Elementary kids join fund-raising efforts for new gym
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Baker Lake (May 30/01) - Never let it be said the kids in Baker Lake lack vision.
They may have to wait a few years before they get to use it on a full-time basis, but students at Rachel Argnammaktiq elementary school are doing their share for a new gym in the community.
The hamlet opted for a larger gym as part of the new secondary school to be built in Baker next year.
The Nunavut government will pick up half the tab for the project and the community has agreed to raise the remainder.
The elementary students came up with a unique approach to fund-raising.
Denise Cooper, vice-principal at Rachel Argnammaktiq elementary school, says she asked the students during an April assembly meeting if they would like to participate in fund-raising efforts for the larger gym at the Jonah Amitnaaq secondary school.
The students' answer was a resounding yes.
"Sport activities are very important to our students and having a large gym in the secondary school will give them something to look forward to when they progress to Grade 7," says Cooper.
Their fund-raising plan involved two buckets circulating around the elementary school's classrooms on a daily basis.
One bucket bore Cooper's name, the other the names of fellow teachers Winnie Seeteenak, Bertha Igloolik and Margaret Amarook.
The students contributed any spare change they happened to have to the bucket of their choice.
Cooper says the rules were simple. If her bucket contained the most money, she would have to perform a traditional drum dance for the students at the next assembly.
If the other bucket contained the most, those teachers were ready to let down their hair, put on the platform boots and leather outfits, and give a short rock concert.
The students raised $241.25 towards the new gym and, when the final tally was in, Cooper performed her first public drum dance on May 11.
"It was like placing a vote. The students loved it and we became very competitive and started to jokingly hassle each other over the intercom.
"Enthusiasm was high and nobody wanted to miss the big performance day," she says.
