SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Trustee members voted to approve a St. Patrick High School field trip to Ireland for 2011.

Mary Vane, chair for the Yellowknife Catholic of school board, said because five trips were requested last year the board decided to limit the number of international trips to two a year.

Because two international trips had already been approved at last month's board meeting, vice chair Rose-Marie Jackson suggested the Ireland trip be postponed to 2012.

Trustee Simon Taylor said because the other trips which have been approved are geared towards specific groups (French Immersion Travel Club and the Interact club) this would limit the general school population's travel opportunities.

Trustee Francis Chang agreed with postponing the trip at first, but then changed his mind.

"I'm kind of backtracking here and saying if (the students are) willing to do all that work we may have to look at being a little more open to supporting some of these trips than being too restrictive," said Chang. "My teacher told me when you travel, you learn."

Interactive white boards in classroom

Since the start of the school year teachers from the Yellowknife Catholic school district have been piloting interactive whiteboards in their classrooms.

Gizelle Gaudon, a Grade 3 and 4 teacher from Weledeh Catholic School, gave a presentation on the Mimio whiteboard she uses in her classroom.

The boards are an interactive type of large display projected in the front of the classroom. It allows teachers to move windows with a pen, draw and erase items on the screen, magnify objects and save lessons.

"There's so much you can do with this," said Gaudon. "It's really changed how I've taught."

The cost of the one of Mimio machines is $900.

"My dream that I have said to the staff and to our leadership team is that we want to see one of these in every one of our classrooms," said Claudia Parker, superintendent for the board. Vice-chair Rose-Marie Jackson asked Gaudon if at the end of the unit she is finding that students are learning better.

"It's hard to judge," answered Gaudon. "The kids are definitely more interested and I believe with interest comes understanding."

Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre highlights

Larry Connolly, current director of the Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre, said highlights from the past year included students winning first place in the NWT Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientist's annual bridge building competition in the middle school class division, and the Lego robotics program at Grade 9 expanding into Electro Technologies.

"My message since I came here and continue to preach (is that) career preparation is such an important part of highs school education," said Connolly.

"I would like to thank you for making trades an important part of your strategic plan."

KCTC offers programs such as mechanics, welding, mining training, engineering and technology, hair styling, Lego robotics as well as construction.