Learning By Doing At New Myrnam School

from Two Hills Regional Chronicle - March 2023

Aunt Niri’s Fun Corner From my corner

By Sydney Chanasyk

On March 2nd, our grade seven and eight students were posed with the challenge of moving our student made eco classroom building. The challenge? They were only allowed to use simple machines and man power! When Mr. Tymofichuk first proposed the problem to them, they didn't think it was possible. “Moving the eco-classroom seemed like a joke to some of the kids at first. Until the building moved 6 inches. Then it became real!” Principle Eriksen said. Before the seven and eight students could start figuring out how they could possibly move this large building with purely simple machines, our high school outdoor ed class had to help. They cleared out all the snow around the building so that the younger students could get access to the bottom of the building. Once the snow was cleared out, the seven and eights were ready to start their new challenge of moving the building. They first decided that they would use fence posts as rollers along the bottom of the building to move it, and levers to lift the building onto the rollers. Students used a large 4x6” timber as a lever to attempt to lift the building. They positioned the fulcrum, while several students applied force. The timber snapped like a small twig! They re-adjusted their fulcrum to support another timber better, and tried again. This time, they were successful, and were able to lift it onto the rollers with minimal effort. The fence posts under the skids reduced the friction to roll the building along. Then the second challenge appeared! There wasn’t enough room for all the students to push on the backside of the building. Students borrowed a large “tug of war” rope from the gym and devised a way of fastening the rope to the building. Everyone in the group could now apply some force! The building wasn't moving in a straight line. Effort had to be applied to certain parts to keep it moving straight. Throughout the move, the fence posts had to be repositioned from the rear to the front. This was definitely a challenge, but our students were able to adapt and overcome each challenge that came their way! Just another day of learning by doing at New Myrnam School, where we applied what we learned and realized what can be accomplished when we all pull together as a community!

by Sonny Rajoo

Iamimpressed with the outpouring of support for Ukrainian refugees from our families, communities, and various levels of government. We are acutely aware of the many individuals and families that assisted our refugees by providing accommodations, meals, and other levels of support.

The County of Two Hills has a small fund set aside to assist our Ukrainian families who fled a war they did not start and from a communist regime that had no right to invade a sovereign nation.

When an approach was made to the County to assist with some expenses for some refugees who are being housed by a family west of Two Hills, there was no hesitation from councillors to lend a helping hand.

In addition to this, Premier Danielle Smith traveled to Mundare on March 21st to announce further suport for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Canada.

The additional $2.1 million will ensure that this persecuted community of refugees will receive the love and warmth from a great province and nation.

Many of us immigrants have enjoyed the embrace, warmth and generosity from our pioneering settlers and succeeding waves of newcomers are taken care of by a people whose hearts are as large as the borders of this bountiful nation.

Greetings to all our readers,

It is a great privilege to be back in the beautiful town of Two Hills. The warm, friendly faces I had the pleasure of reconnecting with, have made the dreary weather much more tolerable.

If you haven't seen me in town yet, it would be because I spend my time bustling about with a toque on my head and getting as quickly as possible from one place to the next. I do believe it is Canada's way of welcoming me home by making up for all I missed over my time away.

First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest thanks to the staff and residents of the Hillside Lodge for giving me a place to stay while I got settled into my new place. The generosity and hospitality I received is second to none.

Being gone for as long as I have, I spent much time imagining gorging myself on the things I was not able to enjoy while in South Africa (I made sure to send my family pictures of all the delicious goodies I have been enjoying.), like many favorites from our local restaurants, and candy, cookies and snacks.

It is great to see how many new businesses have opened in town. I was tremendously impressed with the new Sport Centre with its well equipped gym; how easy it is to lose track of time training with access to a large variety of equipment which is in excellent condition.

Two Hills Clover Farms has a great selection of products and pretty much anything you would need, not to mention the Two Hills Pharmacy at its new location and asthetically pleasing layout.

I would like to thank the members of the community for such a warm reception. It is truly a pleasure and a privilege to be part of such a warm and wholesome community.

I look forward to connecting with you all. You can reach me on our new number at 780-208-2948. It will be my great pleasure to continue to serve our community in the best way I can to try to give back even half of the love I have received from the endearing residents of the County of Two Hills.