RANKIN INLET - A group of parents enjoyed some time back in class during Take Your Parents to School Day at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) in Rankin Inlet this past week.

The school held a number of activities to mark the occasion, such as a tea-and-bannock breakfast, storytelling, drum dancing and a high-spirited game of dodgeball that had many parents finding out just how much gas they had left in their collective tanks.

Grade 7A teacher Lisa Kresky said the school has held the event a couple of times in the past.

She said the day has proven itself a success, even if it can be tough for some parents to get time away from work to attend.

"We use the event to encourage all parents to come to the school and check out what goes on here on a day-to-day basis," said Kresky.

"The kids look forward to having their parents here for a day, and some of the parents really get into it.

"A couple of years ago, I sent my students on their way with homework and one of the parents did the assignment."

Kresky said she's noticed the parents really get involved with the activities in her class during Take Your Parents to School Day.

She said once the parents are in the classroom, they get into the spirit of the event.

"It's all about improving what we do here and having the school be more open to the community.

"It allows parents to, maybe, enjoy a different type of setting than the one-on-one environment they may be used to during something like parent-teacher meetings."

MUI principal Jesse Payne said while Take Your Parents to School Day is a school-wide event, this year was really driven by the Grade 7 and Grade 8 classes. He said both staff and students thank the parents who managed to participate in the day's activities.

"It's all aimed at increasing school spirit and getting both the students and the parents more involved at the school," said Payne.

"We also have a Home Room Challenge this year, which sees the students undertake a different activity in their home room or the gym for one morning a month.

"That initiative is also aimed at improving school spirit and has been quite successful in the early going."

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