QIKIQTARJUAQ/BROUGHTON ISLAND
Rhianna Firth knows what it takes to conquer fear.

Students at Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson recently read stories they authored live on local radio. Teachers have been broadcasting school events and activities every Wednesday night since the beginning of the year. From left, Justine Vittrekwa, Grade 6, Jenelle Vaneltsi, Grade 5, Rhianna Firth, Grade 6 and Darlene Omingmak, Grade 5. - photo courtesy of Cliff Gregory

The Grade 6 student at Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson said once she finished reading a story live on the radio for the first time, she knew she could do it again.

Building students' confidence is just one of the goals of a new local radio program school staff have helped launch this year, said vice principal Cliff Gregory.

Every Wednesday between 8 and 10 p.m., teachers take to the airwaves to share information about school events and activities.

"It's just a way for us at the school to build that connection and relationship with the community," Gregory said.

Students in Gregory's Grade 5/6 class were given the chance to try broadcasting after writing their own fantasy stories earlier this year. He decided to see if anyone would read their finished products on the air.

After some prompting, about nine students broadcast their stories, including Firth, along with Grade 5 students Darlene Omingmak and Jenelle Vaneltsi and Grade 6 student Justine Vittrekwa.

Gregory said when some students ended up being too nervous, others, including Firth, stepped in to help.

"Rhianna read other people's stories on the air," he said. "She was begging to read more."

Vittrekwa read her story about what she would do if she won $1 million - take a trip to Edmonton and another to Hawaii. She said while she was scared at first, like Firth, she also managed to conquer her fear. She said one of the best parts of the experience was the praise from her family listening to the show.

"They said it was a good story," she said.

The Grade 5/6 students had been tasked with writing stories based on three themes: an alien encounter, what they would do with $1 million and a story written from the perspective of an animal.

They were then able to choose which story they wanted to complete in time to read it on the radio show.

Giving students a choice on writing topics, as well as encouragement, are vital to fostering a love of writing, Gregory said.

"Speaking from a teacher's perspective, I think the key to getting kids to want to write is to give them a lot of positive feedback and to allow them to really choose things they want to write about that are important to them, things they can really identify with," he said.

Giving students a chance to share those stories with their family and community over the airwaves is a great way to help build self-confidence, Gregory added.

"Especially when they go home and people tell them, 'we heard you on the radio,'" he said.

A few students have already expressed interest in repeating the experience, including Vaneltsi and Vittrekwa. Both girls had had prior experience answering the telephone at the radio station during bingo games and reading messages on air.

After reading their stories, the girls began asking teachers if they could help out regularly during the Wednesday night show, Gregory said.

"Once they get over the initial nervousness, they're just fantastic when it comes to answering phones and reading over the radio," he said.

Gregory said while it wouldn't necessarily take place each week, he hopes to start a radio club where students could assist with the school's show.

"I would like to see more students involved being on the radio," he said.

In the meantime, Firth said she had a few words of advice for anyone thinking of going on air.

"Practice reading it first," she said.