March 9, 2009
DSBN Students Speak Up!
Whether giving their peers a hand up, raising money for charitable causes or beautifying the neighbourhood; students at the District School Board of Niagara are integral parts of their school and surrounding communities. To further support student learning that takes place beyond the walls of the classroom, the Ministry of Education created the Student Voice program.
The Ministry of Education recently announced that, under the Student Voice program, it would provide funding to support 37 local projects at 22 DSBN schools. Examples of projects include, High School Survival 101 at St. Catharines Collegiate, using a bio-diesel converter to support the agriculture sector at NDSS and holding a Diversity Fair at Senator Gibson Public School.
“These projects are excellent examples of the expertise, innovation and leadership of students at our schools,” says John Stainsby, Superintendent of Secondary Schools. “It is this ability to translate their learning into action that helps DSBN students reach their full potential. These projects will encourage even more students to make their voices heard and promote healthy, supportive behaviours in their schools.”
Across Ontario, the Student Voice program is helping students and student councils SpeakUp and get more engaged in their learning. Currently, there are more than 850 schools participating in the Student Voice program this year. Thousands of students in grades 7 to 12 across the province will benefit from about 1,200 successful SpeakUp projects.
For more information about Student Voice, please visit ontario.ca/speakup.
The following is a list of DSBN schools and student groups that have received funding from the Student Voice program:
DSBN Student Trustee Senate: The Student Trustee Senate is developing a video contest open to all DSBN secondary students to raise awareness and promote positive change within the school, local or global communities. The winning team will be awarded $500, and the team’s school will also receive $500 for a character education initiative.
Contact: Cam Hathaway, Superintendent of Schools, 905-641-2929 ext. 4141
Lincoln/West Lincoln:
Beamsville District Secondary School (BDSS): Students at BDSS received funding to support the school’s Fitness Club and Drum Circle.
Contact: Mike Jenken, Principal, 905-563-8267
Senator Gibson Public School: Over the course of the winter, students at Senator Gibson have been reaching out to people in the community with their “Gators with Shovels” initiative. Under the program, students from Grades 4-8 offered to shovel driveways for seniors, people with disabilities and mothers with young children. This was a free service to help community members who may experience more difficulties after heavy snowfalls. Students designed and distributed more than 2,000 flyers throughout the community and serviced 40 clients.
Senator Gibson students also received funds to support the school’s Diversity Fair, held in February. Students in Grade 7-8 designed projects around the theme of diversity. The projects were showcased in the school’s gym for students in Grades 3-6, giving students who designed the projects a chance to teach the younger students about their topic, and what they had learned. Principal Robb Mclean says that the Fair led to some “riveting discussions that promoted deeper levels of understanding.”
Contact: Robb Mclean, Principal, 905-563-7431
South Lincoln High School (SLHS): Students at SLHS received funding from the Ministry to support their “Reaching In, Reaching Out” project.
Contact: Johanna Provost, Principal, 905-957-3359
Grimsby:
Central Public School: Students at Central are using their Speak Up funding to support a music tutoring program.
Contact: Norinne Hardyman, Principal, 905-945-5459
Grimsby Secondary School: Grimsby students received funding to support their production of “The Skriker”, which they recently showcased at the Niagara District Sears Drama Festival. The students will also be moving on to the regional level of competition next month in Brantford. The play captures today’s focus on sustainability with a strong environmental theme.
The school also received funds for a stained glass window project.
Contact: Jim Heywood, Principal, 905-945-5416
St. Catharines/Thorold:
Eden High School: Eden students will be beautifying their school with funding from the Student Voice program.
Contact: Ruth Hernder, Principal, 905-646-9884
Kernahan Park Secondary School: Speak Up funding at Kernahan Park will help students expand the efforts of the Pink Panthers club. The Pink Panthers is an anti-bullying/leadership group formed during 2007-2008 school year. The group has over 50 student members and is supported by two teacher advisors, with lots of help from willing colleagues and community members. Funding will help support the group’s efforts to bring in inspiring guest speakers, continue their anti-bullying training, make presentations to elementary schools and design an anti-bullying website.
Contact: Martha Hunt, Teacher, 905-684-9461
Lakeport Secondary School: Speak Up funding will be used to help students detail the rich tradition of the school with the “Lakeport Spirit – Past and Present” project.
Contact: Ruth Hernder, Principal, 905-934-2545
Laura Secord Secondary School: The Cow Olympics, named after Laura Secord’s unofficial mascot, are held every September. The event is run by Laura Secord’s Student Union. It involves a collaboration of fun, ice-breaker games. There are multiple goals of Cow Olympics including allowing Grade 9 students to make new friends and interact with their peers, help ease them into the secondary school experience, and hopefully inspire them to get involved in school co-curricular activities.
Contact: Christine Lafferty, Teacher, 905-934-8501
St. Catharines Collegiate: The Student Voice program is providing funding for three student projects at St. Catharines Collegiate. Earlier in the school year, students hosted the “High School Survival 101” initiative for new students, and the “Collegiate Cuisine” lunch to showcase the talents of the diverse student body.
The students from the DSBN Second Chance program located in Westminster United Church St. Catharines will be hosting a “Chili Night in March” on the 25th to support the Church and Second Chance program. “Our students receive so much support from the volunteers at the church, and they wanted to do something to give back. Money raised from this event will support improvements to the building and programs run by the church,” says Tracy Sacco, Principal.
Contact: Tracy Sacco, Principal, 905-687-7301
Thorold Secondary School (TSS): TSS received grants to support the school’s Science Club, and hold a School Spirit Activity Day.
Contact: Krista Miller, Principal, 905-227-1188
Westmount Public School: Students at Westmount will be using their Speak Up funding for an anti-bullying initiative.
Contact: Poppy Gilliam, Principal, 905-227-3827
Niagara on the Lake:
Students at Niagara District received funding for three projects.
Niagara District is known around the region for its DNA Arts program. With funding from the Ministry, students will be using their talents and creativity to beautify the school. “Students have done an audit around the building, identified the spaces they would like to improve, and will be painting murals on canvass related to the subjects being taught in those areas,” says Heather Armstrong, teacher.
In an effort to support the agricultural sector, students at NDSS are planning to construct a bio-diesel converter. The converter takes waste vegetable oil and processes it into an environmental friendly fuel. “The fuel produced by the converter will be a low-cost option that could be used to power tractors and other farm related equipment,” says Laura Kozloski, Agricultural Project Leader. “This initiative will also support our technology students who are studying the mechanics of diesel-powered engines.”
NDSS also received funding to hold “Transition Days at District”, to support incoming students. The student council will be holding a number of events to get students familiar with the building, programs and staff. Students will hosting dinners, conducting school tours and organizing meet and greet sessions with school staff.
Contact: Mike Cockburn, Principal, 905-468-3293
Welland/Pelham/Port Colborne:
Eastdale Secondary School: Students at Eastdale Secondary School are committed to stamping out bullying. The “Be a Hero – Not a Zero” project was developed by Eastdale’s Safe School Council (SSC) to give students the knowledge and tools to affect positive change at the school. The Council is planning a Transition Day for its feeder schools to welcome them to the Eastdale community and familiarize them with the opportunities, excitement and expectations of high school. The school has also instituted an online reporting system so students who have witnessed or been bullied themselves can report the activity anonymously. The information is then forwarded to the adult advisors on the Council who investigate each report.
Eastdale also received funding for the “Fly Like an Eagle” project.
Contact: Ed Stavnitzky, Principal, 905-734-7458
E.L. Crossley Secondary School: Students at E.L. Crossley received funding for two initiatives; the “Community Carolinian Gardens”, and “Grade 9 Day”.
Contact: Ann Harrison, Principal, 905-892-2635
Gordon Public School: Spirit Days at Gordon Public School not only keep students’ spirits up, but they also offer older students the opportunity to work with and mentor their younger peers. On these special days, students are organized into multi-aged groups, with the senior students leading the younger grades through crafts, physical fitness activities and educational programs such as “Be a buddy – not a bully”.
Contact: Linda Oakes, Principal, 905-734-3730
McKay Public School: McKay is about to get a makeover, courtesy of students in Grades 1 through 8. Under the “Landscaping Lions” project, students will be beautifying the front of the school and the playground area. Students will also be planting new shade trees around the property so students will have a great place to curl up with a good book when the weather warms up.
Contact: Rhonda Grenier, Principal, 905-834-4753
Niagara Falls:
Stamford Collegiate: With assistance from the Student Voice program, Stamford’s Eco-Freaks club will spearhead an Environmental Awareness Festival during Earth Week. This festival will educate and enlighten students and the surrounding community about their power as individuals to make a difference. The festival will be a lively afternoon of food and entertainment, featuring plant sales, the sale of art and jewelry created from recyclable materials, tree planting, a ‘Run for the Trees’ event, food prepared in low environmental impact solar ovens, and music composed and performed by Stamford students.
Stamford’s second project has a flair for the dramatic. Drama students, working alongside with the Tech department and school alumni, will design and create a traditional theatre curtain for the recently renovated James Cameron Theatre. Nine students, with a keen sense of pride and tradition, will oversee the entire project. This project will give the school an impressive showpiece that properly reflects the dedication and professionalism of students who put on numerous productions in the school’s theatre each year.
Contact: Donna Merante, Teacher, 905-354-7409
A.N. Myer Secondary School: A group of students at A.N. Myer Secondary School are aiming to have their voices reach across the globe. The school’s Me 2 We club is supporting Free The Children’s “Brick by Brick” schoolbuilding campaign. Students will be raising funds to build a school in a developing nation, bringing education to children who have never had the chance to go to school before.
Myer students will also be part of the Niagara Falls Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee fun-fair happening in May. Students will be preparing “Niagara’s Largest Pizza”, to raise money for Hand in Hand, an organization that works to provide safe and sufficient child care for working families across the province.
Contact: Cheryl Mancuso, Principal, 905-358-5753
Greendale Public School: One person can make all the difference in the world, and Greendale Public School students have been busy making change as part of the school’s Me 2 We club. Vice-Principal Sue Ehgoetz says the funding from the Ministry will allow students “to establish a recognizable identity that markets the club and their work so that others can be inspired by the acts that youth are willing to do to contribute to society.”
Contact: Sue Ehgoetz, Vice-Principal, 905-358-8111
Fort Erie:
Fort Erie Secondary School (FESS): FESS students want to make it clear that there’s no room for bullies at their school, or in the community. The school recently became part of the pink shirt “Stood Up” initiative, and designed an anti-bullying day for grade 8 students at surrounding public schools. “The goal of the anti-bullying initiative was to introduce younger students to new cultures, viewpoints and experiences to help them model open and inclusive behaviours,” says Alison Pridham, FESS teacher.
Contact: Alison Pridham, Teacher, 905-871-4610
Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School (RCBHS): This year, RCBHS will celebrate its 100th anniversary, and students are busy planning and preparing a celebration for the ages. The May celebration will include student led tours of the school, a variety show, a war memorial plaque dedication and more. Graduates from as far away as British Columbia and California are scheduled to attend.
While many former students will be making their way back to RCBHS this spring, the school will also welcome future students with a special “Spring Fling – Grade 8 Welcome Day”. The school’s student council is planning a whole host of activities to make their future classmates feel right at home in their new school.
Contact: Lou Vescio, Principal, 905-894-3461