E.• Photobooth• Good Citizens• Face Painting• Fear Factor

The summit was designed by Corporal Dave Cusson – RCMP Strategic Prevention Services, Central Vancouver Island District and included representatives from the community. Members from the Clippers, Vancouver Island University students, Kids International Society, VIBE dance, Parkour gymnastics and Wellington students helped facilitate stations.

The day also included three keynote speakers - Gary Anaka “The Brain,” Michael Bortolotto “Social Belonging,” and Jesse Miller “Online Citizenship.”

“The intent of this one-day summit was to provide our youth with strength- based training to support our students to be good citizens and acknowledge and celebrate their own personal gifts also known as their “Sparks”. The Y.E.S 2 Know Summit was a fantastic day and one that our students will remember for a very long time,”

said Principal Lisa Robinson.

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YOU SHOULD KNOW… . . .

A spin-off from 68 Hoorays! from staff newsletter Focus 68 (a snip-it of accomplishments and accolades about staff and students)

Thanks to DAC’s very own Christmas Elf Diana Etherton, a deserving family received a substantial Christmas package this year. During

the month of December, Diana and her elves tirelessly fundraised for the family initiating 50/50 draws and gathering donations; items were then purchased and packaged up; Diana herself delivered the packages to the family before Christmastime. This year, the sponsored family received nearly $900 worth of gifts. At the DAC, you are our Christmas gift that keeps on giving, Diana!

John Barsby Community Secondary recently hosted the school’s first annual “CUPE Appreciation Day.” Good on ya! Seated – Greg

McCormack; standing from left to right – Charlene Harbo, Susan Roy, Shelley McIntyre, Judy Stevenson, Anne Stacey, Judy Johnson, Margaret Perala and Loree Wallace.

Hooray for Shannon Jones,

teacher-librarian, at Coal Tyee

for her fabulous presentation to

our trustees, for her wonderful

work collaborating and co-

teaching the revised curriculum

and for her great coding

activities she is doing with her

students.

Thanks to Mary Innes for the amazing job she’s doing

supporting staff on MyEd. Mary goes above and beyond

trouble shooting and is always thinking ahead.

Patricia Lindsay has done an amazing job stepping in

for our head secretary Marianne Hendren. Patricia has

always been the heart of Wellington, and is now handling

Marianne’s job with such grace. This has been a real God-

send for Wellington.

A shout out to John Thyssen, Bonnie Schnitter, Donna Spencer and Sandra Drakeley. They really stepped up their

game this year. They are an incredible source of information

and assistance, always with such kindness. I don’t feel so

lost in my job anymore; any problem and I know they are

there for me. They are so appreciated by everyone in the

district, thank you! [ 11 ]conntectED

Send us your story ideas, comments or kudos to students and staff to communications@sd68.bc.ca We’d love to hear from you!

Welcome Tiffany Skibinsky to our Communications Team.

Tiffany will be our new

Multimedia Designer. She

will be doing a combination

of print, web and video

projects for the district.

Previously, Tiffany was

Lead signer at Xerox Global

Services in Calgary before

moving to the Okanagan

working as a freelance

designer. If you require

any of Tiffany’s assistance

with future projects please

contact your supervisor.

Nivedan Kaushal and Ben Katz have created a new student website for Dover Bay Secondary School. Here you can find all the information you need on a regular

basis such as the Friday block rotation, lunch menu, announcements, club info, and more. They realized that to meet the demands of the 21st century, they had to innovate the way information is communicated to students in all grades. It was clear to them that creating a new and interactive website dedicated to relevant and accessible information was the best way to achieve this goal. Here’s the link: www.dbdolphins.com

Ben KatzNivedan Kaushal

[ 12 CHOCOLATE MAGAZINE

Stay informed! Download the SD68 mobile app on your Apple or Android device

sd68.bc.caDale Burgos Director of Communications

Shauna DeBodt Executive Assistant - Communications

Tiffany Skibinsky Multimedia Designer/Specialist