Fort High World Issues Class serves breakfast to Huffman School children
(December 15, 2004) - The students at Huffman School were treated to a breakfast of pancakes, juice and oranges by Robroy Donaldson’s Grade 12 World Issues class. As the young children completed their meals, they joined one of a number of small groups where a high school student sat and read stories to them.
Huffman School Principal, Dianne Thompson was impressed with the demeanor of the high school students, their ability to connect with the younger students and the flexibility they displayed. “The Fort High students served as strong positive role models,” she said. "The older students had the full attention of the young ones. The whole idea of getting attention from the 'big kids' had even those with normally very short attention spans hanging on every word."
“The idea came from the students,” said Fort High teacher Robroy Donaldson. As the class was starting a unit on global food issues and chronic persistent hunger, Donaldson suggested that the students do something active to get involved. “I was really proud that they thought, organized and saw it through,” he enthused. Donaldson also gave credit for success to his student teacher, Ryan Macuhan, who has now returned to Bemidji.
Thomas, a Grade 1 student at Huffman, said, “They did a good job cooking. I had 5 pancakes and they were delicious! If you eat a good breakfast, you do better in school.” Another student remarked, “I never ate breakfast (that day) so I was lucky.” Busy families at every income level often don’t have time to make breakfast and some children aren’t hungry until they get to school. A nutritious breakfast helps students to focus on learning and improve academic performance.
Creating links with students around the world – Megaconference VI
(December 9, 2004) - Robert Moore and Atikokan High participated in Meagaconference, a worldwide video conferencing event on Thursday, December 9, 2004. Megaconference VI ran for 12 hours with 372 sites registered on every continent throughout the world except Antarctica. At Robert Moore School, the conference was organized by a group of volunteer teachers, students, and school technology leaders at Internet2 K-20 to give students in schools around the world an opportunity to communicate, collaborate and contribute to each other’s learning in real time.
Students of the Grade 6 Ojibwe Language class, under the supervision of Ms. Dana Kosowick and Mr. Sam Archie, took part in the conference, presenting on the Ojibwe language, and performing a traditional dance, accompanied by the Couchiching First Nation drummers.
Atikokan High School students played a game of “Name that object” and displayed items that may not be recognized around the world such as an ice auger, snowshoes and moose antlers. Students also presented Outers, a physically and mentally interdisciplinary program that challenges students through outdoor experiential learning.
Throughout the day, other classes viewed presentations by schools from countries such as New Zealand, Spain, the United States and China. In promoting the understanding and use of videoconferencing technology, the conference also furthered international cultural awareness.
Rodney Brown had the crowd rockin’
(December 8 & 10, 2004) - Rodney Brown's performances had students, parents and staff singing and dancing to upbeat music and lyrics about northern winter activities and the Christmas season. Concerts were held at Crossroads, Robert Moore and J.W. Walker last week. Santa paid a visit during the Walker School performance and was seen on Walker's webcam dancing down the aisles. The whole gymnasium of staff and students quickly got to their feet and followed suit right behind Santa in a long winding Conga line through the aisles! A great time was had by all those who attended.
Rodney Brown has earned his living as a singer songwriter for thirty years. With seven albums to his credit, Rodney played clubs and festivals from coast to coast in the 70s and 80s. What makes Brown's original tunes so unique is his fusion of rock, reggae, country, folk, and jazz styles. His recent release, The Big Lonely celebrates the history and beauty of his native home in Northwestern Ontario.
Drug awareness program at Robert Moore
(December 8, 2004) - Constable Caroline Spencer revealed the dark realities of substance abuse to Grade 7 and 8 students at Robert Moore School.
Constable Spencer discussed the dangers of drinking and driving and noted that in 2002, 104 people in the Rainy River District were charged with drinking and driving offences. Students sat silently as they viewed an emotional video of a mock crash, filmed at Fort Frances High School. Constable Spencer stated that, “Although the legal drinking age is 19, the largest group at risk for this offence is between the ages of 16 and 19.” The students were warned not to get into a vehicle with older siblings or friends that may drink and drive. “One drink affects the decision-making process,” warned Constable Spencer. “Drinking and driving is the largest cause of death in Canada and it is a choice. It is something you can control.”
Some Grade 7 and 8 students are already going to parties even if they don’t drink alcohol. Rohypnol (nicknamed roofies) and GHB (known as Special K) are date rape drugs that are odourless, colourless, and if slipped into a beverage, dissolve within 10 minutes. Students were warned not to leave beverages unattended when they are at a party. These drugs knock you unconscious, remove memory, cause liver damage, circulation damage and “it can kill you,” stated Spencer.
Methamphetamines are an extremely serious and growing problem. Labs can be set up virtually anywhere and in the manufacturing process an extremely toxic gas is produced. Users are instantly addicted the moment they first take it and it quickly causes permanent brain damage. According to Constable Spencer, the drug has been found in Minnesota but has not yet been found in the Rainy River District area.