Edcom News May 2014

MAY 2014

SD38.BC.CA & RICHMOND-NEWS.COM

@RICHMONDSD38

Tomorrow’s leaders and thinkers take on a global perspective - each trip provides a new insight

T

urning on a tap, flushing a toilet, having a 10-minute shower. These are things we do in Richmond on a daily basis and don’t even think about their ramifications.

But, considering the looming fresh water crisis that’s about to knock on our front door, it’s something we all ought to think about.

The Global Perspectives program at Richmond secondary school is churning out progressive thinkers and leaders on social, environmental and economic issues each year.

These are the students that will play pivotal roles in our societies, solving the problems of tomorrow.

Take the perspective of Grade 12 student Tristan Durrad after his excursion to Sri Lanka this year: “Living and working with poor people was eye opening,” said Durrad.

“But what’s more, was coming back to Canada and seeing the wastefulness and what we take for granted.

When you see the contrast, you see the things you take for granted – things you would never think about.”

When Durrad went to a resort area, the atmosphere and type of travel is completely different. “Here, we lived, conversed and ate with the local people and we became a bit of a part of their culture,” added Durrad.

The program sees about 30 students take an annual

trip to a remote place in the second or third world in order to help a community with whatever issue they deem to be the most pressing.

In Sri Lanka, students built a one-classroom school and a water well.

“We mixed cement in Sri Lanka by hand and with a shovel for five days,” said Matheny.

In 2013 in Samoa, the students built a multi-purpose playing field for victims of a tsunami in a remote town.

2011 saw students build a town hall in storm-ravaged Fiji. In 2007, students helped build a community hall for women in Morocco.

“Every year is different and we always have amazing cont. on › page 4

Chairperson’s message............ 3 A Year in Review/ Camp Ignite ............................... 5 Engineering............................... 6

DeBeck Community.................. 8 The Wars of 1812..................... 10 Ferris Students

Enjoy the Spotlight..................12 McNair Music .......................... 14 Growing Chefs.........................16

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MAY 2014

SD38.BC.CA

,()"-$" $%()$('-. +) %#'" !*&

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Richmond School Board Trustees Mr. Rod Belleza Trustee rbelleza@sd38.bc.ca

Mr. Kenny Chiu Trustee kchiu@sd38.bc.ca

Dr. Norm Goldstein Trustee ngoldstein@sd38.bc.ca

Ms. Donna Sargent Chairperson dsargent@sd38.bc.ca

Mrs. Debbie Tablotney Vice Chairperson dtablotney@sd38.bc.ca

Dr. Eric Yung Trustee eyung@sd38.bc.ca

Ms. Grace Tsang Trustee gtsang@sd38.bc.ca

Richmond School District No. 38 7811 Granville Avenue Richmond, BC V6Y 3E3 Phone: 604.668.6000 Fax: 604.233.0150 sd38.bc.ca

EdCom News: The Educate and Communicate Newspaper is published by the Richmond News on behalf of the Communications Department of the Richmond School District No. 38. EdCom News us intended for the parents of the Richmond School District students and includes information on upcoming events, district projects and school based activities. EdCom News is produced at no cost to the Richmond School District. Commercial advertising in the publication does not imply endorsement by the Richmond School District No. 38.

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A Message from the Chairperson On behalf of the Richmond Board of Education, I am proud to present our third edition of EdCom to our students, parents and community. As the school year comes to a close we thought it would be important to reflect on some of the many great events, accomplishments and stories that have made this year such as success.

Thanks to all of those involved in the education of our students over the past year. The rich learning environment that surrounds our students would not be possible without the dedicated administrators, teachers, staff, sponsors and volunteers. I am proud of the collaborative leadership displayed by our partners who work tirelessly to support our system.

EdCom has provided another way for our schools, staff and students to share and celebrate these stories. It is essential to note that EdCom is produced at no cost to the Richmond School District and the commercial advertising in this publication does not imply endorsement by our District.

These stories are about our District and about the dedicated people that make a difference each day.

Countless hours are committed behind the scenes to accomplish so much and often times this dedication goes unrecognized. I am excited that we have the opportunity to shine a spotlight on a few of these individuals and congratulate them for the great work.

Donna Sargent Chairperson, Richmond Board of Education

For more information, or to provide feedback or article suggestions, contact David Sadler, Communications and Marketing Manager School District No. 38 at 604.668.6000 x3399 or dsadler@sd38.bc.ca. All stories written by Graeme Wood & Philip Raphael.

For information on advertising please contact: Rob Akimow, Director of Advertising Richmond News 604.249.3340 or rakimow@richmond-news.com

5731 No. 3 Road, Richmond BC V6X 2C9 Phone: 604.270.8031 Fax: 604.270.2248 Publisher: Tom Siba — tsiba@richmond-news.com Director of Advertising: Rob Akimow — rakimow@richmond-news.com Editor: Eve Edmonds — eedmonds@richmond-news.com

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MAY 2014

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‹ from page 1

stories to tell,” said program coordinator and social science teacher Kevin Matheny.

world. For instance, Matheny said the girls doing physical work took many Sri Lankans aback.

“It’s really about getting as much of a cultural experience as possible.

This is not the typical lie on the beach thing. This is complete immersion and interaction with local people. And the theory is to provide some local infrastructure for the people.”

Many of the trips involve helping other kids and students. In 2008, the program built a small school in Malaysia for kids who had previously been getting their education, quite literally, under a tree, Matheny said.

Each trip over the past two decades tries to incorporate a theme. So in Sri Lanka, students better understood how consumption and the environment go hand in hand.

In Samoa and Fiji, the learning curve was about a better appreciation of family and community. The Morocco trip showed students the merits of gender equality.

In 2009, students visited poor towns in Paraguay.

“The connection there was how we blow money on silly things,” said Matheny.

“We saw people who made two bucks a day.”

Also, the students provide a new perspective for people around the

It made his students appreciate the modern, clean schools in the Richmond school district.

“The theory is, you can’t understand who you are as a person until you go to other parts of the world and recognize your shortcomings, as well as what you have,” said Matheny.

ny, who visited Bhutan said Matheny, last year and was amazed by their gressive policies. socially progressive Planning to head to ade 11 Bhutan is Grade ia Ding. student Peijia “The act of helping someone and giving something in return — I think these actions ciated can be appreciated aid Ding, anywhere,” said n a fundraising who is now on drive to raise money for the trip.

“I want to try and make a difference in th gh our efforts ff people’s lives…even though aren’t that big it will change their lives in some ways.”

Each trip takes about a year to plan.

Once one trip is over, the wheels begin turning on the next. In 2015, students will head to Bhutan to experience its gross national happiness index and gain a better perspective and understanding of our addiction to materialism right here at home.

Matheny said students must pay their own way and are encouraged to find a summer job to gain an appreciation for how much work to takes to travel.

The students will help build a soccer field for orphaned monks. “They live a humble life. I hope it will challenge students on the merits of materialism,”

He said the program started in 1994 and since he took over as its organizer in 2006, the Internet has ameliorated organization.

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Math ek out impoverished im rished Matheny seeks communities on his own and doesn’t need to go through a third-party. And with communication as fast as it is these days, problems can be mitigated before his students arrived.

The Internet also allows parents to easily communicate daily with their children.

MAY 2014

SD38.BC.CA

E5

A Year in Review As another year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on some of the great moments that were created in the 20132014 calendar year. The Cambie Secondary Fine Arts Night, the REaDY Summit at McMath with a keynote by David Suzuki and Education Week were all great events that I can vividly remember.

Passion, excitement and ingenuity were on full display as students engaged in their learning and personal growth.

All of this would not be possible without the dedication of our teachers, school administrators and District staff who spend countless hours supporting our students. It is the extra effort given by so many in our District that creates such a strong sense of community, support and pride. It is the extra time that is put into field trips, school clubs, after school

lessons and personal connections that sets our students on a path of lifelong learning.

I am always impressed with the variety of unique learning environments that allow our students to reach their full potential.

As a result, academic achievement is once again a bright spot in our District and completion rates of 90 per cent are consistent with previous years.

ReADY Summit: Richmond Green Ambassadors with David Suzuki

Superintendent Monica Pamer with Richmond Science Jam students

I hope that you enjoy reading a few stories of achievement and excellence in this edition of EdCom and as always, if you have any questions or feedback please feel free to contact our communications department at info@sd38. bc.ca.

Monica Pamer Superintendent, Richmond School District

(From left to right) Richmond student Arjun Sumra, McNair Culinary Arts teacher Dora Ho, Richmond student Nalini Prasad, Trustee Kenny Chiu, Trustee Donna Sargent, Trustee Eric Yung, Trustee Debbie Tablotney and Trustee Grace Tsang at the opening ceremony celebration for Education Week.

Camp Ignite aims to light fires of enthusiasm

By Graeme Wood

“One of the reasons we make it all female is to take away the distraction of having it be co-ed. Often the girls are worried about what the male counterparts will think of them. We just wanted to give them an opportunity to think about this in a casual way,” she said.

Richmond firefighter Mia Kivari is on a quest to inspire young women.

As a co-organizer of Camp Ignite, Kivari hopes two female students from Richmond will be able to feel empowered after a week of inspiring activities put on by Metro Vancouver firefighters.

“Years ago we started talking about using our firefighting skills to inspire.

And not necessarily to inspire someone to become a firefighter themselves but rather to simply empower youth,” said Kivari.

Camp Ignite is a four-day camp held every August sponsored by firefighter charitable groups throughout the region.

The camp intends to teach girls about fitness, nutrition, health and teamwork.

Whether they leave interested in becoming a firefighter is a secondary concern for the firefighters.

“That’s the great thing about this group.

It’s not necessarily about the firefighting part of this. It’s about arranging this to make sure everyone’s able to complete the camp,” said Kivari, who was motivated to participate as a leader largely due to her history as a former youth worker.

So why are firefighters suitable role models?

Camp Ignite hosts about 20 students from different school districts. This year it will take place in locations in Burnaby, Vancouver and Surrey while the students will bunk in a dorm at Simon Fraser University.

Students take part in many firefighterrelated activities. Among the highlights is a search and rescue platoon that has the girls put on a mask and gear and enter a dark room to find a manikin.

“It’s an opportunity to see what it’s like and how it can be unnerving at times. It’s totally different and really challenging for them,” said Kivari.

Also, campers are taught how to use a

fire hose and how to set-up a fire truck with gear. They are also taught basic fire safety aspects such as how to use a fire extinguisher.

The camp also provides many nonfirefighting related activities like hiking, cross fit workouts and team building activities. Many of the activities are funded through donations from throughout the community.

“It gives them an opportunity to rely on each other,” said Kivari, who noted personal fitness awareness is another key goal of the camp.

Keeping the camp all-female is an important aspect of Camp Ignite.

“I think it’s a commitment to community and always wanting to help. It’s being of that kind of personality to always do what you can. It takes such a strength of character, male or female, to be a firefighter. And that energy level is what culminated in us as women wanting to give back,” explained Kivari.

The Richmond Firefighters Charitable Society Local 1286 will sponsor two Richmond students, who have yet to be chosen. The camp is open to Grade 11 and 12 students.

The deadline for applications is June 27, 2014. Applicants will be contacted at the beginning of July. Students can apply by visiting http://bit.ly/1ooVc2P

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MAY 2014

SD38.BC.CA

Engineering a more

By Philip Raphael

Opening minds and achieving gender equality.

It’s a trend he’d like to see change, and the day for girls he organizes is designed to spark an interest in those youngsters by showing them a potential career path in engineering.

That’s what Scott Clements, a physics and engineering teacher at Steveston London secondary school has been trying to do over the past two years by hosting the Girls in Engineering Day.

“Historically, women have been underrepresented in engineering, and I think we need to do more to encourage young women to get involved in engineering and other science disciplines,” Clements said.

Clements has been on a quest to help raise the interest in engineering as a course of study and career among female students by inviting Grade 8 girls from across the district to take part in a day-long series of hands-on, problem-solving activities using engineering concepts.

What got the ball rolling for Clements was the impression a seminar made on him at UBC a couple of years ago by a professor at the university who was the chair for developing women in engineering.

The event, which drew about 67 students each year, challenges the students with three separate tasks requiring different aspects of engineering solutions.

Female students in Grade 8 from across the Richmond School District were invited to Stevston London secondary school for a hands-on opportunity to problem-solve at the Girls in Engineering Day. Photo supplied

According to figures from a recent study, an average of just 18 per cent of first year engineering students at the Point Grey campus were female. Plus, the attrition rate for female students appeared to be higher than their male counterparts.

Looking back on his experience in engineering school at the Unverisity of New Brunswick, Clements isn’t surprised by the study’s numbers.

“In mechanical engineering, maybe 15 or 20 per cent were women,” he said. “What’s pretty typical is 25 per cent at the most.”

“The first was a bio-medical engineering activity, second an environmental one, and then a third which was based on materials,” Clements said. “They were all disciplines of engineering that are better represented by women.”

In the bio-medical challenge, they were given a variety of different materials and a budget to design a robotic hand.

“It was to be a device that could pick up a variety of

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MAY 2014

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E7

equal gender divide materials. And they were given an hour to accomplish it,” Clements said.

The environmental challenge was to design a simple water filter. This challenge was put forward by the organization Engineers Without Borders, which aids impoverished countries around the globe by improving their water resource situation with inexpensive engineering solutions.

“That was interesting because it was a socio-economic problem as well as an engineering achievement; it’s meant to get people to think about the economic divide between countries and the decisions on whether to share resources and equip developing nations with the ability to produce clean water,” he said.

In the third and final challenge, students had to work with wood, changing its properties with water and steam to make a variety of designs.

Many of the solutions offered up were unique, Clements said, adding the feedback from students was positive.“The Water For The World challenge was a more typical arrangement of the materials with sand and gravel in their filter. But with the robotic hand, one group took a real simplistic approach and basically

made some great big chopsticks,” Clements said.

“Meanwhile, others made what was more like a real hand controlled with tendons to help it grasp things.

“For girls 13 or 14 years old, they came up with some interesting ideas.”

In the end, Clements said the goal was to have the girls become engaged in fun, hands-on activities and appreciate how applying science ideas can help people.

“Essentially, that’s what engineering is all about — taking science and applying it to help people.” But did Clements think it helped some define a study path for the future?

“I’m hopeful,” he said. “That’s why I’m doing it.

If I can influence some young ladies to consider engineering when they may not have before, I would say the goal has been achieved. If it solidifies an interest that was already there, that’s good, too.

“They may be a little young to make some final decisions, but in the course that I teach I feel if kids come out saying, ‘No, this is not for me,’ I think I’ve

Students were given the task of finding engineering-based solutions to three separate problems that event organizers hope will spur their interest in further education in engineering and the sciences. Photo supplied

done my job, as well. That way they don’t go into something they’re not completely clear about and waste a bunch of their time and money.”

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E8

MAY 2014

SD38.BC.CA

DeBeck community on

By Graeme Wood

Do you remember trekking over muddy fields to get to school? Or, do you still have to?

Your socks inevitably end up caked in mud and your feet become soaked. Your options are few: Call Mom or Dad to see if one of them can bring you a new pair of socks and shoes, walk around in your stinky, bare feet, to the chagrin of your teacher and friends, or grin and bear it all day long, only to find at the end of the day your feet are more wrinkly than grandma.

DeBeck elementary students will never have to worry about this terrible problem again, thanks to a new walking path that will encircle their playing fields.

“Right now, it’s just too wet for the kids to run,” said vice-principal Kathy Pantaleo.

The idea for a path was a group effort between students, teachers, administrators, parents and the school’s neighbours.

Helping to lead the organizing efforts was principal Mark McCallum.

“Unfortunately, our fields get really soggy and they’re not useable for most of the year,” said McCallum.

“We’re looking at a way to get kids active and to go out. We’re also looking for a way to make access better to the school.”

The six-foot wide asphalt path will cost about $15,000 and will be installed by school board grounds staff. It will connect three sides of the backfields to the school, providing a circular route for walkers and joggers.

The path will also connect to adjacent roads that lead to students’ homes.

Presently, even on a sunny spring day, the field can still be soggy.

A similar path was installed at Westwind elementary, where McCallum was once a vice-principal.

Both students and neighbours often use

Richmond Country Club (RCC)

that path.The path will help keep the school’s Kilometre Club going yearround. As a way to entice students to be physically fit, the club sees kids run around the fields to collect Popsicle sticks that can be exchanged for prizes.

“I think it’s a good way to get exercise and it will help us get fit. It’s a good thing at recess and lunch,” said Grade 6 student Hudson Swaim, an avid runner and walker.

“If we had the path, we could have this program year round,” noted McCallum.

Funding for the path came from several sources. McCallum said it was a neighbour of the school who works at Coast Capital Savings that suggested the school apply for a $5,000 community grant from the credit union.

The school got it after McCallum drew up the paperwork and then turned to parent advisory council (PAC) chair Tara Laing for further funding. “It’s a great way to show that, when parents have an idea, the PAC can make it happen,” said

Laing, whose group will be on the hook for about one third of the costs.

“It’s going to be great to see it happen.”

The remaining $5,000 came from the generous donation of father and mother duo Randy and Rhonda Schuette, who have three children attending DeBeck and a fourth a few years away from starting Kindergarten.

“It’s something the whole community can enjoy. We were happy to help,” said Randy.

McCallum said he will also divert some money from the international school program to pay for any additional costs.

“People from the school board think it will be anywhere from $10-20,000, so we’re right in the ballpark right now,” said McCallum.

Pantaleo and McCallum are also hoping the path results in another benefit to the school: less tardiness!

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(From left to right) Randy Schuette, Rhonda Schuette, vice-principal Kathy Pantaleo, PAC chair Tara Laing, student Hudson Swaim and principal Mark McCallum represent a large community group that has organized the building of a field path for the school that aims to get kids more active.

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E10

MAY 2014

SD38.BC.CA

The Wars of 1812

Richmond students behaving badly

By Philip Raphael

How often are students encouraged by their teacher to “act badly.”

scenes as plans for war take shape, on and off the stage.

In the case of drama students at Steveston London secondary, much of what went on stage during the recent production of The Wars of 1812 was just that, bad — but intentionally so.

The concept for The Wars of 1812 came about at the prompting of Jean Kosar’s senior drama students —

including Grade 12s Gelfer and Hirose — who were eager to perform something new and different to mark their final large-scale production in the program.

“The kids saw me in a show a couple of years ago and it involved a theatre company with some not very good actors and writers,” said Kosar, who wrote the piece. “And so the kids said, ‘Gee, we should do a show like that.’”

“We’re not supposed to be good actors in the play, which is a kind of shoddy production. It’s fun trying to be bad intentionally,” said Paige Gelfer, who played Claire, a young actor in the original play-within-a-play that follows the trials and tribulations of a troupe intent on siphoning off federal grant funds to produce a poorly executed tale of the renowned conflict between the British and their colonials against the Americans.

“We’re essentially playing two characters — the one in the play, and the one you’re supposed to be playing within the play,” added Alyssa Hirose, who assumes the character of Vanessa, an older actor who thinks very highly of herself and is the lead in the production, which is punctuated with overacted, boisterous

And that entailed using more than just the normal confines of the cozy theatre’s stage as some actors were dotted in and around the audience in a bid to immerse the onlookers in the play.

“We have actors scattered in the audience who respond to what’s going on up on the stage. So, we’re trying to give everyone a real theatrical experience, rather than just sitting back and watching a show,” Kosar said.

The play, which ran at the end of April and into early May also provided the opportunity for a little role reversal for the senior and junior performers.

Scripts in hand, students rehearse a scene from the original play The Wars of 1812 at Steveston London secondary school. Photo by Philip Raphael/Richmond News

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MAY 2014

E11

Kosar said she always tries to accommodate every student who wants to be on stage by doing crowd scenes.

But that did not seem fair to the younger ones to play nameless characters.

“So, we decided to do an ‘understudy’ show, in which the understudies would play the leads and the leads would stand in for the understudies,” Kosar said.

“It was really amazing how well the understudies did, with little or no real rehearsal in big, complicated roles.

“The best thing was to see the younger kids teaching the Grade 12s their roles, and have the Grade 12s feeling nervous because they didn’t feel prepared to perform as ‘redcoats.’”

Kosar said the change about was a great opportunity for the entire group with each side game for their new roles.

But why focus on the War of 1812?

“A couple of years ago, the federal government offered grants to theatre companies that put on work about the War of 1812,” Kosar said with a smile.

“That’s where the idea for this came from — a pretty bad theatre company trying to get money out of the federal government.”

Grade 12 students Paige Gelfer, left, and Alyssa Hirose, helped prompt their drama teacher, Jean Kosar, to pen an original play that would stretch the boundaries of the stage for their final, high school production. Photo by Philip Raphael/Richmond News

RCMP SUMMER CAMPS JULY 8 & AUGUST 21 Richmond RCMP Youth Section is made up of 9 dedicated police officers who specialize in issues related to youth. They work closely with the school district and make engaging youth a priority.

“Not all contact between youth and the police should be negative” says Cst. Adriana Peralta. Peralta has been in the youth section for six years and specializes in investigations of child abuse and sexual assault. The youth section has a dual role. They are the experts in the Youth Criminal Justice Act and also role models and mentors to Richmond’s youth.

This summer Richmond RCMP Youth section has partnered with Richmond Fire Rescue and Parks and Recreation to teach kids about the emergency services fields. This program is geared at teaching kids between 9 and 12 what it is like to be a firefighter or a police officer.

“Often it is these opportunities to meet with kids in a positive way that make it easier for kids to seek help when something bad happens and the police become involved.” says Peralta.

Kids interested in participating in the summer program can sign up through the Parks and Recreation guide. There are two dates for the summer camp, July 8 and August 21, 2014.

Kids interested in participating in the summer program can sign up through the Richmond Parks & Recreation Guide

E12

MAY 2014

SD38.BC.CA

Ferris students enjoy

By Graeme Wood

Question.

individual performers took turns entertaining the audience.

When does a school become an art gallery and a performance hall, all in one day?

“It was amazing. A great event,” said Kruk, who, last spring, helped spearhead the first COA, which was received so well it was decided to have a repeat performance this year. “We had about 450 parents in the gym this year who had nothing but positive comments.”

Answer.

When a group of dedicated students and their teachers decide to hold a Celebration of the Arts (COA) event, like they did at Ferris elementary school in early April.

Kruk said he thought up the event originally as a way of showcasing the students’ performances to their parents.

“That hadn’t happened for a while at the school,” he said. “So, myself and other teachers formed a committee and it started to spread from there to celebrate the arts at Ferris elementary.”

“We converted the whole school into, basically, an art gallery with all the classes doing some special art projects that were displayed throughout the school’s hallways,” said Harold Kruk, the school’s music and band teacher who served as the main coordinator of the COA. “We then opened up the school to the community and within the school we had five different performance stations where we had students who had auditioned to perform for parents, friends and family as they were walking around the school.”

The art portion of the event ran from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., and was followed by a concert that evening in the gym where all of the school’s bands, choirs and

Kruk added, too often schools stress academics at the expense of other pursuits, such as the fine arts.

But the COA brought back a little more balance, and ignited a passion in the students and staff.

Students from Ferris elementary school perform for the audience during the Celebration of the Arts event. Photo submitted

“We had 60 and 70 students audition on their own or in groups, in front of panel of teachers, and basically everyone who auditioned got to perform in one form or another on that day,” Kruk said. “And the kids absolutely thrived on it. One of the highlights was

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the spotlight the forming of a little rock band with students from Grades 5 to 7 who opened up the evening concert with the song Roar by Katy Perry.”

While the art show and performance night were a success, Kruk said it was the preparations that created a special vibe within the Ferris school community.

“The lead up to it was quite exciting,” he said. “Then there was the run-through.

It just seemed to bring everyone together.”

As one student wrote about the event: “It was so amazing to see all of my classmates’, schoolmates’ talents. I didn’t know so many people in our school were able to do all different kinds of things. I especially liked the rock band. They were outstanding.

They must have put a lot of effort and practice into their perfo rmance. I don’t think I would have enough courage to do what they did. I hope our school will continue to hold a COTA (Celebration of the Arts) every year.”

The entire school population at Ferris elementary school got into the act, either by live musical performances, or creating original art work that was on display throughout the school. Photo supplied

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MAY 2014

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‘Berminator’ keeps music relevant

By Graeme Wood

She is the Berminator. A woman so passionate about music her tough love doesn’t seem to get in the way of students bending over backwards to help her complete the many goals she sets for herself, her students and her school.

“She’s tough but fair. If she knows you’re not practicing, she will call you out on

it, but if you are practicing and trying, that’s another story,” said Marissa Murray, a Grade 12 student at McNair secondary school, explaining her relationship with music teacher Janet Berman.

Considered a “life changer” by many, Berman is the head of a thriving music program at McNair — no small feat in

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a day when music programs at other school districts may teeter on the verge of extinction.

Fully one-quarter of McNair’s student body has been enrolled in a music class this year. Berman is indeed earning her keep — there’s the junior and senior jazz bands, the junior, intermediate and senior bands, the string orchestra, choir and last but not least the introductory music class.

“It’s a challenging discipline and people realize that it takes a lot of effort to be good,” said Berman, 57, who started teaching music at McNair in 1998.

Murray is one of many students who volunteers their time before and after school and during spare blocks to maintain the music program and keep it vibrant.

“As long as she knows you’re trying, she gives you a lot of credit,” said Murray, who signed up as a “service student,” or someone who “sacrifices” a spare to get the job done.

So demanding is Berman that t-shirts have been circulated at the school

reading ‘You’ve Been Terminated by the Berminator.’

But as Berman says: “Mostly I’m a pushover if they know me well.”

Aside from daily course work, Berman is insistent the students get an education outside of the classroom. In order to do so, she spends endless hours of her own time planning local field trips and music retreats every year, as well as week-long trips.

This year, students went to San Francisco and performed at schools, a seniors home and the famous pier.

“We didn’t do a ton of fun things. They played a lot,” Berman chuckled.

However, Berman is just as hard on herself as anyone else. Indeed, they did do fun things. The students visited the Golden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashbury and the city’s famous waterfront, among many other things. They also went to a famous trombone performance and visited a music festival at Berkeley University, she said.

On the way home, the students stopped

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things in life settled down, she found herself in Vancouver and attended college and later the University of B.C. for an undergraduate degree in music.

She then volunteered her skills at a local high school.

“I wasn’t the perfect student by any imagination, but when I started working with teenagers I thought this is fun and something I can do,” she said.

She then went on to become a teacher.

“With music you’re never done. There’s

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always more to learn, and I myself am taking more course work on conducting.

I have so far to go still. I could work for another 10 years and still not be remotely able to say I’m done” What’s the one thing she doesn’t like about her job?

“You’re not just a teacher teaching music, there’s a lot of administration involved,” she said. But one can assume her strong endoskeleton is more than enough to get her by.

A Grade 11 guitar trio performs at an arts night at McNair secondary school

by another university in Portland to attend a music clinic.

“They get a lot of performance experience. So those kinds of experiences build an ensemble.

You have to have a commonality of experiences,” said Berman, who hopes to take her students to New Orleans in the near future.

“The process is more important than the goal, and every moment counts,” said Berman.

You Pick:

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The ironic thing is that despite all of this tough love, Berman herself wasn’t a “good” student.

As a teenager, Berman dropped out of school in her native England. When

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Growing an appetite for

By Philip Raphael

There’s plenty of things “growing on” in a pair of local elementary school classrooms thanks to some talented, local chefs.

They have volunteered to share their knowledge with Grade 1 to 3 students in McKinney and Wowk elementary schools as part of the Growing Chefs program.

But judging by a recent visit to the Grade 1 and 2 students and their teacher, Karen Leung, at McKinney, when a pair of chefs made one of their twicemonthly visits, the flow of information can go both ways.

That was especially true for the students on the “bring a vegetable to school day,” which is part of the Growing Chefs mandate to educate children, families, and community members about healthy eating and healthy food systems.

“They’re teaching us that they are interested,” said Brendan Robson, executive sous chef at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel who, along with

executive chef Morgan Lechner, was on hand.

“This is a young class — about six to eight years old. That’s a young age to be learning this. And they are passionate about it and enjoy having us around.”

Among the assortment of traditional vegetables brought in — carrots, parsley and the like — the students displayed their rich cultural mix with lotus fruit and daikon.

“My grandma cooks it with spices and puts it in the middle of two tortillas,” said the youngster, who brought in the daikon.

“That’s a very cool way to eat it,” Robson said.

And while the students were young, some didn’t show it when it came to their familiarity with cooking techniques.

“How do you eat beets at home?”

Robson asked one student.

“We slice them and put them in a pan

with some oil, and my dad watches it until they go kinda caramelized. Then he takes it out and we eat it,” the youngster said with authority.

“Sounds good, chef!” Robson replied, nodding in approval at the student’s usage of a specific culinary term.

“Those are some serious cooking techniques there. Caramelized, that’s a great word.”

In addition to getting students more familiar with foods, there is an in-class garden set up on trays where all manner of veggies are being grown — from peas to dragon tongue beans.

“This program, it has really piqued their attention and fascination when they see things growing right in front of their eyes,” Leung said. “They also have to learn how to care for them.

“And we hope that, not only are they sharing things they learn at home about their multiculturalism and eating habits, but about urban agriculture

, s n o i t a l u t a Congr !

4 1 0 2 f o s Grad

and what they can do at home to create sustainable and healthy eating habits.”

The Growing Chefs program was started in 2005 by a pastry chef named Merri Schwartz, who felt chefs had wonderful knowledge about food, food sustainability, and incredible relationships with local growers. Yet all of this was not getting outside of the kitchen environment.

“She decided to do something about that,” said Helen Stortini, executive director of the Growing Chefs program.

“And what better way than to create a non-profit organization that worked with kids.”

The program was piloted in 2006, was a huge success and today it is in 34 classrooms, with more than 125 volunteers in eight communities across B.C. “Richmond was the first community we grew to outside of Vancouver,” Stortini said, adding the local hotel sector was

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food knowledge approached and stepped forward to help, as did the corporate sector with the Vancouver Airport Authority being one of the many sponsors. “There’s been some tremendous support from Richmond getting the program up and running.”

Locally, the program is presented to Grades 1 to 3. A smaller, pilot program is open to older students in Grades 4 to 6.

“We’ve had interest in what we do from as far away as Dubai,” Stortini said, which is likely a function of the sometimes transient nature of the culinary industry.

“It’s our hope that, as we establish more funding sources, we can start to spend more time recruiting and training more volunteers in communities outside of Vancouver,” Stortini said, “so that we could accommodate every school that asks for this. And we do have a waiting list of schools in Richmond.”

Chef Brendan Robson for the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel reads a story about the benefits of composting to the Grade 1 to 3 class at McKinney elementary school as part of the Growing Chefs program. Photo by Philip Raphael/Richmond News

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MAY 2014

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Enjoy family fun & fitness at the pool Daily public swimming available.

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South Arm and Steveston Outdoor Pools open daily July and August.

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summer

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MAY 2014

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MARTIAL ARTS SUMMER CAMPS

11 time winner

Weekly Camps beginning July 2014 Opportunity to test and obtain his/her yellow belt at the end of the 2 week camp During the camp your kids will learn the following skills

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Punching Kicking Flipping Weapons Ground techniques Multiple holds and traps And much much more!

Grand Master

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One week of summer camp $195

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Buy 2 weeks and you’ll get • FREE T-Shirt $20 Value • FREE Uniform $80 Value • FREE Belt Test Seminar $100 Value

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Camp is designed and taught by an 8th Degree Grand Master in Hapkido, the highest rank in Canada for this martial art and with over 30 years of training experience.

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• FREE T-Shirt $20 Value • FREE Uniform $80 Value • FREE Belt Test Seminar $100 Value • Plus 3 months FREE of regular Hapkido Classes **2 classes per week maximum. Offer only valid for our fall program from September-November** $100 Value www.hkd.ca