FALL/WINTER EDITION 2009 VOLUME 10
NUMBER 3
Finn’s Case
H20 for Africa
Child Study Centre Celebrates 40 Years Hardisty School – Something special happening here Camp fYrefly saving lives KEEPING ALUMNI CURRENT
Susan Aglukark – Keep the light
Greetings
from the
As I write this in the context of a busy, sunny fall day, I am reminded of the exceptional beauty and talent that is all around us on this remarkable campus. I am amazed by the quality, breadth and depth of our work that continues to grow despite challenging economic times. I am very pleased to share with you this edition of The Orange featuring some of the meaningful events and recent achievements in the Faculty of Education. You will see photos highlighting a parade of over 200 students from our Child Study Centre (CSC) who gathered at Education’s courtyard to celebrate the CSC’s 40th anniversary. Our Cover features the story of young visionary
Finn Case, a CSC student who has helped to raise over $27,000 for water wells in Africa. In addition, we share with you a snapshot of Hardisty School and the work that exemplifies what is being accomplished by some of the amazing teachers and administrators within this province. We include a feature about Susan Aglukark who visited us to introduce her holistic mentoring program. We present an extended “Class Notes” section, and much more. On a special note, I encourage each of you to visit the Royal Alberta Museum to view the 26 original Ted Harrison paintings that provided the illustrations for “A Northern Alphabet”. These paintings were
Dean recently gifted by the artist to the Faculty of Education, for the children of Alberta. They will be on display at the museum until January 31, 2010. The Faculty and University are honored by this special gift from Dr. Harrison (’77 BEd; ’05 LLD-Honorary), an alumnus who has brought a vivid artistic and human touch to our Faculty and campus for many years. I thank you now more than ever for your continued support and encouragement. May the winter season bring you great joy and gentle peace. Fern Snart, ’79 PhD Dean
KEEPING ALUMNI CURRENT FALL/WINTER EDITION 2009
VOLUME 10
NUMBER 3
ON THE COVER: 14 Finn’s Case – H20 for Africa Eight year old student from the Child Study Centre raises over $27,000 to build water wells in Uganda.
FEATURES 10 Hardisty School – Something special happening here
6 Child Study Centre celebrates 40 years A photo spread of the CSC’s celebratory parade, windsock presentation and ceremony on Education’s quad
Strong leadership results in increased student engagement and achievement
8 Camp fYrefly saving lives
5 Susan Aglukark urges Aboriginal students to keep the light
Youth attending Camp fYrefly summer leadership program express a life changing experience
“Try to let go of the past if and when you can” Aglukark says
DEPARTMENTS 12 20 years for Read-in-Week
19 Education Generations wall
13 Ted Harrison’s gift to the children of Alberta
20 Homecoming 2009 - Education Dean’s Brunch
17 Education Undergraduate Researchers in the field
22 Class notes
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Greetings
The Orange is the Faculty of Education’s alumni magazine. Published twice a year by the Faculty’s Office of External Relations, the Orange is distributed to alumni, friends, faculty, students and staff.
from the Office of External Relations
D e a n o f E duca tio n
Fern Snart E x e c u t ive- E dito r
Director of External Relations/Development Neil Hayes Editor
Director of Communications Dawn Ford E x t e r n al R ela tio ns Tea m
Carl Busch Desiree Kendrick Sean Mowat Carrie Potvin G r a p h i c Design
Penny Snell, Creative Services
C o n t r i b uting w riters a nd phot ographe rs
Akemi, Angelique Case, Carl Busch, Carmen Leibel, Dawn Ford, John Kok, Michael Holly, Michael Davies-Venn, Neil Hayes, Sean Mowat, University of Alberta’s New Trail alumni, magazine, file contributions. Although we cannot name everyone, we thank each of you who contributed photos and copy to our new edition. Your participation enriches our work in so many ways. Send your comments to: Office of External Relations Faculty of Education University of Alberta 4-107 Education North Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5 Tel: 780-492-7755 Fax: 780-492-0155 Email: education.alumni@ualberta.ca www.education.ualberta.ca
Education has one of the largest groups of supporters on campus, and often people stop by the office to say hello, offer encouraging words, or send an email or note saying they appreciate the work the Faculty is doing. Many times our supporters ask us how they can help. It doesn’t have to be a large or complex donation. For example, with student costs climbing and good paying part time jobs scarce, scholarships and bursaries are needed now more than ever. You can help in many ways including monthly gifts, estate gifts or by establishing a named scholarship or bursary. Our alumni continue to support and uplift our current undergraduate and graduate students. Your generosity offers hope; changes lives, and allows us to make a difference here and around the world. Your encouragement propels us forward. Thank you for partnering with us and for sharing in our passion for education. We are thrilled to repay your generosity by giving you a present – our best Orange yet! Enjoy. Yours truly, Neil Hayes CFRE, Director of Development U of A Faculty of Education
Susan Aglukark urges Aboriginal students
‘don’t let the light go out’
located 30 minutes southwest of Stony Plain. They travelled by bus with their teachers, principal T.J. Skalski and district superintendent Ed Wittchen. “Some of our children can tell stories that would break your hearts. Our families have been through much, but the students who are here today can pass on the message that ‘you, too, can be like Susan Aglukark,’” said Wittchen. Three-time Juno award winner Aglukark has performed for Queen Elizabeth, Canadian prime ministers, Nelson Mandela and Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, as well as several other dignitaries. Her presentation included blending Inuktitut and English languages with her lyrics that address, through her own experience, the social problems on reserves and small towns throughout Northern Alberta. She spoke about the importance of selfesteem, taking back control of one’s life and finding a way to help future generations of children to rise up and be responsible. “We carry the burden of change for our children, and we need to engage them in their learning. Education is not about just school. It’s everything,” said Aglukark. “Make it safe again so that they are not afraid.” During an impromptu moment, Aglukark asked the audience to rise for a round dance. More than 200 people held hands and danced in a circle as she sang her poetic melodies, many of which were inspired by her early experiences growing up in the North.
Susan Aglukark, the U of A’s Distinguished Scholar in Residence, spoke to Aboriginal students at the Telus Centre on Sept. 28.
by Dawn F ord ( ‘ 0 0 B E d ) Singer, songwriter and Distinguished Scholar in Residence Susan Aglukark addressed a large crowd of Aboriginal students, campus and community members at the University of Alberta’s Telus Centre Sept. 28.
“It’s an awesome responsibility that we have. We can continue the history of what the residential schools experience did to us, or we can take control and find that early light we had as children, those first moments where you felt butterflies in your stomach.” The audience included 35 children from Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School,
“I remember when my son was two. There was a moment he looked at me, and I saw complete trust in his eyes. I never want to see that light go out,” said Aglukark. “Surround yourself with like-minded people. Recover and heal yourself. Try to let go of the past if and when and you can.” Appointed as a University of Alberta Distinguished Scholar in Residence in July of 2008, Aglukark has an office in the U of A’s Faculty of Native Studies. In 2005, she was presented with the Officer of the Order of Canada award for her contributions, both musically and as a workshop facilitator and mentor in the Aboriginal community.
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Child Study Centre
Celebrates 40 Years
The CSC parade began from each of three locations simultaneously
January 2009 marked the 40th anniversary of the opening of the first class at the Child Study Centre (CSC). To celebrate, an unprecedented number of students, teachers, parents, faculty and staff paraded from each of the three CSC locations to Education’s west courtyard. The ceremony included a windsock presentation created by some of the children. Campus security and a host of volunteers chaperoned the event. A cupcake ceremony closed the afternoon. CSC Director Larry Prochner
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CSC students are encouraged early to become visionaries
watching the cupcakes arrive
CSC teacher Lee Makovichuck surrounded by her students in Education’s quad a young student makes her way down 87th ave
students delighted in energy of the parade
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University – Community Educational
Project Saves Lives Carl Busch
For the youth attending Camp fYrefly, camp is an opportunity to finally be accepted for who they are, which is a rare and life changing experience. Over 50 youth from across Canada, aged 14-24, who spent four days in July at the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services (iSMSS) summer leadership camp held in Edmonton for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, intersexed, queer, questioning, and allied (LGBTTIQ & A) youth, had an opportunity to share life experiences with other like-minded individuals. Rather than canoe trips and and campfire songs, Camp fYrefly participants attend workshops on sexuality and spirituality, sexual health, self-defense and hate crimes, dance and theatre arts, zine creation, and safely addressing homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism in their schools and communities. Each workshop is led by one of many adult volunteers or members of the local community who make Camp fYrefly possible, including officers from the Edmonton Police Service and the RCMP, with the goal of developing leadership skills and building resiliency amongst LGBTTIQ & A youth. “Camp fYrefly is important to LGBTTIQ youth because even though, as Canadians, we are lucky to live in a democratic country where our rights and freedoms are protected by law; culture, society, and schools as replicators of culture and society have not caught up to legislation, the law, and educational policy,” says Dr. Andre Grace, Director of iSMSS and co-director and co-founder of Camp fYrefly. “The violence, hetero-norms, prejudices, and stereotypes towards sexual minority youth are very much alive and well in our schools. In fact, I would argue that in our country, where we have equal rights, there is an unspoken segregation of sexual minority youth in society and schools that Camp fYrefly addresses,” he says.
fYrefly youth leader Ryan Rowe helps camper Shawndy Kowalchuk print tshirts at SNAP: Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists.
Zachary Berg, a grade 12 student from rural Alberta, agrees with Dr. Grace and says that when he first realized he was gay, the homophobia and heterosexism present in his school and home community made him hesitant to accept himself and tell others that he was gay. “After I told my best friend that I was gay, he outed me to the whole school and I was tormented to the point where I felt I had to stop going to school for my own safety,” says Zachary. “I became isolated and depressed.”
“Coming to Camp fYrefly gave me a sense of unity, of being part of a community, a feeling of belonging, which, coming from a small town, isn’t something I’ve ever experienced.” “Camp is the one place where you experience a feeling of complete acceptance, something I’ve never felt before,” says Erica McFadden, another camper at Camp fYrefly 2009. “It’s the only place you can feel as special as you really are because everyone of us has faced discrimination, violence, and prejudices because of our sexuality.”
Zachary Berg (centre) and Erica McFadden (right) work on art projects at SNAP: Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists.
During many of the Camp’s workshops, youth told stories about being bullied, called names, physically assaulted and subjected to demeaning behavior by other students in their schools and out in public. “These are the realities that most sexual minority youth face everyday,” says Dr. Andre Grace. “Sexual minority youth in Canada are three times more likely to ideate or commit suicide than heterosexual youth, and recent research suggests that youth in Alberta are 13 times more likely to ideate or commit suicide than their heterosexual peers.”
“Youth, all youth, need to be seen as special human beings whose integrity needs to be the focus of those who work with them; their teachers, parents or caregivers. The whole idea of integrity is respecting people’s identities, including their sexual and gender identities, without which we see youth turning to the streets because their homes and school experiences are so painful, and often, dangerous.” These experiences are the reasons why the Faculty of Education and iSMSS continue to work towards ensuring that all sexual minority youth, from around Canada and North
America, are able to experience Camp fYrefly, explains Dr. Grace. Above all, Camp fYrefly is about creating “safe spaces” where participants feel affirmed and connected. Grace believes the Camp will be needed for many years to come, and hopes society will support expanding it to even more provinces and communities around Canada and North America. The Camp, which began in 2004, has now spread to British Columbia and Saskatchewan, with a total of three camps and over 150 participants per year.
Go Green and Request a Digital Edition of the Orange In keeping with the Faculty of Education’s commitment to environmental sustainability, we encourage you to consider receiving a digital edition of the Orange instead of a print copy. It’s as simple as sending us your email address via post, fax or email to our office as follows: Office of External Relations Faculty of Education 4-107 Education North Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5 Fax: 780-492-0155 Email: education.alumni@ualberta.ca
The International School of Macao (TIS)
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l-r: Scott Markine, Kristi Specht (’03 BEd), Al Lowrie (’81 BEd), Dr. Stephen Leppard (’03 EdD, ’92 Med, ’86 BEd), Kym Francis (’03 BEd), Tara Copeman (’04 BEd, ’01 BA),
current success. “When I first came to Hardisty, I listened to find out what the staff, parents and students liked and didn’t like,” says Lowrie, “I found several good things going on that were established by the very capable leaders who preceded me. However, I was very distressed to discover the disrespect and poor attitudes many students were showing to staff and other students.” The transformation of student behavior was a long process, and Lowrie had to make some tough decisions in order to create the positive safe learning environment his teachers and parents demanded, which included the necessary expulsion of two students.
Welcome to
Hardisty!
Please don’t step on our Sean M owat ( ’ 9 5 BEd ) “Welcome to Hardisty!” was the greeting a group of students sang in chorus as I walked past them on my way to the Hardisty library. I was there to meet with other Faculty of Education representatives to learn about Hardisty’s success in using technology to augment student learning. During my arrival, I received other similar greetings and witnessed a young student in his well-worn Nike runners nimbly bounce around the big “H” Hardisty logo painted on the hallway floor. He was demonstrating the respect and pride he possessed for his school by not stepping on the “H”. I remember thinking at that moment, “there is something special happening here, and it goes way beyond technology, I wonder what it is?”
Ronda Lisowski, a parent who experienced the change of Hardisty first hand, says, “When Al Lowrie took over as principal, he encouraged me to enroll my second daughter at Hardisty in her grade 7 year. Now in grade 9, my daughter has had a remarkably successful learning experience with enriched technology programs and extra-curricular learning activities.” Lowrie provides an example of an initiative put in place to encourage kids to be “good” students in every sense of the word, “If students wish to participate in extra- curricular activities, such as ski trips, the students must get their teachers and other staff, such as the custodian, to sign off on a permission form. The form stipulates that the student is maintaining their individualized education goals and has upheld the values of the school which are respect, responsibility and relationships.”
“H”
After spending a day at Hardisty, I learned that once Principal Al Lowrie and Assistant Principal Dr. Stephen Leppard took over the administration of the school, the approval ratings increased from 69% to its current rating of 94%. In 2008, the entire educational team received an Edmonton Regional Coalition Teaching Award for Inclusive Education and; in 2009, three teachers received Achievement Certificates in the Prime Minister Awards in Teaching Excellence. More significantly, I learned about the increase in student engagement and achievement and about teachers working collaboratively in a supportive environment. These achievements are spectacular, but the real question remains: What is the secret behind Hardisty’s success?
Lowrie describes the initial steps to Hardisty’s
“A critical component of our success is the collaborative culture that we have created here,” Leppard says. “We work together using action-research, which is a systematic process where we carefully examine our educational practices not to learn why we do certain things, but rather how we can do things better. It is about how we can change what we do to positively impact our students. This is a continuous process of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting according to Leppard who has a slinky on his desk to remind him of the perpetual process of action-research spiraling continually upward. “We are very proud of Scott Markine, Kym Francis and Kristi Specht who all received Prime Minister Awards in Teaching Excellence this year, but there are no divas here at
Hardisty,” says Lowrie, “I believe a rising tide raises all ships and, not to diminish their individual successes as amazing teachers which they are, Hardisty has several amazing teachers and that is because of the collaborative culture that exists.” To emphasize his point Principal Lowrie tells me that, thanks to Technology Department Head, Tara Copeman who spent part of her summer at the Faculty of Education learning about robotics and its educational benefits, Hardisty now has a Robotics course. “Students are so engaged in the process of building and programming their own robots to carry out specific tasks, that they don’t even realize they are learning problem solving and mastering a number of scientific and mathematical concepts at the same time”, says Copeman. Dr. Olenka Bilash (PhD ’89, MSc ’84), a professor in Secondary Education, who was Leppard’s doctoral supervisor and is currently Lowrie’s graduate supervisor, has a very acute perspective on what is happening at Hardisty. “Al and Stephen have created a shared vision where relationships, respect, responsibility and empathy are a priority. Staff and students alike feel empowered, encouraged and comfortable exploring new ways of doing things without fear of failure or of being rebuked. Without a shared vision teachers tend to keep what they are doing a secret, preventing others from learning from their successes and failures. A collaborative teaching culture is the reason Hardisty is so successful, but it wouldn’t exist if Al and Stephen didn’t live the vision, contribute to the learning, believe in the potential of people and provide the space and the resources for teachers to improve and share in the important decisions,” says Bilash. “In order to have a collaborative culture the learning must be collaborative as well, and this is why we synchronize our professional development by going in groups,” adds Lowrie. Bilash further explains, “Common PD experiences provide the teachers at Hardisty with a shared understanding and language for deeper discussions, which create support for change, which in turn create a community that ensures the momentum of learning and change continues.” “Technology has been an integral part of student success, and has contributed significantly to our collaborative teaching culture” says Leppard, “but our technology would not be nearly so advanced if our collaborative culture wasn’t firmly grounded. It was through the collaborative action-research process that as a school we decided to make
technology a priority and pursued a planned course to attain the technology necessary to deliver the curriculum using proven practice and theory.” “Technology has dramatically increased engagement and is a great equalizer. It has lifted the achievement of our below average students remarkably,“ says Tara Copeman, “In my One to One laptop classroom, I can provide differentiated lessons for all student levels without having to separate them into groups – technology allows me to be prescriptive to each student.” “In an effort to create a One to One technology school, we allow students to bring in their own laptops, itouches, iphones etc., because we want our students to have access to the technology that we know improves their learning, and mirrors the world in which they live,” says science teacher Kristi Specht, “we are completely wireless and have created a portal for our students that provides them with anytime, anywhere access with their own devices to all their lessons, video, audio, assignments and materials.” Language Arts Department Head Kym Francis brings attention to another crucial piece of the puzzle and that is the relationships between the staff and the students. “Al and Stephen always greet the students every morning at the door,” says Francis, “They know their students personally and they celebrate their successes with them. Our students trust us and know we are
interested in them, not just as students, but as individuals.” I was supplied with a few quotes from students that emphasized Kym’s point, but one mother’s testimony about a recent conversation she heard between her daughter and a friend seems the most emphatic: “You should come to my school instead. Nobody there cares if you have a disability and they treat you with respect. They don’t treat you like you’re different – they just want you to do well. It’s a great school and I love it there. Why don’t you see if you can come to Hardisty too?” I now realize that the “something special” at Hardisty is the leadership team that understands the potential and the needs of people. By providing a shared vision and core values, Lowrie and Leppard have created a trusting collaborative culture in which everything is shared, the good and the bad. The staff work together using their vision and values as a guide and they have evolved their technology to a level that has significantly impacted the engagement and achievement of their students. If I were to sum up Hardisty’s leadership and staff, and the vision and values they hold dear in a phrase, I would repeat the first greeting I was given from the students and combine it with the unspoken statement of the “nimble” student I met on my first visit to Hardisty. “Welcome to Hardisty! Please don’t step on our “H”.
U of A
Open House 2009
U of A Mascot Guba, Approximately 5,000 people attended this year’s open house. Education representatives spoke to over 500 prospective students.
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Books as Windows to the World
20 years for Read-in-Week Local elementary students celebrated the 20th annual City of Edmonton Read in Week at the U of A’s newly-furbished H.T. Coutts Library in the education building. Featured readers and special guests included Education Dean Fern Snart, Room to Read Founder John Wood, Chancellor Linda Hughes and the U of A’s Vice-Provost and Chief Librarian Ernie Ingles.
Chancellor’s Cup Golf Tournament Each year, the Chancellor’s Cup Golf Tournament raises public awareness regarding the University of Alberta’s commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance and vast accomplishments in the areas of teaching, research and community service. The tournament also raises money to help recruit new students to the University of Alberta. The Faculty of Education’s undergraduate office recently was awarded $5,000 from this fund in response to their recruitment proposal.
Room to Read is a nonprofit organization that has established more than 7,000 libraries and 760 schools worldwide impacting the lives of over 3 million children. Themed “books as windows to the world,” this year’s read-inweek aimed to encourage students not to take literacy for granted.
Golfers were given a surprise quiz on their knowledge of the Faculty of Education. Successful respondents lounged on the teacher’s pet chair while others were given a time out.
Come Celebrate
A Northern Alphabet and share the beauty of artist Ted Harrison’s gift to the children of Alberta Edward (Ted) Harrison (’77 BEd, ’05 LLD Honorary) is hailed as a prolific painter, award-winning illustrator and gifted educator who meaningfully broke through cultural barriers as he incorporated local culture in appropriate ways while a teacher in Canada’s north. In 2009, Edward (Ted) Harrison, through the
with the Museum’s many other educational
University of Alberta, gifted his “Northern
exhibits. To book a visit, please contact the
Alphabet Series” of 26 original paintings
Museum booking office by phone at 780-
lustrations selected for the International
to the children of Alberta and for children
452-9131 or by email at book.ram@gov.
Children’s Book Exhibition in Bologna,
everywhere who want to experience the
ab.ca. Visit www.royalalbertamuseum.ca for
Italy, where his children’s book A
colourful life of the north. Harrison credits the
more information.
Northern Alphabet was selected for the
children for inspiring the series of paintings that are now a rich addition to the U of A Art Collection through the University of Alberta Museums. The gift to Alberta’s children commemorates Harrison’s first Edmonton Art
Teachers, viewing these paintings is a wonderful opportunity to engage students in the beauty of northern life and will also:
work can be found in numerous private and public collections throughout and
Support the grade 5 social studies curriculum
•
Provide content for an inspiring language arts assignment
of Alberta Museums invite you to visit the Royal Alberta Museum between November
Youth Honor List for Illustrations. His
around the world. •
Exhibition 40 years ago. The Faculty of Education and the University
He is the first Canadian to have book il-
•
Motivate students for a creative lesson
28, 2009 and January 31st 2010 to view
In 1987, he received the Order of Canada for his contribution to Canadian culture. He was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from The University of Alberta in 2002 and an
the original 26 Ted Harrison paintings that
Please contact the Office of External Relations
Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the
illustrate the artist’s famed book, A Northern
at 780-492-4742 with any questions relating
University of Alberta in 2005.
Alphabet.
to this or other University of Alberta Faculty of Education alumni events.
Harrison’s stories of teaching, his in-
Take a field trip to the Royal Alberta Museum
tegrity, charm and colourful spirit have
and enjoy this special exhibition, along
deeply touched the people of Canada.
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Finn’s Case
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H20 for Africa A journey that began at the Child Study Centre To date Finn has raised over $27,000 to build water wells in Uganda. Two have already been built and plans for a third are in the midst.
Carmen L eibel
Ring House 3 on the University of Alberta campus is home to one of the province’s unique learning gems. It’s where kindergarten students learn early how to be researchers, investigators and even visionaries, as part of the Faculty of Education’s Child Study Centre (CSC). And it’s where Finn Case, an eight-year-old student at the CSC, found a way to dig for water in Africa. Finn’s philanthropic journey began four years ago, while in kindergarten at the CSC. During a lesson on pulleys and levers he decided he needed to make a Wishing Well to collect money to build water wells in Uganda. He was disturbed
by a movie he had watched with his mother about poverty in Africa. ‘What do you mean they’re poor like that Mommy?’ she recalls him asking her. “He was dumbfounded they didn’t have clean drinking water,” says Angelique Case. Encouraged by his CSC teacher Lee Makovichuck, Finn’s Wishing Well fundraiser became a class project, and although the students raised $77.00 for World Vision, to Finn this was not good enough. He wanted to do more. Case remembers a pivotal moment when Finn’s teacher decided to help make his dream a reality. “When Lee said he won’t let it go, let’s let him run with it and see how far he can take it. I started crying,” says Case.
Together with his family and teacher, Finn found a hub for his cause through Ryan’s Well Foundation. He was able to match his mission to a project that would involve raising $9,000 to build a rainwater collection tank for a community in Uganda. With the help of his classmates, the hard work began. Finn constructed lemonade stands on campus, spoke at schools, gave presentations for local executives and organized a benefit concert. Finn accomplished all this, by the age of six. The rainwater collection tank was completed this year, and now 6,000 people have clean drinking water. To date Finn has raised over $27,000 to build
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water wells in Uganda. Two have already been built and plans for a third are in the midst. Now eight years old, Finn attends grade three at the CSC’s Garneau School, a collaboration with Edmonton Public Schools, and is in close contact with African pen pals he has made along the way. The Child Study Centre, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is one of two laboratory schools in Canada; the other is at the University of Toronto. The Centre began in one of the U of A’s Ring Houses in 1969, when there were no publically funded kindergartens in the province. In the early 1990’s, at the request of impressed parents, the program expanded to include grades one, two and soon after grade three. A junior kindergarten class was added next and today the program goes up to grade six with most classes being held at Garneau School. Julie Gellner, who is a teacher in the CSC, says that over the last decade the program has evolved into what is now called a ‘project approach.’ “You know you need to cover certain aspects of curriculum but it’s kind of a collaboration between the interests of the children around the curriculum, following their passions, and then supporting their learning with relevant field trips in the community and having expert speakers coming in,” says Gellner. The project approach concept was developed by former CSC director Sylvia Chard. Susan Lynch continued to expand that work when she took on the role of director following Chard.
“I think the Child Study Centre is one of those little special gems,” says Lynch, who was director from 2003 to 2009.
“I might do it my whole life…who knows. I’d like to have every spot in Africa that doesn’t have clean water to have a well.”
“My personal sense is that there is a bit of a coming of age at the Centre, that it’s not struggling in enrollment and is maintaining its funding the way it has been in the past,” she adds.
To make a donation towards Finn’s well fundraiser e-mail Angelique Case at imacase@ yahoo.com.
As for Finn, he just wants clean water for Africa.
For more information, visit the CSC website at www.childstudycentre.ualberta.ca/. For more information on Ryan’s Well Foundation, go to www.ryanswell.ca.
Raising the bar on research – education undergraduates in the field By Dawn F ord ( ‘ 0 0 B E d ) When Ruby Smith, a 4th year secondary education student at the University of Alberta, pursued an opportunity to do undergraduate research, she had no idea she was about to be immersed in the Chilean Penguin Revolution. “It’s so inspiring to see how quickly students have joined together to mobilize and protest for a better education, and even more inspiring to see that the movement is primarily led by women,” says Smith who spent her summer interviewing and documenting stories from women who fought against dictatorship in South America. The revolution is a social movement by high school students in Chile who are protesting the neo-liberalization of education in their country and is a passion for Smith’s research supervisor Dr. Donna Chovanec from Educational Policy Studies. But the point is really about a growing trend towards including more undergraduate students in the research process earlier in their academic careers. And it’s a vision carried forward by Dr. Lorne Babiuk, the U of A Vice-President Research who is a steadfast ambassador for research. “My first summer doing research instilled in me that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I have never had to work a day in my life because I am doing what I love,” said Babiuk to the group of undergraduate researchers and their supervisors. Intended to cultivate and support research partnerships between 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students, the Roger S. Smith award, worth $10,000, provides for 10 weeks of research-based activity over the summer. This year, 23 education students applied for the award. Criteria for success includes students’ ability to show a firm grasp of the field being studied as well as strong GPA. The bar is high. Undergraduate students are invited to apply for the 2010 research year. Application date
is March 1, 2010. See below for a complete listing of this year’s research teams and topics.
Career and Technology Studies (CTS) teacher recruitment, retention, and education (Dr Bonnie Watt-Malcolm & Kendra Sole)
Faculty of Education 2009 Roger S. Smith Undergraduate Research Projects:
Using sexual-minority youth resilience research to inform queer critical theory building and educational policy making (Dr. André Grace & Alexander Dalderis)
Why Teachers Teach: Motivation of teachers in eight countries (Dr Rob Klassen & Shea Betts) Volunteer Tutor: Characteristics, experiences and perceptions (Dr. Lynne McGarvey and Nettie Wong) Enhancing the Assessment Process for students diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Dr. Jacqueline Pei and Janet Hughes) Examining educational factors related to women’s long-term success in the practice of Medicine (Dr Cheryl Poth & Athena Photinopoulos) Alberta Training Needs for Personnel and Family Involved in the Care, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Individuals with Autism (Dr Veronica Smith & Andrea Lever)
Tracking high school apprentices (Dr Alison Taylor & Peter Maguire) The Penguin Revolution: Exploring intergenerational learning in an emerging social movement in Chile (Dr Donna Chovanec & Ruby Smith) Examining the cognitive determinants of development dyslexia in different languages: Language-specific or universal? (Dr George Georgiou & Anya Mae Tan) Links: www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/education/ RogerSSmithUndergraduateResearchAward.cfm Office of the Vice-President, Research www. uofaweb.ualberta.ca/vpresearch/index.cfm
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Leaving a Legacy Life Insurance as part of Estate Planning John K ok “I have decided to give a gift of life insurance to the UofA Faculty of People over age 95 were asked, “If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently?” They said they would reflect more, risk more, and do more things that would live on after they were gone. Unfortunately we are old before we know it and our regrets start to take the place of our dreams. Is it too late? Can we be like Ebenezer Scrooge and get a second chance? Sure why not?
Education to support doctoral and graduate students whose research focuses in areas of Christian religious education. These students and the Faculty of Education are near and dear to my heart. ” Dr. Jim Parsons Professor, secondary education
In my work as an estate planner, I’m in a great position to show others how to make a difference and leave a legacy. It starts with showing how to do this without taking away from your quality of life. We use tools such as the Income Tax Act and Life Insurance.
Incontestable – Since the donation is arranged outside the Will, it cannot be challenged by your beneficiaries in court. There can be no ill will on the part of the heirs, for the gift was made from income during the lifetime of the donor.
exists i.e. your mortgage is paid off, kids have grown up, you have outlived your spouse etc. So if you no longer need a particular policy, then it can be gifted to the charity and both you and the charity can enjoy the benefits of that gift now.
How can life insurance help leave a legacy, both to the benefit of the donor and the charity? One major disadvantages of life insurance –the need to be insurable, has been removed. This is no longer a major issue since the introduction of policies known as Joint Last to Die plans. In this case, if one of the couple is healthy, they may still qualify and in charitable gifting, we can even substitute another healthy couple!
Prompt Payment – A bequest by Will can take considerable time to be settled as it goes through the probate process. Life insurance proceeds on the other hand, pass outside the estate and are paid promptly without any administrative or legal costs.
It often comes down to a choice. You can leave your money to family, to charity and/or to the tax department. You can pick any two that you like but if you don’t choose right, the tax department is the default option.
Benefits to the Donor and the Charity Economical – Many people want to make a significant contribution to a worthy cause. Life insurance offers an economical way to make this happen. For a relatively small cost, one can leave a substantial amount, not otherwise possible, to one’s favourite charity. Not everyone has $100,000 to give but some people have $100 per month. Tax benefits - Giving through a life insurance program and subsequent premium payments entitle the individual donor to a tax credit. These substantial tax benefits further reduce the net cost of the donation. No Diminishing Estate – Premiums are paid during the lifetime of the donor. By funding the charitable donation with life insurance, one can be sure that gifts to loved ones will not be diminished by the charitable donation. The lump sum to the charity is paid by the insurance company, and not the estate.
Flexible – The donor can select the number of payments desired, or can even make a single payment to set up and prepay the program. There is a whole array of programs that can be customized for each individual’s circumstances and budget. Full Proceeds go to the intended recipient – there is no shrinkage of life insurance proceeds due to taxes, legal fees, probate or administration costs. Life insurance is separate from the estate and paid by contract. A charitable bequest is certain – A Will providing for a hefty charitable bequest may fail. The estate will then be settled under the laws of decent and distribution of the province in which the donor lived. These provincial laws do not provide for charitable payments. The bequest cannot be contested – Since the donation is arranged outside your Will, it cannot be challenged by your beneficiaries in court. Life insurance gifting allows you to use a new policy or even an existing one. Gifting an existing policy to charity makes a lot of sense if the reason you bought the policy no longer
What if you could pay all of your estate costs, support your favorite charity and still leave your entire estate to your children? Effectively estate planning allows you to provide for our families and ourselves and benefits the organizations we care about. The plan will either be one that provides for family needs and hopefully provides thoughtful benefits to one’s chosen charities or it will simply be a procedure governed by provincial law to dispose quickly and impersonally of our estates without regards to what we might have wanted. It’s your choice! Remember the question put to those 95 year olds? If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently? Remember their answers? They would reflect more, risk more and do more things that would live on after they were gone. Go and do likewise. John Kok has been helping people plan their financial futures for the past 30 years. President of Navigator Financial, an independent financial services company, he can be reached at (780) 425-5870 or e-mail: john@ navigatorfinancial.com.
Education Generations
A bright new feature wall has been added in the 4th floor lounge of Education North. The Faculty is proud to announce the completion of Education Generations. The display honours the many generations of Education graduates from the University of Alberta. A Centennial gift from the Faculty to our alumni, the project highlights families with multiple generations of Education graduates. While not all inclusive, the families listed exemplify the fact that education as a profession often appears across generations of a family.
Alumni and guests are welcome to view the names on display in the 4th floor lounge of Education North. Education Generations includes the names of all participants as well as an interactive touch screen display that shows individual family trees. The project now includes over 200 families and over 800 individual names. Over the past year, two Faculty of Education alumni, Dr. Clarence Preitz and Mr. A. Michael Mort (’76 BEd), generously devoted
their time and handiwork in crafting the beautiful cherry wood display cases. Their time, care and expertise was invaluable in completing Education Generations. For more information about Education Generations: www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/ education/Generations.cfm
2009 Enbridge Indigenous Languages Education Leadership Award Winners This summer, five students from the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute (CIILDI) were awarded $1,000 each to assist them with tuition costs as they pursue courses tailored to teaching Indigenous languages, curriculum development and assessment of Indigenous language learning. The award recipients all have Bachelor of Education degrees and are language leaders in their communities. CIILDI, now in its 10th year, is committed to the revitalization of Indigenous languages. l-r: Jessie Sylvestre, Donna MacDonald, Lori Campbell from Enbridge (85 BEd, 90MEd. 03 PhD) Regina Shingoose, Angela Bigstone (08 BEd) and Irene Carter (missing from photo is Lyle Neis from Enbridge).
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Homecoming 2009
Education Dean’s Brunch C arl B usch In celebration of Homecoming 2009, the Faculty of Education hosted its annual Dean’s Brunch in the 4th floor lounge of Education North on October 3, 2009. Over 140 Guests enjoyed a hot brunch for the ticket price of only $10, with half the registration fee going towards the Education Student Support Fund bursary. During the morning’s program, Dean Fern Snart thanked Dr. Clarence Preitz and Mr. A. Michael Mort, who generously devoted their time and handiwork in crafting the cherry wood display cases of Education Generations. Mark Ramsankar and Mary Dunnigan, from the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA), presented 5 scholarships valued at $1,000 each. Carmen Mensink, Andrea Murray, Isaac Schnell, Alicea Sliwkanich, and Laureen Syrnyk were awarded the ATA Centenary Generations Award for their essays demonstrating their understanding of the potential connections between the profession of teaching and global citizenship. Guest speaker Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh (’84 MEd), a 2009 Alumni Recognition Award recipient, spoke about his experiences as an educator in Ghana and his role as a coinstructor of the Faculty of Education’s Global Citizenship Field Experience in Ghana (EDFX 490), an award winning course offered to Education and Nursing students at the University of Alberta. Kelsey McCready, a 4th year Secondary Education student, and Chantal Davis, a recent BEd graduate, offered first hand reflections on their experiences as students who went to Ghana as part of the EDFX 490 program. Finally, Dean Snart introduced the morning’s special guest speaker, University of Alberta President, Indira Samarasekera. Recognizing the contributions teachers make in their classrooms, communities, and around the world, President Samarasekera praised Education alumni for their ongoing efforts and hard work.
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Class
Notes
Faculty of Education Alumni Recognized for Outstanding Achievements Four Faculty of Education alumni were recognized for their career accomplishments and societal contributions during the University of Alberta’s Alumni Recognition Awards ceremony on October 1. A celebration of University of Alberta alumni achievement through leadership in business and communities, advances in science and scholarship, accomplishments in athletics and the arts, and service to humanitarian efforts – University of Alberta alumni bring honour to themselves and their alma mater in a multitude of ways. The Alumni Recognition Awards honour University of Alberta alumni for their significant contributions to society. Faculty of Education alumni were recognized in three categories: the Award of Excellence, recognizing specific, recent accomplishments of University of Alberta graduates; the Sports Wall of Fame, recognizing the impact alumni have had on physical and health education, as students and as professionals, on campus and beyond; and the Alumni Honour Award, for contributions made over a number of years by alumni in their local communities and beyond. The Faculty congratulates and thanks each award recipient for the honour that they continue to bring to the Faculty for their outstanding achievements in their communities and around the world.
Colin D. Oberst, ’92 BEd, made hockey history with his musical score, Canadian Gold. His Celtic-flavoured composition was selected from more than 14,500 submissions to become the new theme song for Hockey Night in Canada, the country’s longest running TV program. Oberst’s composition replaced the original theme music for the program written in 1968. An accomplished musician, songwriter, and producer for Octavo Productions, Colin has also been teaching for the past 13 years, and he is currently an elementary and junior high school music and art teacher with Edmonton Catholic Schools. In addition, he has composed several school board theme songs and commercials, and he has fronted several original rock bands, being featured on local radio stations and on MuchMusic. Colin Oberst received the Award of Excellence for his recent accomplishment.
Donald MacKay Newton, ’54 BPE, ’54 Dip(Ed), has been a strong voice dedicated to the advancement of physical and health education, for which he was added to the University of Alberta’s Sports Wall of Fame. As a student athlete at the U of A, he starred as a point guard on the Golden Bears basketball team, winning four back-to-back Western Canada Interuniversity Athletic championships. The jump shot, which he learned during trips to the U.S., became his trademark skill, and one that he introduced to Alberta. He went on to teach and coach at schools in Lethbridge, Edmonton, Calgary and at the Universities of Saskatchewan and Calgary. As an administrator, Donald served at the provincial level of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, as president of the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, as well as on the Canadian Commission on Education to UNESCO.
University of Alberta. Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh received the Alumni Honour Award in recognition of the contributions he has made to his community and his ongoing work with the Faculty of Education. Below President Indira Samarasekera and the award winners:
Award of Excellence recipient, Colin Oberst.
Sandra B. Woitas, ’80 BEd, ’96 MEd, received an Alumni Honour Award for her work as a visionary educator who continues to push boundaries to champion top-notch programming for marginalized youth. Among her initiatives, Sandra led the City Centre Education Project, which brought seven inner-city schools and communities together to improve learning environments and opportunities for 1,700 disadvantaged children and their families. She took this learning further during her recent secondment to Alberta Education, where, in partnership with Alberta Health Services, she built 32 school-based integrated mental health service sites across the province. A tireless advocate for public education, Sandra is also a highly sought after public speaker on bullying.
Sports Wall of Fame inductee, Donald Mackay Newton.
Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh, ’84 MEd, is a scholar, teacher and communications expert who has contributed extensively to the establishment of education policy for the Republic of Ghana. A professor in communication studies at the University of Ghana, Kwasi is also the Chief of Atwima Apemanim, a village of about 400 in the Ashanti region of Ghana, where he has advanced community projects, including a children’s library, a kindergarten, and a resource centre for teachers and nurses. Keen to inspire others to think globally, Kwasi is a co-instructor of the Global Citizenship Field Experience in Ghana (EDFX 490), a course offered to Education and Nursing students at the
Alumni Honour Award winner, Sandra B. Woitas.
Alumni Honour Award recipient, Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh.
‘50s William Preshing, ’51 Dip(Ed), ’52 BEd, ’57 BA, recently published the book A Chronicle of Commerce: A History of the School of Business at the University of Alberta. The book chronicles the School of Business as it emerged from a small department with only six students to become one of the top business schools in North America. Preshing, a professor emeritus who has been affiliated with the school for nearly 50 years, tells the story of its origins development, and its place within the larger contexts of Albertan and Canadian History. (Alberta School of Business, www.business.ualberta.ca) Available from the Alberta School of Business, 780-492-4083.
‘60s
‘80s David Mensink, ’82 MEd, ’87 PhD, proposed to his girlfriend Christine Moore during the Alumni Association’s Halifax Harbour Cruise. The weather was rainy and a bit blustery, but David coaxed Christine out on deck, where he popped the big question. Afterward, the damp and disheveled – but very happy – couple celebrated the occasion with the rest of the 28 U of A alumni on board the Harbour Queen.
David Keohane, ’83 BEd, officially started his new job as the superintendent of the Greater St. Albert Catholic School Division in Alberta this past July.
Harlan Hulleman, ’62 BEd, ’71 MA, was recently awarded the 2009 Red Deer Heritage Recognition Award in the category of Significant Interpretation, Publication, Research, Advocacy and Education in the Area of Heritage. Harlan has received four other such commendations since 1993, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. Margaret Chegwin, ’63 BEd, writes to say that she has been living on an acreage just outside her hometown of Wetaskiwin, AB, for the past 10 years and that she enjoys writing for her local newspaper, The Pipestone Flyer.” Margaret adds that she moved back to Wetaskiwin to care for her mother after her sister, Audrey Anne (Chegwin) Freiman, ’53 Dip(Ed), ’69 BEd, passed away in 1996. Their mother passed away in 2007 at the age of 99.
‘70s Alexander L. “Sandy” Darling, ’76 MEd, writes in from Dundas, ON, to say, “After working at the U of A for seven years, I became registrar at McMaster University and spent my last 11-and-a-half years there as vice-president (administration). I also spent five months as acting vice-principal at Queen’s, and I spent another five years as vice-president for planning and administration at The American University in Cairo. I now consult and do most of my work from home.”
Judy Sommer, ’76 BEd, ’07 MEd, has just taken on the mantle of principal at the Jack Stuart School in Camrose, AB.
Lakes College in Peace River, AB. Now living in Redwater, AB, Erna enjoys singing with the King’s University Community Choir and Sturgeon County Unity Singers, re-connecting with alumni, gardening, volunteering, and spending time with family.
Ken Ealey, ’88 BEd, ’90 BSc, ’06 MEd, writes to say that he is currently working on adding another degree to his roster. He explains that he is enrolled as a PhD student at Walden University. Ken and his wife Janice Ealey, ’07 MEd, make their home in Edmonton.
Marv Machura, ’83 BA, ’90 MEd, has just released a new album, his third in six years. War Summer Night features nine new guitar recordings on such Western-Canadian subjects as bush parties, buffalo skinners, winter blizzards, oil-patch romance, and Cree-haunted woods. Marv describes this album as a mix of rock, blues, country and folk, as “a big, 1970s-sounding recording” that captures the “cadence of a time when warm summer nights were not clouded with Blackberries and Facebook.” Visit www. marvmachura.com for more information about the album.
Several U of A alumni received awards from Alberta Education in recognition of their creative and inspiring work with Alberta’s kindergarten to Grade 12 students. The 2009 Provincial Excellence in Teaching Awards were handed out on May 30 to the following Faculty of Education alumni:
Thomas Christensen, ’84 BEd, ’97 MEd, of Olds Junior-Senior High School; Linda Coutts, ’85 BEd, of Forestburg School; Diane Fischer, ’87 BSc, ’92 BEd, of Harry Ainley School; and Marcie Syme, ’83 BEd, of George P. Nicholson School. Sherri-Lynn Fricker, ’94 BEd, ’04 MEd, of Fort Saskatchewan Elementary School, and Trenton Lunde, ’04 BEd, of Grant Centre Elementary School, were the recipients of the 2009 SMARTer Kids Innovative Use of Technology Award.
Jutta McAdam, ’83 BEd, ’87 Dip(Ed), ’95 MEd, formerly of St. Albert, AB, writes to say that she and her husband Clay have moved to beautiful Lake Chapala in Mexico, where they enjoy “year-round warm weather, the company of many expatriate Canadians and plenty of cultural happenings.”
Erna Luger (Berendt), ’84 BEd, ’96 MEd, recently retired after 25 years of instructing for Fairview College, NAIT, and Northern
‘90s Colbie Bell, ’94 BSc, ’01 BEd, was recently honoured by the City of Edmonton at its Annual Salute to Excellence Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Colbie was inducted into the City of Edmonton’s Sports Hall of Fame.
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Monique Despins (Gruszczynski), ’98 BEd, writes from Calgary to say that she is the mother of two, the wife of a police officer and is now working with the Calgary Board of Education.
Ken Bautista ’99 BEd, and his business partner were the winners of this year’s TEC Edmonton Venture Price for their interactive game Seek Your Own Proof which uses websites, mobile phones and real-world locations to engage kids in the Central Institute for Exploration to explore past, present and future. Ken has worked with partners that include the TELUS World of Science, the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Government of Alberta, just to name a few. Ken is now the lead interactive strategist at RED The Agency, which acquired his company Hotrocket in June 2008.
‘00s Anna Primiani, ’02 BEd, an Edmonton substitute teacher, spent early May at the Cannes International Film Festival promoting the world premiere of the film She Could Be You, in which she portrays real-life Florida woman Kathy Longo who is searching for her missing daughter. Kyle Samaratunga, ’02 BEd, has been appointed head coach of Montreal’s Concordia University men’s soccer team. Kyle played with
the U of A Golden Bears from 1999 to 2003 and has coached soccer at several levels, including with the Edmonton Drillers.
Owen Dawkins, ’03 BEd, is heading back to his alma mater as the new head coach of the Golden Bears and Pandas wrestling programs. He returns to the U of A after serving as the head coach for the Lakehead University Thunderwolves in Thunder Bay, ON, for the past four years. Ryan Ma, ’04 BPE, ’04 BEd, has spent the last four-and-a-half years teaching in various countries, including England and Australia, while also travelling around the world, primarily in southeast Asia. Ryan is currently dodging kangaroos or trying to out-swim man-eating sharks, while also carrying on his teaching career in Melbourne, Australia. He also writes the Friday and Saturday night game blurbs at www. rotoworld.com and contributes a few columns there. His online work can also be found at the hockey-themed website www.dobberhockey. com. Ryan welcomes any remarks on his articles and is happy to share his experiences on teaching outside Canada to anyone needing more information. He can be contacted by email at ryanma@shaw.ca.
at the University of Alberta. As Special Advisor to the Provost, Aboriginal Initiatives, Ms. BearCoon will assist Provost Carl Amrhein in advancing the Aboriginal agenda on campus, which will include providing support to the Council on Aboriginal initiatives, assisting with the planning for the proposed Aboriginal Gathering Place, working with the campus community engaged in Aboriginal initiatives, and maintaining the inventory of Aboriginal initiatives. Tracy is currently a PhD Student, taking her studies in English and Native Studies. She has completed her coursework and is now working on her thesis.
Tracy Bear-Coon, ’07 BEd, ’07 BA, recently accepted a part-time role as Special Advisor to the Provost, Aboriginal Initiatives,
Katie Chapman (Barnett), ’03 BEd, Janice Kohut, ’04 BEd, and Meheret Worku, ‘4 BEd, are actively involved with
Robert Richardson, ’99 BEd, ’05 BA, and Kuen Tang, ’06 BEd, work on the science fiction comic Absolute Magnitude that recently won a DC Comics’ monthly competition on its online imprint, Zuda Comics. Robert is the writer for the comic, Kuen does the lettering, which involves placing the words strategically on the page, and a third partner, Martin Morazzo, is the artist. Kuen is the first quadriplegic to do lettering for DC Comics, and she told reporters that she sees this as a breakthrough for people with disabilities.
SEEDS (Sustainable East African Education & Development Society), a program started by Meheret in the early ‘90s. All three, who are teachers with Edmonton Public Schools, travelled to Ethiopia in 2008 to work with SEEDS teachers, schools and families. SEEDS is a not for profit organization dedicated to supporting impoverished Children and families in East Africa, through improving access to education and strengthening families and communities through economic, community and capacity development activities. Please visit www.seedseastafrica.com for more information.
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes In the fall of 2005, Joni Miller, ’05 MEd, learned that she had an extremely rare cancer, of the sinuses. It was during this difficult time that Joni discovered a new direction in which to take her career and her life. After surgery and radiation treatment, Joni relocated to Caye Caulker in 2007, an island off the coast of Belize, where she and her friend Heidi Curry founded the island’s first secondary school, Ocean Academy. In September 2008, Ocean Academy opened its doors in a four-room school with 35 students from Grades 8 and 9. The mission of the non-profit Ocean Academy is to “provide an education to any student who wants to learn,” and, in Caye Caulker, that means offering a subsidized, localized and very unique curriculum. In addition to the standard Belizean curriculum of English, Spanish, science and math, Ocean Academy offers Marine Biology and Aquatic PE, with courses in skydiving, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing.
Joni Miller with one of her students.
“These activities are a large part of local industry – the tourism industry upon which Caye Caulker is built – and we want students to have skills in these industries so that Caye Caulker students will be the ones running them one day,” explains Joni. To that end, Joni also organizes class businesses that the students operate themselves – a school newspaper, a composting company, and a coconut oil company – as well as an apprenticeship program where the students gain valuable work experience and earn extra income to help ease the costs of their education. In its first year, Ocean Academy arranged apprenticeships in marine biology, commercial photography, offices, and construction and carpentry. “One student, Yvon, had an interest in photography, so we got him an apprenticeship working with a wedding photographer and he’s gotten rave reviews,” says Joni. “He gets $100 per shoot, giving half to his family, and other half goes towards his tuition.” Although she and her co-founder Heidi Curry teach for free, they still have to pay the salaries of the six Belizean teachers they employ. Students rarely manage to pay the entire $300 per month tuition required to attend Ocean Academy and the school offsets those
Ocean Academy students at the Caye Caulker parade.
costs through fundraising and private donations. Joni and Heidi applied for government funding to pay 75 percent of their teachers salaries, and this summer, received their first major grant from the Edmonton Rotary Club, which has an established relationship with Belize. Despite funding concern, Ocean Academy is growing and expanding to keep up with Caye Caulker’s enthusiasm for education. In addition to opening the day school’s Grade 11 class this fall, they are also planning a night school for adults – many of them parents of the day school students who never had a chance to attend secondary school themselves.
For students in Caye Caulker, and their parents, high school is a brand new idea. “Now, they see themselves as high-school students and are even considering junior college or becoming business owners,” says Joni. “Students are now beginning to see how beneficial an education can be for them.” For more information about Ocean Academy, visit their website at: www.cayecaulkerschool. com or contact Joni Miller at miller_joni@ hotmail.com.
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ALL ALUMNI
The Faculty Education Office of External Relations
WANTS YOUR INPUT To better serve alumni and improve the services we offer, the Faculty of Education kindly requests 5 minutes of your time to complete an online survey. Our survey has been designed to provide feedback on alumni related matters. Your input is important to us. Please go to our website and follow the links: www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/education/ AlumniPage.cfm
ESA BBQ New and returning students were welcomed by the Education Students’ Association (ESA) and the Faculty at a Welcome BBQ on September 9, 2009 in the Education Centre’s main courtyard. Several hundred students were greeted by staff, faculty and the ESA team who served hotdogs, chips, and pop, as well as informed students on the benefits of becoming an ESA member.
Volunteer Michael Mort (’76 BEd) helps keep students fed during Welcome Week
Education students during Welcome Week
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Publications Mail Agreement No. 40063579 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept. Office of External Relations Faculty of Education University of Alberta 4-107 Education North Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5
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