Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

CORAL HARBOUR - A group of Grade 9 students at Sakku school in Coral Harbour received their first taste of life in the workforce earlier this month.

The students joined family members and volunteers to spend a day on the job as part of Take Your Children to Work Day.

Joseph Paniyuk spent Take Your Kids to Work Day earlier this month with his grandfather, Davidee Natakok, who drives the hamlet sewage truck in Coral Harbour. - photo courtesy of Rhoda Angootealuk

The students gathered in class for attendance at 9 a.m. before heading to work with a relative or volunteer.

They returned to their class for afternoon attendance and then spent the rest of the day back at the work site.

Those who took part in the program with a relative or volunteer were Mavis Ell (mom: Rosie, at the Human Rights Tribunal), Joey Angootealuk (dad: plant operator Joseph), Matoo Paniyuk (dad: Mayor Jerry Paniyuk) and Ruben Saviakjuk (dad: equipment operator Bobby).

Also taking part were Becky Ottokie (dad: rink helper Akavak), Kerri Ningeocheak (relative Troy Netser in construction), Miranda Shapangak (mom: daycare worker Susan), Naomi Emiktowt (dad: Sam in taxi and home repair) and Joseph Paniyuk (grandfather, truck driver Davidee Natakok).

Rounding out the list were Spencer Nakoolak (cousin and cable and stock boy John Pudlat), Leanne Shimout (volunteer Northern trainee Neil McDonald) and Charmaine Eetuk (mom: home-care worker Jenny).

Home-room teacher Rhoda Angootealuk said the day after the program, her class discussed their experiences and the students said they really enjoyed their time on the job.

She said this is her first year as the home-room teacher for Grade 9, and the wheels were set in motion for the project when her vice-principal approached her with the idea.

"I was interested right away and thought it would be a beneficial program for the kids, so we went from there," said Angootealuk.

"After seeing the results, this would be a good program for the kids to be involved with every year.

"I teach Grade 7 to Grade 12, and when the other students saw what the Grade 9 kids were doing that day, they were very interested in taking part in the program, as well.

"If the program continues in the same way, it would be good for our Grade 9 students at Sakku school to participate every year."

Angootealuk said the kids were surprised by how much fun they had.

She said when she first mentioned the program to them, they really weren't all that keen on it.

"But, by 1 p.m., when they came to class for attendance before going back to the workplace, they were really looking forward to returning.

"That tells me they were really enjoying the day, and the experience turned out to be a lot cooler than they thought it was going to be."