Welcome Back to a Wonderful New School Year

Welcome back!

Thank you to all of our students,teachers, parents, community members, stakeholders and administrative team for your continued efforts and commitment to the success of our Character Education initiative. The importance of character development in our students is reflected in the daily work of our schools and as a priority in our Board policies, practices and interactions. An intentional and purposeful focus on character development supports student learning and is viewed as the foundation of student success as found in the Community, Care and Culture pillar of our Board Improvement Plan. Student leadership and engagement will continue to be a focus. Please follow this blog for important character information and updates.

Kerry Grbich
Program Team
ADSB Character Education Special Assignment Teacher, K-12

Winter Olympics

Here is a character education idea that ties into Language & the Winter Olympics. My class has just finished reading "Beatrice's Goat" (a mentor's text in all schools) that tells the true story of a poor girl in Uganda that gets to go to school after her family receives the gift of a goat. A student in BC has started a foundation called 'Goats for Gold" in which he hopes that Canadians will donate a goat to a needy family in Africa for every gold medal our athletes win in Vancouver. Our class is having a bake sale on Monday and for every $34.50 we raise, we will be able to purchase a goat for an impoverished African family.

Thanks,
George Gomes Grade 3 Etienne Brule

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=26450.html?cid=rsstsn

One Hen Challenge Update

One Hen Challenge Update

The students at William Merrifield have completed the One Hen 10K Challenge to raise money for micro finance loans for poor entrepreneurs. The challenge ended in December. Not only did the students surpass their goal of raising $100.00 (they raised $177.00), they have committed to continue to invest beads to make a difference in the world.

Teacher Sandi Dalcin writes, "The One Hen challenge was amazing to watch. We raised 10 000 points in the last two days. Once the students realised the point of the challenge wasn't to play for fun, but to play to help others to achieve a better quality of life - they began to share strategies for getting more beads in the shortest amount of time. When the beads started stockpiling, they began encouraging others to invest their beads. The computer lab was buzzing with students helping each other and cheering each other on. They were getting competitive - trying to outdo each other. This was a healthy, meaningful challenge where these students could watch their gains online. We slipped from third place to fifth place over the course of the challenge. That wasn't satisfactory - so they picked up the pace to edge out the competition and earn their way back to a third place finish."

The students and staff at William Merrifield V.C. Public School continue to aspire to do acts of kindness which positively affect their school, community, and world. We are a community that strives to "be the change we want to see in the world." (Gandhi)