Rankin Inlet (Mar 03/04) - Students and teachers had a blast during recent Fun Day activities at Leo Ussak elementary school in Rankin Inlet.

Marilyn Sandy, a Grade 4 student at Leo Ussak elementary school in Rankin Inlet, gets ready to let one fly during recent Fun Day activities. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Principal Harold Goobie says Fun Day joins cultural field trips and the monthly High 5 assembly as positive extracurricular activities aimed at increasing school spirit and injecting enthusiasm into the students.

He says the line-up of activities helps to show students that coming to school and learning can be fun.

"This approach helps us with our ultimate goal of keeping kids in school, attending regularly and having fun as they learn," says Goobie.

"So, I guess you could say, Fun Day is just another piece of the puzzle in reaching that goal."

Stress buster

Goobie says Fun Day has proven itself to be so popular, school staff may hold a similar half- or full-day activity before year's end.

He says late February was picked for the event to help students and teachers relax a bit from the long stretch between Christmas holidays and March break.

"Kids have a lot of bottled up energy and going to a couple of gym classes a week doesn't always get it out.

"So, you have to come up with the ways or means to harness that energy and, at the same time, help create school spirit."

Goobie says the young students respond positively to the extra events.

He says he rarely has to deal with any disciplinary problems when the students are engaged in an activity.

"On any given day, we could have a few discipline problems to deal with at the office.

"But, during these activities we may have one or two little ones and that's it."

Goobie says the teachers also enjoy taking part in the activities and having the opportunity to interact with the students away from the classroom environment.

Look at holding monthly

"The teachers were saying it was a great activity and maybe something we should look at holding once a month.

"Nobody had to be motivated to get involved. Everybody wanted to take part in the events.

"I didn't hear one negative comment and that speaks volumes as to the success of the event," said Goobie.