summer edition 1

studentSuccesssummer 2012

A mAGAZINe FOr sTuDeNTs AND PAreNTs IN LANGLeY published by the Langley school District Foundation

Langley kids excel

Sports prowess

Playcations

Kudos to the teachers

and their programs

Foundation summer camp

July 9-13

Focuson the Arts

lots to do in Langley

2 student success

Don’t let your child fall behind this summer.The summer brain drain means that without intervention, the achievement gap between successful and struggling students widens in the summer. Students who are already struggling or have learning challenges are at the most risk. While studies have shown students lose 2.6 months of math learning, literacy is the most affected by the summer break in learning. In contrast, if students focus on developing their skills over the summer months they can actually gain ground and feel more confident when they go back in September. Here are some things your child can do this summer to keep learning: Read: Join a library reading program

Go on an outing and do a project about it afterwards

Journaling: Buy your child a summer journal

Learn a new skill; cooking, music, woodwork, knitting, sewing

Play ‘school’ and work through a summer workbook that includes math

Utilize computer curriculum and online resources

Ensure that your student has a summer educational plan; don’t assume it will just happen. It can be difficult to keep a schedule during the summer months, but it could be very beneficial to get your child into the habit of doing a little reading/studying every morning for an hour before play. Tutor Doctor provides in home tutoring and can create an individual student plan for the summer. When putting together a plan we will consider; recommendations from your child’s teacher, year-end grades, results from our assessment, what supplemental curriculum would be the best fit, your summer schedule, and your child’s personality and learning style. Tutoring 2 or 3 times a week in the summer can be a great opportunity to Jump Start for the fall and start the new year with confidence!

STOP SUMMERLEARNING LOSS

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summer edition 3

MORE THAN A GAME!

Develop Skills Make Friends Build Character HAVE FUN

WHO Boys & Girls Age 4/5 – Grade 10

WHEN October 5, 2012 – March 8, 2013* (Friday nights) *excl. ProD days & Christmas break

WHERE In Langley school gyms. Practice & games on Friday night.

WHAT Does a typical evening look like? Positions – warm-up, large group ball control Coach’s Corner – dribbling, driving, shooting and skills trainingMore Than a Game – halftime talk Games – 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3, 4-on-4, 5-on-5

DIVISIONSSlammin’ Jammers – Age 4/5, Gr. 1/2, 3/4 (Coed) An action-filled introduction to the foundational skills of basketball with an emphasis on FUN.

Building the Basics – Gr. 5/6, 7/8/ 9/10 (Coed) Learning the basics with an emphasis on three key skills: dribbling, driving & shooting, as well as learning the rules of the game.

REGISTRATION INFORegister at Langley Fundamental Elementary School 10 am – 4 pm21789 – 50 Ave (from Fraser Hwy go south on 216th; go left on 50th Ave)

$120 - Early Bird Registration Saturdays – June 9 & 16

$135 – Fall registration Saturdays – September 8 & 15

FOR MORE INFOFrank Thoutenhoofd 604-897-1987Director frankt@athletesinaction.com

Joyce Wright 604-514-1977 Registrar joycew@athletesinaction.com

WWW.FRIDAYNITEBASKETBALL.COM

FREE BASKETBALL - $15 VALUE

Bring this coupon to the June

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4 student success

volume 3 number 3 summer 2012

Features 6 prowessinsports langley students excell

8 focusonthearts bringing the outside in through art

12 summerdaycamp pack up your troubles and send them to camp

14 dreambelieveachieve never doubt the passion of students

18 staycationsintoplaycations things to do in langley

20 thegiftofeducation nicaragua philanthropic trip

22 nature’sclassroom a growing concern for langley students

24 kudostoourteachers programs of excellence

26 parentsaspartners speaker line-up

28 foundationupdate foundation working with the community

30 hungerpains helping the food bank

onthecover

CITY OF LANGLEY www.city.langley.bc.ca

... for community and fun!

SUMMERIN LANGLEY CITY

Day Campsat Douglas Recreation Centre20550 Douglas Cres. - 604-514-2865

Swimmingat Al Anderson Memorial Pool4949 207th Street - 604-514-2864

Stickin’ around this summer? We have loads of fun programs and events planned for all ages! Check out our website or give us a call and let us help youplan a memorable summer for you and your family.

Youth Summer Jamat Timms Community Centre20702 Eastleigh Crescent - 604-514-2940

track & Field star Georgia ellwood - top Female

highschool athlete in bc.

Photo by: marilyn richardson

studentSuccess

summer edition 5

Welcome to summer, the time of year when idleness gains respectability and if every summer has a story, every summer edition of

Student Success has many.

Read about our amazing athletes and their accomplishments on the rinks, courts, fields and mats. Then discover what’s going on in the arts in Langley, both in the community and in the schools.

And what would summer be without summer camp? Read about the Foundation’s new Fun Festival Summer Day Camp for kids from 7 to 12 years old. Featuring educational festivals focusing on math, science and literacy, the camp runs from July 9-13 at James Kennedy Elementary School. Also read about the many activities for kids and families in Langley going on throughout the summer.

Then cast your eyes on what the teachers are doing and the many incredible programs that they are offering to our kids. For instance, the students who travelled to Nicaragua with Langley Fundamental Middle Secondary School teacher, Ray Sawatsky will never forget the time they spent living with and helping the desperately poor families living in La Chureca (the city dump). They raised the money to not only travel to Nicaragua, but to purchase the necessary materials to build a new school for the children. Other programs that go above and beyond are the Strong Start Program at Parkside led by teacher Tannis Percival; the business class at Walnut Grove who are organizing a marketing event (Gator’s Den) that offers substantial bursaries to students; the junior trades program that takes grade 7 students to Kwantlen University to receive hands-on training in the various trades; and the Langley Picture Book of the Year spearheaded by teacher-librarian Deb Cowland.

And kudos to our students at Gordon Greenwood who organized a food collection for the Food Bank and the Aldergrove students who created a permanent wall mural at Aldergrove Community Secondary School.

And finally, read about the Foundation and its activities in 2011-2012. Enjoy.

student success is published and produced by the langley school

district Foundation

editor & desiGnersusan cairns

scairns@sd35.bc.ca604-532-1464

contributorsandy Wakeling

swakeling@sd35.bc.ca604-534-7891

advertisinG & editorialconsultant

craig spencetel:1-888-345-0065 (toll free)

Fax: 1-888-345-0084 (toll free)craig@youcommunications.ca

advertisinG traFFicPaula cartwright

604-534-7891pcartwright@sd35.bc.ca

PHotoGraPHYsandy Wakeling

marilyn richardson

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 streetlangley, bc

v3a 3Z7

studentSuccess

craigspenceadvertising&editorialconsultant

susancairnseditor&designer

sandywakelingcommunicationsmanager

6 student success

cover story

Prowess on the

It’s no secret that students who are more physically active perform better in school. They’re more alert and energetic which in turn improves their concentration and focus. What’s more, students

who are involved in school sports have been shown to develop strong bonds with their school communities which make them much less likely to be at risk of dropping out than their non-athletic counter-parts.

In a recent presentation to the Board, Acting Superintendent Suzanne Hoffman noted how, “the Langley School District’s efforts at building a culture of athletics is one way in which we can engage with students while reinforcing the development of healthy, active lifestyles.”

In addition to the direct student benefits, a strong culture of athletics can also develop and enhance school and district pride. Such excite-ment becomes contagious and begins to spill over into all aspects of school life. In typical Canadian fashion, our district and schools in recent years have been almost shy about tooting our own horns. It’s time for that to change.

All across the Langley School District, our students are regularly tear-ing up the track, owning the court, ruling the rink and leaving it all on the field. From rugby to track and field, hockey to basketball, soccer to volleyball and countless other sports, the coaches, teams and athletes from each of our schools have given us reason to be proud. This year in particular they have shown that School District 35 is no shrinking violet when it comes to athletics, with many of our students and teams going on to regional and provincial championships.

fields, rinks & courts

School Sports

DW Poppy Girls Rugby Team

Walnut Grove Senior Boys Basketball Team lost ProvincialsChampionship by one point!

From top: WGSS Gators Hockey Team; Foundation presents cheque for $22,000 to sports programs; Brookswood vs. WGSS Junior Girls Basketball; Maddie Millsip -Wrestling Bronze Medallist at Provincials.

summer edition 7

This speaks not only to the level of commitment on the part of our student athletes, but also to the passion and dedication of our many coaches throughout the district whose talents and expertise have inspired our students to succeed. To them we owe a great thanks.

Sadly, we simply do not have the space to list all of our noteworthy athletic successes from the current school year. At the time of writing we have several schools and athletes who will be headed to regional and provincial championships in sports such as rugby and track and field who will no doubt be deserving of placement on this list before the year is through. Though incomplete, we offer the following list of some of the most notable athletic achievements at the secondary level and invite you to join us in celebrating our athletic pride.

Langley School District Athletic Success Stories

• Georgia Ellenwood – LSS Track and Field, Top Female High School Athlete in BC

• Maddie Millsip – LSS Wrestling, Bronze Medal – Provincial Championships

• Chris Schwarz – LSS Football, Conference All Star - Varsity Football

• Ashley Windsor – WGSS Cross Country, 1st in Provincial Championships, Awarded Scholarship @ California Polytech-nic University

• Senior Girls Basketball – BSS, District Champions and 4th at Provincial Championships

• Junior Girls Basketball – BSS, District Champions and 8th at Provincial Championships

• Grade 8 Football – HDSMS, Silver Medal (Tier 2) – Provincial Championships

• Senior Boys Lacrosse – LSS, Silver Medal (Tier 2) - Provincial Championships

• Senior Girls Volleyball – BSS, 16th at Provincial Champion-ships

• Senior Girls Cross Country – WGSS, District Champions, 2nd in the Fraser Valley and 5th at Provincial Championships

• Senior Boys Cross Country – WGSS, District Champions, 2nd in the Fraser Valley and 9th at Provincial Championships

• Junior Girls Cross Country – WGSS, District Champions and 1st in the Fraser Valley

• Junior Boys Cross Country – WGSS, District Champions and 1st in the Fraser Valley

• Grade 8 Boys Cross Country – WGSS, District Champions and 1st in the Fraser Valley

• Grade 8 Boys Basketball – WGSS, District Champions, 2nd in the Fraser Valley and 3rd at Provincial Championships

• Junior Boys Basketball – WGSS, District Champions, 2nd in the Fraser Valley and 5th at Provincial Championships

• Senior Boys Basketball – WGSS, League Champions, 2nd in the Fraser Valley and 2nd at Provincial Championships

• Senior Boys Hockey – WGSS, Tier 2 Provincial Champions • Basketball BC Coaching Award of Excellence, George Bergen

(Walnut Grove Secondary School) v

There’s nothing like

being ‘slobbered

on’ by a horse to

inspire young artists

with a ‘synaesthetic’

appreciation of their

subjects says Art

Teacher Susan Gorris.

8 student success

Bringing the outside inthrough ART

by Craig Spence

Colin Mitchell would have been participating in the Opus Outdoor Painting Chal-lenge April 21 with his wife Annamaria Kardos and their two children, but alas as a employee of Opus Art Supplies he had work to do helping organize the event, which

saw dozens of artists out in the plain air, capturing nature on canvas.

Annamaria and the kids were at Brydon Lagoon, where turtles, red-winged blackbirds, mallards, garter snakes, blackberries, and the general effusion of nature was twittering and sighing in a gentle spring breeze, just waiting to be captured in broad strokes and bright colours.

“They’ll learn a little bit about drawing from life and observational skills,” Colin said of the ex-perience he was missing. An artist himself – as we talked during his morning break he sketched a potted plant in the Langley Mall parking lot – he understands how artistic exploration brings the world into sharp focus for kids.

“It makes them a lot more sympathetic towards nature and animals. They just love living crea-tures in general and this makes them more conscious of what’s going on around them, and they’re more conscious of their behaviour with regard to nature and how they interact with it.”

summer edition 9

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A dynamic studiooffering privatelessons in classicaland comtemporary styles at all levels No Obligation

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10 student success

register for spring & SUMMER

4Cats Clayton Heights 114–6820 188th St, Surrey

(778)-57-4CATS • 4cats.com/claytonheights4CatsArts Studio

Art is good!

4cats.comTM

mixed mediacamps

artist of the month

star force

Clay & SculptureARTS &

LETTERS CLUB

DRAWINGstop motion animation

new It’s all about Colour July 7new A Symphony of Clay & Light July 14new Taiko drumming July 21-22Animals in Art: Painting & Sculpture July 23-27Watercolour:The Grammar of Space July 28-29The Classical Art of Egg Tempera Aug 11-12Wheel-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

summer sessions for youth and adults

Art in the Country

A balance between art and nature is something to be nur-tured, but like any growing thing, not forced. “Don’t push ‘em,” Colin advises parents who want their children to engage artistically. “They’ll do it if they want to. Just give them the support and don’t belittle what they’re doing, don’t begrudge it and don’t try and direct it too much.”

Aldergrove Community Secondary School Teacher Su-san Gorris, who runs an art workshop called Art in the Country, which immerses kids in the outdoors, echoes that advice. Kid’s art is a magnificent genre that can be crushed by critics whose best intentions can lead to stul-tifying results.

Susan has a degree in Synaesthetic Education from Syra-cuse University in New York. Kids don’t learn by sight alone she says, they have to touch things, smell them, taste them, then bring those non-visual experiences into their interpretation of the world.

“Children learn much more effectively if you can engage all of their senses,” she said. Allowing kids at a very young age to explore their environment synaesthetically is im-portant because “… it’s harder to do when kids get older because at some point they become more interested in societal norms of prescriptive behaviour.”

To her eye there’s a noticeable difference between art based on real, synaesthetic experience and art that’s cop-ied from a copy of nature.

“You can always tell somebody who paints a cat, who actu-ally owns a cat and has been around cats, from someone who hasn’t and has merely lifted the image or is creating an imaginary image of what a cat would be like,” she said.

“There’s a world of difference between the two.”

The importance of that perspective goes beyond art. Im-mersion in nature, which leads to the best art, also leads to a deeper appreciation for the subject an artist – es-pecially a young artist – is expressing stroke by inspired stroke.

“That experience, if it’s a positive one, can carry over to every other aspect of their life so that they now all of a sudden have a renewed appreciation for a tree,” Susan explained. “They have a renewed appreciation for when someone comes along and chops down a tree to broaden a road, that was a part of their environment and not just something to swallow and forget about.”

summer edition 11

students not only paint what they see but what they feel,

hear and smell

Expressing ourselves synaesthetically through art leads to a richer appreciation of life, Susan claims, and settings like her farm in south Aldergrove are ideal places to foster that kind of deep awareness.

“One of my mantras in my teaching has been connecting kids in a synaesthetic way so that they smell things, they touch things, they feel things, they taste things,” she said.

“Children learn with all of their senses. So an experience is far more rich, far more permeable and for more long-lasting when any one of us – adults too – experience all of these things, and this is a perfect environment to do that.”

Like Colin she cautions against trying to teach kids the ‘right way’ of doing art. In fact, all we might be doing is discouraging children from expressing their true wonder for the world around them.

“So the child draws a tree that satisfies the adult’s need to teach the child the adult’s vision of a tree when in point of fact one of the most exciting things about working with kids is they know darn well what a tree looks like, but it’s not their issue.”

Their issue is expressing the wonder of what they are see-ing, feeling, hearing, smelling and – yes – even tasting in nature. “That’s so rich!” Susan said. “That’s an experience that you can build tons of artwork around.” v

Above:Turtles on a log at Brydon Park in Langley.

Left:Red winged blackbird at

Brydon Park in Langley.

12 student success

fundraisingSummer Day Camp

pack up your troubles and send them to CAMPDon your life jaCkets. Dust off your flying Carpet. Hop on your CHariot of fire anD get reaDy for a journey of a lifetime. unravel tHe mysteries of matH, DisCover tHe paraDoxes of sCienCe anD explore tHe History of lit-eraCy tHrougHout time anD arounD tHe worlD.

the Langley School District Foundation is holding a 5-day summer day camp for 7- 12 year-old children from July 9-13. Featuring edu-cational festivals that celebrate math, numeracy, science and literacy,

the summer camp is meant to be both educational and fun for your children.

Set up like Science World, the kids travel from station to station playing games, doing activities, completing fun quizzes, participating in contests, winning prizes and above all having FUN. They will play the MAYAN Game of War, investigate crime scenes, discover the mysteries of the hive and learn about Leonardo da Vinci. They will print their names in hieroglyphics and Braille, build towers and discover the secrets of sound, magnets and electricity. They will explore the earth, outer space and the deep sea. They will go shopping, they will compete in scavenger hunts and much, much more. There are almost 80 stations with hundreds of activities.

To register online go to www.thinklangley.com. Click on Langley Founda-tion and Fun Festival Summer Day Camp. Registration forms are also in your schools. If you would like to volunteer at the camp or require more informa-tion contact Susan Cairns at 604-532-1464. Email: scairns@sd35.bc.ca. v

all proCeeDs from tHe summer Day Camp go to support programs in your sCHools.

summer edition 13

Phone 604-532-1464

for more information

TheLangley School District Foundation presents

FunFestival day camp

July 9-13 from 9-3James Kennedy Elementary School 9060-212th Street

All proceeds go to support school programs for Langley students

Learn about math, science, literacy

and more at a 5-day summer camp

Educational Festivals featuring games,

activities, contests, prizes and FUN!

Register online starting in May. Go to thinklangley.com. Click on “Foundation Events”

Math ARCADE

$185per child

Look for registration forms in your schools

ages 7-12for

TiME TUNNELan adventure in literacy

CoRNER sToRE

science JAM

LangleySCHOOL DISTRICTF O U N D A T I O N

www.langleyschooldistrictfoundation.com

science ALLEy

14 student success

feature

Dream Believe

never doubt the passion of students

Student project

Achieve

Two years ago, students at Aldergrove Community Secondary unveiled a clay

mural community art project that continues to delight local residents and visitors alike. Guided by master ceramist Santo Mingosa and ACSS art teacher Susan Gorris, the mural is described as a snapshot of motion, and youth, and bright irrepressible dreams. The ACSS student ceramic team took such pride and joy in their creation, that when many of them began what would be their graduating year last September, they decided they wanted to attempt a

second project. This time however, they would work during their Ceramics 11/12 class to create a permanent work of art that the team could gift as a legacy for their school.

Under the guidance once again of Susan Gorris, an image was designed that would reflect the ACSS School motto, DREAM, BELIEVE, ACHIEVE, along with an accompanying image that would reflect each of these for the ACSS student body. The Team members individually proposed each of their ideas to the group; finally one image was agreed upon and constructed

taking in many of the ideas of the Team.

From the outset, Gorris saw the project as a valuable learning opportunity. “As a teacher of ceramics, I also wanted to offer the students an opportunity to work on a public artwork that would entail an above and beyond level of commitment and technical skill. Among many of the lessons learned in this project I am hoping that collaborative skill-building, clay preparation, application of clay onto a large wall, the creation of a low-relief art work on a large scale,

Members of the 2012 ACSS Ceramic Mural Team are: Tiffany Robichaud, Jimmy Qiu, Evelyn Gao, Taylor Jack,

Rebecca Sawatzky, Vera Chen, Chelsea Ko and Hannah Toman seen with master

ceramist Santo Mingosa..by Sandy Wakeling

summer edition 15

discussions on public vs. private art-making, an understanding of this mural’s historical precedents around the world and the use of the design elements to effectively create a symbolic image are some of the important issues retained long after these students leave ACSS.”

To assist with the historical context of the work, Gorris and the students turned once again to Santo Mignosa who was invited to give a presentation on ceramics around the world. The talk was opened up to interested members of the community as well, many of whom raved about the discussion afterwards.

Said one attendee, “Santo’s presentation was a real treat, very inspiring! Fun and entertaining free speech...he is a real artist with passion.”

While another guest appreciated being in the company of the students, “Thank you for a very enjoyable morning of ceramic slides with Santo!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was great watching slides with so many young people that are interested in the same thing I am.”

Equally impressed were the students such as grade 9 student Kennedy who shared, “He was awesome.....so many different ways to use clay !”

The sentiments were echoed by a grade 12 senior ceramics student who came away inspired, “I learned so much from Santo.......he loves what he does and has helped me with some ideas about our mural.....”

Following the inspiration provided by Santo Mignosa’s slide lecture, the Mural Project Team at ACSS worked

diligently at completing the project. The entire wall of clay was cut into 183 tiles that were carefully stored for drying. Once dry the tiles will be fired in the Art Department kilns, then fired a second time after each one has been glazed. By the time you’re reading this, the completed clay mural will be installed in the courtyard at ACSS.

The eight students who made up the ACSS ceramic mural team are to be congratulated for the hard work they put in this spring, successfully creating the most beautiful mural depicting two hands laying bricks onto a very expressive wall of many more bricks. The work represents the students’ depiction of building achievement on the belief of our dreams. v

students create a legacy for their school

Fun for “Kids” ages 4 - 15 for only days of adventure July 1st – August 31st!

Including September Dates!

Your Passport To Summer

Playland; West Coast Railway Heritage Park;

Museum of Anthropology; Burnaby Village Museum;

Honeybee Centre Farm; Gulf of Georgia Cannery

National Historic Site; Maplewood Farms;

Rogers Arena Tour; Aldor Acres Dairy Centre;

Raptor Ridge Birds of Prey; Theatre Under The Stars;

Vancouver Police Museum; Opera Workshop;

Harbour Cruise; Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours;

Kidtopia Family Sports Day; CircusWest – CirKids …

and the list goes on!

Celebrating our 20th AnniversaryTo register your kids, complete the form below, clip & mail to the KIDSWORlD office: 323 East 6th St. North Vancouver, V7l 1P7 with a cheque payable to KIDSWORlD @ $45.00/child

A different & unique event/activity

every day of the summer

With a $45.00 KIDSWORLD membership,

ALL events are FREE for both

the child AND one parent!visit our website: www.kidsworldprogram.com

Please Print Clearly

Child’s Name ________________________________ Age _______________

2nd Child’s Name _____________________________ Age _______________

Address____________________________________ City _______________Postal _____________

Phone # ____________________________________ Parent’s Signature _____________________(add more names on separate sheet of paper) limited Memberships Available!

$45.00!65+

For more information as well as Membership Application

16 student success

summer edition 17

18 student success

For most parents the notion of a ‘staycation’ isn’t entirely new. Our kids are off school for

two summer months, which leaves a pretty big shoulder season when moms or dads are back at work and the kids are at home.

Making the most of our own community as a place to have fun while continuing to learn and experience new things is a strategy not only for growth and development, but also for survival. So here’s a few ideas on how to turn that ‘staycation’ into a ‘playcation’ through the parks and recreation programs available in Langley.

featureFitness

staycations

At Township of Langley or City of Langley Parks and Recreation Departments you will find some amazing opportunities for kids to be active in sports, the outdoors, the arts and just having fun.

You can find out more about opportunities at the Township of Langley in the Summer Camp Guide, which can be accessed online by clicking the ‘Leisure Guide’ link in the ‘Parks & Recreation’ button at www.tol.ca.

Information for the City of Langley can be accessed by clicking the ‘Daycamp’ link under the ‘Recreation

& Community’ menu at www.city.langley.bc.ca.

There’s something for just about any child of just about any age in the listings.

The City of Langley Spend Your Summer With Us Program lists weekly camps, daily camps and ‘Friday Adventure Days’. The weeks are themed. For example there’s ‘Hollywood Week’, ‘Space and Universe Week’, ‘Jungle Week’ and many more. The Friday adventures include trips to the Colossus Movie Theatre, H.R Macmillan Space Centre, and The Greater Vancouver Zoo, to name a few.

As far as the kids in the Township of Langley’s Tumble Time Gymnastics class are concerned, it’s all fun and games, but there’s a serious side to their play as well. There’s dozens of programs available through the Township and City of Langley that can make a ‘staycation’ into a ‘playcation’ for families.

intoplaycationsby Craig Spence

summer edition 19

The Township of Langley’s programs run into a 52 page guide. As well as information on summer recreational activities for preschoolers, children and youth, the guide contains everything from facility schedules to tax credits available for kids arts and fitness programs to financial assistance for families.

Page 10 lists ‘Parent Participation Camps’ where parents are encouraged to get in on the action with their ‘tots’, making music, cooking, dancing, even playing ball hockey.

On April 21 Student Success dropped in at a Tumble Time Gymnastics session at Walnut Grove Recreation Centre. While the kids engaged in the fun of movement, using a gigantic, multicoloured parachute as a prop, delighted parents looked on.

“The program is awesome,” said Imran Bhaigi. “The teachers are really helpful out there, so it’s a great value for the money as well as it keeps kids occupied.”

He said that with his kids he’s noticed a carryover from the out-of-school recreation programs into the classroom.

“It helps them to coordinate in their class and things like that when they are going into the school.”

As for his kids, “They love it!” he said.

The kids are having fun, but its serious fun said Recreation Worker Kathy Davidson. “Basically they’re just playing right now and it develops their skills in balance and coordination, and that’s a good base for any sport.”

They are also learning important social skills like sharing and waiting in line. “It’s really important for them. At age two they start to get the hang of it; by age three or four, when mom doesn’t have to stay in the class anymore and they’re on their own, they do have those skills by then.” v

WHITE ROCKJuly 9-13, Centennial ParkJuly 30 - Aug 3, Centennial ParkAug 20-24, Centennial Park

SURREYJuly 2-6, Bear Creek ParkJuly 23-27, Newton AthleticAug 20-24, Cloverdale AthleticAug 27-31, Bear Creek Park

LANGLEYJuly 30- Aug 3, McLeod TurfAug 27- 31, Noel Booth Park

SOCCER CAMPS:Days & Times: Mon - Fri, 9-11:30 a.m.Age: Boys & Girls 4-14 years oldCost: $100

Find out more at 604-514-3455

Making goals A reality

Want to push your own fitness envelope. We’ll mind the kids while you take care of your fitness needs.

MOM & DAD’S TURN: Child Minding

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KID FIT: Fun Ways to Healthy Habits

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ATHLETES EDGE: Youth Achieving Potential

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More Than A Game

Early Bird Registrations June 9 & 16

See page 3 for details

20 student success

what does it mean to give the gift of education? This has been an oft explored theme of Langley Fundamental Middle Secondary School (LFMSS) Cross-Cultural Global Education trips to

Nicaragua. However, in this, our fourth year partnering with the people of Nicaragua, a new answer unfolded before our eyes.

Imagine an old school building, without doors or windows, a 50 year old roof with holes and panels flapping in the wind, a latrine completely full and just 5 teachers for over 400 students. That is the story of the Collegio Esperanza (almost ironically named the School of Hope) at Cuajachillo in Nicaragua. The team from LFMSS fundraised almost $13,000 to fund the materials and Nicaraguan contractor to restore the ‘hope’ for this school. Fundraising was a school wide event at LFMSS, with the grade 6 & 7 classes raising almost $2000 in a penny drive.

Working along-side the Nicaraguan contractors, LFMSS students completed the Extreme School Makeover Nicaraguan edition. While working on the school, we became great friends of the people of Cuajachillo who opened their community to our team and even contributed financially to the project. Five days later, the Collegio Esperanza had a new metal roof, new doors, new windows, a new playground, and a new latrine. One of the most touching moments came in the completion ceremony where one of the teachers emotionally shared that this was now a school they could be proud to teach in and that she believes students will want to come to school again in this community. Again, a gift of education was shared and will be shared with hope for the future at Collegio Esperanza!

LFMSS students participated with their labour, their energy, their passion and compassion. As a teacher, I consider it my great privilege to take this journey with these incredible grade 12 students from Langley. They give me ‘esperanza’ for the future.

the gift ofEducationnicaragua 2012

by Ray Sawatsky

summer edition 21

TECH, TECH, TECH, MediaMediaMedia & & & ArtArtArt Summer camps Summer camps Summer camps 201220122012 www.gatewayswww.gatewayswww.gatewayslearninglearninglearning.com.com.com

“Check out our website for the complete list of camps”“Check out our website for the complete list of camps”“Check out our website for the complete list of camps”

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*Surrey, Abbotsford, and Langley camps only

Abbotsford - Gateways Learning Centre (12 mins from Walnut Grove) LEGO MINDSTORMS® 3.1 July 3rd to 6th 9 to 14 9:00am - 12:00pm $120

Video Game Designer 1 July 3rd to 6th 9 to 12 1:00pm - 4:00pm $120 iPhone App Developer July 3rd to 6th 15+ 4:30pm - 7:30pm $160

LEGO Robotics Beginners 1.1 July 30th to Aug 3rd 6 to 8 9:00am - 12:00pm $150

LEGO Robotics Systems 2.1 July 30th to Aug 3rd 7 to 9 1:00pm - 4:00pm $150 Video Game Designer 2 July 30th to Aug 3rd 10 to 14 4:30pm - 7:30pm $150

Digital Arts 1 (3D Cartooning) July 30th to Aug 3rd 9 to 12 9:00am - 12:00pm $150

Film and Media 1 July 30th to Aug 3rd 9 to 12 1:00pm - 4:00pm $150

Langley - Willoughby Community Centre Ultimate Techie July 9th to 13th 9 to 12 9:00am - 12:00pm $180

LEGO MINDSTORMS® 3.1 July 9th to 13th 9 to 14 1:00pm - 4:00pm $180

Ultimate Techie Aug 13th to 17th 9 to 12 9:00am - 12:00pm $180 LEGO MINDSTORMS® 1 Aug 13th to 17th 9 to 14 1:00pm - 4:00pm $180

Langley - Walnut Grove Community Centre

Robotics Camp July 16th to 20th 7 to 9 9:00am - 3:00pm $250

Robotics Camp Aug 13th to 17th 7 to 9 9:00am - 3:00pm $250

22 student success

communityPrograms

Above: Langley students enjoy a day of learning about plants and how to grow them.

Right: Students gather to take part in the salmon release at Maple Gardens.

nature’sClAssrooM a growing concern

their hands are dirty, they’ve got soil under their fingernails, they are soaking wet from the pouring rain ... and they don’t want to leave!

This spring, five classes from the Langley School District participated in Nature’s Classroom, an innovative pro-gram created by Langley Environmental Partners Society and the Maples Discovery Gardens Co-op, made possible by a grant from Envision Financial. Over the course of 12 weeks, students from Langley Fine Arts, RC Garnett, Langley Meadows and Alex Hope elementary schools ar-rived at the gardens rain or shine (but mostly rain!).

Students created their own pots out of newspaper and planted seedlings. They weeded a garden plot, shoveled wheelbarrows full of soil and bark mulch, and planted their seedlings, learning about biodiversity, biology, and chemical-free gardening along the way. Stephanie Captein, (Agriculture Program Director Coordinator with LEPS) instructed Nature’s Classroom, in partner-ship with Bruce Van Garderen, (Coordinator of the Ma-ples Discovery Gardens Co-op).

One student, with his boots covered in muck and his clothes soaked through with rain, exclaimed, “I love this!”

Bruce Van Garderen smiled and responded with equal enthusiasm, “I love to hear that!”

The only complaints came from the students when they were told it was time to go.

for Langley students

cover storySchool Sports

summer edition 23

In early May, students from the Nature’s Classroom pro-gram, along with students from Apex Secondary, helped release 5000 baby salmon into Latimer Creek, located at the Maples Gardens. Tynehead hatchery provided the fish. The students were joined by Mayor Jack Froese, council member Charlie Fox, and other dignitaries such as Da-vid Leavers (Director of Recreation, Culture and Parks), and Susan Byrom, (Corporate Citizenship of Envision Financial). Natch Lekeyton of the Kwanten First Nation blessed the ceremony with traditional drumming and gave a heartfelt message to all who were in attendance.

it’s a garden in the middle of urban langley with

flowers, trees, vegetables and an menagerie of birds

and animals - even bats

“The only way to teach our children about environmen-talism is through example,” Lekeyton said, cupping his hands together as though he was holding a baby salmon.

“When we kneel down and put a fish in the creek, our children learn and do not forget.”

Although the Nature’s Classroom program comes to an end in June, the Maples Discovery Gardens Co-op has plenty of opportunities for children and their families to enjoy year-round. The Gardens has recently started a new chapter of the Young Naturalists’ Club, with plans to create an herb garden, a composting program, and a recycling program. Families are always welcome to visit the gardens. Kids love to see the chickens, sheep, koi fish, ducks, honeybees and even bats! Garden plots and green-house tables are available for rental, and members of the public of all ages and abilities are encouraged to ‘adopt’ and care for various areas in the botanical gardens. v

The Maples Discovery GarDens co-op is located at 7743 200th street (across from from langley events centre) and is open everyday to the public. For more information on the gardens, rentals and its many programs for your family,

visit their website at www.maplesliving.ca.

Affordable Tutoring Stop the summer brain drain!

Learning Disabilities Association | Fraser South www.ldafs.org | 604.591.5156 | info@ldafs.org

Register soon for summer programs starting in July 604.591.5156 www.ldafs.org

LDAFS is a not-for-profit organization offering affordable programs for families of children with learning and attention difficulties aged 6 to 14. We also offer many other children’s programs, and seminars and workshops for parents and professionals. Please contact us for more information.

One to One Literacyor Math Tutoring

Available in central Langley duringJuly and August

Limited spacesavailable!

The Maples Discovery Gardens Co-op is located at 7743 200th Street, and is open everyday to the public. For more information on the gardens and its many programs for your family, visit their website at www.maplesliving.ca.

24 student success

Kudos to our teachers & their programs

Students from Kindergarten to grade three from Dorothy Peacock Elementary happily display the winning book, Press Here by Hervé Tullet, as the first ever Langley Picture Book of the Year.

tHe langley piCture Book of tHe year

Students from Kindergarten to grade three, from 27 Langley elemen-tary schools, particpated in the inaugural Langley Picture Book of the Year event. Students read all of the ten nominated books and voted on the one they liked best. Initiated by teacher-librarian Deb Cowland, the progam promotes reading and appreciation of books in primary students.

gator’s DenThe brainchild of Walnut Grove Business teacher, Bruce Young in col-laboration with the Walnut Grove Business Association, Gator’s Den is an event involving students and local businesses in the spirit of en-trepreneurship. Fashioned after the TV show, Dragon’s Den students will present their ideas and innovations to a panel of judges (all bank-ers) with chances to win $600, $400 and $250 bursaries. The event is open to the public and takes place on May 31 from 1:30 to 2:30 at the WGSS library.

junior traDes program

strong start program at parksiDe elementaryParents and children rave about the Strong Start program at Parkside Elementary and teacher Tannis Percival

Grade 7 students travel to Kwantlen University and receive hands-on training in the trades, thanks to Career Ed teacher Pat Rosen in collaboration with 22 Elementary & Middle school teachers.

summer edition 25

26 student success

Parenting has never been easy, but in today’s world of dual income families, the internet, organized sports and rapid social change the job is more complex

than ever. Which is why Parents as Partners in Learning (PAPL) still has an important role to play in Langley School District.

“Parents are busy, they’re stressed, they don’t have as much time necessarily to be connected to a school as they might like,” said Trustee Alison McVeigh, who has sat on the PAPL committee for many years..

“The more involved a parent is, and the more support that a parent has, the better a child will do in school. It’s ulti-mately about helping kids do well at school, and coming at it from a social-emotional parenting place as much as an academic place.”

parents as partners the speaker line-up

The presentations put on by Parents as Partners in Learn-ing are specifically chosen because they deliver informa-tion parents need to know, and because the material is presented in ways that parents can understand and put into practice.

In October Parents as Partners will also launch My Tween and Me, a six week program “unearthing the full poten-tial of parents’ relationships to their pre-teens.” Dates and times for the program will be announced so check the Parents as Partners website at www.parentsaspartners.wordpress.com.

by Craig Spence

• Building Resilience in Children – Laying a Foundation of Core Values, Wednesday, October 24, with Fran Kammermeyer

• Anxiety in Children and Teens, Wednesday, November 14, with Dr. Lynn Miller

• Managing Conflict With Your Child’s Brain in Mind, Wednesday, January 23, with Raj Dhasi

• The Elephant and the Rider: The Nature of Self-control & How to Help Kids Achieve It, Thursday, February 21, with Dr. Glen Davies

The 2012-2013 SpeAKeR pRoGRAM

FeatureParents

summer edition 27

AAAIIIRRRSSSHHHOOOWWWOWOOOWOWOWOOOWO Abbotsford International Abbotsford International Abbotsford International

Langley’s International Festival

Admission by Donation“FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!”

Saturday, August 25th &Sunday, August 26th, 2012

at Willoughby Community Park(next to Langley Events Centre)

7888 - 200th St., Langley

FOR MORE INFORMATION:www.internationalfestival.ca

info@internationalfestival.ca604-514-2294

PAPL committee member Kristine Ketter said the com-mittee wants first hand experience when it is selecting speakers for the annual series. “Our main goal is for one of us to have seen that person present somewhere before so we are personally confident that they are what we are looking for,” she explained.

Parents as Partners evenings are about two hours long and are delivered by professionals from all sorts of back-grounds. There have been presentations on discipline, managing conflict, understanding boys, bullying, keep-ing kids close, safety on the Internet, mental health… the list is as varied as it is long.

What’s common about all the speakers, though, is their parent-friendly approach to delivering information. The format includes a presentation then an opportunity for parents in the audience to ask questions.

“Parents want information that they can understand, that speaks to the issue, and then some tangible ideas, solu-tions and concepts that they can take away and try to implement in their family,” Trustee McVeigh said.

PAPL is determined to continue providing just that type of program at an affordable price Ms. Ketter said. “It’s

hard to find good parent education without spending a lot of money sometimes. To me it’s a really important part of educating parents and helping us work with our kids.”

Parents as Partners in Learning takes registrations and payments online and support for the programs is critical to keeping them going. “We work really hard at keeping the fee nominal, all we do is cover our costs, so the speakers are usually fifteen dollars per person,” Trustee McVeigh said. Bring a friend or go as a couple, and the price is $25 for two. v

there is only one perfect child in the world, and every

parent has it.

28 student success

makingmakinglearninglearningforeverylangleystudent

unforgettableunforgettable

When John Lennon said, “A dream you dream alone is just a dream. A dream you dream to-gether is reality”, he could have been talking

to the Langley School District Foundation. Without the support from the community, the Foundation’s dream to make learning UNFORGETTABLE for every Langley student would not be possible.

Our community partners help out in many ways and we couldn’t do what we do without them. First, they provide sponsorships, volunteers and participation to support our two major events – the Grand Prix Gala and the Golf tournament, helping us to raise more than $100,000 each year to provide vital and innovative programs to our stu-dents. For example, we were able to purchase 65 online Kurzweil 3000 licenses to be used in classrooms through-out the district to not only help students with learning disabilities, but to open up whole new worlds of learning for all students. We were also able to present a cheque

for $22,000 to the school district to support sports programs in second-ary and middle schools and an addi-tional $15,000 to purchase leading edge technology for schools.

Thanks to our Willowbrook Shop-ping Centre, with the Denim Do shopping event and the gift wrap-ping fundraiser, the Foundation raised more than $33,000 to sup-port dozens of school programs.

Our partners also hold several fund-raising events of their own through-out the year with proceeds going to the Foundation. For example, the Langley Rotary hosts the annual

summer edition 29

RC Garnett • 604-812-4838 • 7096 201 StreetNorth Otter • 604-856-4834 • 5370 248 Street (Preschool)

Our preschool helps your child developsocial skills, independence, and a love of learning. This will build a solid foundationfor future learning.

Preschool and Before & After School Care

Don’t forget to register

for our 2012-2013 programs

CHILDREN’S CENTRECOUNTRY BUMKINS

NOW TAKINGREGISTRATION FORSUMMER CARE AGES 5-12CALL: 604-856-0979

Big-R Pumpkin Days at Apex Secondary to support our meal programs; the Resource Training Organization of BC sponsors the annual Pumpkin Run to support ap-prenticeship programs in the schools; Peninsula Runners holds the Golden Ears Run to support students; and the Lavrova Ballet Company holds a concert with proceeds to the Foundation. This year the Walnut Grove Business Association (WGBA) is partnering with us to host the Gator’s Den on May 31 at Walnut Grove Secondary and the Sunrise Rotary and WGBA are hosting a Family Day on June 23 with proceeds going to the Foundation.

Individuals and corporations also come through with scholarships and bursaries. For instance, Britco just com-mitted $15,750 for scholarships; the Shewan Family Foundation committed $8000, Langley Central Rotary another $7500 and the Knackstedt family have estab-lished a $25,000 scholarship in memory of Shannon and Jemma Knackstedt. This is just to name a few of the more than 57 trust scholarships in the Foundation and the additional $300,000 awarded each year.

One of the most amazing examples of community com-ing together to make a dream come true, was the comple-tion of the Langley Meadows Playground. In less than 18 months the Langley Meadows parents and principal, together with the Foundation and dozens of community individuals and businesses raised more than $100,000 – enough to build two brand new, state-of-the-art play-grounds for the Langley Meadows students and sur-rounding community.

Upcoming fundraisers include our two signature events - The 7th Annual Grand Prix Gala on Sunday, June 3 from 1-5 pm at Thunderbird Show Park. Spend a sunny afternoon tasting award-winning wines, munching on gourmet hors d’oeuvres and enjoying delicious desserts, while watching an international Grand Prix horse jump-ing competition, all for a good cause. All proceeds go to-wards the purchase of Do The Math Kits - designed to help students struggling in math and numeracy. Clearly, this is an event not to be missed. Also coming up is our 7th Annual Golf Tournament at Redwoods Golf Course on Wednesday, August 29 with all proceeds going to sup-port 21st Century learning in our schools.

For more information on any of our programs or events check out our website at www.langleyschooldistrictfoun-dation.com or contact Susan Cairns at 604-532-1464. Emailscairns@sd35.bc.ca www.langleyschooldistrictfoundation.com

GalaGrand Prix

making learning UNFORGETTABLE for every Langley student

2011

heart to heartThE LANGLEy SchOOL

DiSTRicT FOUNDATiON pRESENTS

to provide innovative technology for langley StudentS

SundayMay 29 • 1 - 5 pM

Thunderbird Show park24550-72 avenue, LangLey

(enTer Through gaTeS on 248Th)

6th Annual fundraising gala

30 student success

Hunger is a concept that is familiar to far too many children throughout the world, and though Canadian

families fare much better by global standards they are by no means immune to the pains.

Each year Hunger Awareness Week attempts to raise awareness of the solvable problem of hunger in Canada, and this year the students of Gordon Greenwood Elementary took the message to heart.

As the school’s grade 7 student leadership group reflected on how they might make a difference in their own community, it occurred to them that supporting the Langley Food Bank was a good place to start. Accord-ing to student Rachel Lamborn, “Everyone thinks about giving to the food bank at Christmas time, so we

wanted to do something to make people aware of the need for donations throughout the year.”

All week long the students rallied their schoolmates to the cause, collecting non-per-ishable items and cash donations each morn-ing. By the end of the week, the students had

a large pile of food which they proudly dis-played near the school’s main entrance. But the students didn’t stop there.

As Hunger Week drew to a close, the student leadership group approached their principal Peter Luongo, to request an opportunity for them to further develop their understanding of hunger through a direct experience. Many of the students were aware of the 30 hour famine concept occasionally undertaken by secondary students. Though their principal expressed initial concerns about students of their age participating in a famine of long duration, as a result of the passion expressed through their discussion the group received approval to lead the grade six and seven stu-dents in a five hour famine during the school day.

According to Principal Luongo, “It was important to the students that they try to experience a level of hunger first hand, to approach a real sense of awareness of what those less fortunate might experience on a daily basis.”

Following the famine, the students took part in a reflective activity where they could share their thoughts and experiences from the pre-vious week.

Luongo’s pride in the leadership group’s initiative is evident, “Through their actions, the students gained a better understand of the implications of hunger not only in third world countries, but also right here in their own community.”

For more information on how to donate to the Langley Food Bank, or to download their cur-rent wish list of items, please visit www.langley-foodbank.com or contact 604-533-0671.

The Gordon Greenwood student leadership group (pictured left to right) include: Rachel Lamborn, Andria Coulbourn, Darian wickstad, Zach Jennejohn, Lauren Kimoto and Brianne Christensen.

Hunger PainsGordon Greenwood students battle

summer edition 31

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32 student success

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