Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Nov 09/05) - A focus on school spirit has made Jonah Amitnaaq secondary school in Baker Lake a fun place for students to be these days.

The school just wrapped up its annual Halloween activities, during which principal Bill Olson and a couple of teachers decided to take a few pies in the face to help a student group raise funds for a trip to Europe.

Baker Lake's Jonah Amitnaaq secondary school principal Bill Olson and teacher Greg Penny took a few pies in the face to help a student group raise money for a trip to Europe. - photo courtesy of Olivia Ullyot

Students paid $1 for the opportunity to pie their favourite staff member.

Olson says having the chance to pie a teacher or their principal was a huge hit with the students.

"The pies were really cookie pans filled with Dream Whip one of our cooking classes put together," says Olson.

"The event helped raise a few dollars for the trip, but it also fell in line with our goal of raising overall school spirit at Jonah Amitnaaq.

"That's really important to us here."

Another event raising spirits at the school is the game of Schlockey, which has become quite popular among the student body.

Bill Cooper says teachers came up with the Schlockey idea as a morning activity for students. "A lot of students come early because they take the bus to school or they come for our breakfast program," says Cooper.

"Some kids are here by 8:15 a.m., and this gives them something to do while waiting for school to start.

"The kids have taken to it like white on rice."

Schlockey comes in various sizes and can be played on a table or floor.

Players use what look like chopsticks to get the puck through middle dividers and into their opponent's goal.

The games roll up into a tube for easy storage when the games are complete.

Cooper says the students have taken responsibility for the games and the manner they are used.

"The kids come in, pull out the tables and set the games up in the morning.

"They all take turns without arguing and, when they're finished, roll the games up and put them away along with the tables."

Cooper says the game helps make school a fun place to be in the morning and gets the students moving.

He says the reason for its popularity is obvious.

"It's hockey, man!

"It may not be hockey in the traditional sense, but hey, c'mon, it's hockey, and there's great interest in hockey in Baker."