School children in Anglophone North School District have had plenty of opportunity recently to understand that there are those in their respective communities who can benefit from support of their neighbours, and they have done something about it. On Thursday, December 20th the schools in the Miramichi area completed their annual Christmas Food Drive with more than 400 cardboard boxes of food and Christmas treats being collected from area schools and delivered to the Miramichi Food Bank. The Miramichi Food Bank currently has more than 400 families calling on them for support each month.
Members of the Environmental Science 122/3 class at Blackville School recently had an opportunity to discuss their “carbon footprints” and sustainable development with Colin Beavan, the director of the acclaimed documentary film, No Impact Man. The film followed Colin Beavan and his family as they attempted to reduce their own carbon footprints to zero over a 12 month period while living in New York City. After the class watched the documentary Mr. Beavan agreed to discuss environmental questions with regards to his documentary via Twitter.
Local ASD-N students, teachers and administrators along with service clubs, businesses and other community groups come together every Christmas to provide many senior citizens in the greater Bathurst area with the "Spirit of Christmas". This community-wide campaign brings food, presents, Christmas treats and a lot of personal warmth and caring, making a huge difference to many, both those who receive and those who give time, energy, goods and financial support.
The Literacy Bridges Project, a program which aims to provide quality literature to students living in New Brunswick Housing Projects, was awarded the 2012 Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Award in the category of Community Literacy Programs on November 22, 2012 at Tantramar Regional High School in Sackville, New Brunswick.
A former Campbellton resident, Mayme Lefurgey, returned recently to speak to female students at Campbellton Middle School and Tide Head School. The occasion was the first United Nations declared International Day of the Girl Child, held on October 11, 2012. Ms LeFurgey recently completed a Master’s Degree in gender and peace studies at the U.N.-mandated University for Peace based in Costa Rica. She has worked as a gender specialist for the government of Malawi and is presently studying at the UNESCO-Chair for Peace Studies in Innsbruck, Austria.
Citizenship is a character trait that was well demonstrated on November 29th in Campbellton as students and staff from a number of local schools participated in the Lord Beaverbrook School Human Link, an activity that includes a food drive to support the local food bank, as well as an awareness campaign regarding November being Family Violence Prevention Month.
Retired professional football player Bruce Beaton spoke to an audience of young athletes at James M. Hill high School on Wednesday Nov. 26th on what it takes to be successful. His audience comprised of students from the host school and neighbouring Dr. Losier Middle School, paid close attention as the native of Port Hood, Nova Scotia, spoke about the need for dedication and practice in whatever endeavor a person decides they want success.
Dalhousie Regional High School teacher Lisa Anderson was recognized for her excellence in teaching at the Minister’s Excellence in Teaching Awards celebration in Fredericton on November 24th. Known for her work in the classroom as being a champion of inclusion and for the effective use of technology, Ms Anderson has also shown school and district wide leadership support in the teaching of high school mathematics. She is also a leader in providing enrichment, tutorial and extended learning opportunities for students at Dalhousie Regional High.
