Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Dec 01/99) - Leo Ussak elementary school in Rankin Inlet could almost have passed for a United Nation's gathering during last week.

In continuing with the school's approach to interactive learning, students are studying foreign countries during November and December.

Students chose their own countries to learn about, selecting Japan, France, the Netherlands, Mexico, Italy, China, the Soviet Union and Spain.

Principal Cheryl Forbes says the kids deserve a lot of credit for their efforts. She also praised teachers who combined the event with parent-teacher meetings and report card preparation.

"I contacted every embassy with the help of Nancy Karetak-Lindell and, of the 11 countries chosen, every one of them responded with information kits for the kids," says Forbes.

The children learned many things about their chosen countries, including their geographic location and what their flags look like.

They even got to try some of the country's cuisine.

"We had some of our younger kids draw the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal, which were quite something.

"Grades 3 and 4 compared the average family size and population of Finland to that of Nunavut."

The kids were able to show what they learned yesterday when the school opened to the community for an afternoon International Festival.

Forbes says she got the idea from Liz Courtney, who did something similar while teaching in Whale Cove.

Parents were greeted by the flag of all 11 countries prominently displayed in the foyer upon their arrival.

"Parents needed a passport to enter which they received in the foyer," says Forbes.

"They went from room to room and received a sticker from each country for their passport.

"The kids also took turns going from room to room."

The international flavour will be carried over to the school's Christmas Pageant on Dec. 11, the first time it's ever been held on a Saturday.

"We'll be trying to present Christmas Around the World, as much as we can.

"As one of our teachers said, 'going into a new millennium, it's important for the kids to think about a united world' and we're just a small part of that."