Aboriginal students in the Burnaby school district have a new place to grow their leadership skills, thanks to a partnership with Outward Bound Canada.
Launched earlier this month, with leadership activities in Deer Lake Park and hikes around Burnaby Mountain, the Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program is designed to build self-confidence and self-esteem through shared group experiences in nature.
The program’s first 16 participants, all in grades 11 and 12, will earn three course credits toward graduation after a total of 11 sessions, including things like snowshoeing in the North Shore mountains and a possible overnight trip.
Each of the district’s high schools is represented in the group, and the program will culminate in June with a student-led community celebration on National Aboriginal Day.
Student one of the brightest
A Burnaby Grade 8 student was recognized as one of the brightest middle schoolers in the world at an awards ceremony at Maryland’s Johns Hopkins University last month.
Carolyn Chen earned the honour with an exceptional score on a college entrance test.
The award was sponsored by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY), which puts on an annual talent search using college SAT, ACT or similar tests.
Of 16,459 seventh and eighth grade participants, Chen was one of only 960 students to score high enough to be invited to an awards ceremony on the Johns Hopkins University campus.
The Burnaby Mountain student also qualified for CTY’s residential summer programs, online classes and family programs.
Gifted applications being accepted
The Burnaby school district is now accepting applications to its brand-new gifted program starting at Alpha Secondary next fall.
The so-called mini-school will launch with two Grade 8 classes: Cohort B, for students with high potential, talent and ability; and cohort A, for highly able students whose written ability and production is significantly below their intellectual ability.
Gifted students currently in Grade 7 have until Jan. 16 to apply.
For more information, visit the district’s advanced learning blog at http://blogs.sd41.bc.ca/advancedlearning.
Food drive season kicks off
‘Tis the season for Christmas food drives at local schools. A number of Burnaby neighbourhoods can expect visits from local school kids collecting non-perishable items for the food bank in the coming weeks. Westridge and Seaforth elementary students will head out for “jingle bell walks” on Dec. 5 and 12, respectively, to collect food.
Students at Gilmore Community School, meanwhile, are currently looking to secure sponsors for their five-kilometre jingle bell walk on Dec. 5, when they will jingle bells and sing carols to get neighbours in the Christmas spirit. Money from their fundraiser will go towards classroom learning resources.
