Gjoa Haven (Feb 21/05) - Bulletin boards are used widely across the North to get messages across.

During Language Week recently, the elementary school in Gjoa Haven used the bulletin board format to launch an educational contest.

Every class from kindergarten to Grade 6 was asked to make an Inuktitut and English collage of words and Inuit images cut out from newspapers or drawn by hand.

The students and their parents took to the task with gusto, creating a wide variety of collages featuring everything from iglus and Northern Lights to Super Shamou.

"I was cutting pictures and I cut out a Honda for mine," said Angus Hiqiniq, Grade 6.

"I drew me," said Gina Aglukkaq, Grade 2. "Looking at the Northern Lights," she added, saying she also drew hearts and flowers.

Amber Eleehetook, Grade 6, put Inuk superhero Super Shamou on her poster board, with hearts and a tent on the land with sun and clouds in the sky.

Winning classrooms won a pizza party for their efforts. All the collages are posted up around the school.

"Every class took part," said Quqshuun Ilihakvik principal Allen Aglukkaq proudly on the phone last week. "It was the first time we ever did this. It went really well."

The fact that parents helped their kids create the bulletin boards is something Aglukkaq thinks is very positive.

"I think it's good to get the parents more involved in what's happening at school," Aglukkaq said.