Success
student
spring 2012
A MAGAZINE FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS IN LANGLEY published by the Langley School District Foundation
Getting in the Game A pony comes to school
7th Annual Grand Prix Gala
spring edition 2012 1
www.TutorDrLangley.com
2 Student Success
Success
student
Spring is when you feel like whistling even when your shoe is full of slush Susan Cairns Editor & Designer
Craig Spence Advertising & Editorial Consultant
S T
pring is a time of new beginnings and the old adage holds especially true for Student Success Magazine.
here have been a few changes. Our editor, Craig Spence has retired from his position as Communications Manager with the school district but he is still with Student Success, as the new Account Manager and Editorial Contributor. Sandy Wakeling, who is the district’s new Communications Manager is providing editorial and photography to the magazine. And Paula Cartwright assumes Denise Begg’s position as the Traffic Manager, receiving the ad confirmations and sending out the invoices. The staff has changed but our commitment to providing interesting, informative and inspiring editorial that celebrates our students, families and community remains the same and is stronger than ever. In this issue you will read about the wide variety of sports and arts programs available to Langley families, as well as the Bring the Pony to School program that introduces and educates children on Langley’s equestrian heritage. Speaking of our equestrian heritage, you will also read about the Langley School District Foundation’s 7th Annual Grand Prix Gala. Held at Thunderbird Show Park (one of North America’s finest equestrian centres), the fundraising event takes place during an international horse jumping competition. This year’s proceeds will go to support programs for students who are struggling in math and numeracy. Which takes us right to the teachers’ advice column giving tips and ideas to parents on how to make math interesting for their kids. I would also like to draw your attention to our environmental story about our students’ commitment to Going Green. Please enjoy and don’t forget to go to www.langleyschooldistrict. com to read about additional programs and initiatives from the Langley School District and the Langley School District Foundation.
Student Success is published and produced by the Langley School District Foundation EDITOR & DESIGNER Susan Cairns scairns@sd35.bc.ca 604-532-1464 CONTRIBUTOR Sandy Wakeling swakeling@sd35.bc.ca 604-534-7891 advertising & editorialconsultant Craig Spence Tel:1-888-345-0065 (toll free) Fax: 1-888-345-0084 (toll free) craig@youcommunications.ca Advertising Traffic Paula Cartwright 604-534-7891 pcartwright@sd35.bc.ca PHOTOGRAPHY Sandy Wakeling Student Success is published 4 times per year with a press run of 10,000. Student Success is distributed to school district families, businesses, associations and municipal offices throughout Langley. © Langley School District Foundation 4875-222nd Street Langley, BC V3A 3Z7
spring edition 2012 3
volume 3 number 1 spring 2012
Features 6
play is our brain’s way of learning
New Playground
7
1000’s of new books for Langley students
magic of books
8 a pony comes to school celebrating our equestrian heritage 10
7th annual fundraising event
grand prix gala
12
new numeracy program
okay-let’s do the math
14 art matters students learn from the masters 16 18 20
focus on arts
dozens of ideas for your kids
getting in the game
the benefits of team sports
math ideas
advice from the teacher’s desk
22 enviro initiatives kids go green
Front cover shot:
by Danika Dickson courtesy of Langley United Youth Soccer Association.
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LA
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UD
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spring edition 2012 5
feature Fundraisng
New Playground at Langley Meadows
Play is our brain’s way of learning
W
hen the parents and staff at Langley Meadows Elementary found out that their two playgrounds were going to be dismantled and that the kids would be left with a big empty space where the playground used to be, they immediately got to work.
Led by the Parent Advisory Council president, Laura D’Alva they organized bottle and clothing drives, held hot dog days and casino nights and they wrapped Christmas presents at the Foundation gift wrapping fundraiser at Willowbrook Mall. But despite their energy and determination, they were a long way from their goal – to raise $100,000. So with the help from the Langley School District Foundation they appealed to community associations, businesses and local government for grants and it was then that things started to look up. Langley Rotary came through, as did Walmart, The Township of Langley, Home Depot and McDonalds. Then the phone call came from Coast Capital Savings. They were providing a grant to the Foundation for $25,000 to put towards the new playground! Not only that! The Langley Meadows community, the parents and all the donors came out en masse to install the playground themselves, thus reducing the cost of the playground by $5000. “We did it,” said Laura D’Alva. “We can build the playgrounds and they will be ready for the kids in September. It was an amazing effort on the part of everyone!” Principal, Lucy Lenko expressed her gratitude to the whole community who made the endeavour possible. v
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The magic of books Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book
I
s there anything better in this world than seeing the look of wonder and joy in a child’s face when they crack open a brand new book. It’s magical! So thanks to First Books Canada who donated more than 2800 books to the Foundation for distribution to the schools, there was lots of magic permeating the district.
“The books are fantastic,” said Douglas Park Principal Ralph Bereska. “It was like Christmas when the boxes arrived.” First Books Canada donates brand new books to inner city schools throughout Canada and the United States.v
Your Passport To Summer $45.00!
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Celebrating our 20th Anniversary e event/activity A different & uniquy of the summer every da
Park; t Railway Heritage Playland; West Coas age Museum; Vill by rna Bu y; log Museum of Anthropo Cannery m; Gulf of Georgia Honeybee Centre Far ; ms Far od wo e; Maple National Historic Sit Dairy Centre; res Ac or Ald r; Tou Rogers Arena der The Stars; of Prey; Theatre Un Raptor Ridge Birds hop; rks Wo era Op m; seu Vancouver Police Mu n Tours; aw -Dr rse Ho k anley Par Harbour Cruise; St CirKids … – st We cus orts Day; Cir Kidtopia Family Sp and the list goes on!
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spring edition 2012 7
cover story innovative programs
A pony comes to school horse sense in the classroom
I
f any community in metro Vancouver is known for its love of horses, Langley is. Known as the horse-capital of British Columbia, Langley is home to more than 6,000 horses and thousands of horse professionals across many disciplines.
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A horse doesn’t care how much you know until she knows how much you care
But in an age of instant replay and fast forward; online games and Netflix, Facebook and Google, little time remains for outdoor recreation and appreciation of animal life. Strange as it may seem, some Langley kids have never even seen a horse. A Pony Comes to School is a program developed by the Langley Horse and Farm Federation Education Committee to provide elementary school children with an educational opportunity and a chance to experience horses in a safe, fun, interactive environment. Conducted by a group of horse industry professionals, children are taught safety awareness, fun horse facts and general information about the agricultural community they live in. With the horse as our spokesperson we aim to promote an interest in horses at the grassroots level that will foster a lifelong respect and dedication to the preservation and enhancement of our agricultural heritage.
There are currently several dates scheduled for Spring 2012. For more information about “A Pony Comes to School” and other programs offered by the LHFF Education Committee contact: Sandra VerdaZanattaFit2ride@shaw.ca v
General Course Outline After a brief introduction students are separated into groups and assigned to stations. Each station has a different focus ranging from safety around horses to understanding equine body language to recognition of colors and breeds and different grooming tools. Information provided is age appropriate and modified to suit the needs of each group.
The Langley Horse and Farm Federation is a non-profit society committed to enhancing the image of Langley’s horse industry to the general public especially through youth, education, public awareness and promotion. Our mandate is to develop a base of equestrian knowledge which translates into strength for the horse industry and promotes the development of Langley into the horse friendliest community in Canada. spring edition 2012 9
Grand Prix Gala 7 A th
10 Student Success
nnual
Quite possibly the best event of the year
T
here are a few annual events that people recognize and talk about. The Oscars, the Vancouver Wine Festival, the Stanley Cup, and of course the Grand Prix Gala. Now in its seventh year, the Langley School District Foundation Grand Prix Gala is a must-do Gala, Gala Do. But be forewarned. Don’t expect to feast on rubber chicken and mushy vegetables. The band won’t be playing and there’s no dance floor. Don’t bring out the gown, the tuxedo, the little black dress or even the power suit. Instead - Relax. Slip on a pair of designer jeans and jazz up your outfit up with a killer hat, fascinator, cowboy hat, fedora or that thing that Indiana Jones wears. Make your way to Thunderbird Show Park (rated the top equestrian centre in North America) and spend the afternoon in the country watching an international horse-jumping competition while sipping on awardwinning wines paired with gourmet hors d’oeurvres and fruit pies and tarts made with love by local farmers. And that’s not all! The marquis event will be awarding chi chi prizes to the persons wearing the most original and awe-inspiring hats or head gear. Take your chances on the Calculator event and shop til you drop at the silent auction featuring must-have items at drop dead prices. Clearly, this is an event not to be missed. Tickets are just $60 or $400 for a table of 8. All proceeds go to support programs for students who are struggling in math and numeracy. v
When
Sunday, June 3, 2012 from 1 to 5 pm
Where
Thunderbird Show Park
Why
To support Langley students
Who
A day in the country for fun and philanthropy
Anybody who loves horses, food, wine, kids, great deals, prizes: AKA everybody
spring edition 2012 11
okay: by Susan Cairns
x .. +
let’s do the MATH
I
t’s time to dispell the myths about math. You’ve probably heard the mantra - you either get math or you don’t. It’s in the genes like blue eyes, straight hair or knocked knees. But clearly, it is a myth and a dangerous one. It’s like this: Sally is a bright, energetic child, eager to learn and an ace in reading class. She is confident and full of life. Her teachers have high hopes for her. She doesn’t get some of the early math concepts, but no one seems to notice. Things are fine. The future looks bright. Sally has lost some of her confidence. School is not as great as it used to be. She’s in grade 10 and her counsellor has just told her that her math skills are not up to grade.
Does she want to opt for business math? Suddenly university is no longer an option. Her future looks less bright. Sally’s dreams of becoming a journalist go up in smoke. In fact she may not even complete grade 12. The scenario is not unusual. Often, students will miss the concepts as early as grade 3. However, they will continue on through the system, their inabilities becoming more and more serious until they get to grade 10 when it is too late. Now they can’t do the math, they can’t pass their exams and they can’t graduate. It’s a tragedy that happens too frequently, but thanks to a new and innovative program, it’s a tragedy that can be prevented.
Langley’s International Festival Saturday, August 25th & Sunday, August 26th, 2012 at Willoughby Community Park (next to Langley Events Centre) 7888 - 200th St., Langley
2012 Complete, not compete!
Canada’s Only Series JUST FOR KiDS!
Sunday, July 29
Walnut Grove Community Centre
Township of Langley, BC
www.trikidstriathlon.com
12 Student Success
PLUS
Great races Kelownain& Ontario
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.internationalfestival.ca info@internationalfestival.ca
604-514-2294
Admission by Donation
“FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!”
Do the Math Modules
Grand Prix Gala beats the Odds
Carefully crafted and designed as a highly effective intervention program Do The Math gives students who have fallen behind the chance to catch up and keep up. Focusing on number and operations, the cornerstone of elementary mathematics, the program teaches students the basics of math—computation, number sense, and problem solving. Do The Math offers comprehensive teacher support and helps students develop the skills they need to compute with accuracy and efficiency, the number sense they need to reason, and the ability to apply their skills and reasoning to solve problems. IT WORKS! But it is expensive.
When the Langley School District Foundation heard that the lack of math skills was a problem for 70% of the students who did not graduate, they wanted to help. So the proceeds from this year’s Grand Prix Gala, held at Thunderbird Show Park will go toward the purchase of 40 Do the Math modules – enough to get the district started on the Foundation’s aggressive mandate to ensure that every student receives the maximum benefit of the education to which they are entitled and that learning is UNFORGETTABLE for every Langley student. v
Langley SCHOOL DISTRICT
FOUNDATION making learning UNFORGETTABLE for every Langley student
Spring Term: April 14 to June 16 - Limited Availability! Summer Camps: July 9 - 13 & August 20 - 24
grand prix gala seventh annual
For Children Age 4 - 16 On Saturdays
Enjoy a world-class horse jumping competition, awardwinning wines, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, decadent desserts and a silent auction
Call Now! (778) 240-5915 www.stagecoachschools.ca
sunday, june 3, 2012 thunderbird show park 1-5 pm
spring edition 2012 13
Art in Focus by Sandy Wakeling
Art matters students learn from the Masters
staff, parents, and the community to become engaged with prominent artists, arts educators, scholars, and researchers. The Series opened at the Chief Sepass Theatre at the Langley Fine Arts School on October 14 with an address by noted educator Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognized leader in the development of education, creativity and innovation. Other Arts Matter artists included dancer Margie Gillis, painter Tony Scherman, and conductor Bramwell Tovey. Through their presentations, each artist sought to address from their own unique perspectives on why the “Arts Matter”. Though the evening presentations were notable unto themselves, each artist made themselves available to students during the school day. The artists joined Langley Fine Arts students during workshop presentations, artist critiques, and class seminars where they shared some of their work, offered advice, and fielded questions about careers in the their respective artistic fields. Margie Gillis visited LFAS in November of last year. Quebec-born Gillis is a member of the Order of Canada and a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec. In May of 2011, she was awarded the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award Foundation. Student Grace Kennedy spoke with Gillis about on her ideas about dance, and her view of the arts in the world. “Margie Gillis is a really interesting person to talk to and listen to,” said Grace, “She is very eloquent with her speech, and talks the way she dances. She might not directly answer your question, but the path she takes is so much more interesting.”
Canadian encaustic artist Tony Sherman presents to students at Langley Fine Arts
B
etween October 2011 and June 2013, several prominent artists and educators will share their experiences and perspectives at Langley Fine Arts School (LFAS) as part of the Arts Matter Lecture Series. Presented by LFAS in partnership with Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Education, and Research for Youth, Music and Education (RYME), the goal of the series is to provide opportunities for LFAS students, 14 Student Success
Regarding the opportunity to work with young people as part of the Arts Matters series, Gillis said, “It’s incredibly satisfying. I love connecting to that sense of hope and possibility.” Another of the visiting artists was Canadian encaustic artist, Tony Scherman. A recipient of an M.A. from the Royal College of Art in London, England, Scherman has exhibited his works in solo and group exhibitions in North America and Europe where he has also been a visiting critic and lecturer at universities, art colleges and art galleries.
In advance of the visit, LFAS Visual art teachers Ms. Crawford and Mr. Sarganis worked with senior art students to create Tony Scherman inspired encaustic paintings which were on display in the Mary Pratt gallery at the school. Mr. Scherman took the time to view and critique each painting individually. During his time at LFAS, Sherman also found time to conduct several workshops for Visual Art majors, and address the senior arts majors at the school. LFAS student Raven Loucks spoke with Tony Scherman about his views on art, inspiration, and talent. “He was interesting,” she said, ”He had a perspective that I hadn’t encountered often. He wasn’t worried about being politically correct, which many people with the same opinions are.” Students also enjoyed an opportunity to share in the spotlight before each of the evening presentations, which opened with Langley Fine Art School student performances. Though the guest speakers were important components of the Arts Matters effort, the three partners have worked to try to weave the sentiment throughout the school year. In addition to the speaker series, several schools from across British Columbia also took part in a PostSecondary Forum this past January, in which student groups presented an artistic program and sought to address the “Art Matters” topic from their own perspectives. Running concurrently to the Arts Matter series are a number of projects led by Dr. Susan O’Neill, director of Research for Youth, Music, and Education (RYME) and associate professor at SFU. The projects included the Arts Matter Curriculum Project, Student-led Arts Research, Arts Educators’ Workshop, and a Dialogue Event for artists and arts students, teachers, scholars and researchers. More than a dozen LFAS students took the stage during a performance put on for aspiring students in the faculty of education building at SFU’s Burnaby campus. Their audience was a group of future art teachers and their instructors. “I’m amazed at the raw talent,” said one member of the audience at the conclusion of the performance.
Dancer Margie Gillis visited LFAS in November of last year. Quebec-born Gillis is a member of the Order of Canada and a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec. In May of 2011, she was awarded the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award Foundation.
With the series now concluded, there’s no doubt that the effort has made an impact that has left audiences craving an encore, successfully painting a picture that aptly illustrates the motto of the series; Arts Matter because the arts connect and define us; the arts are a way to celebrate life.v
summer sessions for youth and adults
Art in the Country
since 1993
new It’s all about Colour July 7 new A Symphony of Clay & Light July 14 new Taiko drumming July 21-22 Animals in Art: Painting & Sculpture July 23-27 Watercolour:The Grammar of Space July 28-29 The Classical Art of Egg Tempera Aug 11-12 Wheel-Throwing basics & Beyond Aug 18-19 Sessions by certified teachers and professional artists Susan Gorris, Santo Mignosa, Michael Kluckner, Karanata Saranaka and Tamotsu Tongu 604-856-0634 www.susangorris.com uu3sgorris@shaw.ca spring edition 2012 15
ART in focus
by Craig Spence
Kids Art engages critical thinking… and then some
L
ois Curtis, Principal of Blacklock Fine Arts Elementary School, thinks it’s never too early to expose children to the beneficial influences of art – in fact, Lois recommends sharing music with your child before he or she is born.
That might sound a tad premature to some, but there is plenty of research showing that children ‘in the womb’ can hear sound and that they respond to it. There is also research suggesting that unborn babies have their preferences when it comes to music. The Baby Zone website at www.babyzone.com has an article about The ABCs of Prenatal Music Stimulation. “Prenatal stimulation is a method that uses stimuli such as sounds, …movement, pressure, vibrations, and light to communicate with a developing baby prior to birth. Says Dr. Philip A. De Fina, chief neuropsychologist and director of neurotherapies at the NYU Brain Research Laboratories, “diversity of different kinds of music are essential and can be useful for the baby’s future writing, reading, and language skills.”
Engaging in the Arts from an early age gives children self-confidence and improves their ‘critical thinking’ skills. Flickr Photo by Selena BeckmanHarned
The Arts Umbrella, which has been delivering programs to youngsters in the Lower Mainland for more than 30 years, is built on the premise that children benefit when they unleash their creative potential with the help of crayons, cameras, clay, dance music, anything that stimulates expression. Susan Smith, Director of Marketing & Communications, says the The Arts Umbrella has grown from a vision shared by about 40 parents to an organization that now connects in one way or another with an estimated 20,000 children. In 2011 they opened two locations in Surrey, where they will offer a mix of free of charge outreach programs as well as tuition-based programs.
Every child is an artist
Dr. De Fina points to an increasingly well documented relationship between the Arts, or creative engagement, and enhanced abilities in most other walks of life. So aside from the pure joy self-expression brings from infancy through to old age, participation in the Arts has spin-off benefits.
“Our mission is to inspire kids for life through the arts,” Ms. Smith said. “There are many of our kids who might go on to careers in the arts, and there are many who will not, but they are still learning great life skills.”
It’s never too soon to tap that current. “Make art available to the children right from birth,” says Ms. Curtis. “Have music on in their bedroom to go to sleep and to wake up to; read to them, using big picture books; share nursery rhymes with them - either singing or speaking; dance with the child in your arms; play child-friendly music when you are travelling in your vehicle.”
So there are two perspectives on kids engagement in the Arts: the here-and-now view, which consists of the sheer joy children experience as they translate their own imaginative impulses into real, visible creations; and the long view, which increasingly points to enhanced well-being later in life for those kids who have participated in the arts from an early age.
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Ms. Smith points to researched linkages between a student’s academic performance in subjects including math and engagement in the arts stating that, “we see that there is greater self-confidence and we know that there are improved critical thinking skills. Kids are making choices when they’re doing art, and that’s whether you’re two years old or you’re 18. There are choices to be made and you drive the process. As well as flexing their critical thinking abilities and gaining confidence, kids gain a wider perspective through the Arts.
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The painting is on the wall: The Arts are not a frill, at least not to those who have seen the research and experienced the benefits of creative engagement for themselves and their children. “When children can express themselves through art - all art forms - they feel an increased sense of ability and accomplishment,” said Ms. Curtis. “Their self-confidence increases along with their self-worth. All children are artistic in some way or form.” All we need to do is hold up the mirror that is their own creative selves, and they will learn from what they see.v
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spring edition 2012 17
Photo by Janis Roxburgh courtesy of Langley United Youth Soccer Association.
Getting in the
Game
When is the best time to register your child in an organized sport?
S
occer, baseball, football, hockey, gymnastics, martial arts, swimming – the list of possibilities is long and varied, so there’s no set answer to the question: When is my child ready to get into the game? But there are some common considerations that parents can keep in mind as they determine when their child might be ready and what program to enroll them in.
One thing is certain: getting kids into well run sports programs brings big benefits, and some of the plus factors might surprise many parents. Said Pete Quevillon of KidSport BC, “The research verifying the multiple benefits of organized sport participation is well documented. Children who participate in sport benefit from improved communication, teamwork, socialization, academic performance, leadership and decision making.” How popular are organized sports? More kids than ever are being registered in organized sports these days, and considering the benefits, it’s no surprise. Take soccer for instance. It has become one of the most popular sports in BC. And the Langley United Youth Soccer Association has programs beginning at age three and running year round. 18 Student Success
“Soccer is often the child’s and family’s first introduction to team sports and with about 3,000 boys and girls playing each year in Langley it’s important to get the young ones off to the right start with a fun, fear-free introduction to the beautiful game,” said Steve Campbell of Langley United Youth Soccer Association. You can find out more about programs that run September to March, April to June and July and August at www.luysa.com. When are kids ready? Each sport or physical activity has its own entry level. Brian Metcalf with Langley Olympic Swim Club said kids and parents can begin enjoying playtime together in the pool any time, but kids have to be ready to join a swim club. “The best time to start swimming is at a very young age with parents playing with children in the pool, and the best time to start in the swim club is when a child can swim unassisted 25 metres – that’s one length of the pool - and be comfortable in deep water”, he said. “LOSC will teach swimmers how do the four competitive strokes - butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle how to do proper starts, turns, kicking and drills. We also offer swim meets usually half a day on a Saturday once a month.”
by CRAIG SPENCE
Check out the Program Master Daniel Witt of Pacific Coast Taekwondo School has children five and over participating in his sport. When you are entrusting a young child to someone who will likely have a significant influence on him or her, you need to check out the organization you are dealing with. “Parents looking for quality organized sport experiences can visit www.sportbc.com for a list of recognized provincial sport organizations and their member clubs around the province,” Mr. Quevillon of KidSport said. “These clubs will ensure a quality sport experience for all participants through coach training and appropriate policies and procedures.” Benefits “Swimming is a great cardio workout, easy on the body, and a full body workout,” said Brian Metcalf. But the benefits go farther than that. In order to progress as a swimmer, kids need to learn discipline, and athletic organizations like Langley Olympics Swim Club make that part of their focus. “LOSC will teach swimmers time management, how to set and achieve goals, work ethic, hard work and how to deal with success and challenges.” Mr. Metcalf said. And lessons learned at an early age can carry a child right through to adulthood and form the basis of successful strategies throughout life. How much will it cost? Many parents are stretched for money these days so fitting organized sports into the family budget might mean making sacrifices elsewhere. But if we think of organized sports as an investment in our children’s future, rather than an expense, it’s easier to find the cash. But for those families who struggle, there is help. “KidSport is a national charitable organization, which assists financially challenged families with the costs of organized sport registration fees,” Mr. Quevillon said. In BC the provincial body and 39 community-based chapters – including Langley - support over 5,400 children annually with grants for registration fees. Information is available at www.kidsport.ca/bc. To access the application for Langley families go to kidsportlangley.ca. v spring edition 2012 19
Ideas to help your child with
mathematics from the mouths of teachers
have a positive attitude! If you have a positive attitude about mathematics, chances are that your child will too. You can also help your child to develop a positive attitude by praising their efforts along with their accomplishments. There is a myth that only some students are capable of learning mathematics. The truth is that all students are capable. Mathematics can be challenging at times, struggling with a concept is normal and persistence and hard work are the keys to success. For some students, it may be helpful to relate learning mathematics to another endeavor in their life that requires hard work and persistence to be successful (e.g. Playing a sport). Connect Math to Your Everyday Life We use math everyday, whether we are aware of it or not. For example, we use math when: following a recipe while cooking, making correct change when shopping, developing a schedule or determining the price of an item on sale. Help your child realize that mathematics is an important part of everyday life. Even find math while reading to your child. You will be surprised with how much math you can discover in many children’s books. Make Mathematics Fun There are lots of great activities to practice and develop strong mathematics skills that don’t require the textbook. Play board games, solve puzzles and ponder brainteasers with your child. These tend to be very enjoyable, while enhancing your child’s mathematics skills. Point out the mathematics involved and have your child discuss the strategies used…remember that mathematics isn’t just about doing calculations with numbers, but also involves logic, reasoning and spatial skills. With the development of technology, there has been a great increase in the number of math-focused educational websites and apps. Check out the list of attached websites and apps for more information.
20 Student Success
Homework: Be a Helper! Homework can be a source of tension and stress in many homes. Relax and remember whose homework it is! Your job is not to do it, but instead guide, support and encourage them, especially when they reach those challenging moments where they may want to quit. The best thing to do is ask questions and then listen to what your child says. Quite often, having to explain something out loud will allow your child to figure out a solution to the problem. Encourage them to show all their work, along with descriptions of their thinking processes. This will provide them with better review material or a better indicator of where they may have made a mistake to start corrections. Some good questions to ask are: • Are there instructions or directions? What do they say? • Are there words in the directions or the problem you don’t understand? • Is there anything you already know that can help you? • Do you have similar problems in your notes/textbook/assignment that we could look at together? What about calling a friend or checking the Internet? • Would it help to go on to another problem and come back to this one later? • Can you draw a picture or diagram? Math Websites (Elementary) Games/Activities http://k12sites.weebly.com/index.html (Database of sites recommended by Langley teachers) http://www.mangahigh.com/en_us/games/ (Intermediate) http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/ (based on the TV show, includes videos) http://www.mrnussbaum.com/mathgames.htm http://www.decimalsquares.com/dsGames/ (decimals) http://www.bigbrainz.com/ (multiplication) http://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/resources/resources.html (intermediate students) http://www.figurethis.org/index.html (problems solving challenges for families) http://www.ictgames.com/ (British site – Primary Numeracy and Literacy) Tutorials/Homework Help http://www.learnnowbc.ca/services/homeworkhelp.aspx (B.C. Ministry of Education site) http://www.2learn.ca/ (Education Society of Alberta) http://mathtrain.tv/ (Tutorial videos - “kids teaching kids” project from California.) v
spring edition 2012 21
GREEN
by Sandy Wakeling
Children are energetic and optimistic. They are eager to learn. And they are the future. So who better to teach the importance of recycling to than youngsters who can truly make a difference?
T
he Township of Langley and the Langley School District have teamed up for a new waste reduction pilot project designed to help students keep tonnes of recyclable material out of landfills. Early in 2012, containers were set out throughout classrooms and hallways in Walnut Grove Secondary School and Fort Langley Elementary School to encourage the kids to reduce the amount of garbage they generate.
“If we succeed with this program, and I believe we will, others will follow easily,” said WGSS student Bryanna Wilson. “We are changing our school and our neighbourhood for the good, and if everyone were to take the initiative to do what we did, it would make a huge difference in the environment on a much larger scale.” The goal of the project is to divert 75 per cent of discarded matter from the schools’ garbage and collect it for recycling. “The District has been very focused on reducing our carbon footprint and truthfully, we have been spending our energy on fossil fuel reduction. Leave it to the students to remind us of what is important at their level,” said Debby Sansome, Langley School District’s Director of Energy and the Environment. That’s when Township Solid Waste Coordinator Krista Daniszewski got on board. “We wanted to leverage that keen attitude,” she said. “We are pleased for the opportunity to educate kids about 22 Student Success
recycling in school, because they are there to learn and they are ready to learn. Judging from the interest and enthusiasm we’ve seen from students and staff, the results are going to be outstanding.” Over at Fort Langley Elementary, the students are smaller but just as eager, and have recycling champions in their staff members. “One of the teachers wants no waste,” said Daniszewski. “The whole school is on board, every teacher is on board. I can’t wait to see the end result.” Fort Langley is also collecting soft plastics, like plastic bags, to help reduce waste even further, and educational presentations were made to the students by Township Solid Waste staff. “The habits learned when we are very young stay with us a lifetime,” said Sansome. “Showing our students how to care for their environment and actively engage them will have a positive ripple effect throughout our community. The School District is grateful for the assistance of the Township of Langley for supporting this pilot program and we look forward to engaging all our schools in the coming years.” v
Photo: Teacher Nick Despotakis, Township of Langley Solid Waste Coordinator Krista Daniszewski (right), and the Walnut Grove Secondary School Environmental Club/Waste Wise Crew are trying to keep 75 per cent of their waste from ending up in the landfill.
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