John King
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 04/06) - With the encouragement of their teachers, students at Ecole St. Joseph are learning how to make films, help save the environment and raise money.

"The best way to teach students independence is to give them real life-lived experiences," said Flo Campbell, Ecole St. Joseph principal.

Grade 8 students Jacqueline Brasseur and Marcel Lupton gave presentations to trustees during the Catholic School Board meeting, Dec. 14. - John King/NNSL photo

Three groups of students gave presentations to the Yellowknife Catholic School Board, Dec. 14, to show what they have been working on.

Grade 5 students Cassandra Thibault and Aimee Pentinger talked about their class pen pal program.

"We're writing to a class in Garden View School in St. Lawrence, Montreal," said Pentinger.

Students will be sending off letters in February, written in French, that will discuss ways to save the environment.

"It's all part of a project about how not to use technology to communicate with other people," Thibault said.

On the other hand, Hannah Latour and David Aho are part of a pull-out program, where students are teacher-referred to a media technologies program during school hours.

"We've been editing and filming," Latour said.

Right now students are making a movie about physical activity. It will be part of a school project called Celebrate our School.

Students also learn how to use Apple computers, iMovie software, make Powerpoint presentations, and taking care of equipment.

"We're learning how to become independent learners," Latour said.

For Grade 8 students Jacqueline Brasseur and Marcel Lupton, their presentation to the board was a chance to inform trustees about their fundraising campaign for an end of the year school trip.

From April 5-7 the students will spend time dogsledding, fishing and studying traditional storytelling at Blachford Lake Lodge.

"It will be a chance to spend time together before we all leave," said Brasseur.

Students have been raising money at car washes, ticket raffles, and by running a recycling program at school.

With $11,000 already raised, students only need $4,000 more for the trip.